Apr 30, 2008

Winner - All Together Dead

A winner for this month's contest has been chosen.

PURPBLELOVER

you have won a copy of All Together Dead by Charlaine Harris (Ace, 2007)!

Please contact me at paltner@verizon.net

Congratulations!

E-mail subscribers, another contest will soon be announced for May.

Apr 27, 2008

Win a Copy of All Together Dead

Remember - E-mail subscribers to Patricia's Vampire Notes have a chance to win a copy of All Together Dead by Charlaine Harris (Ace, 2007). If you are not yet a subscriber be sure to sign up. See Subscribe To notice in the left hand column.


A winner will be chosen on April 30 and announced on this site.

Apr 22, 2008

Stephenie Meyer

On April 6 I posted a review of the young adult book Twilight by Stephenie Meyer. The popularity of this novel and series of the same name has made Meyer a household word. Befitting such popularity a movie directed by Catherine Hardwicke has begun filming. For more about the movie go to Stephenie Meyer's site.

In May of 2008 her first adult book The Host will be available, and I was fortunate to get an advance copy. Already the praise from reviewers has guaranteed it will be a bestseller. No vampires appear instead an alien species invades our planet and eventually the bodies of the human population. In the end most of these host lose their personality but not all. Such is the case of the young human female Melanie. She fights to keep her own identity in spite of Wanderer the strong willed soul who now inhabits Mel's body.

Melanie's thoughts first come to Wanderer in dreams. These turn into a reality Wanderer can't ignore. Eventually the people Melanie love become Wanderer's loves as well. These two share one body as they seek a group of human resisters, those not infected with a host, where younger brother Jamie, and the handsome Jared are waiting. The characters are captivating and the story riveting. At 600+ pages that, for me, is saying a lot.

Dead Witch Walking

Dead Witch Walking by Kim Harrison. Eos, 2004 (Rachel Morgan Book 1)

Rachel Morgan decided that she has had enough working for Inderland Security (an agency something like our FBI). This fiery, red haired witch is not used to doing scut work and she's sick of it. Usually she goes after black-art and unlicensed witches - big stuff. But tonight she's been sent to an ugly area, in the rain to collar a leprechaun for tax evasion. It can't get much lower than that. She quits I.S.

Two co-workers, Ivy the vampire and Jenks the pixie decide they will join her. This isn't a problem for Jenks or Ivy but, unfortunately for Rachel, Denon, her boss-from-hell, threatens to put a death bounty on her head if she breaks her contract with I.S. The feisty, fearless Rachel is not deterred even though she knows this is no idle threat.

Ivy finds housing for all of them in an old, unused church in the Hollows (that place across the river from Cincinnati where most Inderlanders - witches, vampires, werewolves, etc choose to live). Not surprisingly, more than once Rachel discovers she's under attack from nasty creatures who hope to collect the I.S. reward money.

To save herself and get rid of a bad guy at the same time, Rachel, with the help of her two friends, sets out to find evidence that the well-known and prosperous Trent Kalamack is running Brimstone - the drug du jour. By bringing Trent to justice Rachel hopes such heroics will take I.S. off her back permanently. Naturally things become much more complicated and dangerous than anyone ever anticipated.

Harrison has created an urban fantasy world with a brilliant aura of reality. Readers are totally immersed in Rachel's realm and empathize with her frantic hope to simply survive. Part of the fun of reading Harrison's novel is watching the author get Rachel into really deep dodo and then find some clever way to get her out.

I read this book not long after publication, but this is the first time I've written about it. I'll be reading the rest of the series in order since I know that the characters and story line follow a definite course.

Dead Witch Walking
(Eos, 2004) is book one in what has become a popular series. Book six, The Outlaw Demon Wails, came out in February of this year.

Apr 21, 2008

Win a Copy of All Together Dead

Remember - E-mail subscribers to Patricia's Vampire Notes have a chance to win a copy of All Together Dead by Charlaine Harris (Ace, 2007). If you are not yet a subscriber be sure to sign up. See Subscribe To notice in the left hand column.

A winner will be chosen on April 30 and announced on this site.

Interview with D. L Russell

I recently interviewed new writer D. L. Russell who has recently had his novelette Maxwell: The Last Vampire (Eternal Press, 2007) accepted for publication

What fascinates you about vampires?
I would have to say its the concept of living forever. That ability gives a character an almost God-Like aura. With some of his abilities, Maxwell could be considered a God. There's something beautiful, but terrifying about that.

What inspired Maxwell the Last Vampire?
Maxwell (The original title) was really my attempt to write a vampire tale that was actually the anti-vampire tale as far as the modern era is concerned. It seems that every vampire you read about lives in a world where vampires populate every major city with covens filled with those that drink blood and those that want to. Maxwell being the last of his kind was a big step in that direction. His story was my attempt to change what has become common within the sub-genre. Also, I believe every writer of horror should create his own interpretation of the classic characters. Vampires, Werewolves, Zombies, etc..etc.. I call them my "Creatures of the Night."

Is this novelette a basis for a novel or perhaps a series?
I am currently working on Maxwell's Child, which will be a full length novel and will take the reader into the world of how a Vampire is created. Kane will also be there, along with a few other creatures of the night, not introduced in Maxwell: The Last Vampire. I hope to have the novel finished by Dec 08.

In what other genres would you be interested in writing?
I really enjoy writing Horror, Paranormal, and what used to be called Weird Tales fiction. I hope to someday try my hand at writing comedy also.

What is your writing environment like?
I write on my PC, which is located in my bedroom. I keep a stack of writing reference books on a shelf near by and I use the Internet to gather factual information as I write. My desk is cluttered, but I usually know exactly where to find what ever I'm searching for quickly. My dream is to someday have a house or small office for writing only.


Thanks for the interview, David, and continued good luck with your writing!

Apr 20, 2008

Vampire Fiction Roundup for Library Journal

In the Feb. 15, 2008 Library Journal I have a roundup article of Vampire Fiction. There is a brief description of each title covered.

Smith-Ready, Jeri. Wicked Game. Pocket Bks: S. & S. May 2008

Rardin, Jennifer. Biting the Bullet. Orbit: Hachette. Feb. 2008.

Lewis, J.F. Staked. Pocket Bks: S. & S. Mar. 2008.

Green, Chris Marie. Midnight Reign. Ace: Berkley, dist. by Penguin. (Vampire Babylon, Bk. 2). Feb. 2008.

Wellington, David. 99 Coffins: A Historical Vampire Tale. Three Rivers: Crown. 2008

Check it out!

Apr 19, 2008

Mayra Calvani 2008 Vampire Novel

In the recent post More New Vampire Books for 2008 I neglected to add Mayra Calvani's book Seduced by the Shadows. It's an excellent book, and one I thoroughly enjoyed reading. On earlier posts you can find a review of the novel and an interview with her.

Apr 15, 2008

Win a Copy of All Together Dead by Charlaine Harris

E-mail subscribers to Patricia's Vampire Notes have a chance to win a copy of All Together Dead by Charlaine Harris (Ace, 2007). If you are not yet a subscriber be sure to sign up. See Subscribe To notice in the left hand column.

A winner will be chosen on April 30 and announced on this site.

Good luck!

Apr 13, 2008

More New Vampire Books for 2008

Angel of Death
by Leigh Savage
CreateSpace, February 27, 2008

Blood Bargain
by Maria Lima
Juno, November 15, 2008

Blood Claim
by Laura Baumbach, Angela Fiddler, Jet Mykels
MLR Press, March 3, 2008

The Blood King (Chronicles of the Necromancer, Book 2)
by Gail Martin
Solaris, January, 2008.

Bond of Darkness: A Tale of Texas Vampires
by Diane Whiteside
Berkley, October 7, 2008

Breathing
by Laura Baumbach
Changeling Press, March 2008

Brothers at Arms (Dark Tarot series)
by Desiree Lee
Tease, June 2008

"Chalice" in The Vampire Oracle
by Ericka Scott
Cobblestone Press, June 2008

Dark Harvest (Kismet Knight, Vampire Psychologist series B00k 2)
by Lynda Hilburn
Medallion, October 2008.

The Darkness
by L. A. Banks.
St. Martin's 2008

Dead Perfect
by Amanda Ashley
Zebra, February 2008

50 Ways to Hex Your Lover

by Linda Wisdom
Sourcebooks, March 1, 2008

Forgotten Kisses
by Rena Marks AKA Melissa Mayhue
Ellora's Cave, March 2008

Happy Hour of the Damned
by Mark Henry
Kensington, March 2008

Hex Appeal
by Linda Wisdom
Sourcebooks, November 2008

Holiday with a Vampire (two novellas)
by Lori Devoti and Meline Lovelace
Silhouette Nocturne, December, 2008

House of Cards (The Negotiator, Book 2)
by C. E. Murphy
Luna, March 2008

Hungers of the Heart (The Guardians of the Night, Book 4)
by Jenna Black
Tor Paranormal Romance, April 29, 2008

In the Shadow of the Selkie
by M. A. duBarry
Samhain Publishing, January 29, 2008

Iron Kissed
by Patricia Briggs
Ace, January 2, 2008

Kitty and the Silver Bullet
by Carrie Vaughn
Grand Central, January 2008

La Vida Vampire
by Nancy Haddock
Berkley, April 2008

The Legacy ( Book Four of The Anna Strong Chronicles)
by Jeanne C. Stein
Ace Books, September 2008

The Mammoth Book of Vampire Romances
by Trisha Telep (editor)
Running Press, August 11, 2008

Midnight Rising (The Midnight Breed, Book 4) (Midnight Breed)
by Lara Adrian
Dell, March 25, 2008

Night Life
by Caitlin Kittredge
St. Martin's March 2008

Night's Kiss
by Amanda Ashley
Zebra, August 2008 (reissue)

Night's Master
by Amanda Ashley
Zebra, Octorber 2008

Pure Blood (Nocturne City, Book 2)
by Caitlin Kittredge
St. Martin's, August 26, 2008

Real Vampires Get Lucky (Glory St. Claire, Book 3)
by Gerry Bartlett
Berkley Trade, June 3, 2008

A Rush of Wings
by Adrian Phoenix
Simon & Schuster, January 2008

Seduced By Darkness (Dark Realm, Book 2)

by Delilah Devlin
Avon Red, February 26, 2008

Suicide Surprise: Book One of the "It Could Always Be Worse" Series
by Noel Lana Tovano
CreateSpace, February 10, 2008

Undead and Unworthy (Queen Betsy, Book 7)
by MaryJanice Davidson
Berkley, June 24, 2008

The Undead Kama Sutra

by Mario Acevedo
Eos, March 2008

The Vampire Family
by Kristin Battestella
Eternal Press, 2008

The Vampire Oracle Books
Collection of Novellas
Cobblestone Books, June 2008

Witch's Moon
by Tabitha Shay
Eternal Press, December 2008

Vampyres of Hollywood
by Adrienne Barbeau and Michael Scott
St. Martin's, August 2008


See New Vampire Books for 2008 posted on February 25, 2008

Apr 6, 2008

Win a Copy of All Together Dead by Charlaine Harris

E-mail subscribers to Patricia's Vampire Notes will have a chance to win a copy of All Together Dead by Charlaine Harris (Ace,2007). If you are not yet a subscriber be sure to sign up. See Subscribe To notice in the left hand column.

A winner will be chosen on April 30 and announced on this site.

Good luck!

Twilight by Stephanie Meyer - Book 1 of a Vampire Series

I have heard so much about the vampire series Twilight by Stephanie Meyer, but like too many adults I turned my nose up at this because after all it is for the YA crowd and I'm far beyond this age group. But finally I caved and picked up book 1, also named Twilight (Little, Brown 2006), and was mesmerized from the first word. Below is my review.

Bella recently moved to Fork, WA, a small town where her father Charlie is the local police chief. Her last residence was Phoenix AZ with her mother. Bella wants to allow her mom more time to spend with boyfriend Phil and so decides to live with her dad even though she hates the horrid, cold, sunless weather that is ever present in this area. She always considered herself an outsider in high school and assumes the situation will remain the same in Forks, but in fact she does make a few friends and even has a couple of boys who give her intense, unwanted attention. The first week she notices five students sitting together at the lunch table, sitting quietly, barely interacting, and each one of exquisite appearance. Those are the Cullens, she is told. They keep to themselves. Later in the day she is surprised to find herself sitting next to Edward Cullen in Biology class. He does not speak to her and seems actively hostile. Weeks later after several interactions, some traumatic, they have come to know each other well and feel a deep kinship. It is then that Edward confesses to her why he acted so strangely in the beginning. He and his family are vampires who live among humanity, and feed themselves on animal blood, but Edward found Bella so alluring that he feared he would let his desire overcome his actions. Bella accepts this calmly. She has fallen in love. Edward feels the same, and he learns to control his bloodlust while still keeping Bella close. Even most of Edward's family accept the human Bella in their midst, but having a human in the vampire world inevitably brings dangers. Twilight's mixture of romance, gripping suspense, and deftly plotted fantasy make compelling reading for all ages not only young adults.