Fevre Dream - Still a Vampire Classic

Fevre Dream
by George R. R. Martin.

From the publisher: "When struggling riverboat captain Abner Marsh receives an offer of partnership from a wealthy aristocrat, he suspects something's amiss. But when he meets the hauntingly pale, steely-eyed Joshua York, he is certain. For York doesn't care that the icy winter of 1857 has wiped out all but one of Marsh's dilapidated fleet. Nor does he care that he won't earn back his investment in a decade. York has his own reasons for wanting to traverse the powerful Mississippi. And they are to be none of Marsh's concern--no matter how bizarre, arbitrary, or capricious his actions may prove.

"Marsh meant to turn down York's offer. It was too full of secrets that spelled danger. But the promise of both gold and a grand new boat that could make history crushed his resolve--coupled with the terrible force of York's mesmerizing gaze. Not until the maiden voyage of his new sidewheeler Fevre Dream would Marsh realize he had joined a mission both more sinister, and perhaps more noble, than his most fantastic nightmare...and mankind's most impossible dream."


PVN: Recently I was surprised to find a copy of Geroge R R Martin's Fevre Dream on the shelves of Barnes and Noble's SF section. That book was published some time in the eighties (1982 to be exact).

Someone gave me a copy. I read the cover flap. Steamboat captain meets vampire in the 19th century. Didn't sound that interesting so I set it aside but did make a note of it for a list of vampire fiction I was compiling.

A few years later when I decided to expand and publish said list into Vampire Readings  I picked up Fevre Dream so that I could read enough to write my own annotation. Why did I wait so long?? I was hooked from the first sentence and could not stop until I finished the last captivating word.

What I remember most was the courage of the vampire Joshua York who was willing to make great sacrifices in order to allow his people to live honorably among humans without depending on their blood for sustenance. Helping him, although reluctantly at first, was Abner Marsh a rugged steamboat captain who became this vampire's closest friend. 

Abner had lost his riverboat after his fleet was destroyed by the severe winter of 1857. He was penniless until the pale aristocrat Joshua York came along and offered to finance the fastest riverboat on the Mississippi. Her name would be the Fevre Dream, and it would become the vehicle for Joshua to bring to life the dream he held for his people.

Fevre Dream is a classic story of courage, honor, and friendship. if you haven't read it you should. Martin creates vivid characters and evokes time and place with great clarity.

Jess Haines Interview and Contest

Happy Valentine's Day everyone. To celebrate this special day we have an interview with author Jess Haines author of the urban fantasy series about the Others - werewolves, vampires and mages. Book one is Hunted By the Others. Book two, just published in January is Taken By the Others. One lucky reader will win a copy of both books.

[see contest details of contest at the end of the post.]

Welcome Jess!

PVN: Tell us about Shiarra and the world she lives in.

Jess: Shiarra Waynest is a human woman who lives in an alternate, present-day New York.  She hasn’t been affected much by the “coming out” of supernaturals after the fall of the Twin Towers on 9/11, roughly ten years ago.  She doesn’t deal with anything that isn’t human.  As far as she’s concerned, their business is Other business—it has nothing to do with her.

Sadly, her story wouldn’t be very interesting if she wasn’t thrust into supernatural events.  As much as she’d like to stay away from them, her private investigations firm is failing, and when a mage coven offers her a lucrative job that just might save her firm, she goes against her instincts and accepts the offer.  All she has to do is confront New York ’s oldest, most powerful vampire to find out where he’s hiding a magic artifact.  Simple, right?

Yeeeeah.  Being phobic of vampires doesn’t help her much.  Added to her troubles is her mother trying to set her back up with her ex-boyfriend (who happens to be a werewolf), a group of vigilante supernatural hunters threatening her to join them or die, and a snarky, sentient hunter’s belt making fun of her lack of vampire hunting skills.  Oh, and it appears that any supernaturals who come in contact with the artifact she’s searching for wind up dead soon thereafter.

She’s really not having a good day.

PVN: What are the characteristics of your vampires?

Jess: My vampires aren’t the sparkly, cuddly type.  While they retain their memories and personality when they are turned, they have new needs, new powers, and new demands thrust on them that make their unlife difficult.  Older vampires are more likely to be cold, ruthless, and keep to themselves simply because that is the only way they could survive.  They’re relatively newly introduced to our society, so there are still some “growing pains” associated with having them around.   However, some—like Alec Royce, New York’s master vampire—push for acceptance, and boldly stepped into the public eye, thereby attaining a form of instant celebrity.

New laws were enacted requiring any human who wants to become “intimate” to sign a contract that negates any rights for them or their loved ones to seek recriminations for damages or death caused by the Other.  Since most of the vampires are striving very hard to achieve equal rights and become mainstream, they police their own, and come down hard on anyone who gets too violent with or kills too many of their contracted donors.  Their desire to fit in doesn’t make them any less dangerous.  Behind the glamour and the publicity, they are predators.

Not to mention the protesters and hunters who think the vamps shouldn’t be allowed to live and prey upon humankind.  Being a donor to a vampire doesn’t just put you in danger of losing life and limb to your host—you might find yourself lumped in with the Others when the hunters come calling.


PVN: What's next for Shiarra and company?

Jess: In my first book, HUNTED BY THE OTHERS (released May, 2010), Shiarra got to know a few Others, save her business, and get her priorities straight.  In the second book, TAKEN BY THE OTHERS (released January, 2011), she got to face her fear of vampires in a very big way.  Here’s the info on book three, DECEIVED BY THE OTHERS, coming July 5, 2011:

They’re here, and they’re real…werewolves, vampires, mages, and other creatures of the night. For New York P.I. Shiarra Waynest, taking care of Others business started out as a way to stay solvent. But now business is getting very, very complicated…

Shiarra’s relationship with sexy werewolf Chaz may be somewhat unconventional. Still, after a few bumps, Shia is finally ready to get serious. That means meeting family–or in this case, bringing Chaz’s entire werewolf pack along for a rollicking full-moon weekend in the Catskills.

Soon after they arrive, threatening notes appear, warning Chaz to go home. Then their cabin is ransacked. Shia starts digging to find out whether it’s the work of upstart teenaged werewolves or something more sinister. Yet as rumors about her vampire connections arouse the pack’s hostility, Shia has to contend with other dangers. Not just from an adversary about to make his fatal intentions known, but from a threat that’s even closer than she knows…

There are six books contracted in the H and W series, but I won’t go spoiling what’s coming just yet.  *g*

PVN: What other projects are you working on?

Jess: Aside from books four, five, and six, I am working on a standalone paranormal romance novel.  It ties into the world of H and W Investigations, but it is meant to be a story that can be read on its own.  It may be a while before this one is ready to be shopped around for a home, so don’t count on seeing this on the shelves in stores anytime soon.

I also have a novella coming out in an anthology called THE REAL WEREWIVES OF VAMPIRE COUNTY later this year.  Ever see or hear of those reality TV shows, “The Real Housewives of _______” (New York, New Jersey, Atlanta, Beverly Hills, etc)?  Yeah.  Give it a supernatural twist, some extra bitchy werewolves, and a prima donna supernatural hunter, and you’ve got the idea of what my story will be like.  *g*


PVN: What attracts you to the paranormal?

Jess: Everything!  I love the potential behind magic and supernatural creatures.  I love how you can make, shape, or break worlds when it comes to the paranormal.  When I was a kid, I devoured everything, from the tales of the Brothers Grimm to Greek myths and legends.  I’ve always been, and probably always will be, attracted to the fantastic.



PVN: What kinds of books do you like to read?

Jess: My reading tastes are very catholic.  I’ll read almost anything.  Above other genres, I enjoy fantasy, science fiction, romance, and horror, but I also occasionally like to read non-fiction, books on philosophy, books on certain types of animals (mostly birds, reptiles, and killer whales), and study about faraway lands I intend to visit some day.  When I get an idea involving a character who is supposed to be an expert or have something to do with a subject I’m unfamiliar with, I’ll happily devour every text in sight that has to do with what I’m studying.


PVN: Which authors have inspired you?

Jess: I’m a huge fan of Stephen King, whose work encouraged me to think outside societal norms.  Bill Watterson (Calvin and Hobbes) taught me that imagination coupled with humor knows no bounds.  Janet Evanovich taught me that sometimes the hero doesn’t start out special or strong or talented, but becomes that way over time. Laurrell K. Hamilton introduced me to urban fantasy and first planted the idea that I could get something published in the genre, too. Jim Butcher, and Kim Harrison taught me that a sense of humor in fantasy was not only okay, but something to strive for.  Lastly, but certainly not least, Greg Costikyan taught me that you don’t have to reinvent the wheel in fantasy to create a worthwhile and engaging story.

There are many other books and authors that have touched me in some way, but I think those cover a lot of the bases.


PVN: Describe your writing day and your writing environment.

Jess: Honestly, it’s more my writing night, lol.  As much as I would love to be a full-time author, it doesn’t pay the bills for me just yet.  Monday through Friday, I work from 9AM until roughly 10:30 or 11PM.  When I get home, I spend a few minutes answering emails and writing.  Saturday is the day I set aside to work on nothing but writing.  From the moment I wake up (and I sleep in—the glory of sleeping in!) until the end of the day, I’m busy doing something related to writing.  Whether it’s one of my novels, a guest post, answering interview questions, updating my blog, etc, I get the bulk of my “work” done on Saturday.  Sundays, I’m at work again, from 9AM until 6PM, and after I get home from shopping, etc, I usually get a little more work done while watching movies and hanging out with my friends.  It’s rough, but I get the job done!


PVN: Do you listed to music as you write or for inspirations?

Jess: Not as often as I used to.  Sometimes when I’m listening to the radio in the car, I’ll get an idea that I jot down for myself later.  More often I have the TV going and/or my friends chattering in the background while I write.  It is rarely quiet around me, so I’ve gotten used to tuning things out around me so I can concentrate on my work.


PVN: How can readers contact you?

Jess: I’m all over the place.  You can come visit me on…

My website: www.jesshaines.com

My blog: www.jesshaines.com/blog

Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/Jess_Haines

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/jesshaines

The H and W fan page on Facebook

PVN: Anything else you would like to add?

Jess: I love—lovelovelove—hearing from my fans!  Feel free to come chat me up on Twitter or chill with me on my blog anytime!

Thanks again for having me over, Patricia!

 CONTEST

*Jess is offering a copy of Hunted By the Others and Taken By the Others to one lucky reader.

*Leave a comment on this post for a chance to win. 


*Contest is international.

*Contest ends Feb. 28, 2011 at 11:59pm EST

The Vampire Film: From Nosferatu to Twilight - Review

The Vampire Film: From Nosferatu to Twilight
by Alain Silver and James Ursini
4th edition
Limelight, 2010

This is the 4th edition [updated and expanded] of the popular tome by Alain Silver and James Ursini. The subtitle From Nosferatu to Twilight shows the coverage continues through the popular series which made the successful transition from print to the silver screen. Television is not neglected. Linda Brookover contributes an article about HBO's True Blood and vampire politics. "True Blood is a parody of antebellum intolerance, where the vampire is just the latest entity to be vilified for wanting equality, unusual but not unknown to the horror genre." p314. [True Blood is loosely based on The Southern Vampire Mysteries by Charlaine Harris.]

Vampire films contains the  potent combination of sex and bloody violence some more savage than others, but the fusion of two powerful symbols continue to mesmerize viewers. There is of course room for beauty and The Vampire Film  offers plenty of feast for the eyes.

Every page has beautiful full color (and some black and white) stills and posters from films and television.  Chapter three The Female Vampire begins with a full page photo of late actress Ingrid Pitt in her role as the notorious Elizabeth Bathory in the movie Countess Dracula (1971), and Christopher Lee in his first appearance as Dracula opens Chapter one Sources of Vampire Lore in Film.

I admit to a weakness for vampires and photographs. This book can keep me occupied for hours simply paging through, admiring the stunning pictures, and reading  passionate passages about the subject matter. You don't need to be a film buff to enjoy this gorgeous volume, but if you are it will only add to your enjoyment. Besides the well written text there is  an extensive filmography (including foreign language)  guaranteed to keep your Netflix queu  filled for months.

This terrific book belongs on the shelf of any vampire or horror aficionado..

[I received a copy of this book from the publisher and one from my husband for Christmas. I am twice blessed.]

Dianne Duvall Interview and Contest

Today author Dianne Duvall visits PVN to discuss her newest release Darkness Dawns, a paranormal romance now available in bookstores. She is offering a signed copy of the book to one lucky reader.
[See contest details at end of post.]


PVN: Would you give us an overview of the Immortal Guardians series?

Dianne: My Immortal Guardians series takes a new approach to the increasingly popular vampire romance genre.  In this series, vampires are not the heroes.  They are the villains . . . and somewhat tragic ones at that, though it’s difficult to feel sorry for them considering their vile actions.  Neither immortals nor the vampires who war with them are undead.

The vampiric traits they posses are the result of a rare symbiotic virus, one that drives humans who are infected with it mad.  But immortals differed genetically from humans even before their transformation.  Exceedingly powerful warriors with remarkably advanced DNA, the Immortal Guardians will take readers on a treacherous journey as they endeavor to discover the truth behind their existence, encounter new preternatural beings and face increasingly complex challenges spawned by an escalating number of formidable foes.

PVN: Tell us about Sarah Bingham and her profession as a music professor. Does this play an important part in the story?

Dianne: When Darkness Dawns begins, the spring semester has just ended, so the primary role Sarah’s profession plays in the story is driving her to alleviate stress by working in her garden that first morning.  When she meets Roland and comes to his rescue at great risk to herself, Sarah sets the plot into motion.  I also wanted her to have a profession that did not routinely put her in danger (the way law enforcement and similar occupations would) so entering Roland’s world would require even greater adjustment. 
 
PVN: What are the characteristics of the vampires in your series?

Dianne: Vampires in my Immortal Guardians series are ordinary humans who have been infected with a very rare virus that behaves unlike any other virus on the planet.  While it lends them incredible speed, strength and regenerative healing capabilities, it also afflicts them with extreme photosensitivity and a need for frequent blood infusions.  Worse, the virus swiftly damages the brain, causing vampires to descend into madness.  Consequently, even an inherently good man infected with the virus will become a monster who preys on humans.

PVN: Please describe the immortals.

Dianne: Immortals in my series are infected with the same virus as the vampires.  But immortals were something more than human even before their transformation or infection with the virus.  Though they don’t know the source of it or the reasons for their difference, immortals were born with far more advanced DNA than ordinary humans.  That DNA not only lends them special gifts (telepathy, clairvoyance, telekinesis, the ability to heal with their hands, teleportation and/or others), it mutates the virus and protects them from the madness that afflict vampires.

PVN: What attracts you to the paranormal?

Dianne: Paranormal romance combines my two favorite fiction genres:  romance and horror.  It expertly weaves all of the action-adventure and chilling moments I find in horror novels together with the love and happily-ever-afters that draw me to romances.  It provides an entertaining escape into a world that differs greatly from the one in which we inhabit.  And, while other media often seem to mock love and scorn fidelity, paranormal romances feature heroes and heroines who fall so deeply in love with each other they are willing to sacrifice anything to spend centuries, if not millennia, together. 

PVN: How did you go about researching the medieval time period?

Dianne: Prior to Darkness Dawns, I wrote a medieval romance with paranormal elements and a time travel romance (both of which are prequels to Darkness Dawns) that take place either entirely or largely in Medieval England.  This required extensive research into the political history and daily life of residents of England at the turn of the thirteenth century.

Since sources of information on the internet can be unclear, I relied on books, some of which I listed on my website:  www.DianneDuvall.com .  This actually made giving Roland and his fellow immortal Marcus in Darkness Dawns subtle medieval mannerisms and describing their pasts very easy because I was already so familiar with the era of their births, which might be why my editor once mentioned she thinks Darkness Dawns will appeal not only to paranormal romance readers, but to historical romance readers as well.

PVN: One of your interests, besides writing, is film production. Would you tell us about the work involved and some of the films you have worked on?

Dianne: I began working in the local independent film industry in college and have done so in varying capacities ever since.  In Pre-Production, I have served as script editor, casting coordinator (organizing casting calls, etc.), and broken scripts down into shooting schedules.  In Production, I more often than not serve as script supervisor and provide special effects and special effects make-up, but have also appeared onscreen as an extra a few times.

I’m actually very camera shy, but have to admit running at the camera while swinging a machete and screaming like a banshee can be fun.  :-)   In Post-Production, I edit films shot in HDV or DV, make trailers and design movie posters.  The latest project I worked on was a horror feature film entitled Ghosts.  I worked all three stages of production.  And, though it’s still in Post-Production (an award-winning composer is scoring it and I’m currently adding computer generated special effects to it), I’m very excited by the buzz it has already created in the media.

PVN: Who are some of the authors who have influenced you?

Dianne: Though I write paranormal romance, one of the greatest influences has been Stephen King.  Every time I read one of his books I learn something new about writing.  And I consider his book On Writing a must-read for all aspiring writers.  Julie Garwood, Kinley MacGregor and Johanna Lindsey are amongst the historical authors who influenced me.  Early paranormal romance writers like Maggie Shayne and Lori Herter fired my imagination and inspired my love of vampire and other paranormal romances.

PVN: Please tell us about your writing day and your writing environment.

Dianne: I would love to say that I have a very strictly regimented writing routine like Stephen King, who writes for a fixed amount of time every morning . . . but I don’t.  Sometimes I write in the morning.  Sometimes I write late at night.  I even frequently alter my writing environment.  If I write at the computer in my home office, I need quiet.  Absolute quiet broken by nothing more than birds.  But neighbors don’t always cooperate.  So, more often than not, I grab my AlphaSmart NEO and head elsewhere.  One of my bizarre writing quirks, in fact, is that I don’t necessarily need quiet when I work on the NEO.  I take it everywhere with me and have even been known to sit and churn out pages on the set of the independent films I work or while surrounded by a large crowd in a concert hall while I’m waiting for the concert to begin.

PVN: Where can readers find you?

Dianne: My website:  http://www.DianneDuvall.com
My blog The Immortal Realm:  http://dianneduvall.blogspot.com
Facebook:  http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000816605112
Twitter:  http://twitter.com/DianneDuvall

PVN: Anything else you would like to add?

Dianne: I hope readers will enjoy my Immortal Guardians series!  To celebrate the release of Darkness Dawns, I’m holding a Win a Kindle contest.  Readers can learn more on my website and on my blog.

CONTEST 

*Dianne is offering a copy of Darkness Dawns to one lucky reader.

   

*Leave a comment on this post for a chance to win. 

*Contest is international. 

*Contest ends Feb. 21, 2011 at 11:59pm EST

Melissa de la Cruz - Guest Blog and Contest

 

PVN is delighted to have New York Times best-selling author Melissa de la Cruz as today's guest blogger. Melissa's most recent book is Bloody Valentine, three short stories featuring characters from her young adult Blue Bloods saga.

"Might a witchy new girl help cure Oliver’s broken heart? How did Allegra fall in love with a human? Will Schuyler and Jack finally be bonded? Romantic and sensual, BLOODY VALENTINE illustrates that in matters of the heart, even vampires are prey…"
 
[Three lucky commenters will win a copy of Bloody Valentine See details at the end of the post.]


Since my favorite story in Bloody Valentine is Just Another Night in Suck City featuring a new character, the witch Freya, I asked Melissa the following question: How do Freya and the witches view the Blue Bloods?


Melissa answers:

I feel I can't answer this question without spoiling the book, since the part where the Blue Bloods characters appear in Witches is a really fun part of Witches of East End for Blue Bloods fans, and this question is answered there. Instead I'll talk about the process of writing Witches.

The idea came from the title. Blue Bloods came from the title as well, (Blue Bloods=American vampire elite) so I thought it was a good sign of things to come that I liked the title so much. Yes, it's a play on Witches of Eastwick, and I think all books are in conversation with each other, so I like the playful part of it, but I also like the whole idea of the "East End."

My husband and I used to rent a house on Shelter Island, so I am a bit familiar with the Hamptons, and in fact, set my first YA book there—The Au Pairs. So having the Witches set in that part of the world, a paranormal in the Hamptons—felt like "going back home" in a way.

So I had a title. Witches of East End. But who were these Witches? And what was so special about the Hamptons? How do I make the Hamptons paranormal? I started doing a little digging, and discovered the history of Gardiners Island, one of the oldest privately-owned islands in the country. So that became one part of it. I also find a lot of my books come from images, just cool stuff that I want to write about. I loved the images from that documentary Grey Gardens, this idea of these sort of kooky, useless women—or I should say, utterly useless in productivity and housekeeping, but totally useful for a life they don't lead anymore. These women could never hold down a job or keep house, but they were the kind of women who could throw parties, host salons and be charming and witty.


So I wanted to write about that, and I also wanted to write about a family of women. I have a very close relationship with my mom and my sister, and I wanted to write about what that is like, two sisters dealing with a strong mother. And I knew I wanted to write about Norse mythology, which is incredibly tragic and has all these super-sad love stories, and one of the hardest parts of writing the book ended up being how much of the mythology I would use, and how much I could change.

I wanted to write about a small town, so I decided I wanted to write about the Hamptons, but not the "Hamptons-Hamptons" per se. So I decided I would make the town a fictional one, and made up the town of "North Hampton." In New York, there is East Hampton, Westhampton and Southampton, but no North Hampton.

When we used to live on Shelter Island, we went to the Ram's Head Inn all the time, and some of our friends dated fishermen whose families had lived on the island for generations. These boys (who were always very cute) made all their money in the summer, catching big-eye tuna to sell to Japanese buyers, and then in the winter, they just sort of hung out at the bar. So I had this idea of setting it at the Ram's Head, (and I was very gratified when one of the sales reps who had lived on Shelter Island said – "is the North Inn Bar based on the Ram's Head – because that's what I thought when I read it?" Yes! Yes it is.)

So that's where the book comes from: sisters, strong mom, Hamptons, Ram's Head, Gardiners Island, Norse mythology, magic, tragic romance, hot boys.
Witches of East End comes out June 21st. Hope you all enjoy it!

CONTEST

*Melissa is offering a copy of Bloody Valentine to three lucky readers.

*Leave a comment on this post for a chance to win. 

*Contest is limited to US and Canadian residents.

*Contest ends Feb. 17, 2011 at 11:59pm EST

Read PVN's review of Bloody Valentine