Today is the last day to enter the contest for a copy of Dracula In Love by Karen Essex.
Go HERE and leave a comment.
Good luck!
Showing posts with label paranormal fiction. Show all posts
Showing posts with label paranormal fiction. Show all posts
Oct 31, 2011
Dracula In Love Contest
Today is the last day to enter the contest for a copy of Dracula In Love by Karen Essex.
Go HERE and leave a comment.
Good luck!
Jun 21, 2011
Brendan P. Myers - Author Guest Blog and Contest
(By Light Unseen Media, May 15, 2011) Brendan will discuss the writing of his recently published vampire novel and will offer a signed copy of the book to one lucky commenter. [see contest details at end of post]I remember years ago, reading a quote by Stephen King, in which he said what he did was something akin to being a paleontologist, finding that first small bit of bone sticking up out of the ground, then lovingly and painstakingly brushing away all that dust and dirt until the entire skeleton – in his case, a completed story – had been unearthed.
I think what he meant by that is often, even he has no idea where a story is going until he sits down and writes it. Of all the stories I’ve written, “Applewood” comes closest to my experiencing what King was talking about.
For example, I didn’t even know there were vampires in it until they showed up (though once they did, it explained a lot.) What I had in the beginning were ruminations on growing up in a small town, and reflections on the friends I managed to make. I had some sketches about a place where you couldn’t take a step or two without tripping over some piece of history or other, a place very much like the town where I grew up.
“Applewood” begins with a man coming home to a neighborhood that’s now abandoned and fenced off from the outside world. When I wrote it, I had no idea why he was coming home or why his neighborhood had been abandoned, but I was very curious to find out. He returns to the house where he grew up, and memories begin flooding back.
It turned out, he didn’t have an easy time of it growing up. Compounding the natural awkwardness of adolescence, his mother had recently died, and his father taken to drink. He’s been experiencing strange visions, flashbacks to times and places he has no business knowing about. Though he’s been blessed with a couple of close friends, they’re all mostly outcasts, bullied by the adults in their lives and by their peers, who run roughshod over their town, their school, and their lives
When to my surprise the vampires did arrive in “Applewood,” making the lives of my characters even harder than they were, I was determined to do what I could for them. There would be no wet nighttime feedings or bloody daytime stakings. I would ensure that none of my beloved secondary characters would succumb to the onslaught, and my main characters – the friends I had so lovingly crafted over long weeks and months – were not in any way to be maimed or killed (or worse) by the outbreak.
Alas, the book had other plans; the bones of this particular dinosaur had a shape of its own.
I had an awfully good time writing it. I hope you have a good time reading it. If you like traditional, 1970s, non-sparkly vampire mayhem, if you enjoyed “The Lost Boys” and are partial to coming-of-age fare like “Stand by Me,” then “Applewood” may just be the book for you.
Most sincere thanks for reading.
CONTEST
* Brendan is offering a copy of Applewood to one lucky reader.
* Leave a comment for Brendan about this post for a chance to win.
* Be sure contact information is included with your comment.
* Contest ends June 28 2011 at 11:59pm EST
* Contest is limited to US and Canada
May 20, 2011
APPLEWOOD by Brendan P. Myers - Book Announcement
by Brendan P. Myers
By Light Unseen Media, May 15, 2011
It's starting again...
Scott Dugan returns to the long-abandoned neighborhood of Applewood in the small Massachusetts town of Grantham where he grew up, after an old friend calls him about a mutilated body with very familiar characteristics.
In the early 1980s, Dugan and his friends were junior high school students struggling with family problems, school bullies and growing pains. They slowly realize that an ancient evil has reawakened in the heart of their community--an evil brought home by returning Civil War veterans a century earlier. As their neighbors start to disappear, the boys come to grips with the fact that vampires are real, and only they know what's actually going on. Stopping the destruction of their home, if it's even possible, will only come at a terrible price.
Although not exclusively a YA novel, Applewood will appeal to young male readers because of the age of the central protagonists. The author is a Massachusetts native and the story is filled with local and historical detail.
More information, and a sample chapter, are available at http://bylightunseenmedia.com/apple.htm.
PVN: By Light Unseen Media is a small press which publishes "Vampire stories for every taste". It is owned and operated by Inanna Arthen [aka vyrdolak] who is a recognized expert in vampire folklore, media and culture.
*Read a review of Gideon Redoak by Anne Fraser (By Light Unseen Media, Aug. 15, 2009).
*Read a review of Mortal Touch by Inanna Arthen (By Light Unseen Media, 2007).
May 18, 2011
Michael J Martineck - Guest Blog, Vote Tour, and Contest
If you wish to support Michael in his quest to win the award, and would like to vote, you can do so by visiting www.albertareaderschoice.ca , selecting Cinco de Mayo
and pushing vote. You are allowed to vote once every 24 hours from any IP address. Once you have voted, please tweet “Viva Cinco de Mayo! I voted for it. Join all of us in supporting Cinco – a book for the people of the world!" When we see that, we will know that your vote came from this blog post. CONTEST: One lucky person who posts a question in the comments section will win a signed copy of Cinco de Mayo, sent out at the end of the month. Be certain to include your contact information.
They’re all vampire stories
by Michael J. Martineck
I’m thrilled Patricia’s letting me guest blog - despite the fact that my novel, Cinco de Mayo, hosts no undead – as it gives me the chance to discuss my belief that vampires remain constant in literature because . . . all writers are vampires.
In Cinco de Mayo everyone in the world is suddenly and inexplicably paired with someone else on the planet. Each person receives a full dose of the other’s memories. When asked, people recall two names, two first kisses, two complete lives. The novel follows several pairs as they deal with the new-found intimacy, or try to stay alive. Some people have learned a bit too much.
To write a novel that spans the globe, I had to feed on people I’ve known over the years, friends and acquaintances from across the world. I felt like a vampire, sucking out experiences, feelings, emotions, most of the time from unwitting victims. Hell, I was frequently unwitting. I collected pieces of people’s lives long before I knew I would write this book. I’m betting a lot of writers prey on people they know, overhear on the bus or observe, in a dim restaurant, through the corner of the eye.
This novel is hard to classify – a shot of science fiction, some paranormal, the pace of a thriller – in the end, all novels are the same. They’ve all vampire stories, as written by vampiric writers.
About the book
Cinco de Mayo tells the powerful tales of individuals around the world and their “others”:
A transit worker whose sudden knowledge of one of the leaders of the Aryan nation marks him for death.
A rich playboy from Abu Dhabi who vows to save his “other”, a child slave in a carpet factory in India.
A New York advertising executive who suddenly gets a new view on his own life through the eyes of a blind railroad worker in China.
An abused housewife who suddenly has the skills and knowledge of a Swiss Air Marshall.
There is a Cinco de Mayo story for everyone, a character in this book that you care about, maybe even love…a life that speaks to you and touches your heart.
No matter where you may be…
May 5, 2011
Jeff Bennington - Blog Tour and Contest
A True Ghost Story
By Jeff Bennington
In the fall of 2010, my wife and I went on a weekend getaway with some friends of ours. We rented a really cool cabin in Nashville, Indiana equipped with hot tub, gas grill and pool table! Nestled in a cozy hillside, the joint had a beautiful wraparound porch and an exquisite view of the southern Indiana countryside. The sun shone through the trees, the air felt crisp and cool and I just knew I was in Heaven.
We unpacked, started the gas log and settled into our perfect retreat. We had a fun evening planned of cards and watching horror flicks, but decided to head into the tiny town on Nashville to walk through the many shops and galleries. Before we returned, we planned to stop by the ice cream shop and order one of those humongous sugar cones of hand-dipped ice cream. The evening went as planned and we returned to our cabin ready to warm our bones and watch House on Haunted Hill; a perfect movie for snuggling.
Before I knew it, the other three began to fall asleep and we decided to hit the sack.
A couple hours later, around 2:00 a.m., I woke up dripping with sweat. The upper loft apparently had very little airflow. I felt so flipping hot I couldn’t stand it. My wife slept like a baby. I had to get out of there!
I lumbered down the steps and listened to every creak and crack in the rafters. The wind had decided to begin whistling, and I knew I was in for a royal treat. When I stepped down from the stairway, I peered at the leather couch. It looked so cool and inviting. I imagined sprawling out into its cushiony spread. But then I heard a noise, and quite naturally, I turned my head and at the same time my skin melted off my face.
I didn’t see anything unusual. The open concept left nothing to hide. The stairs opened to the living room, dining room and kitchen. Our friend’s bedroom and bath were the only other rooms, and they were attached to the kitchen. After giving the cabin a final inspection from where I stood, I lay down on the couch, snuggled into my bed sheet and closed my eyes…but the noises continued.
I tried listening, listening really close, but the little squeaks and groans seemed to be coming from every direction. No big deal, I thought. It’s just a cabin. Get over it and just fall asleep. And then, something curious happened. The creaking floorboards began to move closer to me. One at a time I’d hear what sounded like a footstep roll softly across the wood floor, pressing gently down, trying not to be heard. My heart, as you can imagine beat madly in my chest, nearly bursting through my ribcage. I looked through the TV screen to see if there was anyone walking, but I didn’t see anything. Then when this thing, whatever it was, pressed into the floor right next to the couch, I couldn’t take it, I sat up, turned my head toward the open space and heard a voice forcefully whisper, “Heeelllloooo!”
This wasn’t a quiet, don’t let them hear you whisper. Oh, no! This was a, I’m not presently living in your dimension, so I’m screaming at you type of whisper. I panicked, jumping straight up like a cat, nearly falling off the couch. It didn’t help that a globe shape lamp stand stood right beside me! I noticed the silhouette of the lamp as soon as I turned around, adding to my near death experience. Seconds later, I realized that the shape beside me was only a floor lamp, but that didn’t make me feel any better. My heart continued pounding like a sprinters feet in the one-hundred-yard dash.
From that moment on, for at least thirty minutes, I felt an electric energy buzzing through my body and felt as if something had hovered over me, almost nose-to-nose, staring at me. I peered through the corner of my eye but couldn’t see anything—nothing physical anyway. But I knew in the deepest part of my soul that something was there. I felt absolutely petrified, frozen in place, like a freshly discovered icy Neanderthal in the Tibetan icecaps.
My eyes searched for movement, but found nothing. I did see, however, a showy figure moving side to side in the reflection of the microwave door. It was the strangest thing. There were no ceiling fans spinning or curtains waving. Everything stood still…everything except the dancing shadow. At that point, I couldn’t take it anymore. I ran back up the stairs to my personal boiler room and slid under the covers with my wife. Still, I never felt alone.
After several minutes of fighting my fears, I finally fell asleep.
The next morning, I woke to the smell of biscuits and gravy and the sound of coffee percolating in the kitchen. My wife and friends, like myself, were shuffling our feet like the undead, trying our best to navigate with squinted, puffy eyes. We eventually sat down to eat.
In a moment of silence, Sarah, my friend’s wife asked if anyone heard anything in the night. I looked at her curiously and asked why. She said, “Because someone was tugging at our doorknob, off and on, for about an hour sometime around four in the morning.” She thought we had mistaken her room for the bathroom, but she was too tired to get out of bed. I then proceed to tell everyone of my experience, and I affirmed to her, and the other two, that I never left the living room until I ran upstairs, and I never walked toward their bedroom.
We all sort of let our suspicions cool for a while. But then my buddy opened up the guest logbook; the kind that each visitor can leave a message to the cabin owners about their experience. And wouldn’t you know it; the book was filled with story after story about a spirit that inhabited the structure.
Some of the visitors claimed that he was a gentle ghost, mostly curious, and only somewhat troublesome. Others rebuked the owners for not disclosing the fact that malevolent spirits had haunted the cabin. Me? I don’t know what that thing was, but it scared the hell out of me.
The upside of that experience is, when I write supernatural thrillers, I can honestly communicate what it feels like to be petrified by something that you can’t explain. I know what it sounds like when it’s moving toward me. I know that electrifying sensation when a ghost is standing beside me. Also, I know that there are things out there…things we can’t see. But I also know that where there is darkness, there is also light, and that is all I need to know to keep my sanity.
-Jeff Bennington
Author of REUNION and the blog, The Writing Bomb
CONTEST
Thanks for reading. Be sure to “Follow” Patricia’s Vampire Notes, and then (if you like) purchase or donate a copy of REUNION to your library, available in print, Kindle, Nook and all digital formats.
If you comment on today’s post and email me at reunion.kindlegiveaway@yahoo.com, you’ll be eligible to win a Kindle on May 15th. Go to http://www.jeffbennington.com for details.
REUNION Synopsis
David Ray killed eight students and then turned the gun on himself. He thought the shooting and suicide would fix his world. It didn't. The massacre threw Tanner Khan and the other survivors into chaos.
Twenty years later, Tanner and his fellow classmates reluctantly agree to hold a reunion to lay the past to rest. Although they suffer from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, they come back to their hometown and reunite in the defunct school building. Old flames are rekindled, fears are ignited, and their lives are about to explode in a whirlwind of memories, haunted by the spirit of David Ray.
Once inside the old school, they discover that a dark entity has joined them. It has come to collect a debt, long overdue, and someone has to pay. Will Tanner and his classmates overcome their fears and put the pieces of their lives back together, or will they be consumed by their worst nightmare?
Apr 30, 2011
New Vampire Releases for April 2011
There are plenty of choices for romance fans this month with books from Marie Treanor, Michele Hauf, and Kerrelyn Sparks, to name a few. If you're looking for adventure with a touch of humor check out The President's Vampire 
by Christopher Farnsworth. And Twilight fans can rejoice because Stephenie Meyer has produced The Twilight Saga: The Official Illustrated Guide . Whatever your pleasure you are sure to find something for the TBR pile. Enjoy!
Blood Sin: An Awakened By Blood Novel
by Marie Treanor
NAL Trade (April 5, 2011)
The author of Blood on Silk brings readers the next novel in her seductive new Awakened by Blood series.
Months after her dangerous encounter with the vampire overlord Saloman, Scottish academic Elizabeth Silk is still trying to cope with both the demands of her vampire-hunting bloodline-and the desire she feels for Saloman, the immortal she brought back from the grave. But when Saloman's ancient sword becomes the object of a ruthless race between humans and vampires, Elizabeth must decide between unwanted loyalty, or unholy love.
Crimson Dawn
by Ronnie Massey
Copperhill Media April 2011
When vampire Valeria Trumaine comes home one morning to find her father waiting for her, she knows she’s about to get trouble in spades. But she never imagined it would come in the form of her ex-fiancé. Now she must confront old demons and face new possibilities as she struggles to bring the rouge vampire to justice.
After she left him, Valeria avoided Tristan like the plague, but now that he’s gone rogue, she’s going to have to utilize every thing she’s learned as a sentinel to find him.
Department 19
by Will Hill
Razorbill (April, 2011)
Young Adult
Jamie Carpenter's life will never be the same. His father is dead, his mother is missing, and he was just rescued by an enormous man named Frankenstein. Jamie is brought to Department 19, where he is pulled into a secret organization responsible for policing the supernatural, founded more than a century ago by Abraham Van Helsing and the other survivors of Dracula. Aided by Frankenstein's monster, a beautiful vampire girl with her own agenda, and the members of the agency, Jamie must attempt to save his mother from a terrifyingly powerful vampire.
Department 19 takes us through history, across Europe, and beyond - from the cobbled streets of Victorian London to prohibition-era New York, from the icy wastes of Arctic Russia to the treacherous mountains of Transylvania. Part modern thriller, part classic horror, it's packed with mystery, mayhem, and a level of suspense that makes a Darren Shan novel look like a romantic comedy.
Eternal Kiss: Mark of the Vampire
by Laura Wright
Signet (April 5, 2011)
Raised by the Breed, Nicholas Roman wants to stop the Eternal Order of Vampires from controlling his life, and using other males from his bloodline-including possibly his son-for their vicious reign. Only a beautiful vampire stranger can help him. But what are her true motives?
Forever Vampire 
by Michele Hauf
HQN Books (April 19, 2011)
Vail the Unwanted is a pure-blooded vampire. But raised by Faery, he has neither home nor peace, and when his aid is sought in the recovery of a priceless diamond gown, his price is information. Specifically the whereabouts of his accursed father. His goal is revenge, and the supernaturally sexy Lyric, the icy blond vampiress with whom he must work, is a distraction he can't afford.
Outwardly as cold as the diamond dress in which she was kidnapped, Lyric has her own secrets. Desperate to break free from her criminal family, she aligns herself with the brooding Vail. Together they seek justice while each secretly works for freedom and a fresh start. For Lyric that means holding herself apart, even from the smoldering blue-eyed Vail. For Vail, it means a battle to the death for revenge—and for a temptress he can't deny.
The President's Vampire
Christopher Farnsworth
Putnam (April 28, 2011)
The ultimate secret. The ultimate agent. Nathaniel Cade returns.
For 140 years, Nathaniel Cade has been the President's Vampire, sworn to protect and serve his country. Cade's existence is the most closely guarded of White House secrets: a superhuman covert agent who is the last line of defense against nightmare scenarios that ordinary citizens only dream of.
When a new outbreak of an ancient evil-one that he has seen before- comes to light, Cade and his human handler, Zach Barrows, must track down its source. To "protect and serve" often means settling old scores and confronting new betrayals . . . as only a centuries-old predator can.
Ravenous (Clare Point Vampires)
V.K. Forrest (Author)
Kensington (April 1, 2011)
A seduction-gone-wrong leaves vampire Parker Hollis with a new vegetarian lifestyle and on the run from a vengeful witch. Moving to small-town Maggie’s Grove, Parker meets a redheaded dryad with green, leafy blood that draws him in a way he hasn’t experienced in decades. Tree-loving outcast Amara Schwedler has never quite fit in. She’s...As a member of his clan's kill team, Liam McCathal helps rid the world of undesirables. It's the perfect job for a vampire of his talents - except that lately, Liam is getting a little too good at it.
Which is why he's back home to "cool off," when Mai walks into his antique store and changes everything. Liam's not in the habit of making friends - least of all with beautiful, exotic human females. But something about Mai ignites a spark he hasn't felt in over a century. When Mai's uncle is killed and her father threatened, Liam takes on a ruthless crime boss and puts every vampire in Clare Point in danger of discovery. Because Mai's father has secrets too, and Liam is edging ever closer to losing his reputation, his clan, and the woman he would do anything to protect...
Teeth: Vampire Tales
edited by Ellen Datlow and Terri Windling
HarperCollins (April 5, 2011)
Young Adult
Fascinated by vampires?
Then feast on nineteen tantalizing, bite-sized tales exploring the intersections between the living, dead, and undead.
The vampires in these stories range from romantic to chilling to gleeful—and touch on nearly every emotion in between. The one thing they have in common is their desire for blood. . . .
Stories from:
Genevieve Valentine, Steve Berman, Christopher Barzak, Neil Gaiman, Delia Sherman, Garth Nix, Suzy McKee Charnas, Kaaron Warren, Cecil Castellucci, Jeffrey Ford, Nathan Ballingrud, Kathe Koja, Catherynne M. Valente, Melissa Marr, Ellen Kushner, Cassandra Clare, Holly Black, Lucius Shepard, Emma Bull, Tanith Lee
The Twilight Saga: The Official Illustrated Guide 
by Stephenie Meyer
Little, Brown Books for Young Readers (April 12, 2011) (Apr 12, 2011)
Young Adult
This must-have hardcover edition--the only official guide--is the definitive encyclopedic reference to the Twilight Saga and provides readers with everything they need to further explore the unforgettable world Stephenie Meyer created in Twilight, New Moon, Eclipse, Breaking Dawn, and The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner. This comprehensive handbook—essential for every Twilight Saga fan—is full-color throughout with nearly 100 gorgeous illustrations and photographs and with exclusive new material, character profiles, genealogical charts, maps, extensive cross-references, and much more.
Twilight Prophecy (Children of Twilight)
by Maggie Shayne
Mira (April 19, 2011)
According to ancient prophecy, there's only one chance to avert the complete annihilation of the Undead. Twins James William and Brigit Poe, part human, part vampire, believe that they are that chance. In truth, the key lies with the reclusive—and mortal—scholar Lucy Lanfair.
As Armageddon approaches, antivampire sentiment fuels a war neither side can win, driving James to abandon his moral code and draw Lucy into a deadly battle she wants no part of.
But Lucy soon realizes that she holds this powerful immortal's soul in her hands and that it's her destiny not only to stop a war but to save him from his inner darkness. If she fails, his race will die—and so will her heart. Is the power of love strong enough to save the world?
Vampire Dragon (A Works Like Magick Novel)
by Annette Blair
Berkley (Apr 5, 2011)
One the run from the mob, Bronte McBride needs the kind of protection that only the mysterious and handsome bodyguard Darkwyn-a former Roman warrior turned dragon-can give her.
But Bronte's secrets could endanger both of them.
Vampire Mine
by Kerrelyn Sparks
Avon (April 1, 2011)
Nothing on earth can make this vampire fall in love.
After 499 years of existence, Connor Buchanan has arrived at an inescapable conclusion: he is a cold-hearted SOB. He's been watching his friends—those poor romantic fools—plummet off the cliff into love like a dazed herd of sheep. But not Connor. He knows that love leads to nothing but heartache.
Until Marielle . . .
She is an angel cast down from heaven for disobedience. Trapped in mortal form, she finds a protector in Connor, a Scottish vampire haunted by a dark past. Marielle hopes to heal his broken heart and earn her way back home, but suddenly she has these . . . feelings. This strange yet pleasant physical yearning—for a vampire! Is this the work of a demon luring her into hell, or has this angel found heavenly bliss?
The Vampire Queen
Jodie Pierce
Eternal Press, April 7, 2011
A young woman awakes to find out not only is she an important Countess but she is also the very first or 'Ancient One' as she is called by her subjects. Her memories of being a vampire or anyone are gone so she must relearn everything (from spells to flying) from the people around her, but can they be trusted? She learns her main objective as the old Countess was purifying the vampire race and wishes to continue with that work. The 'Others', powerful and evil vampires, attempt to use her memory loss to their advantage. They had been trying to entice her to their side for centuries. Struggling to remember her past, battling the 'Others' and coping with her new life keep the Countess busy throughout this spellbinding and thrilling novel. Will she succeed in her goals or will the 'Others' win her over to their side this time around?
Vampyrnomicon (Book Two of The Vampire Hunters Trilogy)
by Scott Baker
Pill Hill Press (April 1, 2011)
Hunters and vampires seek The Vampyrnomicon, a book that could destroy the vampires...or mankind. Within the vaults of the Smithsonian Institute lies the key to finding The Vampyrnomicon, the Book of the Undead that contains the history and secrets of the vampires. According to legend, whoever possesses the book can establish a vampire nation on earth - or destroy the undead once and for all. With an opportunity to end the war against the undead so close, Drake Matthews is determined to find the book. But the vampires also want The Vampyrnomicon. When Master Chiang Shih and her coven of the most powerful and dangerous vampires arrive in Washington to claim the book as their own, the hunters find themselves facing their most deadly enemy yet. With the stakes so high, so is the ferocity of the struggle.
by Christopher Farnsworth. And Twilight fans can rejoice because Stephenie Meyer has produced The Twilight Saga: The Official Illustrated Guide . Whatever your pleasure you are sure to find something for the TBR pile. Enjoy!by Marie Treanor
NAL Trade (April 5, 2011)
The author of Blood on Silk brings readers the next novel in her seductive new Awakened by Blood series.
Months after her dangerous encounter with the vampire overlord Saloman, Scottish academic Elizabeth Silk is still trying to cope with both the demands of her vampire-hunting bloodline-and the desire she feels for Saloman, the immortal she brought back from the grave. But when Saloman's ancient sword becomes the object of a ruthless race between humans and vampires, Elizabeth must decide between unwanted loyalty, or unholy love.
by Ronnie Massey
Copperhill Media April 2011
When vampire Valeria Trumaine comes home one morning to find her father waiting for her, she knows she’s about to get trouble in spades. But she never imagined it would come in the form of her ex-fiancé. Now she must confront old demons and face new possibilities as she struggles to bring the rouge vampire to justice.
After she left him, Valeria avoided Tristan like the plague, but now that he’s gone rogue, she’s going to have to utilize every thing she’s learned as a sentinel to find him.
Department 19
by Will Hill
Razorbill (April, 2011)
Young Adult
Jamie Carpenter's life will never be the same. His father is dead, his mother is missing, and he was just rescued by an enormous man named Frankenstein. Jamie is brought to Department 19, where he is pulled into a secret organization responsible for policing the supernatural, founded more than a century ago by Abraham Van Helsing and the other survivors of Dracula. Aided by Frankenstein's monster, a beautiful vampire girl with her own agenda, and the members of the agency, Jamie must attempt to save his mother from a terrifyingly powerful vampire.
Department 19 takes us through history, across Europe, and beyond - from the cobbled streets of Victorian London to prohibition-era New York, from the icy wastes of Arctic Russia to the treacherous mountains of Transylvania. Part modern thriller, part classic horror, it's packed with mystery, mayhem, and a level of suspense that makes a Darren Shan novel look like a romantic comedy.
Eternal Kiss: Mark of the Vampire
by Laura Wright
Signet (April 5, 2011)
Raised by the Breed, Nicholas Roman wants to stop the Eternal Order of Vampires from controlling his life, and using other males from his bloodline-including possibly his son-for their vicious reign. Only a beautiful vampire stranger can help him. But what are her true motives?
by Michele Hauf
HQN Books (April 19, 2011)
Vail the Unwanted is a pure-blooded vampire. But raised by Faery, he has neither home nor peace, and when his aid is sought in the recovery of a priceless diamond gown, his price is information. Specifically the whereabouts of his accursed father. His goal is revenge, and the supernaturally sexy Lyric, the icy blond vampiress with whom he must work, is a distraction he can't afford.
Outwardly as cold as the diamond dress in which she was kidnapped, Lyric has her own secrets. Desperate to break free from her criminal family, she aligns herself with the brooding Vail. Together they seek justice while each secretly works for freedom and a fresh start. For Lyric that means holding herself apart, even from the smoldering blue-eyed Vail. For Vail, it means a battle to the death for revenge—and for a temptress he can't deny.
Christopher Farnsworth
Putnam (April 28, 2011)
The ultimate secret. The ultimate agent. Nathaniel Cade returns.
For 140 years, Nathaniel Cade has been the President's Vampire, sworn to protect and serve his country. Cade's existence is the most closely guarded of White House secrets: a superhuman covert agent who is the last line of defense against nightmare scenarios that ordinary citizens only dream of.
When a new outbreak of an ancient evil-one that he has seen before- comes to light, Cade and his human handler, Zach Barrows, must track down its source. To "protect and serve" often means settling old scores and confronting new betrayals . . . as only a centuries-old predator can.
V.K. Forrest (Author)
Kensington (April 1, 2011)
A seduction-gone-wrong leaves vampire Parker Hollis with a new vegetarian lifestyle and on the run from a vengeful witch. Moving to small-town Maggie’s Grove, Parker meets a redheaded dryad with green, leafy blood that draws him in a way he hasn’t experienced in decades. Tree-loving outcast Amara Schwedler has never quite fit in. She’s...As a member of his clan's kill team, Liam McCathal helps rid the world of undesirables. It's the perfect job for a vampire of his talents - except that lately, Liam is getting a little too good at it.
Which is why he's back home to "cool off," when Mai walks into his antique store and changes everything. Liam's not in the habit of making friends - least of all with beautiful, exotic human females. But something about Mai ignites a spark he hasn't felt in over a century. When Mai's uncle is killed and her father threatened, Liam takes on a ruthless crime boss and puts every vampire in Clare Point in danger of discovery. Because Mai's father has secrets too, and Liam is edging ever closer to losing his reputation, his clan, and the woman he would do anything to protect...
edited by Ellen Datlow and Terri Windling
HarperCollins (April 5, 2011)
Young Adult
Fascinated by vampires?
Then feast on nineteen tantalizing, bite-sized tales exploring the intersections between the living, dead, and undead.
The vampires in these stories range from romantic to chilling to gleeful—and touch on nearly every emotion in between. The one thing they have in common is their desire for blood. . . .
Stories from:
Genevieve Valentine, Steve Berman, Christopher Barzak, Neil Gaiman, Delia Sherman, Garth Nix, Suzy McKee Charnas, Kaaron Warren, Cecil Castellucci, Jeffrey Ford, Nathan Ballingrud, Kathe Koja, Catherynne M. Valente, Melissa Marr, Ellen Kushner, Cassandra Clare, Holly Black, Lucius Shepard, Emma Bull, Tanith Lee
by Stephenie Meyer
Little, Brown Books for Young Readers (April 12, 2011) (Apr 12, 2011)
Young Adult
This must-have hardcover edition--the only official guide--is the definitive encyclopedic reference to the Twilight Saga and provides readers with everything they need to further explore the unforgettable world Stephenie Meyer created in Twilight, New Moon, Eclipse, Breaking Dawn, and The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner. This comprehensive handbook—essential for every Twilight Saga fan—is full-color throughout with nearly 100 gorgeous illustrations and photographs and with exclusive new material, character profiles, genealogical charts, maps, extensive cross-references, and much more.
Twilight Prophecy (Children of Twilight)
by Maggie Shayne
Mira (April 19, 2011)
According to ancient prophecy, there's only one chance to avert the complete annihilation of the Undead. Twins James William and Brigit Poe, part human, part vampire, believe that they are that chance. In truth, the key lies with the reclusive—and mortal—scholar Lucy Lanfair.
As Armageddon approaches, antivampire sentiment fuels a war neither side can win, driving James to abandon his moral code and draw Lucy into a deadly battle she wants no part of.
But Lucy soon realizes that she holds this powerful immortal's soul in her hands and that it's her destiny not only to stop a war but to save him from his inner darkness. If she fails, his race will die—and so will her heart. Is the power of love strong enough to save the world?
Vampire Dragon (A Works Like Magick Novel)
by Annette Blair
Berkley (Apr 5, 2011)
One the run from the mob, Bronte McBride needs the kind of protection that only the mysterious and handsome bodyguard Darkwyn-a former Roman warrior turned dragon-can give her.
But Bronte's secrets could endanger both of them.
by Kerrelyn Sparks
Avon (April 1, 2011)
Nothing on earth can make this vampire fall in love.
After 499 years of existence, Connor Buchanan has arrived at an inescapable conclusion: he is a cold-hearted SOB. He's been watching his friends—those poor romantic fools—plummet off the cliff into love like a dazed herd of sheep. But not Connor. He knows that love leads to nothing but heartache.
Until Marielle . . .
She is an angel cast down from heaven for disobedience. Trapped in mortal form, she finds a protector in Connor, a Scottish vampire haunted by a dark past. Marielle hopes to heal his broken heart and earn her way back home, but suddenly she has these . . . feelings. This strange yet pleasant physical yearning—for a vampire! Is this the work of a demon luring her into hell, or has this angel found heavenly bliss?
Jodie Pierce
Eternal Press, April 7, 2011
A young woman awakes to find out not only is she an important Countess but she is also the very first or 'Ancient One' as she is called by her subjects. Her memories of being a vampire or anyone are gone so she must relearn everything (from spells to flying) from the people around her, but can they be trusted? She learns her main objective as the old Countess was purifying the vampire race and wishes to continue with that work. The 'Others', powerful and evil vampires, attempt to use her memory loss to their advantage. They had been trying to entice her to their side for centuries. Struggling to remember her past, battling the 'Others' and coping with her new life keep the Countess busy throughout this spellbinding and thrilling novel. Will she succeed in her goals or will the 'Others' win her over to their side this time around?
by Scott Baker
Pill Hill Press (April 1, 2011)
Hunters and vampires seek The Vampyrnomicon, a book that could destroy the vampires...or mankind. Within the vaults of the Smithsonian Institute lies the key to finding The Vampyrnomicon, the Book of the Undead that contains the history and secrets of the vampires. According to legend, whoever possesses the book can establish a vampire nation on earth - or destroy the undead once and for all. With an opportunity to end the war against the undead so close, Drake Matthews is determined to find the book. But the vampires also want The Vampyrnomicon. When Master Chiang Shih and her coven of the most powerful and dangerous vampires arrive in Washington to claim the book as their own, the hunters find themselves facing their most deadly enemy yet. With the stakes so high, so is the ferocity of the struggle.
Apr 26, 2011
R. A. Nelson Blog Tour and Contest
. [two lucky readers will win a copy of the book. see contest details at the end of the post.]I asked Russ if he would explain the mythology of his vampire world, and here what he had to say.
Wonderful topic, Patricia. Thanks for having me!
Okay, vampires. Not the most original of subjects, I admit. So first off, I wanted to make my vampires as realistic as possible – I looked at the whole vampire mythos from a fresh perspective and took the idea almost down to ground zero. I tried to envision what it would be like to live in such a way in the real world. Because of the need to avoid daylight and the lack of any kind of legal documentation whatsoever, it would be virtually impossible for a vampire to own property or have very many material possessions at all. They wouldn’t have social security numbers, wouldn’t be able to transact any kind of business, hold a bank account, etc. Unless they wanted to take a huge risk (because of daylight or discovery), like hiding somewhere on a plane, they would be limited in travel to the distance they would be able to run in one night, and with each move they’d have to find a new safe haven. Even with all their physical advantages, it would be hard to find any glamour in the condition – a vampire would basically be a super-powered homeless person who happens to need blood.
Another twist in my book is the connection of my vampires to the sun. Each vampire is surrounded by a kind of electromagnetic field which gives them their powers and provides them a means of communicating over great distances, as well as other abilities. The downside to this is that their “disease” is actually a kind of mutation or alteration of this field, and they survive by tapping into the “feld” (German word, not a typo) of human beings when they drink their blood.
The condition of vampirism in my book is reversible, however. Every few hundred years there is a titanic solar flare on the sun which blasts the earth with a flood of electromagnetic particles that act to “cleanse” a vampire’s feld, making them human again. There is one faction of vampires who kind of worship the sun (from a safe distance, of course!), believing someday they will be relieved of their curse (unless they happen to be deep within the earth when the solar storm occurs).
Emma is a different kind of vampire altogether. When she is attacked by the monster Wirtz, she suffers a massive grand mal seizure, a kind of electrical storm of the brain, which scrambles her personal feld with that of the vampire. So when she is transformed, her epilepsy has turned her into a kind of half-vampire, half-human. She is left with all the powers of a vampire (super strength, speed, senses), without the need to drink blood or avoid the sunlight. So she’s basically super human. There’s just one catch – the bad vampires want to kill her for it.
Wirtz is a Germanic vampire from the old school. Truly horrific and menacing, Wirtz is hundreds of years old and monstrously bitter after losing his son and being passed over during the last healing sonnenruption (he was hiding in a coal mine at the time). This merciless creature is in relentless pursuit of Emma for most of the book and will stop at nothing to destroy her – after learning her secrets first, of course. Emma’s only hope of surviving a second encounter with the vampire and keeping her family alive lies in…well, you’ll have to read the book to find that out!
Thanks again!
Blog Tour stops for THROAT
Monday, April 25th Books with Bite
Tuesday, April 26th Patricia’s Vampire Notes
Wednesday, April 27th Bite Club
Thursday, April 28th Suvudu
Friday, April 29th Random Acts of Reading
Saturday, April 30th Dangers Untold and Hardships Unnumbered
The publisher will be tweeting about Russ’s blog tour on @RandomHouseKids!
(Follow the author: @RANelsonYA)
Contest
* The publisher is offering a copy of THROAT
to two lucky readers.* Leave a comment for Russ about this post for a chance to win.
* Be sure contact information is included with your comment.
* This contest is open to US residents only
* Contest ends May 10, 2011 at 11:59pm EST
Apr 10, 2011
Richelle Mead's Storm Born Graphic Novel - Announcement
ATLANTA, GA - March 22, 2011– In the novel Storm Born
, first in the popular Dark Swan urban fantasy series, Richelle Mead—New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of Vampire Academy and the Georgia Kincaid Series—introduced fans of paranormal romance to Eugenie Markham, a freelance shaman who battles the ghosts and fey that sneak into our world from the Otherworld.
Today, Sea Lion Books is proud to announce scripter Grant Alter and artist Dave Hamann as the multitalented creative team behind the graphic novel adaptation of Richelle Mead's Dark Swan: Storm Born. When an alarming prophecy suddenly makes her every Otherwordly creature's object of desire, Eugenie must dodge their advances while also fighting a dark power rising within her.
Grant Alter was the co-writer (with Derek Ruiz) on Dean Koontz’ Fear Nothing, a graphic novel adaptation by the New York Times bestselling author. His other scripting projects include an adaptation of the Jim Butcher short story “Restoration of Faith,” which appeared in the graphic novel Jim Butcher’s The Dresden Files: Storm Front.
"Richelle has written a book with a really nice mix of action, romance, the otherworldly, and even a good amount of humor,” Alters said. “It's just a fun book to read. The quality of her work pushes me to write what I think are some of the best scripts I have ever written."
Graphic artist Dave Hamann’s projects include Amory Wars for Evil Ink Comics, Gauze for Arcana Comics, and Zenescope's Grimm Fairy Tales. As a fan of the Dark Swan series, he wants to remain faithful to Mead’s story, and to her lead character, Eugenie. "I'm hard-pressed to think of too many urban comics starring a strong, butt-kicking, female shamanic mercenary."
"Grant and Dave have done a really amazing job in capturing Eugenie's story. It's been wonderful working with them, and I can't wait to see what fans think of the final product. I hope they love it as much as I do," said Richelle Mead.
Richelle Mead’s Dark Swan: Storm Born, Issue 1 will be released May 18th in comic book stores nationwide. Comic book stores can be found by going to the Comic Book Shop Locator: http://www.comicshoplocator.com/ or by calling 1-888-COMIC-BOOK.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Richelle Mead is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of urban fantasy books for both adults and teens. Originally from Michigan, Richelle now lives in Seattle, Washington where she works on her three series full-time. Her adult series are published by Kensington Books.
The Georgina Kincaid Series (Succubus Blues
, Succubus on Top
, Succubus Dreams
, and Succubus Heat), Dark Swan Series (Storm Born and Thorn Queen
) and YA series, Vampire Academy, (Vampire Academy
, Frostbite
, Shadow Kiss
, Blood Promise
, and Spirit Bound
). You can visit Richelle Mead on the Internet at http://www.richellemead.com .
ABOUT SEA LION BOOKS: Located in Atlanta, Georgia, Sea Lion Books LLC is a newly established publishing house which specializes in all formats—hardcover, trade paperback, and mass market and in urban fantasy and young adult genres. Sea Lion Books LLC recent roster of authors include: International Bestselling author, Paulo Coelho, New York Times Bestselling authors, Richelle Mead and Richard A. Knaak plus more to be announced in the upcoming months. Contact David Dabel at 770-696-3452 or David@sealionbooks.com . You can visit Sea Lion Books on the Internet at http://www.sealionbooks.com
Copyright 2011, Sea Lion Books. All Rights reserved.
All trademarks and titles are the property of their respective owners.
The statements contained within this document are considered
"forward-looking statements"
and may not reflect upon the actual future performance of Sea Lion Books.
, first in the popular Dark Swan urban fantasy series, Richelle Mead—New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of Vampire Academy and the Georgia Kincaid Series—introduced fans of paranormal romance to Eugenie Markham, a freelance shaman who battles the ghosts and fey that sneak into our world from the Otherworld.
Grant Alter was the co-writer (with Derek Ruiz) on Dean Koontz’ Fear Nothing, a graphic novel adaptation by the New York Times bestselling author. His other scripting projects include an adaptation of the Jim Butcher short story “Restoration of Faith,” which appeared in the graphic novel Jim Butcher’s The Dresden Files: Storm Front.
"Richelle has written a book with a really nice mix of action, romance, the otherworldly, and even a good amount of humor,” Alters said. “It's just a fun book to read. The quality of her work pushes me to write what I think are some of the best scripts I have ever written."
Graphic artist Dave Hamann’s projects include Amory Wars for Evil Ink Comics, Gauze for Arcana Comics, and Zenescope's Grimm Fairy Tales. As a fan of the Dark Swan series, he wants to remain faithful to Mead’s story, and to her lead character, Eugenie. "I'm hard-pressed to think of too many urban comics starring a strong, butt-kicking, female shamanic mercenary."
"Grant and Dave have done a really amazing job in capturing Eugenie's story. It's been wonderful working with them, and I can't wait to see what fans think of the final product. I hope they love it as much as I do," said Richelle Mead.
Richelle Mead’s Dark Swan: Storm Born, Issue 1 will be released May 18th in comic book stores nationwide. Comic book stores can be found by going to the Comic Book Shop Locator: http://www.comicshoplocator.com/ or by calling 1-888-COMIC-BOOK.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Richelle Mead is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of urban fantasy books for both adults and teens. Originally from Michigan, Richelle now lives in Seattle, Washington where she works on her three series full-time. Her adult series are published by Kensington Books.
The Georgina Kincaid Series (Succubus Blues
, Succubus on Top, Succubus Dreams, and Succubus Heat), Dark Swan Series (Storm Born and Thorn Queen) and YA series, Vampire Academy, (Vampire Academy, Frostbite, Shadow Kiss, Blood Promise, and Spirit Bound). You can visit Richelle Mead on the Internet at http://www.richellemead.com .ABOUT SEA LION BOOKS: Located in Atlanta, Georgia, Sea Lion Books LLC is a newly established publishing house which specializes in all formats—hardcover, trade paperback, and mass market and in urban fantasy and young adult genres. Sea Lion Books LLC recent roster of authors include: International Bestselling author, Paulo Coelho, New York Times Bestselling authors, Richelle Mead and Richard A. Knaak plus more to be announced in the upcoming months. Contact David Dabel at 770-696-3452 or David@sealionbooks.com . You can visit Sea Lion Books on the Internet at http://www.sealionbooks.com
Copyright 2011, Sea Lion Books. All Rights reserved.
All trademarks and titles are the property of their respective owners.
The statements contained within this document are considered
"forward-looking statements"
and may not reflect upon the actual future performance of Sea Lion Books.
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