Contest for Aminah Iman's new vampire novel, LILLITH: MY GENESIS

Novelist Aminah Iman has graciously offered to give away a free ebook copy of her new novel, Lillith: My Genesis. Here's Aminah's info about her take on the Lilith vampire legend . . .

Lillith, the first wife of Adam, was banished from the Garden of Eden and cast away from her husband and home. Consuming the beasts in the wilderness turned her into something all-powerful, something immortal and evil. . . the first vampire.

From the moment she was cast out of the Garden of Eden, Lillith was hell-bent on destroying the children of Adam, starting with his first-born son. Turning Cain against Able was the beginning of her chaotic destruction on humanity, and it will continue to go on unless there is someone who can put an end to her.

There is only one organization with the experience and will to bring an end to Lillith's reign: The Order. The Order is an organization of men and women specifically selected for their spiritual gifts and telekinetic powers, to cleanse the world of the abominations that roam in it, and Lillith is definitely on their list.

Captivating from the first page, Lillith: My Genesis gives a unique and well-needed spin on vampires and their beginning. Lillith is the first wife of Adam, with a thirst for blood and revenge. Her travels throughout her long life show the destruction she has left in her wake and the true meaning of "Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned."  Aminah Iman has taken Lillith to a completely new level.

CONTEST RULES:
To win an ebook copy of Lillith: My Genesis, leave a comment for Aminah at the bottom of this post.  I'll pull a winning name on Tuesday, September 7.  You don't need to be a U.S. resident to enter.  Good luck!

Aminah Iman's website: aminahimanbooks.tk

Music Monday: VAMPIRIC by The Mansion of Soul Drain

The Swedish band The Mansion of Soul Drain contacted me about one of their newest songs, "Vampiric," off their upcoming album of the same name.  According to their website, Vampiric marks the band's return to its vampire metal roots.

The Mansion of Soul Drain has graciously allowed me to upload "Vampiric" to this post, so you can hear the song by clicking the play button below.  To sample and buy more of their music, head to www.myspace.com/themansionofsouldrain.

Download "Vampiric" by The Mansion of Soul Drain

Smart Chicks Kick It Tour

Here's something to mark on your September calendar: the Smart Chicks Kick It Tour, a twelve-city, two-week tour featuring eighteen of today's most-buzzed-about writers of young adult paranormal romance.

I'm attaching the full schedule below.  For more info, head to www.smartchickskickit.com and smartchickskickit.blogspot.com.

Smart Chicks Kick It Tour

September 13 - 25, 2010

September 13th, 2010 7 PM @ BOOKPEOPLE, Austin, TX
Kelley Armstrong, Melissa Marr, Alyson Noel, Holly Black, Rachel Caine, & Cassandra Clare

September 14th, 2010 7 PM @ B&N THE WOODLANDS, Houston, TX
Kelley Armstrong, Melissa Marr, Alyson Noel, Holly Black, Cassandra Clare, Kami Garcia, & Rachel Vincent

September 15th, 2010 7PM. @ The Refuge (13150 Memorial Dr). Hosted by BLUE WILLOW, Houston, TX
Kelley Armstrong, Melissa Marr, Alyson Noel, Holly Black, Sarah Rees Brennan, Margaret Stohl, & Cassandra Clare

September 16th, 2010 6 PM @ Plantation Commons (105 Plantation Cove, Gluckstadt). Hosted by LEMURIA BOOKS, Jackson, MS
Kelley Armstrong, Melissa Marr, Alyson Noel, Holly Black, Cassandra Clare, Jessica Verday, & Sarah Rees Brennan

September 17th, 2010 7PM @ Scottsdale Civic Library Auditorium, hosted by POISONED PEN, Scottsdale, AZ
Melissa Marr, Alyson Noel, Kelley Armstrong, Holly Black, Sarah Rees Brennan, & Kimberly Derting

September 18th, 2010 6 PM @ Menlo Park Library, Hosted by KEPLERS, Menlo Park, CA
Melissa Marr, Alyson Noel, Kelley Armstrong, Melissa de la Cruz, Margaret Stohl, Kami Garcia, & Kimberly Derting

September 20th, 2010 6 PM @ VROMAN'S, Pasadena, CA
Melissa Marr, Alyson Noel, Kelley Armstrong, Rachel Caine, Melissa de la Cruz, Rachel Vincent, Margaret Stohl , & Mary Pearson

September 21st, 2010 6 PM @ Encinitas County Library, hosted by MYSTERIOUS GALAXY, San Diego, CA
Melissa Marr, Alyson Noel, Kelley Armstrong, Mary Pearson, Rachel Caine, Rachel Vincent, Carrie Ryan, Rachel Vincent, Margaret Stohl, & Kami Garcia

September 22nd, 2010 7 PM @ Wentz Concert Hall at North Central College, Hosted by ANDERSON'S Naperville, IL
Alyson Noel, Kelley Armstrong, Melissa Marr, Jackson Pearce, Jennifer Barnes, & Carrie Ryan
NOTE: for this event, it is free with the purchase on one book by a featured author or $5 without purchase.

September 23rd, 2010 7 PM @ BOOKS & CO AT THE GREENE, Dayton, OH
Alyson Noel, Kelley Armstrong, Melissa Marr, Jackson Pearce, Jennifer Lynn Barnes, & Kami Garcia

September 24th, 2010 7 PM @ JOSEPH BETH Cincinnati, OH
Alyson Noel, Kelley Armstrong, Melissa Marr, Jennifer Lynn Barnes, Jeri Smith-Ready, & Margaret Stohl

September 25th, 2010 2 PM @ CHAPTERS BRAMPTON (52 Quarry Edge Drive) Brampton, ON
Alyson Noel, Kelley Armstrong, Melissa Marr, Melissa de la Cruz, Jeri Smith-Ready, Jennifer Lynn Barnes, Kami Garcia, & Margaret Stohl

Dacre Stoker, Karen Essex, and more vampire literary heavyweights to speak at the Vampire Film Festival

If you need another reason to head to the Vampire Film Festival in New Orleans this Halloween, how about a chance to retrace the steps of Bram Stoker with a special presentation from his great-grandnephew, Dacre Stoker?

Here's the scoop from Vampire Fest and Reel Energy Entertainment:

Bram Stoker and the Many Mysteries Surrounding His Writing of Dracula
October 31, 2010, Shadowbox Theatre, New Orleans

Join Dacre as he presents a lecture that includes a visual journey retracing the steps of Bram on the creation of his iconic novel, Dracula. Explore some of the secrets, myths, research notes, and facts surrounding one of the most analyzed novels in history. The Stoker family has recently become more involved in commemorating the achievements of their famous relative in anticipation of 2012, the hundredth anniversary of Bram's death. In addition to a Special Tribute book and numerous cultural events being planned, the family is working with licensees on Bram Stoker-branded products and with advertisers who want to be associated with one of the world's most successful authors.

“I am very excited to be a part of the Vampire Film Festival in New Orleans," said Dacre Stoker. "Bram actually visited New Orleans January 27 through February 1, 1896, as the Manager of the Lyceum Theater Company, featuring Sir Henry Irving and Ellen Terry. He was writing Dracula at time of this visit.”

“When we discovered this amazing story behind the myth that sparked an entire genre," added festival director, Asif Ahmed,  "We knew no better way to kick off Halloween. Join us for an afternoon with Dacre Stoker."

The mission of the Vampire Film Festival is to showcase the artistry of filmmakers who work in this supernatural genre, to further the mythology and lore of vampires. and share it with the mortal world.

Vampire Fest has found a permanent home in New Orleans and will be held in the historic Faubourg Marigny, which adjoins the French Quarter. The venue is the Shadowbox Theatre, located at 2400 Saint Claude Avenue, and the dates are October 27 through October 31, 2010.

The festival is also preparing a panel of women vampire fiction writers that will include Karen Essex, author of Dracula in Love, and Gabrielle Faust, author of the Eternal Vigilance series. If you're a published female author of vampire novels who can be in New Orleans during the festival, please drop me a note. I'm still helping with the festival a teeny bit.

Second VAMPIRE MOB episode now available

The second episode of Vampire Mob has been released!

If you're unfamiliar with the way this particular web series works, the first six episodes will be distributed via www.VampireMob.com on a view-ransom basis. When episode TWO reaches 5,000 views, episode THREE is released, with updates posted on Twitter and Facebook.

Vampire Mob's killer tagline:
He's a hitman and a vampire, and he just found out his mother-in-law is moving in, for eternity.

In the latest episode, "You Can't Choose Your Family," Kirsten Vangsness, who plays Penelope Garcia on Criminal Minds, gets in an argument with vampire/hitman Don Grigioni (John Colella), and tempers erupt in a heated discussion about who mom should live with.

Watch Vampire Mob Episode Two of Six from Vampire Mob on Vimeo.

Coming in October: An interview with Vampire Mob's writer/director, Joe Wilson. . . right here on Suburban Vampire!

Upcoming Australian vampire film: PRAY FOR DAWN

Pray for Dawn concept art.

Screenwriter Stephen Batchelor wrote to tell me about an Australian vampire film that's just gone into pre-production: Pray for Dawn. The movie will be shot in HD black & white and will help mark the return of scarier vampires in cinema. Here's the synopsis from Pray for Dawn's Facebook page. . .

The city of Innsmouth is about to experience something truly terrifying. Will the few people that know what's happening be enough to stop it?

Stephen invited me to share some of the movie's concept art, which is gorgeous and deliciously creepy.  You can view the full concept art collection at http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=122043851168207.

For more info, follow Pray for Dawn on Facebook and Twitter.

Music Monday: I BLEED by The Pixies

I'm heading back to 1989 for today's featured song: "I Bleed" by the Pixies.  It hails from their album Doolittle, which went gold in 1995 and appeared in Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Albums of All Time.  As often seems to be the case with vampire songs, "I Bleed" never gained as much fame as other songs on the album, especially in comparison to the Pixies's hit "Here Comes Your Man."  But that certainly doesn't mean the dark, emotional tune isn't worth a listen. 

Is the Rolling Stone TRUE BLOOD cover sexy or icky?

As I was preparing tomorrow's Music Monday feature, I came across the new September 2, 2010, Rolling Stone cover, which accompanies the article The Joy of Vampire Sex. You'll have to travel over to Rolling Stone's website to catch a glimpse, but be forewarned: it contains the stars of True Blood--Anna Paquin, Stephen Moyer, and Alexander Skarsgard--naked as newborns and splattered in a generous amount of blood that brings to mind the prom scene in Carrie.

It's an attention getter, I'll give them that, but it also dives into the eternal question: why do horror and sex often go hand in hand? Is it alluring to see gorgeous actors standing naked in what looks like the middle of a murder scene? Or have we gone too far when gore is marketed as a turn-on in mainstream American entertainment? More importantly, how did my local grocery store manager react when one of his employees opened up the box with the latest Rolling Stone issue? I have yet to run down to Albertson's to see if Stephen Moyer's bloody butt cheek is on display at the checkout stand.

Granted, no vampires or mortals were harmed in that photo shoot. And sex and controversy sells, which is the bottom line. But I'd love to hear from die-hard True Blood fans. Are you pleased with the blood-soaked trio? Or would you have preferred to see them sans crimson buttocks?

Boutique du Vampyre's 6th annual vampire genre short story contest

The fantastic Boutique du Vampyre in New Orleans is currently running Lullabies 2010, a vampire short story contest.

Here's the info from the store's website, www.feelthebite.com.

We are proud to announce our 6th annual Lullabies contest. The submissions
over the past years have been fun and wickedly wonderful. This year, while the
stories must still be vampire related, they can cover any other topic as well. So
put the pen to the paper and entertain us.

The maximum number of words will remain at 3000 this year to give writers room to play with.

Contestants will have their stories posted on our website for exposure to readers
as well as valuable reader feedback. However the final judges will be author
Andrew Fox, Fat White Vampire Blues and Bride of the Fat White Vampire,
Arlene Russo, editor Bite Me Magazine (www.bitememagazine.com), and Marita
Jaeger, owner Boutique du Vampyre and author of numerous published articles,
as well as the online novel The Gift.

For prizes and rules, head to feelthebite.com. Good luck, vampire writers!  Feel free to share if they've posted your story.

Horror Scholarship

Click for more info.

I'm back from vacation and drowning in emails. While I'm getting everything sorted out, I decided I should start sharing some of the news that's headed my way, starting with some exciting info about a $1,000 scholarship that will be awarded to a student studying to work in the horror film industry.

Here are the full details from the scholarship's sponsor, Star Costumes:

The 2010 Star Costumes Horror Scholarship

Why a Horror Scholarship?

We love horror! We make our living selling scary costumes, makeup, and masks, and we owe a lot of our success to the creative output of the horror industry. This scholarship is our way to give back and to help the horror industry continue to terrify us in the years to come.

Currently, there are no other scholarships designed specifically for students planning to enter the horror industry. Our goal is provide assistance to help the brightest and most creative students meet their expenses and help launch their career in horror cinema.

Eligibility Requirements:

Horror Scholarship candidates must meet the following criteria:

* A student with a 3.0 GPA;
* 18 years or older;
* who's currently studying full-time at a undergraduate or graduate post-secondary institution.

The student must be studying in a field designed to prepare them for work in the horror industry. This could include careers such as:

* Makeup artist
* Special effects artist
* Costume designer
* Set designer
* Lighting designer
* Film sound artist
* VFX/CGI artist
* Postproduction specialist
* Film critic
* Screenwriter
* Cinematographer
* Director

Application is Easy

Just fill out our application form online, along with an essay. The essay provides a chance to distinguish yourself from other applicants and should be in the range of about 300-400 words. Suggested topics include:

* What sparked your interest in the horror industry.
* Your accomplishments and goals as they relate to horror cinema and related fields.

Application Deadline

The deadline to submit your application is October 31st, 2010. The winner will be notified on November 5th, 2010. The winner will need to provide relevant transcripts to verify GPA and enrollment, after which the scholarship award can be claimed right away. There is no fee to apply for this scholarship.

The Ideal Candidate

We're looking for someone who can demonstrate their creativity and passion for horror cinema and distinguish themselves from other potential applicants. The best way to achieve this is through a unique and interesting essay.

Suburban Vampire isn't affiliated with the scholarship, so please head to StarCostumes.com for all your questions.

On vacation / Vampire Film Festival Trailer Contest

Suburban Vampire will be on hiatus from August 12 - 20. I won't be checking emails during the break, so if you drop me a note, I'll read it after I've settled back into the burbs.

While I'm away, be sure to participate in The Vampire Film Festival Trailer Contest. Your votes help choose which films play the festival this Halloween.

I also wanted to thank Dark Side of the Net for including Suburban Vampire in Best of the Dark Side: 13 Great Vampire Blogs.

Free passes to an advanced screening of VAMPIRES SUCK

Vampires Suck, a spoof of vampire movies from the makers of Scary Movie and Epic Movie, will be arriving in theaters August 18.

Allied Integrated Marketing is offering Suburban Vampire readers in the Seattle area a chance to download free passes for an advanced showing.
 
Log onto www.gofobo.com/rsvp and type in the code M5PD5JCE to see Vampires Suck at the following time and location:

Tuesday, August 17th
8:00 PM
AMC Pacific Place
600 Pine St, 4th Floor, Seattle 

For more Vampires Suck info and goodies, including "Suck Mail E-cards," head to www.vampiressuckmovie.com.

New cosmetics line from vampire novelist Gabrielle Faust

I just received the following news from novelist Gabrielle Faust, author of the Eternal Vigilance vampire series:

Acclaimed horror author and entertainment personality Gabrielle Faust has announced the launch of a new line of sultry, sophisticated eye shadows as she expands her new imprint on the beauty industry. The collection entitled “Gabrielle Faust by Overall Beauty” is the first of many different product endeavors planned by the gothic fashionista and includes eight sultry shades including “Love Lost” (deep rose), “Vampire’s Kiss” (sangria red), “Karmic Knight” (dark eggplant purple), “Misanthrope” (ashen violet), “Indiscretion” (charcoal gray), “Aftermath” (burnt umber brown), “Sanctified Snow” (opalescent white), and “Hourglass Sand” (golden cream).

“Gabrielle Faust by Overall Beauty” will initially be sold via the online cosmetics retailer Overall Beauty, owned and operated by CEO, Kim Snyder. However, the line will also be made available to any and all retailers interested in carrying the line in their stores. Retailers should contact Kim Snyder for information on ordering at http://www.overallbeauty.com/catalog/contact_us.php. The eye shadows will retail for $8.99 a shade or $72 for the full set of eight.

“Gabrielle Faust by Overall Beauty” will be available beginning August 14, 2010.

To place an order for one or all of the “Gabrielle Faust by Overall Beauty” eye shadow collection visit www.overallbeauty.com.

For info about Gabrielle Faust's Eternal Vigilance vampire series and more news about her cosmetics line, head to http://www.gabriellefaust.com.

Music Monday: Vampire radio

I'll be on vacation later this week, so Music Mondays--and the blog in general--will soon be taking a hiatus until August 20.  I don't want to leave anyone wanting for vampire music when I'm gone, so I decided to devote today's post to vampire radio shows.

As I was gathering my notes, I discovered Dark Side of the Net just composed an article called Best of the Dark Side: 13 Awesome Goth Web Radio Stations. They did such a fabulous job that I'm going to first and foremost send you over to their list at darklinksblog.blogspot.com.

If you're looking for vampire music specifically, check out the radio show I was involved with in July: Turkey's "Children of the Night," hosted by Alylin Unal. She posts her playlists at karanligincocuklari.blogspot.com, and you can listen to the podcast of her show live on Sundays 7:00 PM Eastern/4:00 PM Pacific at acikradyo.com. The show is in Turkish, but the songs are typically in English.

For vampire talk radio, head to The VRO, part of the Blog Talk Radio network of online radio. On September 1 they'll be talking to Corey Feldman and Jamison Newlander about Lost Boys: The Thirst. They also host shows such as True Blood Talk, Twilight Diaries, Moonlight Radio, Blood Bats & Books, and The Reel Story. Listen at TheVRO.com.

If you have a favorite vampire radio show or station you'd like to share, please leave a note and a link in the comments section.

Winner found for MY VLADISLAUS DRACULA

Congratulations to Carmen for being the first to provide seven correct answers for Teresa L. Jones's My Vladislaus Dracula contest.  Teresa appreciates everyone who worked so hard to enter.

If you missed out on Teresa's guest blog about setting the record straight for Vlad Dracula, head to her July 27 post right here at Suburban Vampire.

Winner still needed for MY VLADISLAUS DRACULA contest

Recently, author Teresa L. Jones guest blogged about her novel, My Vladislaus Dracula, and offered a free copy of the book to whomever could first answer a series of questions correctly. There have been many responses, but no one has yet won. So far, most people have had trouble with question 5.

Here's a humongous hint: the answers to Teresa's Vlad Dracula questions appear on her MySpace page. I'll post the contest again and announce when Teresa has found a winner.

Teresa L. Jones's My Vladislaus Dracula contest:

Teresa has offered a free copy of My Vladislaus Dracula to the first person who can answer the following Vlad Dracula questions. Please send the seven answers directly to the author at myvladislausdracula at yahoo.com. Teresa says she's happy to ship overseas, so you don't need to be a U.S. resident to enter.

1) According to Niccolo of Modrussa, what was the color of Vlad Dracula’s eyes?

2)Besides Vladislav II and John Hunyadi, what group of greedy landowners were also responsible to help torture and kill Vlad’s father and his older brother, Mircea?

3) In Romanian folklore, Vlad placed a golden cup by a fountain and told everyone they could drink from it, but no one should steal it. No one stole it during Vlad’s entire six-year reign. Where was this cup placed?

4) Being the hottest night on record in June 1462.Vlad disguised himself as a Turk and bravely entered the Ottoman's encampment. After reaching the center of the Ottoman forces looking for the Sultan's tent, he then gave the word for the rest of his forces to attack. Vlad fought courageously from sundown (June 17) till sun up the next day (June 18). What was this daring battle named?

5) There were three documents that were forged to incriminate Vlad Dracula in crimes and treachery. Most historians believe these forged documents were written by a German monk from the Black Church in Brasov. Mathias Corvinus also used these forged letters to arrest and imprison Vlad Dracula. What was the name of these forged letters?

6) After fighting in eight known battles against the Ottoman forces and against his own cousin, all of whom were trying to take over his lands (this all happened in a period of four months and Vlad and his army covered over 1000 miles on horseback), Vlad was then surrounded at Poienari Castle by the Ottoman forces led by his own brother, Radu. Vlad's concubine (many stories say he was married, but there are too many documents that say he was not married to this woman) killed herself by jumping out the window and into the Arges river below. Then, if that wasn't enough, Vlad's son fell off his horse somewhere in the dark, mountainous forest during their escape. In one day, Vlad lost his kingdom, the mother of his child, and now thought his son was dead. This child was later found by local villagers near the village of Arefu and years later taken to Pest to be reunited with Vlad. What was this son's name?

7) Vlad was imprisoned twice in his short life. The first was as a young boy from the age of 11 to the age of about 17 at the Turkish prison in Egrigoz/Andrianople. The second imprisonment has had many historians arguing how long Vlad Dracula was actually imprisoned. But it lasted @ twelve years. Vlad was imprisoned for the second time in his life by Mathias Corvinus, the Hungarian king. (Mathias used those falsified documents in question 5 to arrest Vlad.) What place was Vlad Dracula imprisoned for the second time in his life? (HINT: Mathias sometimes moved Vlad during the winters, but I am looking for the name of the summer palace he was held at.)

Teresa L. Jones at MySpace
Teresa L. Jones at FiledBy
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