Roxanne Rhoads's Blog, page 549

The Story of Vampire Blood Guest Blog by Kathryn Meyer Griffith

The Story of Vampire Blood

Author's Revised Edition by Kathryn Meyer Griffith

A rerelease of my 1991 Zebra paperback romantic vampire novel

Damnation Books Buy Link:

http://damnationbooks.com/book.php?isbn=9781615724253

In 1990 or so I'd just got done releasing my first three paperback novels with Leisure Books, a romantic historical (The Heart of the Rose 1985) and two romantic horror books (Evil Stalks the Night, 1984 and Blood Forge, 1989), and because I wasn't making much money on them, was looking, as most so-called restless young authors were doing, to move up in the publishing industry.

So I wrote snail mail letters to three established authors of the day – Dean Koontz, Stephen King and Peter Straub – asking for a little advice and a little help. What do I do next? I want to be one of the big dogs running in the big races. I want to make the big bucks. Be famous like you. (Ha, ha. I was so naïve in those days!)

Well, Stephen King and Peter Straub never answered my letters but one rainy fall night I got a phone call from Gerda Koontz (Dean Koontz's wife) and she said Dean had gotten my letter and wanted me to have a name of a brand new agent who I should call or write to and say I was recommended by him. If I thought it strange that Dean Koontz himself wasn't actually talking to me I was told by Gerda that he was a shy man and had had a particularly hard couple of months because of family problems (I think it had something to do with his father in a nursing home or something, but can't exactly recall now) and he'd asked her to call me. She often did that for him, as well as helping him with the business side of his writing career. He (through her…and I got the impression that he was actually nearby telling her what to say the whole time) said I had to have an agent (I didn't have one) and then he gave me the name of an ambitious one, Lori Perkins, just starting out and his advice on what I should do to advance as a writer.

I do remember being incredibly touched that he, a famous busy novelist that I admired – I loved his Twilight Eyes – would take the time to talk to me, even through his wife. They were both so sweet and we talked for nearly an hour all about writing, books and everything.

I took their advice and contacted that agent and she agreed immediately to represent me on my fourth book, Vampire Blood, no doubt, because I said Dean Koontz had recommended her to me. Name dropper! But Vampire Blood was the reason I'd contacted those famous authors in the first place. I thought it was the best book I'd done so far and wanted it to go to (what I thought at the time) would be a better publisher than Leisure Books, which contracted and hog-tied their writers with a horrible 'potboiler' one-size-fits-all ten year contract with low advances and 4% royalties. Yes, I got a whole whopping 14 cents a book in those days, but, I must confess, they did print thousands of paperbacks each run and had a huge distribution area. I thought I could do a lot better. Anyway, Lori Perkins wanted me to send her the book and she did like it and eventually sold it, and then three others zip-zip-zip right after, to Zebra Books (now known more as Kensington Publishing) at 6% royalties and double the advances I was used to getting. They slapped a sexy blond vampire with a low dress on the cover and a hazy theater behind her. Lovely colors. I thought it was an eye-catching cover. I was so happy. I thought I'd made it! Again, so naïve.

Vampire Blood. A little story about a family of vicious killing vampires who settle in a small Florida town called Summer Haven and end up buying and fixing up an old theater palace to run, and pluck their victims from, and a divorced, down-on-her-luck ex-novelist and her worn-out father, who along with friends, help thwart them.

Now to how and why I wrote it.

My husband and I lived in this small Illinois town, Cahokia, at the time and there was the neatest little hole-in-the-wall theater in a nearby shopping center we used to go to all the time…run by a family of a sweet man, Terry, and his wife, Ann, and sometimes their three children, two teenage boys and a girl named Irene. Such a friendly, but odd couple. The run-down theater was their whole world it seemed. The kids helped take in the tickets, pop the popcorn and sell the candy snacks.

Now the minute Terry and Ann found out, in one of our earliest conversations, that I was a published novelist they were my greatest fans. Terry went right out and bought all three of my books and they all read them. Terry always thought they'd make great movies. Next time my husband and I went to the little theater Terry and Ann greeted us like old friends, so delighted to see us, and refused to take a dime from us for anything. We got in free whenever we went from then on. Now in those days my husband, my son, James, and I were pretty broke. I worked as a graphic designer at a big brokerage firm in downtown St. Louis (across the Poplar Bridge from our Illinois town) but my husband was in between jobs. We lived on a shoestring. Hard times. So I always was so tickled that we could get into the local movies for free. We went a lot, too, as we loved movies, especially science fiction and horror films.

One night I was watching Terry and Ann and their joy in running that little theater, with the kids bustling around doing their jobs, and I got the idea for Vampire Blood. Just like that! Use them and the theater as a backdrop for a vampire novel. Hey, wouldn't it be neat, I off-handedly mentioned to Terry one night, if I wrote a book about a family of vampires that was trying to pass as a real human family, the man and woman wanting so badly to fit in and lead a normal life for a while, renovating and then running a theater together…but the kids are wild and, as kids always do, make trouble for them in the town…killing people? Terry loved the idea and I asked him if it'd be all right to use him and his family as a template for the vampires. He was thrilled to be part of anything to do with my books and said yes. So…I wrote this book about them (sort of), the theater (making it much grander than it was, of course), a small town terrorized by cruel, powerful vampires who can change into wolves at will….and a saddened lonely woman, her brother, and her ex-husband (who she still loves and ultimately ends up with again after he saves her life) who finds herself again, but loses a lot, as well, fighting these vampires. Vampires she doesn't believe in at first.

I was very happy with the book when it was done and dedicated it to Terry and Ann when it came out in 1991. Terry and Ann were thrilled, too.

So Vampire Blood came out and did very well for me, second only to my Zebra 1993 Witches. As the years went by it went out of print and when, twenty years later, Kim Richards at Damnation Books contracted my 13th and 14th novels, BEFORE THE END: A Time of Demons and The Woman in Crimson, she asked if I'd like to rerelease (with new covers and rewritten, of course) my 7 out-of-print Leisure and Zebra paperbacks – and I said a resounding yes!

So…here it is…Vampire Blood…twenty years later, alive again and better, I believe, than the original because my writing then was done on an electric typewriter, with gobs of White-Out and carbon paper (I couldn't afford copies), using snail mail; all of which didn't lend itself to much rewriting. And in those days, editors told an author what to change and then the writer only saw the manuscript once to final proof it. Who knew what those sneaky editors were slipping in inbetween and before the final book was in an author's greedy little hands. Hey, and I was working full time, raising a son, living a life and caring for my big extended family in one way or another, too. Busy, exciting, loving, happy and sad times.

For this new version, Damnation Book's cover artist Dawné Dominique made me an astonishingly intriguing cover of a lovely vampire (Irene the youngest vampire who turns out to be the most brutal and ancient in the end)…but, thank goodness, without the low sexy top. And my DB editor, April Duncan, helped me make it a better novel.

A lot has happened to me and my family in these twenty years, as well. Both my parents, and my beloved maternal grandmother, the storyteller of her generation, have since passed away. Many people we used to know have. Old boyfriends, old friends and relatives. I miss them all! I no longer have that agent; she went on to bigger advances and bigger writers. I lost my good job at the brokerage firm, bumped around in lesser jobs for years, always writing in my spare time, and now, at long last, write full time while my husband works way too hard in a machine shop to support us.

Rewriting the book brought back so many good memories…and tears over those no longer here. The theater closed sixteen years ago, the owner believing it'd served its purpose and used up its time. Terry and Ann, heartbroken, were never the same. They had other jobs, none they truly cared about. Ann is still with us, but Terry died a few years ago, I heard from someone. We lost contact once they stopped running the theater and we moved from Cahokia to a nicer town miles away.

But I'll never forget those early days and the stories that came with them. Days of high hopes and far distance future dreams…some of which have come true and some which haven't. I've never made the big bucks, never gotten truly famous, but now, at long last and to my great delight, all twelve of my older books, from Leisure, Zebra, and The Wild Rose Press are being rewritten and reissued from Damnation Books and Eternal Press between June 2010 and July 2012. Better than ever after I'd rewritten them. I have plans to write more books and short stories, too, when they're done. Most importantly, I'm living a good life with a husband I adore and brothers and sisters I love. Writing the stories I was born to write and happy I am. I have my memories. All in all, I'm a lucky, lucky woman.

So, all you writers out there…never give up and never stop writing!

Thank you!

***

Kathryn Meyer Griffith has been writing for nearly forty years and has published 14 novels and 7 short stories since 1984 with Zebra Books, Leisure Books, Avalon Books, The Wild Rose Press, Damnation Books and Eternal Press in the horror, romantic paranormal, suspense and murder mystery genres… and all 12 of her old books, see below, (and two new ones) are being brought out again between June 2010 and July 2012 from DAMNATION BOOKS www.damnationbooks.com and ETERNAL PRESS www.eternalpress.biz again in print – and all in e-books for the first time ever! Learn more about her at www.myspace.com/kathrynmeyergriffith or www.bebo.com/kathrynmeyergriffith or www.authorsden.com/kathrynmeyergriffith or www.bebo.com/kathrynmeyergriffith and http://www.facebook.com/#!/profile.php?id=1019954486 .

***

Here's a list of all my published novels and short stories:

Evil Stalks the Night (Leisure,1984; Damnation Books, July 2012)

The Heart of the Rose (Leisure,1985)

Blood Forge (Leisure,1989; Damnation Books, February 2012)

Vampire Blood (Zebra, 1991; Damnation Books, July 2011)

The Last Vampire (Zebra, 1992; Damnation Books, October 2010)

Witches (Zebra, 1993; Damnation Books, April 2011)

The Nameless One (short story in 1993 Zebra Anthology Dark Seductions;

Damnation Books, February 2011)

The Calling (Zebra, 1994; Damnation Books, October 2011)

Scraps of Paper (Avalon Books Murder Mystery, 2003)

All Things Slip Away (Avalon Books Murder Mystery, 2006)

Egyptian Heart (The Wild Rose Press, 2007...out again from Eternal Press in

August 2011)

Winter's Journey (The Wild Rose Press, 2008...out again from Eternal Press in

September 2011)

The Ice Bridge (The Wild Rose Press, 2008...out again from Eternal Press in November 2011)

Don't Look Back short story (2008...out again from Eternal Press in 2011)

In This House (short story 2008...out again from Eternal Press in 2011)

BEFORE THE END: A Time of Demons (2010)

The Woman in Crimson (2010) ***

Last Minute Halloween Costumes

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Give Me by L.K. Rigel Now On Tour

Oct 17 Guest Blog and reviewhttp://lucyfelthouse.co.uk
Oct 19 Guest Blog and reviewhttp://authoraubrie.blogspot.com
Oct 20 Guest BlogGetting Naughty Between the Stackshttp://gnbstack.blogspot.com
Oct 21 reviewParanormal Opinionhttp://paranormalopinion.blogspot.com
Oct 22 Guest Bloghttp://jacqpaige.blogspot.com/
Oct 23 Halloween Guest Blogwww.fang-tasticbooks.blogspot.com
Oct 24 review and promoBeverly @ The Wormholehttp://wormyhole.blogspot.com
Oct 24 PromoThe Ramblings of Amy – http://amylunderman.blogspot.com/
Oct 25 Author Spotlighthttp://coffeebeanslovescenes.blogspot.com
Oct 25 Halloween Eventwww.roxannesrealm.blogspot.com
Oct 26 Guest BlogMad Moose Mamahttp://www.madmoosemama.blogspot.com
Oct 26 InterviewJeanzBookReadNReview http://jeanzbookreadnreview.blogspot.com/
Oct 28 Interview The Book Bordello www.thebookbordello.com
Oct 29 Reviewhttp://booksfromthepurplejellybeanchair.blogspot.com
Oct 30 Interview http://rai29bookreadnreview.blogspot.com/
Oct 31 Guest BlogReader Girlswww.readergirls.blogspot.com



Give Me: a fairy tale
Copyright 2011 L.K. Rigel
Published by LK Rigel
Edited by Debra L. Martin
Cover by Robin Ludwig Design
A young witch with a good heart. Two lovers in mortal danger. A spell that ends in disaster.

Lilith Evergreen lives in the California desert, an ordinary woman until her fiancé returns from London with a ring he bought from a street vendor. When Lilith puts it on she dreams of a green land that's anything but desert, a tree at cliff's edge, a ruined castle, and a handsome prince.

Then she discovers that it's all real.

When Lilith visits the ruins of Tintagos Castle, she discovers a world of magic and love - and its dark side when she's entangled in the remnants of an ancient spell gone bad. From the moment Lilith sees Cade Bausiney, she's overwhelmed with desire for him. Cade is drawn to Lilith too - but their feelings might only be sparked by dark and dangerous magic.
Lilith and Cade must break the old spell or be forever possessed by spirits who've waited a millennium to consummate their love.

Amazon Kindle, Barnes and Noble Nook, and Smashwords

Author Bio:

LK Rigel lives in California with her television-watching cat, Coleridge. (His favorite show is Castle, but he was enthralled by Game of Thrones.) Rigel wrote songs for the 90's band The Elements, scored the independent science fantasy karate movie Lucid Dreams, and was a reporter for the Sacramento Rock 'N Roll News. Her work has appeared in Literary Mama and Tattoo Highway.

Rigel writes the postapocapunk "Apocalypto" series about the end of the world and the new reality in which the gods return to save humanity from itself - and end up fighting with each other.

Her short story "Slurp" about an author with muse problems on Halloween is included in DEADLY TREATS, Anne Frasier's Halloween anthology published by Nodin Press.

Her latest book, GIVE ME, is an adult fairy tale about possession.

website: http://www.lkrigel.com/
Amazon page http://www.amazon.com/LK-Rigel/e/B0043WEB06/

An Entangled Story and Giveaway with Lisa Kessler

Thanks to Roxanne for hosting this fabulous virtual Halloween party!!! Of course I came in costume as my all-time favorite villain…


I also come bearing Halloween Treats!!!
For 5 lucky commenters, I have signed sets of Night Walker romance trading cards, and a digital copy of Across the Veil…

But wait there's more!

What would Halloween be without a little scare, right?

*Insert the Twilight Zone theme*

Meet Lou. He's a hard working husband and father who can never catch a break. But on one Halloween night a break finally catches him…

Happy Halloween!!! Hope you enjoy, The Devil's Quill…

Lisa

The Devil's Quill – By Lisa Kessler

Lou flipped the business card between his fingers. The corners were bent after weeks of being stashed behind his gas card in his worn leather wallet.
Tonight was the night.
He heaved a sigh and slipped the card into his shirt pocket. Who was he fooling? He wasn't going to The Devil's Quill tonight. His night wasn't going to involve an exclusive club that only welcomed outsiders once a year on Halloween night.
Nope.
His schedule was going to be filled with two wiggly kids squealing while their Mom picked gooey pumpkin seeds out of their hair.
He knocked back the whiskey and grimaced. What was wrong with him? He used to love Halloween night, carving pumpkins and lighting them up on their balcony for all the world to see.
Somewhere along the way he started feeling distant. Even though he helped Rosie decorate the apartment, and shopped for Halloween costumes and candy, it felt foreign – like he was a stranger in his own skin.
"One more, and make it a double." He laid another bill on the bar, glancing up at the television mounted in the corner, trying his damnedest not to reach for the business card in his pocket.
He'd never forget the night the limousine bumped him as he walked in the crosswalk on 3rd Street. His last appointment had run late, and just as he was heading for the subway, the gray clouds that lingered through the day sank closer to earth, blanketing the streets in a thick misty fog.
The moment the green walk light blinked on, he'd hustled across 3rd. But before he made it halfway across, he caught the grill of a black Town Car out of the corner of his eye. The limousine screeched to a halt, but not before clipping him hard enough to knock him over.
"What the Hell?" He scrambled to his feet, adrenaline coursing through his veins. He pointed at the darkened windows of the car. "You'll be hearing from my lawyer, you blind bastard!"
But Lou knew he couldn't afford a lawyer. As a door-to-door Kirby salesman, he couldn't even afford a goddamned car. And now his only suit was wet.
Perfect.
The back door of the limo opened and a billow of smoke plumed out into the fog as a pair of Gucci loafers stepped out onto the rain-soaked pavement. Lou's gaze ran up from the loafers, over the pin-striped fitted suit that made his own look like it came off the rack at a second-hand store.
When the sharply-dressed passenger straightened up, he clutched a cane that caught Lou's eye. For a split second, it looked like the eyes on the gargoyle cane-topper glowed red. Lou frowned and shook his head. Maybe he got hit harder than he realized.
The man came closer, his cane clicking on the pavement with every other step in an almost hypnotic rhythm. Lou caught the stale stench of smoke as the man approached.
"Forgive my driver. I trust you're uninjured?" The tall stranger tipped his hat.
The man had silver eyes. Lou froze for a moment, and although he had no logical explanation for it, the urge to grew impossible to ignore.
"Actually I'm fine. Sorry about what I said. It surprised me and I lost my temper." He turned to go, anxious to flee, but the man flipped his cane out across Lou's chest, stopping him in his tracks.
"I can't allow you to leave empty handed." With his free hand, the man fished out a crisp bill and held it out toward Lou.
"Thank you." He reached for the cash, his eyes narrowing as he stared at the bill. "This is a thousand-dollar bill." He looked up at the stranger. "Are these even in circulation anymore?"
The tall man grinned with teeth white enough to glow in the fog. "They are tonight." He paused and glanced at the tinted windows before meeting Lou's gaze again. "Can I offer you a ride?" He hesitated and quickly added, "I'm sorry I didn't catch your name…"
"Lou." Panic shot through his body as he nearly slapped a hand over his own mouth. But it was too late.
The stranger's eyes sparkled. "Pleasure to meet you, Lou." He offered his free hand. "You can call me Quinn."
Before Lou realized what was happening, Quinn guided him toward the open door of the long black car.
"No, I don't want to trouble you," Lou backpedaled. "I'll just grab the subway."
"The subway? Absolutely not." Quinn shook his head and gave him a nudge into the open door. "I insist."
His memory went hazy after that. It felt like he'd been in the car for hours, but he couldn't remember a thing they talked about. His next complete memory was getting out of the limo in front of his apartment building.
Quinn had lowered the tinted window on the back door and handed him a business card. The same one burning a hole in his shirt pocket right now.
"This is the address to my club. We're only open to the public one night a year. This year it's Halloween." Lou took the card as Quinn went on. "I hope you'll stop by. You've got potential, and we've got clientele who can make dreams into reality."
Lou looked up and opened his mouth to refuse the offer, but Quinn was already rolling up the window. "See you Halloween night, Lou. Before you can take the first step to making your dreams come true, you've got to open the door." He winked and Lou found himself staring slack-jawed at his own reflection in the tinted glass.
The car pulled out and in a moment it was swallowed up by the fog.
And now he needed to get back to The Devil's Quill.
Lou's brow furrowed. Where had that come from? He needed to get home. That was where he needed to be.
Probably shouldn't have had that last whiskey shot.
He paid his bill and walked out -- in the opposite direction from his apartment building.
He owed it to his family to check the place out. Quinn had already given him a thousand dollars. If he had more rich friends willing to help a guy out, he'd be an imbecile not to at least look into the opportunity, right?
Besides, it would only take a few minutes. He'd stay for an hour. Tops. Rosie and the kids would understand. In fact, if he came home with a better job and more money, they'd be thrilled. He'd be a hero for once.
Lou picked up his pace, not realizing he was grinning until he caught his reflection in one of the glass storefronts. He stopped, taking a closer look. How long had it been since he really smiled?
And he seemed taller, like the weight of the world had been lifted from his shoulders. He straightened his tie.
Tonight he was going to take charge of his destiny. No more pushover, hard-luck Lou. He'd walk in the exclusive club and mingle and network until he had a better job. No more draining door-to-door appointments. No more working his ass off for barely enough money to cover the rent.
Rolling his shoulders back, he rounded the block and started glancing at addresses. The Devil's Quill would have been impossible to find if he hadn't had the card from Quinn. 666 ½ Thirteenth Street was actually down an alley with the front door around the back of the main building.
A hulking bodyguard stood beside the red door, muscled arms crossed over his broad chest. He glared down at Lou. "This is a private club."
Lou nodded. "I know… I…" He fumbled to retrieve the card from his shirt pocket. "Quinn invited me. He said you were open tonight."
The bodyguard raised a brow. "Wait here."
He vanished into the club, leaving Lou to second-guess himself. Did he really think he'd fit in with a bunch of rich old men who probably had topless dancers inside their club? He must've been crazy to come here. His kids were waiting to carve pumpkins.
The door opened just as he turned to leave. Quinn's voice boomed in the empty alley. "Lou. I'm glad you decided to take me up on my offer."
Lou looked back over his shoulder. "Sorry, Quinn. It's later than I realized. I've really got to get home to the kids. They're crazy about Halloween."
"Rosie will understand."
Lou turned to face him, frowning. "How did you know my wife's name?"
"You told me her name in the limo when we drove you home," Quinn answered without hesitation.
"Oh." Lou wondered what else he might have told Quinn that night.
"So come inside and mingle. You may find opportunities others would die for…"
The bodyguard opened the door as they crossed the threshold. Cigar smoke hung heavy in the air, and on the far side wall, scantily clad women slid around brass poles while one danced with huge feather fans. As they walked to the bar, Lou felt every eye follow him.
There was a midget at the other end of the bar, dressed up like an angry leprechaun, and a man sitting near the dancers tipped his head back laughing and exposed his perfectly fit vampire fangs.
He glanced at Quinn. "You didn't tell me it was a costume party."
Quinn's silver eyes sparkled. "No one is in costume."
"But he's a… a leprechaun. And over there," he pointed. "That guy thinks he's a vampire." He gestured at the bartender. "And the bartender has a tail."
"Stop pointing. There is a reason this club has been exclusive for so long. Please don't embarrass me and yourself by gawking."
Lou picked up the whiskey that was placed in front of him and knocked it back in a single swallow. "So I'm supposed to network with vampires and leprechauns and demons?"
"Are you always so prejudiced against people who can make your dreams come true?" Quinn spun around, leaning back against the bar as he addressed the club members. "This is Lou. He is a door-to-door salesman looking to change his life."
All conversation halted as the in-human eyes looked him over. Lou swallowed the big lump in his throat, sending up a silent prayer to make it out of The Devil's Quill alive. To the right of the dancers, a man walked away from a roulette table and approached Lou.
Lou bit the inside of his cheek to keep from blurting out something about the man's eyes. The pupils were messed up, like runny eggs -- like a goat.
"What are you looking to change?"
Lou cleared his throat. "I'd like to stop living paycheck to paycheck, and a car would be nice too."
The goat-eyed man massaged his chin and finally answered, "I'd like to help you, but dreams don't come cheap. It takes sacrifices to earn dreams."
"Sacrifices?"
"Yes." The goat-man started to smile. "What would you give for a corner office in my firm making a six-figure salary?"
Lou's jaw dropped slightly as he visualized himself in a corner office of a big New York sky scraper. No more just-getting-by, he'd finally be getting ahead. He started to smile. "I'd give anything."
The goat-eyed man shook his hand and produced a contract from his jacket pocket. "Welcome aboard, Lou. Sign here."
He handed Lou a gold pen. Lou glanced over the contract, briefly wondering how the man had already printed his full name on the contract. Before he could ask, or allow doubt to force him to reconsider his decision, Lou noticed the salary of $150,000 per year with paid holidays and sick leave.
This was it. His big chance.
Lou signed his name on the dotted line. Sirens blared in the distance, while the dancers cranked up the music, gyrating their hips for tips. The goat-eyed man shook his hand and slipped him his card. "I'll send a car for you in the morning. Good to have you aboard."
Lou left the club in a daze, anxious to share his good fortune with Rosie. He felt incredible. Now he could take Rosie and the kids back to her family's farm for the holidays. He could buy a car.
He couldn't get home fast enough.
His smile faded as he came around the corner onto his street. Red lights danced across the front of his building, and yellow crime scene tape blocked the entrance. Lou rushed through the mob of onlookers to find a cop.
"Sir, you need to step back."
He shook his head. "I live here. My family is up there."
"The building's been evacuated."
"What happened?"
"We're not sure yet. There was an explosion on the fifth floor."
The color drained from Lou's face. "I live on the fifth floor."
The police officer lifted the yellow tape. "Come on, you can talk to the Fire Marshall."
The Marshall confirmed what the sick feeling in Lou's stomach already suspected.
His apartment exploded. There were no survivors.
The officer helped him to sit down on the bumper of an ambulance, and then vanished in search of coffee. With a shaky hand, Lou pulled the contract from his pocket, replaying the conversation from The Devil's Quill in his head.
You may find opportunities others would die for…
It takes sacrifices to earn dreams.
What would you give for a corner office in my firm making a six-figure salary?
I'd give anything.
Anything.
Below his fresh signature was a line of fine print that he had to squint to read. "Sacrifice of wife and children in exchange for dream job, accepted."
He crumbled up the paper and screamed.
THE END


Be sure to check out Lisa's Entangled book, Night Walker

THE NIGHT SERIES - Book One by Lisa Kessler

He gave up his soul for a second chance to love her…

Two and a half centuries ago, Calisto Terana lost everything when a zealous priest murdered the woman he loved. Now, desperate for another chance to love her, he wants redemption for the mistake that cost her life.

She's haunted by dreams of her own death…

After catching her fiance with another woman, Kate Bradley returns to San Diego to clear her head. The last thing she needs is romance, but after meeting Calisto she's drawn to him in ways she doesn't understand.

They've waited in the shadows for centuries…

Calisto has no doubt Kate is the reincarnation of his lost love, but the Fraternidad Del Fuego Santo has a new watcher with dark ambitions of his own. As old enemies reemerge and a new threat arises, the betrayal that enslaved Calisto to the night might destroy the only woman he's ever loved again.

An Entangled Guest Blog and Giveaway with Natalie J Damschroder

Whatever the origins of Halloween, the modern holiday has a lot in common with reading fiction.

The Halloween ideal is to dress up as something you're not, to try on a character you think it would be fun to be. Pirate, monster, famous historical figure, movie star—they're all people (or creatures) you don't want to be—or can't be—in real life, or forever, but just for a few hours or a day.

Reading fiction is the same way, only better, because we're not limited to one time a year. Want to know what it's like to be a grim reaper, demon hunter, or a goddess? Pick up a novel, and dive into their existence.

Halloween costumes are hard. I really admire the creativity of people like Jody Wallace, who made her husband's blue screen of death one year and made herself a perfect Mary Poppins another. That is so not me. But I love when costumes and fiction come together. I helped my daughter dress as Tonks one year (an auror, or dark wizard catcher, in the Harry Potter series) and a female version of Castiel another (an angel from the TV show Supernatural). So Halloween lets us go one step further in becoming those fictional characters we like to try on.

Halloween lets people "hide" behind a mask and do things they wouldn't normally do. Hit on a hot guy at a party. Dance on the table. Hustle pool. Walk up and down the street demanding free candy! That's why I love writing and reading fiction, too. I get to be a totally kick-ass heroine, and visit movie sets, and use the powers of a goddess to help people or defend my loved ones. And hit on hot guys at parties. Though the free candy is scarce.

If you could dress up as anyone, without limits, and do anything for one night, what would it be?

~~~~~~~~
Natalie J. Damschroder's latest and upcoming releases:

Behind the Scenes October 31, 2011
Carina Press | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Audible
Under the Moon November 1, 2011

Entangled Publishing | Amazon

Fight or Flight Out now!

Carina Press | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Audible

You can learn more about Natalie and her books at her website, eHarlequin, Goodreads, Twitter, and Facebook. She blogs with four other obsessed passionate Supernatural fans at Supernatural Sisters, with a number of fantastic romance authors at Everybody Needs a Little Romance, and just to hear herself talk at Indulge Yourself.

Natalie's giving away an ecopy of Fight or Flight

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And be sure to check out her upcoming Entangled release

Under the Moon

GODDESSES RISING - Book One - by Natalie J. Damschroder

Their power gives them strength…and makes them targets.

Quinn Caldwell is the epitome of a modern goddess. Her power source is the moon, her abilities restricted only by physical resources and lunar phase. She runs a consulting business and her father's bar, serves on the board of the ancient Society for Goddess Education and Defense, and yearns for Nick Jarrett, professional goddess protector and the soul mate she can never have.

But someone has developed the rare and difficult ability to drain a goddess of her powers, and Quinn is a target. With the world thinking Nick has gone rogue (whatever that means) and that Quinn is influenced by "family ties" she didn't know she had, keeping themselves safe while working to find the enemy proves harder each day.

But not as hard as denying their hearts…

Entangled Halloween Guest Post and Giveaway with Nicola Marsh

In Australia we don't really celebrate Halloween (I know! Crazy, huh?) so I don't have any Halloween memories or anecdotes to share.

Though after a trip to the shops this morning, looks like Halloween is growing in popularity by the minute. Almost every shop had decorations and candies to purchase…the first time I've ever seen so many pumpkins and witches and spiders and fun creepy stuff.

On Halloween, we get the occasional kid knocking on our door. Last year we had 1, the year before 2. Going by the proliferation of decorations in the shops, I reckon we'll have a few more this year.


To make up for the lack of Halloween tales, this deprived Aussie is offering a signed copy of her current release, SEX, GOSSIP & ROCK & ROLL (Harlequin Presents Extra.)
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Happy Halloween! And eat some candy for me!
Nicolawww.nicolamarsh.com

An Entangled Halloween Guest Blog with Patrica Eimer

It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year
No, not Christmas. It's Halloween. Otherwise known as the holiday of paranormal romance writer's. Because hello? Can you think of a better holiday for a group of people who routinely live with witches, demons and vampires? I can't. I love Halloween.
Halloween is right up there as my favorite holiday. I'll admit my enthusiasm has waned a bit since my hubby moved us North to a land where Halloween is routinely about 30 degrees outside and we all have to wear winter coats. Even I have to debate that trek for candy down cold, windy streets versus just driving my butt to the grocery store. But that doesn't matter. Every year we get the kids in their costumes and out we go.
My youngest is two so there isn't much going on there. He hasn't really gotten into the holiday besides the idea of dressing up as Tigger and letting people give him candy just because he looks cute. Oh yeah, we caught onto that real quick last Halloween. The kid didn't even walk. He had his father carry him around while he held out a pillowcase and gave people the full force of those baby blues before asking "candy? Pwease?" He beat his sister about two pieces to one. Note to future self: this kid could potentially be trouble.
Last year, because of work and things we didn't get to do too much planning for Halloween. Instead, daughter went as Hermione because that is one warm little costume she can get in and out of with no assistance and I went as McGonagall. Because I love me some McGonagall. Severus Snape may have been my teaching model when I was a college instructor but only because I couldn't do that awesome house cat shape shift thing.
This year though, we have a bit more time and oldest has hit that creative age. She's 8 going on 9 and she doesn't want to be like everyone else. Which means it's time to get out the cardboard, face paint and other art supplies. We could go with a mummy but she's got to get herself into it for the school party so that's out. She thought about going as a zombie cheerleader – Go Ghouls!—but she's afraid she'll get confused with all the other girls going as regular cheerleaders. She thought about the Bride of Vampire but one of her boyfriends offered to go as Edward to her Bella and that ended that dead in its tracks. Pun completely intended.
So now? Now we have tentatively decided that she's going as a head on a platter. Served to you by your favorite undead waitress Sadie. Who would be me. Her baby brother is even in on the act. He's going as a possessed pumpkin. Because here at Sadie's even the dessert's got an attitude problem. Hubby's not so fond of being a zombie dish washer but he's going with it.

What about you? What's your plan for Halloween? Are you into it or is it just another day to pass out candy and watch scary movies?

Speak of the Devil - Book One, by Patricia Eimer

Being the youngest daughter of the Devil isn't all it's cracked up to be. The days of teenage rebellion and vows of chastity made just to tick off her father are over, and now all Faith Bettincourt wants is a nice, quiet life. Unfortunately, thanks to the unexpected arrival of her demonically-downsized sister, a ditzy succubus roommate, and dear old Dad himself, Faith's plans for a relaxing vacation spent watching reruns go up in flames.

Now it's all Faith can do to keep the family reunion from Hell (literally) under wraps, and the angelically-inclined hottie across the hall from realizing there's something weird about his neighbor. And, thankfully, it's working. Until an angelic stalker shows up in a bid to steal her powers and take over the world.

Forget watching reruns. With the way things are going, Faith will need the luck of the Devil just to survive until Monday.

An Entangled Guest Blog and Giveaway with Rosalie Lario

Halloween Costumes: Or Are They?

Halloween is not just for kids. It's also the favorite time of year for a group of people most humans don't even know about: the Others.
Vampires, demons, and werewolves. What if you found out those things were true, but with a twist? They aren't the monsters you feared growing up, but species of beings from different dimensions who travel here to Earth via an interdimensional portal. Normally they glamour their appearances to look human, but Halloween is the one time of year where they can let it all hang out. Blue skin? No problem, you can pass it off as body paint. Razor-sharp claws? Must be fake. Half animal, half man? It's gotta be a really cool costume, right? Right?
Those who know about the Otherworlds accept that the strange things they see on this one crazy night of the year could be all too real.
So here are some of the beings you might see out this coming Halloween:
• Demons: A race from a dark, hellish dimension called Infernum. They are stronger and faster than humans, and they're very diverse. Some, like the aviritia heroes of my Demons of Infernum series, look mostly human. Others are far more grotesque. Yoda and the gremlins? Yeah… they're based on nagora demons.
• Vampires: Creatures born on the Enevoran dimension, or made by a blood exchange with another vampire, thereby altering the DNA. Vampires have porcelain skin, red lips, and fangs that distend during feeding.
• Shifters: Also from Enevora, they can shift from humanlike to animal form. Wolf, panther, lion—you name it, there's a shifter for it. There are even some who shift into animals we've never heard of.
• Fae: These creatures range from dark fae—with their blue-gray flesh and long, dark hair—to air sylphs, from brownies to pixies.
• Sirens: The legged cousin to the mermaid, sirens (both male and female) are sexy and stunning, with a fluid grace to their movement. They can also breathe underwater, so don't ever challenge them to a game of bobbing for apples!
This is just a small sampling of the many types of creatures living here on Earth, passing themselves off as humans. So next time you're at a Halloween party and you see an alluring vampire or a cute faerie pass you by, ask yourself the question:
Is that a Halloween costume, or could it possibly be real?
GIVEAWAY:
One eCopy of MARK OF THE SYLPH (Book 2 in the Demons of Infernum series) by Rosalie Lario

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DEMONS OF INFERNUM - Book Two - Rosalie Lario

[image error]Half-demon Taeg is desperate to free his pregnant sister-in-law, who is spellbound to an indestructible book that will create an army of the undead. He is convinced that an ancient sword can destroy the book and the spell forever, but this relic has been hidden for a millennia by a powerful glamour. The clock begins to run out on his search when an old rival goes after the book and Taeg's family in his quest for revenge.

Librarian Maya Flores has a secret: she's immune to magic and is well aware of the supernatural beings prowling the streets of New York City. Haunted by a brutal demon attack that took her family, she is on a one-woman mission to destroy the evil demons who did it—and any others who get in her way.

Maya is Taeg's best hope for uncovering the sword. Unfortunately, she wants nothing more than to kill him. As he fights for her trust and to save his family, she is forced to face the truth that not all demons are evil. And the worst part? She might be falling in love with one, too.

An Entangled Guest Blog and Giveaway with Katee Robert

Halloween is one of my favorite times of year. You get to dress up, scare yourself silly, and let's not forget about the excuse to eat candy! And, just like everyone else, I'm a big fan of scary movie marathons. In honor of that, I've chosen my five favorite killers, and the top five who scare the beejeezus out of me.

Five Favorites:

5. Bluebeard.

Bluebeard is a special kind of killer. Yes, he's a psychopath that has a nasty habit of dismembering his wives, but there's always been something about him that draws in the reader. I mean, really all he's looking for is a woman who he can trust. When the youngest daughter passes his test, he pretty much declares his undying love and affection.

4. The Mad Hatter

The particular incarnation of this character that I'm drawing on is from Zenescope's Return to Wonderland comics. He's a serial killer who tends to wear his victims skin as suits to impersonate them. But he's got that killer smile and charm that tempts readers to root for him to live, just a bit longer, so that we can watch him in action.

3. Azazel (a.k.a. Yellow Eyes)

If you've seen my on Twitter or Facebook, you know that I'm a diehard Supernatural fan. While I enjoyed Lucifer, Azazel has always been my favorite villain (aside from Meg, of course). He reminds me of a used car sales man, in some ways—sort of swarmy, a little bit mean, and a whole lot of deadly. I loves him.

2. Sweeny Todd

A man hell-bent on revenge, killing people so his cohort can bake them into meat pies? Also, singing? Is there really any arguing that he's made of awesome?

1. The Joker

Possibly the greatest villain of all time, in my oh-so-humble opinion. He's well and truly crazy (and, really, what's with the face paint?), but there is something about the Joker that raises the small hairs on the back of my neck in the best way possible. Plus, there's his odd-love relationship with Harley Quinn. Joker is just made of win all around.

And now, on to the nasties!

5. Ghostface

Okay, so he/she technically isn't just one character, but that's what makes the Ghostface mask so damn scary. It could be anyone, absolutely anyone. And, since there's nothing remotely paranormal about the killer, it makes someone with an overactive imagination (ahem *raises hand*) wonder if I get a call one night and end up chased around my house by a mask-wearing dude with a knife.

4. Jigsaw

Dude, this guy creates these terrible situations that no normal mind is going to even think of, and then scoops up people to try them out on. I can't even sit through these movies because they freak me out so much. Some of these people who have "secrets" aren't really that freaking terrible. *shudder*

3. It

There's something so goddamn scary about clowns in general, but I blame Pennywise for my overwhelming fear of them. Saw this movie as a kid and sit have to fight the urge to devolve into flying fists of fury whenever I see a clown. Well played, Steven King, well played.

2. Freddy Kruegar

This guy kills you while you sleep. As in, you can't freaking escape him. Ever. Because you have to sleep at some point. So a villain who kills you while you dream, who you can't escape... Yeah, he's one scary dude—even without the scarred face and razor glove.

1. Chucky

Let's share a little story, shall we? When I was in grade school, my brothers made me watch Child's Play, then sat my sister's baby doll in my lap (complete with butter knife) and told me if I moved, it would kill me. To this day, I can't sleep if there's a doll in the room and the pitter-patter of little feet (and, GODS, that laugh) make me shriek like a school girl.
[image error]

So that's it!
My list of favorite and freaky killers! What are some of your favorites?
Comment for a chance to win the DVD combo packs
1 winner can choose
The Scream and Saw combo
or
Batman and Sweeney Todd combo
Open to US Shipping Only

Katee's SF Romance Queen of Swords is coming out in March 2012 from Entangled Publishing
Blurb:
Boone O'Keirna knows Ophelia is trouble the second he sees the way she moves. Not about to let the deadly little hellcat marry his sadistic half-brother, Boone pretends to be the Prince's emissary and kidnaps Ophelia. Too bad they can't be in the same room without him wanting to throw her out an airlock--or into bed.

Even as they fight each other--and their explosive attraction--Ophelia and Boone sense something is wrong. Too much is going their way. Soon, they realize while the cards may never lie, the truth is sometimes hidden between them...and the future king of Hansarda is not one to take defeat lying down.

An Entangled Halloween Story and Giveaway with Rachel Firasek

A Child's Melodyby Rachel Firasek
I washed dishes and bobbed my head in time with Aerosmith. My mom and dad
had left me alone. My brothers had abandoned me for a basketball game down the
street. The quiet didn't bother me because I had "November Rain" blasting through the kitchen.

Above the sound of the guitar solo, I heard the faintest cry of giggles.
Now, it wasn't an uncommon occurence for my brothers to sneak back in the
house and play pranks on me, but this was different. I dried my hands and
turned the radio off. We lived across the street from a funeral home and I
could hear people shutting car doors in front of our house, but not their
voices.

I walked into our living room and stood near the floor vents from the old
furnace we didn't use anymore. The sound of children giggling fluttered up
from those vents. At first, I was curious. Surely, a child hadn't crawled
under the house. I slid to my knees, bracing my hands on each side of the
vents.

"Hello?" I called. I didn't say I was smart, just alone.

Nothing. I stood and moved back a few steps. The giggling started up again.
"Can you hear me?" I called down to the voices that seemed to fade a bit.

Nothing again.

It wasn't until I rushed to the front door intending on running down the
street that I felt them. The hair on the back of my neck rose. There was an
energy in the room that stirred the asthma in my chest--or maybe I was just
hyperventilating.

Very close to me, almost like they were pressed against
me, I heard the soft flutter of those angelic giggles and something eased
inside me.

This was the moment that I knew I'd never be alone again.

And I haven't been...


This actually happened to me.
I was seventeen and no, it's not the last time I've heard the voices...
Have you ever heard something strange and unexplained?
answer for a chance to win an ebook copy of The Last Rising
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CURSE OF THE PHOENIX - Book One - Rachel Firasek

After paying two millennia's penance to Osiris, world-weary Phoenix Ice has had enough. Saving souls without any hope for her own redemption isn't how she imagined spending eternity. Fed up, she decides her next death will be her last. But when she sacrifices her own life for a sexy Texan in a catastrophic plane crash, she has no idea the consequences will be so great…or that she'll end up back in his life for her next assignment.

Now that Turner Alcott has survived the worst, finding a wife and mother for his son matters more than ever before. When the mysterious Ice comes into his life, Turner knows she's the one—but love is the last thing Ice wants. If he wants to win her heart, Turner must teach Ice how to forgive herself, and prove that love is the ultimate sacrifice.