Roxanne Rhoads's Blog, page 551

Requiem of Humanity Tour Stop and Interview

Can you tell readers a little bit about yourself and what inspired to write in this particular genre?
During the day I am your average mom, wife, and full time office manager. At night, I am the mad writer and dreamer of big dreams. I chose the horror/fantasy genre because of my love for the strange and unusual.

What is it about the paranormal, in particular vampires that fascinates you so much?
Vampires have such a flare for life and death that the are both fun and frightening.

What inspired you to write this book?
I have a 12 year old daughter and a 13 year old sister who both love vampires. I wanted to write a novel to share with them the fun of reading a vamp story without the sexually explicit content that seems so popular lately.

Please tell us about your latest release.
Stolen is about Jenda and Soborgne, two young friends who do everything together.
Unfortunately they may just die together when they are kidnapped by vampires.
The vampire Belle, was a sociopath in life and is even worse in death. Matteo, her unwillingly willing accomplice, is a bit of a lost soul who longs for love.
When the four characters paths interlock, blood is spilled and lives are lost.

Do you have a special formula for creating characters' names? Do you try to match a name with a certain meaning to attributes of the character or do you search for names popular in certain time periods or regions?
I have a very detailed process to name my characters. I startwith just a basic idea of who the person is going to be and then I research names to match nationality and time periods. I alsotry to pick names that will match the characters personal background and the image I have of them in my mind.

Was one of your characters more challenging to write than another?
Finding away to combine Matteos vocabulary to include words from his native Italian, his original time period, and still have him speaking in a modern way was difficult.

Is there a character that you enjoyed writing more than any of the others?
Belle is my favorite because she is so very wicked.

Do you have a formula for developing characters? Like do you create a character sketch or list of attributes before you start writing or do you just let the character develop as you write?
My characters all just happen. I learned early on not to try to box in their personalities.
What is your favorite scene from the book? Could you share a little bit of it, without spoilers of course?
My favorite scene spans a few chapters and takes place in front of a massive hearth and a roaring fire. When Belle shares her story with Jenda, the reader gets a chance to get to know their villain. At one particular part, even Belle's captives begin to feel sorry for her. Of course, belle redeems herself as the malicious fiend that she is.

Did you find anything really interesting while researching this or another book?
During my research for Stolen I learned many facts about astral projection, Indiana, and about trying to use time zones to avoid the sunrise.


Do any of your characters have similar characteristics of yourself in them and what are they? Soborgne has a wild streak and can be very defiant. She is sarcastic and daring to a fault. She reminds me of myself at 17 except I was never that financially well off.


Do you have any weird writing quirks or rituals?
Just one really. I have an agate gem that I picked up on vacation a few months ago, it sets on my laptop when I write and I play with it alot when I am concentrating on how to word things.

Do you write in different genres?
I am dabbling in Steampunk, mystery, and even a little non-fiction.

Do you find it difficult to write in multiple genres?
Not at all, I enjoy the challenge.

When did you consider yourself a writer?
I have always considered myself a writer but it wasn't until the release of Stolen that I considered myself an author.

What are your guilty pleasures in life?
Caramel machiato from Starbucks, the giant bookshelf overflowing with masterpieces in my bedroom, and expensive cheese!

Other than writing, what are some of your interests, hobbies or passions in life?
I do photography, sketch, paint, and lots of other fun stuff.

What was the last amazing book you read?
The Clockwork Prince by Cassandra Claire! She is just astounding.

Where is your favorite place to read? Do you have a cozy corner or special reading spot?
In front of my fire place with a big blanket and a cup of hot tea.

What can readers expect next from you?
I am working hard to finish the Requiem Of Humanity series and get them in print as well as eBook. I am also working on a fantasy novel.

Where can readers find you on the web?
The Official Catherine Stovall Web Page wwwmcatherinestovall.com and The Official Catherine Stovall Fan Page on Facebook. I'm also on Twitter ( @cathstovall ), goodreads, and she writes.

Would you like to leave readers with a little teaser or excerpt from the book?

Jenda stood on the edge of a great cavernous gulf. Shadows surrounded her and she felt a pang of isolation deep inside. She had been alone so long, since she lost Soborgne. Just thinking of her lost friend brought back the pain. It flooded in; causing her heart to ache with an intensity that would cripple her if she gave in.

No, not now. Not here, Jenda thought.

She would not see the silver casket that lay empty at the front of the room. She would not smell the sour scent of hundreds of flowers that could not quite conceal the foul chemicals that lurked in the bowels of the funeral home. She would not relive that slow torturous walk to where she would say goodbye to her best friend. The sounds of hushed sobbing and the memory of pitying eyes following her echoed in her head.

Jenda had come to this place tonight in order to determine her own sanity, and in search of her friend. She did not know if the astral plane existed in reality or if she projected her mind there when she created her world. She was desperate, and this was her only way of finding out the truth. If she let the fog and darkness take over, she would never know what had happened to Soborgne.

Jenda shook her head slowly, trying to clear the dark swirling thoughts from her mind. Her long auburn curls cascaded wildly with the slight motion. Her usually deep green eyes shone like two liquid pools of emerald fire. Jenda wrapped her thin pale arms around herself. Hugging her elbows, she tried to hold it all in and hold herself together. She would find what she was looking for without reliving the horrible pain again.

According to her research, Jenda must recreate her world as she had always done. If she allowed her newly acquired knowledge or her fear of the voice to interfere, she may fail. Failure was not an option. There were too many questions left to answer. There may be some hope that Soborgne was not completely gone from her. The voice was the key to all the secrets.

Thoughtfully she surveyed the scenery before her. She began coming here so long ago she had lost track of the years. Through time, the landscape had changed as she had changed. As Jenda matured, the green hills and constant sunshine gave away to weather changes like drizzling rain and snow covered gray. There were still times when the sun shone but it lacked the glittery golden tones it once had. Only two things remained untouched by the girl's maturing mind. There were always thirteen stairs and the crystal tree.

With this in mind, Jenda had duplicated the steps she always followed. She had climbed the thirteen stairs, crude steps roughly carved into the stone of the gulf, to reach her destination. There, on the far edge of the plateau, stood the crystal tree. A childish notion, probably, but she could always count on feeling comforted by the twinkling of each tiny dewdrop and the rainbows they cast. She wanted to sit beneath it now, to lean her back against its strength and let its drooping limbs hide her away.

She had created the tree early on. Each crystal held a memory. A person, a place, a feeling; she kept them all here in her secret heart. She would not lose them all as she did in the real world. Here she would always have Soborgne. Here the imaginary images of her real parents were enshrined in crystal beauty. She would never be alone, not like she was outside of her own mind.

Jenda never told others about her secret. She had told Soborgne once long ago but no one else. It had begun as an attempt to escape the loneliness she felt. Despite having two wonderful parents who loved her and the best friend a girl could have, Jenda often felt as if a piece of her was missing. She began building a world where she did not have to feel the sadness or feel abandoned. The ideas formed without her conscious mind understanding their origin. Each carefully laid foundation became more solid and more real each time she came here.

Soon she noticed the small changes taking place. Jenda only had to think of how nice a Rose of Sharon would look here or there and it would be done. No longer did she have to mentally focus on the reaction. It simply became part of her. The weather changes began shortly after. If Jenda wept, the landscape would mirror her emotions by casting a light mist. If she was angry, the wind blew furiously. It would bend the beautiful trees in arches. Yet it never touched her, never lifted one single tendril of her unruly mane. Tonight's landscape reflected how she felt the most since Soborgne had been gone. Barren, cold, desert land stretched as far as she could see.

Tonight, Jenda felt the loneliness and desperation keenly. She had come looking for answers and received none so far. The shadows lurking everywhere matched her mood perfectly. Yet something felt…well, wrong. Before Soborgne's disappearance and the intruding voice, Jenda knew no fear when she walked strange lands. She believed there was nothing inside her world that could hurt her. No matter the pain she felt, nothing truly bad had ever come through. The interruptions over the past few weeks had never truly harmed her. Her research had told her that physical contact was not possible on the astral plane, and yet she was afraid.

Jenda stopped her reflections abruptly. She realized her world was changing and not by her design. The sky was swelling into an ominous and bloated covering. The clouds hung low and thunder rolled in the horizon. The air seemed so thick that she could feel its weight on her skin. Suddenly, there was a loud crack and lightning ripped a jagged white line across the black velvet sky.

Jenda jumped at the noise and instantly cowered back from the edge of the gulf. She was reminded of the night in the hospital when the voice had spoken to her. It had called her name and told her "She will rise." The shadows, formerly cast by her sullenness, grew into large black chasms. Fear rose like bile in the back of her throat. Stumbling over the rough ground, Jenda scrambled away from the darkness that engulfed her world. How had this happened? How could something so vile be here?

Jenda found herself clinging to a large boulder. She was trying to use its size to shield herself from the raging winds that were whipping around her; wind that even in her worst fits of anger had never touched her before. Another bolt of lightning crashed against the sky and the ghostly illumination spread across the scenery. In that split second of piercing light, she saw him.

A figure stood beside the crystal tree. His hand reached out to grasp a single prism. His head was turned towards Jenda. Two black eyes bored into her across the distance. It was as if he could see right into her soul. His mouth was turned up into a sardonic smile, as if to say, "I know you. I know all your fears and I am much worse than all of them combined."

Jenda shrank against the cool smooth rock, thankful for its protection from the whirlwind of sand that stung her. She began to tremble and a small whimper of dismay escaped her lips. She had to regain control but she was so frightened. She hated to be afraid. The taste of fear made her gag and her anger rose like a fire being kindled inside her. She had to reclaim her world from the invader. How dare he touch her memories? He had no right to enter her sacred world.

She gathered her courage and stood slowly, steadying herself against her recent haven. Gathering her strength, Jenda willed her world to obey. She pressed against the darkness with her mind and heart. Tears streamed down her delicate face but she refused to break her concentration even to wipe them away. Determination filled her and she stood her ground like the warrior princesses of long ago.

The unseen battle raged. Jenda's light pitted against the invader's darkness. She willed the wind to stop, the darkness to fade, and the lightning to cease. She tried to picture her world the way it should be but the resistance was like a shield pushing her away from what was hers. She felt as if she was behind a glass wall. Jenda pushed with her mind, trying to find a crack in the barrier. Her frustration grew and her anger quickly diminished the fear and shock that had held her only minutes before.

Jenda wrapped that anger up inside her head, fusing it with her knowledge of what belonged here. The fury glowed red inside her mind and laced through the natural earthy colors that she knew would be there behind the gloom he had brought here. The image of the crystal tree wound itself into the intricate knot and it became almost a solid manifestation inside her mind. A beautiful collage of colors tied together in a Celtic knot encrusted in tiny shimmering lights.

Using every ounce of her mental strength, Jenda pushed at the invasion and imagined the knot being imprinted on top of the landscape before her. The wind calmed. It still tousled her hair but the worst of the onslaught subsided. This little victory gave her newfound strength. She pushed harder and the black slowly began to fade to a dull gray. Another mental shove and the gray turned to purple haze of twilight.

Jenda's eyes were unfocused from the quick change of light and still blurry from tears. She ran the back of her hand over her eyes to clear her vision; she blinked furiously from the sting of salt and sand. As she opened her eyes, his presence suddenly filled all her senses.

The intruder stood inches from her, his black eyes boring into her as if the entire world depended on this very moment in time. He stood almost a full foot taller than Jenda. His broad shoulders tapered down to a trim waist. He appeared to be well muscled but not overly large. He was almost handsome except that his presence sent tremors of pure undiluted terror screaming to every brain cell and nerve ending inside her. All of her senses told her to wake up, to run, and to escape as quickly as she could.

Jenda did not turn or run. She stood her ground, focused on the object that the intruder stood holding between his thumb and forefinger. There in his large pale hand hung a crystal from her tree. Her mind went wild with the outrage she felt at the idea of this invader, this intruder touching something so personal to her.

Jenda seethed. Before she could stop herself, she reached to rip the trinket away. As she grasped the crystal, she saw the purple light begin to fill it. She gasped and then his hand closed around her tiny wrist. The cold shock of steely flesh sent shivers through her. She paused, thrown off guard by the sensation of having her entire hand plunged into ice. Then her heart skittered and she felt as if the world were spinning too fast and that she may fall. Trying to pull away from that frozen iron grasp, Jenda felt terror and heard her mind scream for her to run before she died.

Pulling with all her might to free herself from his grip, Jenda looked up into the intruder's face. The beauty of it surprised her even as he held her fighting, kicking, and screaming. His face seemed serene and his mouth no longer held the sardonic smile. His lips were full and sensuous. There was not a single line or crease in his translucent skin. He showed no irritation or ill will despite Jenda's ongoing struggle to escape. He would have been Orlando Bloom hot if it were not for the fact that his eyes looked like two giant glass buttons. The difference between pupil and iris was so slight there was almost no end to the blackness. There was only the tightness of the flesh around his eyes and mouth that showed there was any sort of physical exertion on his part.

Then in a moment of pure horror, the intruder smiled. It was not the sardonic smirk from before. It was a large predatory showing of teeth. In a fit of hysteria, Jenda thought of how much he reminded her of the Cheshire Cat from Alice in Wonderland. A high-pitched frenzied laugh escaped Jenda's mouth and echoed into the silence of the canyon. It was the kind of laugh you only heard in the movies or in real asylums.

Almost as soon as the thought of the cat crossed Jenda's mind and before the echo of her laugh faded eerily in the silence, the intruder chuckled. The sound of that dry mocking noise nearly put Jenda over the edge. No, he was not the Cheshire Cat. This was the big bad wolf in all his menacing glory and she was his for the taking.

As if he knew her panicked thoughts, the invader's already massive grin grew impossibly wider. His voice rang clear but the words he spoke almost sounded melancholy.

"Yes, little one, I am your big bad wolf."

These few words were too much for Jenda. The fear overtook her. Her control of her world slipped, the darkness seeped back in, and the wind began to roar around them. Jenda renewed her struggle to free herself with venom. The crystal dug into her palm as she kicked her feet, scratched, screamed, and struck out at the living statue that held her prisoner. She felt the edge of the prism cut into her tender flesh but paid no mind to the scratch.

During the onslaught of her attack, the intruder remained motionless. He held her in his icy grip without need to exert himself. Now a single drop of blood escaped her closed fist. It seemed to fall in a scarlet clarity of slow motion. His head wrenched to the side and his nostrils flared. He jerked as if he needed to escape. He apparently forgot that he still held her wrist in his effort to put space between them. Pulled off balance, Jenda stumbled towards the intruder. She slammed into his chest, which was as hard as if he had been made of cold steel. The impact caused him to look down, as if just now realizing he still held her.

Jenda looked up at the same moment. What she saw filled her mind with images of life laid to waste in vast numbers. Thousands of lives lost in merciless senseless death. The intruder's eyes glowed now a fiery red. His horribly exaggerated smile was gone. Now she saw a gaping, tooth-filled abyss. So much more was now revealed than what she had observed from an arm's length of distance. She could see two sharp canine teeth protruding from the upper row. Jenda screamed. Her last thought before the darkness closed in was, I'm too young to die.


~Jenda and Soborgne are best friends and everything they do, they do together. Unfortunately, this time the girls may die together. The girls are kidnapped and held captive by Belle and Matteo, two vampires with a plan. Belle, a sociopath in life and death, is searching for an heir to her reign as the only vampire to hold the secret to surviving the sun. Matteo is a lost soul who would give anything to be loved and to see the light of day.

~As the four characters' worlds collide, blood is spilled, lives are lost, and rules are broken. Disappointment in love and life bring out the worst in humans but with vampires, it leads to a chilling tale that will make you look under your bed before you close your eyes and then dream of falling in love with a medieval fiend.

Paranormals Tour and Giveaway- Jenny Pox by JL Bryan

Roxanne asked to me write about where the ideas behind The Paranormals series originated. (Thanks for hosting today, Roxanne!)

Really, I began by suddenly receiving the idea for a character: a girl with a deadly touch that spread a supernatural illness. I don't where that idea came from, but I could see all the implications. She would have to avoid all contact with other people, so her social life would be nonexistent. I could see how her whole life would be shaped by this. She would be an outcast, and I didn't do her any favors by making her poor, living way back in the woods outside her small town.

Then, after a lifetime of loneliness and isolation, she meets somebody she can touch, Seth. He would have the opposite power, a touch that healed. What would keep them apart? A third power would have to stand between them. Ashleigh, Seth's girlfriend, who would be beautiful, manipulative, and intelligent. Her power would be one extremely useful to someone evil: the power to make people feel love, like Cupid. That gave a lot of nice contrasts: Jenny was a good person with an evil power, while Ashleigh was an evil person with a "good" power, one that enables her to manipulate everyone around her like puppets.

The second and third books unfolded from there. We needed to find Ashleigh's opposite, Tommy. I took the opposite of love to be fear, so Tommy's touch spreads fear.

Finally, Jenny would need a second love interest so that she could choose, rather than being forced to be with Seth because there's nobody else in the world. Alexander isn't just immune to the Jenny pox, he feeds on it—it actually makes his power stronger. And he's kind of everything Seth isn't—wherever Seth has a shortcoming, Alexander has a strength.

So that's how the story really originated—the first inspiration came from nowhere in particular, and everything else was implied by a kind of emotional logic.

For me, the background of where they got the powers wasn't very important, but I had to include something. It was more important to me that the characters themselves didn't know, and that these powers were just a given thing in their lives that they'd each learned to cope with in their own way. The way they used their powers would reveal their characters.

In the case of both Jenny and Esmeralda, both ultimately try to avoid using their powers at all. Seth tries to use his in a way that will help others without drawing attention to himself. Ashleigh and Alexander are always finding new ways to use their powers. And Tommy—he just kind of grubs along, with the power to strike fear into anyone, but he only uses for low-level things like robbing convenience stores and mugging people, until Ashleigh gets her hands on him and starts directing him.




Jenny has a secret. Her touch spreads a supernatural plague.
She devotes her life to avoiding contact with people, until her senior year of high school, when she meets the one boy she can touch, and she falls in love.
But there's a problem–he's under the spell of his devious girlfriend Ashleigh, who secretly wields the most dangerous power of all.
Now Jenny must learn to use the deadly "Jenny pox" she's fought her entire life to hide, or be destroyed by Ashleigh's ruthless plans.
Not recommended for readers under sixteen due to mature content.



J.L. Bryan studied English literature at the University of Georgia and at Oxford, with a focus on the English Renaissance and the Romantic period. He also studied screenwriting at UCLA. He enjoys remixing elements of paranormal, supernatural, fantasy, horror and science fiction into new kinds of stories. He is the author of The Paranormals trilogy (Jenny Pox, Tommy Nightmare, and Alexander Death). Fairy Metal Thunder is the first book in his new Songs of Magic series. He lives in Atlanta with his wife Christina, his son John, two dogs, and two cats.



The give-away is a Kindle Fire, skinned in the winner's choice of Paranormals artwork and loaded with an AMAZING indie library! Simply fill out the form below (just once during the course of the tour) and you're entered to win the latest and greatest from the biggest name in eReaders: an Amazon Kindle Fire! Open US/Canada. See full contest rules here.
Get THREE extra entries into the Kindle Fire give-away! All you need to do is leave a comment on this tour post and you will be automatically granted an extra THREE entries into the final tour give-away of a Kindle Fire!!
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Visit More Stops during Jenny Pox week:
Monday, October 17th - Bewitched Bookworms
Tuesday, October 18th - Fangtastic Books
Wednesday,October 19th - Coffee Table Reviews
Thursday, October 20th - Splash Of Our Worlds
Friday, October 21st - The Unread Reader

The 2011 Flint Vampire Ball

Check Out all the Author/Book Swag Being Given Away at the
2011 Flint Vampire Ball
Which will be this coming Saturday Oct 22, 2011
A Huge Thank You to All The Authors Who Donated This Year
Be sure to join us this Saturday for a chance
to win one of these awesome goodie bags
Advance tickets are $20 a person or $25 at the door
Doors open at 7:30

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My family helped fill the goodie bags E Van Lowe donated 2 copies of Boyfriend from Hell
[image error] Jae Lynn Davies sent a whole box of goodies including books, candles, tea, tattoos and more
[image error] Look at all the bags Mary Janice donated several books, here's sneak peak inside one of the bags Angie Fox donated a whole box The Accidental Demon Slayer books
[image error] Heidi Betts donated lots of swag Elaine Bergstrom donated a signed copy of Mina written as Marie Kiraly
[image error] CJ Ellisson donated a signed set of The VV Inn Books
Nancy Holzner donated swag, a coffee mug and a couple signed books
[image error] More goodies from Jae Lynn Davies
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Another peak inside one of the bags

T-shirt and signed book from Jeaniene Frost
Signed books from Katie Salidas
Books and goodies from Kerrelyn Sparks (who win be signing at Schulers in Lansing MI Oct 30- just a little FYI) Books and swag from Laura Bickle/Alayna Williams
Marta Acosta sent a book and swag Mary Janice Davidson sent a box of assorted books
Michelle Hauf sent a big box of books and lots of swag


Natalie Zaman and Charlotte Bennardo sent a box of Sirenz books and bookmarks
Susan Blexrud sent the omnibus collection of her Fang series Lynda Hilburn sent a couple copies of the UK version of The Vampire Shrink
Bertena Varney sent a copy of Lure of the Vampire Laura Kaye sent all kinds of swag goodies
Kiki Howell sent books and swag
SJ Davis sent this awesome tote which was filled with many of the books and goodies above
More goodies from Heidi Betts
Signed copy of The Cowboy and the Vampire
Books from Barbara Monajem [image error] Book trading cards from Lisa Kessler
Books and bookmarks from Karen E Taylor

Working Out the Kinks Release Day Blitz

Working Out The Kinks
by Kiki Howell
Published by Rebel Ink Press

Genres: Pagan, Contemporary, Erotic Romance
Length: Short Story

Adult Content Warnings: Explicit Graphic Language and Sex Magic with BDSM Elements

Blurb:

Making an appointment with his ex-girlfriend under a fake name, David buys himself one hour to get her attention. Hoping to apologize and remind her of their time together, he intends to do whatever he has to in order to make Meredith, a practicing Wiccan, forgive him for being idiot enough to have listened to those around him which meant choosing his political aspirations over love.

Meredith is resistant to let David anywhere near her heart again. Desperate, David plays all his trump cards and suggests a sexual magick ritual which incorporates the BDSM lifestyle he and Meredith used to experiment with. The methods he uses may be unconventional, like sensory deprivation and sensation play intended to build trust and to achieve altered states of consciousness. But David is more than willing to do whatever it takes if he can just get Meredith to agree.



Meredith's Playlist


These are the songs Meredith listened to on her way to work the day her ex, David, showed up on her massage table. It was quiet an eclectic mix of break-up songs she had on her iPod: from angry to over you, from sad and slow to heavy metal, from oldies to new, they all struck a chord in her broken heart.

Give them a listen and you will see why she would have a hard time letting him back into her life.

Then read, Working Out The Kinks, to find out what exactly David has planned to win her back.


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Now on Tour Halloween Fantasies by Katie Salidas

HALLOWEEN FANTASIES

Copyright © 2010 by Katie Salidas

Chapter Excerpt

Dante leaned into his brother's ear. "You see, it's a perfect package deal. Two beautiful females, just as I had described."

A ginger-haired woman, in a witch costume, waved at them from across the room.

Trevor inclined his head, and a smile played across his face. "And which of the two beauties is mine for the taking?"

"You're into costumes and games, right? Why not take the little witch for a ride on your broom?" Dante snickered. "She seems like she could be fun."

"And that leaves the dominatrix for you?"

"Vampire huntress," Dante corrected.

Trevor's eyes lit up with amusement. "Oh, that is perfect." He burst into laughter. "Mr. No Games wants to play with the vampire hunter."

"I thought you would be amused by that."

"Did she bring a stake?" Trevor clutched his stomach as he roared, unable to hold back the fit of laughter. "Or perhaps some holy water?" Tears welled in the corners of his eyes. He swiped them away with a quick brush of his hand.

"Go on then, get it all out of your system." Dante didn't bother hiding the aggravation in his voice. He didn't care for his brother's taunting, but he would endure it if it meant getting his way. He needed to separate Sasha from her friend if he wanted to have her for the evening.

Trevor finally stopped laughing and straightened his face. "You know I prefer to pick my own prey, but seeing how you might be getting into the spirit of the evening, I'll go along with this… on one condition."

Dante arched an eyebrow at his brother. "What condition?"

"I want you to play a little game with me. Let's make this a challenge. No mind control. Tonight we work on charm and skill alone."

Dante groaned. "I think that ridiculous Prince costume has gone to your head."

Trevor smiled, flashing his brilliant white teeth. "I'm playing my part. It's Halloween, a time to be someone or something different."

"But I do not want to be Prince Charming. I like being a vampire."

"That's my point. You aren't getting into the spirit of the evening. I want you to try and be something different tonight. Don't just be a vampire. Be charming and have fun wooing a woman the old-fashioned way." He folded his arms in front of his chest. "Unless you aren't up to the challenge."

His brother's taunting set his teeth on edge. "You think I'm not capable of taking a woman's vein and getting her in bed without mind control?" he asked with a snarl.

"I think you're out of touch, yes." Trevor matched Dante's stern look. "Now, do you accept my challenge, or not?"

Dante turned to look back at the two women sitting at the bar. "I have no doubt I could have her within the hour… on skill alone." He focused on Sasha, inhaling a deep breath as his eyes traveled the length of her body. He puffed his chest arrogantly. "She will be eating out of the palm of my hand, begging me to take her."

"Well then, Casanova, shall we go meet our ladies?" Trevor held his hand out, pointing to the women.

Dante nodded, and the two brothers slowly made their way through the crowd toward the bar.

As they approached, Dante's eyes never left Sasha's form, drinking in her tanned skin and lean body. He admired the way the leather pants clung to her long legs and the sensuous curve of her backside as she sat, perched on the bar stool. He imagined himself bending her over the side of a bed, kneading the soft flesh of her ass as he drove into her. His cock jumped to attention at the thought, filling his pants, pulling the denim taut over his waist.

"We meet again," Dante said as they arrived at the bar.

Sasha looked up. Her long black hair, tied into a high ponytail, swung away from her neck as she turned to face him, revealing her tempting neckline.

His eyes zeroed in on her pulse. It beat with a tantalizing rhythm, calling to him. He enjoyed the way her body was already responding. This should be all too easy. He smiled, flashing his fangs at her.

"Oh… hi… uh, hello," Sasha stammered, as if trying to find the right words to say.

Angela swallowed a gulp of her green beverage. "I see you found your brother." She beamed a smile at him.

"Yes." Dante cleared his throat. "Allow me to introduce Prince… er… Trevor." He stepped aside and let his brother make his introduction.

Like a true gentleman, Trevor bowed low and then looked up to the two women. "A pleasure to meet you both." He stood and took hold of Angela's hand and brought it gently to his lips. "Especially you. Enchante, Madam witch."

Angela giggled girlishly, and a smile spread wide across her lips. "Oh. You are really playing the part tonight, aren't you, Prince… Trevor, was it?"

"You can call me Charming if that fits better." He winked.

"I just might," Angela said.

"Would you care to dance, Milady?"

"How could I resist?" Angela jumped to her feet.

Dante let out an exasperated sigh and then turned away from the garish couple to focus on his prize—Sasha. "Is the offer to join you still open?"

Sasha smiled and pointed to the recently vacated stool next to her. "Sure. Sorry I had to leave back there. I wasn't trying to be rude. I just can't seem to stand up very long. These shoes…"

Oh, I can think of a few ways to keep you off of your feet. Dante grinned. "It's quite all right. We can finish our conversation here. Where did we leave off?"

Sasha took a quick sip from her drink. "I was telling you I would stake you if you tried to bite me." She laughed and set the empty glass back on the counter. Her foot bobbed to the rhythm of the drum and bass beat.

"Ah yes. I did want to take a little nibble." He flashed his fangs at her and winked. "Even with the threat of being staked, it might be worth it. You look so tempting in that costume."

A red flush hit her cheeks. Dante enjoyed the darkening of her skin and the rapid pulse that accompanied it.

Sasha looked down at the ground for a moment, her eyelashes fluttering as she blinked. "And I thought your bother was Prince Charming."

"You find me charming?" Dante laughed. "And I thought I was being a cocky rogue."

Sasha cocked her head sideways. "The best rogues are the most charming."

"Then I guess I am doing my job well." He smiled wide and licked the tips of his fangs.

"You are entirely too sure of yourself." She appeared as if she was trying to hide her excited expression, but it was revealed by a twinkle flashing in her pale blue eyes.

Feisty, I like that. Dante's eyes roamed the length of her body, stopping at the small broken stick in her belt loops. The corner of his mouth rose in a crooked grin. "I'm intrigued by your choice of costume, Ms. Huntress."

"It wasn't my first choice, but it works." She casually brushed her hair off her shoulder, allowing her ponytail to hang down her back. "It looks like you put a lot of effort into yours. Those teeth look so real and sharp."

Dante was momentarily caught off guard watching the thump of her pulse beating just beneath the surface of her bare olive-skinned neck. He shook his head in a vain attempt to shake away thoughts of sampling her tempting flesh. "Forget about my teeth. Let me order you another drink, and you can tell me more about you."

Oct 16www.fang-tasticbooks.blogspot.com
Oct 17 Reviewhttp://theenchantedbook.blogspot.com/
October 17 Interviewhttp://www.darkangelwritingtools.com
Oct 18 Character Interviewhttp://www.kaydeeroyal.blogspot.com
Oct 18 guest blog and reviewErotica For All http://eroticaforall.co.uk
Oct 19 Interview and ReviewAmong the Museshttp://www.amongthemuses.com
Oct 21 Promo Post and ReviewAuthors By Authors, http://authorsbyauthors.blogspot.com
Oct 22 guest blog and reviewReading Larkreadinglark.blogspot.com/
Oct 24 reviewhttp://booksfromthepurplejellybeanchair.blogspot.com

Oct 25 Guest BlogRamblings From This Chickhttp://ramblingsfromthischick.blogspot.com/
Oct 26 Promo Spot with ReviewSecrets of a Book Loverhttp://secretsofabooklover.blogspot.com
Oct 26 Guest BlogConfessions of a Scarlet Woman – tanithdavenport.blogspot.com
Oct 27 Guest Blog and ReviewRomancing the Darksidehttp://romancingthedarkside.blogspot.com
Oct 27 Review Sugar, Spice, and Everything Paranormalhttp://jaelynnedavies.blogspot.com/
October 28 Review and Guest BlogReviews By Mollywww.reviewsbymolly.com
Oct 29 Guest Post and ReviewWords of Wisdom from The Scarf Princesshttp://wowfromthescarfprincess.blogspot.com/
Oct 29 Interview and reviewBack of the Book Reviewswww.backofthebookreviews.com
Oct 30 review and guest postBeverly @ The Wormholehttp://wormyhole.blogspot.com
Oct 31 InterviewChaos and Insanitywww.chaosandinsanity.com



Halloween Fantasies
By Katie Salidas
Genre: Erotic Paranormal

Touted as the sexiest party of the year, the annual Halloween Fantasy Ball is the one place a girl can let loose and succumb to her wildest fantasies.

Disguised as a sexy vampire huntress, Sasha captures the attention of Dante, a real life creature of the night. For Sasha, meeting bona-fide vampire is enough to fulfill one of her life long fantasies. She's ready to go home a happy woman.

But Dante has other plans. It is after all, a night of fantasies, and he has a few of his own to share.

This Erotic Paranormal novella is approximately 20k words
It contains consensual M/F/M sexual situations.

Adult readers only.

Amazon http://www.amazon.com/Halloween-Fantasies-ebook/dp/B0042X9UFW




Author Bio:
Katie Salidas is a Super Woman! Endowed with special powers and abilities, beyond those of mortal women, She can get the munchkin off to gymnastics, cheerleading, Girl Scouts, and swim lessons. She can put hot food on the table for dinner while assisting with homework, baths, and bedtime… And, She still finds the time to keep the hubby happy (nudge nudge wink wink). She can do all of this and still have time to write.

And if you can believe all of those lies, there is some beautiful swamp land in Florida for sale…

Katie Salidas resides in Las Vegas, Nevada. Mother, wife, and author, she does try to do it all, often causing sleep deprivation and many nights passed out at the computer. Writing books is her passion, and she hopes that her passion will bring you hours of entertainment.

http://www.katiesalidas.com/

Facebook
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Katie-Salidas-Author/214780936916

LinkedIn
http://www.linkedin.com/profile?viewProfile=&key=58814031&trk=tab_pro

Twitter
http://twitter.com/QuixoticKatie

Guest Blog and Giveaway with John Everson

Fang-Tastic Readers can win an e-book copy of The Pumpkin Man and get entered into a contest to win autographed copies of either The Pumpkin Man trade paperback, or a GRAND PRIZE including ALL of John Everson's novels.
Just visit http://www.thepumpkinman-horror.com and fill out the Contest Form. Make sure you list Fang-Tastic in the referral site dropdown list.

You're Dead. But can you hear me?

By John Everson

Ouija Boards may be the scariest bits of wood ever carved. On the surface, they're innocuous -- just a little rectangular board, maybe with some added decoration, that has the alphabet and the words YES and NO emblazoned. But it's the use of that simple board that gives people the chills. What is creepier than being able to reach out across the void of death to actually speak to the dead? Especially since in doing so, you're literally giving a dead spirit access to move and use your body.

You're asking to be possessed! People can get really vehement on this point.

Yet, Ouija Boards have been popular not only in occult circles, but actually sold by Hasbro as quirky board games for well over 100 years.

It's a love-hate thing. We want to believe in the afterlife, and we want to be able to reach across the gulf of death to speak to the ones we loved. To have them tell us all the things we wished they would have said in life. Or to assuage our own consciences and say the things we neglected to say while they were alive. And yet, when we take that a little farther and really think about it, the very idea that the dead could actually use our fingers on a planchette to talk, scares the bejeezus out of us.

We're afraid if they're there AND afraid if they're not. We're especially afraid about opening the conversational door to the wrong spirit. We want all the mysteries answered... but not really.

The Ouija board is a spiritual Catch-22.

When I started writing The Pumpkin Man, the novel was going to be about an urban legend style killer, who carved the faces of his victims into pumpkin skins. His carvings were so true to the original subject, that when he left his jack-o-lanterns in place of the victims' heads... you could tell in an instant who the bodies belonged to. That seemed like a pretty creepy kind of killer to me -- in addition to the fact that the man who was originally fingered as "The Pumpkin Man" killer died over 20 years before the events of the novel.

The book IS about that urban legend style spook; Candyman with a pumpkin fetish.

But The Pumpkin Man is really the story of Jennica Murphy in the end. Jenn has lost her dad, her job and her apartment, and is routed to California, to take over her aunt's cottage that she's inherited. In losing everything, she ultimately finds herself -- in the darkest room once tenanted by The Pumpkin Man.

Oh... and she uses her aunt's Ouija board to help her do so.

Pumpkins, Ouija Boards, urban legends of a Halloween-time boogeyman... I wanted The Pumpkin Man to be a fun, creepy book for my favorite season. I hope you'll give it a read during this Halloween!

Stop by the book's website at http://www.thepumpkinman-horror.com and try out the online Ouija Board there... and enter the Contest for a complete collection of my signed novels.

Happy Halloween!

Review of The Pumpkin Man by John Everson

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Book Blurb:

After her father's gruesome murder, Jenn needed a place to get away from it all with some friends, to take her mind off her grief. The empty seaside cottage she inherited seemed perfect. Jenn didn't know that the cottage held arcane secrets, mysteries long hidden and best left alone.
She didn't realize until it was too late that the old books and Ouija board she found there really do hold great power. And it was only after her friend's headless body was discovered that she knew the legend of the local bogeyman was no mere legend at all. An evil has been unleashed, a terrifying figure previously only spoken of in whispers. But now the whispers will become screams. Beware…THE PUMPKIN MAN


My Review:
Just in time for Halloween a classic style horror tale that will make you shiver with fear.
This is the kind of book I grew up reading- the likes of Stephen King, Dean Koontz, John Saul.
I loved it. It gave me chills. It had everything I could want in a horror novel. Fear, mystery, ancient evil unleashed. Family secrets, history, grisly murders with a possible freakish supernatural twist...
I have to admit, I was scared. I hated reading the book alone at night. It was awesome! (yes I am one of those twisted people that delights in being scared)
If you love horror this book is a must read- especially right now. Go ahead and scare yourself silly just in time for Halloween.

A Review of Jack the Ripper Costume from Wholesale Halloween Costumes

When I seen this costume I knew it was the one I had to get for my husband this year. He can wear it to the Witches Ball and the Vampire Ball.
Classic 1800's style- perfect for Jack the Ripper- or a classic vampire look ala Interview with a Vampire or even Dracula .
Love it.
So when I was offered the chance to review for Wholesale Halloween Costumes this year I went straight to the Halloween Costumes for Men.
Sure enough they had it available.
I ordered it. It recently arrived and we are very pleased with the cape ensemble. It'll go perfectly with a pair of black pants and a nice shirt underneath- all of which my husband has.
Unfortunately the hat looks nothing like what it is in the photo. The hat we received is a floppy foamy creation that will not stand up. The hat in the image looks like a nice solid top hat. I couldn't do anything to make the top hat stand up. Maybe if I had a steamer I could coax it back into shape. It came all squished in the costume package.
Anyway we hit a local Halloween store and found a nice solid top hat for less than $6- so we're still very happy.
The hubby is going to look fabulous.
Be sure to check out WholesaleHalloweenCostumes.com, you can buy costumes for a fraction of the suggested retail price.
There's still plenty of time to shop and receive your costume before Halloween. You can even get 2 day flat rate delivery for less than $7 to most locations. If you place your order before 1pm your costume will be shipped out that day.


Here are the details for the Mens Jack the Ripper CostumeItem #CC01132Features a double-breasted vest, a cloak, hat and jabot. Pants, walking stick, dagger, mutton chops and shoes not included.Glasses sold separately.

Putting the Steam in Steampunk with SJ Davis

Steampunk is such a great sub-genre for the kind of book I've always wanted to write! The rules are nebulous and the lines confining your imagination are full of gaps. With steampunk - the books, art and role play/costuming - creativity is the only rule.

There are certain "ideals" when you think of steampunk. Goggles, gas lanterns, airships, corsets, steam locomotives, for example. Or adventuring Victorian woman running about containing dastardly villains with a click of their parasol's poison dart, but mostly, everything is in flux. Steampunk tropes have recently found their way into alien stories and the Wild West. And this is all good and fun!

When I began my short novel, Invisible Sun, I wanted to begin with the perils of the Industrial Age and man's obsession with alchemy. Through genetic engineering, man inadvertently creates a new race of vampires in Victorian London. But instead of these vampires being scavengers, or prowling the fringes of society, these creatures are highly evolved and respected organizers of law and guardians of science.
Unfortunately, one stray drop has spilled from the genetically perfected vein. A vampire turns rogue and attacks the women of London's East End, upending the precarious peace between vampires and humans. Chaos reigns when a virus, stemming from the genetic experiments, is unleashed on the human community. But soon, a sexy vampire and a beautiful Victorian woman work together to stop the spread of disease…but, there could be a pay a high price for a hopeful ending.
With Invisible Sun, I felt free to create fantastic scenarios with steampunk vampires living in a gaslight and steam powered world. I blended them together with a dash of futuristic and dystopian genetic science then a hint of romance. I hope this keeps the reader turning pages! It's sexy, scary, retro, with high stakes to add more steam to your traditional steampunk.
Follow the Vampires and Steampunk Tour
October 1 Promo SpotCocktails and Bookswww.cocktailsandbooks.com
Oct 7 Guest Blog and reviewhttp://castlemacabre.blogspot.com/
Oct 10 Guest Blog and Reviewhttp://bibrary.blogspot.com
Oct 13 Guest BlogLisa's World of Bookshttp://www.lisasworldofbooks.net/
Oct 13 Guest BlogFang-tastic Bookswww.fang-tasticbooks.blogspot.com
Oct 16 Guest BlogRoxanne's Realmwww.roxannesrealm.blogspot.com
October 19 Guest Blog and ReviewBack Of The Book Reviewswww.backofthebookreviews.com
Oct 20 Guest Blog (review later)www.chaosandinsanity.com
Oct 22 InterviewBeverly @ The Wormholehttp://wormyhole.blogspot.com
Oct 23 Guest Blog and Reviewwww.booksandbarks.com
Oct 29 Interview Laurie Thoughts & Reviews http://lauriethoughts-reviews.blogspot.com
Oct 30 Guest Blog and reviewRomancing the Darksidehttp://romancingthedarkside.blogspot.com

























INVISIBLE SUNBy SJ DavisGenre: Vampire/Steampunk
Blurb:

In Victorian London, at the beginning of the Industrial Age and the height of man's obsession with alchemy, scientists gave birth to the foundation of modern genetic science. As steampunk airships cut across the foggy city of Gravesend, vampires are brought to life.
But instead of scavengers prowling the fringe of society, these creatures have evolved to be the respected organizers of the Society, a universal religion, and the Guardians of Science.
One stray drop has spilled from the vein. Draegan, heralded from birth as the genetically perfect vampire, has turned rogue, attacking the women of London's East End. Only his brother, with the help of Lady Astrid West, can hunt him down before he is able to unleash his full insanity upon the helpless city. And only another birth, the birth of yet another perfect vampire, can stop his madness.


About the Author:
SJ Davis is the daughter of an ex-patriate British mother and a Southern Baptist ex-CIA father. As a child, she spoke in silly accents and recounted outlandish tales of fantasy over afternoon tea and to this day it remains her favorite activity. Born in Long Island, NY, she was raised in the suburbs of Washington DC and went to school for a very long time (University of Virginia and George Mason University), married an all-around wonderful man, had two kids (smart, funny, full of opinions), moved from Virginia to New Jersey to Philadelphia to Chicago, and began her writing career. She is a believer in fate, an avid tea drinker, a stiletto aficionado, Doc Marten worshipper, punk rock listener, and lover of flip flops and cardigans. She has a terrible sense of direction, loves gummy bears, and is a Johnny Depp fangirl.

www.steampunksarah.blogspot.com

https://www.facebook.com/sarah.jane.davis (fan page)

http://www.facebook.com/sarah.davis.brandon

http://twitter.com/#!/SteampunkSarah

http://www.vamptasypublishing.co.uk/#/sarah-davis-brandon/4552691454 (author page at Vamptasy)

http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/5542711-sarah-davis-brandon

YA Halloween Sale--10 Spooky Paranormals for $10!!!

10 YA Books for $10