Bday Bash ~ The Results!

I want to thank everyone for making my Giveaway-A-Day Countdown to My Birthday Bash such an awesome time! It meant a lot to me how much all the authors, crafters, and bloggers put into it! Thanks for making it truly memorable!!!

Sorry it took me a few extra days to get this done. Stupid ankle and stairs… but now you all get to suffer through my rambling while I sum up the events and announce the winners!

May 1~Intro & Rules & Swag-tastic Giveaway!

What did we learn?

• I can’t ever be serious.
• It’s my party so I can do what I want! ;)
• READ THE RULES FOR GIVEAWAYS PEOPLE!

What was won?

• 5 winners receive specific swag (what was originally pictured plus Kelly Gay bookmark) ~~ Manda, taulya, Moonsanity, Carol T, Miss Bohemia
• 2 winners receive misc. swag (what was originally pictured plus signed Kelly Gay postcard) ~~ YA Vampire Books, Spav

May 2 ~ Ask NRSVampChick & Book of Choice Giveaway!

What did we learn?

• You all really like asking questions!
• I’m horrible at picking favorites.
• I’m a geek.

What was won?

• 2 winners receive a book of choice (up to $10 in value from Book Depository or Amazon.com) ~~ R.E.B. & Spav

May 3 ~ Aria Guest Post & Steampunk Giveaway

What did we learn?

• Aria worries for no reason.
• Steampunk is freaking awesome!
• I need to learn how to belly dance! lol
• Steampunk is a popular choice on my blog! Yay! <3

What was won?

• 1 winner receives a book of choice mentioned in this post on Steampunk from either the Book Depository or Amazon.com ~~ Jessica W
• 1 winner receives a Steampunk handmade surprise by Aria! It’s purty! I want it! lol ~~ heatwave16

May 4 ~ Some of My Favs & a Giveaway!

What did we learn?

• Sometimes my rambling comes in handy.
• Back up plans are good!
• You all liked my favs! :D

What was won?

• 1 US or Canadian winner receives one of my books listed in this post ~~ Throuthehaze
• 1 international winner receives one of my favorite books reviewed this year, listed here ~~ Grace

May 5 ~ Laura Stamp Interview & Giveaway!

What did we learn?

• Laura Stamps is a dirty, dirty woman and she loves it!
• Erotica + Vampires = Fun! Duh!
• I don’t think it’s possible for Laura to be PG-13, but that’s okay, because we love her for it!

What was won?

• Everyone who entered (filled out a form AND left a comment) gets a postcard signed by Laura Stamps, and they’re awesome! lol! ~~ SiNn, Linda Henderson, Nastassia, Jennifer Mathis, Julie, Andrea I, Miss Bohemia, debbie, Book Sake
• 1 winner gets the first 3 months of A Vampire’s Kiss that were out when this started ~~ Julie

May 6 ~ Michele Hauf Interview & Giveaway!

What did we learn?

• There is a whole new series I need to read called Rogue Angel by multiple authors under the Alex Archer pseudonym.
• Michele’s mom made her some awesome birthday cakes when she was a kid, that me as a kid would have been completely jealous of. lol

What was won?

• 1 US winner will receive a copy of Rogue Angel: The Bone Conjurer by Alex Archer ~~ Angie D

May 7 ~ O.M. Grey Interview & Giveaway!

What did we learn?

• I’m not the only one with an aversion to having my picture taken.
• Vampires, vampire slayers, and steampunk all in one book! Avalon Revisited here I come!

What was won?

• 1 US or Canadian winner gets a signed copy of Avalon Revisited by O.M. Grey ~~ SiNn

May 8 ~ Miss Bohemia Guest Post & Giveaway!

What did we learn?

• It’s kinda scary how much me and Jen have in common even though we live an ocean apart.
• You all have made me add SO many books and movies to my wish list! Like it needed to be longer!

What was won?

• 1 international winner receives the Blood Moon Pendant Vampires Versus Werewolves made by Jen/Miss Bohemia ~ Nastassia

May 9 ~ Keta Diablo Interview & Giveaway!

What did we learn?

• Keta’s M/M romances cover the emotional side as well as the physical side of the relationship.
• The Sin Eater’s Prince has some fascinating mythology behind it!
• Her sons got her cowboy handkerchiefs for her birthday one year when they were little and she still has them. Awww!

What was won?

• 1 winner will receive an ebook of The Sin Eater’s Prince ~~ Stella
• 1 winner will receive an ebook of Holding on to Heaven ~~ Sharli
• 1 extra giveaway was held for Hot and Sticky being released/Mother’s Day and that winner was ~~ Sarah (she’s already been contacted. I swear I haven’t forgotten you Sarah!)

May 10 ~ Faerie Moon Creations Interview & Giveaway!

What did we learn?

• Theresa surprisingly hasn’t been making jewelry for long, but does other arts and crafts as well.
• ETSY pretty much rocks, in case you didn’t know!
• Her inspiration comes from all different places, and her taste in books is fabulous!

What was won?

• 1 international winner receives the Dark Romance Earrings by Faerie Moon Creations ~~ EVA SB

May 11 ~ Nancy Holzner Guest Post & Giveaway!

What did we learn?

• We got a nice look at some of the highlights of vampires in pop culture over the past 25 years!
• You all seem to agree (mostly) with Nancy.
• Could it be my love for vampires started with Sesame Street? No, that still doesn’t seem right. Some day I will figure it out…

What was won?

• 1 international winner receives a signed copy of Deadtown by Nancy Holzner, The Vampire Lestat by Anne Rice, and the bookmark with Newborn Hunger by Rebecca Sinz ~~ mountie9

May 12 ~ Carolyn Crane Guest Post & Giveaway!

What did we learn?

• Carolyn knows an awesome psychic that told us about the next year of my life.
• I must avoid Robert Pattinson at all costs!
• The above point should not be at all difficult. lol

What was won?

• 1 international winner will receive a prize pack that Carolyn collected at the RT convention! It includes bookmarks, pens, postcards, sexy playing cards, and more, plus a signed copy of Passion Untamed by Pamela Palmer ~~ Michikit

May 13 ~ My Birthday & Interview w/ Book Faery & a Giveaway!

What did we learn?

• In case you had not yet noticed… I’m a huge dork! lol
• Tomatoes are nasty.
• RPGs are the shit!
• Me and Tori get off track very easily.
• The true image of NRSVampChick is revealed! le gasp!

What was won?

• 1 US or Canadian winner receives a signed copy of Shadows of Myth and Legend by E.J. Stevens & swag pack ~~ Sweet Vernal Zephyr
• 1 US or Canadian winner receives a personalized to Amanda copy of Demonkeepers by Jessica Andersen ~~ elaing8
• 1 international winner receives a book of choice from the Book Depository or an ebook (up to $15 in value) from any of the authors that participated in this event: Laura Stamps, Michele Hauf, O.M. Grey, Keta Diablo, Nancy Holzner, and Carolyn Crane ~~ Okapi

Special Drawing for comments on the 13th!

Prizes:

• Laura Stamps signed postcard
• E.J. Stevens swag (magnet, signed bookplate, bookmarks, etc)
• Kelly Gay signed postcard
• Book of choice from my collection.

And this one goes to…

Paper Cut Reviewer

 

I will be emailing everyone in the next day or 2, but if you are just super excited about winning and want to go ahead and email me, then go right ahead. Please include your shipping info & a choice of book if one was involved. Winners have 72 hours to contact me from the time I send out their emails. If anyone has any questions, feel free to email me.

Thanks again for making my birthday such a fun and memorable experience! It really means a lot to me! <3<3<3<3

Happy Birthday to Me! Book Faery Interviews Me!

*Contest is closed*

Happy Birthday to Me! Happy Birthday to Me! Ok, so enough of that. This is going to be very strange, and very backwards for me. I asked Tori aka Book Faery if she would interview me for my bday post. We made it a little more fun and did it as a Google Chat! So, here you go everyone, learn more about NRSVampChick, LOL me!

Tori: HAPPY BIRTHDAY lady! As the dutiful little interviewer that I am, I found it necessary to start snoopin--ahem... searching for any juicy bits of information about you. You, my dear, have zilch for your readers up on your blog. So, I'm going to go with a twist to the first question I ask all authors who stop by Book Faery: what are 5 things that we, as readers, don't know about you?

Amanda: LOL Yes, I've been informed that I have been the secretive one... Hmm, five things. I'm a horribly picky eater, my room is pink even though I hate pink, I used to play D&D, I keep a poetry book, and I love RPG video games.

Tori: A picky eater, huh? So am I. Anything super chewy and/or slimy grosses me out. Do you hate tomatoes? They scare me... kind of... but in a non-threatening scary-type of way. Okay maybe I should just say that they gross me out because they have about five different textures to them.

Amanda: Yeah, tomatoes are nasty, but I love tomato products.

Tori: Anywhoo... what kind of RPG games are you into? (because I now think that you've just moved up 5 notches on my awesome scale)

Amanda: I love all the Final Fantasy games that I've played, but my all time favorite RPG will forever be Chrono Trigger for the Super Nintendo!

Tori: I knew there was a reason why we got along so well! I was a playstation girl, growing up. Final Fantasy was my crack, and I just have to say that FF8 definitely turned me into a romance junkie LOL

Amanda: LOL That's awesome! I still have that!

Tori: Which was your favorite out of them all, and why?

Amanda: I think FF7 was my favorite. Overall the story, the ending, and the characters all came together really well. Some of the other ones were just a good story but had a weird ending or good characters but not a great story.

Tori: So let's move on to your blog, miss vampire chick. How exactly did you come up with the title "Not Really Southern Vamp Chick?"

Amanda: Well, when I started the blog, I wasn't sure what I wanted it to be, but vampires are my favorite paranormal beings, so that part fell into place right way. As for the other part two things brought that about. I have family that lives farther north than me that for some reason seems to think they're more southern than me (b/c I don't have an accent?), and people around here are sometimes a little confused by me. My interests and personality don't always totally fit right in. It doesn't bother be though. I'm just unique! ;)

Tori: Where is "around here?"

Amanda: Tennessee

Tori: *cough* come visit NY *cough* So what is it about vampires that appeals to you?

Amanda: LMAO I'd love to visit NY!

Tori: I think BEA is calling for you. It's saying Amandaaa come and visit meee I have lots of awesome books for youuu

Amanda: I wish I could come to BEA! It sounds like such a wonderful time!! Let's see, vampires have always fascinated me. Ever since I was a little girl. I don't even remember what started it. I love the danger, immortality, sexuality, everything.

Tori: I was the same way. Vampires used to be my absolute favorite too, but I found that as a bunch of Americans started growing more and more obsessed with them, that my interests started migrating to their furry rivals. Did you find yourself ever growing weary of vampires since Twilight came out? Do you think that Meyer's series transformed vampires from that darkly seductive creature of the dark into wimpy little glow sticks in the sun?

Amanda: I honestly don't know if it's possible for me to get tired of vampires. Though I do love all different types of paranormal beings especially shifters. I appreciate Meyer's take on them. I think there's plenty of room for different views on vampires. Some people can have their friendly sparkly ones and others can still find their dark sensual ones. There're lots of paranormal fans, so I don't see why it has to be one way or the other.

Tori: What's your all time favorite vampire book?

Amanda: Ack! I hate picking favorites I can never choose.... I'm so indecisive. Today I'm going to go with the Night Huntress series because I love me some Bones, but tomorrow it could be something completely different.

Tori: Hehe, I think I've fallen in love with Wraith from Larissa Ione's Demonica series. Then again, I think I also have about 10 other vampire books I adore also, so I'm the same way.

Amanda: I haven't read the Demonica series yet, but I intend to soon.

Tori: Let's backtrack a bit... What made you decide to read and blog about PNR and Urban Fantasy over any other genre of books? For me, I grew up watching old school horror flicks like Dracula with my parents, so the supernatural has always held a special place in my heart. Reading Anne Bishop's Black Jewel Trilogy (a dark fantasy book) is what started my reading craze. It was then, as I searched for new books, that I realized that there were so many genres dedicated to the paranormal. Was there one particular book for you that ultimately persuaded you into diving into this area of blogging, or something else?

Amanda: Well, I've always loved anything paranormal, like I said I've loved vampires as long as I can remember. I've read fantasy books since I was a kid. My brother got me started reading the Chronicles of Narnia and the Lord of the Rings. My mom got me to read Harry Potter. Then she saw something about the Twilight saga saying it was like Harry Potter w/ vampires, and picked it up right away for me. From there I branched out into more YA paranormal books and finally to Paranormal Romance and Urban Fantasy. Then I found some places I liked online for recommendations of books and contests and met some great people to discuss books with, and ended up starting my blog.

Tori: Yep, I think that's one of the top reasons for book bloggers: it's a great medium to discuss the books you love with other fans. Have you found that since you've started blogging you interact with authors a lot more?

Amanda: I interact with authors way more since I’ve started blogging. I really didn’t much before. Well, I would a little online on review sites when they’d have author interviews or something, but that was about it.

If you only had twenty dollars in your pocket, what would you buy? gas, a book, and coffee
Coffee or Mountain Dew? *cackles* Ah Coffee. no Mountain Dew. No Coffee. Crap.
Cookies or Brownies? Brownies!
Day or Night? night
Summer or Winter? summer
Paranormal Romance or Urban Fantasy? Urban Fantasy… I think.

 

So there you have it folks! I hope you enjoyed getting to know me, and Tori LOL, a bit better. Please don’t stop reading my blog now that I’m not all shrouded in mystery! Oh, one more thing before I get to the giveaway…

Yep that’s me! NRSVampChick at a previous bday celebration!

On to the Giveaway! Want to know what all you can win today?

~1 US/Canadian winner will receive a signed copy of Shadows of Myth and Legend by E.J. Stevens and swag pack

~1 US/Canadian winner will receive a personalized to Amanda copy of Demonkeepers by Jessica Andersen (I have 2 & only need 1)

~1 International winner will receive a copy of a book of choice (up to $15 in value from the Book Depository or an ebook if you prefer) by any of the authors that have appeared this week! Those are Laura Stamps, Michele Hauf, O.M. Grey, Keta Diablo, Nancy Holzner, and Carolyn Crane!

I guess it depends on your book choice on whether or not this will require an 18 and up age. Most books will though. lol You must be a follower. If you have any other questions see the rules. This and all other giveaways in my bday bash end May 31st. Fill out the FORM to enter.

You are not required to comment this time, but you MIGHT want to do so if you stop by today, May 13th! *wink wink*

*Contest is closed*

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.

*Contest is closed*

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.

*Contest is closed*

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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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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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.

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O.M. Grey Interview & Giveaway!

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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?

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Michele Hauf Interview & Giveaway

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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.

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Laura Stamps Interview & Giveaway!

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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!

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Guest Post by Aria & a Giveaway

*Contest is closed*

For Day 3 of my Giveaway-A-Day Countdown to My 25th Birthday Bash, I’m handing things over to Aria from Aria’s Dark Musings! Take it away girl!

So, here I am…sitting down, getting ready my first guest post (which I must say, is really crazy. I mean, really, who wants to hear what I have to say, right? But, hey it’s Amanda’s birthday, and as the Birthday Girl Extraodonaire, its her party! So on I ramble…even if she‘s the only one who really reads it!)

There are a few things that really piqued my interest in my subject matter (to which, when said Birthday Girl liked the subject matter, I actually jumped up and down a little. No one saw, thank goodness.) But I must backtrack to make it clear why…

As some of you may or may not know, I am also a tribal fusion belly dancer. As far as the art form, what makes its so appealing, not only to myself, but to others in general, is in fact the fusion aspect. Think of your favorite cookies…a little peanut butter, the ooey gooey dark chocolate chips…maybe some cherries (getting hungry, huh?) or thin mints….Now imagine the best parts in any way you like them. Yummy, right? Well, for me, that’s what tribal belly dance is. And the costuming…even more ingredients. Now, maybe you’d like to throw in a little flavor. Because this is where my journey took root. The fashion, and its influence by Steampunk. Like Black Lotus. Warning, here, addictive and gorgeous. Drool worthy even.

All right then…

Unbeknownst to me, I had already dabbled a bit in the Steampunk flavor before I even shimmied for the first time. Doctor Who, anyone? Yeppers. My mom used to torture me (I let her think that, anyways). Loved the ties, the hats, even the technology…British accents, Victorian influences and sometimes, those girls wore…corsets!! (At least, in my little girl memory). Flash forward…my first hand made glue together costume. Beautiful gold brocade with a rich wide deep burgundy stripe halter top. There‘s that tid bit of Steampunk influence, barely there. Hmmm…and then there’s the music. Beats Antique, a zany mutli-layered style of music created by a belly dancer (the fantabulous Zoe Jakes) for belly dancers. She’s not the only one, so I suggest a little field trip to youtube if you are so inclined.

Then….I did it.

I turned to Wikipedia. And that’s a can of worms that I still, to this day, reference.

Now, the Steampunk genre, at least in my humble opinion, is as young and varied as tribal belly dance. Well, Jules Verne did come before, I admit it.

So close your eyes…

WAIT! How will you read this? (Silly me, I know. Sounded good at the time, though!)

How about, use your imagination…and let yourself sink back to the Victorian Era. Imagine a dirigible…maybe bowler hat or two, corsets, traditional Victorian garb with all its pinstripe glory. (okay, maybe I like the pinstripe glory.) A dashing set of goggles perched high off your forehead (because you love adventure and exploration in all forms), giant gears, exposed levers and rivets with sheet metal plates, steam driven technology…maybe even a steam powered man. Gorgeous dark wood, heavily shellacked lit by exposed flames or bulbs, or ornate colored glasswork lighting your way…maybe a little dusty. No transistors (okay, had to look that up, not lying.) Your fingertips touch leather, felt, mica, ivory, maybe even some glass or hemp. No plastics, nylon, Styrofoam…fiberglass. Maybe a little under the sea voyage. Feeling me, yet?

Add in that feeling of exploration, of discovery…imagine being high in the air in a giant dirigible, and your intelligent, witty, and even at times a little proper (with the proper dose of sarcasm or snarkiness thrown in for good measure). Because, at its roots, Steampunk is English, after all. In origin, anyway. (BTW, the whole “punk” in steam punk should reject the codes and conduct of that of which it portrays, at least in some way. Hmmm….I always liked a little rebellion.) In case you’re wondering, there are in fact off shoots that are considered somewhat American in their substance, called Edisonade…which I could go on and on about, too.

Now, while I don’t even pretend in the slightest to be an expert, lets just say I am a very interested party. As a matter of fact, there is much debate on the purity of the whole genre, and how its splits into different off shoots (cyber punk, steam sci fi,gaslight romance etc.). You can literally spend hours looking into it. And I so encourage you…you may be pleasantly surprised…or confused…or even inspired.

So, how does all this relate to a book blog? Well, let me tell you…

My first encounter with Steampunk lit that was a conscious effort began with my favorite mall bookstore closing in favor of the outside version across the street. Every single book was *gasp* on sale (yep, I spent far too much, and still haven’t made a dent in the pile), and on what must have been my fifth or so trip that week, I had been browsing the shelves, picking up, putting down, and picking up. The sweetest little old man, who must have been in my mind what my granpa had looked liked, smiled at me and handed me a small paperback book. After telling me the pretty girl on the cover reminded him of me, I had to buy it. I am so easily flattered. Plus, it seemed to make him happy. Did I mention the sale? So I added it to my pile.

It was Soulless by Gail Carriger.

And to my happiness, she had combined this new interest with…PARANORMAL!! So witty, full of historical facts woven with fiction. Okay, sensing the whole fusion thing here? Needless to say, I now want my very own parasol. And possibly a werewolf. Maybe a lovely corseted dress in…*shakes head*. Trying to stay on topic, promise.

But, what about other books, you may ask? Well, I have to say, my very first Kindle edition is in fact Avalon Revisited by O.M. Grey. Another Steampunk Paranormal, but entirely different. To say that I have been savoring this one would be an understatement. Because what I have discovered, is not just the setting, or clothing, or even the technology about Steampunk attracts me, it’s the tone and pacing. Sigh…and O.M. Grey has me, hook, hemp line, and copper sinker.

On my short list, and maybe a few will land on yours, too…Boneshaker by Cherie Priest (Love this cover), Changeless by Gail Carriger, Steampunk Anthology(a gorgeous mini tome full of information)…and I would love any suggestions to further explore my new discovery.

Now, please remember, I’m just dallying, and while I did do some research, I am so not infallible. So, if I made any mistakes, please forgive me…and don’t be mad at Amanda over anything I did. Because its her party, remember?

And maybe, just maybe, I’ll add those goggles to my next belly dance costume!!

 

Thanks so much Aria! I’m so glad you could join us for my Bday Bash!

You can find Aria at her blog or on twitter!

Now on to the 2nd part I know you’ve all been waiting for! Today’s giveaway is going to be Steampunk related!

~1 winner will receive one book Aria mentioned in this post. Book will be from either Book Depository or Amazon.com, so in order to enter this, one of those places must be able to deliver to you.

~1 winner will receive one surprise Steampunk handmade item. What is it? Who is it made by? All part of the surprise!

This is international! You must be a follower. Contest ends May 31st. For any other questions, please refer to the rules.

To enter fill out the form and leave a question or comment for me or Aria (hehe Did I mention I was going to do that to you Aria? mwah!) or about Steampunk in general.

Don’t forget to check out the giveaways that have already happened & see what’s still to come on the schedule!

*Contest is closed*