Stephenie Meyer

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

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

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

Dead Witch Walking

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Win a Copy of All Together Dead

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

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

Interview with D. L Russell

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

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

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

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

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

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


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

Vampire Fiction Roundup for Library Journal

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

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

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

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

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

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

Check it out!