Susan Hanniford Crowley's Blog: From Nights of Passion Blog, page 141

Holding My Books Hostage by Heather Novak

Last week, I had a life changing epiphany.

After years of research, talking to agents, editors, and authors on personal and professional levels, I have decided to prep my backlog of books for indie-release.

*chants* I will not throw up…I will not throw up…I will not throw up…

There’s just one problem – Fear is holding my books hostage. They are much safer on my hard drive than in the hands of readers.

I always thought self-publishing was the path for me, but I stalled. At first, to get more information and to learn how to be successful. Then, because traditional publishing offered a lot more built-in safety features. There was always someone else to blame if something goes wrong – a bad cover, a bad book blurb, a bad editor. When you do it all yourself, you’re the only person to take the heat when it goes wrong.

Terrified of my monumental decision, I picked up Daring Greatly by Brene Brown, which came highly recommended by my high school friends. This book was phenomenal and it totally called me out on being afraid to be vulnerable. Vulnerability is the only way to live a Whole Hearted life and if this year has taught me anything, it’s that life is too short to live anything else.

I need my books out there. These pieces of my heart that are broken off and sewn into pages do no good sitting on my hard drive. And because I write in “dead genres” they’re harder to sell traditionally.

So, over the next nine months, I will be re-editing, prepping, putting covers, and giving heartbeats to these books. Then, I will proudly be vulnerable and share these books with you.

Send barf bags.

[image error]On this day in 1954 – Frida Kahlo, Mexican painter, passed away. Best-known for her self-portraits, considered emblematic of national and indigenous tradition; her work is described as surrealist. (b. 1907)

Wishing You Laughter & Good Books,[image error]

Heather Novak

Find me at:

Twitter: authorheathern

Instagram: authorheathern

Facebook: authorheathernovak

Hunting Witch Hazel: Now available

I was happy with my West Coast life – 24-hour pizza delivery and bikini-clad bodies as far as the eye could see. Now I’m in the small-ass town of  Hayvenwood  to extract a ransom to save my little brother’s life. And that ransom is locked inside of the sexiest witch I have ever met, Hazel Evanora.

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Filed under: romance

Happy to Retrain that Brain

I have to say that the human brain is absolutely fascinating. Think about the people you know and the people you meet. Think about the stories you read or watch each day as you check out the news. How often have you remarked that you just don’t understand people these days or you don’t understand why somebody would do something they’ve done. I must mutter something of the sort at least once a week.

This week at my day job, my boss instituted a new tradition of talking about a “gratitude” that we have going on in our life. We go round the table and each share something we are grateful for. This is nothing new for me, I’ve done it before in my own staff meetings or as part of a larger team. At first, I thought it a corny tradition that wouldn’t really stick and would simply force people to come up with something they felt okay about—kind of surprising view considering I would call myself an optimist overall. Of course, I soon realized I was wrong and have now become an absolute supporter of the tradition. So when my new boss brought it up, I was all in.

Why? Well, like I was talking about at the beginning of this blog, the human brain is fascinating. I have seen it and even felt the change in myself as I start reflecting on what I am grateful for. At first it starts out like anything else – a bit of a chore, requires some effort to remember. But before long, you see the world through different eyes and it impacts a greater part of your life.

I’m not going to say you should try it some time. That is a given. And even if you can’t accept the corniness of being thankful each day, then check out the science behind retraining/rewiring the brain. There are a ton of articles out there that tout the benefits of this. What is there really to lose?

Happy writing this week!

 

Filed under: A writer's life, romance, Toni Kelly

They’re Here! By Mandy Rosko

Okay! So Yesterday afternoon I got an awesome package in the mail. An amazing parcel that made me beyond excited to open it, to feel the joy of looking inside and playing around with the contents!

I’m talking about my Japan import of Uta No Prince Sama, a J-pop rhythm game I’ve been eyeing for a while that came with a bonus track CD, of course

 

But also the Proof copies of The Wild Wolf’s Wife

Lilies Paranormal-Scope, A Party with a Contest, & Voting for A Raven!

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The temperature is rising and the daylilies are blooming. Cool things are about to happen.

While I am not qualified in any way to read neither stars nor planets, I am intimately linked to the paranormal in the world in many ways. So are you.

The paranormal-scope is for entertainment purposes only and is not meant to guide your life by.

The week for:

Aries:

Elves love the sun. Remember your sunblock. Balance your life between work and play. Don’t be in a rush!

Taurus:

Werewolves love to roam the wild trails. Plan a trip to enjoy the great outdoors.

Gemini:

Griffins sometimes get their feathers ruffled. Be kind and polite to everyone to avoid offending someone without realizing it.

Cancer:

Vampires love history. Indulge in some reading pleasure by reading books about past events.

Leo:

Mermaids love bouncy houses! Lose your inhibitions and indulge your inner child. You have not been having enough fun lately.

Virgo:

Eagles soar. This is the week to wrap-up a bunch of projects you’ve been working on. Celebrate finishing and move on.

Libra:

Zombies have been known to trip. Take care at parties to avoid those you overindulge.

Scorpio:

A pixie might play a trick on you. Be aware of your surroundings.

Sagittarius:

Shapeshifters love your shape but improving it would not hurt. Ask your doctor about your exercise regimen.

Capricorn:

Still hiding, huh? Yes, dragons can be cozy and safe but it’s good for you to leave the cave at times and participate in the world.

Aquarius:

Faeries cannot handle wine. It’s affects their decision making. Be careful of important decisions this week.

Pisces:

Aslan the Lion roars praises of you. You will shine this week. Have fun. Smile. Enjoy work and time with friends.

Time for More:

Party Time and Contests starting on July 12nd:  I will be on The Romance Studio’s Heatwave Party.  Be sure to join us July 12-16 at www.trsparties.com

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Vote for either Vampire Princess of New York or Vampire King of New York at http://uncagedbooks.com/raven-awards-voting/ under Favorite Paranormal. Sadly you can only pick one. I appreciate your vote. I’d really love to win a Raven Award.

-Susan

Susan Hanniford Crowley, Amazon Kindle Bestselling Author of Vampire Romance

www.susanhannifordcrowley.com

Where love burns eternal and whispers in the dark!

NEW: Vampire Princess of New York, Arnhem Knights of New York, Book 2 available in Kindle!  In Print at Barnes and Noble!

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Vampire King of New York, Arnhem Knights of New York, Book 1 available in Kindle and Print and  Barnes and Noble Print

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Vampire in the Basement, Vampires in Manhattan, Book 4 available in Kindle.

Poseidon’s Catch (mythology romance) available in Kindle.

Mrs. Bright’s Tea Room (steampunk romance) available in Kindle.

A Vampire for Christmas,Vampires in Manhattan, Book 3 available in Kindle.

The Stormy Love Life of Laura Cordelais, Vampires in Manhattan, Book 2 available in Kindle and Print and Barnes and Noble Print

When Love , Vampires in Manhattan Book 1 available in Kindle and Print, Nook, Kobo and Smashwords.

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Filed under: A Vampire for Christmas, Max Vander Meer, Norse, paranormal, paranormal romance, romance, romance novels, Susan Hanniford Crowley, The Stormy Love Life of Laura Cordelais, vampire books, Vampire David Hilliard, Vampire King of New York, Vampire King of New York In Print, Vampire Maximillion Vander Meer, vampires, Viking, Weekly Paranormal-Scope, Yule

Second Star To the Right… By Ripley Proserpina

This week, I’m bringing you a new series! Stardust, by co-authors Autumn Reed and Julia Clarke, is a new adult, reverse harem, romance. I read Phoenix, their first book, last summer and anxiously await each release. Read about their books below.

 You’re writing a new adult, reverse harem series called Stardust. Tell me about your main character, Haley, and what draws her to her love interests?

Julia: Despite a tragic childhood, Haley looks for the best in people, and she is drawn to the guys both on an individual level and as a group. She admires their intense loyalty to each other that binds them together like family. And, they’ve all faced some sort of struggle in their past that she can identify with.

Setting aside their striking good looks, each of them possess attributes that are attractive to Haley—Knox makes her feel safe, makes her feel like she can tell him anything. Theo is fun and interesting, and always makes her laugh. Jackson is mysterious, and has more in common with Haley than she realizes. Liam is flirtatious and encouraging, and she discovers a depth of character that she wouldn’t have expected. Chase is a sweetheart who understands her perhaps even better than the others do. And, even “he who shall not be named” (aka Ethan) appeals to her need to make sure everyone she cares about is happy. Who wouldn’t want to give their heart to the Stardust guys?

The guys interested in Haley are all very unique. Why did you decide to make the story a reverse harem, and not say, a long triangle?

Autumn: The thing I love about Team Jaguar is each of the guys could easily be Haley’s dream guy on his own. She connects with them all in different ways, and they are attracted to her for different reasons. But, ultimately, Haley and the guys are better as a unit in a way that wouldn’t be possible in a typical male/female relationship or if she was only romantically linked to only one of the guys.

You are co-authors of a five (and a half) book series. What is the most fun about writing with another person?

Autumn: The best part of working with a co-author is having someone to bounce ideas off of and sharing a vision for the characters and the story.

Julia: Getting to talk about these characters, and this world, we created as if they truly exist outside our imaginations. Spending hours with Autumn, dreaming about the characters, discussing their actions, their motivations, and ultimately what makes them who they are.

Your next book, Vega, releases July 25th. Can you give us a teaser from that book?

“I just wish you had talked to me before you left. Maybe we could have avoided all of this and simply skipped to the fun part.” “What’s the fun part?” “Kissing, duh.” Theo grinned.

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Book Links

Phoenix

Draco

Pyxis

Chamaeleon

Vega – Release July 25th

Author Bios

Autumn Reed

A lifelong bookworm, Autumn loves nothing more than immersing herself in a fictional tale. When she isn’t dreaming up stories about insanely attractive guys, she spends her free time browsing antique stores and fixing up her house.

To read more about Autumn Reed, visit www.autumnreed.com or www.autumnandjulia.com.

Julia Clarke

Julia Clarke writes about smart, sassy women with a strong sense of self, and the drool-worthy men who can’t resist them. Forbidden love and romance that defies expectations are her favorite stories to read and write about.

An adventurer at heart, Julia dabbles in everything from tap dance to calligraphy. When she’s not traveling with her husband or playing with her daughter, Julia is learning new recipes, hiking, sailing, or inhaling copious amounts of fine chocolate.

To read more about Julia Clarke or The Stardust Series, visit www.authorjuliaclarke.com or www.autumnandjulia.com.

Filed under: Ripley Proserpina

Released in Print by Susan Hanniford Crowley

It’s funny that Stacy and I are back to back with print releases. I am ecstatic that Vampire Princess of New York is now out in print. It’s over at Barnes and Noble.

When I went over there I almost fainted. The photo was missing. After contacting my publisher, I was assured that would be remedied. In the meantime, I have put the lovely cover over here for all to see. Readers can still buy a print copy over at Barnes and Noble.

For those that prefer ebooks, it’s at Kindle.

 For those who haven’t read it yet, here’s what a reader has to say.

A review by reader Mona Livsey on Goodreads:

“Susan Hanniford Crowley has brought us a wonderful story of modern day Vampires and the love they find and the families they create.Vampire Princess of New York (Arnhem Knights of New York) is a breathtaking tale, exquisitely written to carry you along on this amazing journey. Princess Noble finds love in one who feels undeserving, but in truth loves her more than life itself. I loved how this author combines history and the present to create such a colorful story. I would recommend this to anyone that likes Paranormal Romance, or Vampires in general. It is a wonderful collection of Vampires, Shifters and Elven Nobility, sharing and caring in a world more accepting of differences in each other. Well done.”

-Susan

Susan Hanniford Crowley, Amazon Kindle Bestselling Author of Vampire Romance

www.susanhannifordcrowley.com

Where love burns eternal and whispers in the dark!

NEW: Vampire Princess of New York, Arnhem Knights of New York, Book 2 available in Kindle!  Now in Print at Barnes and Noble.

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Vampire King of New York, Arnhem Knights of New York, Book 1 available in Kindle and Print and  Barnes and Noble Print

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Vampire in the Basement, Vampires in Manhattan, Book 4 available in Kindle.

Poseidon’s Catch (mythology romance) available in Kindle.

Mrs. Bright’s Tea Room (steampunk romance) available in Kindle.

A Vampire for Christmas,Vampires in Manhattan, Book 3 available in Kindle.

The Stormy Love Life of Laura Cordelais, Vampires in Manhattan, Book 2 available in Kindle and Print and Barnes and Noble Print

When Love , Vampires in Manhattan Book 1 available in Kindle and Print, Nook, Kobo and Smashwords.

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Filed under: A Vampire for Christmas, Max Vander Meer, Mrs. Bright's Tea Room, mythology romance, Norse, paranormal, paranormal romance, romance, romance novels, shapeshifters, steampunk romance, Susan Hanniford Crowley, The Stormy Love Life of Laura Cordelais, vampire books, Vampire David Hilliard, Vampire in the Basement, Vampire King of New York, Vampire King of New York In Print, Vampire Maximillion Vander Meer, Vampire Princess of New York, vampires, Viking, Weekly Paranormal-Scope, Writer's Life, Yule

Print, Finally by Stacy Hoff

This week, on July 11th, my latest e-release, BETTING ON LOVE IN VEGAS (Building Love #1), will be released in print! It’s even available for pre-order now. I can’t wait to receive copies from my publisher. Because I’m in my forties, and therefore a child of the print-only era, seeing my books in print is no small thrill. In fact, I dance like a crazy person each time my author copies arrive. (I dance in the basement so my kids can’t make fun of my eighties-era moves.)

This time, having a print-release is extra exciting. That’s because I just finished the draft for the third book in the “Building Love” series. This is a milestone for me—it’s the first three-book series I’ve ever written. (My “Desire” series has two books.) A three-book series is a feat I wasn’t sure I could pull off. The pressure I put on myself to accomplish a longer series was huge.

“Building Love” book #2, HOTTER IN THE CARIBBEAN, is already scheduled for release this October, 2017. “Building Love” book #3 (still untitled) is scheduled for release March, 2018. Certainly, having the draft for book #3 already complete makes me a whole lot calmer. I’d hate to mess up the release schedule my publisher set for me.

How much calmer am I now? Maybe calm enough to sneak in another book or two in the “Building Love” series! But I’m getting ahead of myself. Right now, I’ll simply celebrate having  the very first “Building Love” book, BETTING ON LOVE IN VEGAS, in print. It’ll be something tangible I can hold onto while I polish up the remaining books in the series.

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WEBSITE & SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS FOR STACY HOFF:

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/authorStacyHoff

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/authorStacyHoff

Web: http://www.stacyhoff.com

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BETTING ON LOVE IN VEGAS (BUILDING LOVE series, #1)

NOW AVAILABLE IN PRINT: http://amzn.to/2pRIKib

Kindle version: http://amzn.to/2kAgBvK

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JOCKEYING FOR YOU print version http://amzn.to/2eanq2o

JOCKEYING FOR YOU Kindle version http://amzn.to/2c8Hi5t

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DESIRE IN THE ARCTIC print version http://amzn.to/2cubwCf

DESIRE IN THE ARCTIC kindle version http://amzn.to/1KjfP9V

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DESIRE IN THE EVERGLADES print version http://amzn.to/2dXO1zV

DESIRE IN THE EVERGLADES Kindle version http://amzn.to/1YEseie

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LAWFULLY YOURS print version http://amzn.to/2e6Ug8k

LAWFULLY YOURS Kindle version http://amzn.to/1Ky5CZm

Filed under: A writer's life, printing, Publications, publishing, Stacy Hoff

Why Happily Ever After Matters by Heather Novak

You will not believe how many times I’m asked when I will “write a real book.” Somehow, in our culture, strong female characters that work hard for their HEA are considered “less than” characters who suffer to end up with a horrible future, or no future at all. Fiction is still looked down upon by people who prefer non-fiction. And romance? HA! Romance is just fluff that rots the brain (note the sarcasm here.)

But happy endings matter. They give hope. They let us see how to be better versions of ourselves when we feel like nothing matters. 

Last week, I lost a friend in her twenties in childbirth. It rocked me to my core. This is not the first friend I’ve lost, but it never gets easier. While grief manifests in different ways, there’s a terror that comes with losing someone younger than you. It is an in-your-face reminder that life is too short, unfair, and unpredictable to waste time on bad books.

My way of dealing with my grief has been to write like I have a limited number of heartbeats. To be frank, I do. I wrote 7,000 words on Tuesday because I just couldn’t stop (not that I’m complaining!). The story gets dark, as all stories do when written in a time of a broken heart, but the thing that pushes me forward is the fact that this character *will* have a happy ending.

My friend’s death, so close on the heels of my mother’s death, has changed my life and world view significantly. I find I’m gravitating toward friends and family who truly understand the value of the time they’re given, of the life they chose to live.

This is a very personal journey for me and one I’m finding my characters taking as well. I want to be the heroine of my own story.

Side note: I keep checking and double checking that my heroines aren’t standing around waiting for life to happen to them. They’re going out and making it happen. Don’t have a passive main character. Don’t be one, either. End side note.

My new life view has cost me along the way, but don’t all happily ever afters?

You need to have a lot of faith to step back, look at what is toxic or draining in your life, and find a way to fix it. That faith, for me, is reinforced by happily ever afters. 

Sure, books are just fiction. But just because they’re fiction doesn’t mean that they can’t be true. And if they can’t be true, it doesn’t mean that we can’t take the hope in those pages and wrap it around us. Every word written in that book came from the author’s heart, and that is where the beauty can be found.

Life is hard. Too hard to read books that have bitter characters with unhappy endings. Too hard to have those people surround you in real life.

My best life advice is to find people who understand the value of the life they were given and surround yourself with them. Find people who strive to be happy no matter the circumstances. Find people who believe in happily ever afters. And collect the weirdos – for they will make life unexpectedly wonderful.

 

 

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On this day in 1942 – Anne Frank and her family go into hiding in the “Secret Annexe” above her father’s office in an Amsterdam warehouse.

 

Wishing You Laughter & Good Books,[image error]

Heather Novak

Find me at:

Twitter: authorheathern

Instagram: authorheathern

Facebook: authorheathernovak

Hunting Witch Hazel: Now available

I was happy with my West Coast life – 24-hour pizza delivery and bikini-clad bodies as far as the eye could see. Now I’m in the small-ass town of  Hayvenwood  to extract a ransom to save my little brother’s life. And that ransom is locked inside of the sexiest witch I have ever met, Hazel Evanora.

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Filed under: romance

Meaningful Life

These days, my five year old inundates me with questions, most of which I can’t answer in a way that doesn’t generate more questions. As I write this blog, we are preparing for our 4th of July celebration and what started out as a question on what is independence and why we would want it has spiraled into explanations about taxes, government, all men being equal and You Tube videos of speeches by Martin Luther King Jr. and JFK to name couple.

All in all, this discussion has led to thoughts on what is meaningful in life and what is not. My husband grew up in Nicaragua during the 80s and has a very different perspective about freedom and having what is necessary to live. I grew up in what seemed like a different planet, living in a large house, going to private schools. Life wasn’t all roses once my parents divorced but admittedly I never wanted for the necessary.

Freedom and Independence are such necessary rights, such basic rights and yet in many parts of the world they are in short supply. Even more, these rights lead to many other rights we consider innate to leading a good life–our freedom to express ourselves, our right to pursue happiness for ourselves and our families.

As we pass this day that marks our country’s Independence, take time to reflect on what is meaningful to you and why. With all the chaos and distractions  of our world, it is easy to forget what matters most.

Happy writing this coming week!

Filed under: A writer's life, romance, Toni Kelly

Fireworks Paranormal-Scope & More at the End!

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In the United States with celebrating the birthday of the country, people can get carried away. Please, be safe!  Be sure to look to the end for special announcements for today!!!

While I am not qualified in any way to read neither stars nor planets, I am intimately linked to the paranormal in the world in many ways. So are you.

The paranormal-scope is for entertainment purposes only and is not meant to guide your life by.

The week for:

Aries:

A friend had gone all sparkly. Encourage this step forward for this friend. It’s a different look but at least they are not a vampire.

Taurus:

Elves know that celebrations bring a lot of people together that would not ordinarily meet. Be prepared to meet someone new and exciting. Dress the best.

Gemini:

Goblins are health conscious but avoid extreme heat. So should you.

Cancer:

Faery dust is a nuisance and sometimes requires vacuuming. It’s time for Summer Cleaning. Toss out the old and worn out.

Leo:

Shapeshifters like to change everything: house, car, job, clothes, new places to hangout. While you don’t have to change everyone, some changes will make you feel better about yourself.

Virgo:

Mermaids love a cool dip on a hot day! Remember the sun block.

Libra:

Orcs are getting grumpy at work. Smile and ask their advice on work. You will be surprises at the change in their demeanor.

Scorpio:

Faeries inspire your creativity. Indulge a new hobby. Have fun with it.

Sagittarius:

Werewolves love flower shows and gardens. Enjoy. There is so much beauty yet to explore.

Capricorn:

Hiding in the dark with the vampires may be relaxing, but you have to rejoin life soon. There are people in the daylight waiting to see you.

Aquarius:

Zombies are a mess problem. Every place they’ve been they leave a mess. Keep cleaning supplies handy.

Pisces:

Goblins count pennies. It’s time to re-evaluate your finances. You may have saved enough for a special trip.

Time for More:

Party Time and Contest (Today) July 3rd:   https://www.facebook.com/events/1867017893523028/?active_tab=discussion I will be on from 7-7:30 pm but authors will be on throughout the day starting at 10 am.

Vote for either Vampire Princess of New York or Vampire King of New York at http://uncagedbooks.com/raven-awards-voting/ under Favorite Paranormal. Sadly you can only pick one. I appreciate your vote. I’d really love to win a Raven Award.

-Susan

Susan Hanniford Crowley, Amazon Kindle Bestselling Author of Vampire Romance

www.susanhannifordcrowley.com

Where love burns eternal and whispers in the dark!

NEW: Vampire Princess of New York, Arnhem Knights of New York, Book 2 available in Kindle!  Coming soon in Print on July 4th!

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Vampire King of New York, Arnhem Knights of New York, Book 1 available in Kindle and Print and  Barnes and Noble Print

[image error] [image error]

 

 

 

 

 

Vampire in the Basement, Vampires in Manhattan, Book 4 available in Kindle.

Poseidon’s Catch (mythology romance) available in Kindle.

Mrs. Bright’s Tea Room (steampunk romance) available in Kindle.

A Vampire for Christmas,Vampires in Manhattan, Book 3 available in Kindle.

The Stormy Love Life of Laura Cordelais, Vampires in Manhattan, Book 2 available in Kindle and Print and Barnes and Noble Print

When Love , Vampires in Manhattan Book 1 available in Kindle and Print, Nook, Kobo and Smashwords.

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Filed under: A Vampire for Christmas, Max Vander Meer, Norse, paranormal, paranormal romance, romance, romance novels, Susan Hanniford Crowley, The Stormy Love Life of Laura Cordelais, vampire books, Vampire David Hilliard, Vampire King of New York, Vampire King of New York In Print, Vampire Maximillion Vander Meer, vampires, Viking, Weekly Paranormal-Scope, Yule