Being Human

by Janice Dreese

Series 1 is set in the English city of Bristol and introduces George Sands (a reluctant werewolf in his mid-twenties) and John Mitchell (a vampire with the appearance and behaviour of a young man in his mid-twenties who is over a hundred years old). Both are attempting to reject their nature as supernatural predators � George by strictly managing his transformations and their effect on others, Mitchell by abstaining from blood-drinking. Despite a long history of antipathy between the werewolf and vampire races, Mitchell and George have formed a deep friendship, they have low-profile, low-status jobs as hospital porters and live as housemates.

Moving into a new house together, they discover that it already has an occupant � Annie Sawyer, the ghost of a young woman in her mid-twenties. Annie had lived in the house with her fianc� Owen but died after falling down the stairs. She has remained to haunt the property while Owen, unaware of her presence, has rented it out to Mitchell and George. As supernatural beings, George and Mitchell can see, touch and communicate with Annie, who is delighted to have their company and becomes the third member of the surrogate family.

All three have problems, Mitchell's central challenge is his struggle with his desire to feed (which is presented as being similar to a struggle against drug addiction). George's is to manage his monthly werewolf transformations in such a way that he does not kill anyone or pass on the werewolf affliction. He considers his condition to be "a curse", over which he is in a certain state of denial (including referring to his wolf-self as if it were a different person). Annie's challenge is to deal with her new existence as a ghost (including the isolation and loneliness which results from it) and to discover the reason why she has remained on Earth instead of passing over to the afterlife.

The remainder of Series 1 deals with the protagonists' attempts to deal with these situations and with the various characters (human or otherwise) with whom they come into contact or conflict. All of the problems are finally brought to a ferocious climax which the trio survive but with their existence no less precarious.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: B086PV2254
• ISBN13: 9798633658903
• Release Date: April 2020
• Publisher: Independently published
• Length: 143 Pages
• Weight: 0.77 lbs.
• Dimensions: 11.0" x 0.3" x 8.5"