"Wry, witty, fully illustrated and bloody essential guide."
Monsters & Critics
The charming online promoter at Penguin Books offered a prize for a contest: Vampire Taxonomy by Meredith Woener, which is being released today. Now, I know you were thinking, "Do vampires pay taxes and need a guide to the tax code?" The answer is a resounding "Yes!" Or maybe this is a book about something else.
Here's the publisher's description:
Vampires are all around-books, movies, TV, comics- infiltrating our culture like never before. But what happens if one should run into a real vamp on the street? Vampire Taxonomy is the best defense against a fatal encounter in the dark.
For the reader's protection, Meredith Woerner reveals the truth about:
•Sunlight sensitivity-Do vamps venture out in the day or stick solely to the evening hours? •Physiology-When ready to feed, do they change appearance or simply lure with the seductive flash of a fang? •Dress-Are they decked out in leather with aspirations of becoming the first vampire rock stars or do they cling to Gothic robes and ruffled collars?
•Diet-Are they waging a never-ending struggle against the temptation of human blood or do they view the world as their personal blood buffet?
My online pals Derek Tatum at Mondo Vampire and Patricia Altner at Patricia's Vampire Notes are also having contests for this book, so visit them for more chances to win. Eerek reviewed the book and says, "While this book is mainly meant as a bit of a lark, Woerner's knowledge of the subject shines through. It is also fairly up-to-date, and Woerner acknowledges that there is more to current vampire pop culture than Buffy, True Blood, and Twilight."
To enter the contest: Just leave a comment with a bit of advice about dealing with vampires or paranormal creatures. Like "Don't assume your werewolf guest wants to use the dog door to get in and out of the house." Or "Allow your vampire friend to wear her cape inside even on warm days."
The contest is limited to U.S. and Canada residents and runs through November 15. A winner will be selected at random.
Kimberly Swan has a promo, description and chapter link for Darker Angels by M.L. Hanover. (Darque Reviews)Rebecca at Dirty Sexy Books has lots of really great stuff in her New & Noteworthy post: the cover and info on Bitter Night by Diana Pharaoh Francis, Eternal Hunger by Cynthia Eden, a list of top ten vampire books...and lots more.
"Supernatural"
Very interesting episode with amusing scenes of Dean and Sam Winchester magically thrown into the worlds of television shows. (I particularly liked them as the doctors, but they were great with their sunglasses in the cop procedural.) Although most of the show felt like, creator Eric Kripke was telling us a lot of what he feels about the series through the characters. "It's only television." "Cable, 300 channels and nothing's on." There was something, too, about a series going on too long.
Oh, and the commercial! I walked away and when I came back I realized it was a spoof and rewound it for the whole very funny ad. And Dean's awe and admiration when meeting "Dr. Sexy" in the hospital show, delightful.
You can read the episode's recap at BuddyTV
Maureen Ryan at the Chicago Tribune also has a nice write-up. "The opening credits were absolutely awesome. I can only imagine how much fun the writers, production team and actors had putting this sequence together. Every single aspect of it was golden, from the song to the typeface to the "We're just brothers goofing around and having a few laughs" scenes. That was just a heaping slab of hilarious right there. Honestly -- tandem bike!"
Beyond the episode recap, Maureen discusses the direction of the show and development of the characters.
GRATUITOUS VIDEOS OF THE DAY
It's Friday and I always think we need something that's a little livelier on Fridays. Especially if it features guys in black pleather.
Yeah, I know I've had these vids on before. Did I mention that I do this blog for free?
22 comments:
I would advise to always have bloody mary mix on hand for those vampire friends that like to drop by unexpected.
Don't try to hook up your vampire friend on a blind date with a zombie. Sure, they are both undead, but the two reall don't mix well.
jissilly@yahoo.com
Never mention the reflection thing to a female vampire, they don't like to be reminded that their eyebrows aren't even.
Great advice! Who knew there were so many etiquette and social problems with supernatural creatures?
Always keep an extra change of clothes in case of werewolf changings
When entertaining vampires wear a turtleneck anything that exposes your throat could be percieved as suggestive.
Keep the ear plugs handy whenever a banshee drops in.
When you see a zombie in a the street covered in dirt and red stains, show him to the nearest salvation army. Zombies were people once, you know.
Sue
okibi_insanity[at]yahoo[dot]com
I would advise, if you have vampires coming over, to refrain from playing pick up sticks. Anyone else remember the old myth that vampires had to count everything, because they were OCD? Hence Count von Count on Seasame Street. Gee, who knew that show could be education!
Thanks!
Morning Glow
ohmorningglow AT aol DOT com
Mary D
zenrei57 (at) hotmail (dot) com
In my experience, I've learned it is best to avoid including your undead friends (such as vamps)when hosting any type of cocktail/dinner engagement. Any mention of steaks (stakes) is an unforgiveable faux pas, and, frankly, I've yet to meet a vampire who can hold their liquor. There is nothing more shocking to the social graces than a vampire wearing a lampshade and getting down to "Low" to Flo Rida beneath the buffet table.
make sure you invite your vampire friends inside before dawn or they might vanish before your eyes.
Always, always, always remember that though they may have fangs or even claws, some supernatural creatures are in fact very touchy about how their kind are treated in pop culture and will not find showings of Supernatural or Buffy humorous or entertaining!
(Though I do find both entertaining and humorous! I'm so, so behind on SPN-like S3-but I got my brother watching it so we're going from the beginning.)
-Lucile
When mixing drinks for a vampire make sure you don't use holy water when making a scotch & water.
seriousreader at live dot com
don't make little people jokes around the leprachauns.
-lauren
lauren51990 AT aol DOT com
Keep a bag of blood around in case they get the munchies and you're all tapped out!
Thanks,
Tracey D
booklover0226 AT gmail DOT com
My advice is the whole can't go out in sunlight is b.s. So, watch your neck on sunny days too.
If you're going to hang around vampires wear a turtleneck sweater!! LOL!
wandanamgreb(at)gmail(dot)com
Always bring a gift for the host/hostess. A bottle of the best red and preferably alcoholic, assuming the donor had been imbibing at time of donation.
My advice? Be sensitive if your on a date with a vamp and nix the garlic bread, and don't wear your good silver jewelry. :-)
My advice would be to always be careful around sharp objects. Since you don't want to inspire any ravishing blood lust from getting a papercut.
Valorie
Always wait at least an hour after sunset before calling to be polite.
Be careful who you invite into your home. You might want to think twice.
lizzi0915 at aol dot com
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