Young Women - Old Wolves, Part I
Happy
Friday the Thirteenth, y’all!
I’ve taken a week off from working on The Dragon of Doughton Park while my
editing and cover design teams slave away. I’m also taking some time to study
for my SAC state certification exam coming up on the 21st (can’t
ignore the day job completely, you know –y’all wish me luck), and while I
immerse myself in counseling core functions and competencies I’m monitoring
sales of The Draculata Nest.
Yeah, sales of DN continue to trickle in
(more of a drip than a trickle, actually) and more folks are adding it to their
reading lists on Goodreads, yet my first novel has managed to stay pretty much
under the radar so far. But, I was delighted to find a new 4-star review listed
on Amazon this week, by TheOneTree “Debi”, from Australia. You can click on the link to see all her
reviews. I found it interesting, and you might, too. TheOneTree "Debi" Amazon Reviews The review of DN is the fifth one down.
One
thing Debi mentioned in her review of DN was how uncomfortable she was with the
age difference in some of the characters. She wasn’t specific, in order to
avoid spoilers, but I know what she was talking about. There is a physical
attraction between the 60-year-0ld werewolf, Clifford, and the teenaged coed,
Danielle.
Debi was able to work through it and ultimately enjoy the book, and so have most
readers, but it can be an uncomfortable subject. (If it’s any consolation to
you, Debi, think what my friends have had to deal with. Many of them have
identified me with Clifford and have had to fight through the mental image of
me in the sex scenes. Disturbing, to say the least!) The attraction between
younger women and older men is a phenomenon with which I’ve always been
fascinated.
Clifford certainly has to deal with it. As a
rejuvenated werewolf, genetically engineered for charisma, there is the
inevitable issue of sexual attraction when he and young Danielle are thrown
together. Here’s a scene that was ultimately deleted from the published version
of The Draculata Nest, where Clifford
and his old friend Kent bring the dilemma out in the open.
Kent made a comment, almost sub-vocally, knowing Clifford would be able
to hear him. “Were young girls as pretty when we were that age? They seem to
get better looking every year.”
“It sure seems that way to me,” agreed Clifford. “I wonder if it’s just
the contrast between them and old farts like us, but it seems like there are
more gorgeous girls of a younger age than ever before. I feel like a dirty old
man most of the time at school. You should see some of the girls in my classes.
Jeez.”
“They all look as good as Danielle?”
“Some. She kind of stands out,
though.”
“How’d you manage to hook up with
her, anyway? What does she see in you?”
Clifford shook his head. “I don’t
know, Kent. Seriously, I don’t.”
“I was making a joke, dufus. Don’t
take it so hard.”
“I’m old enough to be her
grandfather.”
“Yes, you are. So what?”
“So, don’t you think that’s a little
creepy?”
“Not for you.”
“What does that mean?”
“I mean it’s natural for you. For all men, really, but especially for
you. It’s a pattern for you, going for younger women. There was a difference in
ages with you and your first wife, and your second wife was even more so, what,
ten years?”
“Fifteen.”
“Fifteen.”
“Right, so it’s natural that you should go for someone even younger now.
It’s consistent behavior for you. It’s congruent.”
“Oh, fuck you.”
Kent chuckled. “See, it’s like you doubled the age difference the first
time, so you should double it again. No, wait. That would mean she’d have to be
thirty. But, hey, nineteen’s the new thirty, I hear.”
“You’re not helping.”
“Oh, come on, man. I’m just giving you some shit. Honestly, I don’t see
anything wrong with it. She likes you, a lot, for whatever reason. If I were
you, I’d just roll with it and see how it goes.”
“It’s going great now, isn’t it?”
Clifford said, sarcastically.
girlfriend might have been abducted by vampires
before you got involved in the first place.”
He sighed at his friend’s lack of
response. “I’m kidding, dipshit. You have to stop blaming
yourself for all
this. You can’t help what you are.”
So, is
that it, do you think? We just can’t help what we are? That’s one of the
theories I subscribe to, which parallels another theme in the Red Wolf Novels –
that biological and social evolution cannot keep up with the advances of
technology and civilization. Males still look for the young, healthy females of
child-bearing age even though there is no practical necessity. Older women are no longer at risk in childbirth,
nor are we that interested in creating children. And the pack structure of the
werewolves, once an evolutionary survival trait, is now in danger of causing
their extinction because it doesn’t fit with modern civilization.
But in some cases, of which I believe Clifford Crane is an example, I
think older men see in younger women a chance to go back and correct past
mistakes, a do-over for the one that was lost or got away. And Clifford is
definitely haunted by a lost love in his past, Claire Deerfoot.
Well, that’s all for now. I’ll share more musings on the subject next
week in part II. Meanwhile, if you want to learn more about The Draculata Nest so you can keep up
with the blog or get ready for the sequel, click on one of the links below.
Until then… happy reading!
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