Michele Hauf Interview and Contest

Today PVN welcomes Michele Hauf noted author of vampire romances and other paranormal stories. MIchele has appeared here before and it is a pleasure to have her back. Her most recent novel Seducing the Vampire is now available in bookstores. She is here to discuss her new novel and other matters of interest.

Michele is also offering readers a chance to win a copy of her new book.[see contest details at the end of the post]

Q: Would you discuss your new novel Seducing the Vampire and what books will follow?

Michele:  Seducing is a favorite of mine because I love historicals.  Even though most of my books have been set in modern times, I always have characters that have been around for centuries, and love incorporating details from their history.  Now, you can see the hero and heroine interact in the past (and fall in love) and it's set in one of my favorite time periods--the 18th century.  But I'm calling this one a modern historical because it's also set in the present.  Readers can follow the hero's quest (in modern times) in his search for the love he thought lost to him forever.

The books that follow will feature some characters introduced in Seducing, namely the son (or is he?) of the hero and heroine, whose story is FOREVER VAMPIRE.  And there's another son who will have his story in FOREVER WILD (not scheduled yet, but will be out with Nocturne).

Q: You have 5 books including Seducing the Vampire as part of your BEAUTIFUL CREATURES world. Would you describe that world and the books you have included there?

Michele:  Actually, there are about 9 novels and 5 or 6 novellas in the Beautiful Creatures world so far.  Most of the paranormal romances I have written for Harlequin are set in that world.  (You can see a complete series/world list here: http://michelehauf.com/books.html).

The world is very much the mortal realm as we know it, only all the creatures we imagine and dream about also occupy it.  And they way I work it, you don't have to read one book in the series to understand what's going on in another book.  But, if you like secondary characters in a certain book, they might also have their own world.  I've just launched the Club Scarlet site which is a place where you can look up all my characters, and learn what books they are in, who they are related to (and if they have stories), and other fun stuff.  Check that out here: http://clubscarlet.michelehauf.com/



Q: Why do you consider vampires to be romantic heroes?

Michele: Well, they're not all romantic.  :-)  (Just as it is with the mortals.)  But I think the allure of the tall, dark stranger who promises a kiss of everlasting life is a strong draw in our reading fantasies.  I also think every reader has their own idea of what is romantic to them.  So some women may swoon over the vampire carrying a fistful of red roses with a hint of fang showing in his grin.  Others may adore the fanged ones who roll up on Harleys and sweep them off their feet.  Really, I think you can make any man (mortal or vampire) romantic; it's all in how he presents himself to the heroine, and what's going on inside his head.  Ok, I confess, it's what's in their brains that is most romantic to me.  How he thinks, how he views the world, and how he reacts to the world and what it offers him. 


Q: Do you have a favorite vampire film or TV series?

Michele:  Hmm, I'm sorely lacking in TV viewing lately, so I have to confess I haven't watched the latest crop of vampire shows.  So I'm sticking with a classic, Buffy The Vampire Slayer.  I'm a Spike girl.

Q: I know you mostly from your vampire stories but you also write in other genres. Would you discuss some of these other works?

Michele: Well, I had the extreme fortune to write a few fantasy novels for Luna.  Those stories had a strong heroine and were set in medieval France.  I also got to write a few Bombshells, which were action/adventure, female-centric stories again, yet set in modern times and featuring jewel thieves, a getaway car driver, and a crime fighter.  I SO love writing action/adventure stuff.  And to weave a little romance in those stories really makes it fun.

And right now, I'm one of the handful of authors who write under the Alex Archer pseudonym for the Rogue Angel series.  Again, a female-centric, action/adventure series, that is all kick-ass (and no romance; pout).  But I love writing those stories because it gives me a chance to exercise my need for writing Bombshell stuff. 


Q: What authors or books inspired you as you were growing up?

Michele:  Anyone who wrote a compelling story.  And after I started writing my first book (Dark Rapture; vamp rom) I discovered Anne Rice.  She may have been the one to make me realize I love the 18th century, and that vampires could indeed be sexy. 

Q: Please describe your writing day and your writing environment.

Michele:  Well, I have to walk about fifteen steps from my bed to my office desk.  LIfe is tough, I know.  ;-)  I usually get my best writing done in the mornings when it's quiet.  I can't listen to music while writing, must have silence.

I've two cats who check in with me during the day.  I finally got a laptop so now you can also find me parked on the couch.  (I so need to get more exercise!).  I surround myself (in my office) with things I love, like books, old maps, visually stunning artwork, so it's a very creative place for me.  Though at the moment I feel a bit like a hoarder with boxes all over the floor, and books toppling over everywhere.  But I'm sure readers and writers alike can relate to having too many books.  ;-)

Q: What are your current projects?

Michele:  Just sold 3 Nocturnes, so I'm working on The Werewolf's Wife, which is Ridge and Abigail's story (both were in Her Vamp Hubbie).  Also working on a couple Nocturne Bites.  I don't have a title for it, but I'm pairing a witch (hero) and familiar.

Readers who've read my stories know that familiars are demon conduits, but they need to have sex to bring a demon to this realm.  The witch kinda stands around waiting for the 'act' to complete, then he summons the demon.  Well, this witch wants to cut out the middleman and have sex with the familiar himself, which should be all business, but well...you know what happens when love barges in.


And I can also say I'm working on some new Rogue Angel stories as well. 


Q: Tell us about VampChix and  The Ultimate Vampire List.

Michele:   Heh.  Well, I have too many blogs.  :-)  I think I have an addiction.  But I wanted to create a blog dedicated strictly to vampire books, movies and authors.  I know there are a lot of great blogs out there already that do that, but I figured our focus would be bringing in the authors that everyone likes to learn a little more about.  And heck, it's a means to promote my own work when that comes out.  We have some great bloggers at VampChix—including Patricia's fab monthly list of new vampire releases—and I think it's turned into a necessary addition to your blogroll if you likes vampires.

As for the Ultimate VampList, that is a labor of love.  I started it back in '94 or '95 with about 100 titles on the list.  Now it's well over 4000 titles strong, and divided into genre categories so you can access the list for an easy way to discover new (or old) vampire reads.  I didn't set out to make it an official bibliography site.  Just wanted simple entries, and then links to Amazon, if the reader needs more information.  If you are looking to discover new authors (or older, established authors) who write vampire romance, you can search the list, and I promise you will be amazed how many titles there are.  Other categories are Mystery, Sci/Fi, Non-Fiction, Young Adult, Movies/TV, and more. 



Q: How can readers contact you?

Michele:   I'm pretty good about answering email, so you can email me directly at toastfaery@gmail.com.  Also find me at VampChix, or my personal blog: blog.michelehauf.com.  I've a couple Facebooks pages (I know, I seriously have too many blogs and other online sites).  I'm all over the place. 

Q: Anything else you would like to add?

Michele:  Just that I love how readers have been embracing my Beautiful Creatures world and the various stories in it.  I love hearing from readers, and I hope to continue to write stories I enjoy reading (fingers crossed readers enjoy them!) for a long time to come.



PVN: Many thanks for the interview, Michele!

Readers please note - Michele is giving away her short story, The Sin Eater's Promise, which is in the Of Angels & Demons series.  Go here to download the pdf or read online:  http://www.michelehauf.com/tsep.html

CONTEST

*Michele is generously providing one lucky winner with a copy of  Seducing the Vampire

*To enter the contest simply comment on Michele's post.

*The giveaway is limited to US residents only.

*Be sure your email address is associated with your comment.

*Contest ends January 12, 2011 at 11:59 EST

The Radleys - Vampire Book Review

The Radleys
by Matt Haig
Free Press, December 2010

Dark humor pervades this entertaining vampire family soap opera. While Helen was engaged to Peter Radley, his rougish brother Will  secretly whisks her off for one sex filled, "vampire conversion" night in Paris. Helen discovers she is pregnant and tells Peter the baby is his. This happened 17 years ago. That is when the Radleys (Helen and Peter) decided to live like normal people and follow the guidelines set down by the Abstainer's Handbook, a book written for those who no longer wish to live the traditional vampire life. Complications arise as their two children Rowan - biological son of Will, and daughter Clara begin to acquire vampire characteristics. Clara is the first to change when one night a thuggish classmate attacks her. The fangs erupt on their own and Clara does what any vampire lass would naturally do - she drains him dry. This is when Helen finally agrees with Peter that it is time to explain their heritage to the children.

At first the Radleys seem to be a terribly dysfunctional family, but soon enough each of them shows a depth not apparent in the beginning. They learn to pull together when outside forces attempt to destroy them. Ultimately this is a story about family and love.

[A version of this review appeared in the October, 2010 issue of Library Journal]

December Vampire Releases

Happy Holidays to everyone! Below you'll find new vampire books published in December - plus a couple of November titles that somehow slipped by last month.

Remember to check out SciFiGuy's list of December Paranormal and Urban Fantasy titles.

Ascension 

by Caris Roane
St. Martin's Paperbacks; Original edition (December 28, 2010)

Alison Wells is no ordinary woman. Born with supernatural powers, she can never make love to a man without putting him in grave danger. But when her special vision reveals  a glorious muscled man soaring overhead on mighty wings, she feels an overwhelming attraction she cannot resist—even as he tells her: “I have come for you. Your blood belongs to me.”

Kerrick is a vampire and a warrior who has fought his hunger for a woman’s love for the past two hundred years. As a Guardian of Ascension, he is sworn to protect Alison from the death vamp armies who crave her blood and her power. But Kerrick has cravings of his own—a forbidden longing to open his heart and veins to Alison. To share his blood…satisfy his thirst…and seal their fates forever.

Biting the Bride
by Clare Willis
Kensington, Dec. 7, 2010

Sunni Marquette has always been a little different. There's the whole mind-reading thing, for a start, which comes in useful for a criminal defense attorney. Except that lately, Sunni keeps encountering people who are immune to her gift. Like Jacob Eddington, the star witness in her latest case. And her best friend Isabel's new fiance, Richard Lazarus, who's as sinister as Jacob is attractive. Not that Sunni intends to interfere - until she learns that Richard is a vampire who's made a centuries-long career of marrying wealthy women, then killing them for their inheritance.

Sunni is convinced Jacob is a vampire, too, and that he's her only chance of saving Isabel. With his help, she'll discover powers she never knew she possessed, an enemy who's closer than she could have ever guessed, and the kind of love that's worth staking everything on - if she can just stay alive long enough to enjoy it...

Blood Prophecy
by Stefan Petrucha
Grand Central Publishing; 1 edition (November 1, 2010)

Man and monster are in his blood. . .

His name is Jeremiah Fall. A soldier of fortune, he has been fighting his own war for 150 years--ever since the beast in him was born.

Desperate to restore his lost humanity, Fall crosses the sands of Egypt, discovers a lost city off the coast of France, and finally arrives at the birthplace of all mankind. Shunning daylight and feeding only when he must, he battles the monster who transformed him forever. He can share his deepest secret with no one . . . not even the beautiful woman he starts to love, the only human who grasps the mysteries of an ebony stone as old as creation itself.

Across the world, across time, Fall seeks the stone's secret. But has he found a cure for himself or unleashed a final curse on all mankind? 

Bloody Valentine (A Blue Bloods Book) (Blue Bloods Novel)
by Melissa de la Cruz
Hyperion Book CH (December 28, 2010)
[Young Adult]

Vampires have powers beyond human comprehension: strength that defies logic, speed that cannot be captured on film, the ability to shapeshift and more. But in matters of the heart, no one, not even the strikingly beautiful and outrageously wealthy Blue Bloods, has total control.

In Bloody Valentine, bestselling author Melissa de la Cruz offers readers a new story about the love lives of their favorite vamps - the passion and heartache, the hope and devastation, the lust and longing. Combined with all the glitz, glamour, and mystery fans have come to expect, this is sure to be another huge hit in the Blue Bloods series.

Christmas with a Vampire: A Christmas Kiss\The Vampire Who Stole Christmas\Sundown\Nothing Says Christmas Like a Vampire\Unwrapped (Hqn)
by Merline Lovelace, Lori Devoti, Linda Winstead Jones, Lisa Childs, Bonnie Vanak
HQN Books (December 1, 2010)

Prepare for an exhilarating journey across the boundary of death into a shadowy, daring new world. As darkness falls on another year, five fanged rebels are ready to celebrate like never before.

It's a time for bloodlust and stolen kisses, for clandestine bites and forming new bonds beneath the mistletoe. Succumb to the forbidden as these powerful vampires give you a Christmas you'll never forget….

Fang-Tastic Fiction
Patricia O'Brian
Amer Library Assn Editions (December 15, 2010)

What's good besides Twilight?

Answer frequently asked questions such as this with the help of Mathews engaging tour through today's spooky lit. Readers will be able to search "read-alike" lists for series featuring their favorite "creatures" with up-to-date, chronological lists of series titles and summaries. Librarians will be able to suggest a multitude of adventures starring angst-ridden heartthrobs, superheroes, and champions. Focused exclusively on the best of the best, this lively readers advisory

• Rates each series on a scale of 1 - 5 for levels of violence, sensuality, and humor
• Contains more than 200 annotated entries
• Enables book selection by type, character, series, and author
• Lists all the volumes in a favorite series together and offers numerous read-alikes
•  Designed to keep librarians and readers up-to-date with the hottest contemporary supernatural beings in adult literature, Fang-tastic Fiction is both fun to read and easy to use. 

Incubus (Harlequin Nocturne)
by Janet Elizabeth Jone
Harlequin (December 21, 2010)

To save his kind, Meical Grabian agrees to participate in a dangerous experiment. One that takes his vampire's thirst for blood and leaves him hungering for something new. An incubus can be sated only with passion—but what woman could love what he's become?

Yet when Caroline Bengal finds him abandoned in a snowy wood, she senses his emotional turmoil and brings him to her desolate cabin. Caroline's compassion and earthy beauty tempt the hunger Meical has desperately been keeping at bay. And soon Meical is visiting Caroline's dreams, seducing his prey while she sleeps.

But another predator has set his sights on Caroline, with more sinister intentions. If Meical is ever to reveal his true nature to Caroline, he'll have to earn her trust…and keep her alive.

Killing Rocks (Bloodhound Files)
by D D Barant
St. Martin's Paperbacks; First Edition edition (December 28, 2010)

The Bloodhound Files is about a world where the supernatural races—vampires, werewolves and golems—are the dominant civilization. Human beings make up just one percent of the population and are considered a federally protected endangered species. The main character, Jace Valchek, is an FBI profiler from our world, specializing in deranged killers. She gets yanked into this parallel universe for her skills—the supernaturals are immune to mental diseases as well as physical ones, so they have no experience with craziness.

Last Sacrifice: A Vampire Academy Novel
by Richelle Mead
Razorbill (December 7, 2010)

The epic finale in Richelle Mead's #1 international bestselling Vampire Academy series.

Lone Wolf
by Karen Whiddon
Harlequin (December 21, 2010)

Disillusioned from his time serving as a Protector under a corrupt Council, Anton Beck has vowed to have nothing to do with anything Pack. He is looking forward to a few months of peace and quiet deep in the Big Bend Mountains of Texas. That quiet is shattered when he's abducted and held captive with none other than his ex-lover-turned-nemesis, Vampire Huntress Marika. But that's not all. She bore his miracle child. And that child has been taken….

It becomes clear that an ancient Vampire priestess is behind the kidnapping, but why? To exploit the child's rare gifts? In a race against time, two former lovers must overcome bitterness and broken hearts in order to save their daughter—and save themselves in the process.

March in Country: A Novel of the Vampire Earth
by E.E. Knight
Roc Hardcover (December 7, 2010)

The race is on to claim the area between the Ohio River and Tennessee. What's left of the resistance is hiding out in the tangle of central Kentucky hills- leaving the powerful, well-organized Kurian vampires the opportunity to fill the void.

Major David Valentine knows there's only one way for them to find help before the Kurians settle in: a desperate dash by hijacked rail, followed by a harrowing river journey.

Valentine unites friends old and new in the effort- but the Kurian Order won't easily yield the blood-soaked Kentucky soil.

My Fair Succubi 
by Jill Myles
Pocket Star; Original edition (December 28, 2010)

IT SUCKS TO BE HER.

Living as a succubus has a bit of a learning curve, but with sexy fallen angel Noah to scratch her sensual Itch, Jackie Brighton is finally starting to feel ahead of the game. She almost doesn’t miss her gorgeous vampire master Zane—or his sinful, teasing mouth. She’s trying to convince herself of that, anyway.

But Jackie’s past mistakes catch up with her, spinning her life out of control once more. Just as her friend Remy’s inner demon comes out to play, Noah and Jackie are arrested by the angelic Serim Council. When Jackie seizes the chance to escape, she falls right into Zane’s waiting arms. As she’s pulled into a game of cat and mouse between vampires and angels, she finds she must also choose between the two men in her life. Can she decide between Noah and Zane, or will she lose everything she’s ever wanted? Because there’s more at stake than just her heart. . . .

Night of the Vampires
Heather Graham
HQN Books; Original edition (November 23, 2010)

As a soldier, Cole Granger fights to restore peace to a world divided by war and evil. His extraordinary talents are enlisted to prevent the president's horrific premonition from becoming reality. Nothing—and no one—will stop him from fulfilling his duty. Especially the mysterious young woman who claims to be his comrade's sister. Enemy or ally, he can't yet determine. But one thing he knows for certain is that he must keep her close. Very close.

Megan Fox's quest to uncover a family secret leads her to the center of vampire riots in West Virginia. To find the answers she needs—and clear herself of suspicion—she must join forces with Cole. They work undercover to bring justice, but they can't disguise the potent attraction and need that draw them together. Yet trust doesn't come easily for Cole…and when Megan unearths the grim, dark truth, can she trust him to believe her?

The Ninja Vampire's Girl
by Michele Hauf
Harlequin Nocturne Bites, Dec 1, 2010
Miniseries: Of Angels and Demons

Coco Stevens has a taste for adventure—enough to risk stealing a halo from a Fallen angel to help her sister. But she never imagined her mission would land her in the arms of a scarred—but still dangerously sexy—vampire!
Zane is on his own quest to hunt a Fallen angel, and will do whatever it takes to win...including bite the interfering Coco. Even if it joins them by an erotic bond that warms both vampire and mortal's blood with desire...

The Radleys
Matt Haig
Simon and Schuster Dec. 2010

Just about everyone knows a family like the Radleys. Many of us grew up next door to one. They are a modern family, averagely content, averagely dysfunctional, living in a staid and quiet suburban English town. Peter is an overworked doctor whose wife, Helen, has become increasingly remote and uncommunicative. Rowan, their teenage son, is being bullied at school, and their anemic daughter, Clara, has recently become a vegan. They are typical, that is, save for one devastating exception: Peter and Helen are vampires and have—for seventeen years—been abstaining by choice from a life of chasing blood in the hope that their children could live normal lives.


One night, Clara finds herself driven to commit a shocking—and disturbingly satisfying—act of violence, and her parents are forced to explain their history of shadows and lies. A police investigation is launched that uncovers a richness of vampire history heretofore unknown to the general public. And when the malevolent and alluring Uncle Will, a practicing vampire, arrives to throw the police off Clara’s trail, he winds up throwing the whole house into temptation and turmoil and unleashing a host of dark secrets that threaten the Radleys’ marriage.


The Radleys is a moving, thrilling, and radiant domestic novel that explores with daring the lengths a parent will go to protect a child, what it costs you to deny your identity, the undeniable appeal of sin, and the everlasting, iridescent bonds of family love. Read it and ask what we grow into when we grow up, and what we gain—and lose—when we deny our appetites.

Real Vampires Have More to Love

by Gerry Bartlett
Berkley Trade; Original edition (December 7, 2010)

Dangerous curves lie ahead in the latest hilarious novel from the national bestselling author of Real Vampires Hate Their Thighs.

Glory St. Clair is a vampire with man trouble. Between her on-again, off-again lover Jeremy Blade, smoking hot rock star Ray Caine, and former bodyguard turned apartment mate Valdez, there's enough man-candy around to make even a gal with a liquid diet feel a sugar rush.

Glory's got no time to enjoy it, though, considering that she's in the middle of planning her best friend's wedding. And let's not forget that there happens to be a hit on her head, thanks to when she took out a techno-freak billionaire. Now, between planning a bachlorette party and dodging stakes, Glory has to decide which man she really wants, before her love life meets an early grave... 

THE SECRET LIFE OF ELIZABETH TUDOR, VAMPIRE SLAYER 
as told by Lucy Weston
(Gallery Books, December 21, 2010

Sovereign Power. Eternal Pleasure.

Revealed at last in this new vampire saga for the ages: the true, untold story of the “Virgin Queen” and her secret war against the Vampire King of England. . . .
On the eve of her coronation, Elizabeth Tudor is summoned to the tomb of her mother, Anne Boleyn, to learn the truth about her bloodline—and her destiny as a Slayer. Born to battle the bloodsucking fiends who ravage the night, and sworn to defend her beloved realm against all enemies, Elizabeth soon finds herself stalked by the most dangerous and seductive vampire of all.

He is Mordred, bastard son of King Arthur, who sold his soul to destroy his father. After centuries in hiding, he has arisen determined to claim the young Elizabeth as his Queen. Luring her into his world of eternal night, Mordred tempts Elizabeth with the promise of everlasting youth and beauty, and vows to protect her from all enemies. Together, they will rule over a golden age for vampires in which humans will exist only to be fed upon. Horrified by his intentions, Elizabeth embraces her powers as a Slayer even as she realizes that the greatest danger comes from her own secret desire to yield to Mordred . . . to bare her throat in ecstasy and allow the vampire king to drink deeply of her royal blood.

As told by Lucy Weston, the vampire prey immortalized in Bram Stoker’s Dracula, this spellbinding account will capture your heart and soul—forever.

Vampire Christmas

You better watch out!

Paige Tyler - Guest blog and Contest

Please welcome author Paige Tyler who writes terrific erotic romances with a paranormal flare. In the following post she tells readers some behind the scenes workings of a writer's mind plus an excerpt of her new book Dead Sexy.

Paige is also offering one lucky reader a copy of her ebook EROTIC EXPOSURE. Needless to say this novel includes adult content. For those 18 years and older.

[see contest details at end of post]
[This contest has ended thanks to everyone who participated]

HOW A ZOMBIE SOME LOVE!

Thanks so much for letting me guest blog today!

Readers often ask me how I come up with ideas for my books, so I thought I'd give you a little behind-the-scenes peek at how I came up with my new release, a paranormal erotic romance from Ellora's Cave called DEAD SEXY.

Before I say anything else though, isn't that cover too hot for words?!  When the art department sent it to me, I probably gazed at it for a good ten minutes in mouth-drooling appreciation before I could email them back telling the artist it not only rocked, but totally fit the book.  The hero is "Dead Sexy," after all!

Okay, back to the story and how I came up with it.  First, to set the stage, I need to share a little something with you about myself.  Well, about my hubby and me, actually.  We love zombie movies, from the George Romero gems to Shaun of the Dead and everything in between, including "Walking Dead," the new series on AMC.  You just can't go wrong with  a movie full of walking dead people, can you?  Well, if you've ever seen a zombie movie (or even you haven't), then you know the creatures aren't the heroes of the film.  I mean, how can they be, right?  They're all dead and decayed and downright unattractive, not to mention pretty damn scary.  Which was why you can imagine my surprise when my hubby suggested I write an erotic romance about a zombie hero.  I was like, you're kidding, right?  What woman in her right mind would fall in love with a dead guy?  No way could that possibly work, or so I thought.

Turns out, my hubby wasn't kidding.  In fact, he started working up ideas for the story.

"The hero didn't have to be a zombie all the time," he told me. "Think outside the box - take a little literary license!"

Okay, I thought. I suppose I could be open minded. 

My hubby told me that in his out-of-the-box world, the hunky hero got cursed by an evil Voodoo priestess and only turns into a zombie sometimes. 

"I'm listening," I said.

"And when he does go zombie, he doesn't have to be like the kind in the movies," my hubby added.  "Well, he has to look like one, you know all dead and stuff, but he doesn't have to be a mindless creature or attack humans or eat anything gross."

So, brains are completely out, thanks goodness!

"Think Jensen Ackles or Jared Padelecki, with a really, really, really dark tan - (yes, my hubby knows I've got a thing for the Supernatural hunks!) - well, maybe more gray and black than tan, but you get the idea."

I thought about that for a minute.  "So, the hero's dead, but he's still sexy, is that what you're saying?"

"Exactly," he said, giving me a grin as my eyes lit up with understanding.

By that point, my hubby had pretty much sold me on the idea.  Of course, I knew if I ran with it, I was going to have to sell it to a publisher, and I knew that could be tough since the hero is a zombie. But I ran with it anyway and ended up with a full-length novel.  And it came out pretty damn good, if I do say so myself!  I still had to find a publisher for it, though.

About this same time, It just so happens that several of my other books were in the process of being picked up by Ellora's Cave and I thought what the heck?  Why not pitch it to my editor there and see what she thinks?  So I did, and she told me to send it to her.  She was interested to see how I handled the whole zombie-thing.  Well, long story, short, she liked it.  A lot!  My zombie romance with it's dead-sexy hero had a home!  I was thrilled and my hubby walked around for a week with a smug, "I-told-you-so" look on his face.

I've been getting the word out there about DEAD SEXY ever since I signed the contract for it and I'm thrilled with the interest from readers who can't wait to get their hands on it!  I can't wait for them to read it, too! 

Now that I've revealed the story behind the story, I thought I'd share the blurb and an excerpt just to whet your appetite for more!


Blurb:

Romance author Simone Kent thinks she might just have found the most perfect guy in all of New York City - in bed and out. But Drake Parrish is about as far from perfect as any man can get. Eight years ago, he was cursed by an evil Voodoo priestess to live part of his life as a zombie. Since then, he has lived like a recluse on New York’s Upper East Side, afraid to go out for fear he’ll suddenly turn into one of the walking dead.

The sex is the hottest either of them has ever experienced and Simone discovers just how naughty she can be with Drake, while he finds himself feeling things for her that he hasn’t felt in a very long time. When the Voodoo priestess learns of their relationship, however, she comes after him again. She is determined to make sure he won’t have a future with Simone, even if that means killing both him and the woman he loves.



Excerpt:

As she led him up the steps to the second floor, Drake found himself wondering if she would ask him in. And wondering what he’d say if she did. When they came to a stop outside the door to her apartment, Simone turned to give him a smile.

“I had a great time tonight.”

“Me, too.”

She caught her bottom lip between her perfect white teeth and chewed on it thoughtfully as if unsure what she wanted to say next. It was probably an unconscious gesture, something she did whenever she was thinking, but to him, it was sexy as hell and all he could think about was kissing her.

Surely, one kiss couldn’t hurt. He desperately wanted to. He hadn’t kissed a woman in so long. It would be nice to see if he still remembered how.

Before he could stop himself, Drake tilted Simone’s face up to his and pressed his mouth to hers.

She tasted just as sweet and delicious as he thought she would. Her lips were soft and pliant under his as she kissed him back, her tongue eagerly seeking his out.

Drake groaned and slid his hand into her hair, deepening the kiss. Simone sighed into his mouth, running her hands up the front of his shirt to grasp his shoulders. The feel of her touch was like a tonic to his deprived soul and he let out another groan, deeper this time.

He ran his free hand up her side and around to her breast, cupping it through the soft material of her dress. He couldn’t stop himself and apparently, Simone didn’t want him to. She moaned and arched against him. He could feel the heat of her pussy through their clothes as she pressed up against his hard cock. Damn, she felt good.

Drake drew her bottom lip into his mouth and gently suckled on it before slowly kissing his way along the delicate curve of her jaw. Simone clutched his shoulders and tilted her head back. He eagerly trailed a path of hot kisses down her neck, then back up, his mouth finding hers again. Simone looped her arms around his neck, pulling him in even closer as their tongues met.

Down the hall, a door slammed, reminding him where they were.

Drake dragged his mouth away from hers, his breathing ragged as he tried to regain control. He had to get it together because he was about five seconds away from doing something really stupid. Like taking her to bed. “I should go.”

Her lips curved into a sexy, flirtatious smile. “Or you could stay.”

God, how he wanted to. But as much as he’d love to spend the rest of the night exploring every inch of her body, he couldn’t take the chance he might go zombie on her right in the middle of sex. Talk about coitus interruptus, And it had already been almost four days since he last turned, which meant he was already pushing his luck.

“You don’t know how much I want to,” he groaned. “But I can’t.”

Simone looked up at him with those big, blue eyes. “Why not?”

“Because I…” He hesitated, trying to come up with something that would sound believable. “I have a column due in the morning and I haven’t even started on it yet.” She knew all about deadlines, so she would understand that. Besides, he did have a column to write, it just wasn’t due until next week. “Rain check?”

She looked disappointed, but she smiled anyway. “Absolutely. How does coming over for dinner tomorrow night sound?”

It would be crazy to agree when he could be so close to having an episode, but he couldn’t say no. Not when she asked in that soft, sultry voice. “Sounds great.”

“Good. Be here at seven.”

“Seven it is.”

She pulled him down for another long, slow kiss on the mouth. “Don’t be late.”

His mouth twitched. “I won’t.” He bent his head to kiss her again, then groaned. “If I don’t go now, I’ll be here all night.”

Simone laughed. “Would that be such a bad thing?”

“Not to me, but my editor at Money Issues might not be too understanding when he doesn’t find my column sitting in his inbox tomorrow.”

She sighed. “Deadlines can be a real pain in the butt sometimes. Okay, go home and write your column. I’ll cuddle up with a bowl of ice cream instead.”

He chuckled. “Sounds better than taking a cold shower, which is what I’m going to be doing when I get home.” He closed his mouth over hers once more. “See you tomorrow night, beautiful.”

Resisting the urge to pull her into his arms again, Drake turned and walked down the hallway toward the stairwell. At the top of the steps, he glanced over his shoulder to see Simone standing where he’d left her, a sexy curve to her lips.

It took every ounce of strength he possessed not to go back and pin her against the door for one more long, lingering kiss. God, what he wouldn’t give to spend the night with her. Man, it was going to take more than a cold shower to get her out of his head.



Hope you enjoyed the excerpt and that you can't wait to read more! You can get DEAD SEXY from Ellora's Cave

You can also check out the trailer here!


If you decide to pick up DEAD SEXY, let me know how you like it!

Contest

*One lucky ADULT (18 years or older) reader will win a copy of the ebook EROTIC EXPOSURE

*To enter the contest simply  make a comment on Paige's post.

*The contest is open internationally.

*Contest ends Dec. 31 at midnight PST.

Lucy Weston - Guest Blog and Contest

 

The Secret History of Elizabeth Tudor, Vampire Slayer 

by Lucy Weston

Gallery; Original edition (December 21, 2010)

[below is an essay by Ms Weston about the secret journals of Elizabeth I of England]

[The contest portion has ended. Thanks to everyone who participated!]

When  the secret journals of Elizabeth Tudor, hidden for centuries, were first put into my hands, I had no idea what I would find in them.  Although I had sought the journals for many years--and in the end paid dearly for them--I doubted that they could be as frank and true an account of the Queen’s reign as I hoped. But happily,  Elizabeth has proven to be even more forthright and courageous in the recording of her life than history has shown her to be in her actions. 

As she resided at the Tower on the eve of her coronation, Elizabeth tells us that she was approached by men she thought she knew well--two of her most trusted advisors--who astonished her by revealing that they were members of a secret, arcane society sworn to protect her.  At their insistence, she allowed them to lead her to her mother’s grave hidden deep within the precincts of the Tower.  There Elizabeth experienced an unearthly transformation that awakened her powers as the first vampire slayer born in a thousand years.

Not surprisingly, Elizabeth reveals that she had great difficulty accepting her new identity.  But her first encounter with Mordred, the king of the Vampires, changed all that.  As tempted as she was by his promises of eternal young and beauty if she would become his queen, Elizabeth was determined to protect her realm from all enemies--both mortal and immortal.  She assumed that she knew who those enemies were, but she was about to discover that nothing was as she expected.

Embracing her powers as a vampire slayer, Elizabeth learns almost too late that they come at a very high price.  As enemies close in around her and the fate of her realm hangs in the balance, the young queen faces a choice that will change both her life and the course of history forever.

My own choice to bring “The Secret History of Elizabeth Tudor, Vampire Slayer” to the public notice has also brought about great changes in my life.  From the moment I was transformed into a vampire more than a century ago, I have sought vengeance for what was done to me.  But now, heeding the voice of a queen wise beyond her years, I can only hope that the revelation of the true role vampires have played in human affairs will lead to a new, better accord between humans and vampires alike.

Lucy Weston

Follow Lucy on Twitter http://twitter.com/Lucy_Weston and at http://www.lucywestonvampire.com/lucyweston/

CONTEST

*Lucy is generously providing three lucky winners with a copy of  Elizabeth Tudor, Vampire Slayer

*To enter the contest simply comment on Lucy's post.

*The giveaway is limited to US residents only.

*Be sure your email address is associated with your comment.

*Contest ends Dec. 31, 2010 midnight PST.

Jamie Wasserman Interview and Contest

I recently read Blood and Sunlight by a fabulous new writer of vampire fiction, Jamie Wasserman. He also happens to live nearby in the historic town of Ellicott City, Md (not far from Baltimore), one of my favorite places to roam. I'm so happy to have Jamie here to tell you about himself and his new book.

[2 lucky readers will win a copy of Blood and Sunlight. See details at end of post]


PVN: Would you describe the characters of Melanie and Keenan the main characters of Blood and Sunlight?

Jamie:  Melanie is a troubled 23-year old who feels trapped in her hometown of Ellicott City. At heart, she's a romantic but does nothing to try to achieve her dreams. Instead, she latches onto whatever comforts are available-- whether it be sex, drinking, or drugs.

Keenan is a two-hundred year old vampire who first came to Ellicott City to work on the railroad. He's making his best effort at being human. He's desperately lonely but ever optimistic. He's found a comfortable existence but rarely takes chances.



PVN: In Blood and Sunlight: A Maryland Vampire Story  mention is made of The Vampire His Kith and Kin by Montague Summers? How does this book figure into your story and/or your research?


Jamie: Montague Summers is probably the only modern writer to make a serious study of vampires as a real creature. Before that you'd have to go back to the 1600's to find anything credible. He not only describes the vampire in detail but presents historical accounts of encounters with vamps and methods to dispatch them. My would-be slayer in the book takes this book as his 'bible', adding his own mythology along the way. As a writer, I drew heavily on Summers' work as well.



PVN:  The novel's setting is historic Ellicott City, MD which is also your home town. Would you describe the town to PVN readers? and explain why you used it as the background for the novel.

Jamie: Ellicott City is a former mill town surrounded by woods and rock and rivers and streams. The buildings and churches still look period though regular fires and flooding continue to take their toll on the area. Beyond that, the town is filled with wonderful ruins, strange legends and hauntings. For a writer, it's a place rife with possibilities.

Ellicott City was also my old stomping grounds as a teenager. I spent a lot of time sneaking around the grounds of the old monastery (Hell House in the book), drinking on the dillpapadated steps of the burned out girl's school, or hanging out smoking cigarettes on Main Street. The place has a secluded other-worldly feel that lends itself perfectly to a gothic re-telling of the vampire myth.


PVN: What are the characteristics of the vampires in your universe?

Jamie: I included the staple-- the need for blood. Animal blood will do but it's not as potent as human and requires that my vamps drink more often. Though not contained in traditional folklore, sunlight (and fire) is extremly harmful to them. I love the old Hammer films of the 60's with Christopher Lee and sunlight figured often in dispatching the vamp.

A simple taste of blood is enough to turn a person but not everyone comes over the same way-- each person is affected differently. Some are driven mad with it, their body quickly exhausts itself, while others seem to adapt perfectly. I went into the book thinking of vampirism as almost a blood disease and wanted to treat it as such.

My vampires are maddeningly fast and strong but also very human-- they make mistakes. They are not cold and calculating killers...but they can be. They can't read minds but they do have some power over the brain and a unique way of 'sharing' memories.



PVN: What attracts you to the paranormal?

Jamie: You know, I've never really thought about that. Ever since I was a kid I enjoyed monster movies and ghost stories. If I'm being honest with myself, I guess my interest in the paranormal is an escape, wanting to believe that there is more here than just what's on the surface.



PVN: Describe your writing day and your writing environment.

Jamie: I work a full-time day job and have two kids and another one on the way. Time is not my friend. I've learned to fit in writing whenever I can--on my lunch, in the morning when I first wake up, just before bed. When I take trips for work, the laptop goes with me. I'm always making notes or thinking of new scenes or ways to fix old ones.

I'm positively green with envy over writers who have the luxury of doing nothing but writing.



PVN: Which books or authors have inspired you?

Jamie: Way too many- Poppy Z. Brite, Neil Gaiman, Charlaine Harris, Bram Stoker, Caitlin Kiernan, Let the Right One In, Stephen King, Light at the End by John Spektor, Anne Sexton, Sylvia Plath, Anais Nin, Lola Haskins, and so many more. I devour books.



PVN: Please tell us about your current projects.

Jamie: I just finished a serialized novella on the Kindle Boards about a vampire guppy. Penumbra Publishing, the wonderful small press that did Blood and Sunlight, is going to make it available for free for Kindle Readers and on Smashwords in various formats. It's obviously a light-hearted story.

I'm also about 2/3 of the way through another novel. Vampires, of course, because I haven't gotten them out of my system but this one is more of a romance. A sequel to Blood and Sunlight is next on my list and I've already mapped out a basic story line.



PVN: How can readers contact you?

Jamie: They may visit my website: www.jamiewasserman.com, join my Facebook group, or email directly: wassermj@gmail.com. I love hearing from readers!



PVN: Anything else you would like to add?

Jamie: Just thank you. Small press and Indie writers survive largely on word of mouth and blogs like this and readers like you play a big part in that.

Also, if anyone is in the area and would like a tour of Ellicott City, drop me a line!

CONTEST

Two lucky readers will win a copy of Blood and Sunlight

To enter the contest email Jamie at wassermj@gmail.com

   put PATRICIA'S VAMPIRE NOTES CONTEST  in the subject heading 


The contest is open to US and Canadian residents.

Contest ends December 21 at midnight PST.