Lori Devoti's Blog, page 15
December 12, 2011
30 Days of Vampires: Vampires–my gateway drug
Welcome to 30 Days of Vampires 2011. Stop by every day in December for a new post on vampires and a chance to win a $100 gift card from the bookstore of your choice. (gift card must be available for Lori to purchase/send with reasonable shipping) Also watch for numerous daily prizes offered by the individual authors. (some restrictions may apply) To enter just comment! One comment per post will be counted. So stop by every day! Comments must be posted by January 3, 2012
Maria Lima is a writing geek with one foot in the real world and the other in the make-believe. Her role models include Tanya Huff, Joss Whedon, Christopher Golden and Charles de Lint amongst many others. Her love of reading began with discovering Scholastic Books in the first grade, and her love of storytelling from her father's dinnertime tales of derring-do. In this was mixed a love of both fictional and non-fictional worlds, of history and splendor, dragons and them that slayed 'em. It's no wonder that she grew up composing stories.
Find her on her website: www.marialima.com, on Facebook: www.facebook.com/marialima, on twitter: @themarialima
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Let's face it, no one (or few someones) dives head first into new waters without testing them first, right? Is the water too hot? too cold? just right? We're all Goldilocks in our own ways, putting out a hesitant toe before we take the plunge.
It's the same with genre fiction for me. Many many years ago, I stumbled across this book called Guilty Pleasures by Laurell K. Hamilton. Sounded kind of interesting. Sort of. Vampire slayer butt-kicking woman hero type name of Anita Blake. Kind of a modern day Dracula? Maybe. Several friends recommended it.
I didn't buy the book that first day as I still wasn't quite sold on the concept. It had things I liked: a strong female protagpnist, action/adventure, mystery, and well, my gateway drug…vampires. I'd gotten precious few of them over the years since I'd first stumbled upon Bram Stoker's Dracula as a kid. My book buying buddy and I would scour the scant horror shelves at our local Borders for anything new, anything that would feed our need.
I'd already devoured all of Tanya Huff's Vicky Nelson series, which punched all my vampire-loving squee buttons. Then, thank goodness, she wrote the Shadow books (a spinoff series), and I'd gleefully shell out for the hardcovers the moment they appeared on the shelves.
After horror, I'd spend another hour or so picking through the young adult shelves, as fantasy type novels often appeared there. I discovered Christopher Golden and Nancy Holder and countless others who fed the monkey on my shoulder.
I finally succumbed to Anita Blake, and far too quickly enmeshed myself in the then 8 or 9 books that Laurell had out. I was becoming impatient, inconsolable. The drug wasn't doing its job. Vampire books alone, not even the awesome ones I was reading, were doing the trick.
What else was there?
As the next couple of years passed, I began to see more and more book covers that hinted of new tastes, new temptations. They beckoned in a seductive "come hither". I began to hear the term "urban fantasy" bandied about. I discovered Buffy the Vampire Slayer on television (okay, yeah, I was late!) and, for a brief time, my need was slaked.
Then the market exploded. Urban fantasy: get your red-hot vampires here, readers. All types. Dark, broody ones. Light-hearted humorous ones. Even ones that sparkle. The sky–no, the universe–is the limit! Oh, and by the way, as long as you're here reading, how about trying our other offerings? We've got shapeshifters, werewolves, the fae–pretty much any creature your pounding heart desires. And it's all waiting for you. Right here, between the pages.
I was hooked. Every last bit of me. THIS. This is what I'd been craving. That small taste of vampire fiction had done its job. Not only did I read the books, I wrote 'em. I wanted to make my own stories, tell my own tales.
So yeah, a gateway drug? Pretty much. But then again, I suppose that could be said about all books, right?
Web site: www.marialima.com
Buy the Books:
Direct link to all the 30 Days of Vampires fun!
December 11, 2011
30 Days of Vampires: An Egyptian Vampire?
By profession, Nina Bruhns is really an archaeologist (an Egyptologist) but she has worked all kinds of jobs, from real estate to a fabric store clerk to a student counselor at the Fulbright Commission in Stockholm, Sweden. Her favorite was a work-study job in grad school (go U of C!), reorganizing the ancient Egyptian pottery at the University of Chicago's famous Oriental Institute. The pay was lousy, but holding ceramic jars actually touched by Ramses II and King Tut was awe-inspiring and unbelievably exciting.
Her novels have earned such prestigious honors as the National Readers' Choice Award, the overall Daphne du Maurier Award of Excellence in Mystery/Supense (three times), the Dorothy Parker Award (five times), and been nominated for the RITA Award (twice).
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My love of Egypt started long ago, while poring through the beautiful books my librarian mother had collected through her interest in ancient art. That love has continued for most of my life, resulting in three degrees in archaeology and Egyptology . . . along with a series of world adventures that have worked their way into my books.
Which brings me to the subject of vampires.
When I was on my first archaeological expedition to northern Sudan (which was part of Egypt in ancient times, and my area of specialty) the team stayed in a tiny village on the Nile. The rumor was that this village was frequented by more vampires than anywhere else in Africa. When heard that, you can just imagine how freaked out I was. Luckily (or maybe not?) I never actually encountered one.
Later, after giving up the life of Indiana Jones (and it really was amazing) to be a mom (equally amazing), I became a writer (how lucky can one person get?) . . . the next best thing, in my opinion. Okay, in some ways it's even better. No endless trips in planes and bumpy Land Rovers, no sandstorms, no nasty flies getting into everything, no terrorists threatening to blow up your hotel. And hey, you get to work in your jammies!
Needless to say, I was thrilled when Nocturne encouraged me to write a trilogy set in Egypt, combining the mysterious past with the fascinating present. I came up with the concept of the IMMORTAL SHEIKHS—-three very hunky shape-shifting sheikhs and three sizzling hot romances.
Then my editor suggested I make one of my sheikhs a vampire. Okay. How on earth would that work? That's when I remembered the vampire-ridden village (who could forget it!) and thought, wow, it really would be interesting to incorporate the incredibly sexy archetype of the vampire lord into the ancient Egyptian pantheon! And on top of that, layer on the seductive modern image of the desert sheikh.
Thus, the VAMPIRE SHEIKH was born!
There were not a lot of references to vampirism in Pharaonic times, but I managed to gather and shape the few mentions into a plausible addition to traditional Egyptian mythology, which I then used to build the paranormal world in the IMMORTAL SHEIKHS trilogy.
I have to admit, IMMORTAL SHEIKHS was one of my very favorite projects. I loved writing the trilogy in a way that went far deeper than just adoring the characters and losing myself in the fantasy—-though that was certainly true. Writing these books, LORD OF THE DESERT, SHADOW OF THE SHEIKH, and VAMPIRE SHEIKH, was like coming home to old (very old!) friends. Especially the last story—-featuring my one and only vampire.
The hero, Seth, is an immortal demigod, servant of the ancient god Set-Sutekh. His task is to keep the house of his god thriving—-even in today's modern world when most of the ancient deities have long since vanished and people no longer believe in them. This situation is a strangely interesting parallel to what actually happened back in Pharaonic times, during an era archaeologists call the Intermediate Period. This was a time of vast social, political, and religious upheaval and breakdown, and the literature of the times reflected the deep pessimism and uncertainty experienced by the aristocracy of the day.
The saying "Eat, drink, and be merry, for tomorrow you may die," originated from Egyptian writings of this era.
All this naturally influenced my hero, Seth. As a nobleman from the Old Kingdom, the dawn of Egyptian history, Seth has experienced the collapse and demise of civilization around him many times before. But this time it's different. This time it is his own beliefs, and his own existence, which are threatened with annihilation.
His salvation comes in a totally unexpected form—-by falling in love.
Vampire, shapeshifter, demigod, leader of men, lover of women, Seth is one of the most fascinating characters I've ever created. I even took a fun liberty . . . I made him the original author of one of the classic pieces of Egyptian literature from ancient times, called The Man Who was Tired of Life: The Conversation of a Man with His Ba (ba means a kind of soul). I figure the copyright ran out long ago, so surely no one would mind.
As always, my heroines are strong, modern-day women who are firmly based in reality and not easy to convince a whole other world exists filled with mystery, magic, and sensual pleasures. It takes the gentle persuasion of three very special men . . . .
I had an incredible time conceiving and writing the IMMORTAL SHEIKHS trilogy. I hope you'll download them and give them a try!
The books came out August and November 2010, and January 2011, and are now available for Kindle, Nook, iPad, etc.
Good reading,
Nina
Web Site: NinaBruhns.com
Buy the Books!
December 10, 2011
30 Days of Vampires: Fangs for the Chat! #Prize
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Linda Thomas-Sundstrom is a native of California, where she lives with her husband and teaches at a major California University.
Linda writes in the genres of fantasy and romance, and at the moment has two more books in the works in the paranormal romance genre. She prefers reading and writing dark historicals, with plenty of gothic-style atmosphere, but on a challenge from an editor is finding light contemporary paranormal also a kick to write.
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Hi vampire fans…
Happy to be with you today, at least in spirit, to celebrate vampires.
I've been engaged in writing about them for the last few years, first for Kensington Brava and currently for Nocturne, and loving every minute of it. So, I wanted to share some things about our favorite Night Creatures.
Did you know that if we type the word "vampire" into one of our search engines, we'll come up with a goldmine of twenty-four million web pages about vampires? Yep. That's right. Twenty-four million – including chat rooms for lonely enthusiasts wanting to reach folks (or vampires) or like mind. (Yikes!)
I found this out by reading a compendium book on vampires, and also discovered that vampires have been around, virtually spreading out through most of the entertainment industry since before there was an entertainment industry… with folk tales going back to the 1500′s. Heck, movies about vampires date back to the 1920′s. Seems we've always had this fascination with the dark side.
And the heartbeat goes on . . . So . . . Well . . .
I thought I might just drop a few names from the industry side of vampires, for fun, and include a few photos. See which of these guys you remember, and which like best, or least. Remember, everyone has a different idea of what floats their boat, so if you share your thoughts, this might a kick!
A partial list of actors playing vampires in film (in the not-too-distant past):
Bela Lugosi – 1931, and rated as the number one vampire film of all time.
Christopher Lee – starting in 1948, Lee played Dracula 17 times in his movie career.
Peter Cushing – okay, he usually played a vampire hunter, Lee's nemesis, but worthy of mention.
Gary Oldman – 1992 – Francis Ford Coppola's version of Bram Stoker's tale.
Frank Langella – 1979 – excuse me, but… YUM !!!!
John Carradine – second only to Lee in the number of times he played a vampire, starting in the 1940′s.
George Hamilton – 1979 – Love at first Bite – a fun, silly, comedy!
Willem Dafoe – 2000 – Shadow of the Vampire
Tom Cruise – 1994 – Interview with a Vampire
Brad Pit – 1994 – Interview with a Vampire
Stuart Townsend – 2002 – Queen of the Damned
Richard Roxburgh – 2004 – Van Helsing
Wesley Snipes – half human, half bloodsucker in the Blade trilogy
Gerard Butler – 2000 -Wes Craven's Dracula (all that thick dark hair!)
Jonathan Frid – 1970 – gothic soap opera – Dark Shadows
William Marshall – 1972 – Blackula
QUESTIONS for the day: (Answer below for a chance to win a download of Veronica and the Vampire!)
Who is your favorite actor as a vampire?
Least favorite?
Party with the vamp dudes . . . today . . Right here!
Oh, and for the record, my vampire books, both on the light and dark sides are as follows:
Immortal Bad Boys antho – Kensington Brava
Vampire Lover – Nocturne Bites
Golden Vampire – Nocturne
Night Born – Nocturne Bites
Veronica and the Vampire – goofy, girlie fare
Guardian of the Night – Nocturne – coming in June 2012
Christmas with a Vampire antho – coming in December 2012
The Immortal – Nocturne – TBA
Cheers for now-
Linda
Web Site: http://www.lindathomas-sundstrom.com
Facebook: http://www.Facebook.com/LindaThomasSundstrom
Buy the Books:
December 9, 2011
30 Days of Vampires: Vampire Lore and Legend
As a child, Kristi Cook took her nose out of a book only long enough to take a ballet class (or five) each week. Not much has changed since then, except she's added motherhood to the mix and enjoys penning her own novels as much as reading everybody else's. A transplanted southern gal, Kristi lives in New York City with her husband and two daughters.
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Thanks, Lori, for having me! I've always been fascinated by vampires—wait, that's not entirely true. I've been fascinated with them since I first read Anne Rice's Interview With a Vampire, way back when. I think I first read it somewhere around 1985, when the second book in the series, The Vampire Lestat, came out. I was a teenager then, and I was totally hooked after those first two books in the series. I eagerly awaited the sequels with the same urgency as modern-day readers waited for Harry Potter or Twilight or Hunger Games sequels.
The only difference was that we had to wait much longer. Forget that whole "We have to wait an entire year?" agony. Three years for The Queen of the Damned. Another four for The Tale of the Body Thief. Yes, people, this is the way that publishing used to work.
Anyway, back to Anne Rice and her vampires. I loved them. Loved the lore she created, which basically followed most of the traditional mythos (cold skin, super-human speed and strength, could be burned by the sun, etc.), while adding unique contributions, as well.
While her vampires weren't huge departures from popular mythos, they do mark a shift from the vampire-as-a-villain to the vampire-as-the-hero. I cared about Louis, the angsty, self-loathing vampire. I cared about Lestat, too–arrogant, selfish Lestat. I was fascinated by Armand, charmed by the tragic, perpetual-child vampire Claudia.
Anne Rice's vampires set the standard for me—they became the "real" vampires in my mind. I wasn't really interested in reading others. I never read LJ Smith's Vampire Diaries, and have never seen the TV show based on the books. I haven't seen Buffy or Angel or even the more recent True Blood.
So when it came time to define the vampire mythos for Haven—to define the "rules" that my vampires were going to live by—I turned to Anne Rice. I didn't re-read the Vampire Chronicles, didn't study them or anything like that. I just sort of followed my gut, going with what I remembered, and making up stuff that I didn't. I wanted to put my own stamp on the mythos, while mostly following tradition. I mean, it's kind of hard to imagine a vampire who isn't cold to the touch, who can't move faster and stealthier than humans, who doesn't feed on human blood, who doesn't hide from the sun.
Because these are the basic things we all "know" about vampires. We also know that people hunt them with stakes, and that they aren't big fans of crucifixes or garlic. It's a part of our cultural zeitgeist, even if we've never read a single book about vampires.
Which is why I'm always a little puzzled when I get accused of "ripping off" Edward Cullen because my vampires are cold or fast or eschew the sun or read minds. I always want to answer, "No, I'm really ripping off Louis de Pointe du Lac!" Louis was the most human of Rice's vampires, rejecting his immortal nature. He wants to be human again. And I'm pretty sure that he—and all of Rice's vampires, really—could read minds. He's my basis for Aidan Gray. Or, at least in my mind, the literary vampire he's most like. When my vampires start to sparkle, then you can accuse me of ripping off the Cullens.
And let's remember, folks, Louis and Lestat came before Edward. No, really. And Bram Stoker's Dracula came before Louis and Lestat. They all pretty much share the core mythos, the stuff we're all familiar with. Rice added her own touches. Meyers did, too. I can only hope I've done the same.
Web Sites: Kristi Cook | Kristi Astor
Buy the Books!
Barnes & Noble: Haven, vampire young adult novel | Erotic Romance as Kristi Astor
Amazon: Haven, vampire young adult novel 
| Historical Romance & Erotic Romance
December 8, 2011
30 Days of Vampires: Vampires in Florida? Why not? #Prize
Welcome to 30 Days of Vampires 2011. Stop by every day in December for a new post on vampires and a chance to win a $100 gift card from the bookstore of your choice. (gift card must be available for Lori to purchase/send with reasonable shipping) Also watch for numerous daily prizes offered by the individual authors. (some restrictions may apply) To enter just comment! One comment per post will be counted. So stop by every day! Comments must be posted by January 3, 2012
Bonnie Vanak lives in sunny Florida. She is the author of Egyptian historicals and paranormal romance. She has been writing since childhood, when she penned adventure stories and poems. After receiving a journalism degree from the University of Florida, Bonnie worked for several years as a journalist. She left newspaper reporting behind when she took a job writing for a large international charity. A few years ago, she discovered that she needed a diversion from the emotional strains of traveling to poor countries and encountering horrific suffering. She has been writing romance novels ever since.
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Who says a vampire can't live in sunny Florida in winter?
My editor.
When I submitted my proposal for Unwrapped, a novella that was released last year in HQN's Christmas with a Vampire anthology, I envisioned a lonely, scarred vampire named Adrian living in an oceanfront mansion in posh Palm Beach. There, six green gremlins dressed as Santa Claus give Adrian a doll that turns into Sarah, the heroine. Sarah is the werewolf he needs to restore his lost honor and return to his clan.
My editor thought the premise was great. There was one problem. She wanted the location changed because Florida and vampires seemed incongruous to winter holidays. So Adrian and Sarah ended up shivering on the rocky shores of snowy Maine.
Unwrapped was a fun story. A Christmas story with a hot, sexy vampire. But you know what? I still wanted a vampire in Florida. I live in Florida. I know there are vampires here, especially in South Beach. I may not see their fangs, but they're here, lurking in the shadows, eyeing the super models and the stylish people, thinking how nice and yummy their blood would taste after a long night of fashionable club hopping. Well, maybe not a super model. They might be too anemic. But there are lots of tasty people for vampires to graze upon in Florida.
South Florida is a smorgasbord for vampires. International cuisine! The fanged ones have a choice of American, Latin American, Asian, European, you name it. Even Chinese, though a vampire may get thirsty an hour later.
Why should vampires be limited to frozen, wintry climates?
And thus, when I agreed to write a trilogy of novellas called The Ancients for Nocturne's new, sexy Cravings line, I decided to write a vampire story set partly in South Beach.
Bitten by the Vampire is a novella about Lucian Marcello, a vampire who knows it's his destiny to claim Mara Fuller as his own. She is a Darklighter, half demon and half angel, and has sworn to destroy the man who almost killed her. If she succeeds, her demon side will take over and she will turn evil. The only way to save Mara is for Lucien to mate with her and absorb her dark powers. But though tempted by a shared erotic vision, Mara is resistant to his charms. It will take all Lucien's powers of seduction to make her surrender to his dominance and desire. For if he fails, her life will be forfeit.
Now, although Lucien DOES make his home in Michigan, he comes to South Beach to claim Mara as his mate. She's a Florida gal. He has to take pills to tolerate sunshine. When she quips that she thought vampires sparkled in the sunlight, he responds, "We haven't sparkled since the era of disco lights and mirrored balls."
Lucien likes Florida. He stays at a swanky South Beach hotel, where he plans his seduction of Mara. And to wear down her stubborn defenses about mating with him, he shows her the pleasure of sunbathing by a sparkling pool. Lucien teaches Mara to unleash her passion, using his considerable talents as a lover.
The heat between them isn't merely the burning Florida sun. Lucien craves Mara in his bed, but the sexy combination of sweet innocence and devilish passion tugs at his heart. He's in danger himself… of falling in love with her, as what happens in this scene from Bitten by the Vampire.
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"Another crack shattered his cold heart. Lucien smiled, melting at the adorable expression on her heart-shaped face. Damn, she was lovely, and sexy and so tempting. Mating her was dangerous because she had the power to unravel his cold restraint. Mara was getting to him.
"I usually bite their neck. I am a vampire," he teased.
A pulse beat wildly at the side of her long, slender throat. His fangs ached as he longed put his mouth on her, mark her by taking her blood. She'd taste hot and sweet sliding down his throat.
He toyed with a strand of her silky hair, his gaze heavy-lidded as he regarded his charge. He envisioned sinking his fangs into her soft skin as she clung naked to him, screaming as they copulated in lusty, sweaty sex on his feather mattress.
Or the floor.
Or this sofa.
Those blue eyes pierced his. "Vampires are supposed to be powerful. I've heard stories about Lucien the Ancient, who can kill with a single thought. And no one can kill him."
"No one is totally invincible."
"You seem so strong."
He felt a fragile bond of trust grow between them. "Not when I'm headless," he attempted to joke. "Or facing fire. Both can kill me. Which is why I keep the dinner knives locked up and many fire extinguishers handy."
"I'm feeling kinda hot myself. Very hot."
Mara wrapped her arms around his waist. Startled, he realized she pulled his shirttails out.
Her palms slid up his bare back. Lucien's body tightened with pleasure as she touched him.
As he sank into the yearning in her blue eyes, he only wanted to hold the moment between them, like a glass snow globe. Mara with her angelic sweetness and her demonic passion…"
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Eventually, Mara and Lucien work things out and make their home in Michigan, where they will live happily ever after. Michigan is a great state. I have good friends in Michigan. The summers are lovely and in the winter, the snow sparkles like diamonds. But you know what? I bet Mara and Lucien sneak back to Florida for winter visits.
Because vampires do love Florida. We have fun and sun. And face it, where else could a vampire find such an international feast for the palate and get in a little beach time as well?
(To find out more about Bonnie Vanak's sexy vampire and werewolf romances, visit http://www.bonnievanak.com To celebrate the holidays, she's giving away an electronic download of Bitten by The Vampire to one lucky winner. Just leave a comment on this blog to enter. Good luck!)
Web site: http://www.bonnievanak.com/
Buy the Books:
December 7, 2011
30 Days of Vampires: A Book Surprise & #Prize
Alexis Morgan has always been an avid reader, and she loves spending her days with hunky heroes and gutsy heroines. By the end of this year, she will have published twenty-five books, novellas, and short stories, including contemporary romances, American West Historicals, and Paranormal Romances. Next year will see the debut of her first venture into
fantasy romance with a series from NAL titled River of the Damned. She has been nominated for numerous industry awards, including the RITA© from the Romance Writers of America, the top award in the romance genre.
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Sometimes a new book sale comes as a complete surprise, which is always fun. Way back in the first week of March of this year, I had told my agent in an e-mail that I was meeting Janice Kay Johnson later that morning for lunch. Janice writes fabulous stories for Harlequin Super Romance, and she's the person who originally encouraged me to trying writing my own books. Without her help, I wouldn't be where I am today.
We were planning to brainstorm some new ideas for Janice over pizza and soft drinks. Just 
after we'd placed our orders, Michelle Grajkowski, my agent called me to say that we might want to linger over lunch, maybe even order dessert, since we'd need to brainstorm a new story idea for me, too.
That's how Michelle broke the news that I'd been invited to contribute a novella-length story to an anthology for HQN entitled A VAMPIRE FOR CHRISTMAS. My agent gave me the basic details and then let me get back to pizza and plotting.
Vampires aren't something I usually associate with the holidays. That didn't prevent me from immediately seeing an image in my head of a handsome vampire needing help to get into the Christmas spirit. As soon as I "saw" him, I even had the perfect title for the story: All I Want for Christmas.
In the opening scene, Eagan McHale is standing across the street from a diner. He's a vampire undercover copy, all alone in the darkness and the cold. The heroine, who owns the cozy little restaurant, loves everything about Christmas: twinkling lights, brightly wrapped packages, and mistletoe. With no family of her own, Della has surrounded herself with friends, making her diner the center of their holiday celebrations. From the minute she sees Eagan standing across the street, she realizes that perfect gift for him would be her heart.
I loved creating this stand-alone story about finding love and acceptance in the middle of the hustle and bustle of the holidays. I hope you will all enjoy reading Eagan and Della's happily-ever-after.
To celebrate her book surprise, Alexis is giving away this cute vampire Christmas ornament and a copy of A Vampire for Christmas. To enter just tell us which classic Christmas or holiday story you would most want to read/see recast with vampires.
Web site: http://www.alexismorgan.com/
Buy the Books:
December 6, 2011
30 Days of Vampires: Hot Vampire Touch & a #Prize
Aw
ard winning author, Lisa Renee Jones, has published more than fifteen novels in several different languages, spanning multiple genres of romance – contemporary, romantic suspense, dark paranormal and erotic fiction. In each book the hero is dark, dangerous, and sexy. She debuted for both, Nocturne and Blaze, on the Bookscan bestseller list. You can find Lisa on Twitter, Facebook, and her blog for regular updates. Lisa now has a Fan Page at Facebook.
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Happy Vampire Christmas!! And thanks to Lori for having me.
I am celebrating the holiday Vampire Style for sure. I just released Hot Vampire Touch and the Collection of Vampire Wardens in an anthology as well. Now, I'm working on Wicked Werewolf Night.
There was a time when I never thought I would write a vampire. I didn't even think I liked paranormal. Then an editor said, I should be writing paranormal. Then I met DH who is obsessed with the paranormal and has watched BLADE at least a 100 times. I'm not kidding. Zombies to him are like chocolate. I had never even watched Lord of the Rings until Diego. How did I let Viggo escape me! Yum…. That hair…those eyes. DH has a crush on Kate Beckingsale from Underworld. But then he introduced me to the Matrix, and Keanu Reeves became my crush. We each get our leather clad fantasy. It works for me.
So now that I am a vampire lover, how about I share a looking into Hot Vampire Touch, my newest release. One commenter will win the collection!
My newest – Hot Vampire Touch
***Cassie is handcuffed to Troy in this excerpt
She'd saved him from death, but it was clear to Cassie that she'd far from saved Troy's life. His pain, his anger, his hatred of her as a wolf, were damn near palpable. But he was here now, and he was alive, and that is what mattered. That is what she planned to make count. life. His pain, his anger, his hatred of her as a wolf, were damn near palpable. But he was here now, and he was alive, and that is what mattered. That is what she planned to make count.
Cassie turned down the volume on the radio. "Troy, I -"
He growled, and jerked her attached wrist with him as he tried to turn the music back on.
Cassie covered the knob with her free hand. "Don't even think about it," she warned, her brows knitting together as she computed the growling sound he'd just made, and how very wolf-like it had been. But that was impossible, he was a vampire. She shook off the odd thought, insisting, "We have to talk."
"We had a conversation back in the parking lot," he ground out, his tone clipped. "That's all the conversation we need to have until I say otherwise."
"You mean those few words we spoke right after you slapped a handcuff on me and before you gave me a piggy back ride? That's what you call a conversation?"
"When you need to know more, you'll know more."
"Well, consider the need to know now. I came with you willingly, Troy. I'm here because I want to be."
"Willing or unwilling," he said. "You were coming with me."
"Since when did you become the big bad caveman?"
"I reserve my caveman side for wolves."
"Well then," she said. "I guess I'll just have to dedicate my inner bitch to the vampires. Or rather – one vampire, because you're starting to tick me off."
"Next time I'll bring you flowers with the handcuffs," he said, cutting her with a crystal blue, unnatural stare that stole her breath.
"How is this possible?" she murmured. Now that she could really study him, she realized that he wasn't disguising his black eyes with contacts, as she had assumed. "Your eyes-"
"Aren't the only thing different about me. I told you that. Believe me, blue is a recent improvement. Before that, they glowed silver more times than they didn't. They were a real attention grabber, I'm sure you're sorry you missed." He whipped the truck into the parking lot of a small apartment complex only a few blocks from the strip and pulled into a parking spot. He used their joined hands to shift the truck into park and turned to her. He shoved open the door. "Let's go." He snatched the key and stepped out of the truck, dragging her with him.
Cassie slid towards him, the cloth of her skirt riding up, yet again, in the process. She slid down to the ground, trying to keep it from going to her waist with only one hand to contribute to the effort. Thanks to the chain between her and Troy, her normal wolfish grace escaped her. She fell into Troy, her hands flattening on his chest, her body pressed to his harder one.
Powerful arms wrapped her waist, and her eyes locked with his, the familiar connection they'd always shared intensely present, but there was something else familiar there as well. "I'm done being punished for something she did. I'm not her."
His eyes sharpened, so blue, so angry, they cut like crystal blades. "No," he said in a voice so soft, which was somehow more lethal. "You're far more dangerous than she ever was."
The next thing she knew, he was dragging her towards the two-story brick building, lined with sidewalks and shrubs. An elderly man came out of the first doorway they passed and gaped at the handcuffs. Troy glanced at the man, and compelled him to see something that wasn't there, "I'm just taking my groceries inside," he said, using his vampire ability to control human minds.
"I'm not your groceries," she grumbled, thankful werewolves were immune to vampire mind manipulation. She not only wanted to remember what was happening, she wanted Troy to remember the things he'd forgotten, the things that happened before the night he'd almost died. So Cassie followed Troy, even in his clearly rage-driven mood, more than willingly. She wasn't afraid of him and she didn't want to fight him. She wanted to fight the past that had made him this way, which had clearly changed him in far more ways than she'd realized.
The minute they were inside the small, bottom floor apartment, four doors down from the old man's, Troy slammed the door shut and locked it. She turned to inspect the place, only to be dragged past an absolutely bare living room free of furniture, to a tiny rectangular kitchen.
He stopped at the fridge and yanked it open, then snatched a nearly empty bag of blood from inside which he instantly tilted back and began drinking. Shock, and a fizzle of unease, slid through Cassie. In the year that she'd hunted with him she'd never seen him feed or drink blood. As in, ever. Vampires had evolved to eating human food, with blood playing the role of supplement. Or, she thought with concern, a drug to gain added strength and power that, when abused, created bloodlust. That Troy was drinking blood now, in front of her, gulping it like there was no tomorrow, and that there was a primal, out of control, unnatural edge to him, where there had always been lethal calm, had her own blood freezing.
He tossed the bag in the sink, and now his blue eyes were glowing a kind of silvery color that she'd never seen before on anyone. A chill of warning raced down her spine. He was in trouble. Big trouble, that was far worse than she had imagined possible. Or maybe she was in trouble. Maybe, she really was his groceries. Her blood was richer than that of humans, a delicacy to vampires, which had long made them targets for their rogues.
"Ah," she said finally, when he just kept staring at her. "Can I make you a sandwich for desert? Or maybe a steak served rare?" Still, he just looked at her, yellow bleeding into the silver. She clung to hope with the absence of red. "I take your silence as a 'no'." She wet her lips. His gaze followed and she felt the hunger in him, and this time it wasn't for blood. It was for her, and it wasn't the first time he'd look at her like this – okay, not exactly like this, not quite so… primitively. Her body heated, awareness rushing through her where perhaps there should have been fear, especially with the threat of bloodlust. But she was a wolf with a primal side of her own, one this man called to more than any other she'd ever known. Still, while she didn't fear him, she was afraid for him.
"What's happening to you, Troy?"
"That's the question of the year," he said, grabbing her hand beneath the cuff and headed out of the kitchen. "Let's go talk about that." Cassie grimaced at the bite of the silver on her wrist, at him tugging her around like a dog, or in this case, a wolf on a leash. She cared about Troy, but this part of their meeting was wearing on her nerves. "Is the cuff necessary?" she asked, realizing they were headed down a hallway to what she was pretty sure was the only bedroom in the place. He didn't answer. Of course he didn't. Why did she think he would answer when he clearly had grown some aversion to conversation?
A few more steps and they were in a small, dimly lit bedroom with a king sized bed and nothing but plain white sheets. She wasn't beyond admitting she'd had more than a few fantasies about his bedroom and none of them looked quite like this. The place was a dump and she wondered why. All the Wardens were paid, and paid well.
He stopped by the broken down nightstand and unlocked his cuff, his long blonde hair draping his face. She reached up and gently shoved it away from his face, and his gaze slowly lifted to hers, his eyes glowing silver, all remnants of yellow now gone. "What's happening to you?" she repeated, then rephrased. "What happened to you?"
"A wolf happened to me," he said, and then moved abruptly.
Suddenly, her hand was over her head, and her wrist was attached to the bedpost.
Web Site: http://www.lisareneejones.com/
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December 5, 2011
30 Days of Vampires: A Blood Seduction Excerpt & #Prize
Pamela Palmer graduated from Auburn University with a degree in Industrial Engineering and went to work for a major computer manufacturer. She devoured books (almost exclusively romances) and even tried writing one, but after the first exciting chapter had no idea what to do with her characters.
Pamela set aside the dream of writing for a few years, though she continued to create stories in her head. Then one night, one of those daydreams became too big to keep in her head. This time, thanks to the opening of a library down the street, she discovered a wealth of books on plotting and character development and realized she could learn how to turn scenes into books and craft entire stories. The process was neither fast nor easy, encompassing four manuscripts, half a dozen partials, and eleven years of hard work before she sold her first book. Her very first book finaled for Romance Writers of America's most prestigious award for unpublished writers, the Golden Heart. Each of her subsequent books also became a Golden Heart finalist, the third winning the award outright. The fourth, through the Golden Heart, sold.
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I love vampires. But, I have to admit, I didn't always. For years, I steered cleared of anything that even hinted of 'horror'. I loved time travels, sci-fi, and fantasy, but horror worried me. Strong imaginations can be a double-edged sword and scary movies sometimes kept me awake for days. I didn't realize that horror didn't have to mean Freddy Krueger. Then a good friend of mine started hounding me to try Buffy. I did, and absolutely fell in love with the horror side of paranormal. (And with Spike.) Now I can't get enough.
When I started writing, I headed in a slightly different (though still paranormal) direction. My first published series, the Esri, is about evil elves and the humans who fight to keep them from enslaving the human race. From there I began writing shape-shifters and my bestselling Feral Warriors series was born. Book #6, ECSTASY UNTAMED, just came out last month. But I'd never written vampires…until now.
A Blood Seduction, book 1 in my Vamp City series, is still some months from hitting store shelves (it'll be out the end of May), but I couldn't resist Lori's invitation to participate in her 30 Days of Vampires event. So I'm going to share an excerpt with you, a very early sneak peek. Ask a question or leave a comment and you'll be entered to win a signed copy of the first book in my Feral Warriors shape-shifter series, Desire Untamed.
A Blood Seduction (an excerpt from chapter 2):
In the distance, another scream slashed the unnatural silence, this one female.
Zack flinched. "Lily."
Quinn grabbed his arm. "No. The voice was too deep." But it was clear there were dangers in this place they didn't want to stumble upon. "I think we'd better find someplace to hide until we figure out what's going on."
She glanced at the crumbling White House. Was it stable enough to walk into if they dodged the puddles?
"Do you hear that?" Zack whispered.
Quinn stilled, stiffening at the sound of a horse and carriage. The one she'd seen from her apartment window? Perspiration broke out on the back of her neck. Maybe whoever was in that carriage would help them. But her gut instinct screamed hide. The decision was taken out of her hands as the carriage drove into sight on the cross street a block up and they were left standing squarely in the open. This conveyance was slightly larger than the one she'd seen in her vision and even in the low light she could tell the couple driving it were dressed as if they'd stepped off the sound stage of Gone with the Wind.
Did this mean they were in the past, or some post-apocalyptic version of it?
"Whoa." The carriage pulled up in the middle of the street half a block away.
"Should we run?" Zack asked.
"One of them is a woman. Maybe they'll help us." As Quinn watched, the couple alighted from the carriage with a strange ease, even the woman, as if all that voluminous material weighed nothing at all. And then suddenly they were gone.
"What the…?" Zack exclaimed.
Quinn's heart missed a beat, then took off in a crazy flight, nearly stopping altogether when, seconds later, the pair materialized directly in front of them, not ten feet away. No way in hell had a woman in a full Scarlett O'Hara skirt run faster than the eye could follow down a dirt road.
Her head pounded. Her instincts continued to scream, Run! even as her logical mind knew there would be no outrunning this pair. There would be no escape.
She faced them squarely, lifting her chin. Both were young and attractive, the woman as blonde as Quinn herself, but far more beautiful, her ringlets swept up beneath an elaborate hat, the bodice of her fancy dress cut dangerously low. A deep breath and she'd be showing nipple.
Her companion was a good fit for her—young and handsome and dressed like Abraham Lincoln. But his smile as he stared at them was as oily as a mechanic's rag, setting off all Quinn's creep alarms. What in the hell kind of world was this?
Zack sucked in a breath. "This isn't good."
"You think?"
The rev of an engine broke the ominous silence. She glanced behind her, praying her own world had decided to make a reappearance, but no. Nothing had changed.
"And where did you come from?" the woman asked, her tone more delighted than curious.
Quinn took a step forward, placing herself between them and her brother. Zack's hands gripped her shoulders from behind as if he meant to pull her behind him at the first sign of trouble. As if he was too much of a man to let his big sister protect him any longer.
"What is this place?" she demanded.
The man's smile widened. "You don't know?"
"They must have entered through the last sunbeam." The woman stepped away from her companion, eyeing Zack hungrily.
It had been years since Quinn had practiced martial arts, but she still remembered a thing or two. Which might be helpful against opponents who weren't so damned fast. "Stay back," Quinn warned shrugging away Zack's hands as she went into her fighting stance, her right leg back, her hands forming fists in front of her.
"And why would I step back, sweet one?" The man smiled, his incisors looking more like fangs than teeth. "I've just found dinner."
Quinn gaped. Those fangs were growing.
"No effing way." Zack's tone sounded more awestruck than horrified. "Vampires."
Quinn scowled. "That's ridiculous."
The man chuckled, his eyes changing, the black pupils turning a milky, startling white as those fangs lengthened, thickened. Sharpened. "Is it?"
The woman lunged first, though lunged wasn't the right word. She flew at Zack. By the time Quinn could move, they were on the sidewalk six feet away, the woman straddling him as she struck, burying her own fangs deep into Zack's neck. She'd kill him!
Quinn roared. But before she could even take a full step toward them, the man was on her, whirling her around as if she weighed nothing, slamming her back against him, his arms pinning her to him like bands of steel. She fought against his hold, kicking back, slamming her head back, but he avoided every blow.
And suddenly she felt the stab in the side of her neck. Fangs. Pain. This was not happening! There was no such thing as vampires, no such thing as alternate universes.
No.
Such.
Thing.
She tried to fight, but couldn't budge. He was drinking from her. Drinking! She could feel the rush of blood through her veins and into his mouth and it felt…nice. God. This was all so wrong!
Movement caught her eye and she watched as Zack's attacker lifted her head, staring at Zack, then rose gracefully to her feet.
Zack followed, his eyes unfocused, clearly stunned. The kid was in shock.
"Zack," she cried out.
A strange lassitude began to flow through her body, leeching the fight out of her. Making her sleepy.
A car engine penetrated her deepening lethargy and she wondered briefly if the yellow Jeep she'd seen in her vision lived in this world, too.
"Frederick? We need to go." The woman wiped her bloody mouth on a black handkerchief. "You're going to drain her, sugar."
The man only made a sound of enjoyment against Quinn's throat.
Quinn's eyes drifted closed.
"Let her go," a man's voice said. Not the oily one's. "You do not wish to kill her."
But the vampire continued to drink.
"You wish to let her go," the man said, his voice calm, almost hypnotic.
And suddenly she was free, sinking to the ground, crumpling onto the hard sidewalk.
"She's mine!" said the oily one. "I found her."
She heard the sound of a scuffle, a shout of pain, then the clink of horse tackle and the fast clip-clop of a retreating carriage.
Then silence.
Arms scooped her up, lifting her as if she weighed nothing. Her mind screamed fight, but her body refused to answer. With effort, she forced her eyelids open and stared up at the man who held her. Not the one who'd attacked her. A little older, maybe. Not oily. A nice face.
"Zack?" The name barely formed on her lips.
"Your companion is gone."
"Dead?" She stopped breathing, her vision narrowing dangerously.
"Taken."
A flash of yellow caught in her peripheral vision and then she felt herself dropped bonelessly into the front passenger seat of a vehicle. The Jeep. She struggled without success to sit up. She couldn't even find the energy to reach for the door latch. "Have…to find him. Have to…escape."
"There's no escaping V.C., cara."
She tried to look at him, but couldn't manage to turn her head. "V…C.?"
"Washington, V.C.," he replied. "Vamp City. Your new home."
*********
Web site: http://www.pamelapalmer.net/
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December 4, 2011
30 Days of Vampires: Vampires as Villains
Jane Toombs, born in California, raised in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, has returned "home" to live in the beautiful Upper Peninsula on the shore of Lake Superior–with the Viking from her past. Jane has five children, two stepchildren, seven grandchildren, a calico cat named Kinko and two computers.
She's the author of over eighty published books, both in paper and electronic. These include the various romance genres–gothic, suspense, contemporary, historical, Regency and paranormal–as well as other genres such as mystery, fantasy and horror. Jane has used pseudonyms–Ellen Jamison, Diana Stuart, Olivia Sumner–but is now writing under her own name except for her Zebra/Pinnacle romances for which she uses Jane Anderson.
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Yes, I'm one of "those." No, not a villainous vampire, but an author whose vampires are never heroes because they're dead. Don't try to confuse me with undead. To me, dead is dead. Perhaps because I'm a nurse, who knows? So if they're dead and up walking (or flying ) around, they have to be a villain in any of my books.
Even though I write a lot in the paranormal genre, I have yet to make a vampire a hero. Although in one of my Witch Series books–that I haven't started writing, yet–one of my witches is trying to help a vampire whose only wish is to die–only not painfully with a stake in his heart. So possibly he could be classified as a hero.
I have never felt any desire to have a dead person suck blood from one of the veins in my neck. No matter how erotic some books make it out to be, my reaction is–ugh. I definitely am not putting down any reader who loves this idea–it's just not a turn-on for me.
I have tried to read some vampire-as-hero books just to understand what about a vampire could make him a hero, I did finish several that were very well written. But never once did I bond with the heroine, because I couldn't. Which was not the author's fault because she was writing for those who do like vampires as heroes. Again, I have no quarrel with either readers or writers of this genre because I understands it's just me.
In my vampire-as-villain books I have created some really vicious vampires–some in the Dracula mode–suave and appealing. Some more like Nosferatu who would never appeal to any living women as sexy. If you haven't seen the movie by that name, you should. Even as an adult I found it scary.
I happened to see the original Dracula with Bela Lugosi when I was quite young and loved it, even if scared me. What an elegant vampire, cape and all, yet still exuding evil.
I have used vampires in my book, but can't easily remember where or what book. One time I recall was in Moonrunner Three, Dark Sunrise. I looked it up and it was in Chapter Eighteen. This vampire had an agenda–to kill the woman who'd accidentally forced him to become one. Plus anyone who stood in his way–in this case a young boy. Another I remember was in Turquoise Twilight, a Jewels of the Quill novella and one of the stories in my North Of Nonesuch collection. This was a vampire who's first choice was random, but when the victim survived, he deliberately set out to kill him–and the woman who'd saved the man's' life. .
Another I recall was a Shadows I did for Silhouette–The Abandoned Bride. This villain was a very dangerous psychic vampire, who took the soul as well as the life of his victims. Had a lot of fun writing that book.
Sometimes, as Jacqueline Lichtenberg, has done, the vampire can be portrayed as an alien from elsewhere. In another series she split an alien species into two parts–the taker and the provider, who needed each other, so neither one was either victim or villain. I enjoyed those books.
So, though I have trouble seeing the vampire as hero, I certainly agree that the vampire has a universal appeal no matter how he or she is portrayed.
Web site: http://www.janetoombs.com/
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December 3, 2011
30 Days of Vampires– Vampires: What's the Fascination? Excerpt & Free Story!
Jackie Iv
ie was born and raised in a suburb outside Utah's capital, beautiful Salt Lake City. The second in a family of four daughters and one son, Jackie was constantly amusing her siblings with her invented games, escapades, and stories. And she was always reading. She would even walk the family dog, with one hand holding the leash, while the other held the ever-present book.
In 2001, Jackie and her family took a huge step and moved to the largest state of the nation; Alaska. Although it was her job that brought her here, Jackie has grown to love this land of amazing contrasts, breathtaking vistas, and the ever-present resident, the Alaskan moose. There's nothing else like it, and the very long days of summer lend themselves to hours and hours of energizing tasks, while the long winter nights are just right for her real love…writing.
Visit her web site at: www.JackieIvie.com
Keep Reading for an Excerpt from Jackie's new vampire romance series, Vampire Assassin League and a coupon code for a free copy!
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"VAL headquarters."
"Is this the Vampire Assassin League?"
"Possibly. Who's asking please?"
"Stephanie. Stephanie Bowker."
"You have 69 seconds, Miss Bowker."
"Before what?"
"This conversation ends, and tracing efforts with it."
"But I have permission to use this number!"
"Then I suggest you use it."
"Are you Akron?"
"Potentially."
"The leader?"
"You have 55 seconds left now."
"I need to ask some questions, and you're making it difficult."
"I stand ready to answer while you waste time."
"You're a vampire, right?"
"Feasibly."
"I'm really getting annoyed with you, Mr. Akron."
"I am not the one who called, Miss Bowker. You now have 42 seconds. Your next question?"
"OK. Let's just assume – for my article – that you're a vampire. And you run an organization of vampires, and they're assassins, and they kill people and drink blood…"
"30 seconds."
"I can't do an interview like this!"
"An interview? I don't recall agreeing to such a thing."
"Let's just say you did and get to the heart of the matter."
"With pleasure. Hearts are my speciality. What do you wish to know? You do have 22 seconds left."
"Why are vampires so…sexy? So dangerous, and intriguing? So fascinating? Why? Can you just answer me that one question?"
"That one is easy, Miss Bowker."
"Yes?"
"Vampires belong to a world the living cannot enter; a realm they can only glimpse; an existence they can only imagine."
"Sum it up in one word. Can you do that?"
"One word? To describe us?"
"I've still got five seconds or so, don't I?"
"Good-bye, Miss Bowker. And good luck. You should check your locks tonight. The one on your basement window is loose."
And the line went dead.
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Hi! Jackie Ivie here. Author of the Vampire Assassin League series. I'm currently at work on my fifth novella; this time focusing on one of the hunters, rather than the hunted. I absolutely love writing vampires. That was a complete surprise. I'm a historical romance writer. Why…if anyone had told me that I'd write a short little paranormal, fall in love with the genre, and have it grow into a series, I'd have laughed. But the laugh would've been on me. I've never had such fun with fiction. I tried to figure out why, and I have to admit. I've got the same quandary as Miss Bowker in my phone call above. What makes a vampire so darn fascinating?
I tried to break it down. I did. For one thing, they're sexy. My vampires have got that going for them in spades. They're confident, smart, fit, capable. Charming. Exquisite lovers and dangerous foes.
Swoon-causing. A side-long look can create shivers while one touch guarantees it. They're more than sexy. They're masters.
Then, there's the blood angle. The slide of a tongue along an artery. The skim of lips on flesh; finding an erogenous zone; stimulating sensitive tissues… What can I say? My vampires have a primal sensuality, and know exactly how to find a sensitive area; that erratic pulse that just tempts a taste.
Then I add in the historical angle. I'm a huge history nut and vampires have lived any part of it I envision. I mean, it's the perfect life! Gliding in a gondola in Venice and attending carnival; running the stone corridors of a castle while under attack; dancing at a debut ball during the Regency period; attending a masked ball in the court of King Louis the XIV of France; accompanying a wagon train going across the prairie… There's so much history out there, and my vampires lived it!
Then, there's that immortal part. Vampires never die. They never get sick. They're forever young and vibrant. That doesn't mean the can't get hurt. Wounded. Pained. And nothing can injure my vampires more than their mates. That just makes it perfect when they get their HEA.
Ah. Vampires. I haven't answered Miss Bowker's question. I don't think I can. There's no one word to what makes a vampire so fascinating. Is there?
Want to try one of Jackie's Vampire Assassin League stories for free? Download the first, Knight after Night, right now completely for free. Just visit the Knight after Night Smashwords's page and enter coupon code YC47M for your copy, available in all major formats including PDF. (coupon expires December 31, 2011)
Web site: www.JackieIvie.com
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