Thursday, January 13, 2011

Guest Blog and Giveaway with Tina Folsom




Darker, more sensual vampire rakes: Venice Vampyr
By Tina Folsom

Some readers will know me for my Scanguards Vampires series, an erotic vampire romance series set in contemporary San Francisco. While my Scanguards Vampires are more on the lighter side, I decided I wanted to do something a little darker and steamier.

When I visited Venice, Italy in October 2010, I knew I’d found the ideal setting for my slightly darker, slightly more sensual vampires. Venice Vampyr was born. As soon as I returned from vacation, I sat down at my computer and started writing. In December, I published the first novella Venice Vampyr, and in early January the second, Venice Vampyr: Final Affair.

Venice Vampyr is a novella series (length of each novella approx. 30,000 words), which follows the lives of vampires Raphael, his brother Dante, and their friends. The common thread running through all the novellas is the threat posed by the Guardians, a secret society of wealthy Venetians set out to kill every vampire. By keeping the stories at novella length, I can concentrate on the relationships between the hero and the heroine, rather than get lost in a complicated plot.

The idea of setting this series in the Regency period (early 1800s), came instantly. I wanted there to be more societal constraints for one reason: the (v)amp up the heat. The more constraints a society has, the hotter things get when you break their rules. Contemporary society has very few rules left when it comes to sex, relationships, and courting/dating. Very little is considered taboo or forbidden. But in a society where meetings between men and women were chaperoned, a stolen kiss packs more intensity and heat than today. I wanted to draw on this – the forbidden, the breaking of society’s rules, the devastating consequences if a woman’s reputation was compromised.

Venice Vampyr, particularly the first novella which follows Raphael, explores some sexual taboos and is not for the faint of heart. While it is not considered Erotica in its true sense (since it does have a Happy End and the characters are monogamous), it is certainly more erotic than any of my previous books or short stories.

I’m planning more novellas for the Venice Vampyr series. They are a welcome change from writing my longer books for Scanguards Vampires or my Out of Olympus series.

At present, Venice Vampyr novellas are only available as e-books, however, I am planning to release them as a collection in paperback once I have three novellas finished.

If you would like to see the trailer for Venice Vampyr, here it is: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=glx7mGT9u10

You can also listen to an audio excerpt of Venice Vampyr (read by me – excuse the accent):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RTuKy6zw1yQ

Thanks so much to Roxanne for having me on her blog today.

Author’s Website: http://www.tinawritesromance.com/

Author’s Blog: http://authortinafolsom.blogspot.com/

Giveaway Time

Tina is giving away one e-copy of each novella (pdf, kindle or ePub) to one lucky reader

To enter simply leave a comment on this post

Winner TBA Next Wednesday

30 comments:

mary ann(RunOnce828) said...

thanks for this great giveaway!!!

gigis said...

These sound great, like that they are a different time period.
Thanks for the contest.
gigi

SandyG265 said...

I haven't read many books set in venie. Sounds like it's going to be a good series.

bittenbyromance said...

Woohoo!! Paperback, Tina you made my day!! I loved the first book and just bought the second, I hope to sneak it in between my review request *evil grin* I have to have something hot sometime.. Anyhow great post ladies and to who ever wins these look for a hot treat!

Sherry said...

Sounds like a great read. Thanks for the contest.

sstrode@scrtc.com

Unknown said...

Thanks for the great giveaway! Please enter me in!!

Kelsey O.
kopsahl48 AT gmail DOT com

Anne said...

Sounds like a great new series. I've been to venice so I'll be able to picture the background as I read.

Virna DePaul said...

Both are wonderful books! Emotional and sexy!

booklover0226 said...

Oh, I'm ready to start this series; it sounds great.

Thanks,
Tracey D
booklover0226 at gmail dot com

Estella said...

This series sounds great!
Have not read any Regencies set in Venice.

Darkreader said...

I love vampires! Great giveaway!!

Stephanie M said...

Great giveaway. I love Tina's books.

smccar1 at hotmail dot com

Tina Folsom said...

Thanks to all of you.

Just as an FYI: Venice Vampyr #1 is really scorching - definitely not for the faint of heart. Laurie from Bitten by Paranormal Romance gave it the first ever Scorcher Award. And a reader from B&N gave it a 1-star review, calling it "eeeeyuck" - meaning she was pretty shocked. So, be warned.

Venice Vampyr #2 is a little tamer than the first one.

So, what do you guys say, should I turn up the heat again for the third one?

Stacey Smith said...

Sounds like a Hot Read.Can't Wait to Read them.Love Vampire books.and just got a E-Book Reader last month
sasluvbooks(at)yahoo.com

Lillie (AliseOnLife) said...

Hi Tina,

I love the Scanguards Vampire books! Looking forward to reading more from you.

PolarisGreen at gmail dot com

Unknown said...

Another great read. Please enter me in contest. I would love to read this book. I am a follower and email subscriber. Tore923@aol.com

Tanya1224 said...

Sounds like a good read. I usually don't read Novellas because they're just short ;) and I tend to want to read more about the characters. My tastes are starting to change though and I like to mix in good shorter reads. I just read "A Vampire's Tango" by Michele Hauf and it was a good short read. Venice...so nice..count me in please!

Texas Book Lover said...

I have heard great things about your work and would love a chance to read them! They sound right up my alley!

Have a great day!
mmafsmith@gmail.com

Selena said...

Would love to win, especially since I haven't read the second novella yet. And definitely turn up the heat on the third one...heat is good! :)

Selena
The Enchanted Book
enchantedbook@gmail.com

Elena Gray said...

Tina, you've definitely got my attention with this one!! I added to my wish list! This has received great reviews and I can't wait to read it!!

cbandy10(at)hotmail(dot)com

JenM said...

Hi Tina - I love Venice and I think vampire stories set there would be awesome. More scorching than the Scanguard series??? Wow, that's gonna be smokin hot. Honestly, I do like a balance between the sex scenes and the non ones, so I don't know, it might be a bit too much for me. Still, I've liked everything else you've written, so I'd be happy to give it a try.

jen at delux dot com

Kasumi said...

I'm just starting the first one, but I really want the second and I'm more than happy it will be a third one :D

Thanks for the giveaway :D

BTW I anounce it on my blog :D

Meredith said...

Sounds great, please enter me.

meredithfl at gmail dot com

Cara Marsi said...

Venice is a great city to set a vampire novel. Your series sounds excellent. Good luckl

Patricia said...

Wow, more vamps! I like reading about them in different settings and cultures.

kittykelly28 said...

Another new author to me! :) What a great giveaway too. Thanks for the chance to win! :)

Kelly
kittykelly28 @ hotmail.com

Jeremy said...

I've been wanting for some authors to go back in time when vampires were scary monsters. II don't know what you meant by much darker but I would love to read this one to see.

Please enter me into the giveaway.
romancebookjunkiesdanielle@yahoo(dot)com

Kelly aka yllektra(I Work For Books) said...

Quote:
By keeping the stories at novella length, I can concentrate on the relationships between the hero and the heroine, rather than get lost in a complicated plot.

That actually sounds pretty good and it definitely helps the reader focus on the relationships and the characters!
Plus, Italy is such a both romantic and sexy place!

I'd love to take part in this! Thanks so much for the giveaway.

yvantis[at]hotmail[dot]com

RFTC Blog said...

All of these look really great. Would love to read.

iqb99@yahoo.com

Krysta said...

Sounds like a hot read!! Another series to add to my tbr list, although this one is going straight to the top. I've been in the mood for some dark and hot books lately.

Thanks for this great giveaway! Would love to win this. Good luck to everyone who is entering!

crystal_reaper(at)hotmail(dot)com

 
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