New Twilight Trailer; Urban Fantasy Book Covers

AUTHORS & BOOKS

Doug, the Scifi Guy, has put together a very entertaining video of all the urban fantasy book covers of girl's backsides with tramp stamps. "Indeed there is a uncommonly frequent use of women in left, right, front and back poses in disturbingly similar styles among a diversity of authors." Yes, I'd noticed that this trend has gotten so out of control that I'm missing headless bodies and legs and feet. (SciFi Guy)

Mindy Klasky, author of Magic and the Modern Girl, guest blogs about getting fired by her first agent. "I suspected that he wasn’t helping my career...He corresponded solely by postal mail, and he typed his letters on a manual typewriter. (To his credit, he often added photocopies of amusing comic strips to illustrate the content of his letters.)" (Dear Author)

Kimberly Swan reviews Any Given Doomsday by Lori Handeland. "This is the first book in The Phoenix Chronicles, and it pulls readers feet first into the fray." (Darque Reviews)

Read and excerpt from Lori Handeland's Any Given Doomsday. "On the day my old life died, the air smelled of springtime–budding trees and just born flowers, fresh grass and hope. I should have known right then that something was coming." (Lori Handeland)

Aussie correspondent Tez Miller has a list of titles, covers, and descriptions of upcoming paranormal and urban fantasy releases for November. It includes Amanda Marrone's Revealers and Suzanne McLeod's The Sweet Scent of Blood. (Tez Says)

Cerri Ellis has info about the Romance Divas fantasy workshop. "Friday October 10th and Saturday October 11th, we will be joined by some huge names in fantasy and fantasy-romance for a workshop on what the difference really is between the two genres." (Cerri Ellis)


MOVIES & DVDS

The new trailer for "Twilight" has been released. You can watch it here and install it as a widget or on MySpace. (Entertainment Weekly)




Robert Pattinson, who plays Edward Cullen in "Twilight," talks about writing and performing music. "“I’ve never really recorded anything -- I just played in pubs and stuff –- and I really didn’t want it to look like I was trying to cash in." (Los Angeles Times)

Here are new photos of Edward Pattinson and Kristen Stewart, who play Edward Cullen and Bella Swan in "Twilight." (Entertainment Tonight)

Author Catherine Karp has all sorts of info about the highly acclaimed vamp movie and novel "Let the Right One In." "I've been hearing about this one since the movie won the 2008 Founders Award for Best Narrative Feature at the Tribeca Film Festival. If you stop and think about how few vampire films actually win awards, you'll understand that's quite an accomplishment." (Suburban Vampire)


GRATUITOUS VIDEO OF THE DAY

I'm missing "Torchwood" so here's a genius new video that features my favorite characters with a Billy Idol song and aliens!

Twilight Banner; Life on Mars; Charlaine Harris Interview

AUTHORS & BOOKS

Patricia Altner is having a contest for five books, including ones by Charlaine Harris, Laurell K. Hamilton, and Nancy Kilpatrick. "I would like to know what is the scariest book you have ever read and why." (Patricia's Vampire Notes)

Interview with Charlaine Harris, author of the Southern Vampire books. "I think the crossover field is blooming...I don't know what the attraction is ... But many, many readers seem to enjoy the blending of mystery and science fiction that's being called 'urban fantasy.'" (Baltimore Sun)

Interview with Anne Rice, author of The Vampire Lestat. "Rice says she has no interest in writing more about her vampires and witches. She is thinking, however, about a 'supernatural Christian series for younger readers.'" (Columbus Dispatch)

Lori Devoti, author of Guardian's Keep, has a list of upcoming shapeshifter novels scheduled for November release. "Wondering what to put on preorder for reading over Thanksgiving? Here are a few titles I’ve seen that look interesting…" (Shapeshifter Romance)

CheriePie reviews The Dracula Dossier by James Reese. "...it's the notes, journal, and letters of the famed Dracula author, and at various points in the narrative, footnotes are given that point out similarities between the events taking place in [Bram] Stoker's life at that time and characters and events in Dracula. " (CheriePie's Books)


MOVIES & DVDS

Here's the banner for "Twilight." "But any true Stephenie Meyer fan knows that Forks is a town as rich with fascinating background characters as Springfield, Twin Peaks or Danny Ocean’s Rolodex. Which is why I’d like to see more advertising that focuses on Emmett, Alice, Charlie Swan and all the others." (MTV)

Should blogger read the Twilight series before seeing the movie? "I am looking forward to the film, especially since speaking with stars Peter Facinelli and Kellan Lutz and hearing first hand how this won't be a 'Harry Potter'-style saga." (New York Post)

Mark Wahlberg's new movie, "Max Payne," to be released next week. "The film is based on the popular Max Payne series of third-person-shooter video games that first arrived in 2001. Fox is debuting Max Payne in theaters on October 17." (First Showing)

Here's a trailer for "Max Payne," starring Mark Wahlberg.



Hollywood's vision of the paranormal draws on their human qualities. "Hollywood's dead, circa 2008, wear jeans, type obsessively on their BlackBerries and fret over relationship woes. They solve crimes, they give advice. Edward, the Volvo-driving vampire at the heart of the best-selling novel and soon-to-be-released film 'Twilight,' even slogs through the tedium of high school biology class." (Associated Press)



TELEVISION & THE INTERNETS


The CW has released lots of new pics of "Supernatural" stars Jensen Ackles and Jared Padalecki. (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)

Sounds as if the retooled U.S. version of "Life on Mars" is not as completely hideous as anticipated. "I'm not wholly convinced by the American 'Life on Mars.' Some of the new dialogue is overripe ('You're here to make me curse the day my father's sperm asked my mama's egg if it could have this dance'), and there's a tendency to explain the obvious." (Los Angeles Times)

Another review of "Life on Mars." "Tonight's premiere of Life on Mars is one of the best new hours of TV this fall — as it should be, considering it's a virtual scene-for-scene remake of a terrific British original. It's a relief ABC didn't bungle the transfer, but not exactly cause for critical celebration." (USA Today)

Not all the new U.S. versions of Brit shows are succeeding. "The original 'Eleventh Hour' starred Patrick Stewart as Hood, and his replacement, Mr. [Rufus] Sewell, is an English actor who adopts an American accent. But the show’s conceit — a highly cultivated, eccentric sleuth solving brainy crimes — is as British as Sherlock Holmes and Adam Dalgliesh. American variations on the genre are too often paler and less distinctive than the originals. " (New York Times)

Here's another review of "Eleventh Hour" and "Life on Mars." " Considering how bad most of the season's international imports have been so far, 'Life On Mars' is surprisingly good (or, at least, surprisingly not bad), while 'Eleventh Hour' has problems that have nothing to do with its country of origin." (NJ) But "Eleventh Hour" is a Jerry Bruckheimer production and I hate Jerry Bruckeimer just churns out formulaic procedurals, ewh.

"Life on Mars" continues Hollywood's new passion for casting non-Americans as American characters: "Eleventh Hour," "Moonlight," "Fringe," "True Blood," "New Amsterdam." Personally, I get thrown off watching actors struggle to get the dialect. They may eventually settle into it, but the effort to stay in dialect frequently constrains their acting.


GRATUITOUS VIDEO OF THE DAY

I don't know about you, but nothing says "ancient vampire to me" than "Too Sexy." Here's a GVD with Stephen Moyer as Bill Compton in "True Blood."



Here's another new "True Blood" video.

Caitlin Kittredge's Nocturne City Series, Spanish "Twilight" Poster

AUTHORS & BOOKS

This is a shorter Vampire Wire today, since I watched the debate last night instead of blogging and my dogs are now whining to go to the park.

New review of my second Casa Dracula novel, Midnight Brunch. "I love a flawed heroine and this one fits so nicely into that box. Milagros is snarky and witty, but somehow still has a gift for landing herself in the most awkward of social situations. She's the kind of girl I'd love to throw a party for." (Suburban Trash)

Review of Caitlin Kittredge's Night Life. "Luna Wilder is an Insoli werewolf (a werewolf without a pack) and a kick ass homicide detective in Nocturne City." (Scooper Speaks)

Read an excerpt of Caitlin Kittredge's second Nocturne City novel, Pure Blood. "I’m not a patient person under the best of circumstances. Standing next to a dead man on a cold city sidewalk is not one of them. " (Caitlin Kittredge)

Penguin Books will be offering special deals on ebook novellas from their most popular paranormal authors. "Father Mine, a novella from J.R. Ward about two of the main characters in her current bestselling series, will be available to download on October 7th." (Dear Author)

Review of Hex Appeal by Linda Wisdom. "With zany secondary characters and a Starbucks addicted witch in love with a smoldering, sexy vampire, this series has something for everyone." (Queue My Review)

Author Catherine Karp writes about the final issue of Dark Realms magazine. "The magazine is beautifully produced with gorgeous graphics and includes gothic artwork, movie, book, and music reviews, and fun dark features." (Suburban Vampire)

Author Ciara Stewart reviews Sea Witch by Virginia Kantra. "Selkie (seal shape-shifter of celtic mythology) Margred is at home alone in the sea, but she’s got an itch that needs scratching so she journeys ashore on a tiny island off Maine and finds herself a tumble in the sand." (Ciaralira)


MOVIES & DVDS

Something for Everyone selection for this category is the Spanish poster for "Twilight."



TELEVISION & THE INTERNETS

The Something for Everyone selection for this section is a story on the characters of the Winchester brothers in "Supernatural." "Sam is cranking up his dark mojo with help from a demon, Dean is working for an angel, and the long-dead Yellow-Eyed Demon has a plan for Sam that has yet to be revealed. None of this is going to end well." (Buddy TV)


GRATUITOUS VIDEO OF THE DAY

Richard Armitage, guyliner, and macabre obsessive music.

Barb Hendee's Blood Memories; Kelley Armstrong; Lynsay Sands

AUTHORS & BOOKS

List of new releases in October, which includes Kelley Armstrong's Living with the Dead and new Jim Butcher novels. (Urban Fantasy)

Read chapters from the soon-to-be-released Living with the Dead by Kelley Armstrong. "To call Portia Kane a waste of space was being charitable. She was negative space—a vacuum that sucked in everything around her." (Kelley Armstrong)

Read excerpts from Jim Butcher's Princeps' Fury. "On his previous voyages, it had taken Tavi several days to recover from his seasickness—but those voyages had never taken him out into the ocean deeps." (Jim Butcher)

Kimberly Swan reviews Magic to the Bone by Devon Monk. "Allie’s a Hound, able to sniff out a magic user’s signature and trace it back to the source. Hers is a talent that comes in quite handy when someone illegally offloads the price to be paid for magic use on someone else." (Darque Reviews)

Review of Blood Memories by Barb Hendee. "The vampires in in Blood Memories read like vampires, alien and detached from humanity." (Dear Author)

Read an excerpt from Blood Memories by Barb Hendee. "I was with Edward the day he killed himself. It happens to us sometimes, especially the old, the ones who've lost the joy of then and can't quite grasp the now." (Barb Hendee)

Interview with Barb Hendee, author of Blood Memories. "But I've recently finished the first draft for the sequel to Blood Memories, and I think I have a mental list of the positives and negatives of working alone after writing seven complex novels in constant communication with the same partner." (Penguin Books)

AmberKatze interviews Lynsay Sands, author of the Argeneau Vampire series, and has a contest for a signed copy of The Rogue Hunter. "They are first and foremost a family . . . who just happen to be vampires and their stories are about the things they face as such." (AmberKatze's Book Blog)

Review of Kim Lenox's Night Falls Darkly. "He has walked the earth for more years he can count, enjoying the thrill of the hunting but killing the souls almost dispassionately." (The Book Smugglers)


TELEVISION & THE INTERNETS

Compare and contrast: how does HBO's "True Blood" match up against Charlaine Harris's Southern Vampire novels? "Out of all of the characters in the books, I like Eric the most. Sure, he can be scary, but he’s also incredibly funny in the books." (Best Fantasy Stories)


MOVIES & DVDS

Learn to live the Robert Pattinson (Edward Cullen in "Twilight") way. "His sisters used to dress him up as a girl and call him 'Claudia.'" (Celebuzz)

More info on the "Twilight" soundtrack. "Instead, the soundtrack boasts contributions from Linkin Park, Iron & Wine, MuteMath and Collective Soul. Also, Team Edward fans will rejoice that star Robert Pattinson's song 'Never Think' made the cut." (MTV)


GRATUITOUS VIDEO OF THE DAY

Continuing the theme of fake bands: I just watched "Forgetting Sarah Marshall," because I love all things associated with Judd Apatow. Russell Brand was very delightful as rock star Aldous Snow, the lead singer of Infant Sorrow.



And to get back to the important topics of Dracula and Gerard Butler, here's a vid with clips from "Dracula 2000." This has spoilers, which is okay, since you really don't want to try to watch the movie.

New Book Releases, Excerpts, & Foreign Commercials

AUTHORS & BOOKS

Here's Cerri Ellis's review of The Bride of Casa Dracula! "Ms. Acosta writes with an acerbic wit that is fresh and engaging. Smooth prose and a nice pace keep reader attention focused. The heroine’s unique charm and perspective is matched with a delightful cast of characters, forming a wickedly funny ensemble. If you’ve read the first and second books in the series, you know Milagro’s story is a madcap journey through life." (Future Mystery Anthology Magazine)

Here's an extensive list of October's new releases with cover art and descriptions, including the Mysteria Lane anthology. "here’s a spellbinding witch of love who wants to make one man hers; a vegan having trouble adapting to vampirism; Satan’s emissary, who is looking for steady work in Colorado; and angelic triplets feeling a wee touch of the devil." (Excalibur Books)

Read an excerpt from Susan Grant's "The Nanny from Hell," part of the Mysteria Lane anthology. "If the Dark Lord ever got wind of her addiction to earthly life, he’d snuff out her existence like a boot crushed a flickering ash. He’d told her as much, countless centuries ago when he’d suspected she was hanging around an Ice Age settlement because she’d taken a fancy to nights spent cuddling in the furs with one of its hunters, Swift River. " (Susan Grant)

Review of Diane Whiteside's Bond of Fire. "Diane Whiteside blends a historical/contemporary vampire world with plenty of distinctions to call her own." (Paperspine)

Read an excerpt from Diane Whiteside's Bond of Fire and watch a video book trailer. "Compostela Ranch, Texas Hill Country, Present day Steve brought her big Ford Expedition to a decorous stop before the impassive gates, gravel shifting under her tires like the butterflies flitting around her stomach." (Diane Whiteside)

Read an excerpt from Keri Arthur's upcoming release Destiny Kills. "Some things I remembered. Some things I couldn't. Like who I was. Or why I was sitting naked on a beach next to a dead man." (Random House)

Review of Dragon Wytch by Yasmine Galenorn. "Camille D’Artigo is a witch with fae blood and one of three sisters standing on the front lines in the war to prevent demons from becoming the rulers of earth." (Scooper Speaks)

Overview of Charlaine Harris's Southern Vampire books. "...author Charlaine Harris has vividly imagined telepathic barmaid Sookie Stackhouse and her small-town Louisiana milieu where humans, vampires, shape-shifters and other sentient critters live, not always in harmony but often in some state of arousal." (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)

Night Owl Romance is running a contest for the best books of Fall 2008. Vote for your Best Paranormal Romance.

October is the season for books about vampires, werewolves and fae. "It used to be that during the month of October I would be hit with a sudden desire for paranormal romance." (What Women Read)


TELEVISION & THE INTERNETS

Interview with Ryan Kwanten about his role as Jason Stackhouse in "True Blood." "I come from Australia, which is really open-minded when it comes to sex and one's body, but having said that, there were a lot of inhibitions to overcome." (Everything Alabama)

Alexander Skarsgård, who plays Eric on "True Blood," answers fans' questions. ""I think when Eric meets Sookie, there is something about her that catches his attention—there's something different about her. He can sense it, but he doesn't know what it is. He wants her to come back..." (E! Online)

Review of Fox's "Fringe" and CBS's "Eleventh Hour" starring Rufus Sewell. "With its government conspiracies, cover-ups and bigger story arcs, the Fox show is a little too Mulder. 'Eleventh Hour,' which uses scientific deduction to solve a mystery each week, is a little too Scully." (Chicago Sun Times)


GRATUITOUS VIDEO OF THE DAY

Today's theme is foreign commericals. Here's Wham in a very '80s Japanese Maxell commercial that deserves repeated watching. Practice those kewl dance moves!



This commercial was made by a German company for Ikea, and banned by Ikea Sweden. You don't really need to understand it to appreciate it.



This one is just gorgeous and fantastical.