Contest Winners & New Contest & Question if You Speak French

CONTEST WINNERS!

The winner of the contest for Marie Treanor's Blood Sins is:

LSU READER

The winner of Alayna Williams' Rogue Oracle is:

SANDYG265

Congratulations, winners! Please send me an email with your mailing addresses so your prizes can be mailed to you. Hope you enjoy these great new books!

NEW CONTEST

My editor at Tor Books and I can't think of a good title for my next novel, a YA gothic.  Do we go for a one-word title like Delirium and Entwined, or go for a more elliptical and quirky title, like The Strangely Beautiful Tale of Miss Percy Parker? My original title was The Shadow Girl of Birch Grove.

So I need some of your brain power. Suggest a title to be entered in a contest for a GRAND PRIZE of:

• a signed copy Haunted Honeymoon
• a gently preread hard cover copy of Shades of Milk & Honey by Mary Robinette Kowal
• a copy of Chloe Neill's Some Girls Bite
• miscellaneous Casa Dracula bookmarks and postcards

Here are the themes of the book: Sixteen-year-old Jane Williams, who lives in a miserable foster home, is offered a scholarship to the prestigious Birch Grove Academy for Girls. The headmistress is elegant and kind, the school is astonishing, and other girls befriend her. Jane is dazzled by the headmistress's son, Lucky, who's hiding some secret. In fact, a lot of people seem to be hiding secrets, including the truth about a missing student. And Jane's beginning to have strange feelings about the birch grove itself, and the way the trees seem to whisper and move.

Any ideas? Some words to think about: shadows, Birch Grove, secrets, darkness, academy, education, trees, hidden, haunted. The contest runs through April 14, is, restricted to the US, and a winner will be selected at random. I'll relate all interesting titles to my editor.

QUESTION IF YOU SPEAK FRENCH

I promised an army vet (okay, my dad, who was in the Airborne) that I'd find out how the French translation for "We saved your asses in World War II." Yes, I know it's obnoxious -- that's what makes it funny. If you know the French for this, please tell me.

Interesting New Release: I was just checking out Tor's website and I saw the cover (at top) for Black Blade Blues by J.A. Pitts. I'll see if I can get a copy for a contest soon. The book was just released in March and here's the summary:

Sarah Beauhall has more on her plate than most twenty-somethings: day job as a blacksmith, night job as a props manager for low-budget movies, and her free time is spent fighting in a medieval re-enactment group.

The lead actor breaks Sarah’s favorite one-of-a-kind sword, and to avoid reshooting scenes, Sarah agrees to repair the blade. One of the extras, who claims to be a dwarf, offers to help. And that’s when things start to get weird. Could the sword really be magic, as the "dwarf" claims? Are dragons really living among us as shapeshifters?

J.A. Pitts's Website

GRATUITOUS VIDEOS OF THE DAY

The theme today is videos with songs about burning, fire...hot stuff. Some of these tributes are beautifully put together.

Celebrating Big Sissy Purple & Pink Covers

I like to follow color trends on book covers, and I was instantly attracted to Haunting Violet by Alyxandra Harvey, because one of my favorite characters in my next book, a young adult gothic, is named Mary Violet.  (I had been saving this fabulous name for the right character.) Anyway, here's the summary for Haunting Violet, which will be released June 21.

Violet Willoughby doesn't believe in ghosts. But they believe in her. After spending years participating in her mother's elaborate ruse as a fraudulent medium, Violet is about as skeptical as they come in all matters supernatural. Now that she is being visited by a very persistent ghost, one who suffered a violent death, Violet can no longer ignore her unique ability. She must figure out what this ghost is trying to communicate, and quickly because the killer is still on the loose.

Afraid of ruining her chance to escape her mother's scheming through an advantageous marriage, Violet must keep her ability secret. The only person who can help her is Colin, a friend she's known since childhood, and whom she has grown to love. He understands the true Violet, but helping her on this path means they might never be together. Can Violet find a way to help this ghost without ruining her own chance at a future free of lies?

Alyxandra Harvey's Website

Here are some covers from whenever, so long as they fit the purpley-pink theme.

Dead Reckoning by Charlaine Harris
Sookie Stackhouse Book 11
Release Date: May 3, 2011

Summary:

With her knack for being in trouble's way, Sookie witnesses the firebombing of Merlotte's, the bar where she works. Since Sam Merlotte is now known to be two-natured, suspicion falls immediately on the anti-shifters in the area. Sookie suspects otherwise, but her attention is divided when she realizes that her lover Eric Northman and his "child" Pam are plotting to kill the vampire who is now their master. Gradually, Sookie is drawn into the plot-which is much more complicated than she knows...

Charlaine Harris's Website
Read Chapter One of Dead Reckoning

Magic Slays by Ilona Andrews
Kate Daniels Book 5
Release Date: May 31, 2011

Summary:

Kate Daniels has quit the Order of Merciful Aid, but starting her own business isn't easy when the Order starts disparaging her good name. And being the mate of the Beast Lord doesn't bring in the customers, either. So when Atlanta's premier Master of the Dead asks for help with a vampire, Kate jumps at the chance. Unfortunately, this is one case where Kate should have looked before she leapt.

Ilona Andrews's Website

Hard Bitten by Chloe Neill
Chicagoland Vampires Book 4
Release Date: May 3, 2011

Summary:

Chicago is beset by supernatural tensions, and Merit-vampire protector of a safe haven called Cadogan house-is worried that the humans will be reaching for their pitchforks any minute. It doesn't help that yet another vampire rave is broken up by the mayor, and a new inhibition- reducing drug is circulating through the community.

It's up to Merit to put her house in order-literally. And if that takes getting a little blood on her hands, so be it.

Chloe Neill's Website
Read Chapter One of Hard Bitten.

Kitty's Big Trouble by Carrie Vaughn
Kitty Norville Book 9
Release Date: June 28, 2011

Summary:

Kitty Norville is back and in more trouble than ever. Her recent run-in with werewolves traumatized by the horrors of war has made her start wondering how long the US government might have been covertly using werewolves in combat. Have any famous names in our own history might have actually been supernatural? She's got suspicions about William Tecumseh Sherman. Then an interview with the right vampire puts her on the trail of Wyatt Earp, vampire hunter.

But her investigations lead her to a clue about enigmatic vampire Roman and the mysterious Long Game played by vampires through the millennia. That, plus a call for help from a powerful vampire ally in San Francisco, suddenly puts Kitty and her friends on the supernatural chessboard, pieces in dangerously active play. And Kitty Norville is never content to be a pawn. . . .

Carrie Vaughn's Website

GRATUITOUS VIDEOS OF THE DAY

Pink and purple are very girly sissy to me and no one is more girly sissy than Britney, bitch! You know, it takes brilliant research skills to find videos like this.

Spotlight on CHIME and THE FOLK KEEPER by Franny Billingsley

Ana at The Book Smugglers gives a rave review to The Folk Keeper by Franny Billingsley and says:

Now, after reading this book, I have only one question hammering inside my head: where have I been that I missed this book? Because The Folk Keeper is absolutely, absurdly lovely.

I like the cover at top best because the little monsters at the bottom are pretty much how my brain feels most of the time. Someone in the biz told me yesterday, "You can get a little obsessive." I told her I had OCD, but no one ever believes that. They never believe I have Adult ADD and Tourette's either. Anyway, here's a summary of the story:

Corinna Stonewall is fifteen years old and an orphan. She is also Rhysbridge Foundling Home’s Folk Keeper – a difficult and dangerous job which consists of looking after and controlling ‘the Folk’ – spiteful, maverick, savage creatures who live in the cellar and will only be prevented from spoiling the milk, terrifying the livestock and other disruptions by gifts of cream, salt pork and similar luxuries. But there are many questions about Corinna. Who are her parents? Why does her hair grow two inches a night? Why is she always drawn to the sea and long for the sweet taste of fish?

Here's another cover, I think of the UK edition, that I like.

Yes, we're all writing books about orphans! You can blame (or credit) Charlotte Bronte's Jane Eyre, I guess. Franny's website is crashed, but here's the link in case it's fixed later. She's also the author of Chime, which came out just this March. Here's the summary for Chime.

Before Briony's stepmother died, she made sure Briony blamed herself for all the family's hardships. Now Briony has worn her guilt for so long it's become a second skin. She often escapes to the swamp, where she tells stories to the Old Ones, the spirits who haunt the marshes. But only witches can see the Old Ones, and in her village, witches are sentenced to death. Briony lives in fear her secret will be found out, even as she believes she deserves the worst kind of punishment.

Then Eldric comes along with his golden lion eyes and mane of tawny hair. He's as natural as the sun, and treats her as if she's extraordinary. And everything starts to change. As many secrets as Briony has been holding, there are secrets even she doesn't know.

John at Dreaming in Books just blogged about Chime and his review is thoughtful, insightful, and really worth reading:

If you can't tell, there is an undeniable and newfound love (and I use this term very seriously) for the writing style of Franny Billingsley. It's raw and poetic and beautiful. She made me feel like I was in a demented storybook.

Ah, John, you had me at "demented storybook." I've just added Dreaming in Books to my YA blogroll (at left).

Need new books?  Jennifer at Reading with Tequila (must add tequila and limes to shopping list!) has a terrific contest with LOTS of books. 

Jackie at Literary Escapism has compiled an exhaustive list of new paranormal and urban fantasy releases.

GRATUITOUS VIDEOS OF THE DAY

Brand new videos for you!





Bringing the pretty with the cast (including all the secondary characters) of Supernatural.



I'm glad to see that fans are still paying homage to characters from Buffy.



Speaking of loyal fans, here's a tribute to Dark Shadows, the cult vampire soap opera that's going to hit the big screen with Johnny Depp as Barnabas Collins. But before Johnny, there was Jonathan Frid as the elegant and mornful vampire.



OMG,this song is so cornified that I can't barely stand it. And, yet, you know I kind of like it. Go figure.

Miscellaneous Monday News & Hunky Vampire-Fighting Priests

It's Miscellaneous Monday!

Catriona Wightman at Digital Spy blogs about the long-awaited new episode of The Vampire Diaries:

The wait for new episodes of The Vampire Diaries has really been a struggle, but this Thursday it's time for more action from Mystic Falls. After Isobel returned in the last episode, who knows what could happen?

Here's the extended trailer for the new episode:

The Los Angeles Times has a photo gallery of all The Vampire Diaries characters who have died, and comments by executive producer Julie Plec.

;

Zach Salvatore (Chris William Martin)
Died: Season 1, Episode 5, "You're Undead to Me"
Method of death: Neck snapped by Damon (Ian Somerhalder) when he tried to stop his "nephew" from escaping the Salvatore basement.

"That was to come right out of the gate and really shock people with what Damon was capable of and willing to do and in a pinch. This idea that even family meant nothing to him that early in the season as we're dealing with the relationship between Stefan (Paul Wesley) and Damon, the brothers. The idea that he could so coldly and without remorse delete a member of his own family really told the audience a lot about who Damon was."

To cover up Zach's death, Damon told the townspeople that he was on vacation, so they probably "think that Zach is off on an ashram in Asia somewhere meditating."

Dread Central has a feature and video about the next True Blood episode, titled "Waiting Sucks."

As Eric's offspring and primary aide, Pam knows how to advance her maker's agendas (while pulling off one hell of a skirt/sweater combo). Beneath this vampire's polished demeanor, however, lies the lethal instinct that has made her an asset to someone as ruthless as Eric.

Here's the trailer for the episode.



 

Dark Shadows, the big-screen adaptation of the cult TV series, keeps adding new cast members, including Chloe Moretz, to join lead Johnny Depp, who will play the iconic vampire, Barnabas Collins. Hmm, this is 14-year-old Chloe's second vamp film, since she starred in Let Me In, the completely unnecessary US version of the terrific Swedish Let the Right One In.  We at Vampire Wire just shake our heads and mutter, "Copy-catter, dirty ratter." Which is not to say that Miss. Moretz isn't as cute as a button. Because she is. As cute as a button, I mean, not a dirty ratter personally.

Speaking of actors who reprise vampire roles, Twilight's Cam Gigandet and True Blood's Stephen Moyer will appear in the upcoming "hunky priest fights vampires movie" titled Priest and starring Paul Bettamy as the hunky-priest-fighting-vampires.

Mark Shepard, the delightful actor who plays Crowley on Supernatural, leaves open the possibility that he'll return, according to Assignment X.

“You can’t get rid of Crowley,” Sheppard says. “If they go to Season 7 on SUPERNATURAL, I would guess that they would bring Crowley back because the fans have been barraging the show about it. Keep doing it!...

GRATUITOUS VIDEOS OF THE DAY

I generally don't post slide shows...but there aren't many vids with Paul Bettany and this one has charm.



Teresa14 made this multifandom video to "Infinity" by The XX.



This is an odd and very interesting tribute to Bram Stoker's Dracula, set to "Werewolf" but I don't know who does this song.



It has been a long time since I posted a Burn Notice video. No, it's not technically vampirey, but Michael, Fiona, and Sam would absolutely make great vampires: they like to go out at night, they're dangerous, they're sexy, and you're not quite sure whether they'll save you or kill you.

In Which We Conclude Red, White, and Black Book Covers

My brain is short-wired, so I can't do more than post covers and descriptions.

The Girl in the Steel Corset by Kady Cross (May 24, 2011)

In 1897 England, sixteen-year-old Finley Jayne has no one…except the "thing" inside her.

When a young lord tries to take advantage of Finley, she fights back. And wins. But no normal Victorian girl has a darker side that makes her capable of knocking out a full-grown man with one punch….

Only Griffin King sees the magical darkness inside her that says she's special, says she's one of them. The orphaned duke takes her in from the gaslit streets against the wishes of his band of misfits: Emily, who has her own special abilities and an unrequited love for Sam, who is part robot; and Jasper, an American cowboy with a shadowy secret.

Griffin's investigating a criminal called The Machinist, the mastermind behind several recent crimes by automatons. Finley thinks she can help—and finally be a part of something, finally fit in.

But The Machinist wants to tear Griff's little company of strays apart, and it isn't long before trust is tested on all sides. At least Finley knows whose side she's on—even if it seems no one believes her.

Kady Cross's Website

Ruby Red by Kersin Gier (May 10)

Gwyneth Shepherd's sophisticated, beautiful cousin Charlotte has been prepared her entire life for traveling through time. But unexpectedly, it is Gwyneth, who in the middle of class takes a sudden spin to a different era!

Gwyneth must now unearth the mystery of why her mother would lie about her birth date to ward off suspicion about her ability, brush up on her history, and work with Gideon--the time traveler from a similarly gifted family that passes the gene through its male line, and whose presence becomes, in time, less insufferable and more essential. Together, Gwyneth and Gideon journey through time to discover who, in the 18th century and in contemporary London, they can trust.

(I can't find a website for Kerstin Gier in English.)

Oscar Wilde and the Vampire Murders by Gyles Brandreth (May 3)

Oscar Wilde and the Vampire Murders opens in 1890, at a glamorous party hosted by the Duke and Duchess of Albemarle. All of London’s high society—including the Prince of Wales—are in attendance at what promises to be the event of the season. Yet Oscar Wilde is more interested in another party guest, Rex LaSalle, a young actor who claims to be a vampire.

But the entertaining evening ends in tragedy when the duchess is found murdered—with two tiny puncture marks on her throat. Desperate to avoid scandal and panic, the Prince asks Oscar and his friend Arthur Conan Doyle to investigate the crime. What they discover threatens to destroy the very heart of the royal family. Told through diary entries, newspaper clippings, telegrams, and letters, Oscar Wilde and the Vampire Murders is a richly atmospheric mystery that is sure to captivate and entertain.

Gyles Brandreth's Website


The Vampire Stalker by Allison Van Diepen
To be released June 2010.

What if the characters in a vampire novel left their world--and came into yours?

Amy is in love with someone who doesn't exist: Alexander Banks, the dashing hero in a popular series of vampire novels. Then one night, Amy meets a boy who bears an eerie resemblance to Alexander. In fact, he IS Alexander, who has escaped from the pages of the book and is in hot pursuit of a wicked vampire named Vigo. Together, Amy and Alexander set out to track Vigo and learn how and why Alexander crossed over. But when she and Alexander begin to fall for each other, Amy wonders if she even wants him to ever return to the realm of fiction

Allison Van Diepen's Website

GRATUITOUS VIDEOS OF THE DAY

Enjoy the GVDs set to songs with red, white, or black in the title, and have a great weekend! Eric Northman is "Back in Black."



Yeah, all the girls say Mick St. John is "Pretty Fly for a White Guy."



The "Red" filters through for Dracula 2000. (Oh, the cornytude of it all!)



You know it's been a while since I posted a completely unvampirey, but still worthwhile Guy of Gisborne video.



Guy and Marion's relationship was complicated, all "Red Hands and White Knuckles."