Guest: Rosemary Laurey

Welcome Rosemary Laurey to our little corner of the web today.  She's not always Rosemary, though, because she also writes the Brytewood vampire series as Georgia Evans.  She's got a copy of BLOODY AWFUL to give away to one lucky commenter!

WHY VAMPIRES?

That’s a question I get asked a good deal, No doubt from people wondering why a mind-mannered grandmother spends her days writing about the blood sucking undead. One often gets asked, too, What’s the appeal? Why are so many readers and moviegoers (and writers, of course) drawn to vampires?

Speaking for myself, the vampire first chose me, unexpectedly announcing around about chapter five, that he was actually Kit Marlowe, and not dead as had been supposed for 400 years.  After that, the undead sucked me in (forgive the pun, it just came out, these things happen). Whether heroes, heroines or villains, - they never seem to have walk on parts-  vampires are fun to write and add a diension to the story that mere mortals couldn’t possibly manage.

In my WW2 set  ‘Bloody’ Series,  (See www.brytewood.co.uk ) I wrote the vamps as villains. Of course from their point of view, they are heroes fighting nobly for a cause, aided and abetted by the German High Command.  The Others of Brytewood -being on the receiving end so to speak- see the whole scheme of things very differently and one by one, with a few casualties, deaths and close calls along the way, they eliminate the enemy.  As villains, the vampires  had to be eliminated but while they wreaked havoc among the Surrey hills, they added interest and tension to the books.  In fact without them and their mission of sabotage and subversion, there wouldn’t have been much of a story.  

In my Rosemary Laurey books, ( See www.rosemarylaurey.com) my vamps are romantic heroes and heroines. Very different and remarkably odd, if you think about it. Vampires as villains pretty much fits the notion of a bloodsucker preying on the living but the metamorphosis from horrific figure to romantic hero is an incredible leap. Or is it? He fits many of the parameters of the genre. He’s the ultimate dark and dangerous hero. Messing around with a vampire you are playing with the ultimate risk. He might be good in bed but his kiss could kill. Plus, no matter how desperate your mother might be to see you settled for life, she would not want you bringing a dead man home for Sunday lunch. Then there is the fantastic sex (although, strictly speaking, aren’t we skirting around necrophilia here?). On the other hand, by the time a man is a few hundred years old or more, he’s no doubt learned a thing or two and with a vampire’s stamina, he won’t fall asleep afterwards.

I’ve also written a few vampire short stories and novellas.  One, Turkish Delight,  is out from Elloras Cave on December 18th. In this novella, my vampire is a female secret agent. Being a vampire rather gives her an edge against the bad guys. And being an Elloras Cave story, there's some nice, steamy sex as well.

Details of the other stories,  set in varied worlds and times, can be found on my Rosemary Laurey web site.

We interrupt this Vampire...

...for a foray into the beasties that howl at the moon and make us shiver (both with fear and desire).  I know, how dare VampChix talk anything but vamps?  Well, I'm going to guess that if you love vampires you, at the very least, may like werewolves.  Check the poll to the right—werewolves are winning.  And since a certain movie is drawing more attention to the hairy dudes lately, I wanted to dedicate this day to them.

My first experience with a werewolf was the movie AN AMERICAN WEREWOLF IN LONDON.  I think it was my first horror movie ever.  (If you don't count the furless bear oddity called Prophecy.)  While an excellent movie, this one freaked me out.  While it was probably an amazing example of what can be done to illustrate shapeshifters on film, it just scared the crap out of me.  Werewolves were not nice things.  They were vicious, blood-hungry creatures.  I didn't see another werewolf movie for over a decade.  And that one was a weird little sleeper of a romance...

MAD AT THE MOON starred Mary Stuart Masterson as one of those western chicks who lives on the range and wears prairie skirts and is very proper.  Until a sexy gunslinger shows up and sweeps her off her feet.  Only thing is he disappears every full moon.  I don't recall if the movie ever actually showed the hero all wolfed-out, but it was suspenseful in a gushy romantic kind of way.  Okay, so maybe werewolves weren't that bad.

My next media experience with werewolfery was the odd Canadian television series for kids, BIG WOLF ON CAMPUS.  Dorky and shamelessly cheesy, it laughed at itself.  I actually liked Merton, the goth-wannabe/werewolf's geeky friend the best.

I know!  Look at that picture.  The makeup for the werewolf (who is a high school football star when not howling at the moon) was uber-goofy.  But it didn't matter.  The show was just lots of laughs.  I wish this one was out on DVD.  I would be first in line for it.


So yeah, werewolves can be fun, as well as dangerous.  Take a look at the paranormal romance genre.  The vampire used to be king, but watch out, werewolves are sneaking up on the fanged ones.  Why do women like to read stories with a werewolf as hero?  Or even vampires, for that matter.  This is my theory.  Vampires offer the surrender fantasy.  Will she surrender to him and let him bite her?  Werewolves offer the safety fantasy.  The werewolves of romantic fiction tend to be family men, fiercely protective of their pack and what is their own.  Their own, is the heroine.  Also, there's the 'taming the beast' fantasy, which works with both weres and vamps.

One of my favorite werewolves is Lucien from Underworld.  In the first movie he came off as the villain, until...(no spoilers; but if you've seen the movie, you know how nicely done Lucien's heroic arc was handled).  I was especially pleased he got his own movie in the recent Underworld III.  I have my fingers crossed the movie makers will have the desire to fill in the space from the time Lucien was freed from his slavery to modern times where the first movie began.  When did he make the bargain with Kraven?  How did that all go down?  Make that movie fast before Michael Sheen gets too old to play the part!


There are so many awesome werewolves, both on the silver screen and in books.  Let's chat wolves today!  Which ones are your favorites? 

Movie Quotes: Twilight

As you already know, Twilight is everywhere right now. I'm not the biggest fan of the movie or the book, mostly because they are aimed at a much younger crowd, but even I can see that they have changed how people view vampires. People seem very divided about the Twilight craze- love it or hate it, but not much in between. It has been a long while since I watched the movie so I thought I'd give it another shot and find some quotable lines. Here are my favorites:

Bella: How old are you?
Edward: Seventeen.
Bella: How long have you been seventeen?
Edward: A while.

Bella: Are you going to tell me how you stopped the van?
Edward: Yeah. Um... I had an adrenaline rush. It's very common. You can Google it.

Edward: What did you expect? Coffins and dungeons and moats?
Bella: No, not the moats.
Edward: Not the moats.


Edward: And so the lion fell in love with the lamb.
Bella: What a stupid lamb.
Edward: What a sick, masochistic lion

Bella: You know, your mood swings are kinda giving me whiplash.

Bella: Look, You gotta give me some answers.
Edward: Yes. No. To get to the other side. Uh, 1.77245...
Bella: I don't need to know what the square root of pi is.
Edward: You knew that?

Bella: So what you... you read minds?
Edward: I can read every mind in this room apart from yours. There's... Money. Sex. Money. Sex. Cat... And then you, nothing. That's very frustrating.
Bella: Is there something wrong with me?
Edward: See... I tell you I can read minds and you think there's something wrong with you?

What are your favorite lines from Twilight?

J.R. Ward's Black Dagger Brotherhood

I love this series. Right from the first book I fell in love with J.R. Ward's voice, actually the voice of the Brothers. Strong, alpha, with a bit of humor thrown in. She gets the rough and varying style of men and conveys it on the page in a way few female writers have been able to do. Right down to the hard edged music, the attitude and the stubborn male mind. It works. Yet she also shows the vulnerability. Which really appeals to the female readers- such strong, big males with fears and emotions they are afraid to share. Love it. Wait, I said that already didn't I?

I fell in love with Wrath in the first book and have been falling for most of the Brothers since. I have my favorites. For some reason Butch and V really do it for me- and I am do not into M/M stuff but something about them together is sexy because it's not sex, not sexual, it surpasses all that. And for the record for those who have not read this series yet, no Butch and V are not lovers, they've never even had a "real" sexual encounter. But they have this bond that is interesting...to say the least.

One of the great things about J.R. Ward's vampires is that they are a very unique breed. Completely different than any other vampire book or series that I have read. For one her vampires are born that way and they start out small and weak and transition into larger, stronger beings late in puberty/early adulthood. They are an entirely different race, separate of human beings. Even their insides are different as we discover when Doc Jane takes a look at Wrath's brain via a scan to see if his blindness was caused by something physical inside his head.

Another thing that is very unique is that Ward's vampires don't drink human blood. They only feed off each other, almost always the opposite sex and usually from their mate. They need to feed off each other to kept their strength up but they also eat food and sleep like regular humans.

This series is really something fabulous. I was quickly addicted. If you haven't had a chance to check out this series I highly recommend it.

I am waiting (impatiently) for the next book to come out at the

end of April of 2010- Lover Mine.

Each book features a different brother, or another character close to the brotherhood.

Want to know more about these books?

Dark Lover is the first book of the series- the book about the blind king Wrath. This book will hook you on the series.

In the shadows of the night in Caldwell, New York, there's a deadly turf war going on between vampires and their slayers. There exists a secret band of brothers like no other-six vampire warriors, defenders of their race. Yet none of them relishes killing more than Wrath, the leader of The Black Dagger Brotherhood.

The only purebred vampire left on earth, Wrath has a score to settle with the slayers who murdered his parents centuries ago. But, when one of his most trusted fighters is killed-leaving his half-breed daughter unaware of his existence or her fate-Wrath must usher her into the world of the undead-a world of sensuality beyond her wildest dreams.

The second book is Lover Eternal, Rhage's story.

Within the brotherhood, Rhage is the vampire with the strongest appetite. He's the best fighter, the quickest to act on his impulses, and the most voracious lover-for inside him burns a ferocious curse cast by the Scribe Virgin.

Possessed by this dark side, Rhage fears the times when his inner dragon is unleashed, making him a danger to everyone around him. When Mary Luce is unwittingly thrown into the vampire world, she must rely on Rhage's protection. Knowing that Mary feels the same intense animal attraction, Rhage must make her his alone...

The third book is Lover Awakened, Zsadist's story.

A former blood slave, the vampire Zsadist still bears the scars from a past filled with suffering and humiliation. Renowned for his unquenchable fury and sinister deeds, he is a savage feared by humans and vampires alike. Anger is his only companion, and terror is his only passion—until he rescues a beautiful aristocrat from the evil Lessening Society.

Bella is instantly entranced by the seething power Zsadist possesses. But even as their desire for one another begins to overtake them both, Zsadist’s thirst for vengeance against Bella’s tormentors drives him to the brink of madness. Now, Bella must help her lover overcome the wounds of his tortured past, and find a future with her…

The fourth book is Lover Revealed, Butch's story and one of my favorites.

Butch O'Neal is a fighter by nature. A hard living, ex-homicide cop, he's the only human ever to be allowed in the inner circle of the Black Dagger Brotherhood. And he wants to go even deeper into the vampire world- to engage in the turf war with the lessers. He's got nothing to lose. His heart belongs to a female vampire, an aristocratic beauty who's way out of his league. If he can't have her, then at least he can fight side by side with the Brothers...

Fate curses him with the very thing he wants. When Butch sacrifices himself to save a civilian vampire from the slayers, he falls prey to the darkest force in the war. Left for dead, found by a miracle, the Brotherhood calls on Marissa to bring him back, though even her love may not be enough to save him...

Book Five is Lover Unbound, Vishous' story, another one of my favorites.

Ruthless and brilliant, Vishous son of the Bloodletter possesses a destructive curse and a frightening ability to see the future. As a pretrans growing up in his father's war camp, he was tormented and abused. As a member of the Brotherhood, he has no interest in love or emotion, only the battle with the Lessening Society. But when a mortal injury puts him in the care of a human surgeon, Dr. Jane Whitcomb compels him to reveal his inner pain and taste true pleasure for the first time- until a destiny he didn't choose takes him into a future that cannot include her.

Read my review of Lover Unbound here.

Book Six, Lover Enshrined, is Phury's story. He is not one of my favorite brothers though this was still a fabulous book.

Fiercely loyal to the Black Dagger Brotherhood, Phury has sacrificed himself for the good of the race, becoming the male responsible for keeping the Brotherhood's bloodlines alive. As Primale of the Chosen, he is to father the sons and daughters who will ensure that the traditions of the race survive and that there are warriors to fight those who want all vampires extinguished.

As his first mate, the Chosen Cormia wants to win not only his body but his heart for herself- she sees the emotionally scarred male behind all his noble responsibility. But while the war with the Lessening Society grows more grim, and tragedy looms over the Brotherhood's mansion, Phury must decide between duty and love.

Read my review of Lover Enshrined here.

Book seven is Lover Avenged, Rehvenge's book.

Caldwell, NY, has long been the battleground for the battleground for the vampires and their enemies, the Lessening Society. It’s also where Rehvenge has staked out his turf as a drug lord and notorious nightclub that caters to the rich and heavily armed. His shadowy reputation is exactly why he’s approached to kill Wrath, the Blind King, and leader of the Brotherhood. Rehvenge has always kept his distance from the Brotherhood, even though his sister is married to a member. Because he’s a sympath, his identity is a deadly secret- the revelation of which will result in his banishment to a colony for sociopaths. And as plots within and outside the Brotherhood take their toll against Rehvenge, he turns to the only source of light in a darkening world- Elhena, a vampire untouched by the corruption that has its hold on him- and the only thing standing between him and eternal destruction.

Read my review of Lover Avenged here.

Coming in April 2010 is Lover Mine.

And if you want the inside scoop on the Black Dagger Brotherhood make sure to check out the Insider's Guide.

Prepare to enter the dark passionate world of The Black Dagger Brotherhood and get up close and personal with each one of the Brothers…

You’ll find insider information on the Brotherhood, their dossiers, stats and special gifts. You’ll read interviews with your favorite characters, including a heartbreaking one with Tohrment and Wellsie, conducted three weeks before she was killed by lessers. You’ll encounter deleted scenes—accompanied by the whys behind the cuts—in addition to exciting material from the J.R. Ward message boards and the answers to questions posed by readers about the series. You’ll learn what it’s like for J.R. Ward to write each installment of the series, and in a fascinating twist, you’ll read an interview with the author—conducted by the Brothers. For the first time ever, you’ll get an original short story about Zsadist and Bella and see the miracle of their daughter Nalla's birth and the depth of their love for each other. Also, you’ll get a sneak peek at the much anticipated next book in the Black Dagger Brotherhood series, Revenge’s story.

This is a compendium no Black Dagger Brotherhood fan should miss…and an insider’s guide that will seduce you as powerfully as the sexy band of Brothers and the “ferociously popular” world they live in…

And if you want to catch up on your BDB reading or give these books as a gift- check out the box set which contains the first 6 books in the series.

Hot Blood: YA Vampires

by Shauna Leigh Kemp

With the New Moon movie out this month, the second book in the Twilight saga by Stephenie Meyer, one doesn’t have to look far to see that Twilight has had a major impact on society.  As a Young Adult series, it has reached teenagers and adult audiences everywhere.  It has introduced vampires to some who had never even held a vampire book and has rekindled die-hard vampire lovers with a new twist.  Twilight has even sparked interest and inspiration among writers.  More and more vampire YA series have been coming out since the Twilight Saga.  Some were already here and have gained a new generation of YA vampire lovers.  The question is what are some of these differences between Twilight and other YA Vampires series?  Some of which are the Vampire Diaries, Vampire Kisses and the House of Night series (just to name a few).  What vampire-y details are similar, different, and paranormally unique in young adult (YA) vampire series.  How do they vamp up in comparison with Twilight? 

Twilight (2005)

Sparkly vampire Edward Cullen falls in love with accident prone human girl Bella Swan at first scent.  The Cullen family vampires only drink the blood of animals, but her scent draws him in like no other human.  And she is drawn to him unaffected by the warning signs that kept most humans a safe distance away from the vampires.  The Cullen vampires each have special abilities.  Edward can read minds except for Bella’s, which he finds this extremely frustrating as he finds himself wanting to know more and at the same time is drawn to her blood.  Edward struggles with staying and leaving for her safety and that of his family being revealed.  Ultimately he stays and learns to be closer to her scent.  She wants to know him more too, making it harder and harder for him to stay away.  The series is a love story between a vampire and a human and the odds they face.  The Cullen family vampires value human life and do not feed from it.  They can be out during the day, but not in direct sunlight because they sparkle like diamonds.  They are strong, fast, cold, stone bodies that are frozen in the age that they were turned into vampires (by another vampire bite).  They don’t eat other than animal blood, they don’t sleep, and they are extremely hard to kill.  Each of the vampires in Twilight, good or bad usually has a different strength or ability such as mood control, visions, mind reading, compassion, fighting strength and so on.  The Cullens live among society, but not without notice and have to move from time to time to stay their appropriate ages.  The day Edward and Bella met everything changed, for both their lives.  It is a modern day yet classic love story with a vampire twists.  Each book of the saga is fashioned after a different classic love story such as Romeo and Juliet is for New Moon.  Twilight has become a modern day vampire classic love story.    

 Vampire Kisses (2003)

The Vampire Kisses series is an adorable series of books by Ellen Schreiber that has come out before and since Twilight.  They tend towards the younger of the YA books, but are enjoyable by all.  Goth Girl Raven falls in love with a vampire named Alexander Sterling.  Raven always dreamed of being a vampire when other girls were dressing in pink she was in black.  So, when they met, it was pretty much love at first sight.  Together they face dealing with the ancient vampire world Alexander is from and the modern world that Raven lives in; both seemingly wanting to live in each others world.  Both Alexander and Raven share a love of cemeteries.  And in Alexander’s world they are sacred ground that if bit by a vampire on them they would become bound mates for life.  Something that Raven looks forward too, but not Alexander.  The vampire characteristics differ quite a bit from some of the other modern vampire series.  Vampire Alexander sleeps in a coffin during the day while Raven is at school, wishing she were there with him.  He lives in a creaky old mansion and stays up all night painting while Raven sleeps.  He is quite dreamy really.  He and the other vampires cannot be seen in mirrors or photos, cannot be in bright lights even at night, can morph into bats while keeping their human colored eyes.  The most inconvenient of all is that they are deathly allergic to garlic (classic!) so much so that they have an epipen available (hopefully or they could die!) if they even inhale enough of it.  And, they ever so nicely don’t eat people, just really rare meat and have connections in high places at blood banks when necessary.  The Vampire Kisses series is a refreshing blend of old myths given a modern spin and an adventurous vampire love story.  There is also a Manga series to go along with them for those who want more of Alexander (and Raven)!

Vampire Diaries (1999-reissue)

The original Vampire Diaries books by L.J. Smith came out over a decade before Twilight’s existence.  Since then, Twilight came out, and vampires have gotten even more popular (due to others series as well) and the demand for vampire books grew.  Thus, the vampire diaries have been revisited by new generations of readers and even have the author writing more books in the series after all these years.  There is also a show based on them now.  One similarity of this series as with Twilight is that of a young male vampire trying to start fresh in a new town and tries to blend in with society rather than live in the shadows anymore.  His name is Stefan and he is centuries older than Twilight’s Edward and much the same sentiment for love.  Stefan’s tale is endearing, but not without struggles, a new girl he tries to avoid at first and eventually falls for and a brother with a horrible grudge trying to ruin everything.  Set in high school with a cemetery and old church across the river, which gives it a feeling of a rural city with ties to ancient times.  These vampires can be out in the day, usually with sunglasses though.    Some of the vamps drink human blood, but without killing them and usually choose birds and other animals to drink from.  Being bit by one does not mean one would become a vampire, but if a human drinks enough of their blood then they would, even after they died by human standards.  The vampires, if strong enough, can morph into other animal shapes.  Their strength increases by drinking human blood, which Stefan denies himself of as much as possible.  There are also other powers besides the vampires including ancient spirits and evil forces.  Not to mention, high school drama!  Without giving away too much more of the series, be prepared to read the original books 1-4 in a row! 

House of Night Series (2007)

The House of Night Series by P.C. Cast and Kristin Cast is one of the most newly published current series.  They have released 6 of them in the last two years!  These are very different vampires.  They are known in the community, but are sent to their own school called the House of Night.  They are also prominent, successful members in the community.  To become a vampire one is marked, with an outline of a crescent moon on their forehead and are immediately sent to the HoN to learn about becoming a vampire.  They are called fledglings until they make the change into full fledged vampires.  If they survive the change to become a full vampire and have their tattoos fill in.  They have a Goddess named Nyx who superior fledgling Zoey Redbird has been gifted by for affinities to all 5 elements; earth, water, fire, wind and spirit.  Most vampires only have one, which makes her the most powerful fledgling and even vampire they have ever seen.  This mix of a heirachy around a goddess includes male warriors who protect them.  Zoey is even more tied in to Nyx and her affinities due to her Cherokee background where legends seem to be coming true.  There are also two types of vampires, the blue fledglings who survive the change the ones who don’t survive have started to come back as something worse than death and have red marks.  The red fledglings come back with their humanity lost unless they find the will to choose good over the evil forces they fill just as Stevie Rae, Zoey’s best friend does.  This is one of few similarities to Twilight, the freedom of choice between what is right and what is not.  Tough, but it can be done.  Humanity and souls are mentioned quite a bit in Twilight as Edward worries about not having one and wanting to leave Bella with hers.  This is one characteristic when mixed with vampires adds depth to them on another level.  Vampire-y details are that the blue vampires can go in sunlight but it’s not comfortable, sort of annoying.  However, red vampires (undead) will burn in sunlight.  Both types take to the night for the most part, with classes being held at night and they sleep during the day.  There are other creatures and forces of good and evil to a whole other degree than most any other YA vampire series.  The adventures keep you guessing, but it isn’t without blinding turns and anxiety as you wait to see what happens to Zoey and her friends.  If you like dark, dangerous and otherworldly this is the YA series for you.  So, while it touches on souls as Twilight does, the rest of it is a whole other take on vampires, good and bad.

While Twilight is extremely popular right now there are lots of YA vampire series to get into.  Just to name a few more for future reading and comparison with Twilight could include Vampire Academy, Blue Bloods, Morganville Vampires and Peeps.  Are there any others you would like to see for future YA Vampire posts on VampChix?  Thanks for a bit of YA Vampire talk here at VampChix!

Oh my Goth!

by Derek Tatum of Mondo Vampire

Although the word “goth” has become increasingly visible, the mainstream media rarely applies it correctly. To the mainstream, the typical goth is a teenager or twentysomething in poorly-applied make-up, often with 50 bazillion facial piercings and an overt desire to “shock the normals.” These kids are not goths; if anything, they’ve missed the point entirely.

Unfortunately, I have seen similar misinformed goth stereotypes in the current wave of urban fantasy. Goth characters are often depicted as submissive vampire-bait at best and as laughable poseurs at worst. Speaking as someone who is associated with the goth scene, these portrayals irritate me. Goths may have their faults, but being stupid is rarely one of them. While I can accept these books as works of fantasy, my suspension of disbelief is shattered every time one of these lame stereotypes makes an appearance.

My advice to writers seeking to add a “goth element” to their work is to research the subculture. Writers often take pains to make sure that other elements in their work are correct, and the goth scene should be no different. If your city has a goth club night, contact the organizers and arrange an interview. Use online resources to gather information so that you do not rely on one person’s viewpoint. There are also several good books on the subject as well; Jillian Venters’ “Gothic Charm School” is a terrific, easily available book that I think would help outsiders get a “goths-eye-view” of things.

Sure, you can rely on the same bad stereotypes that are repeated ad nauseum in today’s climate - or you can be a little more accurate. The goth subculture has been around for three decades, and is full of interesting personalities and artistic possibilities. Who knows? With a sincere and well-informed depiction of the goth scene, you may be opening yourself up to an all-new fanbase.

Sneak preview of April release

I finally got a cover for my April release from HQN, HER VAMPIRE HUSBAND.  So pretty, isn't it?  I love the blood splashed all over it!  

Here's the back cover blurb:

She may resist his bite, but she can't resist his charms...

Werewolf princess Blu Masterson won't allow her seductive vampire husband to consummate their marriage with his bite, marking her forever.  Alone in a secluded estate with her sworn enemy, Blu curses the marriage arranged to bring their rival nations together, especially since Creed Saint-Pierre calls out to her most feral desires.

When Blu uncovers her pack's secret plot to destroy the vampire nation—and Creed—she is forced to confront her growing feelings for her sexy undead husband.  Will she choose the only life she's ever known or accept his vampire bite?

[Feel free to post a link to this blog post or post the cover at your blog or site, but please include the link:  www.michelehauf.com/hvh.html]

Guest: Sharon Ashwood on vamps, Dark Kirk and embracing the dark side

Welcome Sharon Ashwood today!  Her latest, SCORCHED, is available December 1st.  Only one week to wait for it!  Romantic Times BookClub magazine gave it a TOP PICK!  Read the blurb at the bottom of Sharon's post.  One lucky commenter today or tomorrow will win a copy.  Winner will be announced Wednesday.

I remember reading Stephen King’s vampire classic, Salem’s Lot, when I was in high school and being scared spitless. When I got through hiding under the bed and stopped to analyze what was giving me the willies, it was more than just a general fear of monsters.  I was horrified by the notion of a person turning against their loved ones—and that’s an evil humans can manage without supernatural assistance. King’s genius was in holding up a mirror to our own worst impulses.

The vampire is often identified with the human’s shadow side, an embodiment of forbidden desires, twisty Freudian naughtiness, yadda yadda. Also, he/she is usually given the basic superhuman power pack:  super strength, super speed, mind control, and (in the classic version) a cape.  Why empower the vampire, along with werewolves, Edward Hyde, and the likes?

Let’s turn to the font of all modern wisdom, Star Trek.  There is an episode in which Captain Kirk is divided into two halves—a nice but ineffective Kirk, and an aggressive but decisive Kirk.  Neither side functions well without the other, but the Dark Kirk definitely has the alpha male oomph we associate with vampires. In other words, our “monster” side, while scary, has the kick-ass stuff we need to get the tough jobs done and survive.

Constance, my heroine in Scorched, is a vampire faced with the choice between claiming her superhuman powers—which could result in her “going bad”—and staying powerless and “good” forever.  She’s managed to duck the decision for a good long time, but now her adopted son is in danger and she needs those powers to save the day. She’s faced with the choice of being a monster or a moral failure.  She’s terrified. Up until now, her existence has been one of untried innocence—it’s easy to be good when there’s no temptation around. Now she has to find out what she’s made of, and take charge of her own fate.

I think Constance’s story is representative of a major shift in how we think about vampires. They’re morally complex and, in my opinion, a whole lot more interesting than the bloodsucking hordes in Salem’s Lot.

Reframed another way, that basic equation:  Monster = dark impulses + power

Has since been modified by current writers to something like:

If Vampire (dark impulses + power) > Enlightenment, then Vampire = Monster;

If Vampire (dark impulses + power) < Enlightenment, then Vampire = Hero

In other words, we have added the possibility that our shadow side vampires can play nicely with our conscience.  Despite our modern day fixation with doom and gloom, we’ve admitted the possibility of triumph.  It also raises the stakes (pun intended) because we’ve given our vamps more ways to fail.

What is your favourite example of a vampire’s struggle with his or her dark side?

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My group blog:  www.SilkandShadows.com

My newsletter: http://www.sharonashwood.com/newsletter.php

SCORCHED blurb:  Welcome to the Castle. The price of admission is your soul.

Ex-detective Macmillan always had a taste for bad girls, but his last lover really took the cake—and his humanity. Now half-demon, Mac's lost his friends, his family and his job.

But Constance, a strangely innocent vampire trapped in the supernatural Castle prison, needs his help. Her son has been kidnapped, so suddenly Mac has a case to work—one that embroils him with a mad sorcerer, an even madder city council, and a winged love god. The trail leads deep into the supernatural prison, and Mac soon learns that cracking the case will cost him his last scrap of his humanity.

Fiery, vulnerable Constance will do anything for those she loves, including Mac. He'll be damned if he turns his back on her… and a demon forever if he doesn't.
  

New Feature

I'd like to start a new feature at VampChix.  Recommended Authors of Vampire fiction.  Anyone got a fav author who writes vampires that you think everyone else should be reading?  Do they have an awesome vampire series, or did they just write that one amazing story that you will never forget?

Email Michele at vampchixmail@gmail.com with your recommended author and we'll get you set up to do a guest post at VampChix to let us all know about your fav.

And remember you can still enter the Ultimate VampList contest.  More details in the post.

New Moon review

by Shauna Leigh Kemp

The Twilight Saga continues onscreen with New Moon as it opened on November 20, 2009.  The original essence of Twilight is for the most part replaced by the new nature of New Moon.  Each book in the four book series has a different theme creating a specific mood as set by Stephenie Meyer.  The movie, New Moon, is no different, in its new spin on the original Twilight.  Each scene is done beautifully with a new color pallet.  The original Twilight movie, based on Stephenie Meyer’s first book, had an enticing and surreal feel to the vampire world with green and blue overtones throughout the film.  Those tones set the scene perfectly for the love story that happens when Bella Swan meets vampire Edward Cullen and they are both instantly drawn to each other.  The love story continues in New Moon, the second book and movie in the Twilight Saga.  New Moon has a warmer and gentler feel to it as the werewolves are introduced and Bella, played by Kristen Stewart, finds out her friend Jacob is one of them.  The werewolf colors and scenes become warmer shades of brown, orange and yellow, an obvious contrast from the original Twilight.  The original tones are only added intermittently throughout the New Moon movie.  The change in color schemes adds a new theme element onscreen that fits perfectly with the progression of the storyline in New Moon.  Along with a new look comes new music.  The edgier romantic sound in Twilight is contrasted in New Moon with a softer and warmer musical soundtrack and score yet with an underlying twisty darkness set throughout the saga.

Most know by now from all the trailers and promotion of the movie that Edward leaves Bella just a few scenes into the movie.  When Edward leaves Bella he takes a part of her with him and those original tones and feel of the original movie with him.  Bella turns to Jacob Black, her easy going, cheerful friend.  Jake helps to calm Bella’s otherwise despair over Edward and inadvertently aids Bella in becoming more reckless and a hint of the original colors of the vampire world in Forks seeps back into the film as Bella tries to keep memories of Edward alive. 

New Moon shows a warmer side with Jacob onscreen who is a new werewolf and falls for Bella.  She turns to him when Edward leaves in the beginning of the film after her dad Charlie, played by Billy Burke, threatens to send her back to her mother in Jacksonville.  Bella was so distraught by Edward leaving that she had nightmares keeping them both up at night.  She stopped most contact with the living world at home and school.  To stay in Forks she decides to mix back in with her school mates and seeks out her friendship with Jacob.  Jacob falls harder for Bella and hopes for more as she continues to assure him of their friendship. 

Those original colors and moods are only shown in New Moon as she remembers Edward and the vampire world he has taken with him and left her alone.  Jacob and his new werewolf pack add a new element to Bella’s story.  When the vampire coven is gone the werewolf pack becomes known by Bella and the yellow brown shades are significantly more dominant.  As Bella and Jake continue to grow closer he makes his feelings known and she admits she selfishly wants him, but not for the same reasons, and that she was unfixable. 

New Moon allows Jacob, played by Taylor Lautner, to really break through as a major character in the saga.  Jacob is more lighthearted, jovial and adventurous compared to Edward’s conservative yet sultry demeanor and protection over Bella.  However, there is also a strength and confidence in Jacob that was not seen in Twilight. Jacob fans will be pleased with the amount of onscreen time that Jacob has including his 30lb growth in muscle alone since Twilight.  Jimmy Fallon jokes with both Kristen Stewart and Taylor Lautner, on his show Late Night With Jimmy Fallon, about an entire scene of Jacob’s abs.  Taylor has also been quoted that he not only bulked up, but really studied the books and the emotions that Jacob was dealing with in New Moon.  He is definitely a star!

The movie beautifully portrays the essence of Jacob, the werewolves and how Bella fits in with them even though they call her the vampire girl.  They also do a great job of showing the relationship between Bella and Jacob and the adventurous side of Jacob and Bella’s haphazard recreational activities she takes on to see and hear Edward.  These live and faded visions of Edward warn her to stop her reckless behavior which ultimately takes her to dangerous limits and consequences for both Bella and Edward, and in the end Jacob too.  Leading them to new heights and dangers shown in vivid scenes of a ruling clan of vampires called the Volturi in Volterra, Italy, in the latter part of the movie.  The Volturi cast alone will draw in many new viewers with popular stars such as Dakota Fanning as Jane, Cameron Bright  as Alec,  Charlie Bewley as Demetri, Jamie Campbell Bower as Caius, Daniel Cudmore as Felix, and Christopher Heyerdahl as Marcus.

Fans of Edward, played by Robert Pattinson, will also be pleased by the amount of onscreen time he has considering he is gone for the better part of the story in New Moon.  The movie does a great job of showing viewers, who maybe haven’t read the books, scenes portraying why she is acting so uncharacteristic recklessness. 

While the movies are just glimpses into the saga, New Moon portrays closely the details of the book that are essential to the story and add a warm vision that Twilight did not.  The essence of Twilight is explained best in the first book and movie it will always have its own novelty and standard that cannot be reproduced.  However, New Moon sheds a new light that is of equal importance and enjoyment to the second book and movie of the series.  Chris Weitz creates a standalone movie in the series that fans and new viewers alike can appreciate.  While Twilight was created mostly for Saga fans, New Moon is an adventurous continuation and adaptation of that love story that is visually stimulating in color, sound and cast that is inviting for everyone, Twi-lovers or not.  There is also enough substance that remains true to the story line for hard core twilight fans.  New Moon is well worth the wait in line!

How TWILIGHT should have ended.

Guest: Clare Willis on De-Fanged Vamps

Debut author, Clare Willis is our guest today.  What a great time for an author of a vampire romance to debut!  Twi-hards, have you all discovered the romance section yet?  ;-)

Dracula’s Twilight: The Rise of the de-fanged Vampire

Hi everyone, I’m Clare Willis, author of the December Bite Club read, Once Bitten, which comes out Dec. 1. Please visit me at ClareWillis.com.

I was recently interviewed for our local newspaper. The interviewer asked why vampires are such a hot trend in entertainment today. I said that I didn’t think vampires had ever gone away. They’ve been popular ever since Bram Stoker realized that our tight-laced Victorian ancestors would be thrilled with the idea of a creature that can compel women to do his bidding in the bedroom just with the power of his stare. He would ravish them and they could enjoy it without guilt because, after all, they couldn’t control themselves.

I think there is a hot trend today, in a subgenre of vampire fiction. That trend is the de-fanged vampire. Edward Cullen of Twilight fame is the most obvious example. Stephanie Meyer brilliantly tapped into a similar vein (pun intended) as Bram Stoker when she created a hero for girls who were hitting puberty and feeling their sexual power, but also feeling afraid of it. Edward is the perfect teen boyfriend. He is the hot hunk who every girl wants. He only wants you, but you have so much power over him that he can’t allow himself to be with you, for fear of what such intense pleasure might turn him into. The best boyfriend in the world is one who loves beyond measure, and makes all your friends jealous, but doesn’t put any pressure on you!

Edward is also de-fanged in another way. Even before he meets Bella he has made a decision not to kill people for food. It’s a moral decision, because he’s trying to be a good person/vampire. But as Michael Corleone said in The Godfather, “Just when you think you’re out, they pull you back in.” The bad vampires keep pulling Edward back into violence.

Bill Compton of HBO’s True Blood and the Sookie Stackhouse novels is a similar character: a vampire who is de-fanged by choice, because of a moral opposition to killing people. In this he harkens back to one of the uber-vampires of popular fiction, Anne Rice’s Lestat, who definitely killed people, but had a similar struggle with his existential nature. Lestat asked, “Am I a damned creature with no soul, or am I defined by my actions, and can I redeem myself by actions?” Anne Rice was struggling with deeply religious issues using the context of vampirism. I’m not sure that these new vampires’ issues are as overtly religious, but they certainly traverse some of the same good-versus-evil territory.

Two questions for the readers:

Can a vampire be good if he was “born” bad?

Could a human woman love a vampire who embraced his killer nature, instead of fighting it?

Here's the blurb for Once Bitten:

Angie McCaffrey has endured her share of liquid lunches and boardroom shmoozefests to win new advertising clients. But her latest account a cosmetics line for wannabe vampires involves some unusual customer research at San Francisco's hippest private nightclub. The "undead" patrons are about as genuine as Macabre Factor's press-on fangs, but one thing is very real the skin-tingling connection Angie feels with her clients' mysterious friend, Eric Taylor.
Still, there are a few problems with this hot new romance. 1) Eric is rumored to have dated Angie's scheming boss, Lucy. 2) Lucy, missing for days, just turned up dead and bloodless. And, oh yeah, 3) Angie has suddenly developed a teeny aversion to sunlight. Is Eric a real vampire, a killer, or both? Angie's got a lot riding on the answer her heart, her life, and maybe even her soul. . .

November 2009 Vampire Books Releases

Below are listed the titles of vampire books published in November, 2009. If any titles have been left out please let me know and I will add to the December releases post. You will notice two items marked oops! That's because these books were actually published in October and I missed them. My bad!

Apocalypse Happens (Phoenix Chronicles, Book 3)
by Lori Handeland
St. Martin's (November 3, 2009)

From the publisher: Elizabeth Phoenix is one of a select few with the power to battle those who have escaped from the darkest level of hell—demons bent on destroying humanity and reclaiming earth once and for all.  Liz is determined to stop yet another Doomsday. But this time, it’s going to be more difficult than ever because someone she thought was dead isn’t dead anymore…and is bound and determined to destroy Liz and everyone she loves in the upcoming Apocalypse.

Liz has arrived in Los Angeles to ferret out a nest of varcolacs: half human, half dragon creatures who crave the destruction of the sun and moon. But before she can prevent the kind of eclipse that would bring the world to an end, Liz must mine the depths of her own heart. She and her former lover Jimmy Sanducci have some personal demons to battle—and there’s always her mentor, the Navajo shaman Sawyer. Is he on their side or isn’t he? In the end, the three of them must find a way to fight together…or perish alone.

BAR NONE
by Brigit Zahara
Ellora's Cave, November 2009

[sizzling new erotic vampire novella]

From the publisher: After a very upsetting day, Sera heads to Bar None and the solace of the joint’s owners, Nate and Fab, her two best friends who, oh yeah, just happen to be vampires.Beautiful, well built and in possession of breathtaking animal magnetism, both Nate and Fab can have any woman they want. But Nate told Sera that sex with a human fires a vampire’s bloodlust to the point of frenzy, making it clear that a romantic rendezvous with him or the unusually self-controlled Fab is out of the question. Not that Sera, or any other hot-blooded woman, for that matter, wouldn’t be game to take the risk.
What do you do when you’re in love with two men, but one of them won’t touch you because he’s afraid he might “love” you to death? When Sera realizes both guys want her as much as she wants them, she teams up with willpower-wizard Fab to convince Nate that a hot, sexy threesome is well worth the danger.

Darkness Unleashed (Guardians of Eternity, Book 5)
by Alexandra Ivy
Zebra, Nov 3, 2009

From the publisher: A scarred recluse, Jagr makes no secret of his disdain for others' company. But now, as a member of Chicago's powerful vampire clan, he has certain obligations to fulfill. The latest: track down a missing were pureblood and return her to her sister. The problem: Regan Garrett has no intention of complying. And though Jagr agreed not to harm an inch of this stubborn female's distractingly tempting body, he'll gladly kiss her into submission, awakening an urge he hasn't felt in years. Hell, in centuries...Regan vowed never to be at the mercy of another man. That goes double for arrogant, steel-muscled vampires with eyes of ice. All Regan wants is revenge against those who imprisoned her. She doesn't need an ally. She certainly doesn't need a mate. But soon Regan will have to choose - between a lust for vengeance, and a passion as dark and dangerous as the night...

Deep Kiss of Winter
by Kresley Cole and Gena Showalter
Pocket (October 13, 2009)
[oops! I had this down as a Nov release. It's not]

Two never-before-published paranormal stories to delight the senses and tantalize the imagination!

KRESLEY COLE delivers a breathtaking tale of a brutal vampire soldier about to know love for the first time...and a Valkyrie aching to be touched. Murdoch Wroth will stop at nothing to claim Daniela the Ice Maiden -- the delicate Valkyrie who makes his heart beat for the first time in three hundred years. Yet the exquisite Danii is part ice fey, and her freezing skin can't be touched by anyone but her own kind without inflicting pain beyond measure. Soon desperate for closeness, in an agony of frustration, Murdoch and Danii will do anything to have each other. Together, can they find the key that will finally allow them to slake the overwhelming desire burning between them?


GENA SHOWALTER puts a daring spin on a tale of huntress and hunted...and concocts a sensual chemistry that is positively explosive.
Aleaha Love can be anyone -- literally. With only skin-to-skin contact, she can change her appearance, assume any identity. Her newest identity switch has made her an AIR (alien investigation and removal) agent and sends her on a mission to capture a group of otherworldly warriors. Only she becomes the captured. Breean, a golden-skinned commander known for his iron will who is at once dangerous and soul-shatteringly seductive, threatens her new life. Because for the first time, Aleaha only wants to be herself....

Fade Out (Morganville Vampires, Book 7)
by Rachel Caine
Signet (November 3, 2009)

From the publisher: Without the evil vampire Bishop ruling over the town of Morganville, the resident vampires have made major concessions to the human population. With their new found freedoms, Claire Danvers and her friends are almost starting to feel comfortable again...

Now Claire can actually concentrate on her studies, and her friend Eve joins the local theatre company. But when one of Eve's castmates goes missing after starting work on a short documentary, Eve suspects the worst. Claire and Eve soon realize that this film project, whose subject is the vampires themselves, is a whole lot bigger-and way more dangerous-than anyone suspected.

How to Be a Vampire: A Fangs-On Guide for the Newly Undead
by Amy Gray and Scott Erwert
Candlewick (October 13, 2009)
Young Adult

[oops! I had this down as a Nov release. It's not]

From the publisher: Welcome to the world of the undead! A comprehensive guide to the vampire lifestyle quenches newcomers’ thirst for lore — and tasteful tips.

For those who join the decadent realm of the vampire, eternal life holds juicy perks — charm and strength, shape-shifting and flying, telepathy and super-powered senses. But then again, one becomes . . . so terribly hungry. Is there an etiquette for feeding without causing a scene? How do you set up your crypt? What supernatural foes will make your blood run co lder? In this elegant, edgy resource, the newly immortal will find everything they need to know, including:

- a quiz to determine your true vampire persona

- ways to turn into a vampire — or when a kiss is not just a kiss; and why you should take a look at your family tree

- a transformation checklist, including canine teeth and UV sen sitivity

- a makeup and fashion guide to looking damned good (or just damn ed)

- knowing your weaknesses, from garlic, stakes, and sunlight to a n obsession with counting

- 10 signs that your boyfriend is a vampire, including super coo lness (body temperature-wise) and a habit of sleeping in

- a field guide to vampiric variations around the world and through history

Immortal (Clare Point)
by V.K. Forrest
Kensington (November 24, 2009)

From the publisher: Magnetic, fearless Fin Kahill has dedicated his life to ridding the world of its most vicious serial killers. Fin is used to roaming the earth freely - not getting stuck in sleepy Clare Point. But when the clan needs him close by, Fin agrees to take a summer job on the town's tiny police force. He expects little excitement - until he meets Elena, an ethereal Italian beauty. As Fin struggles against his feelings for Elena, the peace in Clare Point is shattered by the inexplicable murder of a tourist. The young man's throat has been cut, his body eerily posed. When the killer strikes again, Fin wonders if a member of his own clan is responsible. The only one he can turn to is Elena, but he knows that falling in love with a human can be a deadly mistake. Yet just as Fin edges closer to solving the murders, he discovers Elena may not be exactly who, or what, she appears...

Immortally Theirs   [ebook]
by Ann Cory
Category: Erotica/Menage Erotica/Paranormal
Publisher: Resplendence Publishing, LLC, 2009
Fictionwise Release Date: November 2009

From the publisher: When Shayla McDormand first moved into her parent's old mansion, she had no idea two very handsome vampires, Bastian Trabor and Armand Coudray, already occupied it. Over time she gave into their affections and enjoyed all they had to offer. Bastian is all about powerful strokes with his cock and bringing her to a fierce orgasm every time. Armand likes sex to be artistic and savors her body with his tongue. Spoiled but satisfied, Shayla loves everything about them. Until they demand she chooses between them or they will leave and never return.  Bastian and Armand will do anything to compete for Shayla's love. They both want her as their vampire bride. To immortally be theirs. But another entity resides in the house that also wants Shayla.  Can Shayla make up her mind before it's too late? Or will fate decide for her?

Mistletoe Fangs

by Susan Blexrud
DCL Publications, November 15, 2009
[fourth (and final) story in the "Love Fang" series]

Night of the Wolves
by Heather Graham
HQN Books, Nov 24, 2009

From the publisher: When Sarah McKinley is finally able to buy and restore the historic Florida mansion that she has always loved, she dismisses the horror stories of past residents vanishing and a long-dead housekeeper who practiced black magic. Then, in the midst of renovations, she makes a grim discovery. Hidden within the walls of Sarah's dream house are the remains of dozens of bodies - some dating back over a century.

The door to the past is blown wide open when Caleb Anderson, a private investigator, shows up at the mansion. He believes several current missing persons cases are linked to the house and its dark past. Working together to find the connection and stop a contemporary killer, Sarah and Caleb are compelled to research the history of the haunted house, growing closer to each other even as the solution to the murders eludes them.

But there is one who knows the truth.a spirit who follows every move they make. Soon Caleb begins to fear that if he can't stay a step ahead, he could lose Sarah to a killer with an ability to transcend time in a quest for blood and sacrifice.

Three Days to Dead
by Kelly Meding
Dell (November 24, 2009)


From the publisher: They’ll never see her coming. . . .

When Evangeline Stone wakes up naked and bruised on a cold slab at the morgue—in a stranger’s body, with no memory of who she is and how she got there—her troubles are only just beginning. Before that night she and the two other members of her Triad were the city’s star bounty hunters, mercilessly cleansing the city of the murderous creatures living in the shadows, from vampires to shape-shifters to trolls. Then something terrible happened that not only cost all three of them their lives but also convinced the city’s other Hunters that Evy was a traitor—and she can’t even remember what it was.

Now she’s a fugitive, piecing together her memory, trying to deal some serious justice—and discovering that she has only three days to solve her own murder before the reincarnation spell wears off. Because in three days Evy will die again—but this time there’s no second chance. . . .

The Vampire Affair (Silhouette Nocturne)
by Livia Reasoner
Silhouette, Nov 1, 2009

From the publisher: The world knew Michael Brandt as a playboy tycoon. The underworld knew him as a fierce vampire hunter. Armed with a wooden stake and superior strength, Michael targeted the most powerful overlords in a clandestine do-or-die operation…and then tabloid reporter Jessie Morgan uncovered his secret.

Only once before had Michael allowed a woman into his secret lair. Now he'd fight heaven and hell to keep Jessie from the same fate. But he couldn't fight the attraction that drew him to her like a bloodlust. An attraction that might prove deadly…or worse. For Michael was going up against the most powerful of the undead—and that vampire had his fangs bared for Jessie.

Vampire Sunrise: Delilah Street: Paranormal Investigator
by Carole Nelson Douglas
Pocket Nov 24, 2009

From the publisher:




WHEN THE STAKES ARE DEAD -- OR UNDEAD!
Werewolf mobsters and vampires run Vegas, but that's yesterday's news for Delilah Street, paranormal investigator. What's truly fearsome is her bloody discovery of an undead evil rooted in ancient Egypt. Now, with her lover Ric fighting for life after a grim battle, the chips are down.
But Delilah is a born winner who has never let a little danger throw off her game, and she's been learning fast since she came to Sin City. Her affinity for silver is making mirror-walking a real breeze, and being forced to accept the albino rock star sorcerer Snow's Brimstone Kiss has ramped up her powers to a startling new level. With the help of her trusty uber-wolfhound Quicksilver, not to mention the orange demon parking valet Manny, Delilah is determined to solve even more paranormal secrets, and hopefully save the few innocents left in town. But can Delilah win her high-stakes gamble for life and love against ancient gods and lethal supernatural odds?

Vampire Taxonomy: Identifying and Interacting with the Modern-Day Bloodsucker
by Meredith Woerner
Perigee Trade (November 3, 2009)

From the publisher: Our culture today is inundated with beloved blood-thirsty creatures of the night. Referencing a wide variety of well-known bloodsuckers from film, literature, and other media, vampire expert Meredith Woerner provides detailed information about the different types of vampires now roaming the earth, classifying them by their reaction to sun exposure, physiology, attire, and preferred diet. VAMPIRE TAXONOMY will equip readers who meet vamps to answer the question: Should you hand him your heart or stake his before he makes you his next meal?

For the reader's protection, Meredith Woerner reveals the truth...