Here are three new and upcoming releases that will please fans of comics, parodies, classic literature, and—of course—vampires.
The LaMorte Sisters Illustrated by Christine Larsen (Shrek/Kung Fu Panda) and written by Tony Trov and Johnny Zito (Moon Girl/Black D.O.G.S. of Mars)
The first three issues of the vampire comic LaMorte Sisters are now available from Comixology and DC Comic, and the first issue is free! Avaliable on the web, iPhone/Pad, and Droid.
While on a family trip, Maddie and her parents were savagely attacked by a crazed man. Maddie barely survives but finds herself suddenly at the LaMorte Home for Lost Girls, a special place that helps young ladies with her peculiar condition, vampirism.
Written by Maia Kinney-Petrucha and Stefan Petrucha and illustrated by Rick Parker
Having sliced Harry Potty, novelist Stefan Petrucha joins his daughter, Maia Kinney-Petrucha, to cut up the best-selling series starring love-sick vampires and jealous werewolves!
Artist extraordinare Rick Parker again lends his considerable dicing talents in this unauthorized parody of the blockbuster book and movie series!
For fans sick of glittery vampires and wonky werewolves, here's the hilarious antidote!
Edited by Robert Eighteen-Bisang and Richard Dalby
For the first time in one volume, vampire experts Richard Dalby and Robert Eighteen-Bisang have gathered a trove of dark fantasy stories from 1679 through 1909. Long lost to the public in the pages of defunct newspapers, out-of-print magazines, and dusty nineteenth-century anthologies, the thrilling tales in Vintage Vampire Stories ooze with sinister characters in malevolent worlds.
From authors such as Mary Elizabeth Braddon, William H.G. Kingston, Pu Songling, Dick Donovan, and many others, come mysteries of darkness and shadow, of bloodthirsty beauties, ominous hooded figures, rambling estates haunted by life-sucking demons, and eerie inhuman happenings that are sure to make your hair stand on end.
DJ Raven wants to know. She hosts The Dead Hour, a weekly radio program devoted to the shadows just beyond the streetlight's reach, the bumps you hear as you drift off to sleep, the nightmares that wake you up in a cold sweat. She brings these to you, one horrifying tale at a time.
The Dead Hour is a new webseries from the creators of the indie horror film The Wretched. In the tradition of The Twilight Zone,The Outer Limits, and Tales from the Crypt, The Dead Hour is an anthology series that will bring new original webisodes from the horror, fantasy, thriller, slasher, and sci-fi genres to the web each week.
Joining me today is Jae Lynne Davies, author of Mythic, a brand-new vampire release from Tease Publishing. Jae is offering some fantastic giveaways, so be sure to check out the contest details following her interview.
Mythic Synopsis:
Centuries after the death of her family, human/vampire hybrid, Gianna Marino is determined to shed the blood of the vampire responsible.
Disguising herself as a human wanting to be turned, she infiltrates the enemy’s coven with the hope of bending him to her will and destroying him from the inside.
But when a handsome stranger enters the scene and is lured into their seductive game that results in a heated love triangle, she discovers a secret that blurs the lines between good and evil, forever changing the course of her existence, and destiny will soon determine on which side she’ll stand.
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SUBURBAN VAMPIRE: Welcome, Jae! Tell us about your central character, human/vampire hybrid Gianna Marino.
JAE LYNNE DAVIES: Thanks, I’m so glad to be here!
So, you want to know about Gianna, eh? I can tell you she’s a kickass heroine with one hell of a problem. Possessing both vampire and human DNA makes her unique in the world, but she has no real sense of belonging. She remains in the shadows, blending in with humans—her more dominant physical trait, because her species was persecuted. If vampires learned of her existence, she’d be executed simply because her blood is tainted with humanity. And if humans discovered her vampire DNA, mass hysteria would ensue.
As a result of her birth, her family was murdered. She vowed vengeance and spent the last two hundred years hunting their killer. She found him. But making him pay for everything he’d taken from her sounded simple.
SV: How would you describe Mythic's vampires? Are they traditional bloodsuckers? A modern interpretation? A little of both?
JLD: I’d definitely say they’re a little of both. My vampires are immortal, irresistible, lack a heartbeat, and require the consumption of blood for sustenance. But, like humans, not all of my vampires are alike. While they all cast a reflection, not all have the traditional weaknesses or enhanced abilities beyond the trademark vampire allure and enhanced physical strength. For example, some of them can walk in sunlight, while others have a deadly allergic reaction.
SV: When and how did you first become a vampire fan?
JLD: Would you believe I remember the exact moment? I was eight years old, at a slumber party, and watched The Lost Boys. I had such a fascination with Kiefer Sutherland’s character, David. That’s when it all began.
SV: Who are your writing influences?
JLD: I have several, and for different reasons. Sherrilyn Kenyon is at the top of my list with her talent for creating an elaborate world so believable, you can envision yourself bumping into her characters on the street.
Joey W. Hill is another influence. It’s a rare occasion when I’m left breathless after reading a scene. Joey has such a unique way with words that is nothing short of pure magic. Her writing style constantly leaves me feeling as though I was standing in the room with her characters, watching the scene unfold and experiencing a full range of emotions. I feel with each novel she can do no wrong and her vision is simply awe inspiring.
Add Larissa Ione to the mix. Her Demonica series was my first trip outside the vampire species to wander into the world of Seminus demons. Her world building is brilliant and her characters are unforgettable. *gulp*
Sharon Page has done a phenomenal job with her blood novels, blending regency romance with the paranormal genres. While I don’t necessarily read regency romance, add vampires, conflict, and a bit of bondage? Sold! She manages to capture attention with the turn of each page.
SV: You wrote in your website's bio, "I’ve always had an affinity for writing of any kind. However, it wasn’t until I lost my beloved grandfather and found myself writing a heartfelt eulogy that my passion awakened." Did you dabble in any fiction writing before that moment?
JLD: Yes, I had dabbled lightly in fiction writing during my early high school years. At first, I wrote screenplays simply because I enjoyed writing. Then, I took creative writing courses thoughout my high school and college careers and would submit the most elaborate assignments. When a professor asked for a ten page original short story, I submitted a notebook.
SV: In addition to writing, you work in the Real Estate and Mortgage industries. Do you feel your experience in those fields helps you with the promotional side of life as an author?
JLD: Absolutely. I feel that my experience working in equally competitive industries led me to some successful pitch sessions with editors and publishers. I think it also aided in my selecting of original promotional products that both current and potential readers will want and remember.
SV: Can you tell us any tidbits about your next book in the Mythic Series, Blood Moon?
JLD: Blood Moon is the story of Dante—a secondary character in my current novel, Mythic.
When word is received of suspicious vampire activity, Gianna Marino heads to Greece, where she discovers Dante—Mattias Vitale’s recently resigned second in command, and a dangerous prophecy.
For Dante Diakos is the last of a pure immortal bloodline—a descendent of the gods, and he intends to invoke the power of the entire pantheon on the eve of the Blood Moon, which occurs once every millennium. If he attains the legendary abilities, he’ll be the most powerful being on earth, and plans for her to rule by his side.
SV: Where can readers learn more about you and Mythic on the web?
JLD: Readers can find me at a variety of locations including:
SV: Thanks so much for joining me, Jae. Best wishes to you and your books.
JLD: Thanks so much for having me! I had a wonderful time and I’ll be here to reply to comments.
CONTEST RULES:
Jae Lynne Davies has generously offered to give away an ebook copy of Mythic to one winner and a promo packet to another winner. To enter, head to the comments section of this post and answer the following question:
JAE LYNNE DAVIES REMEMBERS THE EXACT MOMENT SHE BECAME A VAMPIRE FAN, THANKS TO KIEFER SUTHERLAND'S DAVID FROM THE LOST BOYS. WHEN DID YOU BECOME A VAMPIRE FAN?
I'll pull two random names from the entries on Monday, April 4, 2011, after 8:00 AM PDT.
I'm still on a reduced blogging schedule this week, as I mentioned yesterday, but I'm quickly popping online to share the third episode of Blood and Bone China, my new vampire addiction:
A quick disclaimer before I proceed: I don't typically review movies and books due to time constraints. The film I'm about to review piqued my interest because of its extreme uniqueness, so I made an exception to the rule.
I had the pleasure of viewing Justin Blair and Matthew Vincent's documentary Across the Forest: Tales from Transylvania, a rare look at the remaining supernatural beliefs of Romanian villagers. The film contains no dramatic reenactments or special effects. Instead, the filmmakers let aging Romanians sit and speak about first- or second-hand experiences with creatures of legend, such as the vampiric strigoi, werewolves, corpse brides and grooms, village witches, and even dwarfs. Some of the villagers smile and laugh when spinning their tales; others are deadly serious and swear their experiences genuinely occurred. One woman even cries.
The soundtrack is sparse, and oftentimes the only music accompanying scenes of the Romanian countryside are the haunting strains of a peasant woman's song. The local Transylvanians never mention the word Dracula. Nightmarish drawings highlight the villagers' accounts of the supernatural, but the most chilling aspect of the documentary is the men and women's wholehearted belief in creatures of the night. It's easy to forget these are individuals in modern-day Romania, not people from centuries past. One woman describes how she almost lost her horses to a corpse raised by the devil, so she and her cousin secretively drove a nail through the dead woman's heart to chase the evil away. Another woman recounts her run-ins with the Hag of Tuesday Night, who turns vengeful and deadly when people work on Tuesdays.
Occasionally, young relatives of the elderly interviewees wander by in the background. The Romanian youth wear jeans and athletic clothing, even though the storytellers don more traditional garb like scarves and long skirts. You can see the modern world closing in around old-world Europe, and one has to wonder if these deep-rooted tales will disappear along with the older generations. Thankfully, Justin Blair and Matthew Vincent have captured the dying embers of these ancient legends and preserved them in seventy-nine minutes of unforgettable film.
The makers of Vampirism Bites are raising money for a second season of the online web series. Details about the campaign are located at www.indiegogo.com.
Here's a perk that they're currently offering:
At the $120 donation level, you'll get a Twitter/Facebook shoutout and something you can sink your teeth into:
A CUSTOM-made set of dental acrylic vampire fang veneers from Customfangs.co.uk!
-Donors will get a kit in the mail from Customfangs with instructions on how to make a mold of their teeth and in 6-8 weeks will get a custom set of vampire fangs that fit exactly to their teeth and can last for years of events, occasions, and fun!
There's a video on vampirismbites.com in the Updates section that we did when our star Natalie Baxter had hers made for the show's First Season to show people how they're made.
There are only 5 of these opportunities available.
I hope you have time to sneak in some vampire entertainment in your cubicle today, because I have a few items to share.
First, Chapters 1 & 2 of Blood and Bone China, the brand-new online vampire series set in Victorian England, are now available. If 19th-century vampires sound too stuffy for you, perhaps the rockin' opening credits will persuade you to give this gorgeously shot, highly entertaining series a chance:
Vampires aren't just haunting books, movies, and online series these days: they're now selling hair care products. Check out director Max Isaacson's amusing commercial for Rusk DeepShine Oil. (Warning: there is one scene of vampire-destroying violence at the end.)
Musician and college history professor David Leinweber's love of the 1960s gothic soap opera, Dark Shadows, has translated into the brand-new album Songs from the Dark Shadows: A Gothic Musical. Before Tim Burton and Johnny Depp bring their vision of Dark Shadows to the big screen, check out Leinweber's interpretation of the dark, romantic world of Collinwood Estate and the vampires, witches, and other supernatural creatures within.
The first Dark Shadows song Leinweber wrote was "Daphne," based on Kate Jackson's character Daphne Harridge. Due to the positive response he received playing the song live with a friend, he posted the performance on YouTube (see below) and went on to create the rest of the album, which he says he "designed as a stand-alone collection of songs, or as a musical or opera for a theatrical setting."
To sample and buy Songs from the Dark Shadows, head to cdbaby.com, and to learn more about David Leinweber and his music, visit davidleinweber.com.
Leinweber will be performing live this Friday, March 11, at Amici in Covington, GA.
"The songwriting is nuanced and mature, the musicianship is great, and vocalist David Leinweber has a highly pleasant voice to listen to."
D. MacDowell Blue is a busy man. He runs the blog Night-Tinted Glasses, he's busy at work creating a new vampire web series called End Of The Line, and he's writing his first full-length novel, a retelling of the nineteenth-century "penny dreadful" Varney the Vampyre. Furthermore, he's just released The Annotated Carmilla, and I've grabbed him for a chat about this brand-new version of Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu's classic vampire novel.
Synopsis of The Annotated Carmilla:
Growing up in the lonely forests and valleys of Styria, Laura had only her father and two governesses for company. Until she came. Carmilla. Beautiful and fragile. Kind and friendly. As mysterious as she was devoted. But also ... hungry.
For the first time since it was published in 1872, here is a complete guide to Le Fanu's classic vampire tale. Over four hundred footnotes give detailed answers to dozens and dozens of questions. Where is Styria? When is this story taking place? What is an awl? An escrutcheon? A hippogriff? Why did Carmilla seek out Laura? Also, unanswered questions and intriguing possibilities are charted out, one by one.
SUBURBAN VAMPIRE: Do you remember when you read Carmilla for the first time? Was it love at first sight?
D. MACDOWELL BLUE: I was about thirteen. Honestly, at first what I felt was some disappointment. The back cover described a plot that really wasn’t part of the story at all. Many years later I saw the film Crypt of the Vampire, one of the earliest film adaptations, and recognized the plot from what was on that back cover! On the other hand, what I did read in that long-lost copy of Le Fanu intrigued me almost at once. You know that old bit of show business advice? “Leave’em wanting more?” Carmilla did that for me. I felt then, as now, that the story as written gave only a glimpse of a much fuller story. Of course today we have an official-sounding reason for that—the unreliable narrator. Like Anne Rice’s Interview with the Vampire (or for that matter, Dracula), the story comes to us in the first person. And no one ever tells the whole truth, especially about themselves. But they leave hints. Oh yes.
SV: What elements of Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu's tale most intrigue you?
D.M.B.: The characters, specifically the narrator Laura and of course her guest/friend/victimizer Carmilla. Consider that the one was living a lie for what was probably two months, while the other seems a reticent person anyway. Laura’s relationship with her father, for example, comes across as what we’d call borderline dysfunctional. He’s an old man, not even middle aged, with a daughter of marrying age whom he’s raised with two governesses rather than a mother. Laura’s life, whether she realizes it or not, apparently has been extremely limited—and pretty clearly by her father, whom she evidently fears to some extent. Now she’s telling this tale, these extraordinary events, to someone (we don’t know who) for presumably someone else to read. One has to wonder at her own agendas, coupled with the question of how good a liar she might be. Carmilla herself meanwhile gives lots of mixed signals, especially in hindsight. Inevitably you speculate on what kind of relationship the two developed, amid what seems like hundreds of subtle hints. And at the heart of it, tragedy, no matter what your interpretation. The exact nature of the tragedy, however, remains in the eye of the beholder. Or the mind of the reader.
SV: You've assembled over four hundred footnotes for the novel. How did you first start compiling Carmilla facts?
D.M.B.: In my teens! The fact is, I’ve always been fascinated by vampires, by history, and by writing. Carmilla grabbed enough of my imagination that some details immediately set up red flags in my mind. Styria, for example, where the story takes place. Most folks probably haven’t a clue such a place exists. Yet back in the 1980s I had a temp job at JFK Airport in New York. One day I chatted with a nice middle-aged lady, just arrived from Europe, and asked where she came from. Her reply, “Gratz.” Immediately, I said, “Oh, the capital of Styria.” And her jaw dropped all the way to the floor! But I began researching in earnest not long after reading Leslie Klinger’s The New Annotated Dracula (one of the best Christmas presents ever).
SV: How long did it take you to create The Annotated Carmilla?
D.M.B.: I began assembling everything in Spring 2010. The book was published via Createspace in February 2011. Fortunately (for me, in terms of time), the book just isn’t that long. Only four hundred or so footnotes. Actually a lot of those footnotes ended up taking fairly ordinary items like swans and expanding the surface information with lesser-known facts—like the legend of Leda (Helen of Troy’s mother), the belief that black swans were mythical until a new species was found, and that swans were considered especially delicious.
SV: Carmilla was published in 1872, twenty-five year's before Dracula debuted. Why do you think Carmilla isn't as well known as Bram Stoker's classic vampire novel?
SV: What is you favorite piece of Carmilla trivia?
D.M.B.: That changes day to day! Right this second—and please forgive the indelicacy—I’m reminded of the scene where Carmilla seems to have vanished from her bedroom. Three doors in the room are described. One to the room itself, the second to balcony, and third to a dressing room. Given the size and grandeur of the house (really, a mansion built at first as a castle) wouldn’t one expect a fourth door? Yet there isn’t for the simple reason of the era. No bathrooms.
SV: Please tell us a little about the preface and introduction of your book.
D.M.B.: Ah! I’ve been online friends with Andy Boylan (aka Taliesin of the famous vampire blog) and really love his take on the genre. I thought he’d be a marvelous person to write about Carmilla in context of vampire fiction in general, not only because he’s eminently qualified, but he’s also known as an expert. He has street cred, as it were. Or undead cred. Happy to say he seemed very pleased to write it and did a bang-up job! But I also wanted something in-depth about Le Fanu himself. So, the man I contacted for advice was Leslie Klinger. He very kindly made some recommendations that didn’t directly pan out, but the folks he put me in contact with had some recommendations of their own. And so on. Eventually, David A. Sutton, who is both a genuine scholar as well as a horror author, agreed to write an introduction on Joseph Le Fanu. Made for fascinating reading, as well.
We may be seven months away from the Halloween season, but the arrival of March means the Vampires Masquerade Ball is coming soon. Here's the gorgeous flyer:
"Dancing is only one of the many entertainments the VMB offers. The venue is divided between two floors with captivating live performances and local DJs spinning gothic/industrial in the grand ballroom; while in the lower ballroom nearly 30 regional vendors will be selling their wares. Additionally, a lavish, professionally catered buffet of savory cheeses, meats, and baked goods awaits, as well as a delectable dessert selection and fountains of chocolate. The event photographer, Domestic Bliss Photography, will also be located in the lower ballroom.
Consider the Vampire’s Masquerade Ball an opportunity to dress in your finest evening, club or historic dress! Over the years the observed guest attire has included every genre from the gothic scene including old-school goth, steampunk, Edwardian, Victorian, Cyberpunk, all the way to black tie and regal ballgowns. To further clarify, the VMB being a formal event should not be confused with a “costume party” or re-enactment, and street clothes are not permitted. Guests are encouraged, but not required, to arrive masked. If you have any questions about dress code please email Lady Raven.
Please note that the Ball is reserved for guests twenty-one years of age or older. Bars in both the upper and lower ballrooms will be open and offering special cocktails for the evening as well as a full assortment of liquor."
The winner of novelist Linda Nightingale's giveaway of a Black Swan coffee mug, a fridge magnet, and an autographed cover flat is...
Nickie Asher
Congratulations, Nickie! Please send your snail mail address here by Tuesday, March 8, 2011, to claim your prize.
Thanks so much to Linda for stopping by Suburban Vampire to chat and for offering the giveaway. If you missed her guest post, you can find it here. You can also visit Linda on the web at www.lindanightingale.com.
, novelist Stefan Petrucha joins his daughter, Maia Kinney-Petrucha, to cut up the best-selling series starring love-sick vampires and jealous werewolves!
ooze with sinister characters in malevolent worlds.
. In the tradition of The Twilight Zone, The Outer Limits, and Tales from the Crypt, The Dead Hour is an anthology series that will bring new original webisodes from the horror, fantasy, thriller, slasher, and sci-fi genres to the web each week.
. I had such a fascination with Kiefer Sutherland’s character, David. That’s when it all began. 
, a rare look at the remaining supernatural beliefs of Romanian villagers. The film contains no dramatic reenactments or special effects. Instead, the filmmakers let aging Romanians sit and speak about first- or second-hand experiences with creatures of legend, such as the vampiric strigoi, werewolves, corpse brides and grooms, village witches, and even dwarfs. Some of the villagers smile and laugh when spinning their tales; others are deadly serious and swear their experiences genuinely occurred. One woman even cries.
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, one of the earliest film adaptations, and recognized the plot from what was on that back cover! On the other hand, what I did read in that long-lost copy of Le Fanu intrigued me almost at once. You know that old bit of show business advice? “Leave’em wanting more?” Carmilla did that for me. I felt then, as now, that the story as written gave only a glimpse of a much fuller story. Of course today we have an official-sounding reason for that—the unreliable narrator. Like Anne Rice’s Interview with the Vampire (or for that matter, Dracula), the story comes to us in the first person. And no one ever tells the whole truth, especially about themselves. But they leave hints. Oh yes. 
(one of the best Christmas presents ever). 
