Victoria Janssen's Blog, page 96

A Little History With Those Vampires, Ma'am?

I absolutely adore historical fantasy, and that carries over to vampire novels that happen to be historical fantasy.Moonshine by Alaya Johnson just came out this month; I was fortunate enough to receive an advance copy in April, due to running into the author at a convention and, umm, begging. Moonshine is set in 1920s New York City, and is one of the most original vampire books I've ever read.

"The Metamorphoses of a Vampire," Charles Baudelaire

The Metamorphoses of a VampireMeanwhile, from her red mouth the woman, in husky tones,Twisting her body like a serpent upon hot stonesAnd straining her white breasts from their imprisonment,Let fall these words, as potent as a heavy scent:"My lips are moist and yielding, and I know the wayTo keep the antique demon of remorse at bay.All sorrows die upon my bosom. I can makeOld men laugh happily as

Non-European Vampire Linkgasm

In keeping with my run of guest posts on vampires, this is a special edition of Linkgasm focusing on our bloodsucking (and lifesucking) friends outside of Europe.Vikram and the Vampire, translated by Richard R. Burton (1870). More about the Baital Pachisi. A more academic essay on the Baital Pachisi.Article about Chinese vampire movies, "Horror, Humor and Hopping in Hong Kong," by Ian

Suzy McKee Charnas - Guest Post

Please welcome my guest, one of my favorite writers ever, Suzy McKee Charnas!#Delighted to be invited here -- since I'm just fresh off a new vampire story, and, er, "sparkling" with stuff to say! I'll be be on a panel at the local SF convention this August, Bubonicon, called "Bite Me: when did vampires get sparkly and romantic, and why?" Here's a warm-up:For me as a reader, the vampire has always

"Cold, Brooding and Dead" - Cate Hart - Guest Post

Please welcome my guest, Cate Hart, blogging on some of her favorite vampires in movies and books.#Cold, Brooding and Dead: Vampires and Why We Love 'EmI think I can pinpoint when my love of vampire stories began. I'd have to blame it on the movie Lost Boys. After that, I was obsessed. I think what made Lost Boys so popular was that the vampires were edgy, young and looked like rock n roll stars

Gemma Files, "Everything Old is New Again" - Guest Post

Please welcome my guest, Gemma Files! #Everything Old is New AgainBy Gemma FilesBack when I was a kid, in much the same way that I would have been utterly startled to be told that even an incredibly mainstreamed version of Rap music would eventually occupy most slots on a computer-file equivalent of the Billboard Top 100, the idea that vampires would have become the go-to monster of the

"Not Your Grandma's Vampires" - M.K. Mancos - Guest Blog

Please welcome my guest, M.K. Mancos!#Not Your Grandma's VampiresBy MK MancosSince childhood, I've loved the idea of vampires. I sat in front of the television in glazed-eyed wonder as the Universal Monsters wreaked havoc on mankind. Bela Lugosi brought such class and panache to the undead that for a long time he was a hard act to follow. Over the years, there have been many who have portrayed

Lydia Parks - Guest Post

Please welcome my guest, Lydia Parks!#Thank you, Vickie, for inviting me to be your guest. I'm thrilled to be here, even if only virtually.I know readers and aspiring authors like to hear how published authors got started. (I know this because I've been both! Yes, and I'm still a reader.) I'm happy to tell you my (semi-goofy) story.I didn't start out to be a writer. Actually, I'm an engineer

Jane Eyre in the Carnival Mirror

Finally, I'm going backwards to the scenes surrounding Jane and Rochester's wedding day, and tying those into the repeated reflections of Jane in Bertha and in Rochester himself.Several times throughout the novel, Jane's true feelings escape the barriers she sets around them; she first lets her true feelings free when she expresses her anger at Mrs. Reed, forms barriers under the influence of

Jane Eyre A-Wandering in Search of Family

I left off yesterday when Jane departs Thornfield for Gateshead, where her Aunt Reed lies dying. Mrs. Reed's dislike of Jane is finally explained more fully; she was jealous of her husband's affection for his sister, Jane's mother, and of his apparent preference for the baby Jane over his own children. Presumably, she resented the monetary outlay to take Jane in; and I wondered if Mr. Reed