Guest Blog with Susan Blexrud

Thank you, Roxanne, for hosting me today at Fangtastic Books.

This is an exciting day for me because the fifth story in my fang series, Black Fang, just debuted.

Here’s the blurb…

Someone is deliberately infecting bats with a deadly fungus. The flying mammals are dying by the thousands, and along with them, a significant number of vampires in bat form have also succumbed.

Enter John and Lauren Wright. The vampire couple has conquered evil enemies in the past, but the perpetrator behind the bat deaths is more cunning than any they’ve encountered. Though John initially suspects that werewolves are the culprits, he discovers he is up against a colony of Unseelie faeries. The intoxicating scent of the faeries has been known to deceive vampires, pitting friend against friend—and wife against husband.

I chose to write about bats after reading an article in The Orlando Sentinel in January 2010 about white-nose syndrome, a real fungus that is decimating bat populations in the U.S. As a vampire writer, I’ve always been fascinated by these little mammals (NO, they’re NOT rodents), and the valuable environmental functions they provide. They gobble up mosquitoes like their guano depended on it, and they’re master pollinators.

So, I got to thinking, if bats are in crisis, who besides humans would come to their aid? Vampires, of course. Okay, there’s the story kernel. Now, where’s the conflict? What if a werewolf was in charge of the Environmental Protection Agency and faeries were responsible for spreading the fungus? Ah, yes. And wouldn’t you just know that those faeries would have some tricks up their tutus? Not the least of which is their intoxicating scent, which makes vampires go bat shit, pardon the pun.

When vampires, werewolves, and faeries collide, it’s a wild romp through a paranormal underworld of mayhem, violence, and hanky panky.

www.susanblexrud.com

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Review of Black Fang by Susan Blexrud

Title: BLACK FANG
Category: Paranormal Romance
Reviewer: Michele R.
Reviewer Email: deseng@myfrontiermail.com
Author: Susan Blexrud
Publisher: DCL Publications
Release Date: August 2011
ISBN Number: 978-0-9838078-8-9
Author Homepage: http://www.susanblexrud.com
Rating: 5 Fangs
Format: E-BOOK

CATCHY SNIPPET: Things are delightfully batty in this new wacky and spicy adventure in the FANG series from Susan Blexrud, featuring all the main characters, John Marsh, vampire extraordinaire and sexy vampire wife Lauren, along with some freaky new ones. Have yourself a fairy good time!

When a lonesome bat, with a white nose, crashes through John and Lauren Marsh’s French door and lands on the floor, it morphs into a centuries-old vampire who is John’s friend from England. They quickly learn from him that a deadly fungus called white nose syndrome is compromising the bat community. He then unexpectedly dies in John’s hands. John’s heart crumbles in affection towards his late friend. He swiftly jumps into action though on solving the deadly disease that is killing off the bats, which will likely infiltrate into the vampire population as well. Sources tell him that the disease is spreading swiftly and there is no time to waste. John wonders how it is traveling so fast. A mysterious entity is lurking. Is it human or supernatural?

Lucianno and Meredith offer their help along with some other surprising characters from the previous story in the FANG series much to Lauren’s consternation. Plus, some new characters are introduced but are they friend or foe? Unexpected events befall the main characters and a heartfelt tone is woven throughout the story. Little Avery, John and Lauren’s daughter, makes a charming appearance which adds to the familial touch.

This story is shorter but offers an intelligent mix of serious, humorous, pleasurable, skeptical and unexpected moments as John and his compatriots race to uncover the fungus mystery with unsettling developments. Ms. Blexrud smoothly blends an excellent narration on the history of bats culminating into a unique perspective within the plot. With a poignant tale and compassionate characters, Ms. Blexrud exemplifies her outstanding flair for creating a fascinating story of bravery, love and fantastical characters. I am a devoted fan!

A Review of Season of Love

Title: Season Of Love
Category: Paranormal Romance
Reviewer: Michele Rioli
Reviewer Email: Deseng@crown.net
Author: Susan Blexrud, Bill Haworth, Kate Hofman, Miriam Newman
Publisher: DCL Publications
Release Date: November 2009
ISBN Number: 9780984282838

Rating: 5 Fangs
Format: E-BOOK

MISTLETOE FANGS by Susan Blexrud is a fast, fun blend of vampire thrills and chills. Get ready to buckle in for a creepy, thrilling ride!

When Lauren mentions to her friend Meredith that she still hasn’t fully recovered from her kidnapping event, Meredith puts her in touch with a highly recommended psychiatrist called Dr. Erasmus Gephart. Lauren has pregnancy woes along with crying jags that come unexpectedly stemming from paranoia over her kidnapping event with the Mafia. Lauren’s visit with the psychiatrist goes smoothly on her first visit but he is rather odd. Her loving husband John, vampire vigilante, is concerned for her welfare. Does Lauren finally get some relief from her symptoms? Is Dr. Gephart who he says he is?

Ms. Blexrud delivers another great vampire adventure starring all the main characters along with a skeptical, weird doctor and his faery sidekick. The faery almost steals the show! When things unexpectedly take a turn for the worse, John calls in Luc to help him out. Ms. Blexrud does a superb job throwing in right and left curves and I was anxious to see what would happen next! MISTLETOE FANGS is a crazy, funny, sexy vampire tale with a lot of oomph!

THE OFFICE PARTY by Bill Haworth is the story of a Scrooge in a suit and a Christmas Eve miracle.

Fred Perkins, a charismatic sleaze ball but a sharp businessperson, commandeers a Christmas Eve party to celebrate his big promotion. Unfortunately, the coworkers get the full lip from him as he progressively gets drunker at his own party. Mattie, a pretty brunette and the secretary, makes her excuses to leave the party. Mr. Perkins, totally blasted, from excessively drinking, talks cruelly to Mattie about leaving his party early. She has had enough of his overt sexual advances on her. She wants to get home to her husband and kids. A phone call comes through from her husband, telling her that the weather is supposed to turn nasty and to leave as soon as possible. Just when she is about to leave, the caterer for the party calls to say they can’t deliver the food because the weather is dreadful. Mr. Perkins angrily protests at her leaving “his” party, asking if she can stay to help out, and boldly pronounces that only a miracle can save this party. In walks a little old office cleaning lady. Will she possibly save the day?

THE OFFICE PARTY plays homage to the rude, dude called the Scrooge of Christmas stories. It is a fast-moving story with bantering office employees, a scrappy boss, a pretty secretary and a very unassuming old cleaning lady. Bill Haworth expertly depicts teasing office employees to the hilt. The dialogue is peppered with smart-alecky innuendos and snappy comebacks. Mattie and the cleaning lady save the day with their sudsy-bubble optimistic attitudes, which brightens the whole story. You never know what will happen at an office party, let alone the one in this story that has an ending that delights and warms the heart!

A SPECIAL CHRISTMAS GIFT by Kate Hofman is a luminous love story about the reunion of two lovers who are inexplicably torn apart by treachery and deceit.

Glenda St. George, a beautiful blonde-haired lady, is busily creating decorations with her two-year-old son Jason, a couple days before Christmas, when her door buzzer goes off. Whom could it be she wonders? She opens the door and is startled to see Alexandros Manitakis, her lover from three years ago, standing there. She goes white, as if seeing a ghost, and practically passes out but Alex catches her. She discovers that Alex’s office assistant, Nana Demos, was infatuated with him and wanted to marry him. Thus, she deliberately broke up their love affair with devious plans and lies. Will Alex win Glenda’s heart all over again? What surprises and battles await them?

A SPECIAL CHRISTMAS GIFT is a touching story of love walking in again. Glenda and Alex unfortunately have their love tryst wrecked by a deceitful lady who is Alex’s assistant. After three years, Alex finds the woman of his dreams again, along with an unexpected surprise. Her two-year-old son is his. Ms. Hofman weaves a beautifully written romance story that tugs at the heartstrings. Ms. Hofman throws in some strong and unique secondary characters that add to the story’s appeal. Exquisite and stylish, A SPECIAL CHRISTMAS GIFT is a heartwarming romance and the risks we take for love.


PEACE ON NEW EARTH by Miriam Newman is a uniquely romantic futuristic tale of two different races cohabitating together on the same planet in the twenty-fifth century.

Avron, leader of a powerful tribe called the Megastes, has volunteered to undergo treatments to be vaccinated against a virus that has infected his tribe. Some have fallen ill and some even have died due to this illness, which was inadvertently spread to them through the colonists. The colonists are an advanced human race called the Terrans who are cohabitating with them on their planet. When Avron travels to their dome, he is surprised to meet the doctor. She is a woman with beautiful blonde hair who pleasantly stimulates his nose.

Jadelle Reid, a research med-tech doctor and specialist in antiquities, doesn’t get out much with the opposite sex since she is to busy with work. In fact, it seems most men don’t find her as suitable dating material. She spends a lot of time at home baking lots of cookies and breads to fill the void. When she meets Avron, she is immediately taken aback by his presence. What a handsome, muscular body, she muses to herself. She offers him a peace offering, a Christmas cookie. He helps himself to a second one after eating the first savory treat. Happy with herself, she secretly looks forward to spending time with him but then remembers to act professional. After all, if all goes well with the injections, maybe the Terrans and Megastes can cohabit peacefully. What does the future hold for these two and more importantly will the injections work?

PEACE ON NEW EARTH brings a new dimension to the futuristic genre in an enthralling tale that breaks down boundaries. When Avron and Jadelle discover there is chemistry between them on an aromatic level, things soon heat up from there. The clever story line of two different races trying to find peace amongst illness balances the plot out perfectly! A fascinating premise, strong characters and a powerful message make this a perfect ending to a collection of holiday stories.

SEASON OF LOVE, a brilliant diverse collection of holiday stories, with romance as the underlying theme, is at times scary, then refreshing, and sprinkled all over with good holiday cheer!

Season of Love Giveaway with Susan Blexrud

Thanks for inviting Miriam, Kate, Bill and me to Fang-tastic Books to provide a preview of our new Christmas anthology for DCL Publications. I must say I was excited to participate in this project with three authors who I not only admire, but with whom I've struck up a cyber friendship over this past year. Our stories for this anthology are as diverse as they could be. You might say there's something for everyone in Season of Love.

For those of you who've been following my fang series, the fourth story is included in this anthology. I had intended for this to be the last installment in the series, but Fang-tastic Books's lovely reviewer, Michele, has given me an idea for a sequel that I might have to pursue. Here's a hint...it features my Chihuahua.

Following are the blurbs from the four stories that comprise Season of Love.

Mistletoe Fangs - Susan Blexrud
Dr. Lauren Marsh, a pregnant vampire, seeks therapy to overcome a recent trauma -- but is her creepy doctor interested in more than her well-being? Will evil intercede, dashing the promise of a Christmas baby?

The Office Party - Bill Haworth
An office Christmas party is hijacked by the newly appointed manager, to celebrate his promotion. A blizzard traps the revellers in the freezing, dark office. An old cleaning lady intervenes -- but is she all she seems?

A Special Christmas Gift - Kate Hofman
Glenda has a very special Christmas gift for her lover, who has finally succeeded in finding her again.

Peace on New Earth - Miriam Newman
The planet of Megasta is in peril. A virulent virus is running rampant, and Jada's willing guinea pig turns out to be one gorgeous hunk of man. Will he succumb to the virus...or to her love?

Now, leave a comment, and you might just receive your own copy (don't forget to include your e-mail so I can forward the .pdf to you). Then, you can fix yourself a cup of hot cocoa, light a few candles, and curl up in your most comfortable chair for four stories guaranteed to get you in the spirit.

Happy Holidays and big, sloopy Chihuahua kisses!
Susan Blexrud

A Review of Real Men Have Fangs by Susan Blexrud

Married life is bliss when you are married to the hottest, sexiest vampire around! Lauren and John Wright get down and dirty, in Susan Blexrud’s new novel, REAL MEN HAVE FANGS, the sequel to FANG SHUI. It is a scary vampire tale full of wit, zip and sizzling escapades.

Title: REAL MEN HAVE FANGS
Category: Paranormal Romance
Reviewer: Michele Rioli
Reviewer Email: Deseng@crown.net
Author: Susan Blexrud
Publisher: DCL Publications
Release Date: October 2009
ISBN Number: 978-0-9842828-1-4
Author Homepage: http://www.susanblexrud.com/
Rating: 5 Fangs
Format: E-BOOK

Five Fangs for Real Men Have Fangs
by Susan Blexrud


Lauren is a stunning, sexy vampire and hitched to John Wright, vampire extraordinaire. Married life couldn’t be better, actually it is pure paradise! Lauren’s husband John is extremely handsome and intelligent with more than a few tricks up his sleeve. He just passed his bar exam in Florida and is now a property attorney. His first client happens to be a mafia leader named Rick Maroon. Lauren is not happy one bit about the danger exposed to them both at this inopportune time. The cops have been trying to nail Maroon for years with a conviction. Since John works for the cops and is a vampire vigilante, hopefully, they can bring him down with both barrels.

John needs some vampire backup and he calls in his old, but loyal friend, commitment phobe and playboy, Lucianno, the Italian. Yes, that’s right, the guy that broke the heart of Lauren’s friend, Meredith. Oh boy! The hot Italian lover is coming back to town and ready to cause trouble again!

Meredith moves on, or thinks she has, and finds a nice, normal, dependable man, who is now her fiancé. She convinces herself that he is the one but when she catches sight of Lucianno, a flood of feelings, good and bad, washes over her. Does this lovelorn couple finally hash out their problems? Do the creepy Mafia guys have a hidden agenda? A frightening turn of events occurs. Will they all come out alive?

Ms. Blexrud’s spectacular new novel, REAL MEN HAVE FANGS is a frightening addition to her FANG series and is full of snap, sex and sizzle. It is brimming with all the main heroes and more! Lauren and John Wright, married vampires, with vast amounts of passion and energy, are dealing with evil enemies again. The Mafia is involved this time and danger lurks everywhere. Hold onto your seats because this story is one of the scariest in the FANG series. In addition, Lucianno pledges his love to Meredith, again! Does Meredith forgive the hot, Italian lover or does she give him the boot?

I love how Ms. Blexrud intertwines humor and romance with horror, suspense and danger. Her characters have incredible depth, which makes you feel like you know them on a personal level. If you like a sharp, sassy, suspenseful read, then place REAL MEN HAVE FANGS at the top of your ‘to buy’ list! Blexrud’s stories never disappoint!

Fang Books in the series, order they should be read:
Love Fang
Fang Shui
Real Men Have Fangs
And look for the upcoming "Mistletoe Fangs" in Season of Love a DCL Christmas anthology

Helpful Hints for Becoming a Vampire from Susan Blexrud

In my fang series, my mortal women must decide whether they are willing to sacrifice their humanity for the immortal world of the vampire men they love. Following are some hints for determining whether you, dear reader, are a candidate for immortality.

Helpful Hints for Becoming a Vampire

Assuming you've already been sucked in by the wiles of one of these undead hotties, you'll adapt more easily to your new lifestyle if you have....

1. Good dental hygiene. There’s nothing worse than an infected fang to put a damper on your fun.

2. A healthy libido. Believe me, it will kick up a notch, but having a good base is essential.

3. A sense of humor. There's a learning curve to acquiring vampire skills, and you need to be able to laugh at yourself.

4. A preference for night over day. You’ll still be able to function in the daytime, but your sensitivity to light will require UV protection for your skin and eyes. Hey, weren't you looking for an excuse to buy those new Chanel sunglasses?

5. No aversion to blood. You’ll never look at a scraped knee in the same way. So, if you’ve been a blood donor in your mortal existence, just know that a trip to the Red Cross could be more temptation than you’re able to endure.

6. A thirst for adventure. You're going to be more durable, so go ahead, rev up your immortal powers and jump off that cliff.


Susan Blexrud’s latest foray into the world of vampires is the third book in her fang series, Real Men Have Fangs, available October 29 from DCL Publications, http://www.thedarkcastlelords.com/ .

You can visit Susan at her website (http://www.susanblexrud.com/), and she welcomes your comments at her blogspot (http://susanblexrud.blogspot.com/).

And be on the lookout for Susan's print book which will contain all of the Fang series in one bound book, due out sometime in January.

Book Trailer for Fang Shui by Susan Blexrud

Here's a fab new book trailer for Susan Blexrud's book, Fang Shui.

I love the concept of book trailers, just wish I had the time

and patience to figure out how to make them.

If for some reason this doesn't work go to YouTube to view

Vampire Anatomy 101 and Love Fang Giveaway with Guest Author Susan Blexrud

Thanks, Roxanne, for inviting me to share my insights. I can never resist talking about my favorite subject…vampires.

At the risk of getting clinical…Oh, what the heck, let’s get clinical. My experience in writing about vampires started with a life-long fascination that led to a potential storyline that led to oodles of research. I incorporated much of what I learned about historic vampires into the world I built for John Wright, my Vampire Vigilante. His energy field can stop or start appliances. He can morph to bat form. Humans are instinctively drawn to him. His hearing and eyesight are superhuman, and of course, he’s more gorgeous than the average hunk. Anatomically, he has a heart. The way I see it, how could any creature fall in love without a heart? The Twilight vampires and Charlaine Harris’s undead don’t have heartbeats, but let’s think about this for a minute. For a creature who subsists on blood, wouldn’t you have to have a circulatory system? Where would the blood go, for Pete’s sake? Don’t hearts beat to the rhythm of romance? And ladies, we all know it takes pumping blood for our guys to get it up. Without a circulatory system, the hose would be mighty limp.

Then there’s reproduction. My vampires beget vampires, and a born vampire, in my undead world, has exceptional powers. If vampires were sterile, they’d be shooting blanks, and does that make sense for an Alpha vampire male? Not to me.

Here’s another bee for your bonnet. Most everyone agrees that the transformation to vampire must be made BEFORE the human is pronounced dead. Therefore (or at least, therefore for me), the life form remains, meaning a beating heart and other anatomical accoutrements.

Have you ever seen a vampire use the bathroom? It stands to reason that without food or drink, there’d be no need. My vampires don’t eat, but they do drink liquids besides blood. I’m assuming my vampires would need to use the bathroom after a few pints of Guinness. I just don’t talk about it. Lyndsey Sands’s vampires eat when they’re in love. And Mario Acevedo’s vampires are down right gluttons. They eat like a reincarnated Henry VIII. Sure, I’ll have leg of lamb with a blood chaser, and then I’ll need to make a pit stop before I fly off into the night.


Okay, enough of that.

What do you think?

Susan Blexrud is the author of Love Fang and Fang Shui, both currently available from DCL Publications (www.thedarkcastlelords.com). She is working on the third book in the series, Real Men Have Fangs, and the fourth story, Mistletoe Fangs, will appear in a DCL Christmas anthology, Season of Love.

Visit her at her website, www.susanblexrud.com.

She welcomes your comments at: susanblexrud@bellsouth.net

Would you like to win a pdf copy of Susan's first book in the series, Love Fang? Answer this question in the comments section below to be entered to win.

"Do vampires have hearts?"

3 lucky winners will receive a free download of Love Fang. Make sure to include email contact info. Thanks.

Fang Shui

Be on the look out for a series I just discovered at DCL Publishing, the Orlando Vampire Series by Susan Blexrud.

The second ebook will be out on April 16th, titled Fang Shui.

"Fang Shui follows the inimitable vampires from Orlando to Venice , Italy , and finally for a showdown at Harrod’s Department Store in London . It’s non-stop action and suspense for Lauren and John Wright as they endeavor to live their happily-ever-after while sidestepping the Mafia and a murderous vampire intent on killing Lauren. You can purchase Fang Shui, beginning May 16, at http://www.thedarkcastlelords.com/."

Sounds like an interesting vampire story. The first book in the series is Love Fang if you would like to check that one out as well. Both are available through the Dark Castle Lords Publishing site.