Laura Kaye - Guest Blog and Contest

Please welcome Laura Kaye a multi-published author of paranormal, contemporary, and erotic romance. Today Laura introduces PVN readers to her amazing vampire world.

She is also offering one  lucky commenter an ebook of  Forever Freed plus some surprises.  [See rules at end of post]

The Vampires in the World of Forever Freed

Thanks to Patricia for having me here today to talk about my new release and share my vampires with you. I’ve been an avid reader of all things paranormal and supernatural—especially vampires—since I was a kid, so it’s such a thrill to have written a vampire story of my own. Forever Freed is about a reclusive, empathic vampire who falls in love with a woman he planned to kill and her daughter, then fights his ancient guilt, bloodlust, lie by omission, and an old vampire rival who threatens everything he holds dear.

Here’s the blurb:

A heart can break, even one that no longer beats.



I stalk my new neighbors, a single mother and her child, drawn by the irresistible scent of their joy and love. I crave their blood, starved for some healing respite from my ancient grief. Now to lure them into my grasp.



But they surprise me. Little Olivia accepts me without fear or reservation--talking, smiling, offering innocent affection that tugs at my long-lost humanity. Her mother, Samantha, seeks me out when she should stay away, offering sweet friendship, and calling to the forgotten man within me. They lure me instead

Ah, Dio, Lucien, run and spare them while you can...

*grins* So, today, I thought I’d introduce you to the vampires of Forever Freed’s world.  All of the vampires share the following attributes:

ABILITIES:  Supernatural strength, speed, hearing, eyesight; don’t age; supernatural ability to heal; ability to charm another’s will, although this is not absolute; ability to daywalk, though not in direct sunlight; ability to go long periods of time without sleeping [called “trancing”]

WEAKNESSES:  Direct sunlight, silver, holy water, decapitation—surest way to kill

The Hero:

Lucien Demarco [Turned 1895. Empathic.].  He’s hot, he’s fanged, he’s brooding, he’s Italian, he’s wonderful with small children—what more could you want? *grins*  Lucien has a strong empathic ability that has been a source of torment for him since being turned in 1895 in a gruesome scene that left his then wife and daughter dead.  His empathy forces him to feel his victims’ emotions when he feeds, so even though he can charm them into calmness, if they’re evildoers, he feels that about them, and feels he’s drinking it inside of himself.  The alternative?  Isolate and starve himself as much as possible.  Until he has a chance meeting with Samantha and Ollie Sutton.

The Ithaca Coven:

Seven vampires reside in North Ithaca, New York, and they are essentially Lucien’s adoptive family.  Days after being changed in 1895, they found him, abandoned by his maker, and took him in.  He lived with the Ithaca Coven for forty years, then broke out on his own.  But they’re still a major part of Lucien’s life.

Here they are:

Griffin [Turned 1760. Mesmerizer.]  Griffin is the oldest and most powerful of the Ithaca vampires and made the decision to bring Lucien into the coven when they found him in 1895.  He’d been dying after a battle during the French & Indian War when an ancient Native American vampire found him and turned him.  Griffin turned everyone in the coven except for Lucien and Anna.  He is mated to Henrietta.

Jedediah [Turned 1789. Gift not yet disclosed.]  Jed is smart-mouthed, quick-witted and loyal to a fault.  He’d been dying of a sickness while trying to build a homestead out in the wilds of New York when Griffin found and changed him—the first person Griffin ever changed, largely because he’d been in such dire need of companionship.  He is mated to Rebecca.


Henrietta [Turned 1792. Healer.]  Henrietta, or Henny, as Ollie calls her, is the next most powerful vampire in the coven.  A midwife in life, she is able to heal most, but not all, injuries and illness with her touch.  She is one of the four Ithaca vampires turned/saved during an Indian raid on western New York that occurred during the Northwest Indian War.  She is mated to Griffin.

Catherine [Turned 1792. Empathic.]  Catherine is the most beautiful vampire of the coven and the only one unmated.  She is also Rebecca’s older sister.  Catherine’s empathy is stronger than Lucien’s—whereas he can only sense emotions within close proximity, Catherine can sense emotions over distance, particularly with people with whom she’s had, er, certain connections.  She regularly has romantic liaisons with human men.  Aside from his human wife who died, Catherine is the only other woman with whom Lucien had a romantic relationship before he met Samantha.

Rebecca [Turned 1792. Not gifted.]  The youngest of the Ithaca vampires was only 17 when saved/turned after the Indian raid. She is also Catherine’s younger sister.  Rebecca is passionate, effervescent, and brutally honest.  She is mated to Jed.

William [Turned 1792. Gift not yet disclosed.]  For a long time, William was in love with Catherine and had a relationship with her, but it was generally one-sided.  Thus, when Catherine developed feelings for Lucien, William was immediately jealous.  His animosity and other actions, particularly turning three girls with attributes similar to Catherine’s, were ultimately what chased Lucien from the Ithaca coven.  Mated to Anna, who he turned.

Anna [Turned 1938.  Not gifted.]  Turned by William in a fit of desperate jealousy and loneliness, Anna ultimately forgave and fell in love with William. Her love healed the part of William’s personality so filled with rage and frustration.  Mated to William.


The Detroit Coven:

A large number of vampires make up this coven, though most are newer and pawns of the Laumets, the bad guys of the story.  Lucien worked for the Laumets from the 1950s through 1990.  Having gotten free, Lucien wants to stay free of them.

Four are most worth noting:

Antoine Laumet [Turned 1731.  Not gifted.] Antoine Laumet is the ruler of Detroit, a position that comes from his long history with the city.  Indeed, Antoine Laumet is based on a real person, the man who actually founded the French fort (Fort Ponchartrain) that was the forerunner of the city (the British changed the name to Detroit during the French and Indian War).  The Jesuits did not have nice things to say about the real Antoine Laumet, so he’s a perfect character to turn into an evil vampire overlord in the story.  And I love weaving history into my tales, as I did with the Indian raids and Northwest Indian War, also real.  Mated to Magena, who he turned.

Jacques Laumet [Turned 1731.  Not gifted.] Antoine’s only surviving son, Jacques is second in command of the Detroit coven and also based on a real person.  Jacques is small and slight in stature and rabidly jealous of Lucien, who his father grew to develop some paternal affection for, especially when Lucien saved his life in an assassination attempt in 1990.  Unmated.

Magena [Turned 1763. Telepathic.] Magena is the most powerful vampire in the Detroit coven. Her telepathy includes not only the ability to read other people’s minds but, through touch, she can also show those thoughts to another person.  A victim of the fighting during Pontiac’s Rebellion, Antoine found and saved her.  Ever since she’s felt torn between a sort of gratitude to him and respectful affection, and a resentment borne out of the fact that vampirism violates her native religious beliefs.  Mated to Antoine.

Langston Brown [Turned 1975. Free of bloodlust.] Newly hired as the director of the Detroit Medical Center blood bank, Langston remembers the friendship Lucien extended to him back when they’d both worked for Laumet and offers to provide Lucien with guilt-free sustenance.  His lack of bloodlust has been a challenge at times, but is useful for Laumet in gaining control of this blood supply.  Unmated as he has an unrequited love.


The Maker:

Lazar.  Despite several decades of trying to find him to exact revenge, Lucien as yet knows nothing about him.



So, you’ve now met the vampires in the world of Forever Freed.  A lot of these details are real sneak peeks in to the series, as they’re revealed and discussed more in the (as-yet) unpublished prequel than in this book.

I’d be happy to answer any questions, but, also: What are your favorite vampire attributes or special abilities?

Thanks for reading!
Laura Kaye

Website: http://www.LauraKayeAuthor.com
Blog: http://laurakayeauthor.blogspot.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/laurakayeauthor
Twitter: @laurakayeauthor
Sign up for Laura’s Newsletter: http://eepurl.com/d9ruD

Buy Forever Freed, and use this DigiBooks Café code for a 20% discount: e3d9d10a3c - http://tiny.cc/iydy4

Contest

*Laura is offering an ebook of Forever Freed plus signed romance trading cards and some other swag {by mail) to one lucky reader.

*Ask Laura a question, OR answer her question -What are your favorite vampire attributes or special abilities? - for a chance to win.
 
* Be sure contact information is included with your comment.

* Contest ends July 6, 2011 at 11:59pm EST

* Contest is limited to US and Canadian residents.

*ATTENTION - CONTEST IS NOW INTERNATIONAL!!

A multi-published author of paranormal, contemporary, and erotic romance with four books releasing in 2011, Laura Kaye’s hot, heartfelt stories are all about the universal desire for a place to belong.  Laura grew up amidst family lore involving angels, ghosts, and evil-eye curses, cementing her life-long fascination with the supernatural.  Though an avid fiction writer as a teenager, a career as a historian took her in other directions until recently.  Now that Laura’s inner muse has awakened, she’s constantly creating new story ideas!  Laura lives in Maryland with her husband, two daughters, and cute-but-bad dog, and appreciates her view of the Chesapeake Bay every day.

Tony-Paul - Guest Blog

Forget Translyvania, Ireland is the best place to find vampires, according to Tony-Paul de Vissage who visits PVN to discuss this and to tell everyone about his latest book Vampires are Forever (Class Act Books, May 15, 2011). Today marks Tony-Paul's second appearance  on PVN. Please give him a warm welcome!

Vampire Are Forever

Romania—specifically that section of it called Transylvania—isn’t the only place having vampires.  It’s just the main one people think of, thanks to Bram Stoker’s little epic.  In fact, the first vampire novel to gain attention in the literary world was set in England.  Oui—that’s right.  The Vampyre by Dr. John Polidori, was an English creation, but how many, other than we vamp-aficionados, are aware of that?  And if asked to named the world’s most famous vampire, how many would say the name of its villain, Lord Ruthven?  Dracula wins that title, fangs down!

When I wrote Vampires are Forever, I decided to de different, ignoring Transylvania in lieu of Ireland, which has its own special vampire.  Oh, my hero/villain hails from Hungary but that’s only mentioned briefly.  And the city he says he comes from actually does exist.  It’s called Lugos, and is the town from which Bela Lugosi took his stage name.  Appropriate, non?  The Irish town is made up, however.  Balleywalegh’s a place knowing what you do with vampires and it doesn’t involve giving them the key to the city, unless it’s presented on the end of a well-sharpened stake.

I also chose to set my story in a slightly inappropriate era…the Twenties.  1929 to be exact, when the movies were just becoming the rage, the automobiles were still fairly rare, and any woman showing more than an ankle was considered “fast”…or worse…a flapper.  The time is just enough of a blend of the old century and the new to make it different.

Now, as to my vampire…

Like a thousand other countries, Ireland has its own vampire.  The dearg-due.  Though the vampire in Vampires are Forever is male but called a dearg-due, the true one is female, a cross between the succubus and the vampires…the Red Blood-sucker.  Her story is typically romantic and tragic.  A young woman forced by her father to marry a cruel man, she kills herself, then rises to exact revenge upon husband and parent.  After that, she carries her vengeance far afield as she attacks any man she meets, draining him dry of his life…and his blood.  The only way to prevent a dearg-due from rising and creating its own special havoc is to pile the grave high with stones.  Their weight holds the evil spirit inside.

Don’t think my tale of a vampire descending on a little Irish village is a tragic one, though.  Nor is it bloody.  It’s more whimsical, filled with Irish lilts and brash Gaelic characters…though it does have its shivery moments.  It also pokes fun at all the clichés with which the movies have filled the vampire tale…the villagers descending on the manor house, the vampire being fended off with garlic and stakes, the cornered vampire cursing his attackers…  It’s all there, as tongue…uh, fang…in cheek as you can get without being a cruel burlesque.  If anything, it’s a gentle bit of fun at the genre’s expense.

EXCERPT:

There was a rattle of keys, a click of a lock.  Slowly, the door swung open.  Everyone prepared to run.  Even Seamus tensed, though he would never have admitted it.

“Yes sir?”  A man stood there.  A very dignified man, dressed in dark, conservative livery.  He blinked slightly as the sunlight struck him directly in the eyes.  “May I help you?” 

“Oh…uh… Right.”  That brought Seamus out of his trance.  “We—that is, th’ others an’ I—”  He gestured behind him at his mates.  “We’re from Balleywalegh an’ we saw th’ light last night, an’—”

He stopped, uncertain of what to say.

“Yes, sir, you’re from the village, and—?”

By now, Seamus had gotten a good gander at him and decided he didn’t look as he thought a vampire should, especially a dearg-due.  Hadn’t they always been described as extremely ugly, having fiery eyes and the palest of skin and rows and rows of sharp teeth like those piranha-fish he’d read about as lived in South American rivers?  This fella… Why, he looked to be about as old as Seamus himself, and certainly neither pale nor fiery- eyed.  And definitely not ugly.  Pleasant-looking, as a matter of fact.  Blond and fair, with blue eyes squinted in the sunlight.  And his teeth?  They might be a trifle large—what Seamus considered English teeth—but there were no more than the usual number. And they certainly didn’t look sharp.

“—an’ we saw th’ light an’ thought we’d stop by an’ offer a welcome to th’ village.”

Conor had finally come out of his daze and managed to speak up, if a trifle weakly.
“Oh.  I see.”

The man smiled and that transformed his face to something totally human and completely harmless. 

“So if your master’s around,” Seamus picked up the thread again.  “We’d like to extend an invitation—”

“I’m afraid that’s impossible at the moment, sir,” the man interrupted.

“But—”

“The master is unavailable.  He’s out for the day.”

“Out?”  Conor spoke up again.  “We haven’t heard any motors passin’ by, an’ anyway, his car’s still here, so how did he travel?  Did he fly?” 

Conor, you idjit! was all Seamus could think.

The butler—for that’s what Seamus had decided the man was—didn’t appear insulted however.  In fact, he smiled again, though his answer was a trifle frosty, this time.  “Master Novotny has several motor cars.  He occasionally drives himself, Mr—?”

“—Leary.  Conor Leary.”  It was a moment before Conor spoke, reluctantly supplying his name, then adding, “Mayor o’ Balleywalegh.”

“Mr. Leary.”  The butler acknowledged this with a nod.  “If you’d care to come back this evening, I’m certain the Master will—”

“We wouldn’t mind waitin’,” Seamus put in quickly, knowing it would take a team of horses and a blast of gunpowder to get Conor or any of the others back here again.  Even in daylight.  “Until he returns.”

“I’m afraid that wouldn’t be proper,” came the answer, as he expected.  “I’ve no authority to allow anyone in without the Master’s permission.” He was pushing the door shut as he spoke.  “Just come back this evening.”

The door was closing fast.  Seamus attempted to insert one of his Size 13 brogans into the still-open space.  “Wait—”

“Good day, sir.” It was said with finality.  The door was nearly shut.

“What’s the problem, Steven?”  The question came from behind the man, somewhere far inside the house.  Asked with a slight accent.

“Sir?  W-when did you get back?”  There was bewilderment in the question.

“I never went out.”  Footsteps came down stairs.  The door was pulled open again, the butler looking back.  Once again, those on the stoop braced themselves.
 
The man standing beside Steven couldn’t have been more different.  Seamus felt his heart sink as he looked at him.  Now here’s what a vampire should look like, was all he could think.  Tall, longish dark hair, very much out of style—more like what one of them stage actors would sport, Seamus thought—framing a pallid, narrow face contrasting with the lightest of blue eyes, so pale they appeared nearly colorless… Handsome, yes, the Master of the house truly could’ve graced the screen of any cinema.


As a creature of the night.

“Karel Novotny.”  It was an introduction as he peered out at Seamus, blinked as Steven had done, then took a step backward out of the doorway and into the shadows inside.  Seamus nodded an acknowledgement and offered a hand.
 
After a moment, it was accepted, Novotny stepping forward and clasping it in his own.  Seamus was surprised at how warm it felt.
   “You must excuse Steven,” Master Novotny said, releasing Seamus’ hand.  Not much of an accent, Seamus decided, but enough to give his speech an odd melody.  His voice was well-modulated, carrying all the way to the men standing on the steps though he wasn’t speaking loudly.  “So…you’re a welcoming committee from Balleywalegh,” he summed it up with a smile revealing another set of white teeth.  But no pointed ones, as far as Seamus could see.  He’d like to get a closer look at those eye-teeth, however.  Master Novotny glanced out at the others, as if assessing whether they might be carrying flaming torches, pitchforks, or crucifixes.  “And you’ve come to…?”
 
“—to invite you to th’ Fall Fellowship Festival.  To be held this Sunday at th’ town hall.”
 
“A festival?  How interesting. At what time?”  That was asked a little quickly.
 
“Starts at six in th’ afternoon,” Conor spoke up.  “So’s we all have time to finish our chores aforehand.”
 
“Six in the afternoon…” He appeared to consider that.  A bit of a scowl appeared on the smooth forehead.  Caused by the sun slowly creeping over the threshold?
 
He’s going to decline.  Seamus could tell.  He felt his heart sink a little.  He was startled to find himself actually believing that nonsense Conor and the others were spouting the night before.  He’s goin’ to give us some song-an’-jig about bein’ too busy when in reality, he can’t come out in daylight. ’Tis just a fluke he’s awake now at all.
 
He was surprised, therefore, when Novotny asked, “And what does one do at a Fall Festival?  Will there be food?”  Did he imagine it or was there a quick flick of a tongue across a pale lower lip?  “And drink?”
 
“Anything you could want,” Seamus forced joviality into his reply.  Aye, the treacherous thought wiggled through his mind, an’ which o’ us will you be wantin’ to sip from?  “’Tis to celebrate all th’ good Lord has given us in th’ way o’ bounty this past year.”  Was there a slight cringe at the mention of God?  If so, it was so brief, he wasn’t certain. Perhaps Novotny’d simply shifted his weight a bit.   “There’s be plenty o’ good cookin’ an’ beer an’ even some home-brew…”  He let his voice trail away because Novotny was speaking again.
 
“I’m certain I can make it, Mr…?” 
 
“Flannery.  Seamus Flannery.”  Now why did I give him my full name?

“…Mr. Flannery.  I definitely wish to meet everyone, though I hadn’t expected to quite so early.”  Did this second smile hide a secret meaning, some darkness? 
“Sir?  Y-you’re going?” The butler turned to stare at his master, looking astonished at his acceptance of the invitation.

“Of course!”  Novotny looked almost gleeful as he answered. 
“But sir.  What about…?”  Steven looked from him to the interior of the house, nodding slightly.

“Any tasks here can wait, I imagine.”  Steven’s concern was dismissed with a shrug and a third smile, this one slightly wolfish.  “Have you ever known me to turn down a chance for a good dinner…or liquid refreshment?  Home brew, you say, Mr. Flannery?  I’ve found homemade drink the best kind.”

Now Seamus was certain of it.  There was a hidden meaning there. Without meaning to, he shivered.  It didn’t go unnoticed.  The smile eclipsed a moment, then was back in place.
 
“I’ll see you all there.  On Sunday.  Around six.”  The door was closing again.  Seamus turned away.  The door reopened.  “Ah…Mr. Flannery…?”

“Yes?” He looked back.

“I was wondering.  Could you possibly refer me to a good carpenter?  There’s been some damage to one of the rooms.  Looks like a fire.  Vandals no doubt.”  He paused slightly.
“Aye,” Seamus replied.  “Vacant houses do invite such.”

“So I supposed.  But it will need to be repaired.  So…?”

“Ah…well…Sean Sweeney does most o’ th’ carpentry work around here.  You might ask after him.  If ’tis not too big a job…”

“Sean Sweeney.  Excellent.”  The dark gaze swept past Seamus to the men on the stoop.  “Now, if you’ll excuse me, gentlemen, I’ve some things to attend to.”
 
With a click of finality, the door shut.

Vampires are Forever was published May 15, 2011 from Class Act Books,

www.classactbooks.com.

YouTube

Vampires: The Recent Undead - Vampire Book Review

Vampires: The Recent Undead
Edited by Paula Guran
Prime Books (June, 2011)

Guran's introduction gives an excellent history of the evolution of the vampire story from Bram Stoker's Dracula to the present day. All stories in this anthology were written by a variety of talented fantasy authors between 2000 and early 2010 and have appeared in other collections. Although each selection centers on the vampire there are a diversity of themes.

The first story, "The Coldest Girl in Cold Town" by Holly Black provides a bleak look at what it means to trade your humanity for immortality and a constant thirst for blood. On the other hand  Tanya Huff's heroine Vicki Nelson (from the Blood Books series) has accepted the vampire life without ever giving up her compassion or generosity. In fact in the story "No Matter Where You Go", Vicki unselfishly follows three desperate teens into a hellish alternate universe. She may be their only way out. The brilliant Tanith Lee uses her wonderfully bizarre imagination for an unusual take on the vampire theme in "La Vampiresse". Nisi Shawl's "To the Moment" combines the themes of love and the predatory nature of the vampire, while John Langan chills the reader with a horrifying tale of a creature that haunts the lives of four American soldiers recently returned from Iraq in "The Wide Carnivorous Sky". Jeanne C. Stein offers a lovely romance featuring western hero Doc Holliday. And for those who have enjoyed the works of Chelsea Quinn Yarbro, an author who has inspired many with her extensive Count Saint Germain historical novels, there is "Gentleman of the Old School".

Writers such as Carrie Vaughn, Kelley Armstrong, Nancy Kilpatrick, Kim Newman and many others are well represented. This collection will appeal to readers of the vampire genre as well as fantasy in general.

[A version of this review appeared in Library Journal which sent me an arc of the book for review. I feel so lucky to be a reviewer for LJ. I have discovered many wonderful authors I would not have known about otherwise.]

APPLEWOOD by Brendan P. Myers - Book Announcement

Applewood 
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).

David Blue - Guest Post and Contest

Many have read Leonard Wolf's The Essential Dracula: The Definitive Annotated Edition or Leslie S. Klinger’s The New Annotated Dracula, both excellent sources for understanding the times in which Bram Stoker wrote his classic novel. But before Dracula there was  J. Sheridan Le Fanu's Carmilla, a mesmerizing story of vampire seduction. 


Today PVN welcomes David Blue who has written a similar treatment for Carmilla  (one of my all time favorite vampire tales). David is also offering a PDF copy of his book to one lucky winner. [see contest details at end of post]

The Annotated Carmilla by David Blue

 Carmilla helped define a genre. Before its publication in 1872 (a full quarter century before Dracula),  no vampire story had ever included the POV of a victim.  Never before had an expert vampire hunter been called in, nor had strangely erotic dreams accompanied the nightly visits of an undead seducer.  Reading the story, you may find a whole host of other tropes that have since become commonplace, almost cliche.  Here a painting of a vampire from over a century before provided a clear clue as to what kind of supernatural events were afoot!  Likewise, for almost the first time, a vampire seems to love her victim, to yearn for understanding and love in return.

Little wonder it has proven the most adapted vampire tale in cinematic history after Bram Stoker's story of the Transylvanian Count!

The book certainly captured my imagination, and at an early age.  I can still see in my mind's eye the cover of the very first copy I ever owned.  Much of the past year I spent pouring over the manuscript, noting every detail that might spark a question in the average reader.  When in doubt, I defaulted to answering the question--with the result ending up over four hundred footnotes, contained in my book The Annotated Carmilla.  One result was to discover dozens of little clues embedded Le Fanu's words, including details about the phases of the moon (which are actually somewhat important) and references to mythology that aren't at all immediately obvious.  Most people picking up Le Fanu's story for the first time, for example, probably have no notion where "Styria" actually is.  The footnotes answer this and many more questions.

One lovely piece of luck lay in the fact that as I readied the book for publication, I learned that a new film version was in post-production--the first serious version in over two decades (since the 1990 film starring Ioney Skye and Meg Tilly).  This film, titled Styria, stars Eleanor Tomlinson (who was in Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland) as well as Polish actress Julia Pietrucha.

CONTEST

*Now I'm going to give away one copy of The Annotated Carmilla to the winner of a simple contest.  At heart Carmilla remains the story of two young women--one mortal, one undead--who are friends and maybe more.  Arguably the most famous casting of the two can be seen in Hammer Studio's The Vampire Lovers starring Ingrid Pitt and Madeleine Smith.

*To enter the contest simply comment in this blog [Patricia's Vampire Notes] and name your two choices to play the leads in an imaginary adaptation of Le Fanu's vampire story.

*The contest runs until May 1, 2011.  Or if you cannot wait, you can purchase a copy here: https://www.createspace.com/3507727 Please feel free to share the link! 

Herein is the trailer...

http://youtu.be/EJisi6lhRfM