Reminder: Contest for FIRST BLOOD ends tomorrow!

Just wanted to say that I've got an interview with Meljean Brook, author of the Guardian series, and she's giving away two copies of First Blood! Contest ends tomorrow night.

CHRISTMAS GIFT IDEAS FOR VAMPIRE LOVERS

Nothing says "I wub you!" like the perfect holiday present for the vampire, paranormal romance, or urban fantasy fan in your life. Most everyone who's wanted to read Stephanie Meyer's Twilight series, already has the books, so here are suggestions for other vampirey gifts that are sure to please.


1) The New Annotated Bram Stoker's Dracula, by Leslie S. Klinger, introduction by Neil Gaiman. ($39.95 list price)

Publishers Weekly called this the"definitive examination of one of the classic horror novels of all time," and it's just right for the vampire fan who has to be just right all the time. Learn the story behind the story that revolutionized the vampire myth.

Note: I'm having an interview with Leslie Klinger on Monday, and he'll be giving away a copy of his new book to a contest that runs through the week.


2) Buffy, The Vampire Slayer, Complete Seasons 1-7, Collector's Set ($186.69)

Joss Whedon took a merely amusing movie about a cheerleader who discovers that she's fated to defend the innocent against vampires, and transformed it into one of the best television series of all time.

Sarah Michelle Geller's Buffy Summers grows from being a vapid teen to a battle-scarred adult. As one of her tombstones said, "She saved the world a lot." The ironic, imaginative and often thrilling show never talked down to its audience, wasn't afraid of showing its heart, and found the humor in calamity. In a medium filled with shallow pretty girls, Whedon created female characters who were heroic without losing either their humanity.


3) Hammer Horror Series: Brides of Dracula, Curse of the Werewolf, Phantom of the Opera (1962), Paranoiac, Kiss of the Vampire, Nightmare, Night Creatures, Evil of Frankenstein (1963) ($23.99)

Fans of classic horror movies will appreciate this collection of eight films from the famous Hammer Studios. These DVDs have it all: spine-tingling terror, campy costumes, iconic monsters, and talented directors, scripters, and actors.

Reviewer J.M. Dobie says, "Perhaps the best-known titles in The Hammer Horror Series are the 1962 remake of The Phantom of the Opera starring Herbert Lom, and 1961's The Curse of the Werewolf with Oliver Reed as a young Spanish nobleman with a problem: he keeps turning into a wolf and disemboweling people...All in all, a worthy addition to any DVD collection, offering eight Hammer Classics in one package."


4) Near Dark (1987), directed by Kathryn Bigelow and starring Adrian Pasdar and Jenny Wright, ($14.99)

Your friends who are cooler-than-thou won't sneer at this gritty, dark flick about nasty, trashy vampires rampaging through a barren landscape. Director Bigelow, who also helmed the cult fave "Point Break," gives whole new meaning to "chick flick."

PeterTravers of Rolling Stone wrote, "Now, in this two-disc set with deleted material and a documentary, 'Living in Darkness,' Bigelow's artful handling of the magic and menace of the night is hauntingly apparent. And, oh, that score by Tangerine Dream. "


5) Vampire Cupcakes!

The spirit of Christmas is not found in shopping malls or lavish presents, but in time and thought. Show your affection by making a delicious vampire cupcakes.

Ms. LuluBelle of Reading with a Bite reports, "They were a little messy, but they looked great. The 'blood' is actually more red and not as pink.


6) Vampire Series t-shirts.

If you're buying a gift for someone who's passionate about a series, consider buying them a t-shirt that shows the world their reading habits. Colleen Gleason offers "Powered by Vis Bulla" tees for reader of her young adult Gardella Vampire Chronicle series.

Or you can buy t-shirts with Twilight and other bloodsucking messages, i.e., "All I want is a gorgeous, immortal, cold, silver Volvo owner that sparkles in the sunshine and bite me...is that really so much to ask for?"


7) Fangs for Everything! Vampire Jewelry.

Laurell K. Hamilton, author of the steamy Anita Blake series, sells vampire jewelry, including bracelets, key chains, charms, and this fang necklace.

"You can now keep your favorite vamp close to your heart or jugular as the case may be. These fangs really open and close! They are Sterling Silver. You can order it with a chain or without." (Fangs with Chain, $22.00)

8) For the vampire lover who has (almost) everything: Count Dracula's Castle.

If you have to ask the price, you can't afford it.

"The Bran Castle, perched on a cliff near Brasov in mountainous central Romania, is a top tourist attraction because of its ties to Prince Vlad the Impaler, the warlord whose cruelty inspired Bram Stoker's 1897 novel, Dracula," says the Washington Post. "No price was announced, though [Michael] Gardner predicted the castle would sell for more than $135 million."

There is no mention of whether this purchase price includes villagers with torches, innocent and nubile house guests, or deranged lab assistants.


9) Vampire Movie Posters

You can pick up a fabulous variety of vampire movie posters on Ebay for very reasonable prices.

You can buy modern posters or select from some very cool foreign posters. This beautiful reproduction of a French poster for "The Horror of Dracula" sells for only $8.75 + shipping.

If money is no problem, you can buy rare and collectible posters, too, like a vintage "Dracula's Daughter" poster from Spain, printed on linen, for $8,000.


10) Dark Shadows Complete Revival Collection

From 1966-1971, television viewers were obsessed by the elegant and anguished vampire, Barnabas Collins, played by Jonathan Frid in this supernatural-themed soap opera.

"So why has Dark Shadows lasted so long on its cult status?" asks Brett Cullem of DVD Verdict. "Its shows are timeless since they deal with the spooky and supernatural, and the show basically invented the 'serial thriller' formula that would spawn such illustrious titles as The X-Files and Buffy the Vampire Slayer. It was one long episode of The Twilight Zone, captured the imaginations of its audience when it aired, and has held on to that to the current day. Like its anti-hero, vampire Barnabas Collins, it could never be put down for long. It's the stuff DVD dreams are made of.

Tim Burton will be directing a big screen version of Dark Shadows with Johnny Depp as Barnabas Collins, so vampire fans may want to study up on Collingwood history with the original series.


11) Spend the night with Robert Pattinson, who plays Edward Cullen in Twilight.

Yes, you can have sweet dreams about sparkly Edward Cullen, the vampire hero of Twilight, when you rest your head on this pillowcase printed with Robert Pattinson's face. It's only $7.50 on Ebay.

"Checkout this beautiful White 50/50 cotton polyester NO IRON PERCALE pillowcase. These pillowcases are brand new and sealed. Pillowcases are Standard Size and images are approximately 8X10 and centered." I'm guessing the polyester content is so that all the fervent strawberry lipgloss kisses will wash out.


12) Vampire Costumes for Bloodsucking Yuletides

Your loved one will be thrilled to go out caroling in this sassy and seasonal ensemble! Think of the looks on your neighbors' faces as she puts the jiggle into "Jingle Bells"!

This "velvet vampire lace up front dress with collar and lace sleeves" is available at Sensual Elegance for $52.00 and is the perfect outfit for every occasion, from the corporate holiday party to bowling with the girls.

In the immortal words of Bruce Springsteen, "He knows if you've been naughty..."


Last, but not least, The Casa Dracula Novels: Happy Hour at Casa Dracula, Midnight Brunch, and The Bride of Casa Dracula.

Because on a cold, wintry day, you want to curl up with a hilarious, exciting, sexy novel and spend time with my endearing, quirky, intrepid heroine, Milagro.

"Milagro is the kind of character you can't get enough of and one who stays with you well after reading... Ms. Acosta delivers another outstanding novel full of laughs, loves and characters you'll want to add to your own family. If she isn't there already, be sure to add her to your auto-buy list. She'll never leave you disappointed." - Fresh Fiction

"Fast paced, funny and hip - Marta Acosta’s inimitable writing style makes The Bride of Casa Dracula a must read for vampire fiction fans. FIVE STARS" Love Vampires

The Casa Dracula books are available in the GENERAL FICTION section of your bookstore.

"The (Something) of" Edition of Vampire Wire

AUTHORS & BOOKS

The insightfulness of Charlaine Harris talking about her Southern Vampire series and "True Blood." ""But of course this was 10 years ago, when paranormal or urban fantasy was nowhere. I think now, I'd probably sell it in the snap of a finger." (Colorado Springs Independent)

The crapitude of making a new book cover to tie in with a movie release. "I was trolling around Waldenbooks last week, doing some Christmas shopping, and I was happy to see that at least one book series that recently got a movie version, 'Twilight,' still had its original book cover..." (Pioneer Local)

The fabulosity of a contest with a chance to win one of 15 advance reading copies of Jeaniene Frost's Grave's End. " For the remainder of this week you can enter everyday to win one of these copies for your very own." (Bitten By Books)

The propheticness of an interview with Jennifer Rardin, author of the Jaz Parks novels. "I think it’s terrific that more people are introducing themselves to books like mine. My prediction is that they’ll find so much in urban fantasy to satisfy themselves that it will become as well established a genre as romance or mystery!" (Reading With a Bite)

The priceyness of a signed first edition of Bram Stoker's Dracula. "A rare first edition signed copy of the classic horror novel Dracula, presented to one of Cambridge's greatest scientists, is expected to fetch up to £20,000 at an auction tomorrow." (Cambridge News)

The suspensefullness of a guest blog by Julie Leto and contest for Phantom Pleasures. "There are certainly lots of paranormal romances on the marketplace that don’t rely at all on suspense elements to drive a storyline, but since I’m a fan of tension and danger, I have taken great pleasure in creating villains who will kill if necessary—and often do." (Murder She Writes)

The apocalypticness of Jessica Anderson's Dawn Keepers. "Anderson’s second installment of The Final Prophecy series focuses on Nate Blackhawk and Alexis Gray, both young Nightkeeper warriors in training." (Monsters & Critics)


MOVIES & DVDS

The ubiquity of thought that Johnny Depp should play Barnabas Collins in a big-screen version of "Dark Shadows." "It seems that the idea of Johnny Depp playing Barnabas Collins has occurred to other people even before the actor had announced he'd acquired the rights in 2007, as discovered by a petition started by www.petitiononline.com." (Comic Book Movie)

The heinousness of a talking ad in an article about Taylor Lautner's role as Jacob Black in "Twilight." "While most of my friends were fully dedicated to Edward, the suave hunky vampire with whom Bella falls in love, I was the rebel of the group and proudly sported a picture of Jacob, the warm, lovable werewolf, across my chest." (Nola)

The introvertedness of Robert Pattinson in yet another interview about his role as Edward Cullen in "Twilight." "Robert Pattinson reckons he is a bit of an introvert at heart..." (Metro UK)

The heart-breaking insecurity of Robert Pattinson, a former model, about his looks. ""Before I go out to face a crowd, I stare and stare at myself in the mirror until I have to tell myself to stop staring, since there’s nothing I can do.”

The excellence of the Swedish vampire movie "Let the Right One In." "...the first vampire film in a while that treats the horrible aspects of its monsters without a hint of irony and, more importantly, chic or glamour." (Go Triad)


TELEVISION & DVDS

The awesomeness of Joss Whedon's new series "Dollhouse." "I think it's extremely good, and the concept just blows me away: It's fantastic, this notion of people who have been erased and are now imprintable with whatever you want them to be." (i09)


GRATUITOUS VIDEO OF THE DAY

The perversity of monsters frolicking.



The superiority of "Dracula 2000" as fodder for video tributes.

Winner of Kate Perry's Marked by Passion!

Congratulations to Caffrey, who won the random drawing for an advance reading copy of Kate Perry's Marked by Passion. Caffrey, please send me an email with your mailing address and I'll send your prize off to you.

Thanks to everyone who participated! I'll compile your list of suggestions and request interviews with your fave authors.

Mean Streets, Murder Game, and Wolverine Rocks to Bon Jovi

AUTHORS & BOOKS

Want the ultimate vampire book for yourself or as a present? Be sure to check in on Monday when NYT bestselling author Leslie S. Klinger will be here to discuss his latest book, The New Annotated Dracula. He'll be giving away a copy to one lucky winner! Publishers Weekly calls this book the "definitive examination of one of the classic horror novels of all time," and Neil Gaiman wrote the introduction.

Adrian Phoenix, author of A Rush of Wings, is guest blogging about ghosts at Patricia's Vampire Notes. "What is a ghost? The soul of one who has died? A memory seared into the fabric of time by the raging fire of emotional intensity? A person in another time, living still, but seen through a thinning veil?"

Kimberly Swan reviews the Mean Streets anthology, with stories by Jim Butcher, Simon R. Green, Kat Richardson, and Thomas E. Sniegoski. "For fans of Harry Dresden, John Taylor, Harper Blaine and Remy Chandler, you’ll find that Mean Streets is a wonderful treat while waiting for the author’s next novel." (Darque Reviews)

If you'd like to learn more about Thomas E. Sniegoski and his Remy Chandler series, visit his website, or read an excerpt from A Kiss Before the Apocalypse. "Remy Chandler sat in his car at the far end of the Sunbeam Motor Lodge parking lot, sipping his fourth cup of coffee and wishing he had a fifth." (Penguin)

Read a review of Christine Feehan's Murder Game. "Kadan is a GhostWalker, one of an elite troop of soldiers enhanced both physically and psychically by a scientist..." (Fresh Fiction)

Read the first chapter of the soon-to-be-released Murder Game by Christine Feehan. "The cougar was going to turn. Tansy Meadows inhaled swiftly, biting at her full lower lip. Her heart was pounding; she could taste the familiar dryness in her mouth and feel the dampness on her palms." (Christine Feehan)

Review of Dead Until Dark by Charlaine Harris. "In a world where vampires have revealed themselves, Sookie is learning the social graces of being around the living dead while maintaining her innocence." (Scooper Speaks) Oh, la, I liked the old covers, rather than the new ones which are banal and cliche.

Author Carolyn Jean ponders the popularity of shifter lust with a post on "wo1f seks." "You will probably be surprised to learn that this blog used to be one of the top stops for people all over the world googling in search of an image of "wo1f secks" (but spelled correctly)." (The Trillionth Page)

Read my interview with Meljean Brook, author of Demon Bound, and enter the contest for First Blood!


MOVIES & DVDS

Only vampire-y by extremely tortured logic, but still... I just discovered author Rae Lori's Gerard Butler - After Dark blog, a must read for all those hoping for a sequel, prequel and Niquilll version of "Dracula 2000." Visit Rae Lori's writing site and learn more about her Ashen Twilight series.

Watch Hugh Jackman in a trailer for "X-Men Origins: Wolverine." (Fantasy & Sci-Fi Lovin' Blog)

"Twilight" sequel "New Moon" now has a release date. "NEW MOON will hit theaters on November 20, 2009." (iF Magazine)


TELEVISION & THE INTERNETS

As if you needed one more reason to watch "Supernatural" -- it has the best episode titles. "'Are You There, God? It's Me ... Dean Winchester' was my first indication that 'Supernatural' was starting to feel comfortable in its niche and have a little fun." (New York Post)

Interview with "Supernatural" scripter Jeremy Carver. "Originally, this episode was going to be much more of a John/Dean story than a Mary/Dean one. The problem was, with John being a happy-go-lucky, clueless civilian…there was literally nothing for him and Dean to talk about! " (Eclipse Magazine)


GRATUITOUS VIDEO OF THE DAY

Here's a promo for January 2009 "Supernatural" episodes. I love this show, because it combines humor, horror, interesting worldbuilding, and Dean and Sam Winchester driving fast in a sweet ride and blasting rock.



Here's something for Wolverine (Hugh Jackman) fans. It's amazing how Bon Jovi songs make everything better. Dentists should play Slippery When Wet during treatments and then patients would be like, "A root canal? Rock on!"

Vampires: in Kilts, in Shakespeare, and as Puppets

AUTHORS & BOOKS

Read my interview with Meljean Brook, author of the Guardian series, and enter a contest for two copies of First Blood. "The series is a dark urban fantasy romance series, and the Guardians are humans who have been given angelic powers and protect mankind and vampires from demons."

Name an author you'd like to see interviewed for a chance to win an advance reading copy of Kate Perry's Marked By Passion. The contest ends tonight!

I've also got a contest for a copy of my first Casa Dracula novel, Happy Hour at Casa Dracula, which runs through Thursday night. Entering is easy-peasy.

Review of Holiday with a Vampire by Lori Devoti and Merline Lovelace. "Drystan seeks revenge on his adopted family that turned their backs on him during his awkward adolescence. They did not want anyone to know that he was a Myhres." (ParaNormal Romance)

Review of All I Want for Christmas is a Vampire by Kerrelyn Sparks. "If you can get past the main character, a love-starved, long-haired Scottish vampire who wears a kilt and utters phrases such as 'I havena lied to you lass,' you may be able to enjoy All I Want for Christmas Is a Vampire..." (Lake County News-Sun)

Read an excerpt of Kerrelyn Sparks' All I Want for Christmas is a Vampire. "“I’ll be asking the questions, once I have ye restrained.” (Kerrelyn Sparks) Kilts, vampires, and bondage? Kinky.

Read an excerpt from Lori Devoti's Wild Hunt. "Bar patrons, he was as used to dealing with them as he was with handling his own rage. But…his gaze slid over the tables. These patrons were different. The normal scent of sadness and desperation was missing. Instead the place teemed with aggression..." (Lori Devoti)

Contest for a copy of the shapeshifter romance The Amoveo Legacy by Sara Taney Humphreys. "Hey there! We're holding our first contest. It's really easy to enter. " (Amoveo Romance)

Read Felicity Heaton's weekly teaser excerpt from Embracing the Wolf. (Warning: adult content.) "The beast stirred inside her. She pressed her hand to her chest and took deep breaths to calm it. It was only a dream. " (Felicity Heaton)

Need to buy a gift for a vampire fan? Here's a list with sub-categories. (Buy Books) Hmm, no women writers are included in the Vampire Humor section. I may have to come up with a Vampire Wire list.

Editor Paula Guran of Juno Books reports that sales of genre book, including urban fantasy, continue to be strong. "Guran adds that the top seven fantasy paperbacks are Charlaine Harris novels, followed by urban fantasists Kim Harrison and Jim Butcher." (Galleycat)


MOVIES & DVDS

Shakespeare, Stoppard, and Vampires? It's the genius combo of the soon to be released "Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Undead" starring Devon Aoki, Jeremy Sisto, and Ralph Macchio Here's a trailer and here's the film's website.



Watch "Dracula's Daughter" and "Son of Dracula" online. "This cut-rate sequl to Dracula, sans Bela Lugosi, turns out to be an unexpectedly sleek and stylish movie. Gloria Holden, tall, dark, and continental, is the aristocratic title character fighting her nature and seeking a cure for her affliction." (Dillan) Sounds very fab. I may have to watch this.


TELEVISION & THE INTERNETS

Interview with Joss Whedon about his upcoming series "Dollhouse." "I've always believed in a show where every episode contains something that's resolved and the mythology surrounding that becomes what the audience is interested in regardless. " (SyFy Portal)


GRATUITOUS VIDEO OF THE DAY

There are a surprising number of people who felt compelled to make videos based on "Twilight" with puppets. The theme song on this video below is pretty damn fabulous. Warning: Contains spoilers.

Vampire Chat & Book Contest with Meljean Brook, author of THE GUARDIAN Series

"So, I just finally accepted that this is what I do: write about various types of dead people falling in love and having wild monkey sex."

Meljean Brook

"A fascinating, erotic world full of angels, demons, vampires and ambiguity." - Publishers Weekly

"Action packed, with a fascinating, one-of-a-kind vampire hero and a heroine with some very unique qualities. 4-1/2 STARS" - Romantic Times

"It's no secret that I'm 100% obsessed with this series and that I have a major girl crush on Meljean herself. I think she's brilliant as an author..." - Book Binge


Welcome to my new weekly feature, Vampire Chats! Every week I'll have an interview and book contest.

I'm delighted to have Meljean Brook here to talk about her The Guardians series and writing career. Meljean will be giving away two copies of the First Blood anthology. (Contest rules below.)

I have a particular fondness for authors who draw from a variety of sources, crafting their stories from disparate elements, and Meljean is one of those writers. She counts comic books, 17th century poetry, mythology, the supernatural, English and American lit as influences for her dark urban fantasy novels. It's little wonder that she's venturing into steampunk next.

Meljean's the Guardian series includes: Demon Bound, Demon Night, Demon Angel , Demon Moon, and she's contributed to anthologies, including Wild Thing and Hot Spell.

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MARTA: Congratulations on being included in The Mammoth Book of Paranormal Romance. What’s your story about, and why is this book the perfect Christmas present?

MELJEAN: Thank you! My story is called “In Sheep’s Clothing,” and features a young woman who returns to her small hometown to tell the man she left behind that she’s been turned into a werewolf ... and that she’s just bitten the serial killer who has been stalking women in the town.

The Mammoth Book of Paranormal Romance won’t be out in time for Christmas, but The Mammoth Book of Vampire Romance is out now. Anthologies are always perfect for this time of year; everyone is busy and rushing around shopping, cooking, getting everything ready -- and it’s difficult to grab time to read a full-length novel. But novellas and short stories can be usually be read in one sitting. You get a complete story, and don’t have to worry if, when you put the book down, you won’t have time to pick it up again for a while.

MARTA: Tell us a little about you’re the Guardians series and your latest release, Demon Bound.

MELJEAN: The series is a dark urban fantasy romance series, and the Guardians are humans who have been given angelic powers and protect mankind and vampires from demons. The demons, led by Lucifer, are definitely evil -- there won’t be any romances or happily-ever-afters for them in this series.

My latest release, Demon Bound, is about the Black Widow, a Guardian who communicates with spiders and is bound by a bargain with a demon to kill Michael, the leader of the Guardians. Jake Hawkins is a young Guardian who is creeped out by the Black Widow, but who feels he has no choice but to try helping her escape from her bargain. Their book takes them to Hell and back, and was a blast to write. These two characters irritate each other until they begin striking more romantic sparks -- and even then, they are just a lot of fun.

MARTA: How’d you get started on this whole crazy paranormal thing? Isn’t reality good enough for you?

MELJEAN: Reality bites.

No, I’m kidding. I think I’m just wired this way. For as long as I can remember, my reading has always included fairy tales, superheroes, vampires, werewolves, mythology ... basically, anything weird or unseen. And I have a difficult time writing anything that doesn’t involve either the paranormal or some aspect of fantasy/science fiction. I’ve tried to write straight fiction (was required to in many college writing courses) and I either bored myself or ended up throwing a zombie in there (to my professors’ horror.) So, I just finally accepted that this is what I do: write about various types of dead people falling in love and having wild monkey sex.

MARTA: What inspires you, motivates you, or makes you freeze up at the computer?

MELJEAN: The Guardian series is directly inspired by Milton’s Paradise Lost, Neil Gaiman’s & Terry Pratchett’s Good Omens, Batman and Wonder Woman. I find inspiration in many sources: primarily in my reading, but also in some fantasy art, movies, and real life. Not copying them, but taking that feeling they evoke and try to work with it and work the questions they might raise into my writing.

A really great book will always do two things to me: give me that fleeting “Oh, crap -- and I call myself a writer?” feeling, but it will also push me to be a better writer. Although I love the books I’ve written, I also hope I’m never satisfied with my work, or become complacent and think “it’s good enough”; there’s always room for improvement.

And I can usually tell if the story is going really wrong; that’s when I’ll freeze up at the computer. If I’ve taken a character in a direction that doesn’t fit, if I’ve done something to the plot that just doesn’t work, I hit a block and can’t move the story forward. I don’t always know what the problem is until I go back and start pulling on the story threads, but once I’ve figured it out, I know I have to go in and change it -- even if it means completely changing something I’d planned for the book.

So I see that freeze as a good thing. It’s frustrating, sure; but ultimately, it means I’ll be fixing a part of the story that’s gone terribly wrong.

MARTA: How do you even start to do historical research on dragons and angels? Did you have to study Paradise Lost?

MELJEAN: I was in a graduate seminar studying Milton when the idea for the Guardian series began forming. I spent half the class writing notes and the other half writing down ideas for the books and characters. The Guardian mythology veers quickly from the events in Paradise Lost, but there are elements that remain: the role of free will, for example.

The dragons, vampires, angels, and other elements I pulled in from various sources and tied them together, so there are bits and pieces of many other mythologies that go into my worldbuilding (although the core concept is that demons were originally angels who rebelled against Heaven.) I owe it to the reading preferences I described earlier: if it was weird, paranormal, or related to mythology, I was reading it. So by the time I began to write this series, I had a nice well of ideas to draw from, and shelves of books to reference.

MARTA: What’s next for you?

MELJEAN: I’m currently working on the fifth full-length book in the Guardian series (there will eventually be eight). It will be out (I believe) in late 2009 or early 2010. In the summer of 2009, a Guardian story is included in the anthology Must Love Hellhounds, along with Charlaine Harris, Nalini Singh, and Ilona Andrews -- all fabulous authors. Then, I’ll be working on a new series of steampunk romances called the Iron Seas. I’m ridiculously excited about those.

MARTA: How do you keep track of all the rules in the Guardian world? Do you have a cheat sheet?

MELJEAN: I don’t have a cheat sheet. All of the rules are very solidly in my head, and they all have a reason behind them. Every once in a while I will go back to see exactly how I worded a detail about the worldbuilding in the books, but that’s just for consistency. Nothing drives me crazy like a series that doesn’t hold true to the rules it has set, so I try very hard not to break any of mine ... even when it would be easier to ignore some of them.

I recently outlined the story arcs that will be resolved by the end of the series, just to make certain everything that needs to be wrapped up will be addressed, but at this point, the worldbuilding won’t expand very much. The first four books threw it all out there; now, I’ve just got to play with what’s been written.

For readers who haven’t had a chance to read those four books, however, there is hope: almost everything a reader needs to know about the Guardian world and the storyline so far is in the primer on my website.

MARTA: “Supernatural” is now featuring angels battling demons. Do you think angels are the new vampires? Can you envision a teen story about a girl falling in love with an angel who goes to her high school? What would be pros and cons of such a relationship?

MELJEAN: I’m not sure if anything will ever replace vampires, although I can see angels becoming more popular -- especially since bestselling authors like J.R. Ward and Nalini Singh will be starting their own angel series soon. Whenever I read the publishing news, both angels and demons seem to be selling (in romance, young adult, and urban fantasy), and it might be that shows like Supernatural will have the same effect that Buffy once did, and the angels/demons will have an even greater spike (heh, pun not intended, but fun) in popularity.

A young girl falling in love with an angel -- I think that would depend on the angel. If he’s a holier-than-thou type, she might just want to smack him; if he’s the scary, warrior-angel type, she might fear ever sinning or breaking any rules. On the other hand, if she does sin, she’s got an in with the Dudes Upstairs. So maybe she’d get a free pass through the Pearly Gates with the right boyfriend.

I think the best part would be dating someone with wings. While all of the other girls are worrying about having a car or a boyfriend with a car, you’d get the guy who could fly you home. (Of course, if you’re like me and live in the Pacific Northwest where it rains all of the time, that wouldn’t be so awesome.)

And you’d save on gas.

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Thanks so much to Meljean for answering my questions! She'll be dropping by through the week to answer any questions you have for her.

Learn more about Meljean and her books and read sample chapters on her website.

Visit Meljean on her blog, or at MySpace.

If you'd like to win one of two copies of First Blood, with stories by Meljean, Susan Sizemore, Erin McCarthy and Chris Marie Green, just leave a comment! The contest runs through Saturday night, 12/20, and winners will be chosen at random.

Meljean Brook Interview & Contest, "New Moon" Director, the Many Faces of Keanu

AUTHORS & BOOKS

NEWS ABOUT VAMPIRE CHATS: At some point in the middle of the night it struck me that another blog was too many, so I will be hosting weekly author interviews and book contests here on vampire wire, instead of a separate blog. Today my guest is Meljean Brook, so scroll up and learn more about Meljean and her dark urban fantasy series, the Guardians.

Kimberly Swan of Darque Reviews has named Vampire Wire for a Kreative Blogger award! Thanks, Kimberly, and I'll get right back to ya once I have a minute.

SciFi Guy reviews M.L.N. Hanover's Unclean Spirits. "The Demon Riders are an interesting twist on the usual paranormal cast of vampires, demons and werewolves; in this case demons usurp the bodies of humans casting out their souls."

Review of Dead After Dark by Sherrilyn Kenyon, J.R. Ward, Susan Squires, and Dianna Love. "This anthology was truly a mixed bag. One story I loathed, one I loved, one I liked, and one…meh." (The Good, The Bad, The Unread)

Review of J.R. Ward's Black Dagger Brotherhood series. "I’ve enjoyed this series a lot and not just because it’s main characters are vampires either. Ward’s books are truly interesting and truthfully, since the author has made her vampires so different it’s sometimes quite easy to forget that is what they are." (Review of Things)

Sidhe Vicious has a list of December book releases including Undying by V.K. Forrest and Phantom's Touch by Julie Leto.

Michelle Hauf, author of The Devil to Pay, wants your suggestions about having a new vampire site. "But is there something missing? Some part of the vampire genre that needs to be addressed? I'm not sure. Have you looked at the Ultimate VampList? Go take a look, and send suggestions for a blog." (Dusted by Whimsy)


MOVIES & DVDS

Well, this is a bummer: because "Twilight" is such a huge hit, a remake of the dark and edgy "Near Dark" will probably be canceled. "But I’m concerned that, conceptually, that ‘Near Dark’ and ‘Twilight’ are too similar in terms of a vampire movie." (MTV) Seriously, WTF? Katheryn Bigelow's cult western/trailer trash/vamp movie cannot be compared to sparkly "Twilight."

Author Catherine Karp has a terrific and comprehensive list of upcoming vampire movies. " I'll be updating the list throughout 2009. Enjoy!" (Suburban Vampire)

Watch a vastly entertaining slide show of Keanu Reeve's fabulous facial expressions. (New York Magazine) It's called ACTING!

Chris Weitz has been named the director of "New Moon," the sequel to "Twilight." "On the one hand, Weitz has shown his skill at adapting popular modern novels for the screen -- 'About a Boy,' from the Nick Hornby novel..." (Los Angeles Times)

Stephanie Meyer confirms that Chris Weitz has been named as the "New Moon" director. "I've had the chance to talk to Chris, and I can tell you that he is excited by the story and eager to keep the movie as close to the book as possible." (Stephanie Meyer)

"Kiss of the Vampire" to be released on DVD soon. "Hamilton, Ohio was a sleepy little town. That is until a covenant of vampires decides to feed there." (Horror Yearbook)

Another "Blade" movie will be made and take the franchise in a different direction. "[David Goyer] had some good news for anyone hoping to see another film based on Marvel’s day-walking vampire hunter, Blade." (Splash Page)

Information about Joss Whedon's horror movie project, "A Cabin in the Woods." "Few writers have shown an ability to tweak and play with the conventions of genre like Joss Whedon." (Box Office Prophets)


TELEVISION & THE INTERNETS

I don't know where this goes, but black lipstick was big on the runway this year. "Not to be outdone, Smashbox created Sultry exclusively for Sephora — the result is a subtle red-black gloss for those unwilling to totally cross over to the dark side." (New York Magazine)


GRATUITOUS VIDEO OF THE DAY

Here's a tribute to Kathryn Bigelow's terrific vampire movie "Near Dark." The song's a little too "Footloose" for me, but the intention is appreciated.



Which brings us, of course, to "Footloose." Here is the thrilling, edge-of-your seat tractor race. It couldn't have been any more exciting unless they used Big Wheels. Amazingly, Kevin Bacon survived this movie and remains sizzle-licious.