She's so glad you asked.
Lisa is a woman who has worn many hats, from daughter to mother, executive assistant to copy editor, volunteer to board member, student to author. Along the way she adopted green ways like recycling paper and food scraps, repurposing clothing, and planting organic and xeric gardens. Being out in nature inspires and soothes her. Like a lot of people, she loves to see animals in nature. It is a thrill to have a moose or fox wander through her yard or to watch hummingbirds feed on her flowers. All of this might explain why such a person wonders: if people could live as wild animals, would it change their behavior? She answers: Yes, hopefully. To explore this idea, she wrote 2 books, so far, about a society of people who can transform into animals. It all started with a teenager who suddenly realized he was sprouting antlers, who went on to discover he was a Netah halfling, and that he could transform into an elk. Um, hello, it's me, Lisa. Yes, you guessed it. Fantasy can model better human behavior. Why? Well, who wants to read about just humans? We need something new and different, like people who are also animals. Then there's the environmentally friendly attitudes of my constructs, the Netahs, who live green lifestyles and love nature, because they live there. As humans they can construct green homes, use renewable energy, and other high tech stuff. Second there's the social issues. In book 3 I will tackle more aspects of Netah society. They have made it through a cold winter and prepare for summer games, which are part of their courting traditions. In Netah society athletics and the arts play a part in helping Netahs choose mates. I wanted to avoid the elk habit of brute-force head butting contests that lead to male dominated harems! No, I do not endorse patriarchies or matriarchies, but rather an equality among the sexes, and no head-butting. I think that in 2024, our society is grappling with how to create equality among the sexes, by removing barriers and working towards inclusion as it's never been done before. Language is changing, laws are being rewritten, and many people object while others fight for improvements. I suppose that means I am wearing yet another new hat these days. This appeals to me as a former theater costume maker. I wonder what shape the hat would take. Is it cloud-like as I dream on? Is it a beret - Vive la Revolucion! Or maybe it's a beanie, because I live in Colorado and we wear those when it's cold. However, in the summer we switch to wide-brimmed hats to protect us from the sun. Hmmm. Tune in Sunday for the big idea. Don't miss a thing, follow or friend or link in to lisakaniutcobb on whatever socials you use. #greentech, #fantasy, #author, #Netahs
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Netahs are people who can turn into animals, and yes, this is fiction, not real, in no way is this real. This is an imagination exercise. And yes, I'm shameless when it comes to promoting my new book, The Netahs, Down in the Valley, book 2! So, if Taylor Swift were a Netah, what animal would she be? I'd like to think she'd be some kind of feline, because she's graceful, gorgeous, and emotional, but her own person, in charge, a total boss lady. On the other hand, maybe the emotion that lights up her music comes from her canine side. No, she's not the puppy-eyed kind of girl, she's an "I'm in charge, deal with it" kind. No, I do not think I could write a story about a Netah snake, as suggested by the photo, on the other hand, what about all those pythons in Florida? Are they actually Netahs? Hmm, I sense another piece of bonus content in your future! But I digress... Since Netahs turn into wild animals, I imagine Taylor as an American panther. Now here's a scenario for you: Netah Taylor Swift meets the "Open Throat" panther (a wonderful book by Henry Hoke, about a panther in the Hollywood foothills). Would they get along? Is it a lady and the tramp story? She's worldly and successful, he's floundering and still finding his way. I'd like to think she would invite him in for a drink and some dinner, let him rest in a spare bedroom, talk with him about life, the universe, and everything. When Travis comes to the house, the visiting panther might act protectively. Would that lead to a new friendship or a rivalry? The next question is, is Travis a Netah, but that's a different exercise and too many questions! How about a little bonus content, as promised. I was inspired by the recent wolf releases in Colorado and a video of a beautiful black wolf tearing out of his cage and into the woods, away from his captors, with nary a glance. The story of two wolves has evangelical, good versus evil connotations, as well as a purportedly Cherokee legend that has been referred to repeatedly in many recent films, according to wikipedia. What if they were merely differently colored animals of the same species, much like differently colored skins on the human species? Food for thought, discuss amongst yourselves (or in the comment section).
When a wolf meets a wolf in the woods... Like all territorial wolves, they size each other up. One is a little smaller than the other, gray, female, sad and lonely. The other is a beefy, black, male, and, oddly enough, also lonely. They keep their distance, and one drops its long snout to the ground as if to sniff for territorial scents. She seems to hum into the dried grasses she uncovers from the snow. His pointy ears perk up and his eyes focus intensely on hers. He also drops his snout and hums into the dried stems at his feet. She bounces nearly three feet straight up in the air with a little yelp. A big grin spreads across her face. As she relaxes to the ground, she says, "Awesome. I thought you might be a Netah! I couldn't find your scent anywhere." She licks a ball of snow from between the pads of her toes. "I'm new around here. My name is Lyla. " He tilts his head to the side as if to hear her better. "Lyla? Pretty name," he says. "I'm Joe. Funny the no scent thing gave me away." "Well sure, but only Netahs know that's a thing with us. Also, I have yet to meet a wild wolf who knew how to use the undernet like that." He snuffles and blows out a cloud of breath. "Fair point. What brings you to snowy Colorado?" He also settles to the ground, happy to rest after a long day of hunting with no luck. "Well, I used to live in Oregon, but the humans caught me and brought me here with a couple of my brothers and cousins." "I heard the humans were doing that. I also assume you let them catch you?" "Obviously!" "Oregon is gray. You wanted to spend some time in the sun?" "Can you blame me?" Lyla's stomach grumbles loudly. She looks at Joe with a blue eye, giving him her most alluring look. "You got anything to eat around here?" With a soft chuckle he answers, "Sure, follow me." He gets up slowly, his tired muscled complaining. They lope over the hill and around some boulders and through aspens, whose branches sway overhead. He stops near a stand of ancient pines decorated with inches of snow. He ducks down into the dry well of the tree and disappears. Lyla hesitates, but since she is hungry and lonely and he seems kind and is ruggedly handsome, she follows. Hidden in the well is a low doorway from which warmth whooshes out as he opens his door. Inside a soft light reveals a couple of low sofas in front of a pellet stove. Joe shifts into his human form and runs a hand over his nappy hair. He watches Lyla enter, shake off the snow, and then shift into a lithe young woman with silvery blond hair and soft blue eyes. He nods and turns into his kitchen, standing in front of his fridge, assessing. "Well, I have some left-over soup, some chicken wings, and a couple of trout we could slap on a sandwich. What sounds good?" Lyla wants to say 'one of each', but knows that would be impolite, so she asks for the soup and soon they settle down on stools at his kitchen counter to share their dinner. And that is how a Netah gray wolf from Oregon met a Netah black wolf in Colorado and they were no longer lonely. Caption: Just had an epic run, then a full yard sale including a faceplant. Did you see where my skis landed? If a Netah were a skier, they would simply live in the surrounding national forest. Why live like a human, sleeping in a bed, when you can just be yourself, no luggage required, no rent required? You know all that back country that only avalanche trained skiers and boarders can access? That’s the Netahs’ backyard! Here’s how it could work. Okay, I’m the author here, I get to decide that whatever a human is wearing when they shift into an animal, they have it with them when they shift back into a human. So they strap their equipment onto a backpack, shift, and then walk up on their four legs. At the top they shift, step into their skis and enjoy the powder! BTW, a yard sale, in skier jargon, means you fell and lost your skis and poles, which are then strewn down the hill. It usually includes bragging rights about how awesome it was, and yeah, skiers are like that, and we won't even begin talking about boarders, no offense!
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