New Book Releases; Contest Reminder; Ghostfacers; Rutger Hauer

CONTEST REMINDER

Okay, I was hoping to see more nominees for Vampire Wire's Ultimate Hawt Video List, so I'm extending the contest another week. (The information about the contest is in the MOVIES section of the post.) Prizes include any one of my Casa Dracula novels, Michelle Hauf's The Devil to Pay, and Natasha Rhodes' The Last Angel. I really like Jackie Ballway's suggestion of Rutger Hauer, which is really considering more than the usual suspects.


AUTHORS & BOOKS

On Monday, I'll have an interview and contest with Caridad Pineiro about her The Calling series and her new release, Fury Calls. CataRomance says about her latest, "Readers rejoice! The Calling series is back with more dynamic characters and a particularly chilling storyline, where passions and hopes are profoundly heartfelt. Caridad Pineiro has struck gold one again, as this incomparable story is a winner on every level."

Patricia Altner has a list of interesting paranormal and urban fantasy releases for 2009. The list includes summaries, covers, and links to excerpts, including one for J.F. Lewis's new book, Revamped. "Eric has lost his strip club, his Mustang, and even Marilyn, the elderly love of his (mortal) life. Even his body was obliterated. In short, they almost got him. But when you're a vampire, "almost" is a very important word." (Patricia's Vampire Notes)

Read the summary and the first chapter of Christine Feehan's upcoming release, Burning Wild. "Born into a world of twisted monsters, Jake Bannaconni is shaped and molded into a cold, revenge driven man. "

Review of Wondrous Strange by Lesley Livingston. "We always think of fairies as being sparkly and magical creatures, and I think Livingston's writing spins that beautifully. You can almost picture it all in your mind and sigh a little at the beauty. Just well done all around." (Suburban Trash)


TELEVISION & THE INTERNETS

Read a recap of last night's "It's a Terrible Life" episode of "Supernatural." "Dean wakes up, but this is not the Dean we know and love. He’s in a nice suit, drinks a soy latte, and drives off in his Prius while listening to NPR. He works in an office where his nameplate says Dean Smith. He eats salads and talks about diet plans and his love of Project Runway. The saddest part is that I could actually envision myself being friends with this Dean." (Buddy TV)

I thought it was a pretty silly episode, almost like a filler, but I happen to have a fondness for silliness. I particularly liked it when the Bizarro-world Sam and Dean watched a video by the Ghostfacers. Who are the Ghostfacers? Watch and learn.


GRATUITIOUS VIDEO OF THE DAY

Some of you may remember Rutger Hauer from "Bladerunner," the original and terrifying "Hitcher," "Ladyhawke," and the "Buffy, the Vampire Slayer" movie. If you're like me, you saw him in cult art films like Nicholas Roeg's "Eureka." Don't ask.

He's been in a surprising number of movies with "blood" somewhere in the title:



It's Friday, which means I have gone a week without posting a Gerard Butler in "Dracula 2000" GVD. Indulge me.

Treasure Keeper, Road Trip of the Living Dead, "Being Human"

AUTHORS & BOOKS

Review of Shanna Abe's Treasure Keeper. "These stories combine romance with fantasy elements (a village in the heart of 18th century England whose residents can turn from human to smoke and from smoke to dragon) that I have never found to be too heavy-handed or overly detailed..." (Dear Author)

Read an excerpt from Treasure Keeper by Shanna Abe'. "The candlelight lent a soft-shadowed clarity to the musicians before him. He admired their satin jackets and their old-fashioned rolled wigs, their hands moving over bows and valves and strings in effortless harmony. Rhys didn’t know the piece they were performing, but it illumed his surroundings as much as the chandeliers did."

Review of Mark Henry's new novel, Road Trip of the Living Dead. "Amanda's vampire best friend Gil has started a new business - Luxury Resurrections, Inc. If you want to become a vampire, Gil will arrange, for a hefty price, of course, for you to become 'resurrected' just the way you want it." (Mrs. Giggles)

Read chapter one of Mark Henry's Happy Hour of the Damned. "A few hints: the damned of Seattle congregate at the Orphanage on Tuesday nights for half-price nibbles and cocktail specials, Convent on Thursdays, for Burlesque of the Living Dead, and Pharmacy on Fridays, which is brand new, and I have never been (don’t let that stop you, I hear it’s mind-blowing) . . ."

Review of Tracy Madison's A Taste of Magic. "It’s time for a change. And change comes when her grandmother Verda, presents her with a very special gift on her 35th birthday: the ability to do magic." (The Book Smugglers)

Review of Hearts in Darkness by Keri Arthur. "...each book features the same main protagonists (Nikki, a psychic private investigator and Michael a 360 year old vampire who investigates supernatural crimes) and with each story their relationship develops a little further, so it really is necessary to read these books in order." (Love Vampires)

Review of Angel's Blood by Nalini Singh. "Being the best isn’t always a good thing and Elena Deveraux is about to find that out. When she is called in front of an archangel in Manhattan, she assumes it’s to hunt a wayward vampire." (Scooper Speaks)


MOVIES & DVDS

Taye Diggs will play a vampire baddie in "Dead of Night." "However, reading some details about it there are two things that instantly have my interest: That it will contains vampires, zombies and werewolves, and that the special effects makeup is being done by Drac Studios. " (Screen Rant)


TELEVISION & THE INTERNETS

Review of the "On the Head of a Pin" episode of "Supernatural." "So why is this episode head and shoulders above the rest of the season, and perhaps the series? I can only explain it with one of my favorite Spinal Tap quotes. 'This one goes to eleven.'" (Blogcritics)

Dean and Sam Winchester rock out the corporate droneage in the next episode of "Supernatural." "Fans of Supernatural' will have a couple of weeks to prepare themselves for this sight: irreverent, classic-rock-loving demon hunter Dean Winchester (Jensen Ackles) wearing a suit and tie, working as a middle manager at a corporation, listening to NPR and drinking lattes. " (Chicago Tribune)


GRATUITOUS VIDEO OF THE DAY

Here's a new video featuring Sam Winchester (Jared Paladecki) to hold over "Supernatural" fans until the next show.



Princess Allie nominated Aidan Turner of the BBC paranormal dramady, "Being Human" for Vampire Wire's Ultimate Hawt Vampire List. Thanks for the suggestion, Princess Allie! For those unfamiliar with Aidan Turn and "Being Human", here's a taste.

Vampires in Boots, The Movie; and "Bleed" Preview

AUTHORS & BOOKS

SciFi Guy took me up on my request for one of his fab cover-theme videos. He did a much better job than I could have. Thanks, SciFi Guy! Enjoy and feel free to share.



Mayra Calvani interviewed for her new Latino Lit feature in the Examiner: "Marta Acosta's World of Vampires." "Many people find the combination of blood and eternal life to be very exciting. As part of my research for a young adult gothic, I read vampire poems and stories that go back hundreds of years – and they’re still really marvelously creepy."

Kimberly Swan reviews Karen Chance's Curse the Dawn. "This is the fourth book in the Cassandra Palmer series, and follows Cassie through her latest hair-raising adventure. Ms. Chance shares a great bit of humor at her heroine’s expense, and strengthens the character as she works to gain control of her gifts." (Darque Reviews)

Interview with Chris Farnsworth, who just got a major three-book deal (thanks to Alexandra Machinist, who is also my fabulous agent) for his new Blood Oath series. "To me, it makes a weird kind of sense: this is the President of the United States of America, the leader of the free world. Of course he has his own vampire." (Washington Post) Congrats, Chris!

Read an excerpt from Barb Hendee's Blood Memories. "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."

TELEVISION & THE INTERNETS

Ben Snyder was good enough to share his online vampire series, "Bleed," with Vampire Wire. I watched the first part and was very pleasantly surprised. Very entertaining, particularly the role of the snarky best friend, Perry.



Review of erotic vampire puppet show, "Dracula Del Lobo." "All this vampiric attention, or perhaps it's just those sultry South American nights, causes Lucy and Mina to become, well, really good friends. I found it a bit odd watching little paper puppets carrying on like some soft-core horror/porno. But hey, it was a sacrifice for art's sake." (Hai Irouchuujin)


MOVIES & DVDS

"New Moon" has cast actors for the wolf pack. "American Indian actors Chaske Spencer, Bronson Pelletier, Alex Meraz, Kiowa Gordon and Tyson Houseman have been cast as members of the wolf pack in Summit's adaptation of Stephenie Meyer's 'The Twilight Saga: New Moon.'" (Monsters & Critics)

Watch a trailer for the live-action adaptation of "Blood, the Last Vampire."




GRATUITOUS VIDEO OF THE DAY

Vampire Wire continues our Hawt Vampire List and sort of contest thing (and Michele Hauf is contributing one of her books to the prizes) with a GVD to Stuart Townsend as Lestat, a fave of many.

Vampires and Hunters in Black Leather Boots, Oh, My!

BOOKS & AUTHORS

First, the Urban Elitest has an interview with my e-pals, Sarah and Candy of Smart Bitches Trashy Books, who have a guide to romance novels coming out next month. The interview links to my The Quintessential Smart Bitches Interview with the Sarah and Candy, one of the most fun interviews I've ever done.

On to paranormally things.

The cover for Paramatch.com by M.C. Mankos carries on the theme of funny, sexy paranormal books with covers featuring girls in black leather boots. There's also Michelle Rowen's Fanged & Fabulous and Mario Acevedo's The Nymphos of Rocky Flats.

So I started wondering how many other books out there have the vamp/boots combo. Now, I tried but couldn't do a slideshow (I shall leave that to the very talented SciFi Guy), but I did find a range of covers.

Okay, the funny paranormals went for black leather boots and a brightly covered background, such as the books above. The addition of more authors, such as in the anthology, These Boots Were Made for Stomping, took the boots to a cheap streetwalker level and the colors to a children's party excess. Fendi, Ferragamo, and Fangs puts a fashionista spin on the boots.



Cover models reflect youthful rebellion by wearing black leather boots with or without their school uniforms on Girls That Growl (shouldn't that be Girls Who Growl?) by Mari Mancusi and The Dead Girls' Dance by Rachel Caine.

Urban Fantasy celebrates girls in black leather boots very goth fonts, murky colors and an over-the-knee attitude in White Witch, Black Curse by Kim Harrison and Halfway to the Grave by Jeaniene Frost.

Can you think of any others? Maybe I'll try to do a slideshow later. I already spent way too much time on my earlier attempts.


GRATUITOUS VIDEO OF THE DAY

I'll feature videos to some of your nominees for Vampire Wire's Hawt Vampire List and Contestish Thing. Here's one of my faves, Spike (James Marsters) from "Buffy."



"Moonlight" fans, here's a new Mick St. John (Alex O'Loughlin) vid. I suppose it's too much for me to ask for songs that rock out.

Vampire Wire's Ultimate Hawt Vampire List & Maybe a Contest

AUTHORS & BOOKS

UPDATE: The Ultimate Hawt Vampire List Contestish Thing has been extended one more week! Read info below in the "Movies & DVDS" section.

LOTS of prizes in the Rites of Spring Contest, including a signed copy of Helen Scott Taylor's The Magic Knot. (Infinite Worlds of Fantasy) Helen will be a guest at Vampire Wire soon, too, so you'll get to learn more about her wonderful new novel.

Lori Devoti, author of the upcoming Dark Crusade, is having a month long contest with many prizes as part of her Full-Moon of Werewolves contest. "30 days of posts about werewolves by werewolf-loving paranormal romance and urban fantasy authors and Prizes!! "

Review of Passion Unleashed by Larissa Ione. "Larissa is one heck of a paranormal romance writer. She has a skill for creating the most twisted demonic characters and for writing a book that is actually very touching because amidst all heaven breaking loose, the whole evil world going at it, there is still enough space for a very human feeling called love. " (Reading Extravaganza)

Kimberly Swan reviews Ghostland by Jory Strong. "Living in the aftermath of war and plague, Aisling McConaughey has been raised to keep her shamaness gifts hidden." (Darque Reviews)

Review of Paramatch.com by MK Mancos. "Jager Cronus is a Titan – the deposed leader of the Titans, in fact – in search of romance, and he’s pretty sure he’s found it at Lucilla Wainwright’s dating service for those with paramaladies." (Literary Nymphs Reviews Only)

Read a summary and an excerpt of Paramatch.com by MK Mancos. "Dating in today’s world is tough enough. Pair it with a paranormalady, and Lucille Wainwright is living the recipe for loneliness. Born a talentless witch in a family of legendary spellcasters, she’s managed to carve a niche for herself with ParaMatch.com, a matchmaking service for paranormal beings. " (Samhain)


MOVIES & DVDS

Newsweek took time from the world economic calamity and various wars and crises to select the ten hawtest vampires. Number One on the list is Max Schreck as Nosfaratu (left).

What kind of crack are these people smoking? That's why vampire coverage should be left to professionals like Vampire Wire, who would have composed an entirely different list with at least three of the top ten vampires being Gerard Butler as Dracula.

In fact, I'm so outraged by the idiocy of Newsweek's list (can we say, cashing-in-on-'Twilight" anyone? I think we can) that I'm putting together Vampire Wire's Ultimate Hawt Vampire List & Maybe a Contest.

NEWS UPDATE: Michele Hauf is contributing one copy of her very sexy The Devil to Pay to the prize list, which I'm still compiling.

NEWS UPDATE II: Hachette Books is contributing FIVE COPIES of Larissa Ione's April release, Passion Unleashed, as prizes!

Please tell me your ideas on the hawtest film or television vamps and I'll compile them using a highly scientific formula based on whether I agree with you or think your judgement dangerous and unreliable. If you think I should give a prize for this, we can talk about it. I have some of my Casa Dracula books around, which are excellent for throwing at your boss, using to balance out a wobbly table leg, and reading in the bathtub with a glass of wine.

I'll try to get a few more prizes if that's necessary for your participation. (Authors, if you want to throw in a prize, talk to me.) I'll post the list next week.

The hate for "Lesbian Vampire Killers" is universal. "Badly directed, poorly acted, witlessly scripted, it's a black hole that not even a Simon Pegg could fill. " (The Guardian)

"Twilight" DVD, with behind-the-scenes info on Robert Pattinson, who plays Edward Cullen, will please fans. "'Twilight,' the box office sensation based on the novel by Stephenie Meyer, turns out to be better suited to the small screen than the big one. The DVD format is more forgiving of the less-than- seamless special effects, bad wigs and chalk-white makeup, and the filmmakers and actors are so lively and friendly in behind-the-scenes interviews that the mixed-bag film itself seems to improve as a result. " (Sacramento Bee)


TELEVISION & THE INTERNETS

Charlie Jane Anders gives Joss Whedon's "Dollhouse" a rave review. "Joss Whedon keeps his promises - last night's Dollhouse was a handsome reward to everyone who'd been paying attention to the series' first five weeks, while still introducing the basic premise to the newbies." (i09) What a treat to discover that author Charlie Jane reviews! She's the hilariously funny host of Writers with Drinks series in San Francisco, and a seriously tough act to follow.

I thought the episode was awfully good, too, and interesting twists and plotlines were developed. Everyone who's waiting through the initial episodes, which Fox required to be dumbed down, is relieved that Whedon can now be the awesome dude he truly is.

Here's another good review. "With the Joss Whedon penned “Man on the Street,” DOLLHOUSE fully embraced its inner mythology, shed all of its convoluted storytelling and got back to what Whedon does best – telling interesting, funny and complicated stories with a healthy sci-fi edge." (IF Magazine0

Interview with William Sanderson, who plays Sheriff Bud Dearborn on "True Blood." "I know they were looking for authentic Southern accents -- which has been both a blessing and a curse to me." (TrueBlood.net)

Tragically, the South doesn't produce enough actors for this series. Co-stars are from other locales. Anna Paquin is Canadian, Stephen Moyer is English; Ryan Kwanten is Australian, Rutina Wesley is from Nevada... But Sam Trammell, who plays Sam Merlotte, is from Louisiana.


GRATUITOUS VIDEO OF THE DAY

Okay, here's a spanking new "Supernatural" tribute. The music is as corny as Kansas in August. I recommend you turn off the music and sing a Bob Seger song while you watch.



Here's a tribute to Sam Winchester and the demon Ruby set to a much better song.