Friday, February 5, 2010

Guest Blog and Giveaway with Susan Blexrud


Is there no end to this vampire craze?


As a writer of paranormal fiction, I am posed this question frequently. There are those of you who don’t ever want the vampire craze to end, yet you wonder if the statute of limitations is running out on options.

Let me assure you, the options are limitless, and hence, there is no end to this vampire craze. If you consider vampire characteristics, you soon realize that the combinations are akin to lottery odds. You have about a one in nine million chance of creating a vampire character that already exists.

You know what would be fun? Let’s make a list of all the characteristics, tear up the list with one attribute per piece, and put all the pieces in a fish bowl. Then, gather round the fish bowl all ye writers and other vampire aficionados, and dip in. Each participant is allowed seven pieces to create his or her vampire.

Here are some possible combinations. Your seven pieces could reveal a vampire who morphs to bat form, has no reflection in mirrors, is capable of living in daylight hours (with good sunscreen and high UV-rated sunglasses), is noble, funny, romantic, and looks like Gerard Butler. Or, your vampire could be a diabolical, fat, night-roaming ONLY, fond of sucking on babies, morose, bald, Alfred Hitchcock look alike.

The vampire hero I created for Love Fang is the first variety. He can be dark and threatening, but he’s also tender and loving. His 500 years of fangdom began during the reign of King Henry VIII, who he served as a barrister. Now he’s an intellectual property attorney and a member of the Florida Bar. His law practice brings him some interesting clients, among them is his nemesis, the Mafia kingpin.

Whether you’re a fan of Anne Rice or Charlaine Harris (or like me, both), your preferred vampires could be sinister (Lestat) or kind of wacky (Bubba). I loved Elizabeth Kostova’s The Historian for the great background she provided to the historical vampire, Transylvania and all. Chelsea Yarbro’s European and Russian backdrops are chilling and thrilling. On the other hand, when Laurell K. Hamilton set her story in my town, Asheville, I thoroughly enjoyed the notion of paranormal creatures roaming the Grove Park Inn.

If you compare the way vampire writers deal with how vampires are made and their abilities to reproduce, you’ll find no two writers handle these issues the same way. In my vampire world, three bites works the magic of transformation, and my vampires make babies the old-fashioned way, just like humans. Other writers require everything from a small nip to a full drain for transformation, and rarely do their vampires have children. In fact, many of the vampire men are shooting blanks. J. R. Ward’s vampires in her Dark Brotherhood series don’t transform to their creature of the night state until they’re around 25 years old, which I find an interesting take.

The possibilities are endless. I just read a news report about high mortality rates in bats caused by a white fungus. Hmm. I think John Wright, my vampire vigilante, will need to investigate. And in the process of aiding the Department of Environmental Protection, he’ll encounter a covert government agency responsible for the bats demise. The storyline is jelling.

What do you think about the vampire craze?
Leave me a question/comment, and one lucky respondent will receive an autographed copy of LOVE FANG.
Shipping to US and Canada only please
Be sure to leave contact info in post


P.S. from Susan: Our lovely hostess, Roxanne Rhoads, noted on a guest blog at SciFiGuy (love that Doug) that the world is cultivating a whole new generation of paranormal romance readers through the maturing YA demographic. So, there’s another reason that vampires are here to stay.


Susan Blexrud’s first print book, LOVE FANG, is now available online

through Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

Susan welcomes your comments at: http://www.susanblexrud.blogspot.com/.

And just for fun this is a photo of Susan and her vampire cover model Julian.


44 comments:

Cecile Smutty Hussy said...

Well if there is Vampire Craze... count me in on it. I can not get enough of these creatures. Edward Cullen is responsible for turning me into a vampire lover... And I love him for that! Sure, I read other material... but I always come back to my vampires!
The book sounds intriguing... bookmarking to go look up later!! Thanks for such an awesome giveaway!
And how jealous I am... you with your cover model... he is all sorts of yummy! =)

DCL Publications said...

If DCL didn't already have a print copy of LOVE FANG, we sure would love to win one! Smile!

StephTheBookworm said...

I think the vampire craze is fun! Especially if it makes more people read, like was the case with Twilight.

tetewa said...

I'm a big Paranormal fan, with vampire series being my favorites! I'm always looking for new authors and series to read! tWarner419@aol.com

elaing8 said...

Vampire craze? Love it. Who doesn't love a sexy mysterious vampire to read about.
My love of them also started with Twilight.And has spread out to all other paranormal types.
elaing8(at)netscape(dot)net

Roxanne Rhoads said...

Gosh, I feel so old with everyone talking about their vampire craze starting with Edward.

Mine started with Lestat and Anne Rice's other vamps over twenty years ago.

And since then I have looked for vampires and other creatures of the night in hundreds, maybe thousands of books. I have moved on beyond Lestat's alternating bouts of having a god complex and self loathing to other vampires who are much more secure in who and what they are.

jeanette8042 said...

I'm loving the vampire craze because it means more books with vampires in them!

Sherry said...

I hope the vampire craze doesn't ever end I love vampire books. I can't remember what got me started reading them it's been a long time since then. I never got into the Twilight series although just about everyone I know has read them. They just don't do it for me.

sstrode@scrtc.com

Miriam Newman said...

I think the vampire craze is here to stay and I love that authors are taking them in so many new directions. Good luck with the book!

SandyG265 said...

I remember back in the 70s when vampires and the historical Dracula were really popular. So I think things go in cycles. Eventually the popularity of vampires will wane and then a decade or so later they will become popular again.

Of course since I love vampire stories I hope they stay popular for a long time.

sgiden AT verizon DOT net

throuthehaze said...

I have loved reading about vampires since I first picked up one of Anne Rice's books years ago. I am glad that vampires are still popular today!

RiahJ said...

I absolutely LOVE the current Vampire craze!! I havent really read a lot of vampire fiction since I was in high school, but, there is so much available now that I am seldom without a vampire book in hand!!

ewdnbbd @ yahoo.com

Sandy Jay said...

I'm in love with vampires and I want them to stay around for a long long time.

forwhlz at gmail dot com

Cybercliper said...

If it's a "craze", then I've been caught up in it a long time. But finding vampires to be the hero instead of the monster took a long time in coming.

Roxanne - if Lestat dates you how do you think I feel - I caught my craze with a little show called "Dark Shadows" in the original! :-)

Aimee said...

Love it. Makes it so much easier to find good books to read. And movies to watch. Who wouldn't love more hot, sexyvampires?

gevin13{at}gmail{dot}com

cait045 said...

I am loving the vampire crazy. I want more books about them and now they are coming out. I especially want TV shows and movies. I love Vampire Diaries being on the CW.

usignolc(at)yahooDOTcom

booklover0226 said...

I think the vampire craze has exploded. A friend used to laugh at me because I read so many vampire books and then... yes, she read Twilight. Now, she has gone "Edward Cullen" and vampire crazy! LOL

It was about time she came over to the dark side.....

Thanks,
Tracey D
booklover0226 AT gmail DOT com

Rosie said...

I know I'm on the vampire crazy train and I have no intention of getting off. I love reading the stories and all the new and different types of vamps that these wonderful authors are coming up with.

Dani said...

I'm all for the vamps! Bring them on. I like other creatures of the night (as they're referred to still even if they don't stay in the dark), but vamps are what I started with and will always love.

Roxanne, I'm with you. I started years ago with Anne Rice's vamps. Lestat and Louis were my first vamp loves even if they did were manic depressive at times. LOL!

Jannine said...

Susan, loved your blog. And I really adored the photo of you and Julian. How fun was that?

In the world of publishing and authors, I think many were waiting for the vampire interest to peek and then die out. But it sure doesn't seem that way. The interest seems to grow deeper each year.

How do you keep your vampires in your series from sounding alike?

Susan Blexrud said...

Jannine, you asked how I keep my vampires from sounding alike? Well, one's a Brit, and one's an Italian, so I use British idioms for John and Italian curse words and other tidbits for Luc. Like most alpha males, they're both men of few words. LOL!

Estella said...

I love vampire books!
Have been reading about vampires for close to 20 years.

kissinoak at verizon dot net

The Scarf Princess said...

I hope the craze doesn't end since I'm one of those crazies that loves vamps. So definitely keep 'em coming.

joderjo402 AT gmail DOT com

Reading said...

Please count me in. I just love the vampire craze. I just can't get enough of the undead.

lizzi0915 at aol dot com

Virginia C said...

From Vlad the Impaler, to Frank Langella's sexy Dracula, to Edward by twilight....the Vampire fascination will continue to run red! Centuries old folklore ignited by paranormal erotica and combined with modern day fantasy-fueled technology will ensure that the undead live on!

gcwhiskas at aol dot com

Gabrielle Lee said...

I love vampires and the vampire craze but it does seem that everyone and anyone is trying to jump on the bandwagon as of late.

Gabrielle
meingee@yahoo.com

Dani said...

I totally spaced and forgot to leave my email with my first post. LOL!

irishwolf (at) embarqmail (dot) com

Debby said...

There is quite a few excellent vampire stories out there and it sure is fun. I find myself enjoying all the different interpretations of how the vampire lives nad works. fascinating
debby236 at att dot net

katsrus said...

It toke me a bit to get into the vampire craze. I really love it! Thanks for the great guest post.
Sue B
katsrus(at)gmail(dot)com

Michele L. said...

Hi Susan!

Your cover model is certainly the kind of vampire I always envision, dark, handsome and drool worthy! I absolutely love the vampire craze and then some! Your stories are the best with all the scrumptious, handsome guys that fill the pages! I haven't read the Twilight series yet either but maybe I will someday.

What a great blog you wrote! You are always so funny and full of surprising stories to tell. Wow, you sure have a lot of vampire info up your sleeve! What other fascinating facts can you share with us that isn't readliy known about vampires that you have come across in your research?

It was so much fun to have you here! A little bird told me you would be by today! (smile) Thanks again! You absolutely rock!

Martha Lawson said...

I love Vampires!! Can't get enough of them. Hope they are around for a long,long time.

mlawson17 at hotmail dot com

mrsshukra said...

The vampire craze is not surprising, enjoying it!

delilah0180(at)yahoo(dot)com

annalisa said...

I hope the vampire craze never ends! I loved the vampire movies when I was a little kid back in the late 50's. Also watched Dark Shadows when I was a teen. Interview with the vampire is the first vampire book I can remember reading back in the 70's. I have the edition that has the romance cover on it. After reading Interview with the Vampire, I wanted to read any vampire book I could get my hands on. I am so happy that there is such a great variety of vampire books to be found now!

TOPSAIL246(at)aol(dot)com

Susan Blexrud said...

Michele L., So glad a little bird chirped in your ear. Thanks as always for your support. You asked for some tidbits about vampire characteristics. I did tons of research before I began writing my creatures of the night. Two of the characteristics that I used with my hero are his respiratory allergies (evidently common among vampires) and his ability to make people trust him completely. As you know, Lauren does.

Jamie said...

I love fang and I'm not talking about this book. I guess that Dracula started it, but in the mid to late 90s Jean-Claude mad my knees week and now the vampire explosion is awesome. My favorite is at this current time is Zane from the Succubus Diaries by Jill Myles....Stacy
samnstacyATmeDOTcom

Anonymous said...

I think the vampire craze will eventually phase out somewhat but it sure is fun to read about them right now! I would love to be entered in your draw. Thanks.
wandanamgreb(at)gmail(dot)com

Lynnette said...

I love the vampire craze, but I've always loved anything paranormal. I've been reading paranormal and fantsy for over 30 years. So I hope all the paranormal interest stays around for a long time. I already have a huge TBR pile and it grows daily. Would love to win this book as its new to me.
lynnflagler(at)yahoo(dot)com

halukacy said...

Whether there's a craze or not, I will always love vampires!!
halukacy@yahoo.com

Amanda Leigh said...

Though the vampire craze itself might die down a little, there is always a huge paranormal market. Also, there will always be people like me that never get tired of vampires not matter how many we read about or watch!

notreallysouthernvampchick(at)gmail(dot)com

Michele L. said...

Hi Susan,

That is one thing I love about your books is the human element. I just love that about your vampire that he has allergies! It's not really funny to have allergies but the way you tell it, it is a hoot!

Just love your books!

SiNn said...

Susan first let me tell you I LOVE yourbooks! now with that out of the way i like some vamps i do how ever do not like the twilight vamps for some reason i just canfind them sexy at all but urs mmm just yummy awesome contest

mortalsinn@yahoo.com

kalynnick said...

I'm not suprise about this whole Vampire craze because lets face it, who doesn't love thme..LOL

kalynnick At yahoo DOT com

Andrea I said...

I love the Vampire Craze!



ainfinger@comcast.net

Dot S.(ladeetdareads.wordpress.com) said...

The vampire craze will surely continue as long as there are avid fans and delicious books that feature them.
salvagin@verizon.net

 
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