Carolyn Crane Guest Post & Giveaway

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Day 12 of my Giveaway-A-Day Countdown to My Birthday Bash brings us Carolyn Crane. So now I turn things over to her:

Amanda, AKA Not-Really-Southern-Vamp-Chick, is having a birthday tomorrow! (May 13th! Yow!) Okay, so as a special gift, I consulted a special blogger psychic to find out what will happen on her 25th year! And amazingly, this psychic provided pictures from the future.

First, Amanda, the psychic told me to tell you that your blog will get really famous, and you become a celebrity on TV. Wow, Amanda, that is really amazing. It must be all that twittering that you do.

Your love of UF and paranormal literature endears you to people all over the world. Your face is everywhere! Or, at least, your eyes.

The psychic went on to tell me that you, Amanda, become so amazingly famous, that you begin to forget about the little people. Like your cat, who now only relates to you through social media. Like Max Headroom. Oh, sorry Amanda, you’re too young to know who that is. Unfortunately, Carolyn Crane is not! Gah!

The psychic then informed me that Chris Pine, who played Kirk on the Star Trek movie, would fall in love with you during your 25th year. I was like, are you SURE? And the psychic said, yes, Amanda, Not Really Southern Vamp Chick, will have Chris Pine’s heart!!

The psychic sez: “Watch out, Amanda, because trouble starts when Robert Patterson also falls in love with you and your blog. You might not know this, but he is a little crazy.” The psychic told me to specifically warn you about that. And Robert’s love for you, which you will not return, will drive him over the edge. And he will kill Chris Pine.

Chris Pine fans everywhere will be angry with you. They will think your clever blogging led to his death, and in a way, they will be right. Naturally, by this time, your blog is getting millions of hits each day. And you pimp Mind Games and I get amazing sales! Wow! You rock! Also, you have your own line of T-shirts and lingerie.

Robert Patterson can’t give up. He goes into hiding, but puts wanted posters everywhere for you. He cannot live without you. He offers $5000!

Amanda, I’m sorry, after this, the psychic fainted. When I revived him, he said that’s all the further he could see, and beyond that is your 26th year, which I didn’t pay him for. Oh well. Happy birthday tomorrow! And I have prizes!

A gift pack of stuff I collected at the RT convention (bookmarks, pens, postcards, sexy playing cards and more) PLUS a signed copy of PASSION UNTAMED, a Feral Warriors novel (with shape shifters) by Pamela Palmer!!

How to enter: Answer this question: Will Robert Patterson ever find Amanda? AND fill out THE FORM.

Happy Birthday Amanda! xxoo Carolyn Crane

www.authorcarolyncrane.com

 

Thanks so much Carolyn! ROFL I must say I wasn’t expecting anything like this. LOL It’s great!

Ok, so above, the giveaway prizes are listed, as is method of entry. This contest is open INTERNATIONALLY to my followers who are 18 and up. For any other questions see the rules.

Check out the schedule for all other events and giveaways!

 

Here is information on Carolyn’s debut novel Mind Games,which is out now:

Mind Games heroine Justine Jones isn't your typical kick-ass type - she’s a hopeless hypochondriac whose life is run by fear.

She's lured into a restaurant, Mongolian Delites, by tortured mastermind Sterling Packard, who promises he can teach her to channel her fears. In exchange, she must join his team of disillusionists - vigilantes hired by crime victims to zing their anxieties into criminals, resulting in collapse and transformation.

Justine isn't interested in Packard's troupe until she gets a taste of the peace he can promise. Soon she enters the thrilling world of neurotic crime fighters who battle Midcity’s depraved and paranormal criminals.

Eventually, though, she starts wondering why Packard hasn’t set foot outside the Mongolian Delites restaurant for eight years. And about the true nature of the disillusionists.

Check here for links of places to buy Mind Games.

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Nancy Holzner Guest Post & Giveaway

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Day 11 of my Giveaway-A-Day Countdown to My Birthday Bash brings us Nancy Holzner for a super-fun guest post!

Twenty-Five Years of Vampires in Popular Culture

“Quarter of a century—makes a girl think.”

       –Marilyn Monroe as Sugar Kowalczyk in Some Like It Hot

Billy Wilder’s 1959 movie (itself now more than half a century old) has nothing to do with vampires. But I always liked that Marilyn Monroe line. I like the way it suggests we pay attention to milestones, that we use them as a time to look back and take stock.

So when Amanda invited me to be part of her 25th birthday countdown (Happy Almost-Birthday, Amanda!), I thought it would be fun to celebrate the Not-Really-Southern Vampire Chick’s milestone by looking back at some of the vampires who’ve influenced popular culture over the past 25 years. They’ve come a long way, baby.

Here’s my highly selective, highly subjective timeline of some of vampire highlights from 1985 to today:

1985: Anne Rice published The Vampire Lestat, the second book in her Vampire Chronicles series featuring vampires as sexy, tortured heroes. At the time, Library Journal’s review said: “Don't expect the usual stake-in-the-heart story; Rice is creating a new vampire mythos, mixing ancient Egyptian legends into her narrative, and weaving a rich and unforgettable tale of dazzling scenes and vivid personalities.”

1987: Vampires meet ’80s-style MTV—and the result is a blend of horror and comedy in the movie The Lost Boys. A gang of teenage vampires, led by Kiefer Sutherland, terrorize a California town. What’s fun about this cult film is the way it explores coming-of-age issues—teen angst, rebellion, and refusal to grow up—through a lens of horror, humor, and vampirism.

1992: The movie version of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, starring Kristy Swanson and ’90s heartthrob Luke Perry, laid the groundwork for the television series that later redefined vampires in popular culture. This film, written by Joss Whedon, is a parody of horror films, much lighter in tone that the TV series. In fact, Whedon wasn’t happy with the overtly comic treatment of his script. In five years, he’d have a chance to shape the characters and their story to his original vision.

1993: Laurell K. Hamilton’s first Anita Blake novel, Guilty Pleasures, was published, featuring a vampire hunter/necromancer attracted to vampire Jean-Claude, who would become Master of St. Louis. Readers argue about Hamilton’s claim that she started the urban fantasy genre, but there’s no question that this series had a huge impact on the genre’s direction and popularity.

1994: Based on Anne Rice’s 1976 novel, the film version of Interview with the Vampire was released. Although there was some controversy about casting Tom Cruise as Lestat (Anne Rice initially objected), this moody, atmospheric depiction of elegant vampires in New Orleans was the top box-office draw when it opened.

1997: Buffy the Vampire Slayer, a powerhouse show whose impact continues to influence popular culture, premiered on the WB. The series, which ran through 2003, was darker and edgier than the film that shares its title. Whedon said he developed Buffy to subvert the Hollywood stereotype of “the little blonde girl who goes into a dark alley and gets killed in every horror movie.” And did he ever. Through strong writing, imaginative storylines, and great dialogue, Buffy, Spike, Angel, Willow, and the others created a compelling, action-packed series that also explored social issues like gender roles, the ethics of violence, and the nature of the family. But most of all, it was FUN. Much of the current appetite for vampire fiction can be traced directly back to Buffy.

1998: Blade, a vampire action film starring Wesley Snipes, was the first in a trilogy loosely based on a Marvel Comics character of the same name. Half-human, half-vampire Blade, partially infected with vampirism in his mother’s womb, sets out to avenge her death and rid the world of vampires. Fast-paced and bloody, the movie has a larger-than-life comic book feel.

1999: Buffy spin-off Angel premiered, following the story of a vampire who regains his soul and sets out to atone for his evil acts. Compared to Buffy, Joss Whedon described Angel like this: “It’s a little bit more straightforward action show and a little bit more of a guys’ show.” Grittier, more urban, and darker still than Buffy, the series ran through 2004.

2001: A vampire walks into a bar . . . Ace Fantasy published Dead Until Dark by Charlaine Harris, introducing Sookie Stackhouse to the world. Set in small-town Louisiana, the story begins when Sookie, a psychic, realizes she can’t hear the thoughts of the vampire sitting in the bar where she works. She gets drawn deeper into the world of vampires and solves the murders terrorizing her town. Well written and as appealing to mystery readers as fantasy fans, this novel started a phenomenal series.

2004: In Undead and Unwed by MaryJanice Davidson, fantasy meets chick lit. Reluctant vampire queen Betsy wakes up dead, reclaims her designer shoe collection, and defeats an evil vampire. This series uses humor and a light tone that sets it apart from other vampire fiction.

2005: Little, Brown published Twilight by Stephenie Meyer. Whether you love sparkly vampires or hate them, you can’t argue with this series’ success—Twilight has sold more than 17 million copies worldwide. Like The Lost Boys, this series uses vampires as a metaphor for adolescent issues, although the two could hardly be more different in feel and tone. Millions of teen girls (not to mention their big sisters and their moms) have sighed along with Bella Swan over Edward Cullen, the ultimate misunderstood outsider.

2008: True Blood premiered on HBO. With a great advertising campaign promoting TruBlood synthetic blood as though it were a real product (remember “Friends don’t let friends drink friends”?), this series was an instant hit, sending a whole new audience to Charlaine Harris’s books.

2008: Released in November, the film version of Twilight made Robert Pattinson, Kristen Stewart, and Taylor Lautner stars—not to mention more than half a billion dollars in sales.

Okay, I know I’ve left lots of stuff out. What are some of your favorite vampire moments from the past 25 years? And where do you think vampires might be headed in the future?

 

Thank you so much Nancy! Here are a few of the places around the web you can find Nancy:

Website/blog: http://www.nancyholzner.com/

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Nancy-Holzner/163746834500?ref=ts

Twitter: http://twitter.com/NancyHolzner

Nancy has been super generous and is giving away an awesome prize pack that I wish I could get!

 

~1 winner will receive:

• signed copy of Deadtown by Nancy Holzner
• The Vampire Lestat by Anne Rice
• bookmark Newborn Hunger by Rebecca Sinz

This contest is open internationally to followers of my blog. Contest ends May 31st as do all giveaways in my birthday bash. For any other questions, see the rules.

To enter, answer Nancy’s questions AND fill out the FORM.

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It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? (15)

It's Monday What Are You Reading? is hosted by Sheila @ One Persons Journey Through a World of Books!

This is going to cover the last two weeks. With my birthday bash going on, I keep forgetting about my daily memes. Sorry!

Books Completed Last Week:

• Graceling by Kristin Cashore
• Kitty Goes to Washington by Carrie Vaughn

Books I am Currently Reading/Listening To:

• Wicked Game by Jeri Smith-Ready
• Mania by Craig Larsen
• Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater
• Inside Out by Maria V. Snyder
• Dark of kNight by T.L. Mitchell

What’s Up Next:

Some books for review!!

Theresa from Faerie Moon Creations Interview & Giveaway

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Thank you so much for joining me for my Giveaway-A-Day Countdown to My 25^th Birthday Bash! It's so great to have you here!

Thank you so much for inviting me!

Can you tell me a little about yourself?

I live in Central Connecticut with my husband and two Keeshonds (Willow and Neo). We named Willow for the character in Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Neo after a character in the Matrix! I've loved art ever since I was a small child. I was always creating something or another...while all the other kids were outside playing, I was inside drawing, painting or doodling away!

When did you start making jewelry?

I started making jewelry last August. Originally, I started only with little glass and wooden pendants affixed to ball chains. But I was hungry to create more. So, my husband and I decided to purchase beads, pendants and a few books – and off we went! My husband designs most of the wired and hammered work that you see in our shop. It's fun working with him – together we make a great designing team!

What other arts and crafts do you enjoy?

I love photography, knitting, making soy wax candles, paper crafts, painting, drawing, cooking and baking. I like to do it all!

Since Faerie is in your shop's name, are they your favorite paranormal beings?

I do love faeries very much...I have a collection of faerie art from Amy Brown and Paulina Cassidy in my home. I also have a collection of gargoyles, as well as owls and ravens, folk art, and tons of memorabilia from my favorite movie of all time-The Nightmare Before Christmas. I adore vampires, too...the romantic notion of vampires. I love watching True Blood and The Vampire Diaries.

How do you usually get the ideas for your designs?

I really like to try and make jewelry and knit accessories that I personally would want to wear. Everything in the shop is directly influenced by my love of faeries, folklore and myths, nature and wildlife, Marie Antoinette, the Victorian era, and fantasy. We like to make our creations whimsical yet affordable and really fun to wear! Each piece is a one of a kind creation, so you can be assured that no one else will be wearing them – except for you!

What kind of pieces do you usually enjoy making the most?

I like creating our domino pendants the most because I love incorporating a truly one of a kind pendant with a cluster of amazingly pretty beads. They are truly statement pieces!

I really enjoy looking around the shops on Etsy and supporting them. Do you find it to be a supportive community to be involved with?

I do! I have met a lot of great artisans, many of whom are also on twitter and write their own blogs. As independent crafters, it's important for us to create a vital community in which to support each other and our work!

What are your favorite genres and books to read?

As you might have guessed, I prefer fantasy novels and children's literature! Some favorite authors include Lewis Carroll, J.R.R. Tolkien, Neil Gaiman, Charles De Lint, Alice Hoffman, Edith Wharton, the Brontes, Jane Austen. I also love poetry. And I DO adore the Twilight Saga by Stephenie Meyer!

Since this is an event in celebration of my birthday, I was wondering what is your best birthday memory?

I don't think I have one specific best birthday memory. I enjoy them all, really. Any birthday in which I get to spend quality time with my hubby – going to watch a great movie, have a delicious dinner, and then devouring chocolate cake represents a perfect birthday celebration for me!

Do you participate in craft fairs or other events? If so, where are your next events?

I actually have not participated in any craft fairs, and I don't have any plans to do so. I really love maintaining a shop on line. Since the majority of our pieces are one-of-a-kind, I think our work is really a better fit for the Internet as opposed to a craft fair since we'd have to create twice as many pieces.

Where else can we find you? (websites, blog, facebook, twitter, etsy, etc.)

There are a number of venues on line in which to find me:

Shop: http://www.faerymoongoddess.etsy.com

Blog: http://www.faeriemooncreations.blogspot.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/faeriemooncreations

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/faerymoongodess

Thank you for the great interview today! I've loved getting to chat with you!

It was a pleasure to meet you, and I appreciate the opportunity to meet your readers. And I'd like to wish YOU a most happy birthday! May all your darkest dreams come true! ;)

Thanks so much! Now, an awesome treat! Theresa was kind enough to design a pair of earrings especially for this!! And I’m so jealous!

I call these earrings “Dark Romance.” They measure 2 3/4” from the top of the ear wire and feature beautiful cinnabar flower pendants with blood red glass sparkle beads and black faceted glass beads capped off with an elegant silver headpin. I am hopeful one of your lucky readers will enjoy these earrings.

I'd also like to offer a special discount of 15% off any one regular priced item (clearance is excluded) from my shop for your readers! Simply select the item and use promotional code “happybirthday!” in message to seller upon checkout. Readers must use this code in order to receive the discount. Savings will be refunded within 24 hours via paypal. This offer is good through May 31, 2010.

Thanks so much! I love the earrings! It’s also incredibly nice of you to offer all my followers a discount! Thank you!

~This is open internationally, to my blog followers 13 and up. Contest ends May 31st along w/ all other contests in my birthday bash. For any other questions see the rules.

To enter leave a comment telling me if your tastes in jewelry go more gothic or towards something else. You can use an example from Faerie Moon Creations if you need to. ALSO you MUST fill out the FORM.

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In My Mailbox (13)

In My Mailbox is hosted by The Story Siren & inspired by Pop Culture Junkie

 

For Review:

From Terri Lee-Johnson at Books And …

• Moonshine by Alaya Johnson

Won By Me:

From Jon Weir at Orion Books UK through Twitter

• Dead Until Dark by Charlaine Harris
• Sookie Stackhouse series pen

From Book Rat

• Handmade Alice in Wonderland Greeting Cards (Wow!)
• Handmade Alice in Wonderland Necklace (And Wow again! Misty you are amazing!!)

Here is a closer pic of one of the cards and the necklace. Too bad it’s a bit fuzzy. They’re absolutely gorgeous!

Bought By Me:

At Borders

• Inside Out by Maria V. Snyder

From Vampire Kisses/MissBohemia on Etsy

• Bleeding Heart Pendent (SQUEEEEE! It’s finally mine!)
• 2 pairs of earrings :) I <3 you Jen!

Sent To Me:

From Paper Cut Reviews

• Gnome (You will find out why soon. LOL)

From Kelly Gay

• signed postcards (looks like there’s something else to be added to the swagtastic giveaway Day 1!)
• bookmarks (Bday Bash Day 1)

From Miss Bohemia

• Blood Moon Pendent Vampires versus Werewolves (Bday Bash Day 8)

Borrowed from the Library:

R.E.A.D.S. (Regional eBook & Audio Download System) – Online Library for TN

• Kitty Goes to Washington by Carrie Vaughn
• Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater

 

Don’t forget to check out my Giveaway-A-Day Countdown to My Birthday Bash!

Extra Giveaway!

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I told you one could happen at any time during my Birthday Bash, and that the details for this would be a bit different than the normal giveaway. Since Keta Diablo’s Hot and Sticky releases today, I’m going to give away a copy to those that comment on her giveaway post today. I did ask a question so you can answer that or tell me what you like about Keta’s work if you’ve read it. So, you might as well enter her giveaway while you’re there, and enter to win one of the other two ebooks she’s giving away. Hot and Sticky is also in ebook format, so this giveaway is international and open to those 18 and up that are followers of my blog. This giveaway is only for today! Happy Mother’s Day to all & Happy Mother’s Day and Release Day to Keta!!

Go to Keta’s Giveaway now!

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Keta Diablo Interview & Giveaway

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For Day 9 of my Giveaway-A-Day Countdown to My 25th Birthday Bash, I’m lucky enough to be joined by Keta Diablo. Thanks for being with us today!

So tell us a little bit about yourself?

Thank you so much for having me at Not Really Southern Vampire Chick. You have a lovely blog here. I live in the Midwest portion of the country where it’s very cold right now. I don’t particularly like the arctic blasts, but our springs and summers are breathtaking and make up for the suffering (lol). When I’m not writing, I’m either reading, gardening or hanging out at my local animal shelter. I’m a huge advocate for abused and neglected animals and would like to take them all home if possible.

How long have you been writing? Where do you find your inspiration?

I’ve always written in one form or another, even when it was only for my own pleasure. I’ve been writing professionally for about five years and am published through Ravenous Romance, Noble Romance, Phaze Publishing and Amber Quill Press.

I find my inspiration from many places, even dreams at times. Mostly, I find them from an article or a story I’ve read while surfing the net. For instance, Land of Falling Stars, my Civil War novel, was inspired by a story I read about cousins who fought on opposite sides during the war. Decadent Deceptions, another erotic historical, was inspired by a book I read about brothels in the 1800’s.

Tell us a little bit about how you decided to write M/M novels?

That came about from reading in the genre. Male bodies have always fascinated me. I don’t necessarily mean in a carnal way, but I love their form, the muscles and the hard, lean curves. I am, however, intrigued about the emotional side of their relationships, particularly when men often think entirely the opposite of women when it comes to romance, expressing love and acting upon it. To me, this is all very fascinating. One thing I find a little difficult about writing in the genre is identifying one character from the other when they’re in a love scene. When you write male/female, you have a he and a she, so they are easily identified, but here you have two males, so you’re often repeating their names in order to keep things clear.

Can you tell us about "The Sin Eater's Prince"?

I’d love to, thank you for asking. The Sin Eater’s Prince was borne out a short story I wrote for an anthology called Boys of the Bite. Cecilia Tan edited the antho and it was released by Ravenous Romance last spring. Not long after its release, an editor at Ravenous asked me to develop it into a full-length story.

Of all the books I’ve written (15 so far) I really got into the research on this one. For those of you who don’t know what a Sin Eater is/was, I’ll be happy to tell you. During earlier centuries in England, Wales and Ireland almost every village had a sin eater who lived on the outskirts. Shunned by most of the villages, he was only called upon when Death called. Either shortly before the person passed or immediately after, the family would call upon him to take up the sins of the deceased. He did this by standing over the corpse, eating a small loaf of bread (called dead cakes) and say a specific prayer. The custom was so widespread and popular that many people left instructions in their Will and truly believed if the Sin Eater didn’t absolve them of sin, they’d wander the halls of oblivion forever.

In The Sin Eater’s Prince, Owen the Sin Eater, has loved the local physician, Andras Maddock, from afar. In return Maddock has loved Owen from afar, but has not acted upon his feelings because he was turned by a vampire five years ago. When Owen is attacked in the woods one night by the deadliest vampire of all, Traherne, the same vampire who turned Maddock, Andras saves Owen’s life. Traherne’s son, Dagan not only seeks revenge for his father’s death, but longs to possess the Prince’s sword that Maddock owns. So we have love (plenty of that) suspense, mystery, magick and lots and lots of Welsh superstition thrown into the mix.

You can purchase The Sin Eater’s Prince here: http://www.ravenousromance.com/fantastica/the-sin-eater-s-prince.php

Who would you say is your favorite character from the story?

The characters are all very interesting to me, even the villains. If I must choose, I’ll choose Owen. He’s a lonely soul by virtue of his occupation and a very kind, gentle man. When his father died, he had two choices – either take up his father’s profession or starve to death. Owen understands that the villagers don’t shun him out of hatred but out of fear and superstition, and there’s a surprise in the book about what Owen really is.

What is your best birthday memory?

This isn't a huge one but kind of cute. On my thirtieth birthday, I was really looking forward to some nice candles, scented bath salts or books for my birthday. From my two young sons, ages 5 and 4, their dad took them shopping to buy me something and guess what I received in a nice little wrapped box? Cowboy handkerchiefs. My husband looked at me and shrugged, "They insisted," he said. I still have the handkerchiefs and they're a cherished memory. The candles and scented bath salts would have been long gone by now.

Do you have any upcoming work we should keep an eye out for?

Oh, boy, now you’re going to think I have no life; that all I do is write. And that’s partially true. I’ll be writing the sequel to The Sin Eater’s Prince soon, and right now I’m co-authoring two books. One is about demons and angels (Black Phoenix Rising) and the other is about ghosts who (attempt) to keep humans safe from evil (Pale Halls of the Realm). I recently contracted for three more novellas in my Crossroads series. The first three have done very well through Phaze Publishing and they’ve asked me to continue the series. These are also male/male but set in a contemporary setting of mystery/suspense.

Where can we find more of you? (fan pages, websites, twitter?)

Again, thank you so much for asking. You can find me at the url’s listed below. And please sign up for my monthly newsletter. I give away three books every month. That’s here: http://www.ketadiablo.com

Author Home: http://ketadiablo.blogspot.com

Keta’s Haunt: http://www.ketadiablo.com

Keta’s Keep: http://ketaskeep.blogspot.com

Gay Fiction Blog: http://thestuffofmythandmen.blogspot.com

Keta on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/ketadiablo

KETA WILL BE GIVING AWAY TWO EBOOKS, ONE THE SIN EATER’S PRINCE AND THE OTHER HER NEW EROTIC ROMANCE RELEASE HOLDING ON TO HEAVEN.

Before I get to that though, I wanted to mention the fact that Keta’s got a new release out today!

Hot and Sticky, Gay Fiction, Amber Quill Press, http://www.amberquill.com/AmberAllure/HotSticky.html

It’s been extremely difficult for Hugh Landon, an up-and-coming lawyer in Washington, D.C., to control his sexual fantasies about his paralegal, Milan Vassar.

When his career hangs in the balance over a missing file, Hugh must call Milan at the midnight hour and plead for assistance. Hugh’s determination not to mix business with pleasure disintegrates when Milan arrives at the office not only to help him, but to confess he’s held the same secret desires for his boss

And guess what? It’s been nominated for BEST BOOK OF THE MONTH at Dark Diva Reviews. Vote here through May 15th: http://darkdivasreviews.webs.com/bookofthemonthpoll.htm

 

Are you wondering when I’m going to get to the giveaway? LOL That would be now. :)

~1 winner will receive an ebook of The Sin Eater’s Prince.

~1 winner will receive an ebook of Holding on to Heaven.

Both are open internationally. You must be 18 years or older to enter, and a follower of this blog. This contest ends May 31st, as do all daily contests in my bday bash. For any other questions refer to the rules.

To enter leave a comment about whether or not you’ve read any M/M stories, and what your opinion is on them AND fill out the FORM.

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Shop on Saturday (14)

Here’s what I found around Etsy this week!

For those of you that have been following along in my birthday bash or previous Shop on Saturdays, you’ll know Miss Bohemia and her Vampire Kisses shop. I wanted to show you this particular necklace though, because it’s the one that I now own. Isn’t the Bleeding Heart gorgeous!

You can enter to win a necklace from Miss Bohemia right HERE!

This Leather Love Cuff Bird in Flight Silhouette is by Love At First Blush.

I think this Steam Powered Heart Upcycled Steampunk Journal by DeathMau is fantastic!

This Graveyard Corpse Dress by TRASHGLAM is just fun.

I doubt anyone is surprised that I liked this painting called Eternal Love from The Magical Art of Vicki!

So, what do you think?

Miss Bohemia/Jennifer Guest Post & Giveaway

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Day 8 of my Giveaway-A-Day Countdown to My Birthday Bash brings us Miss Bohemia for a guest post! For those that don’t know her, she has a fantastic shop on Etsy! So, take it away Jenn!

Firstly, I would like to wish Amanda Happy Birthday and thank her for inviting me to write a guest post on her blog! As this is my first ever guest post, it was a great surprise, but a little scary. Hopefully, you’ll bear with me as I introduce myself and talk about just a few of my many favourite things… I will admit to being addicted to books, jewellery and anything sweet!

I’m a bit of a day dreamer and my vivid imagination and obsession with books started at an early age, and provided a great form of escapism. I loved that you could almost be like Alice in Wonderland and escape down the rabbit hole to an alternate reality! Some would say my love of books (and many other things) is obsessive, but after finding all these wonderful book bloggers & twitter, I know I’m not alone :)

I loved reading fairytales and scary books and especially enjoyed books that merged the two together. I guess this transferred through adulthood to my love of reading Paranormal Romance & Urban Fantasy! Gotta love vamps (I like mine tall, dark & deadly), werewolves a close second (bringing the heat) & other mythical creatures!

My favourite books include Interview with a Vampire by Anne Rice, The Sookie Stackhouse Series by Charlaine Harris, The Tooth Fairy (a rare grim fairytale book by Graham Joyce), The Book With No Name by Anonymous (weird but so funny), The Kate Daniels series by IIona Andrews and a new firm favourite ‘Soulless’ by Gail Carriger! My book wishlist includes ‘Changeless’ by Gail Carriger, Avalon Revisited by O.M. Grey and The Mercy Thompson series by Patricia Briggs.

I also love to read thrillers, art books & some chick lit! Oh and I must mention the following movies;- The Labyrinth, Heavenly Creatures & Edward Scissorhands, just because I love them so much!

My other passions include jewellery and shopping for vintage and old fashioned finds! I’m like a magpie when it comes to shiny trinkets and pretty things! Or perhaps I should say I’m like a ‘Valkyrie’ from Immortals After Dark, who Kresley Cole describes as “without training, they can be mesmerized by shining objects and jewels”.

I also love creating jewellery and although it’s something I’ve only recently started doing, I confess to being a little obsessed (are you seeing a pattern here :))!

My jewellery creations are quite an eclectic mix as they are often inspired by my alternate reality and love of magic, dark fairytales, supernatural, fantasy and steampunk! I love using deep reds, purples, emerald greens and black for my gothic pieces, but I often make romantic and vintage jewellery too – a bit of everything!

I do have a secret passion to write a book and often see myself as a writer who has a cabin in a remote area in the woods, completely dissociated from the real world while writing novels! A bit like the Johnny Depp character (a bit crazy but minus the murders) in ‘The Secret Window’! On the other hand, I couldn’t really survive very long without company or an internet connection :)

Anyway, that’s enough about me! I hope you’ve enjoyed my ramblings :)

Thanks again Amanda!

My Links

Main shop Vampires Kisses on Etsy

http://www.etsy.com/shop/VampiresKisses

UK Folksy Shop

http://www.folksy.com/shops/MissBohemia

Blog

http://bohemianbluez.blogspot.com

Twitter

www.twitter.com/miss_bohemia

Facebook

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Miss-Bohemia/103066366402060

 

Thanks so much for guest blogging Jen! You did a fantastic job! Guess what, today’s giveaway is this beautiful necklace from Jen!

The Blood Moon Pendant Vampires Versus Werewolves

The moon crescent is a bright gold plate with an intricate design and pointed talons that curl around the red stone which is faceted and sparkles in the light.
A subtle representation of my two favourite supernatural creatures!
Gorgeous Victorian style half moon (representing the wolves) setting holding a blood red faceted stone (representing the vampires lust for blood).
I have used a gold plated curb chain which is approx 23 inches long!
This glamorous piece of treasure resembles something from an ancient crypt or lair!
Victorian Vampire Glamour

This giveaway is open internationally. You must be at least 13 to enter and a follower. This giveaway is open until May 31st. For any other questions see the rules.

To enter, answer this question, what are your favorite books and movies, AND fill out the FORM.

*Contest is closed*

O.M. Grey Interview & Giveaway!

*Contest is closed*

Day 7 brings us to an Interview w/ O.M. Grey!

Thank you so much for joining me for my Giveaway-A-Day Countdown to My 25^th Birthday Bash! It's so great to have you here!

Thank you, Amanda! I hope you have a wonderful birthday!

Can you tell me a little about yourself?

I'm a rather private person, and I don't much like having my picture taken. I like to play dress up, though. Especially in bustles & corsets. Great fun, that.

How long have you been writing?

Since I could hold a crayon. My first story was all in pictures. I folded it up into a little book and presented it to my mother. I was five. She still has it, bless her.

Who are your favorite authors?

The original Steampunk crew, of course: Mary Shelley, Jules Verne, & H. G. Wells

Contemporary, I just adore the work of Gail Carriger, Leanna Renee Hieber, and Nick Valentino, in the Steampunk/Victorian genre. Great Science Fiction: D. B. Grady, and, of course, my internet tutor and fellow Blue Moose authors Christine and Ethan Rose's Rowan of the Wood series.

What got you interested in Steampunk?

I guess I've always been interested in it, but I just wasn't hip enough to know what to call it. It wasn't until I read the delightful SOULLESS by Gail Carriger that the term, aesthetic, and genre really all came together for me. Then I knew I had found a home for my story.

Can you tell us about Avalon Revisited?

Arthur has made his existence as a vampire bearable for over three hundred years by immersing himself in blood and debauchery. Aboard an airship gala, he meets Avalon, an aspiring vampire slayer who sparks fire into Arthur’s shriveled heart. Together they try to solve the mystery of several horrendous murders on the dark streets of London. Cultures clash and pressures rise in this sexy Steampunk Romance.

What was your favorite scene to write?

All of it was rather fun. I just let my imagination go, and my characters guided me along. If I had to choose one favorite, it would have to be the "chartreuse" scene. It's quite amusing.

Do you have a favorite character? If so, why?

My antihero protagonist Arthur Tudor is definitely my favorite. He is quite naughty and mischievous. Dark and sexy. He had a rough time, which has made him indifferent and rather cynical, but meeting Avalon reminds him of love and tenderness. It's fun to watch him change.

What are you working on now?

I'm mostly working on promotion at the moment. Getting a book seen is quite the challenge! Especially for a first time author. There might be more of Arthur & Avalon in the future, though.

What is your best birthday memory?

My last one, actually. It was my 40th, so a rather big one. My husband surprised me with tickets to Disneyland! I had never been there before, and it was lovely. Truly magical.

Do you have any upcoming appearances?

My latest schedule can be seen on my website under "Sightings."

Where else can we find you? (websites, blog, facebook, twitter, etc.)

http://omgrey.wordpress.com - website & blog

http://tinyurl.com/OMG-FBfan

http://twitter.com/omgrey

Thank you so much for joining us today! It's been such fun having you!

Guess what everyone, the fun isn't over! O.M. will be stopping by today to answer your questions and is giving away a signed copy of Avalon Revisited!

This giveaway is open to US & Canadian residents only. It runs until May 31st. For any other questions see the rules. To see the other contests still going on check the schedule.

To enter ask O.M. a question or leave a comment AND fill out this form.

After today (May 7th), you can answer the question, what is it about steampunk that interests you?

*Contest is closed*

Michele Hauf Interview & Giveaway

*Contest is closed*

Day 6 brings us to an interview with Michele Hauf!

Thank you so much for joining me for my Giveaway-A-Day Countdown to My 25^th Birthday Bash! It's so great to have you here!

When did you get started writing?

I started in the early 90s.

Who are your favorite authors?

Anne Rice, Jim Butcher, Kresley Cole, Alexandre Dumas, Emma Holly, Lynn Kurland, so many more!

What first got you interested in vampires? Are they your favorite paranormal beings?

The first book I wrote, DARK RAPTURE, was vampires. I'm not sure what stirred my initial interest, but perhaps it was the remake of Dark Shadows that was on TV in the early 90s. They probably are my fav paranormal being, with faeries being a close second.

Can you tell us about Her Vampire Husband?

You can read the first chapter and blurb at my website (michelehauf.com/hvh.html) Basically it is an arranged marriage story, pitting werewolves against vampires. Such fun!

What was your favorite scene to write?

Any scene with the heroine, Blu. She just sort of took over the scenes and made it really easy to get to know her.

Can you tell us a little bit about Rogue Angel: The Bone Conjurer and writing under your Alex Archer pseudonym?

The Bone Conjurer is an action/adventure story in the continuing Rogue Angel series. Think Indiana Jones meets Lara Croft meets Joan of Arc. The heroine owns Joan of Arc's sword, and whenever she needs it, she simply calls it out of the 'otherwhere' and into her grasp. She gets into a lot of sticky situations, so the sword comes in handy. I am one of a handful of authors who write for the series.

Do you have a favorite character? If so, why?

Probably Severo, who was the werewolf hero of MOON KISSED. He's just such a big lovable lug.

What are you working on now?

I'm soon to start FOREVER VAMPIRE, which features a vampire hero who grew up in Faery (because his father promised his first born to a faery; poor guy), and now is trying to make his way in the mortal realm. This is the first story where I've actually paired a vampire to another vampire. Usually I do opposites. But it will be fun to explore how the hero (who has prejudice against vampires) learns to love the heroine (who is vampire).

Since this is an event is in celebration of my birthday, I was wondering what is your best birthday memory?

My mom used to be a cake decorator. I remember the year she made individual cakes for me and my party guests (I was probably 8). Each cake was a barbie doll! The cake part was the skirt, with a small doll stuck in the top. It was pretty cool.

Do you have any upcoming appearances?

You'll find me online this year. Check my blog if I have any book signings (none at the moment), or plan to do a conference.

Where else can we find you? (websites, blog, facebook, twitter, etc.)

Michelehauf.com

Blog.michelehauf.com

Facebook.com/michelehauf

Twitter.com/michelehauf

Ridingwiththetopdown.blogspot.com

Vampchix.blogspot.com

Vampchixreadbooks.blogspot.com

Thank you so much for joining us today! It's been such fun having you!

Guess what everyone, the fun isn't over! Michele was kind enough to offer to give away a copy of Rogue Angel: The Bone Conjurer which is written under the pseudonym Alex Archer!

This giveaway is open to US residents only. This contest is open until May 31st.

Please fill out the form to enter.

For additional questions, please see the rules.

*Contest is closed*

Win on Wednesday: Contests Around the Blogosphere (16)

 

From Abigail @ All Things Urban Fantasy

 

My Contests:

For my Giveaway-A-Day Countdown to My 25th Birthday Bash, I’m having giveaways everyday from the 1-13th of May! The Schedule is here w/ links to all the giveaways as they are posted! All will last until May 31st and plenty are international!

New Contests:

~Steph Su Reads is having an awesome Spring Giveaway! The Grand Prize winner will  get several ARCs, 2 signed books, and swag and other winners will get swag. Contest ends May 7, 2010. (International)

~SciFiGuy is giving away 2 copies of Touching Darkness by Jaime Rush. Enter by May 10, 2010. (US & Canada only)

~Pop Culture Junkie is giving away a Nightshade ARC by Andrea Cremer and The Eternal Ones by Kristen Miller. Enter by May 10, 2010. (US only)

~Welcome to Larissa’s Life is giving away The Wish List by Gabig Stevens. Enter by May 10, 2010. (International)

~The Qwillery is giving away all 4 of the first books in the Raine Benares series by Lisa Shearin and Bewitched & Betrayed by Lisa Shearin. Enter by May 10, 2010. (International)

~Vampire Wire is giving away a signed copy of either The Strangely Beautiful Tale of Miss Percy Parker or The Darkly Luminous Fight for Persephone Parker by Leanne Renee Hieber. Enter by May 10, 2010.

~Love2Read4Fun is giving away Archangel’s Kiss by Nalini Singh. Enter by May 10, 2010. (International)

~The Story Siren is giving away 250 Hang Tags from UPrinting.com. Contest ends May 11, 2010. (US only)

~The Cajun Book Lady is giving away 5 ebooks of The Second Coming by David H. Burton. Contest ends May 12, 2010. (International)

~The Neverending Shelf is giving away 5 copies of Shade by Jeri Smith-Ready. Contest ends May 12, 2010. (US only)

~The Introverted Reader is giving away People of the Sword by Neil O’Donnell. Enter by May 13, 2010. (US & Canada only)

~The Neverending Shelf is giving away 500 business cards from UPrinting.com. Contest ends May 13, 2010. (International)

~The Story Siren is giving away Morpheus Road: The Light by D.J. MacHale. Contest ends May 13, 2010. (US only)

~Vampire Wire is giving away a signed copy of The God Patent by Ransom Stephens. Enter by May 15, 2010.

~Maybe Tomorrow is having a 1st in a Series Giveaway. Enter by May 15, 2010. (International)

~The Cajun Book Lady is giving away 2 copies of Ravished by a Highland by Paula Quinn. Enter by May 15, 2010. (US & Canada only)

~Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers is giving away Radiant Shadows by Melissa Mar. Enter by May 15, 2010. (US & Canada only)

~Twimom227 is having a 50 Follower Giveaway! So far prizes include Riding the Storm by Sydney Croft and Atlantis Redeemed by Alyssa Day. Contest ends May 16, 2010. (International)

~What Book Is That is giving away The Army of the Republic by Stuart Arthur Cohen. Enter by May 20, 2010. (US only)

~LA FEMME READERS is giving away I Now Pronounce You Someone Else by Erin McCahan. Contest ends May 21, 2010. (International)

~The Bookish Type is giving away The Host by Stephenie Meyer as Part of Monsters in May! Enter by May 22, 2010. (International)

~The Bookologist is giving away 5 copies of Gone by Lisa McMann. Contest ends May 27, 2010. (US only)

~vvb32 reads is giving away one of several historical fiction books. Check it out and see which is your favorite to win. Contest ends May 30, 2010. (International)

~TinasBookReviews is giving away The Galilean Secret by Evan Drake Howard. Contest ends June 7, 2010. (International)

~I Heart Monster is giving away Arson by Estevan Vega. Contest ends June 15, 2010. (International)

 

Contests From Last Weeks Post:

~Parajunkee’s View is giving away Master of None by Sonya Bateman. Contest ends May 6, 2010. (US only)

~Books at Midnight is giving away a $10 Amazon.com GC. Enter by May 6, 2010. (International)

~Fang-tastic Books is giving away a 16X20 Rolled Canvas Print from UPrinting.com. Enter by May 6, 2010.

~Tales of Whimsy… is giving away an ARC of My Double Life by Janette Rallison. Enter by May 6, 2010.

~Fire and Ice just hit 400 fans on Facebook so they’re having a great giveaway. Prizes include This Lullabye by Sara Dessen, Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson, Prom Nights from Hell anthology, 2 Rustic Goth bookmarks, signed Eternal Conflict Twilight inspired CD, Fire and Ice Button, and a Princess Charm necklace. Contest ends May 7, 2010.

~Rambling of a Teenage Bookworm is giving away 5 copies of Morpheus Road: The Light by D.J. MacHale. Enter by May 7, 2010. (US only)

~Kaydence’s Book Blog is giving away a $25 GC to SpaFinder. Contest ends May 7, 2010. (International)

~The Bookologist is giving away Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver. Enter by May 7, 2010. (US only)

~The Book Vixen is giving away 3 copies of Hannah’s List by Debbie Macomber and a $25 VISA gift card. Enter by May 7, 2010. (US only)

~Ellz Readz is giving away Hearts at Stake and an ARC of Blood Feud by Alyxandra Harvey. Enter by May 7, 2010. (US only)

~Wicked Little Pixie is giving away 2 hardcover copies and 2 paperbacks of Lover Mine by J.R. Ward. Enter by May 8, 2010. (Hardcover-Canada only) (Paperback-International)

~Vampire Wire is giving away Firefly Rain by Richard Dansky. Contest ends May 9, 2010.

~Luxury Reading is having a Mother’s Day Romance Giveaway. Enter by May 9, 2010. (US & Canada only)

~Daisy Chain Book Reviews is giving away 5 ARCs of Beautiful Malice by Rebecca James. Contest ends May 10, 2010. (International)

~The Undercover Book Lover is giving away 5 copies of The Wish Stealers by Tracy Trivas. Enter by May 10, 2010. (US only)

~SciFiGuy is giving away 5 copies of Lover Mine by J.R. Ward. Enter by May 10, 2010. (Canada only)

~DemonLover’s Book Reviews and More is giving away a signed copy of Kiss of Midnight by Lara Adrian. Enter by May 10, 2010. (US only)

~Luxury Reading is giving away Hannah: Daughers of the Sea by Kathryn Lasky. Enter by May 10, 2010. (US only)

~Lovin' & Livin' Life is giving away Wings by Aprilynne Pike, The Iron King by Julie Kagawa, The Last Song by Nicholas Sparks, Steamed by Katie MacAlister, Mind Games by Carolyn Crane, and Demonfire by Kate Douglas. Contest ends May 10, 2010. (US only)

~Steph Su Reads is giving away an ARC of The Red Umbrella by Christina Diaz, a red umbrella, and five signed bookmarks. Enter by May 11, 2010.

~The First Novels Club is giving away Hand-Me-Down by Lee Nichols. Contest ends May 11, 2010. (US only)

~All Things Urban Fantasy is giving away a signed copy of Morpheus Road: The Light by D.J. MacHale. Contest ends May 11, 2010. (US only)

~Book Junkie is giving away a $25 Amazon or B&N gift card. Contest ends May 12, 2010.

~Narratively Speaking is giving away a signed UK copy of The Dead Tossed Waves by Carrie Ryan. Enter by May 12, 2010. (International)

~Luxury Reading is giving away 2 signed copies of Glorious by Bernice L. McFadden. Contest ends May 12, 2010. (US only)

~The Neverending Shelf is giving away 5 copies of Morpheus Road: The Light by D.J. MacHale. Contest ends May 12, 2010. (US only)

~Cleverly Inked is giving away 53 books from 50 authors and tons of swag! It’s an awesome giveaway you don’t want to miss! Contest ends May 13, 2010.

~The Bookologist is giving away 5 copies of Take the Reins by Jessica Burkhart. Contest ends May 13, 2010. (US only)

~Bloody Bookaholic is having a Ridiculously Awesome Contest. 7 winners choose from up to 28 books. Contest ends May 14, 2010.

~The Book Muncher is giving away 2 copies of Dark Life by Kat Falls. Contest ends May 15, 2010. (UK only)

~Extreme Reader is giving away Radiant Shadows by Melissa Marr. Contest ends May 15, 2010. (US & Canada only)

~Fire and Ice is giving away signed Shadow Hills bookmarks and pins. Enter by May 16, 2010. (International)

~Welcome to Larissa’s Life is having a 577 Follower Giveaway! Over 5 weeks there will be 7 themes and 7 winners. Contest ends May 16, 2010. (International)

~Cherry Mishievous is giving away The Blade Itself by Joe Abercombie. Contest ends May 16, 2010.

~vvb32 reads had a Werewolf Weekend. Contest are open until May 16, 2010. (International)

• Dark Moon by Lori Handeland
• Lonely Werewolf Girl by Martin Millar
• Never Cry Werewolf by L.A. Banks
• Werewolf book of choice
• Confessions of a Werewolf Supermodel by Ronda Thompson
• Howling at the Moon by Karen MacInerney
• Emma and the Werewolves by Jane Austen and Adam Rann
• Little Women and Werewolves by Louisa May Alcott and Porter Grand
• Blanca plushie werewolf
• Wolfbreed by S.A. Swann
• Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater

~The Bookish Type is giving away a signed copy of The Curse of Nefertiti by Charline Ratcliff. Contest ends May 16, 2010. (US only)

~The Undercover Book Lover is giving away 2 copies of Siren by Tricia Rayburn. Contest ends May 18, 2010. (US only)

~Candace’s Book Blog is having an Earth Day & Follower Contest. As of now the contest includes Avatar DVD, stainless steel water bottles, and reusable shopping totes. Contest ends May 18, 2010. (US & Canada only)

~The Bookologist is giving away The Real Real by Emma McLaughlin and Nicola Kraus. Contest ends May 18, 2010. (US only)

~The Undercover Book Lover is giving away The Clearing, The Reason, and Swoon at Your Own Risk. Enter by May 20, 2010. (US only)

~The Bookologist is giving away 5 copies of the Unwritten Rule by Elizabeth Scott. Enter by May 21, 2010. (US only)

~A Good Addiction is giving away Something Like Fate by Susane Colasanti. Enter by May 25, 2010. (US only)

~The Bibliophilic Book Blog is having a Clear the Decks Giveaway! Fill out a survey and enter to win from a great list of books & swag that might still be added to. Contest ends May 30, 2010. (US & Canada only) (International entries for a GC)

~I Heart Monster is giving away Everlasting swag. Enter by May 31, 2010. (International)

~SciFiGuy has details for PYR’s 5th Anniversary Essay Contest.  Grand Prize winner gets a trip to Dragon Con! Other prizes as well. Contest open April 1, 2010-June 1, 2010.

~vvb32 reads is giving away Android Karenina by Leo Tolstoy and Ben H. Winters. Enter by June 27, 2010.

 

Weekly Contests:

~Community Bookstop has a new giveaway every week, starting most Wednesdays, with the winner drawn the following Wednesday.

~Fang-tastic Books has giveaways weekly, with winners announced on Wednesdays.

~Bitten by Books has new contests daily, ranging from interviews to daily book chats.

 

Heads Up:

Check out Book Faery’s Contest Finds- A place to enter in your contests to help spread the word about them. This is a new Saturday feature!

Check out All Things Urban Fantasy for a HUGE list of urban fantasy contests going on!

Feel free to email me anytime at notreallysouthernvampchick(at)gmail(dot)com with any contests you want me to put in my next Win on Wednesday post. Also, if I missed a contest of yours, leave a link in the comments if you want to get the word out about it. Or if I got something wrong in the list, please let me know. :)

Laura Stamps Interview & Giveaway!

*Contest is closed*

For Day 5, we are joined by Laura Stamps for a very fun interview! Though, if you are under 18, it is probably time to stop reading now.

Thank you so much for joining me in my Giveaway-a-day Countdown to My Birthday Bash! It's lovely to have you!

Can you tell me a little about yourself?

Sure. I’m a shameless slut, exhibitionist (BTW, have you seen my lingerie pics at Facebook? *kinky grin*), and voyeur addicted to lust, trashy lingerie, sex, and men’s dangly parts. I’m like the living version of one of the heroines in an erotica novel. I don’t just write this sex stuff. I live it.

Oh, wait! You wanted my official “author” bio, didn’t you? Sorry! Okay, I’m an award-winning erotica and paranormal romance novelist, whose daily blog is wickedly naughty (gee, what a surprise!). My work has been published in over a thousand magazines, literary journals, and anthologies worldwide. The recipient of a Pulitzer Prize nomination and seven Pushcart Award nominations, I’m the author of more than forty-five books. A Wiccan Faery Witch, Empath, and Psychic, I enjoy writing novels about contemporary Pagans living in the Deep South. Because I portray Pagans realistically, my novels are full of real spells, chants, and rituals (I guess you could say what is paranormal fantasy to most people is real life to me *lol). You'll also find romance and HOT sex in my books. Why? Because I’m totally oversexed and LOVE it (gee, what a surprise!).

Who are my publishers? A more accurate question would be who are my publishers “at the moment”? The last year has been insane for me in that one of my publishers suddenly went out of biz in March 2009, I got a new agent in June 2009, I signed a contract with a new publisher in February 2010, parted ways with my new agent in March 2010, and started publishing again with Kittyfeather Press in March 2010. Helluva a year, huh? *lmao* But at this moment, on April 22, 2010, my novels are published by Kittyfeather Press and Trytium Publishing. See? It’s definitely a moment to moment thing for me. Really. lol

How long have you been writing?

I’ve been a fulltime, professional writer for 23 years.

Can you tell us a bit about The Witchery Series?

It’s a sexy paranormal romance novel series in paperback at the moment (remember, that’s the key phrase for me) but should be coming out in ebook by the end of the year. In this series you’ll meet five wonderful Witches: Savannah, Maylene, Mirabella, Noelle, and Ravena. There’s something for everyone in this trilogy. The novels range from empowering to romantic to erotic. You’ll also find real spells, chants, and rituals in each one. Big fun! I wrote this series because I wanted to show people what real Witches and Pagans are like since we’ve gotten such bad press for the last 2000+ years. I also wanted to show people how incredibly sexy Pagan men are. So I have yummy, hunky Witches, Pagans, two-natured Fey (yes, they do exist), psychic vampires (yes, they do exist), vampires, and shapeshifters in this series.

Now, I know A Vampire's Kiss is a spin-off of The Witchery Series, can you tell us about it and whether or not it can be read on its own?

It is a serialized, romantic erotica series in ebook. In this series, you’ll meet Drayton Manigault, the owner of Manigault Technologies and one of the richest businessmen in Columbia, South Carolina. Dray also happens to be one of the oldest vampires in the city. All the Witches in The Witchery Series novels return in this series for lots of erotic, vampy fun with Dray, Val (Dray’s older brother), and Atwell Gibbs (their cousin). Did I mention how gorgeous these vamps are? Oh, yeah, they’re smokin’ HOT in and out of the bedroom. Trust me! *lusty grin*

Yes, it can be read on its own. I write four novels series. The Witchery Series is the main series, and the other three are spin-off series. They all involve the same community of characters. But they can all be read on their own. Anyway, because of the publisher hubbub the last 16 months, I ended up going that long without a new novel being published. HORRORS! Not to mention there were six finished books of mine waiting to be published during that time. Yeesh! So to treat my long-suffering fans I released the vamp series as a monthly serial through Kittyfeather Press. It’s like a sexy, X-rated vamp fix the first week of every month when each new installment is published. Yummmmmmy!

If you couldn't tell by my name, I'm a bit of a vampire fan, what is your favorite paranormal being?

Damn, that’s a tough one. I almost said a “hard” one, but you told me to stay PG for this interview, and that’s one of those word-triggers for me, so…. *lol* I adore the shapeshifter in my Witchey Series who has his own spin-off series called The Rune Witch Series. But I would have to say vamps are my favs. Vamps are sex-on-a-stick, and their bite gives you an instant O. I mean, what’s not to like? Duh!

Who are your favorite authors? What about your favorite movies?

Emma Holly, Kathy Love (her 2 vamp series are awesome), Sherrilyn Kenyon, Delilah Devlin (HAWT cowboy erotica), and Lora Leigh (Bound Hearts series). Fav movie? Underworld ROCKS!!!

What is your best birthday memory? Just in case let's keep it PG-13. LOL

How did you know I was thinking HOT b-day sex? Oh, you read my naughty blog posts for the two weeks before and after my b-day this year on April 2, didn’t you? Whew! Can you say “Sexfest”? Oh, yeah… *sex-obsessed grin*

What are you working on right now?

When I’m not writing my monthly e-newsletter, or email mailings to my list, or weekly blog posts, or my “Dear SexWitch” sex advice column in “Witches & Pagans” magazine, I’m working on the vamp series. Like every day. Series novelists are strange creatures. If we go too many days without working on one of our series we’ll need serious meds. Being that I’m already delusional and always think I’m 18, I try to avoid the men in white coats and work on my series every day. Yesterday was a good example. I keep vampire hours, working until 3-4:00am, crashing, then waking up at noon, and starting all over again. But yesterday was my monthly acupuncture treatment, and it’s at 11:00am. SHIVERS! So I was awake yesterday for 20 hours. And I got 11 hours of writing in: 6 hours to write the April issue of my newsletter, and 5 hours of writing on the vamp series. The Manigault Vampires series is unique in that it is unlimited, so I spend a lot of time on it. All my other series are trilogies (The Witchery Series, The Rune Witch Series, and The Faery Witch Series). You can go to http://www.avampskiss.blogspot.com to read more about all of them.

Do you have any upcoming appearances?

Not at the moment (amazing how that word keeps popping up, isn’t it? Of course, “popping up” sounds good too. Yummmy! But I digress…). Anyway, I used to do booksignings every month at my local Waldenbooks. But Borders closed 200 of their 300 Waldenbooks and Borders Express stores in January, and that was one of them. Bummer, cause I met some cool fans there from around the country. Plus, it’s in the mall, and the eye candy in the Deep South (I live in South Carolina) is AWESOME! Hunky guys of all ages with long gorgeous hair. Yumm! Sometimes I would be so enthralled with all the tasty male flesh walking by in the mall I’d forget I was there to sell books. Oops! Okay, so I’m a cougar. But that’s a good thing, right? lol

Where can we find you? (website, blog, twitter, facebook, etc.)

Everywhere, actually. Here is a list of the sites I’m at every day. Friend me, collect me, follow me, or just play with me (purrrrrr…..!). I’m totally game. *kinky grin*

To see all my novel series:
http://www.avampskiss.blogspot.com
My verrrrry naughty blog:
http://www.LauraStamps.com
My “Laura Stamps” Fan Page at Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/sexwitch
Follow me on Twitter at:
http://twitter.com/sexwitch

Thank you so much for joining us for my birthday bash! It's been fabulous getting to chat with you!

Everyone that isn't all! Laura has been kind enough to provide me w/ 20 signed postcards to giveaway, and boy are they entertaining lmao! Not only that, you can also win the 3 months of The Manigault Vampires that are out so far!

~15 postcard winners chosen from the US entries.

~5 postcard winners chosen from the international entries.

~1 winner chosen from the overall entries to receive the 3 months of A Vampire’s Kiss that is out now.

To enter please fill out this form and leave a comment or ask a question for Laura who will be stopping by off and on later today. We’re going to have a party from 4pm-3am EST! After today, let me know what you think about the idea of a serialized erotica novel.

If you need to know anything else check out the rules, and don’t forget to check out the rest of the events!

*Contest is closed*