Upcoming Event - Tony-Paul de Vissage Guest Blogger

Tony-Paul de Vissage the author of the vampire novel Dark God Descending (Sam's Dot Publishing, 2009) will visit PVN this Friday January 8.  He will give you his take on the undead and is offering one lucky reader a download of his book "Two Vampire Tales".

Dark God Descending is the story of a friendship--between two men separated by millennia, cultures, and customs. Threatened by their love for the same woman, it is strengthened when they share something more precious--their lifesblood--and from that time on, their lives and fates will be inextricably bound...for eternity. James Tucker Upchurch III is a graduate student, studying the past but living very much in the present. Semris the Second is a demon, the son of a god, and his life has been the same for five thousand years. Tuck never expected to lose his girl to a demon or get near-immortality in exchange and Semris never thought he'd experience mortal love. When the two meet, not only their own lives but those of their friends and families will also be changed, as well as the world in which Semris dwells.

Scorched - Book Review

Scorched 
by Sharon Ashwood
Signet Eclipse, December 1, 2009,


[read an interview with Sharon]

From the publisher:
"Ex-detective Macmillan always had a taste for bad girls, but his last lover really took the cake—and his humanity. Now half-demon, Mac's lost his friends, his family and his job.

But Constance, a strangely innocent vampire trapped in the supernatural Castle prison, needs his help. Her son has been kidnapped, so suddenly Mac has a case to work—one that embroils him with a mad sorcerer, an even madder city council, and a winged love god. The trail leads deep into the supernatural prison, and Mac soon learns that cracking the case will cost him his last scrap of his humanity.

Fiery, vulnerable Constance will do anything for those she loves, including Mac. He'll be damned if he turns his back on her… and a demon forever if he doesn't."



PVN:  Sharon Ashwood has a way of coming up with complex characters and intricate plots all the while keeping the reader completely engrossed in every nuance of the story.

Her second book in the Dark Forgotten series brings back the half-demon ex-cop Conall Macmillan. One hunky, macho guy who continually battles to keep his humanity front and center and his demon in check. He is also one truly nice fellow who as a former cop found his greatest satisfaction in helping people.

Then there is the gentle Constance a half vampire who never fully turned, and has lived all of her long, undead existence in the strange environs of the Castle. Not until her son, the young incubus Sylvius, is kidnapped does she realize her own resolute strength. The powerful witch Holly and her soul-mate the luscious vampire enforcer Alessandro (heroes of Ravenous) play important, although secondary, roles in Scorched . Mac and Constance overcome many difficulties before being able to reach out to one another in order to save the life of Sylvius, and, as it turns out, many others within the Castle.

I must add that the first time Constance and Mac make love is one of the most sensuous scenes in recent urban fantasy memory. Not to be missed!!

Ashwood creates an ensemble of paranormal creature, all fully realized and memorable. She is a born storyteller.  As in Ravenous any angst or horror is leavened with dollops of humor. In fact it is the hunky demon Mac with his sardonic view of life who has the best lines.



Read an excerpt of Scorched

Unchained (Book 3 of The Dark Forgotten) by Sharon Ashwood will be released July 6, 2010.

Internet Sites of Paranormal Interest

Below I've gathered info around the internet that I hope you will find of interest.

For a short biography of the bloody countes, Elizabeth Bathory, go to Scandalous Women a fascinating blog site by Elizabeth Kerri Mahon.

The Creepy Origins of the Best Horror Movie Bad Guys

They might keep us up at night, but there’s something about horror movie bad guys that capture our imagination. Whether it’s their grotesque appearances, their sinister personalities, or the bloodshed and gore that follow in their wake, we just can’t stop watching them. As we follow them with both terror and delight, we often ask ourselves — “How did this maniac come to be?” Here are the origins to some of the most evil, most vile villains to ever grace the silver screen...

Click on title to read the rest of the article.

Magic Bleeds

Book #4 in Kate Daniels Series

Available 05/25/2010

The following is from the Ilona Andrews page:

"The Kate series moves forward with each book. The relationship between Kate and Curran has to go somewhere as well. This is not a minor plot point that could’ve been negotiated in a couple of pages and shoved aside. This was a major issue that had to have its own book.  Kate’s ancestry bites her in the ass, Curran’s history emerges, and they have to pick fight or flight.  Eventually all prospective couples reach the point of no return: that spot in the relationship when they have to decide if they are together or not. This is the book where Kate and Curran decide.  They both know that whichever way they go, there is no turning back.

"The enemy Kate faces in this book is the most powerful person we’ve written to date.  When she shattered the blood sword, she knew there would be consequences.  Well, the consequences arrive and smash her life to pieces.

"But no matter how grim, MAGIC BLEEDS ends with hope. It ties the plot threads raised in the previous three books, clears the field, and weaves new ones, so the characters can move on to new and exciting adventures."

Another favorite series of mine. Fast paced action and complex, well realized character. An unbeatable combination.

Read a REVIEW of Magic Burns Book 2 in the Kate Daniels series.

A New BBC Paranormal Offering

"Demons" centers on a London lad called Luke Rutherford (suitably hunky Christian Cooke) whose vocation as a hunter of evil creatures in the netherworld comes as a surprise to him.... read more at sandiego.com

"Demons" premieres at 10 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 2, on BBC America. Following episodes will air at 9 p.m. Saturdays.




New Vampire Film

Daybreakers, a vampire film starring Ethan Hawke, Willem Dafoe, and Sam Neill will be in US theaters January 8, 2010.

From Wikipedia: In the year of 2019, a major viral outburst transforms a majority of the world's population into vampires. With only a handful of humans left to provide blood for the starving population of vampires, extinction is a very real risk for the new dominant species of humanity.... read more

Trailer for Daybreaker

The Vampire Decade in Review - TV

Derek Tatum from Mondo Vampire discusses vampire TV of the last 10 years.

The past decade has been a surprisingly busy one for vampires on television. It opened with Joss Whedon's Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel on the air. Both series ended their runs - Buffy in 2003 and Angel in 2004 - but retain a loyal fan following to this day.... read more

Urban Fantasy, Paranormal and SFF Book Releases for January 2010

Doug of SciFiguy.ca does an impressive job of  showing us the "January 2010 release list of urban fantasy and paranormal romance along with a smattering of fantasy titles of related interest"... read more

PVN Contest Winners

December 2009 Email Subscriber Book Contest

First prize winner kenos89 will receive a copy of Staked by J. F. Lewis

Second prize winner inaravar will recieve a copy of Blood Lite (an anthology from the Horror Writers of America)







The Better Part of Darkness - contest sponsored by Pocket Books

Winners: Cybercliper 
               dsandyboy







Congratulations! 

Please send me your snailmail address to paltner(at)gmail(dot)com.

Readers, check this blog's right hand column under Recent PVN Contests for winners of past contests.

As always my thanks to everyone who participated!

Happy New Year!