Miscellaneous Stuff

AUTHORS & BOOKS

Today's the last day to enter my contest for The Last Vampyre by Adrienne Barbeau!

Patricia's Vampire Notes has a new review for my soon-to-be-released novel, The Bride of Casa Dracula. "So much more goes on in Milagro's wacko world peopled with weirdly wonderful characters... This book is another hilarious addition to the Casa Dracula series!"

Ruth Schaller has a new review of my first novel, Happy Hour at Casa Dracula. "Marta Acosta gives us a story where I found myself turning the pages in a mad fashion to find out what was going to happen next. " (Ruthie's Book Review)

Review of Christine Feehan's Turbulent Sea. "Iʼm more of an action fan, and thank you Ms. Feehan for providing me that in the chilling action scenes with Ilya. Finally we learn who and what Ilya is." (Fresh Fiction)

Author Catherine Karp is giving a Vampire Vocabulary Quiz with prizes! "I'm going to throw a contest to celebrate both of my kidlets heading off to school and the completion of the first draft of Vampire Book #2." (Suburban Vampire)

Review of Nalini Singh's Hostage to Pleasure. "All Psy’s are deemed to be emotion free and go through a rigorous brain washing scheme from the earliest age possible until all emotions are drummed out." (Dear Author)

Ciara Stewart also reviews Nalini Singh's Hostage to Pleasure and gives a link to a contest. "I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: Nalini Singh writes one thrilling adventure. " (Ciaralira)

Review of Heart Fate by Robin D. Owens. "This is a society that, although descendants of Earth, has developed the power of the mind and can do things with the snap of a thought...and a host of other psychic delights." (The Good The Bad and The Unread)

Jessica Andersen, author of The Night Keepers, is interviewed at Midnight Brew. "When all was said and done I ended up with was a very intricate, complex world in which ancient Mayan mythology is brought forward and examined through our modern experiences." (Midnight Moon Cafe)

Michelle Hauf announces the re-release of Dark Rapture. " It’s a vampire romance, and was published back in 1997, when paranormal romance was just beginning to test the waters." (Shapeshifter Romance)


TELEVISION & THE INTERNETS

Kimberly Swan reviews Alan Ball's "True Blood." "While some viewers may find a few of the scenes extreme, they’re certainly within the context of the story. Pushing the limits is what life’s all about, and I’ll be back next week for more with episode two." (Darque Reviews)

In a photo essay, the Los Angeles Times ponders the eternal question: vampires, hott or not? "In HBO’s 'True Blood,' kooky, telepathic waitress Sookie ( Anna Paquin) falls for a smoldering stranger. Only problem? He’s a vampire (Stephen Moyer). But look at him. Don’t you just kind of want to be bitten by him?" The answer is no, because he bears a disturbing resemblance to actor Charles Grodin. Review of HBO's new series, "True Blood." "The vilest characters are the Rattrays (Karina Logue and James Parks), who supplement their dope-selling income by draining unsuspecting vampires and selling the blood on the black market." (Bloomberg)

Yet another story on Alan Ball's new series, "True Blood." "And that reason is that the simplicity of the vampire myth lends itself to dramatic storytelling by clarifying the conflict in terms of good and evil without minimizing the complexities." (Daily Herald)

Review of upcoming series "The Mentalist," starring Simon Baker. "Although it's interesting to note that director David Nutter ('The X-Files') helmed the premiere, 'The Mentalist' falls flat just when it should be wowing us" (My Central Jersey)

"Torchwood" filming new episodes in and around Cardiff. "The third series, called Torchwood: Children of Earth, will have five hour-long episodes, to be screened on consecutive nights in the 9pm spot on BBC One next spring." (Wales Online)


MOVIES & DVDS

Guillermo del Toro ("Hellboy") has signed on to direct Frankenstein and Jeckyll and Hyde movies. "To me, Frankenstein represents the essential human question: ‘Why did my creator throw me here, unprotected, unguided, unaided and lost?’ ” (io9)


GRATUITOUS VIDEO OF THE DAY

Has anyone else watched "Burn Notice"? These people would make fabulous vampires: they're tough, smart, sexy as hell. Jeffrey Donovan ("Touching Evil") stars as a former covert agent who has been "burned" by the Feds. Gabrielle Anwar has lost her softness and grown into a really hawt chick with a convincing "been there, done that" edge.

The always fabulous Bruce Campbell ("The Evil Dead") is one of the cast and Sharon Gless is terrific as the slightly trashy, smoking and drinking mom.