Welcome Guest Author Heather Kuehl

The Joy of Writing Paranormal Fiction

By Heather Kuehl

While spreading my writing wings, I’ve dabbled in many genres. However, my favorite would have to be paranormal. Not only do I love writing paranormal fiction, I love reading it too. I enjoy falling into a supernatural world where anything can happen. While sword and sorcery fantasy could do that for me, it wasn’t set in a realistic world. When I read or write paranormal fiction, I love the feeling that I could leave my home and meet a vampire or werewolf.

What makes a good paranormal story is fast paced action and heart pounding romance. Sherrilyn Kenyon’s Dark Hunter series is the perfect example of what makes paranormal fiction a fantastic read. The action and danger is in perfect harmony with the romance blossoming between the two main characters. I try to incorporate the same elements into my own writing.

Within the Sarah Vargas Series, I wanted to make sure that readers would be taken on a dangerous journey with two characters that were quickly falling for one another. Within the first book, Fade to Black, I wanted to have the action take precedence. Especially since Sarah’s love for Jared was going to be a pivotal turning point for her character. Within the second book, Malevolent Dead, I kept the revelations made within Fade in the forefront with action and danger mixed in to make it a great read. I feel that without the mix of action and romance the paranormal genre would fall flat. In my opinion, that mixture is what has kept the genre on top for so long. Don’t you agree?


Heather Kuehl is the author of Promises to Keep and The Sarah Vargas Series as well as numerous short stories and poems. Visit Heather online at http://www.heatherkuehl.com/, http://www.heatherkuehl.blogspot.com/ or follow her on Facebook or Twitter.


Available November 27th –

From Mojocastle Press and Just Another Paranormal Monday:

Just Another Paranormal Christmas

http://www.mojocastle.com/

Blurbs:

A Cornwall Christmas
By Kayden McLeod

A Christmas the Vancouver vampires will never forget

Even vampires celebrate the holidays. Marcus and Kelly wake up Christmas morning with their own extraordinary presents for the other, one of them being blowing up of the kitchen. In an effort to appear more human, the Cornwall’s plan an extravagant dinner, with all the trimmings and more. Differences are put aside; the Council and Covens come together to show that this time of year is only for good tidings.


A Future Holiday
By Candace Sams

Two war-weary galactic defenders rekindle their romance when Armistice corresponds with the holiday season.

In a future society, two lonely fighters return from war. Rorn T’Kar is the commander of an Earth ship which has been battling in space for eight long years. He once loved Lyra Dench, but she apparently found his presence tedious. Lyra couldn’t tell Rorn she’d joined the Infiltration Corps, which unfortunately had an eighty-percent mortality rate. She was ordered to keep her actions secret and knew Rorn would try to keep her from fighting to save Earth. When Armistice finally comes and coincidentally corresponds with the holidays, the magic of the season takes over. Rorn and Lyra meet again, at the end of the war, and find what they thought they’d lost…all by the light of a Yule tree.


The Unexpected Guests
By Heather Kuehl

Damian’s Christmas party is the last place Sarah ever thought she’d find trouble…

Werewolf Sarah Vargas returns to South Carolina to attend a Christmas party thrown by Damian, born vampire and Lord of Charleston. She quickly discovers that The Council - an elite group of vampires - are attending. They are bringing with them two members of the Du'Rah, the vampire's elders. The Du'Rah are pretending to attend Damian's party so that they can initiate him into their ranks, however they have a more sinister plan. Will Sarah be able to save Damian from the true death and still celebrate the holiday season?


Once Upon A Dragon
By K.A. M’Lady

Jeremy Owens and his older siblings want to believe in magic, but hope and belief are difficult things to hold onto even when you’re a child. After the loss of their parents, three young children find themselves fostered off on an Aunt who’s never known the love of a child. This Christmas will the Owens children find out what it means to believe again? Anything is possible with a little magic.


A Christmas to Remember
By Brigit Aine

Pixie and Wolf politics still abound, but nothing will stop Kira from enjoying her first Christmas as a married woman. Now that they are married, Lance and Kira thought life would settle down. Unforntunately for them, as Christmas approaches so do their enemies.


Reflections of a Lily in Winter
By Susan Gabriel

A single light shines brightest in the darkest hour of the longest night.

Even a tough cookie can crumble under difficult circumstances. Fourteen year old Lily is drowning in domestic drama and facing the worst Christmas in her life until a distant relative in a faraway place throws her a lifeline. One Christmas spent at Candlewood Manor will open her eyes to a world beyond her imagining and open her heart to the reason behind the season


EXCERPT from my short story “The Unexpected Guests,” featured in Just Another Paranormal Christmas:

“Not only is it an honor to have the Du’Rah attend Damian’s event, it’s a danger,” T.D. said. She had sat upright on the bed and had her hand resting on the butt of her gun.

“Damian told me what happened at the last party they attended,” Sarah said. “No survivors.”

“They don’t attend parties to have a good time,” T.D. said. “They do it to take out competition.”

Jared and Sarah turned towards the witch. “What?”

T.D. nodded. “To become a Du’Rah is a very high honor, one gained only through age. There is no task to complete. You could live in a cave your whole life and still get inducted into the Du’Rah. They attend the galas of those chosen for the honor, and then find a reason to be displeased with them. The music wasn’t right. They didn’t have a Du’Rah’s favorite blood. The costumes offended a member. With displeasure comes death.”

“Then why are they attending Damian’s Christmas party?” asked Jared. “I mean, yes he was alive when Rome fell but there has to be vamps older than that.”

“There are,” said T.D. after a moment. “But Damian’s an interesting creature. He wasn’t born during Roman times Jared. Not only has he been a vampire longer than you can fathom, but he was born into vampirism. He has known no other life. The Du’Rah must feel threatened by this.”
“He’s been chosen to become a Du’Rah,” stated Sarah.

“We might as well been given a death sentence.”


Note from the author: Just Another Paranormal Christmas is an anthology published by Mojocastle Press, benefiting the Armed Forces Children’s Education Fund, Inc. For more information about this wonderful cause, please visit their website: http://www.afcef.org


Read more about Sarah Vargas!

Fade to Black blurb:

Werewolf bounty hunter Sarah Vargas has only one goal in life; to kill the Were that attacked and changed her. However a slew of werecreature murders send Sarah and her partner, Jared Fontaine, on the mission of their lives, ending with a discovery about Jared’s past that might destroy them both.

Malevolent Dead blurb:

Werewolf Sarah Vargas thought all she had to worry about was the Blood Moon Corporation's retaliation. She never dreamed that another vampire would arrive, disputing Damian's claim over the throne to Charleston, SC. To make matters worse, he is no ordinary vamp; he's a vampire necromancer. He's exceptionally hard to kill, and Sarah will have to do what ever she can to keep those that she loves safe... Even if it means doing the unthinkable.

Blood Moon blurb:

After she broke her contract with the Blood Moon Corporation, Sarah Vargas knew that it was only a matter of time before they came for her. What she didn't know is what lengths they would go to to make sure that she had no where to run. Everyone Sarah has every relied on is in danger during a time when friends become enemies, and Sarah quickly realizes that the Blood Moon Corporation will never give up until she is dead. The Blood Moon Corporation is coming, and even Sarah doesn't think she can make it out alive.


Buy Links
Malevolent Dead: Book Two of the Sarah Vargas Series, Eternal Press
Fade to Black: Book One of the Sarah Vargas Series, Eternal Press
Promises to Keep, Eternal Press


Coming Soon
Blood Moon: Book Three of the Sarah Vargas Series, Eternal Press (3/7/2011)

Take a Break from Cyber Monday Shopping To Enter These Giveaways

I have several giveaways still open here at Fang-tastic Books!

All of these giveaways close at midnight tonight...

But today- Cyber Monday- while you are in cyber space shopping for fabulous online deals I hope you'll take a moment to enter these great giveaways.

The Black Fridaygiveaway is a $75 lingerie giveaway from SexyLingerieShop.com
The winner of that giveaway will receive a great way to heat up cold winter nights with their choice of super sexy lingerie from SexyLingerieShop.com-

someone's going to have a sexy Christmas
http://fang-tasticbooks.blogspot.com/2010/11/black-friday-giveaway-75-to-spend-at.html

On Thanksgiving day I posted a giveaway for a copy of the anthology

Holidays are Hell which contains

Kim Harrison's "Two Ghosts for Sister Rachel" the story where

Pierce first appeared in Rachel's life.
http://fang-tasticbooks.blogspot.com/2010/11/happy-thanksgiving-holidays-are-hell.html

Another open contest is the $10 Amazon gift card giveaway

http://fang-tasticbooks.blogspot.com/2010/11/10-amazon-gift-card-giveaway-from.html

And can't forget about my 2 year Blogoversary box of books giveaway.

8 books are in the box and 1 lucky winner will get them all.

Enter at

http://fang-tasticbooks.blogspot.com/2010/11/2-year-blogoversary-celebration-box-of.html

Succubi Books by Jill Myles

Title: My Fair Succubi
Author: Jill Myles
ISBN 13: 9781439188194
Format: Mass Market Paperback
Price: $7.99 ($9.99 CAN)
On Sale: 12/28/10

My Fair Succubi, the third fun and sexy paranormal novel from Jill Myles, featuring a succubus, a vampire, and a fallen angel. On Sale 12/28/10

Will Jackie finally choose?

IT SUCKS TO BE HER.

Living as a succubus has a bit of a learning curve, but with sexy fallen angel Noah to scratch her sensual Itch, Jackie Brighton is finally starting to feel ahead of the game. She almost doesn't miss her gorgeous vampire master Zane—or his sinful, teasing mouth. She's trying to convince herself of that, anyway.

But Jackie's past mistakes catch up with her, spinning her life out of control once more. Just as her friend Remy's inner demon comes out to play, Noah and Jackie are arrested by the angelic Serim Council. When Jackie seizes the chance to escape, she falls right into Zane's waiting arms. As she's pulled into a game of cat and mouse between vampires and angels, she finds she must also choose between the two men in her life. Can she decide between Noah and Zane, or will she lose everything she's ever wanted? Because there's more at stake than just her heart. . . .


Want some Foreplay, Delve into the prequel to the Succubus Diaries by Jill Myles!

Click here to know more!

Check out where it all began!

Title: Gentlemen Prefer Succubi
Author: Jill Myles
ISBN 13: 9781416572824
Format: Mass Market Paperback
Price: $7.99 ($9.99 CAN)
Available Now!

Description

Who Knew An Angel Could Get A Girl In So Much Devilish Trouble?

Jackie Brighton woke up in a Dumpster this morning, and her day has only gotten weirder. Her familiar B-cups have somehow become double Ds, her sex drive is insatiable, and apparently she had her first one-night stand ever...with a fallen angel. All she remembers is gorgeous Noah's oddly hypnotic blue eyes...and then a dark stranger whose bite transformed her into an immortal siren with a sexy Itch. With help from Noah, Jackie begins to adapt to her new lifestyle -- until she accidentally sends Noah into the deadly clutches of the vampire queen and lands herself in a fierce battle for an ancient halo with the queen's wickedly hot right-hand man. Who just happens to be the vampire who originally bit her. How's a girl supposed to save the world when the enemy's so hard to resist?


Succubi Like It Hot
By Jill Myles
On Sale 1/19/10
ISBN: 9781416572831
Price: $7.99 ($9.99 CAN)

Book Description

NOBODY SAID SUCKING WAS EASY.

With a hot new figure, her dream job as an archaeologist, and two gorgeous boyfriends to scratch her seductive Itch -- an angel and a vampire -- Jackie Brighton is totally getting the hang of life as a succubus. Then she accidentally knocks the pizza guy unconscious with her touch. Great -- she's cursed. After striking a deal to get the curse lifted by a crafty demon, Jackie and her best friend Remy take a road trip to deliver a cryptic message to the nation's oldest succubus. Unfortunately, neither of her jealous lovers is talking to Jackie right now, and due to the curse, she's desperate to get her Itch scratched very soon. Their journey gets weirder with every mile -- demonic possession, a charming stalker, a cryptic warning -- and when they get to New Orleans, Jackie discovers a dangerous catch to her supernatural bargain. Someone wants her dead -- again.

Can a brainy vixen in a miniskirt outsmart the forces of evil?

Visit SimonandSchuster.com for details!!

Stay Up to Date with Fang-tastic Books

You now have multiple ways to stay connected with Fang-tastic Books so you always know when there's a new contest, giveaway, or author guest day.

You can subscribe by email and have the newest Fang-tastic Books post delivered right to you inbox (the sign up box is in the right sidebar or you can click the link in this post)

You can subscribe to the Fang-tastic Books RSS feed in the right sidebar

Or for .99 cents a month with a 14 day free trail subscription you can have Fang-tastic Books sent directly to your Kindle

And of course you can follow Fang-tastic Books through Google Friend Connect- and now in addition to that you can sign up for the GFC Newsletter- this will let you know in advance when contests are coming out, what authors are stopping by and what "secret" events may be happening- so be sure to subscribe to the all new Fang-tastic Books GFC newsletter

A Fang-tastic Holiday Gift Guide for Vampire Lovers

Are you shopping for a fang lover this holiday season?

I've searched the web for some of the most fang-tastic gifts for the vampire or vampire lover on your shopping list this holiday season.

Here are some of my favorites.


This round Deck the Halls porcelain ornament sums up what I want for Christmas this year.

I bet the vampire lover on your list would love it as well.

Get it at Cafe Press for just $12




This sexy red ornament would look great on my tree along side the vampire hottie one.


It is also available on Cafe Press for $12








Etsy has a great selection of vampire oriented gifts.

NRS VampChick's shop has nice vampire, steampunk and goth jewelry selections.

I love this lock and key earring set.




Another one of my favorite Etsy stores is Blonde Blythe's Big Eyed Art.

Her big eyed vampire is too cute.

She also has witches, fairies, mermaids and other assorted big eyed art prints available.














The Pyramid Collection is one of my favorite places to shop and they have a great selection of vampire inspired gifts for all the fang lovers on your list.


This pewter poison coffin ring is to die for.

I love that it opens.







The Legacy Brocaded coat is another stylish vampire gift found in the Pyramid Collection












VampireWear.com is a great place to find gifts for vampire lovers.

They have jewelry, Demonia footwear, t-shirts and a lot of other fanged goodies.

This mini coffin purse is a cute gift idea.










Unleash your inner vampire with FANGZ perfume

I haven't tried the perfume but the bottle is gorgeous, surely a great gift for a vampire lover







Body Fantasies has a new Vampire Eau de Parfum I am adding to my holiday wish list

Vampire Parfum is a unique new expression of female sensuality. Intense and long-lasting, put it on any time of day and it always lingers until sunrise. Vampire incites notice, comment and, inevitably, desire.

Forbidden love...Dangerous...Addictive...Impossible to Resist!




Boutique du Vampyre has a Christmas gift list including these great chalices.

They also have jewelry, wine bags, books, candles and oils along with other fabulously fanged gift ideas.












I just opened a Fang-tastic Goods shop- its just a little something I am experimenting with to see how well it works out.

I have these gorgeous blood drop cufflinks in the store.

Just $15.99 they may be just the thing for the tall, dark and handsome vampire on your shopping list



Another item in my store is this beautiful red and black swirl letter opener.

I adore this color combo.

In my Fang-tastic Goods store I also have clocks, sleep masks, jewelry, watches, and a lot more. I am adding new stuff everyday.

You can visit the store at http://www.artsnow.com/fangtasticgoods/



Coffins are so last century- make sure your vampire or vampire lover has updated their sleeping arrangements with luxurious 100% Egyptian cotton 1200 thread count sheets from Luxury Linens 4 Less.

You won't find a better deal on sheets anywhere. A queen size sheet set is only $40- that's $40 for an entire sheet set of 1200 thread count Egyptian cotton. Anyone who loves the finer things in life will love sliding in between these sheets every night.

Believe me I know, I have a set.




"I never drink...wine"

Oh Drac, you have no idea what you're missing. I'm sure the blood is good but modern vampires love Vampire Wine- so do their fang loving groupies.

I always keep several bottles of Vampire Wine in my collection. The bottles are gorgeous, the selection of wines are awesome and they make fabulous gifts.

Be sure to drop by the Vampire Vineyards during your online holiday shopping this year.



No gift guide is ever complete without...chocolate.

Vampire.com offers the best in fine Belgian chocolates. I highly recommend the dark chocolate.

Even if you don't have a sweet fang dark chocolate's sensual taste and texture will please your senses.

Well my immortal loving lovelies I do hope this guide helps with your vampiric holiday shopping this year.

Remember shopping online means never having to go out into the light of day.

Happy Holidays.

Black Friday Giveaway: $75 to Spend at SexyLingerieShop.com

Now here's a giveaway that'll put a little heat into cold winter nights...

A lingerie giveaway sponsored by the Sexy Lingerie Shop!

One Lucky Winner will Receive $75 to Spend At SexyLingerieShop.com

What would you purchase with $75 to spend at SexyLingerieShop.com?

I love these two corsets above-

I think I like the blue one the best but the red & black jacquard is nice too

Of course getting into the spirit of the season might be fun.

They have a great selection of sexy santa outfits for her and for him (below)

To Enter This Contest Leave A Comment with a Link to Something You Like at SexyLingerieShop.com

Open To US Residents Only

Contest Closes Tuesday Nov 30 Midnight EST

Winner Announced Wed Dec 1

Happy Thanksgiving: Holidays Are Hell Giveaway

Happy Thanksgiving to all my US readers celebrating today.

I am doing my annual make a huge dinner from scratch complete with turkey, homemade stuffing from scratch, green bean casserole, mashed potatoes and real gravy, sweet potatoes, squash, pies, and cranberry sauce- oh cornbread and rolls too. And cake- because it is my oldest boy's 19th Birthday today as well.

Even though I have my hands full I'd like to offer a great book giveaway today- title totally appropriate I'd say :-).

So either before or after you're done stuffing yourself fuller than the turkey I hope you're dropping by here to enter my Holidays Are Hell Giveaway.

If you haven't read this anthology yet and you follow The Hollows series by Kim Harrison this book should be on your must have list.

Holidays Are Hell features the short story, "Two Ghosts for Sister Rachel". In it Pierce first appears in Rachel's life when she is just a teenager trying to summon her father's ghost on the Solstice. She ends up with Pierce.

Holidays Are Hell also features stories from Lynsay Sands, Vicki Pettersson, and Marjorie M Liu.

Here's the blurb:

This holiday, spend quality time with family and loved ones—living and dead... There's no place like home for the horrordays—unless you'd prefer a romantic midnight walk through a ghost-infested graveyard... or a haunted house candlelight dinner with the sexy vampire of your dreams. The (black) magical season is here—and whether it's a solstice séance gone demonically wrong with the incomparable Kim Harrison, a grossly misshapen Christmas with the remarkable Lynsay Sands, a blood-chilling-and-spilling New Year's with the wonderful Marjorie M. Liu, or a super-powered Thanksgiving with the phenomenal Vicki Pettersson, one thing is for certain: in the able hands of these exceptional dark side explorers, the holidays are going to be deliciously hellish!

Want it?

I have 1 Copy for 1 Lucky Reader

US Shipping Only Please

To Enter Leave a Comment on This Post

Include Your Email Address

+2 Entires for Being a GFC Follower

Contest Closes Tuesday Nov 30 Midnight EST

Winner TBA Wed Dec 1

Guest Blog and Giveaway with J.E. Taylor

Hi folks, I’m glad to be back on Fang-tastic books today. I’d like to introduce you to Jessica Whitman, my heroine in both Survival Games and Mind Games.

JET: Jessica, thanks for being with us today. I know there are several folks out there who want to know why you fell for Ty Aris when you were in captivity. Was it Stockholm Syndrome?

Jessica: I’d like to be able to say it was, but I know better. There was something between us from the moment our eyes met. More than just a physical connection. It was like finding the other half of my soul - the matching dark side I’d been missing all my life. Leaving him was the hardest thing I’ve ever done.

JET: I’m sure that entire encounter was difficult. From what I understand, you and Tom Whitman are lucky to be alive and now the two of you are married, can you tell us how that happened?

Jessica: *smiles* When we were in the complex, Tom did his best to protect me and he was the only one that ever made me feel safe down there. I loved him for that and he apparently fell in love with me too. Coming back from the dead wasn’t easy for either of us but after we got all our paperwork settled and Danny and I finalized our divorce, he asked me to marry him. The rest is history.

JET: You were married to your husband for twenty years, was the divorce your idea or his?

Jessica: It was mutual. He found someone while I was gone and I can’t fault him for that. Besides, Danny would never be able to make me feel safe, no matter how hard he tried. He’d never be able to stave off the nightmares the way Tom can. Especially since I know Ty is out there somewhere. God, if Tom knew Ty was alive…

JET: If he knew Ty is alive what would happen?

Jessica: I’d hate to think what would happen if they came face to face again. Tom hates the man and the more time goes by, the stronger that hatred grows. He blames Ty for his first wife’s death and for everything that happened to me.

JET: What about you? Do you blame Ty for everything that happened?

Jessica: No, not for everything. Not for what Frank did to me. There is a lot to lay blame for, Tom’s wife being one of them as well as kidnapping me – but he never intentionally hurt me and if he hadn’t kidnapped me, I never would have met Tom.

JET: Do you think Ty will come for you?

Jessica: *sigh* Yes. He’ll come someday and when he does, I have no idea what I’ll do.

JET: Thank you again for joining us today.

To find out more about Jessica Whitman and MIND GAMES, visit J. E. Taylor’s website at http://www.jetayor75.com/ .

MIND GAMES BLURB:

Chris Ryan doesn’t understand why he’s alive. By all accounts he should have died in the prison he and his step-brother created. Dying screams and the ring of gunshots still haunt his dreams and to make matters worse, five years hasn’t erased his passion for Jessica Connor.

She left him bleeding on the cold concrete floor, escaping the prison that held her for close to a year. Semi-conscious and close to death, his gaze fell on an apparition of her son and white light filled his skin, healing his wounds and giving him a second chance . . . and to this day that power still rages within him.

Haunting visions of her daughter’s death drive him out of hiding and he shows up at her doorstep with the intent of giving her the power he safeguarded all these years. But his good intentions fall short when they realize he led the vengeful spirit of his step-brother straight to her.

Cancer is no longer their biggest worry, now Chris and Jessica must battle a ghost hell bent on destroying all of them.

How to find MIND GAMES:

Paperback: http://www.amazon.com/Mind-Games-J-Taylor/dp/1450561977/ref=ntt_at_ep_dpi_3

E-Book: http://excessica.com/store/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=28&products_id=486&osCsid=8dcc3269a11b9beef7900e63e40cd59a

Two lucky commenter’s will receive the following:

US ONLY: One commenter will win a signed copy of SURVIVAL GAMES and MIND GAMES and a second commenter will receive a signed copy of MIND GAMES.

WORLDWIDE: If the winning entry is from someone outside of the US, they have the option of choosing the e-book format of their choice.

Winner Wednesday

Shaiha has won her choice of ebooks from Chastity Bush

All the other contests close next week

Guest Blog with the Vampire Professor Bertena Varney

It’s time to go to school and study….Vampires!

Study vampires? What? That must be a joke? Do you think you are a vampire? Wow where do you get something like that… a cracker jack box?

These are all questions and sometimes not too nice comments that I receive when I tell people that I research and write about vampires. They look at me as if I am a freak and not educated. When I try to defend myself and tell them my degrees they look at me as if all creditability has went out the window. It has even resulted in me losing jobs or not getting hired when they do a Google search on me. But, if you are willing and ready to learn I can share with you how to study vampires or anything else that is your passion.

First, my background and how I came to study vampires: I have several degrees. The first is a Bachelor’s of Arts in Social Science and Education with an emphasis in Sociology, History, and Government and a minor in Geography and Economics. During that study I chose several topics to focus on when I had freedom of projects and classes. These ranged from History of Folklore, where I studied Vampire Folklore, to deviant sub cultures where I studied vampire lifestylers. I had to be careful because this was the late 1980’s and there was and still is a stigma about anything Goth or dark or relating to vampires. I then pursued a Master’s in Sociology and Criminology where I studied Juvenile Delinquency and Deviant Subcultures, still during this time vampires, Goth, and the like were considered deviant and to show any sign of “liking” this would have destroyed my position as a Graduate Assistant. So, I pursued those from the standard point of view along with the 1990’s academic craze of street gangs, drug dealers, and serial killers.

Upon graduation, I trotted off to the real world of teaching high school then as an adjunct professor at Eastern Kentucky University. While there I spoke with co workers who were pursuing their PhD’s. I knew that had to finish my Master’s in Education because the wonderful state of KY requires it to teach so I was once again stuck in boring classes until one day I was told that there were no more classes to take but I still had credits to complete in order to graduate. I began discussing my options with my office mate and he was telling me that he was studying “The Affects of Video Games on Culture”. I responded with, “Man I would love to study vampires as an actual emphasis”. He chuckled and we spent the afternoon researching academic websites. One day I realized that in larger cities there were graduate studies in pop culture and several academic associations dealing with the study of things such as cartons, comic books, television shows, anything that you could possibly like.

The most popular academic study of vampires at the time dealt specifically with one of my favorite television shows, Buffy the Vampire Slayer. The Whedon Studies Association is a group of professors and students who study the work of Joss Whedon which includes Angel and Buffy. They have an on line journal, yearly convention and a great website that helps those who want to study this subject look at it through feminist, historical, sociological, and psychological view points. Check it out here http://slayageonline.com/

So I gathered up my list of academic programs, academic research, and outline for a class and took it to my advisor at Morehead State University. She agreed to allow me to design the class, write my final paper and develop a blog on the Search for the Lure of the Vampire in Popular Culture (http://searchforthelure.webs.com/ ). I had always hated to write but for the first time in my life I loved to write.

I finished the classes and had joined several academic programs. While teaching sociology at EKU I allowed my students, as a final project, to choose their favorite hobby, television show, subject, etc and turn it into a sociological study and then a possible career. They chose everything from sports, videogames, relationships, sewing, and on and on. They absolutely loved it. Many loved it enough to change majors.

From that point on I decided to take my own advice. I lost both of my collegiate positions in January and was left with no choices for jobs. I had written for a little while with Examiner.com but wasn’t really dedicated to it so I began to really push my Lexington Vampire Examiner (http://www.examiner.com/vampire-in-lexington/bertena-varney ). It had caused some eyebrows to be raised and even comments listed above at my full time job but I decided to just go for it.

As I wrote about vampires in pop culture in the news I found people wanted me to mention their books, movies, and events about vampires on the page and my page views grew enough to where my Channel Manager offered me more specific columns and I was excited to take them. As a result of this I have met a lot of nice people and even arranged an event in October that brought vampire fans and authors together. It was titled A Day of Mystical Blood Lust (http://adayofmysticalbloodlust.webs.com/ ) and was such a success that we are doing it and the Halloween Ball again next year.

So, now I am venturing out on writing both a short story as well as a reference book about vampires for writers. I am also looking to publish the original academic papers once they are edited and more added to them.

I still receive the weird looks and comments and many times employers don’t take me seriously but the study of the Lure of the Vampire is real. It is an academic topic and is becoming a very popular one in college classrooms ranging from Ohio to Louisiana, England and Canada. There have been approved classes and they are always overloaded.

So, just think about what you love and make that a passion to seek knowledge in that area. Here are a few tips on how to do that:

1. If you are in college take the chance to write that paper tailored to your interest whether it’s English, History, Psychology, Sociology, or even Science.

2. If you are seeking an advance degree go to your Chair and address the issues if you choose to go the higher academic route.

3. Look up Examiner.com in your area and see if there are openings in your topic if so apply or even suggest it. I did mine and it was accepted. If you need help email me and always put me down as a referral source

4. Find academic associations dealing with your major, join and get involved. The Pop Culture and American Culture Association covers just about anything that you can imagine.

5. Start a blog and connect with experts in your area. Many are willing to help newbies out.
You can turn what you love into a true academic study. It may take some creativity but it is possible

If you'd like to know more you can email The Vampire Professor at vampireprofessor@yahoo.com

or follow her on Twitter @tenavarney

You can also find her at the following places around the web:

Website- http://searchforthelure.webs.com/

Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=629688553

Book Blog- http://bertenasbooks.blogspot.com/

Lexington Vampire Examiner- http://www.examiner.com/vampire-in-lexington/bertena-varney

True Blood Examiner- http://www.examiner.com/true-blood-in-national/bertena-varney

Paranormal Literature Examiner- http://www.examiner.com/paranormal-literature-in-national/bertena-varney

A Day of Mystical Blood Lust- http://adayofmysticalbloodlust.webs.com/

$10 Amazon Gift Card Giveaway from Bestcovery.com

Today I have a giveaway all of us readers will love- a $10 gift card to Amazon.com

The giveaway is sponsored by

Bestcovery.com

Bestcovery is a site that reviews and recommends thousands of products and services, ranging from the Best Hotels to the Best Drugstore Mascara.

To enter this giveaway please visit Bestcovery.com and check out there lists and recommendations.

Come back Fang-tastic Books and leave a comment on this post with a link to one of the Bestcovery.com lists that you either like or dislike.

Be sure to include your email address with your comment.

This contest closes on Tuesday November 30 at midnight EST

Book Lovers Want Amazon Gift Cards for the Holidays

If you have book lovers on your holiday shopping list be sure to grab a few Amazon gift cards to stuff in their stockings.

I know Amazon gift cards are on my holiday wish list- there are lots of books coming out in January that I've added to my list so please (hubby if you're reading this) add a few gift cards to my stocking this year.

Book trailer for The Greyfriar (Vampire Empire, Book 1)

Check out the book video for The Greyfriar Vampire Empire Book 1

I have heard great things about this book, it's in my current to-read pile

I can't wait to start reading it

Check out some of the awesome reviews it has received:

"I love this book. It's epic and lovely, heartbreakingly romantic (in every sense of the word) and an incredibly satisfying read, both for the characters and the richness of the world." --Marjorie M. Liu, New York Times bestselling author of the Hunter Kiss and Dirk & Steele series.

"I have read 117 vampire novels in the last fifteen months. Some were great, some mediocre. But I LOVED this book. The Greyfriar is an extraordinary character. I put the book down wishing I could read the sequel immediately. The writing is lyrical and poignant. And like all of the truly best vampire novels, issues of morality and the use and abuse of power are paramount." --Margot Adler, author of Drawing Down the Moon and Heretic's Heart; creator of the "Hour of the Wolf" radio show on WBAI, New York City
"Great writing, intriguing antagonists and one scrappy heroine make this a worthy addition to the steampunk genre. Princess Adele makes a great role model for tween and teen girls not to mention some adults and the Greyfriar is everything a steampunk hero should be." --RT Book Review

"The Greyfriar is an alternate history, steampunk novel that just took me for an unforgettable ride... Princess Adele was a great lead. In the beginning...she was strong and kind, but she still had an air of royalty that of someone who is used to being served and pampered. When her journey starts underway however, she slowly morphs into this warrior type... something akin to Robin hood, Greyfriar is this masked man who fights for humans against the vampires. I loved Greyfriar as the hero in this book... I don't want to give anything away, so I'll just say that his character quickly became my favorite. His chemistry with Adele is undeniable, but with a war looming there is no way that they can be together. The plot...had me on the edge of my seat. There was unrequited love, diabolical vampires, and journeys to unknown lands. Everything that almost guarantees that I'll be engrossed in it. Overall, I loved The Greyfriar... Anybody who's looking for a good story should definitely pick this one up, I'm sure glad that I did." --Literary Escapism, October 15, 2010

"The best book I've read this year...I'm hoping to convince you all to buy this book...a page turner...all-around satisfying, pick this one up. Romance fans will not be disappointed..." --VampChix blog, October 21, 2010

"I was blindsided by how phenomenal The Greyfriar was from start to finish. Amazing vampire mythology, a chilling alternate history, and a poignant romance that grips your whole heart and refuses to let go. ...The vampires in The Greyfriar are frighteningly fascinating. ...As rich and absorbing as the vampire empire is, the heart of The Greyfriar was the blossoming romance that grew between Adele and Greyfriar amidst the war between humans and vampires. It was moving and heartbreaking at every turn. ... I'm amazed that a story as epic and lavish The Greyfriar comes in at just over 300 pages. That's a testament to writing ability of husband and wife duo Clay and Susan Griffith who wasted not one word in their superb vampire steampunk novel. The action is exhilarating, the vampires are refreshingly sinister, and the love story a gentle force so captivating that I truly believe it will weather even the most daunting obstacles. Book two in the Vampire Empire can't come soon enough. My rating: 5/5, Near Perfect - Buy two copies: one for you and one for a friend." --All Things Urban Fantasy blog, October 26, 2010

"The vampires in this novel were very unique...a breath of fresh air, because of their originality and how evil and harsh they were... This novel starts out slow, but catches you by surprise about forty pages in. From there, it grabs you and doesn't let go... The action-packed ending was fantastic and left me wanting the next book now without being a cliffhanger. Overall: 4.5 stars (5 Stars = Near perfection. 4 Stars = Very good.)" --Sara's Urban Fantasy blog, November 2, 2010

Have You Discovered Pocket After Dark?

There’s a new kid in town in the book Blogosphere—Pocket After Dark!

As you may already know, PAD is a fantastic free online community for romance and urban fantasy readers, writers, and editors alike.

Members can read, rate, and discuss new romance and urban fantasy books, blog, participate in polls and discussions with bestselling authors, experience exclusive author content, and connect with fellow readers and fans.

Members also get a glimpse into what’s new and upcoming from Pocket, including access to two free books per month, up to six “Little Teases” that offer two free chapters of each title, and a “One Night Stand” that gives a sneak peek at a soon-to-be published book.

The site launched in August 2010 and has since amassed a variety of exciting and unique content from a number of authors and readers.

New York Times bestselling author Teresa Medeiros, for example, has done a variety of fun stuff on PAD. She created a couple hilarious videos, and also gave members a tour of her beautiful office and a list of her top 10 reasons to love men in kilts. She also completed a very successful Twitter chat with the help of the PAD team.

Nancy Gideon created a “travel diary” from her trip to New Orleans, LA, the setting for her Moonlight series. For seven days, she posted information, anecdotes, and photos from each day of her trip.

Then, there’s the bonus content!

Cherry Adair, Sabrina Jeffries, Alexis Morgan, Jill Myles, J.F. Lewis, Jennifer Estep, and Adrian Phoenix (and more) have all posted extras about their beloved books.

Cherry created an interview between her hero and heroine; Sabrina wrote a letter from one of her Hellion of Halstead Hall characters to her readers; and Alexis, Jill, J.F., Jennifer, and Adrian each posted at least one short story featuring their characters. Karen Hawkins, Julia London, Gwyn Cready, Susan Mallery, Jill Myles, Nancy Gideon, and Cherry Adair all shared some fantastic book trailers with our members too.

As you can see, there’s a lot going on after dark at the PAD.

Membership is free.

Check it out http://www.pocketafterdark.com/

You can find them on Facebook and Twitter too Facebook (Pocket After Dark) and Twitter @pocketafterdark

Video Interviews with Dacre Stoker Author of Dracula The Undead

If you love vampire books you have probably heard of Dracula the Undead by Dacre Stoker, great nephew of Bram Stoker the original author of Dracula.

The US-Ireland Alliance recently conducted an interview with Dacre Stoker. You can watch the interview videos on their site.

2 Year Blogoversary Celebration: Box of Books Giveaway

2 years ago I decided to start Fang-tastic Books as a place to showcase my love of all things paranormal and fang filled in the book and entertainment world.

At the time I didn't know much about the wonderful world of book blogging.

I had only found a couple sites that focused on vampire books- one was Vampire Wire and the other I believe was Bitten by Books.

Since then I have found numerous book blogs, some which were already in existence when I started others that popped up later.

Now there are so many awesome sites filled with book reviews, giveaways and author guest spots. I love it.

I love the book blogging world and I am so happy to be a part of it.

So Happy 2 Year Blogoversary to Fang-tastic Books!

And to celebrate my happy 2 year blogoversary I am offering a giveaway of an assorted box of books to one lucky winner, US residents only (sorry international shipping is expensive).

In this box of books I have:

an ARC of Deadly Fear by Cynthia Eden

Last to Die by Kate Brady

an ARC of My Immortal Assassin by Carolyn Jewel

Two Lethal Lies by Annie Soloman

Twelve by Jasper Kent

Lost Devil's Throne by Kristin Stefanos

Phoenix Rising by Jo Lynne Valerie

Blood Justice by David Burton.

To enter this giveaway leave a comment on this post with your email

Must be a GFC Follower

+2 entries for being a Fang-tastic Books Facebook Fan

+2 For Following me on Twitter

+2 for being an email subscriber to Fang-tastic Books

Contest Open Until Tuesday Nov 30 Midnight EST

Winner TBA Wed Dec 1

Guest Post and Giveaway with Chastity Bush

Write What You Love

I believe that in order to be happy, you have to do what you love, and in my case, that’s writing paranormal.

I have written one contemporary, one historical and three paranormals, and in the end, I find I am happiest writing paranormal.

I enjoyed writing in different genres, it was something new and invigorating and I had a great time developing the story and getting to know my characters, but in the end, paranormal is where my heart lies.

Sure, there are other genres that are more popular right now, but why bend to what is hot now when it may not be as happening tomorrow?

Trends change; people get bored and move on to something different. Be it something they’ve never read before or something they haven’t read in quite some time. Either way, I see no reason to force yourself to write something just because it’s all the rage at the time being.
Let your muse run wild! If you like steampunk, then write steampunk. If you like to write historical, write historical!

Don’t let other peoples opinions cloud your judgment or hinder your muse. You know what makes you happy, and you’re the only one who can accomplish that task.

Take your time and do what makes you happy. You never know, in the end, that story you're questioning could be the next bestseller.

Blurb for A Taste of Terror

When Cole Douglas is sent in search of a rogue werewolf, he expects the mission to go without a hitch, as so many before had.

But when sexy nurse/newly turned werewolf Chloe Dunn attacks him, his new mission take a surprising turn, as he learns that not only is she beautiful, she’s his mate.

As a Guardian, it’s Cole’s job to protect all living beings mortal, and immortal alike.

Refusing to acknowledge he’s found his mate, Cole continues on with his intended mission, only to find out the beautiful creature that attacked him is not only his mate, but his ticket to finding the rogue werewolf he’s been assigned to kill.

Despite the danger lurking all around them, Cole finds himself drawn to Chloe unlike any woman before. From her golden brown hair, to her amber gold eyes, Cole realizes that just because he doesn’t think he’s ready for a mate, doesn’t matter when just a look from her can set his blood on fire.

Chloe Dunn is just learning to live life as a werewolf when the scent of a stranger sends her into a frenzy and leads her to attack him. Cole is dangerous and wild, something she needs no part of, but the overwhelming pull he has on her is more than she can bear. The more time she spends with him, the more she wants him, needs him, and will do whatever it takes to have him, even if it means placing herself in the hands of the very rouge that turned her.


http://chastitybush.webs.com/
http://museithotpublishing.com/
http://www.facebook.com/chastitybush
http://www.solsticepublishing.com/

Giveaway Time

Chastity is giving away a copy of one of her ebooks (winner’s choice) to one lucky reader

To enter leave a comment on this post with your email

Winner TBA next Wednesday

This Thanksgiving I am Thankful For...

So I've been really down lately thanks to the awful things that have been going on in my life- like my garage being broken into and the numerous other things that have gone wrong this year.

But in honor of Thanksgiving and the other upcoming holidays I am trying to be positive for my family and my own well being.

Instead of concentrating on the things that have gone wrong and what I don't have, I am going to focus on the things that have gone right and what I do have and after sitting down and thinking about it- I have a lot to be thankful for.

For one, I have an awesome family.

I am thankful that I have a wonderful husband who works his butt off everyday going to a job that he sometimes likes and sometimes hates (its not his dream job), but he does it to take care of our family and for me so I can stay at home with our children and write- which is my dream job.

I am thankful that I have a mother who lives right next door to me and adores her grandchildren. And I'm still her little girl and she still tries to take care of me as much as possible, even if I don't think I need it.

I am thankful for my teenage son who just graduated from high school and started college this year. He's a good boy who stays out of trouble, works hard and goes to school every day. He turns 19 on Thanksgiving.

I am thankful for my beautiful daughter who gets straight A's in school, loves to read (like her mom) and is a budding artist. She is also a wonderful big sister who helps take care of her active and sometimes troublesome little brother everyday.

I am also thankful for my adorable little demon child who drives me crazy everyday but looks so damn cute while he's doing it I can't stay mad at him for too long.

Not everyone has such a wonderful family, some don't have families at all. So more than anything I am thankful for them.

And I am glad that it was just our garage that was broken into and not our home- because if it had been our home someone could have been hurt. So I am thankful no one in my family was hurt and that we have our health and we have each other.

To celebrate this year I am making plans on having the best Thanksgiving ever.

I will be making a big dinner with turkey, my homemade stuffing made from scratch, real mashed potatoes, yams, squash, green bean casserole, baked beans, cornbread muffins, sweet rolls and assorted pies and baked goods including a cake for my birthday boy.

I think I might make cute little table place cards with a special note for each family member that tells them why I am so thankful they are my family.

Oh and I can't forget the hand-turkeys.

Hand turkeys are a family tradition in my home. Everyone makes them- adults and kids too.

I especially love the ones my kids make because every year their little hands get bigger and it's a recording of their lives and how they grow. It's a little sad to see the little hands get bigger and bigger every year but I love having the sweet memories of when they were so small.

After hand turkeys and dinner we'll sit around looking at Black Friday ads while watching a Christmas movie. This is our official way to kick off the holiday season, another family tradition.

Do you have any Thanksgiving traditions?

How do you celebrate Thanksgiving and what do have to be most thankful for this year?

I would love to hear heartfelt comments to cheer me up and make me feel all sappy.

This is the only time of year when I enjoy being emotional and sappy. It just fits.

Disclaimer: This post is an entry for the “Plan it, Blog it! 2010 Thanksgiving Blog Writing Contest” sponsored by www.uprinting.com

Winner Wednesday

And the winner of

Anya Bast's Jeweled

is mmafsmith

Guest Blog with Pauline Holyoak

Merryweather Lodge – Ancient Revenge..

The first of a trilogy..

"A supernatural thriller that keeps you on the edge.”

A perfect Christmas gift for those with a sense of adventure!

About me…

I grew in Southeast England, in a coal mining village my husband calls, “The place that time forgot.” It is nested between the notorious city of Canterbury and the medieval town of Dover. I came to Canada as a nanny, when I was 21. This vast and majestic country has served me well, but England will always be home. I live in Alberta (western Canada) with my sports crazy husband, adorable Sheltie dog and cantankerous ginger cat. We have two grown children. They are the gems in my treasure chest. I love this part of the world, except for the winters. It can be a chilly minus -30 for days on end. Burr…..

I love horror movies and being scared…Not the… “Hey I think I smell smoke” scared, but the creepy, spine-chilling, spooky stuff scared. When I was a young girl my friend and I would wander through the local graveyard just before dark, read the tombstones and make up stories about the people that were buried there. Good grief….I was weird.

I ran away from home when I was 17 years old, to join a band of hippies and live on the streets of London. I went to challenge the establishment, proclaim peace, escape from the hum-drum village life and find myself. I lived in la…la…land with the flower children for a year but I never did find myself. I have now. Thank God!

I don’t eat mammal and would like to be a vegetarian but I like my fish and chips too much.

Every summer, when I was a child, we would visit my aunt and uncle at their quaint little cottage on Salisbury Plain. It was called Scotland Lodge and was situated not far from the historical Stonehenge. My uncle worked as a farm hand for the local squire. My aunt tended the manor house. It was there as I roamed free, deep within the English countryside, that I experienced joy, enchantment and some very strange and frightening occurrences. It was like a fairytale kingdom with a sinister twist. The memories of my summers at Scotland Lodge have stayed with me as a sort of nagging unsolved mystery all my life. A few years ago I revisited my childhood wonderland (the old place still emanates a strange and eerie essence) and was lead by some mysterious force into concocting this story and writing this book. It is from my mystifying experiences at Scotland Lodge that this book has emerged.

My life has been a fascinating journey so far but nothing compares to my mystifying summer holidays at Scotland Lodge.

Book blurb…..

When Emily Fletcher meets the gorgeous Jonathan McArthur she is infatuated and consumed with passion. Will he go with her to the dreaded wood-lot, to remove the bloody ancient curse, before it’s too late? In the first half of my story Emily is fourteen years old. In the second half she is forced to return to the cottage, at the age of twenty. My novel contains elements of horror, humor, fantasy, romance and sex. I have created a world into which my readers can escape and an atmosphere that will evoke their imagination, stir their emotions and engage their senses.

Excerpt.…

"Let’s go somewhere private.” She said, grabbing my arm. She guided me to the passage and plunked me down on the bottom step of the attic stairs. My back straightened. Panic rose within me as an icy shiver ran down my spine. It was as if I had been lead to an old cemetery, sat on a grave and left among the tomb stones.

“That was her room you know.” She said as she pointed up the stairs.

“Who’s?”

“Mary Eliss.”

I turned my head ever so slowly and drew eyes up to the portal at the top of the stairs. I shivered and quickly looked way. “I know it was.”

In a low voice she whispered. “Do you suppose she’s still up there?” Then she grinned mischievously.

I looked into her strange glassy eyes. “She was, the last time I was here and I have a feeling she hasn’t left.”

My advice for would-be authors…. Write something every day, even if it’s only a paragraph. Learn to live with rejections; don’t let them nag at you. Believe in yourself and your work. Never, ever give up on your dreams. Faith, patience, perseverance and bold determination are what all successful authors have in common.

I am now working on the second book of my trilogy… Merryweather Lodge – The Malevolent Spirit…Find out if Emily gets to make mad, passionate love to Jonathan , just like she does in her dreams….?

Merryweather Lodge – A quaint little cottage, steeped in history, shrouded in secrets, its aura a paradoxical essence of heaven and hell. Go into this book if you dare and experience my protagonist’s strange and eerie journey there…. . Available at www.whiskeycreekpress.com

The next big book craze…...Stonehenge!

Thank you Roxanne, for letting me share this with you and your friends.

Please come visit me at www.paulineholyoak.com

Monday Musings November 15, 2010

It's been awhile since I wrote a Monday Musings. For a long time the blog was completely booked with guest posts, giveaways, and reviews.

November seems to be a slow month. I blame it on the upcoming holidays and NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month). Many authors are plugging away trying to meet the goals of NaNoWriMo.

Not me. With 3 kids and the upcoming holidays there's no way I can commit to that. Maybe someday.

Me, I'm just trying to make it through this crazy and hectic time of year. It's always hard but this year it just got harder.

Friday night I was making dinner and my husband went out to the garage to start cleaning stuff up and moving things around so we could put a vehicle in there since the weather is promising snow soon.

He came in and announced that "We've been robbed."

I was so stunned I just stood there with a big spoon in my hand no longer stirring whatever I had on the stove.

After taking inventory of everything that was missing we discovered we hadn't just been robbed but we were cleaned out. So many tools gone, motors, generators- things that belonged to my dad who passed away thirty years ago, my step dad who passed away 3 years ago, my husband and my son. Things that were my moms, things that belonged to my husband's friends- everything gone.

So far we're looking at about $10,000 worth of items gone. Things that took years, decades to acquire. It's not like we have the money to go out and replace all these things. This was a garage full of stuff that took very hard working men years to collect. Years of birthday, Christmas and Father's day presents gone.

It makes me sick- I've literally been sick to my stomach all weekend because we don't even know what the insurance company is going to do if they'll even cover it. We've never dealt with anything like this before so we just don't know.

Anyway, sorry to be a downer today it just helps to get things off my chest.

I am trying to stay positive and hopeful that things will work out. It's just hard to do- and what a time of year to go through this. We were already stressing about Christmas, now I just don't know what we're going to do.

But I will plaster a smile on my face and try not to worry my kids and somehow Christmas morning there will be miracles as there always are no matter how stressful things get.

New Book Trailer for Alyson Noel's Immortals series

Available November 16th from St. Martin's Press is Alyson Noël's latest release in her widely loved 'Immortals' series, 'Night Star'.

In celebration of the release of 'Night Star', St. Martin's Press has released a new book trailer.

"Night Star continues the epic love story that has enchanted readers across the world. In this installment, Ever and Damen face down bitter rivals, jealous friends and their own worst fears—all in the hope of being together forever. Night Star is guaranteed to mesmerize fans and leave them breathlessly awaiting the sixth and final book!"

Immortals Series Website:
http://www.ImmortalsSeries.com


Immortals Series Facebook Fan Page:
http://www.facebook.com/ImmortalsSeries?v=app_6009294086