Here are posted my musings on vampires and various other fictional, paranormal critters. Comments from readers and writers of said literature are always welcome.
Destined: House of Night
by PC and Kristen Cast St. Martin's Griffin; First Edition edition (October 25, 2011)
Book 9 in the series
Zoey is finally home where she belongs, safe with her Guardian Warrior, Stark, by her side, and preparing to face off against Neferet – which would be a whole lot easier if the High Counsel saw the ex-High Priestess for what she really is. Kalona has released his hold on Rephaim, and, through Nyx's gift of a human form, Rephaim and Stevie Rae are finally able to be together – if he can truly walk the path of the Goddess and stay free of his father's shadow…
But there are new forces at work at the House of Night. An influx of humans, including Lenobia’s handsome horse whisperer, threatens their precarious stability. And then there’s the mysterious Aurox, a jaw-droppingly gorgeous teen boy who is actually more – or possibly less – than human. Only Neferet knows he was created to be her greatest weapon. But Zoey can sense the part of his soul that remains human, the compassion that wars with his Dark calling. And there’s something strangely familiar about him…
Will Neferet’s true nature be revealed before she succeeds in silencing them all? And will Zoey be able to touch Aurox’s humanity in time to protect him – and everyone – from his own fate? Find out what’s destined in the next thrilling chapter of the House of Night series.
Just in time to begin celebrating Halloween Trent Callen (protagonist of Vampyre Kisses by Elizabeth Kolodziej) has stopped by PVN to tell readers about his life as a vampire.
Thanks so much, Trent. Take it away!
Hello everyone. I am very pleased to be invited to Patricia’s Vampire Blog for an interview. My name is Trent Callen and I am a blood vampire. There are many questions that fledglings want to know before they are changed. In an attempt to hopefully ease some minds, I am prepared to let you in on some of my secrets.
What type of powers do you posses?
Powers to look forward to when becoming a vampire will include:
*Enhanced speed
*The strength to lift cars, or ladies, whichever your pleasure shall be
*Enhanced sight, though being a peeping Tom is not advised
*Enhanced hearing
*Sharp fangs to sink into pretty little necks throbbing with life
*Eyes that will turn black on occasion
…the usual…
Some powers you may posses with age:
*The ability to change to mist
*Shape shifting into a wolf and/or demonic looking creature
*Flight
*And others you will have to learn about on your own…
How did you become a vampire?
Ah, a question that plagues the most beautiful of minds, and one that I have not told that many people.
When I was twenty-five, I was a, as you would say, ‘want-to-be writer.’ I was in Cork, Ireland, at the time, the place to be for aspiring writers now. I was introduced to a man named Collin. Sir Collin; he was from England. At the time, he was serving the first Elizabeth.Collin and I became very close very quickly. I was not as well educated or travelled as him so I found him fascinating. He had so much knowledge about the world and the people in it. Unknown at the time, Collin was a couple hundred years older than myself.
One night we got into an intriguing discussion about writing horror stories. He discussed an idea with me about a creature that ruled the night. Instinct had brought my mind to the gossip floating around about people being slain. They were being murdered by having their blood sucked completely dry. I found the coincidence too close and plagued him with questions about these creatures of the night.
Rapidly our night was becoming morning. Collin had been so engrossed with talking to me that he forgot about the sun. I immediately noticed his agitation; I was not stupid like some humans. I had an uncanny way of observing people around me. I was aware that Collin would not have enough time to get home and offered him a bed in my cellar. I remember the smile on his face: it was filled with gratitude, while mine was filled with mercy. After a long day of waiting for night to come, I opened my cellar door, and he walked up the stairs refreshed. I begged him for hours to tell me the truth. Then he finally did. We talked about the possibility of me becoming a vampire. At first I was reluctant, but Collin had a way about him. A short week later, I decided to let him change me.
Do you feel any antipathy to other paranormal beings? If so, which ones and why?
To be honest, I have never been found of werewolves. They smell and are not that intelligent. I have had run ins with them before and the only one I put up with would be Zou Tai, and that is only because Faith asks me to. Very persuasively I might add.
Is there a hierarchy among vampires?
All vampires answer to the Master vampire, which does change from time to time. Most vampires stay with their sires for decades before going off on their own or even creating another vampire. There are watchers in each state and sometimes more than one depending on the size and how many of us are in the area. If there is any trouble raised they report to the Master directly.
Are you with anyone?
I am sorry to say that I am taken ladies. Faith, the last witch in the world, in the only one I have my heart set on. Ever since I first met her at the club I had this instant attraction to her, most that involved licking and petting particular areas, but that was only in the beginning. When I got to know Faith, I realized there were still innocents in the world. And that attracted me the most to her.
I hope that you have enjoyed my company and that you will read some of my adventures.
Both books available as paperback and eBooks. Please visit www.vampyrekisses.com for further info on releases and what’s going on in the writing world of Elizabeth J. Kolodziej
Embraced by the Shadows
by Mayra Calvani Paladin Timeless Books (October 15, 2011) (originally publised by Twilight Times Books, 2007)
Sadash, the vampire, first notices Alana Piovanetti while she vacations with her family in Istanbul. She is very young, a child really, but he is drawn to her. Three hundred years ago he would not have hesitated to drink of her blood - all of it. Not now, however. Since that long ago time he has vowed not to take advantage of a child. He watches as she gazes at a painting of a red-haired angel being thrown out of heaven. Her coloring is very much like that angel. Later in the story this painting and the angel's appearance will be important.
Twelve years later Alana is living in Puerto Rico where she was born and raised. She recently found a job as the manager of the new 'in' place called El Cuevo del Vampiro. She does not consider herself qualified - she was a philosophy major in college, but the owner's representative assures her she is exactly the right person for the job. That same night the erotic dreams begin. Dreams of a man like no other she has known takes her in his arms and seduces her in away she never imagined possible. Later she meets Shadash the man of her dreams who is even more alluring in the real world. He shows her what the life of an immortal is truly like. Vampires never age and can never be destroyed even by fire. Alana wants to be with him forever, but what about her dearest friend Valeria. How could she watch as this person she loves ages and dies?
Mayra Calvani has created a sensuous world of mystery and dark, complex romance. The fascinating characters and their tantalizing story will keep readers engrossed from the first page to the last.
Dark Companion
by Marta Acosta
Tor, June 2012
[Young Adult Gothic]
A terrible trauma marks Jane Williams' early childhood. A horrific event at her home causes her death when she is six years old, but just as emergency personnel appear she revives. All her memories of her life have vanished.
Jane has no family and must enter the difficult world of the state foster system. Her tough spirit and the friendship of another foster child, Hosea, combine to show her a way out. With great determination Jane pours all her energy into her school work and shows herself and others that she has a brain. She sees herself progress and get the excellent grades she never thought possible. Eventually she comes to the attention of the headmistress of Birch Grove Academy for Girls and is offered a full scholarship at this elite school. A terrific opportunity, or so it seems, but is it too good to be true? Not at first anyway. She makes friends with a fun group of girls and Mrs Radcliffe, who runs the school, invites her to become like a member of her family. Jane, who believes herself to be as plain as her name, finds younger son Lucky Radcliffe very attractive. In return he is attentive to her at times, and at others practically ignores her. Older son Jack has a wild side but knows how to be a true friend.
On most levels things look good for Jane, but there is something menacing about the atmosphere at Birch Grove, and Jane becomes the target of someone or something that wants her gone.
What is so appealing about Jane is her strength in the midst of terrible hardship. She learns that persistence pays off and despite the sinister undercurrent Jane finds a place where she can belong and feels the courage to overcome whatever life throws her way.
Although it isn't initially apparent the vampire theme does play a part in this story. Fans of Marta's Casa Dracula serieswill recognize the enigmatic Ian Ducharme who plays a small but important role..
Dark Companion is a powerful, mesmerizing coming of age novel with dark mystery, romance, and magic. Teens of all ages will find this story inspiring!
To celebrate the month of Halloween Karen Essex is offering three lucky PVN readers a copy of her terrific book Dracula in Love (Doubleday, 2010). This is one of my favorite paranormal novels from last year. Not only is it an imaginative retelling of the Dracula story, but it gives a credible description of the often difficult position of nineteenth century women. Below is my review.
The red-haired Irish writer (aka Bram Stoker) had it all wrong when he wrote his turgid tale of a vampire aristocrat.
From Mina Harker's perspective, her relationship with Dracula brought with it an alternate reality. Although certain characters have the same or similar names as found in Stoker, the "true story" is quite different. It is instead an exquisite timeless tale of love and passion. Mina, while engaged to solicitor Jonathan Harker, has recurring visions of a lover very familiar to her although her memories are so hazy she cannot identify him. He carries her to a world in a place and time not connected to our own and begs her to remember the endless years they have had together. Often he appears in the real world as a protector when she finds herself in danger. Always he is an incredibly attractive and powerful presence.
For those who have read Bram Stoker's Dracula you know that Jonathan was sent to the Castle where he eventually becomes the Count's prisoner. Not exactly true the reader and Mina discover. In Mina's account she receives a note, unsigned but with very familiar handwriting, that of her dream lover, telling her of Jonathan's whereabouts. He's been ill and is confined to a small hospital in Gratz. Mina travels there and finds Jonathan suffering from psychic wounds he is loath to talk about or remember.
He finally confesses to Mina the truth about the luxurious life at the Count's home and the passionate nights spent with Dracula's enchanting and beautiful nieces. Then, without warning, he finds himself wandering fields not knowing where he is or even who he is until someone finds him and brings him to the hospital where the doctors and nurses endeavor to bring him back to health. All the darkness and foreboding of Stoker's Castle Dracula is nonexistent.
Familiar characters such as Lucy, Arthur Holmwood and Dr John Seward are present, so are Morris Quince and Dr. Von Helsinger - names similar to those used by Stoker. In Essex' novel their personalities and agendas differ in the extreme. Additionally there is Kate Reed, a friend of Mina's and Lucy's and a strong minded reporter. The three women attended school together. Mina stayed on after graduation as a teacher, a job she loved. One of the reasons Mina writes her story is to have the truth available, if only for her children, in case they should ever come across the hack novel of the red-haired Irishman.
What comes across quite strongly, other than the expected story, is the limited life choices of upper class Victorian women, and their treatment as lesser beings. At one point Mina suffers greatly at the hands of all the men around her including Jonathan, simply because as a female she cannot be expected to know what is best for her. It is Dracula who finds and saves her.
CONTEST
* Karen is offering a copy of Dracula in Love to three lucky readers.
* Leave a comment about this post for a chance to win.
* Be sure contact information is included with your comment.
* Contest ends October 31, 2011 at 11:59pm EST
* Contest is limited to US and Canadian residents only.
This October four prize winning authors of the paranormal romance genre are offering an anthology of original novellas in Crave the Night (Swell Cat Press). The book contains stories by Michele Hauf, Sharon Ashwood, Lori Devoti, and Patti O'Shea. "Vampires, demons, werewolves, faeries and even a mermaid will satisfy the darkest of cravings." [See contest information at the end of the post.]
ENEMY EMBRACE by Patti O'Shea
When vampire hunter Nicole Ruiz nearly loses her life to a powerful vampire, she offers an alliance to her rescuer, a demon name Daktan. Demons might be an enemy, but she'd make a deal with the devil himself if that's what it took to avenge her family.
ONE SOUL TO SHARE by Lori Devoti
Mermaid, Sarina Neri, is desperate to regain her sister's soul. The sea spirit who has it wants a man who can survive in her realm, underwater, in exchange. Fortunately, Sarina has found such a man, vampire Nolan Moore. Unfortunately, Nolan wants the soul too, for himself.
CRUEL ENCHANTMENT by Michele Hauf
Investigating the vicious werewolf blood games, vampire Revin Parker struggles with his attraction to the faery informant, Sabrina Kriss. Six months earlier she had cursed him with an addiction to faery dust. Can they risk the desire that demands they fall in love with the one who could become their worst nightmare?
HIDDEN by Sharon Ashwood
Rafe returns to the Devries werewolf pack to rescue his people from a scheming fey beauty. Pitting his will against her wits, he plans to seduce his way free of the ice queen's trap. But surrender means death for the fey, and little does Rafe know that he's gambling with more than hearts...
Author Bios
Michele Hauf has been writing paranormal, historical and fantasy romance for over 20 years. Populated with vampires, angels, werewolves and more, her wickedly enchanting stories will appeal to today's paranormal readers. It's Twilight for big girls!
Sharon Ashwood is a freelance journalist, novelist, desk jockey and enthusiast for the weird and spooky. She has an English literature degree but works as a finance geek. She lives in the Pacific Northwest and is owned by the Demon Lord of Kitty Badness.
Lori Devoti is the author of paranormal romance, urban fantasy and mystery novels. Awarded numerous Top Picks from Romantic Times Magazine, she's also appeared on bestseller lists. She lives in the Midwest with her husband, two children, two dogs and some fish.
Patti O'Shea is a nationally bestselling author. Her books have appeared on the Barnes & Noble, Waldenbooks, and Borders bestseller lists and have earned starred reviews in prestigious publications such as Publishers Weekly and Booklist.
It is such a pleasure to welcome author Susan Blexrud back to PVN. Black Fang, the fifth book in her terrific paranormal romance series has just been released. She's here to give readers some background for this latest adventure, provide a preview, and also offer a contest. [see contest details at end of post]
Let’s Talk BATS
I’ve always liked these furry little mammals, and yes, they’re mammals, not rodents. Even when I was a little girl and my mother would warn me that if I didn’t come home before the bats came out for their nightly feeding, they’d fly in my hair, I still thought they were cool. I’d run home with my hands covering my head lest one of the creatures mistook me for a snack. I’d look up and watch their aerial acrobatics, the way they never flew in a straight line and could dodge and dive on a dime. They never dove at me. Thus began my fondness for bats.
In December 2010, I read a newspaper feature in The Orlando Sentinel about white-nose syndrome, a fungus that is decimating bat populations. These beneficial animals keep the mosquito population at bay and are master pollinators, but this mysterious fungus is threatening their very existence. From New England and into the central states, the fungus is spreading through caves, causing bats to be disoriented, interrupting their hibernation, and ultimately killing them. There is no cure, and it is spreading like wildfire.
So, I got to thinking. Who could save the bats? Sure, the Environmental Protection Agency was working on the fungal scourge, but what about the creatures that had a real vested interest in the survival of bats? That would be VAMPIRES. If bats were threatened, wouldn’t vampires in bat form also be vulnerable to the deadly virus? And if vampires were involved, who would try to thwart their plans? How about the vampires’ most stealthy enemy, Unseelie faeries?
The fifth story in my fang series, Black Fang, debuted in August. Here’s the blurb and an excerpt.
BLURB
Someone is deliberately infecting bats with a deadly fungus. The flying mammals are dying by the thousands, and along with them, a significant number of vampires in bat form have also succumbed.
Enter John and Lauren Wright. The vampire couple has conquered evil enemies in the past, but the perpetrator behind the bat deaths is more cunning than any they’ve encountered. Though John initially suspects that werewolves are the culprits, he discovers he is up against a colony of Unseelie faeries. The intoxicating scent of the faeries has been known to deceive vampires, pitting friend against friend—and wife against husband.
EXCERPT
John and Teensy landed in the palace’s kitchen, where the cook promptly began beating John on the head with a wooden spoon.
“Stop!” He rubbed his cranium. “We’re here to see the king. He’s expecting us.”
“Well, you have a strange way to make an entrance.” The cook, wide as she was tall, gave John the stink eye.
“My fault,” said Teensy, dusting off her hot pink sweatpants. “I must have used one spider leg too many in the potion. I was aiming for the banquet hall.”
“You’re right under it,” the cook said as she nodded to a vaulted doorway. “Take those steps. I’m sure you’ll be a big hit.” She swatted John on the butt with her spoon as they passed her. “Or at least the gorgeous guy will.”
They hurried up the steps with Teensy chattering instructions along the way. “Stay close to me when we get in the hall. I may need to whisper, and I’ll be able to feel if you’re inching to the dark side.”
“I won’t let them get to me.”
“Right.” Teensy tugged on John’s sleeve. “Don’t get cocky.”
They burst into the banquet hall. John counted eight guards stationed at the doorways and then focused on the dais. The king was seated at his throne with a lovely, and very naked, faery maid sprawled face down/butt up across his lap. He was spanking her vigorously with his bare hand while two other faeries bounced around them, obviously enjoying the show. Lauren was standing next to the seated king, a smile as big as the Florida sun on her face.
“Lauren!” John called as he walked toward her, his hand held out. “Come to me, my love.”
She looked at him and clapped her hands. “Wow, you’re cute!”
Teensy, who was attached to John like a pilot fish on a shark, said, “Egad, it’s worse than I thought. She has no idea who you are.”
John stopped at the bottom step that led up to the throne. He sensed the guards circling him and getting closer as he approached the king. Again, he said, “Lauren, come to me, my love.” His heart pounded in his ears. She looked so beautiful…so vulnerable…and so clueless.
“My, my, you got here quickly, and uninvited, at that.” The king pushed the faery off his lap, rose from the throne, and put his arm around Lauren’s shoulder. John stiffened as she leaned into the king.
“This ain’t gonna be easy,” Teensy whispered.
John waited until Lauren’s eyes met his. “Avery misses you.”
Lauren cocked her head, and Teensy took advantage of the brief spark of recognition in Lauren’s eyes to throw a handful of sparkly dust in Lauren’s direction. She sneezed.
“Seize them,” the king shouted to his guards.
CONTEST
*Now, here’s a contest. One commenter will receive a download of my new e-book novella, Black Fang.
*Just go to my website and look for my time travel novel.Tell me the name of the novel in the PVN comments, and you’ll be entered to win Black Fang.
Black Fang
by Susan Blexrud
DCL Publications, 2011
When we first met Lauren and John in Love Fang she was a dentist called in to take care of John's infected fang - yes, even vampires have problems. Despite the unromantic circumstances there was an instant attraction and they fell madly in love. This led to lots of hot, spicy sex, marriage, Lauren's change to vampire status, and a baby named Avery.
In Black Fang their cozy life is interrupted when a tiny bat crashes through a window of their home. With difficulty the little creature morphs into his natural vampire state. The vampire is very ill but before he meets true death he warns John, a centuries old friend, of a conspiracy to to destroy vampires as well as the bat community. John, Lauren and a few select others join forces to find the perpetrators. Werewolves are at the top of the list of suspects, but are soon eliminated when another, older paranormal sort seems more likely.
Black Fang is book five in Susan's sexy, romantic Fang series. Susan blends a tale of intrigue, humor, appealing characters, and of course love. In fact it is the loving relationship between Lauren and John that I find so very captivating. The novella length story provides the perfect lazy afternoon read.
Note: The paperback version of Love Fang includes the first four stories of the Fang series.
[Stop by on Sept 12 for a guest post and contest with Susan Blexrud.]
Amanda McNeil is the author of a new paranormal romance novella Ecstatic Evil (Tova Gallagher) in Boston (details below). The idea is to provide paranormal romance in bite-size pieces for the modern, busy reader. New entries will come out approximately once every three months at just 99 cents per entry.
Ecstatic Evil
Tova Gallagher isn't just your average tough as nails, intelligent Bostonian. She also just so happens to be half-demon, and halvesies have an important role to play in the supe world. Whether they choose to go with the instincts of their demon or human half is supposed to predict the outcome of the endtimes, and now Tova has a deadline to choose sides. But all of that is hard to care about when she's just met a sexy stranger on the edge of the Charles River.
PVN is delighted to welcome Lore, Alpha Hellhound of Fairview, a town of intense supernatural activity and the location of The Dark Forgotten series by Sharon Ashwood. Although Lore has appeared in all books of the series it is in the most recent, Frostbound, where readers get to know Lore, up close and personal.
[See contest info at end of post]
Lore, many thanks for taking time from your very busy schedule for this interview!
Hello, Patricia, and thank you for inviting me to PVN.
Do you like being temporary sheriff of the supernatural community while Alessandro is out of town?
Yes and no. I get to beat up a lot of vampires. That’s entertaining. Despite working for Alessandro from time to time, hellhounds and vampires don’t get along all that well. We put in a hard day’s work, maybe grab a beer. They’re all about the politics and fashion.
But I’m getting off topic. This is a busy time in Fairview. There’s an election on—the first time a non-human has stood for office—and a lot of people from out of town are showing up and causing trouble. And then there’s this freak snowstorm. And the free-floating evil, arson, and you know how it goes. Suddenly the calendar is fully booked.
What exactly does it mean being the Alpha Hellhound?
The Alpha is the pack leader and can be male or female. It is a position of great responsibility, because ensuring the pack’s welfare and happiness is your primary purpose. That could be anything from defeating an infestation of ghouls to setting up a baseball team. You are the go-to person for all decisions, great and small. There’s little time for a personal life, but it’s a great gig if you have control issues.
The biggest challenge I have is teaching the pack to fit into modern human society. We are newcomers here, and there are different customs to learn. For instance, I understand that taking females captive is not typical behavior in your society. There’s a new discovery every day.
Many PVN readers know little about Hellhounds. Would you tell us a bit about your group - anything you feel comfortable sharing.
Hellhounds were bred in ancient days from the guardians of the dead. We are half-demons and have power over all passages between one state and another, especially the ways between birth and death. We hunt down evil to keep those sacred roads safe. We can take the form of a hound or a human at will.
For the record, and because so many have asked, fleas are not a problem and no hellhound has ever drunk out of a toilet.
Why is it essential that as Alpha you choose a lifetime mate?
The hellhound belief is that there must be a strong, mated Alpha pair before a pack can breed. It is also believed that we reincarnate and seek out our mates from lifetime to lifetime. As Alpha, I am expected to take one of the females of the pack as my mate.
There are plenty of grandmothers in the pack who have nothing better to do than to play matchmaker. I swear they’ve got a betting pool going. No place is safe from ambush.
I understand that it is impossible for Hellhounds to lie. Doesn't this sometimes cause uncomfortable moments?
Um, yes. More than I can say.
You also have a gift for prophecy. How does that manifest itself?
Usually in dreams, or sometimes with what humans call a migraine headache. I don’t find it a particularly helpful talent. For instance, last night I dreamed that I was cleaning the fridge and found a baby dragon in the vegetable crisper. Outside of the fact that maybe it’s past time to clean the fridge, what do I make of this? That dragons will eat all my carrots? I haven’t a clue.
There was a time when you ran a smuggling operation within the Castle. Why was that?
When the pack first escaped from the Castle, many were left behind. I was one of the few with the means to slip through the Castle entrance, and many goods are rare inside the Castle walls. Putting those two facts together, I saw an opportunity.
I bartered for the freedom of the lost hounds. A pair of shoes and a bottle of wine for a life. It was crazy. There was a danger that I would be recaptured, but I could not leave even the least of my pack behind. What kind of a leader would I be?
If it's not too painful would you mind describing life in the Castle?
The Castle is an ancient, interdimensional prison for supernatural creatures. The hounds were shut inside it thousands of years ago. It is a place of stone and torchlight, a lawless hell where demon warlords roam free and fight for territory. Many of them made us their slaves and soldiers. I did not see the sun or breathe free air until I was a grown man.
How is your friend Sylvius, a former incubus, adjusting to life outside the Castle?
My young friend has been recruited by a modelling agency. As a former love god who is not yet twenty years of age, I think he has a bright future in front of the camera.
Do you have a preference for which form you take - human or hound?
Both are entirely natural to me. I spend more time in human form, because so many tasks are easier that way. Opposable thumbs and all that. However, I do like to go out with friends and chase Frisbees if the weather is good.
What are your plans for the future?
The future is uncertain. I have met a beautiful vampire named Talia Rostova. At first, I thought she was a killer and took her prisoner. I’m still not sure if she’s innocent, and I can’t let her go until I know the truth. Honestly, I suspect she’s in more trouble than she’s admitting. I know it’s against every hellhound law, but what would be the harm in getting to know her a little better? If I could convince her to trust me, I might be able to help her.
Tell us about your Boswell - Sharon Ashwood.
She’s patient and works hard, but she’s only a human. It would help if she had superpowers. Then she could write our stories down much faster. She’s also slow in other ways. I had to keep at her and at her to write my story. I had to be, pardon the reference, like a dog with a bone! But once readers started asking for my story, she finally got with the program.
Anything else you would like to add?
If anyone is interested in Frostbound, but has not read the rest of the series, please know that this book can be read as a stand-alone novel. If you like it, you can catch up with the others afterward.
Vail the Unwanted is a pureblood vampire. But raised in 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.
Today's special guest is Lorelei Bell author of the thrilling romantic adventure Vampire Ascending
Lorelei is offering an electronic and a paper copy of her novel to two lucky readers.
Please welcome her.
By Lorelei Bell
Then those flecks of ocean fell on me. His smile grew broader as he rose—and kept rising. I suddenly had to revise my first assumption—he was impossibly tall, possibly seven foot tall, with a powerful chest, as though he had swung a broadsword at some point in his very distant past, or, as a hunter, carried a huge carcass home on his shoulders when he was a living man. As an undead, he was possibly the largest vampire I'd ever seen. Even without his superhuman powers, he could throw any one of us across the room. ~ Vampire Ascending
I never quite understood my own attraction to vampires, or certain evil—or thought of as evil—creatures such as vampires, werewolves and whatnot. However I've read somewhere that we have this strange attraction for such things, possibly for the most part we are curious, more than anything. But I've had an obsession for vampires since my teens when I watched old horror classics of “Dracula” on TV late at night. I didn't quite agree that Dracula, or vampires in general, should have been the heavy, or villain. I thought, “Why couldn't Dracula get the woman of his desires? Why couldn't he fulfill his love or lust just like anyone else?”
So, later, when I began to pen my stories, I strove to give my vampires personalities, make them seem like regular people, not those you read about even now, where they seem to have no emotions or feelings, have no interest in love, or are devoid of emotion. Also, I asked myself, why do they have to be “dead” or “undead”? My vampires actually do have a heartbeat (but it's rather slow), and want to be involved with someone, perhaps even those of their own ilk.
In my book, Vampire Ascending, you will find that my vampires are more multi-dimensional, and have more than blood drinking on their mind. Sometimes it's sex, but, hey, there are other things that occupy their minds, like ruling the North American Vampire Association.
My heroine, Sabrina Strong, had to learn quickly how to keep from becoming a victim, and that proved to be a trying beginning for her, fraught with a myriad of dangers. Those vampires who she must trust may become her worst enemies. Like seven-foot tall, over 1,000 year old Viking, Bjorn Tremayne, owner/CEO of Tremayne Towers in Chicago who hires her to find the murderer of his life-long mate Leticia, who is ultimately attracted to her sanguinely as well as sexually. And then there is Nicolas who becomes Sabrina's romantic interest . . . but can she really trust him?
When it came to creating my story, and my heroine in this series, I chose not to go with the kick-ass chick who went after vampires, demons or whatnot (as in Karen Chance, Keri Arthur, and Kim Harris novels), right from the start. I wanted to develop a reluctant hero, Sabrina Strong—a sometimes quirky twenty-one year old Touch Clairvoyant—throughout the series.
Synopsis:
Sabrina Strong is a Touch Clairvoyant who knows a secret. She knows her mother was turned into a vampire when she was ten. Now that she is grown up, a powerful magnate in the Chicago business world hires her to reveal the identity of who ruthlessly murdered vampires in his ultra-modern stronghold of a hotel.
Sabrina is not thrilled about the aspect working for vampires, but she needs the money, and she wants to find the gorgeous and mysterious vampire who has been turning up in her dreams. Is he the one who bit her when she was ten, marked her for his own, and turned her mother so long ago?
Little does Sabrina know that her whole life is about to change as her best friend becomes a victim, too and Sabrina is the only one who can find her. Her friend's fate intensifies the desperate need to find the murderer and, consequently, brings her into contact with a rogue vampire, Vasyl—who looks very much like her dream-vampire.
Sabrina is quickly immersed in romantic trysts and dangerous situations involving scheming vampires, shift changers, and werewolves.
“Vampire Ascending is an action-packed plot full of surprise. Bell delivers a well written and satisfying story that will leave the reader wanting more.” ~ Copperhill Media
“A truly extraordinary vampire tale . . . something to sink your teeth into . . .” ~ Reader Views
“Bell . . . delves into the gritty, violent, dark and sexual world of Anne Rice's vampires . . . a breath of fresh air . . .” ~Tony Martin, Northern Star
CONTEST
*Lorelei is offering a copy of both an eBook and a softbound of to two lucky readers.
*Please leave a comment for her about this post for a chance to win, and which you would prefer: eBook, or softbound.
*Be sure contact information is included with your comment.
Meet Liz Strange author of the new vampire trilogy The Dark Kiss. Liz has a whole range of interests and is certainly never bored. Here is how she is described on her website:
"When not working, writing or spending time with her family, she enjoys reading, watching scary movies, spicy food, soccer and hitting the gym. Liz is aself-confessed sci-fi nerd, loving Star Trek, X-Files and Torchwood, and is a horror fanatic.
"She also loves anything to do with mythology, history and anthropology, and has a long-standing fascination with ancient Greece and Easter Island.
"Her true ( and undying) love for vampires was born when she got her hands on a copy of Stephen King's 'Salem's Lot."
Thanks for joining PVN today, Liz. Let me begin by asking about your latest series. What is the premise of The Dark Kiss Trilogy?
The Dark Kiss trilogy follows Rachel, from her days as a young, mortal woman in my hometown of Kingston, Ontario on to finding the love of her life, who happen to be a vampire, and the subsequent adventures they have together (and apart). Rachel’s lover, Giovanni, has a history he can’t seem to escape from, and which haunts then throughout the books.
What are the characteristics of your vampires?
My vampires follow a more traditional notion; they don’t go out in the sun, they don’t age, they drink blood, are incredibly strong/fast, and have varying levels of psychic awareness and control over humans. They are monsters and they know it, but they still hang on to a touch of their humanity. They haven’t entirely lost the notion of love or friendship.
When will Book three be available?
The print version should be available sometime in April or May, and the e-book version will be out in the summer.
I also have a fourth book coming out from MLR Press, which is more of a off-shoot of the series, but still takes place within the same “realm” and involves some characters introduced in books two and three of the series. It’s called The Embrace of Life and Death (A Dark Kiss tale).
What attracts you to the paranormal?
I love everything about it- the mystery, the thrills and chills. There are so many great stories out there, often with some basis in mythology, local lore and spiritual beliefs. It fascinates me.
Which authors or books have influenced your writing?
Well definitely Anne Rice, Stephen King, H.P. Lovecraft and Tanya Huff. For my vampire fixation I enjoy authors like P.N. Elrod, Laurell K. Hamilton, Raven Hart, and Charlaine Harris. I always consider myself a horror or dark fantasy author first, though my stories often involve relationships, sex and love stories.
Please describe your writing day and writing environment.
I wish I had writing “days”. I work full-time, so my writing is at night after my kids are in bed and I’ve taken care of everything else I need to for the day, and on the weekends. At present my office is a desk pushed into the corner of my dining room.
Do you use music or visuals to inspire you as you write?
I do like to listen to music when I write. It keeps me alert and energized.
When reading for pleasure what kinds of books to you choose?
I like paranormal, horror, fantasy and mysteries.
Are you a fan of any of the paranormal themed TV series? (What are they and why?)
I am a HUGE X-files fan. As far as I’m concerned that was the best TV show ever. I love True Blood, Being Human and have just discovered Supernatural. Not sure how I missed that when it first came out, but I’m catching up on the past seasons.
Anything else you would like to add?
Just to say thanks to all the readers for buying my books, and for the compliments and encouragement. I really appreciate hearing from you.
Blood, sex and eternal life… What more could a girl ask for?
Tall, dark, and sexy, as well as fabulously wealthy, Giovanni is everything a girl could ask for in a lover. There’s only one catch. He’s been undead for more than three hundred years.
Giovanni’s world, she learns that the rules of human existence mean nothing in the world of vampires. This, however, is a fair price to pay for a love that will last forever.
Hunted by the Desmarais family, who carry a centuries-old vendetta, Rachel and Giovanni travel to the ends of the earth in order to stay one step ahead. Can their love survive, or will their eternity together end?
Content Warning: Violence, sexual encounters with the undead.
Forever is a long time to live without love. After enduring a sequence of tragic events, Rachel is forced to start over without her beloved Giovanni. Relocation to San Francisco with vampires Eli and Charles is the second chance at life she feels she needs.
With the help of immortal allies, Rachel, Eli and Charles initiate a brutal showdown with the Desmarais, avenging Giovanni’s death and removing the threat to all vampire kind.
But after making the most unexpected discovery, she knows lines have been crossed and things may never be that same for any of them.
ZOVA Books Signs World Renowned Vampire Fiction Author V.M.K. Fewings
Los Angeles, CA, March 21, 2011 – ZOVA Books announces that is has signed world renowned author V.M.K. Fewings for the release of the first three books in The Stone Masters Vampire Series, an epic vampire saga in the tradition of Anne Rice. ZOVA Books is a boutique publishing firm representing such acclaimed authors as Dances With Wolves novelist and Academy Award winning screenplay writer, Michael Blake, as well as the Pulitzer Prize nominated bestselling author of Sacagawea, Anna Lee Waldo. Their partnership with V.M.K. Fewings brings them a wide readership in a genre entirely new to their catalog.
Ms. Fewings’ writing has garnered significant attention in the literary community. A special guest author at The Theatre of The Vampires Ball in New Orleans later this year, fans of Anne Rice have already lauded her series as the most significant contribution to the genre in several years. Previously with a Canadian publishing house, the first two books will be repackaged with a new preface and released and distributed for the first time in the United States. V.M.K. Fewings’ third title in the series, A Vampire's Dominion, will be released in October of this year.
The Stone Masters Vampire Series narrates the dark, seductive depths of London's underworld and its alluring vampire aristocracy. In the series' third book, A Vampire's Dominion, Ms. Fewings takes us to modern day Cornwall, setting the pace for the story of William Rolfe, a vampire tormented by a cruel secret. Ingrid Jansen, an inspector, is lured into the darkest realms of an opulent underworld in her obsession with a murder investigation. Together, William and Ingrid race to find the key that will save the underworld's aristocratic society before it is too late. Writing in the tradition of Anne Rice and Robin McKinley, Ms. Fewings imbues her world with all the depth and internal turmoil that once characterized the genre.
“We are so excited to be working with Ms. Fewings on the Stone Masters series,” says ZOVA Books Publisher, Molly Lewis. “We've been following her success for several years now and are thrilled to be her champion for the next book in the series. Vanessa’s work embodies everything we once loved and feared in vampire fiction, recalling that great tradition with the kind of narrative vision that guarantees a genre classic.”
V.M.K. Fewings' series will join the ZOVA catalog this October, available at book retailers across the country, on all digital platforms, and distributed through Baker and Taylor upon its release.
Awakened (House of Night)
by P.C. Cast and Kristin Cast
St. Martin's Griffin; First Edition (January 4, 2011)
Book 8 in the House of Night series.
Although I have been aware of this series for some time Awakened is the first I have read. Even with the many characters and significant plot twists I could follow the story well enough to have a basic understanding of what was happening, and I was intrigued by other threads only hinted at. Since this is book eight I will keep in mind those who follow the series and try not to give away any spoilers.
Main character Zoe Redbird has returned from the Otherworld with her warrior guardian Zach. Both were badly hurt in a fracas that almost cost Zoey her life. Now both of them are recovering on the Eden-like Isle of Skye, home to the powerful Queen Sgiach who hopes that Zoey will want to remain. Sgiach promises to teach her the powerful uses of old magic and protect her from the Darkness that stalks the outside world most notably in the form of the ruthless, power hungry Neferet. Eventually Zoey decides to return to her vampyre friends at the House of Night in Tulsa. Only there can she, as High Priestess, lead the fight against Neferet and her unwilling ally the immortal warrior Kalona.
Please note the hunk on the cover. That is Kalona's son Rephaim. He is part human and considers himself a monster no doubt due to the fact that he has a conscience something lacking in his father. Rephaim also has a strong love for Zoey's close friend Stevie Ray who returns the feeling.
Awakened is a highly entertaining Young Adult story with believable characters and plenty of action. It's probably best to begin with book one Marked and read each in turn as if they were one grand romantic adventure.
[This book was sent to me by the publisher. Thank you]
Many thanks to author Margie Church who has dropped by to discuss the vampires of her Love Bites series. She is also offering an ebook copy of book 1 of Love Bites. See contest details at the end of the post.
It's all yours, Margie!
Patricia, thank you for inviting me to your cool blog. I appreciate the chance to talk about my Love Bites series with your friends.
In these books, vampires live peacefully among humans as ordinary people. They don't make a practice of turning humans into vampires. Falling in love with a human is forbidden and likely to end in extermination of the vampire.
These characters play pivotal roles in Love Bites and Love Bites II: Dangerous Love.
Jui Fabrice: An independent, confident business woman. She fell for Wade the moment she laid eyes on him and has no idea Wade is a vampire. She can't shake him from her memories or life. The fact he's telepathic and teleports himself around the world to get to her could be a reason she's having these troubles. Ya think? The more he pushes her away, the more she digs into his life, and tries to understand why he won't return her love the way she wants him to. The consequences for her love are unfathomable. Once she learns what Wade really is, the decision to love or leave him isn't as easy as you might think.
Ladislav Husek: The Ancient One and leader of the vampire nation. The poster boy for vampire sociopaths. At first, Ladislav appears to have a benign job of keeping track of the vampires lives and deaths and help ensure their secret society stays that way. We learn he has an uncontrollable hatred for vampires who fall in love, and viscously exterminates any he sees headed that way. Wade is a blinking beacon on Ladislav's radar. He also has an all-consuming jealousy for Victoria, a human he loved. Her virgin blood was too compelling, and he lost his self-control, and turned her. Hundreds of years later, he still thinks she might get over his bad. Ladislav's "business partner" is Dirk.
Dirk: The Master Prophet and a shape shifter. Dirk leads a society of afterworld creatures created when vampire feedings go wrong and the human accidentally dies. They have no status in the afterworld and therefore exist in a social limbo. The Prophets are the equivalent to the mafia. They enjoy creating mayhem and pain for humans and rogue vampires. Dirk has a business and personal alliance with Ladislav. He's also a Dom and the only one who understands Ladislav's real needs.
Victoria: Turned by Ladislav, she keeps continents between them to control her rage. Her hatred for him is palpable and she's deeply vindictive. She befriended Wade after he was turned, and they spent years together in their hedonistic, vampire lifestyle. Tori hates the idea that Jui has stolen her playmate and that Wade has something she never has – love. She does her level best to manipulate Jui and punish Wade.
This cast of characters helps to create rich subplots that will entertain and intrigue you. Expect dark twists and many surprises about who people really are and what lengths they'll go to get what they want.
About the books:
Love Bites Blurb
An accidental encounter turns into high stakes love when Jui Fabrice meets Wade Kairos in Germany. She has no idea he’s a vampire and Wade has every intention of keeping his secret.
A vineyard cottage is the perfect place for Jui and Wade to make love until he discovers her unique link to his living years. He vows to stay away from her forever, but he can’t let her go completely. Wade’s repressed human feelings continue rising. He invades Jui’s dreams and communicates telepathically with her at will. Evil jealousy consumes him when Jui becomes involved with Rob Hawthorne and she rebukes Wade for his controlling behaviors. Then Wade’s lifelong companion dies in a vamp war and his desolation is too much to handle alone. He turns to the only person who cares about him—Jui— and during one hot night, he becomes the man she wants.
The Ancient One, Ladislav Husek, learns of Wade’s risky human behavior and gives Wade a taste of how viciously he’ll die if he doesn’t bury his tracks with Jui. Husek promises to turn Jui into his personal playmate and Wade has to choose. Can love prevail over evil in a relationship that never was supposed to happen?
Love Bites II: Dangerous Love
Wade Kairos faces deadly consequences for defying the leader of the vampire nation. Ladislav Husek partners with Master Prophet Dirk, to prove Wade can run but he can't hide. And neither can Jui Fabrice, the woman Wade loves. Every bit of his ingenuity is needed to protect her from being turned into a vampire or a prophet.
If that's not enough trouble for him, another vampire from Wade's past comes forward and makes it abundantly clear that what used to be hers is still up for grabs.
Someone will pay with their life in Dangerous Love.
I invite you to start with Love Bites and then read Dangerous Love. The third book, Redemptive Love, is planned for later this year.
About Margie Church
I write contemporary erotic romance, suspense, paranormal, and m/m genres. By day, I write advertising literature, communications plans, and direct social media. I also write children's books under my pen name, Margaret Rose. I'm a Facebook addict and I don't want treatment! What else? Married almost three decades to the only man on earth who could put up with me that long and still love me. We met in high school biology, love at first sight, and married after I graduated from college. We have two teen sons who delight and annoy me at the most surprising moments. Yeah, I know you're doing the math on those kids…we practiced a long time and we got it right. Trust me.
I recently finished a m/m romance. My works in progress (WIP) are a ghost story and an erotic romance. After that comes a Young Adult (YA) piece.
(Doubleday, 2010). This is one of my favorite paranormal novels from last year. Not only is it an imaginative retelling of the Dracula story, but it gives a credible description of the often difficult position of nineteenth century women. Below is my review.
she was a dentist called in to take care of John's infected fang - yes, even vampires have problems. Despite the unromantic circumstances there was an instant attraction and they fell madly in love. This led to lots of hot, spicy sex, marriage, Lauren's change to vampire status, and a baby named Avery. 
in Boston (details below). The idea is to provide paranormal romance in bite-size pieces for the modern, busy reader. New entries will come out approximately once every three months at just 99 cents per entry. 
, where readers get to know Lore, up close and personal.
, 
, and 
, you will find that my vampires are more multi-dimensional, and have more than blood drinking on their mind. Sometimes it's sex, but, hey, there are other things that occupy their minds, like ruling the North American Vampire Association.
."
and Book two 
