SOULLESS, New Robert Pattinson Pics, and Damon Salvatore

Read a review of Gail Carriger's first Alexia Tarabotti novel, Soulless. "Miss Tarabotti is a well-bred spinster with an aggressively independent personality, no marriage prospects, and no soul. As one of the soulless, referred to politely as preternatural, or impolitely as soul-sucker, her touch cancels out all of the supernatural attributes of vampires, werewolves, and ghosts." (BSC)

You can listen to the first chapter of Soulless at Gail Carriger's website.

I love the elegant, chic, hip cover for this book, and also the cover for her next one, Changeless. I'm definitely getting a Jasper Fforde/The Eyre Affair vibe from her books.



Paranormal Romance recommends Keri Arthur's Riley Jensen books for those in need of a new series. "Lots of action. Riley is a strong, smart and capable heroine. She’s a guardian so she has a purpose in life and loves what she does. Her line of work makes for some interesting plot lines and battles. But little details in the series are also a kind of weird and goofy at times. For example: Riley can shift into a sea gull … which I think is totally funny."


Vanity Fair has compiled all their Robert Pattinson/"Twilight" photos and articles, including their latest photo shoot/article with Pattinson, who plays Edward Cullen in the series based on Stephanie Meyer's books. "It’s early August, and though he’s been in New York filming Remember Me, a romantic melodrama in which he plays a privileged N.Y.U. student coping with a family tragedy, he hasn’t really seen any of New York, he explains."

I got an email from a young video maker, Ryan Turner, who told me about his "Twilight"/"True Blood" video spoofing the shows. My favorite part is the "True Blood" theme song riff. So for your viewing pleasure, here's Ryan's video, "Vampire Anachronism." Thanks for sharing, Ryan!




GRATUITOUS VIDEO OF THE DAY

I posted one of BloodyWidow's vids last week, and here's another one of her videos, this one to the supernaturally beautiful Ian Somerhalder who plays Damon Salvatore in "Vampire Diaries."



Here's a good one for Damon Salvatore, "a snake with blue eyes who only comes out at night," but the embedding is disabled so you have to Click On the Link.

Free E-Book of Charlie Houston's ALREADY DEAD

If you like to read digital books, a site called Suvutu is offering a free download of Charlie Huston's vampire book, Already Dead.

"From the Battery to the Bronx, and from river to river, Manhattan is crawling with Vampyres. Joe is one of them, and he's not happy about it. Yeah, he gets to be stronger and faster than you, and he's tough as nails and hard to kill. But spending his nights trying to score a pint of blood to feed the Vyrus that's eating at him isn't his idea of a good time. And Joe doesn't make it any easier on himself. Going his own way, refusing to ally with the Clans that run the undead underside of Manhattan—it ain't easy. It's worse once he gets mixed up with the Coalition—the city's most powerful Clan—and finds himself searching for a poor little rich girl who's gone missing in Alphabet City."

Have a great weekend!

Vamp Web Comic; Transylmania, and Adios, Gerard Butler

I just found this vampire graphic novel on the internets. Abandon, written and created by Greg Carter and illustrated by Elliot Dombo, begins with "Born in Blood":

Lamashtu, Sumerian demon and the First Vampire, has hidden herself behind many lives. Currently she is Laila McCarthy, Professor of Ancient Cultures. On a military-led artifact recovery mission she faces the forces of an old enemy. Studying the relics with a handsome agent of the Bureau of Evil Elimination brings her ever closer to danger.

The site is a mix of the novel, music videos, a blog, other stuff. Check it out and tell me what you think.

QUESTION FOR YOU: I got an offer to give away invites to a new online vampire game called City of Eternals. Now, I'm not an online gaming person, but if you are and would be interested in getting one of these invites, leave a comment and I'll arrange the giveaway with the gaming company . If not, that's cool, too.

Okay, you know how you're skimming a page and misread something? Well, I do that all the time. Anyway, all apologies to Michelle Rowen, but I misread this title as "Hot Smell." Yeah, I did a double-take. Cheeky Reads says that what she loved about Hot Spell is "how Michelle created a paranormal plot that was fun and upbeat, and paired that with the deep emotional issues that the heroine Amanda has. It was a great balance that allowed the reader to have fun with the otherworldly aspects while keeping the drama on the development of the relationship."

Sara Bimmel tackles ten misleading vampire myths at Star Costumes. "...vampires surprisingly have a lot in common with cheerleaders. The bloodsuckers have become so ingrained in popular culture that we accept rumors about them as true, no matter how far off they may be from the real legend." Kinda interesting that staff at a costume company are now blogging, but I think it's also kinda awesome. I would have liked my jobs more if they'd like me blog my theories about paranormal misconceptions. I say kudos to Ms. Bimmel for convincing her boss that this is a good way to spend her time.

Michelle at Michelle's Book Blog reviews Blood Blade by Marcus Pelegrimas, the first book in his Skinners series. "I like that the author has added his own spin to his critters - they are basically indestructible - with bullets bouncing right off the hides of the were's and the vamps having a tentacled growth inside their body that forces them to drink blood."

I blame Mel Brooks. Yes, before Mel Brooks, there could be a trend in movies and the trend would die. But then Mel Brooks did the brilliant send-up of Western movies with "Blazing Saddles." And people who were less talented than Mel said, "I can do that." They could just like I could pilot a supersonic jet: badly and with disastrous results. Which is why we now have a stupid spoof movie for every blockbuster film.

John Golson gives a very gentle and understanding review of "Transylmania" at Cinematical. "Yes, it's all so zany, in a way that feels as creaking and ancient as Radu's castle, but I get the feeling that's sort of the point. Never any more comically ambitious than an episode of Three's Company, Transylmania dodges the bullet of being looked upon as completely unwatchable garbage by being "wocka-wocka" dopey and not as interested in inert pop culture parody as it is in broad farce.


GRATUITOUS VIDEOS OF THE DAY

If it's Friday and Vampire Wire concludes its GVDs of Gerard Butler Week.



Special thanks to BadGirl2Bad4You for some bitchin videos of Gerard Butler.

A Very Special Penguin Vampire Edition & "True Blood" the Sitcom!

I'm very caught up in my recent rewrite for Casa Dracula Book Four (still no title!), so I'm just going to post a few things for your amusement.

Derek Tatum at Mondo Vampire is reviewing the Penguin Book of Vampire Stories. At first I was really excited, because PENGUINS! ICE FLOWS! VAMPIRES! I mean, this sounded frickin awesome! But then I found out that it was just a collection of stories without any flightless bird. So tragic to waste this opportunity!

Love Vampires has an interview with NYT bestselling author Melissa De La Cruz about her Blue Bloods series. "I was a huge horror and sci fi fantasy reader back in my youth, and I had always loved the genre. I think Harry Potter definitely opened up the floodgates and publishers were more interested in fantasy/vampire books than they were before."

If you're the werewolf type, you might want to know about the actors cast as weres and shifter in the upcoming season of HBO's "True Blood." No word on whether we will see were-penguins. Theo Alexander is playing the hawt new vampire, adding to the whole Alexander theme of the cast. Am I the only one who can imagine the hilarity that would ensue of Jason Alexander dropped into Merlotte's? Okay, so it's just me.

"True Blood" - The Sit-Com!

Some cursing in this so don't play it loud in the office.




GRATUITOUS VIDEOS OF THE DAY

There has been a lot of demand for Gerard Butler videos. The video is by BadGirlBad4You who has a Gerard Butler channel at YouTube. Hope this makes you happy!

Guest Blog & Contest; Miniature Eric Northman; and Salvatore/Winchester Bros.

In case you've exhausted your passion for Persian Cat figurines and want your very own Eric Northman (Alexander Skarsgard) or Bill Compton (Stephen Moyers) replica, they'll be available soon. And, yes, the Eric Northman statuette is bigger than the Bill Compton one.

I'm guest blogging today at Enchanted by Books and having a contest for one of my Casa Dracula books. Come by and tell me what holiday movie SHOULDN'T be made with a vampire theme.

Book Bound is also having a contest based on a paranormal Christmas. And the prize is that book with the awful candy-cane cover design!

Mandi at Smexy Books has a list of news from some of your favorite authors, including J.R. Ward and Larissa Ione. "I'm a huge fan of Ilona and Gordon Andrews' Magic series. They have a really fun blog that they update on a regular basis. They not only give you a really good insight into their writing process, but they are funny!"

If you've got a great werewolf/shifter book that you'd like to recommend, they're discussing the subgenre over at Shelfari.


GRATUITOUS VIDEOS OF THE DAY

Oh, this is for Eric Northman (Alexander Skarsgard) fans. I don't know why there aren't more (and better) tributes for him. Maybe it takes time for the fans to work up their editing skills, or maybe more tech savvy people gravitate toward other shows.



Okay, this tribute to the Winchester Bros. of "Supernatural" and the Salvatore Bros. of "Vampire Diaries" is a wonderful, wonderful mess. The dialogue is laid atop the song, the clips are a little messy, and there are fangirl graphics, but it rocks and it's got energy and it's fab.



And if you combine energy/passion with technique you get a video like this tribute to "Supernatural" by Kumaproogey1213. I'm not that thrilled with the Meatloaf song, but one Meatloaf is worth a thousand Evanecences.

Upcoming Anita Blake, Tattoo Covers, and Vampires Pretty & Brawny

Thought I'd just list some books that will be released soon.

Flirt (Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter, Book 18)

Release Date: February 2010

It's interesting that there's no description about this book on booksellers' sites or on the publisher's site. But it's less than 200 pages, so fans might want to wait for the paperback edition.

I can't quite figure out the cover with the odd, off-center edge. The razor blade reminds me of another book cover, but I can't recall what it is. Whatever, the main attraction for Hamilton fans is her name, which is the most prominent thing in the design.


Silver Borne (Mercy Thompson, Book 5)
Release Date: March 30, 2010

Description:

When mechanic and shapeshifter Mercy Thompson attempts to return a powerful Fae book she'd previously borrowed in an act of desperation, she finds the bookstore locked up and closed down.

It seems the book contains secret knowledge-and the Fae will do just about anything to keep it out of the wrong hands. And if that doesn't take enough of Mercy's attention, her friend Samuel is struggling with his wolf side-leaving Mercy to cover for him, lest his own father declare Sam's life forfeit.

All in all, Mercy has had better days. And if she isn't careful, she might not have many more to live...


Inked
Release Date: March 30, 2010

Description:

This captivating tattoo theme surrounds each author's popular characters and worlds: Karen Chance's war mage Lia de Croissets, Marjorie M. Liu's demon-hunter Maxine Kiss, Yasmine Galenorn's Otherworld Intelligence Agency operative Camille D'Artigo, and Eileen Wilk's Lupi world.

Okay, I'm the only person alive who doesn't think being covered with tattoos is sexy. Because fashion changes; that's the whole point of fashion. When ever girl selling Cinnabons has a tramp stamp, you know the trend has saturated the market like gooey icing. And I know our nursing homes will soon be filled with geriatrics covered in wrinkly tattoos.

And, yes, perhaps I speak from my own experience as someone who has made Tragic Fashion Mistakes by following trends. Oh, Vogue, how could you lead me so far astray!

Also, this cover model's rolled up eyes make her look as if she's thinking, "I've got to dust off the cobwebs on the overhead light."


GRATUITOUS VIDEOS OF THE DAY

No, I'm not going to watch "The Vampire Diaries," but that doesn't mean I'm going to neglect Damon Salvatore (Ian Somerhalter) fans. I feel it's all part of my duty.





And now something for those who prefer men to be a little brawnier, a little rougher around the edges, a little more, shall I say, Gerald Butleresque.