Vampire Oscar Party

In honor of the upcoming Academy Awards ceremony, airing Sunday, March 7, I'm holding the Vampire Oscar Party, an online celebration of fanged films from the past year. In the past I've blogged about the lack of Oscar love for vampire films. To remedy the situation, I've created a poll in which you, the vampire movie viewer, can have your say in the Best Vampire Motion Picture of 2009. I've even included a write-in "Other" option for all the full-length festival indies. 

Voting will run through Oscar night, and I'll announce the winner on Monday, March 8.  Because I'm willing to bet I already know which film will take the most votes, I'll present the Best Vampire Motion Picture of 2009 That's Not New Moon to the second-place movie.  Spread the word.

Win a Kellan Lutz (Emmett Cullen) PETA poster

Twilight Saga actor Kellan Lutz—known to many fans as the studly vampire Emmett Cullen—reveals his softer side in a new ad for peta2, the world's largest youth animal rights organization. Part of peta2's "Adopt, Don't Buy" campaign, the ad shows Lutz hugging his rescued mixed-breed dog Kola and reads, "Buying Animals Is Killing Animals. Save a Homeless Dog or Cat—Always Adopt and Never Buy."

PETA offered me a 11x14 poster of Kellan's ad to give away here on Suburban Vampire. In the comments section of this post, tell us your favorite animal, and you'll be automatically entered for a drawing I'll hold on Thursday, March 4.

Want a chance to win a Twilight DVD signed by Kellan? Read his full PETA article at peta2.com.

True Blood UK, a contest, Vampire Love papers, & Alice in Wonderland music

My in-box is overflowing with vampire announcements, so I thought I'd compile everything in one, big, news-filled post.

1. Season 2 of True Blood is currently airing in the UK, and fans are loving it! HBO launched a brand-new UK Store, and they're currently offering a special 15% off discount for True Blood fans. Click the HBO UK store image here and use the code TBFANUK.


U.S. True Blood fans can shop here (although the code is for UK only):


2. Don't forget my current contest for a free copy of Lana Griffin's Dusk.

3. I've received a call for papers for the 2010 Film & History Conference: Representations of Love in Film and Television, November 10-14, 2010, Hyatt Regency Milwaukee.

Second-Round Deadline for Proposals: March 1, 2010
AREA: Vampire Love
www.uwosh.edu/filmandhistory
Topics that would naturally fall within this area include:

The sexual overtones of lost vampire films of the silent era (There are at least 22).
The similarity of depictions of vampiric bloodlust to contemporary depictions of sexual desire.
Woman as victim, woman as predator.
Vampire film as indicator of changing sexual attitudes.
Depression vampires, Cold War vampires, 21st century vampires.
The vampire’s bite as sexual liberation.
From 1909 to 2009: The erotic content of one hundred years of vampire film.
The influence of sexuality in other film genres on the vampire film.
The vampire as sexual opportunist.
Femme Fatales and Lesbian Vampires.

Please send your 200-word proposal by e-mail to the area chair:

Daniel Schnopp-Wyatt
School of Professional Counseling
Lindsey Wilson College
daniel.schnopp-wyatt [at] lindseyspc.org
www.uwosh.edu/filmandhistory

4. Tim Burton + Robert Smith + children's lit = HEAVEN!
On March 2, Disney will release Almost Alice, a companion CD to the Alice in Wonderland soundtrack. Songs include "Alice" performed by Avril Lavigne, "The Lobster Quadrille" performed by Franz Ferdinand, and Robert Smith of The Cure singing "Very Good Advice," from the classic Disney animated Alice in Wonderland.  I'm only amazed that Robert Smith hasn't been involved in a Burton project before this point. His hair appeared in Edward Scissorhands, after all.

Lana Griffin's DUSK: Guest blog and contest

Guest blogging today is Lana Griffin, author of DUSK, a new erotic vampire e-book released by Ravenous Romance. If you'd like to enter to win a copy, head to the comments section and leave a note for Lana...or respond to her proposal that the more vampires the merrier.  I'll announce a winner on Wednesday, March 3.

LANA GRIFFIN: VAMPIRES AND HAREMS

Hi, and my thanks to Catherine and Suburban Vampire for hosting me today. I’m Lana Griffin, alter ego of a New York Times Best-Selling Author. I’ve written more than 20 books and am currently working on several new novels. Under my real name, I've sold 6-700,000 books worldwide.

DUSK (Ravenous Romance, 12-30-09), my first erotic romance novel, is a sexy vampire tale, in which an ancient voodoo priestess and her vampire lover must overcome their "bad blood" to save the lives of ordinary humans. (Amazon.com, RavenousRomance.com)

So why I am thinking about vampires and harems tonight? And what do vampire harems have in common with DUSK?

It occurs to me that DUSK features a vampire hero and his vampire scumball father. Oh, there may be another vampire here and there, but the heroine has only one vampire lover.

Why is it that kings have harems, yet no heroine ever gets to enjoy the pleasures of her own vampire harem?

I say: it's time to change all that! And I'd like to be the first girl to have at least 25 sexy vamps at my disposal. In fact, the sequel to DUSK may very well feature a fleet of vampires drooling and begging for the attentions of one girl.

Well, probably not, but I can always dream...

As with old-fashioned kinglike harems, my vampire harem would include a variety of gorgeous creatures: pearly skin, dark skin, no hair, waist-long hair, golden hair, black hair; some with capes, most without capes; some with two fangs, but a bunch with many fangs for the ultimate bang in pleasure. If one is getting too demanding or jealous, I'll use the garlic on him.

Yes, I can see it now. Some will reflect in mirrors, others won't. Some will wilt in sunlight, other won't.  But one thing they'll all have in common is that they will lust only for me.

Oh, and it goes without saying that I will find each of my 25 vampire harem hunks totally intoxicating.

You might be wondering why I'm obsessed with vampires. After writing DUSK, I wrote a partial of a new vampire novel. I'm also under contract for a vampire horror novel, which means I'm cranking out 10,000 words per week of vampires, vampires, and more vampires!  If I have my way, I'll continue to dwell with creatures of the night for many years. They're more fun than humans.

Ravenous Romance calls DUSK an "adult Twilight," and while DUSK is about forbidden love and lust, it also has plenty of passion. Yes, the characters do have sex; imagine that!

My goal is to entertain readers. So if you read DUSK, I hope you like it.

XOXO,

Lana Griffin
(http://lanagriffin.blogspot.com)

Synopsis:

Alexandra Leveau comes from an ancient voodoo priestess clan that's been feuding with sexy vamp Vadim Blerinca's family for centuries. The mysterious "bad blood" between the Leveaus and Blerincas is what keeps Alexandra and Vadim burning for each other, yet it also makes them a very dangerous match: by making love, each could kill the other.

Added to the erotically charged mix is Alexandra's ex-boyfriend, the poetic wraith Skipp, as well as a gargoyle who is devoted to Alexandra and will kill anyone who tampers with her. Add one more wraith to the mix, plus an insane vamp sire and the true Venus de Milos. Now mix in elements of murder and mystery: the deaths of elderly citizens for unknown reasons.

A sexy, romantic romp of forbidden love and lust!

Amazon.com
RavenousRomance.com

For a chance to win a copy of Lana Griffin's Dusk, leave a note for the author in the comments section by Wednesday, March 3.

VAMPIRE FORENSICS airs tonight

Just a reminder, Explorer: Vampire Forensics airs today, Tuesday, February 23, at 10PM ET/PT on the National Geographic Channel.

More info.

Music Monday: OH THE VAMPYRE by A.A. Bondy

The other day I was lurking over at one of my favorite vamp blogs, Marta Acosta's Vampire Wire, and I discovered Marta now has a handy vampire playlist widget provided by Chris of Stumbling over Chaos...a vampire music fan extraordinaire. Because I needed a song for today, I decided to browse Chris's suggestions and discovered "Oh the Vampyre" by A.A. Bondy, a quieter, folksy take on vampire music. I'm including a clip of a live performance and download links. Hope you enjoy.



"Oh the Vampyre" on iTunes

This Tuesday on TV: EXPLORER: VAMPIRE FORENSICS

Be sure to check out the upcoming National Geographic Channel special Explorer: Vampire Forensics, which follows forensic anthropologist Matteo Borrini as he digs deeper into the legend of "shroud eaters" in 16th-century Venice. The program correlates with the publication of the new National Geographic book Vampire Forensics by Mark Collins Jenkins. Scroll down for the show's info, a photo, and a sneak peek featuring the famous brick lodged into a skull's mouth.

EXPLORER: VAMPIRE FORENSICS
Tuesday, February 23 at 10PM ET/PT
http://channel.nationalgeographic.com/series/explorer/4816/Overview

Florence, Italy: Dr. Matteo Borrini, a forensic anthropologist, investigates evidence collected at a crime scene in his Florence laboratory. (Photo Credit: © NGT)

Meet Larry, the underachieving vampire

If you're in the mood for a hip and hilarious short film that combines the worlds of Clerks, Woody Allen, and vampires, check out filmmaker Bruce Guido's Third Shift. The lead vampire, Larry, works at a convenience store, lacks motivation to allure humans, and is an overall embarrassment to the vampire community. Yet he makes us want to root for him.

You can view the film at a few places, including right here on Suburban Vampire (although please be aware that there's some language and scenes inappropriate for the kiddies).



Other viewing options:
BruceGuido.com
YouTube
Vimeo

Horror Blogger Alliance

My blogging/writing time has become severely limited this week because of issues with my kidlets, but I wanted to pass along news of the Horror Blogger Alliance for anyone who has a horror blog. . . and for fans of the horror genre in need of new sites to visit.

From the alliance's website:

Welcome to the Horror Blogger Alliance, a site dedicated to the individuals that pour their tireless effort, heart, and soul in to writing about the genre they love: Horror. It is always important to recognize the hard work that every person contributes to the online blogging community, and every single person deserves the right to be read. As such, this Alliance is an open-admission organization that will hopefully be used to promote new and existing blogs and bloggers, and help introduce the community to a wide variety of different talents!

horrorbloggeralliance.blogspot.com

Music Monday: The Wolfman soundtrack, Danny Elfman

I haven't devoted too many Music Mondays to the vampire's furry cousins, werewolves, but the soundtrack to The Wolfman will be released February 23, so I figured now would be a good time to do so.  Danny Elfman is the man behind The Wolfman's musical score. Check out his great use of strings on the eerie "Wolf Suite."  Here's a sneak peek of the entire soundtrack; preorder and download options are available below.

Happy Valentine's Day from Suburban Vampire

May you give your heart to someone you love today. Happy Valentine's Day.

(Artwork from TimBurtonCollective.com).

Upcoming release: VAMPIRE FORENSICS

National Geographic will release a new book on Feb. 16, 2010, VAMPIRE FORENSICS: Uncovering the Origins of an Enduring Legend, by Mark Jenkins, former chief historian of the National Geographic Society's archives.

From the press release:

In Vampire Forensics, historian Jenkins navigates centuries of lore and legend, exploring the questions of how, where, and why vampires originated and weaving an irresistible blend of superstition, psychology, and science.  Drawing on the latest forensic and anthropological and archaeological research to explore the origins of vampire stories, Jenkins probes vampire tale to tease out the historical truths.  Vampire Forensics is an intriguing and brave new book examining the facts behind the legend.

More love (and anti-love) from Vampire Fest

Earlier this week, I passed along info about Vampire Fest's contest for free passes to The Wolfman. They're also giving away tickets to the 14th Annual Vampire Ball of New York, which takes place Sunday, February 14, 2010. Here's more info about this "Anti-Valentine's Day" event:

This  is one of the longest running events of its type in the world.  Started in 1996 at the original Bank nightclub and now celebrating the 14th year of this event, the NYC Vampire Ball commences the countdown to the Endless Night Festival in New Orleans on October 30th, 2010. This event served as the first ever vampire / Vampyre themed event on the East Coast and is featured in Katherine Ramsland’s book Piercing the Darkness.

I'll include a preview of the event at the bottom of this post. Enter to win tickets.

Also, Vampire Fest's Festival Director and Festival Event Director are getting married and partaking in Crate and Barrel's Ultimate Wedding Contest. If you'd like to help them out, read their story and vote for them at their Ultimate Wedding page.

Steamy Vampiric Valentines from Diana Laurence

Guest blogging on Suburban Vampire today is author Diana Laurence, who is here to offer vampire Valentine's Day recommendations of the literary variety.

Steamy Vampiric Valentines from Diana Laurence

In the past, Suburban Vampire has been kind enough to let me share with you all about my handy vampire dating guide book, How to Catch and Keep a Vampire. But what you may not know is that I've been writing fiction about undead charmers for years! So why not celebrate Valentine's Day with a treat more romantic than flowers, sweeter than candy, and certainly more "stimulating" than a card?

Let me share with you all about my various vampire romance works, including novels, short stories included in my collections, even a comic book. And be on the lookout, there's one of them you can read in its entirety for absolutely free! I'll start with that certain book you may have heard of, and move on from there...

How to Catch and Keep a Vampire: A Step-by-Step Guide to Loving the Bad and the Beautiful

How-to book, Sellers Publishing, October 2009
all ages

Want a vampire all your own? Well, in this handy guidebook I tell everything I know about how to meet the vampire of your dreams, woo and win him (or her), and live to tell the tale. Available in paperback from bookstores worldwide and your favorite online retailers.

Bloodchained

Novel, Living Beyond Reality Press, September 2007
PG-13

My popular vampire romance novel introduces a whole new kind of blood-drinking immortals, the Roicans. If you enjoy fantasy or a Renaissance atmosphere, you'll find their world especially captivating. But any fan of vampire romance will identify with heroine Grace Gilder, who struggles with her attraction to two mysterious men with seductive powers. In ebook or paperback.

Sign of the Bloodletters

Comic book, Living Beyond Reality Press, January 2009
all ages

This comic book spinoff from Bloodchained introduces two new characters who will play key roles in the sequel, Bloodchained II: The Secret of Secrets. Beautifully illustrated by CC Rogers, Sign of the Bloodletters is romantic, sexy and suspenseful. You can read it online for free, or purchase the paperback!

Bloodchained II: The Secret of Secrets

Novel, Living Beyond Reality Press, October 2009
PG-13

The sequel to the original novel. Two years after the events of Bloodchained, the Four Roicans are still mystified about their destiny. Meanwhile their nemesis is busy employing his charisma and ruthlessness to build a force of devoted followers. And his greatest weapon is knowledge of the one secret that could alter the fates of all Roicans, and grant him ultimate power over the world. In ebook or paperback.

Looking on Darkness

Living Beyond Reality Press, April 2009
PG-13

This mainstream paranormal novel addresses the subject of psychological vampirism. The complex "villain" of the story doesn't drink his victims' blood. Nevertheless he employs his irresistible magnetism to steal the essence of the heart's desire--with murderous results. In ebook or paperback.

Playacting

Living Beyond Reality Press, February 2005
originally published in Suite magazine
adults only

A short story about a couple whose interactions as the lead characters in a local production of Dracula bring about a drastic (and thrilling) change in their relationship. Read this one online free or download in your favorite ebook format!

"Pints" - Soulful Sex Volume I

Living Beyond Reality Press, February 2006
adults only

In this novella it is the vampire's victim who tempts him to give in to his dark side. Who will be the victor in an erotic battle of life and death? This story is included in the ebook Soulful Sex: Erotic Tales of Fantasy and Romance (Volume I) as well as in the paperback Soulful Sex: Erotic Tales of Fantasy and Romance Volumes I and II.

"The Verity of the Vampyre" - Soulful Sex Volume III

Living Beyond Reality Press, March 2006
adults only

In this Regency novella, Emily Lyndon has determined to write a novel on the subject of vampires. She is entranced by the idea of a vampire hero, until distraction arrives in the form of the visitor Mr. Wellsley. This story is included in Soulful Sex: Erotic Tales of Fantasy and Romance Volume III, available in ebook or paperback.

"Women Love Vampires" - Soulful Sex: The Darker Side

Living Beyond Reality Press, February 2009
adults only

In this contemporary tale, Lacey meets Seth in a bar, and his vampiric personal style prompts an interesting conversation. When the gorgeous young man asks why women love vampires, Lacey finds herself eager to explain--and demonstrate. This story is included in Soulful Sex: The Darker Side, available in ebook or paperback.