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Archive for vampires – Page 2

interview with a vampire

By Heidi Betts · Comments (16)
Tuesday, March 22nd, 2011
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Last month, I posted “A Fun Little Guessing Game” about the Top Secret Project I’d been working on connected to the release of my second sexy, funny vampire romance from Brava Books, MUST LOVE VAMPIRES.  I’m not quite ready to reveal the details of that project yet (although I did award a prize over at my personal blog, WIPs and Chains, to the reader with the best guess of what that project might be) but will hopefully be able to do that soon.  And hopefully you’ll love it as much as I do! :mrgreen:

PhotobucketIn the meantime, I’m up to no good—again! —with another semi-Top Secret Project related to MUST LOVE VAMPIRES.  (I swear, I feel like a spy, working stealthily behind the scenes to bring you extra little bits of hot & sexy vampire goodness. )

This time, though, I could really use your help.

What questions would you ask if you had the chance to sit down with an honest-to-Dracula vampire & quiz him about his existence?

Would you want to know how he’d been turned…& how he turns others?

What it feels like to be immortal?  Or to drink blood to survive?

How he’s managed to blend in with mortal society for so long without his deep, dark secrets being discovered?

The sky’s the limit, so let me know what YOU most want to know about the secret lives of vampires.  Post as many questions as you can think of that you might pose if you were interviewing a vampire.  If I get enough good ones, I might just end up using them as part of my second Top Secret MUST LOVE VAMPIRES Project, & all those burning questions we’ve been dying (ha!) to ask our sexy, undead counterparts may finally be answered.

 

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CLAIMED has a Cover!

By Rebecca Zanetti · Comments (9)
Friday, March 18th, 2011
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Megan sent me the cover for CLAIMED yesterday. Waiting for a new cover is a lot like staring at that unopened present…you want to rip open the wrapping so badly, but what if it’s slipper socks?  Or a skillet when you wanted a laptop? 

I’m so happy to say that… I LOVE the cover!   It’s steamy, sexy and oh man, I would pick up the book and read the back.  So if I’d pick it up, hopefully a lot of readers will as well.  Claimed will be released in print on October 25, 2011 and e-format on November 1, 2011.

This is Book 2 in the Dark Protector Series and it features Dage, the King of the Realm, and Emma, a fiesty scientist.  You know, now that I think about it, Emma isn’t just fiesty.  She’s brilliant.  More than smart enough to figure out the most powerful vampire in existence and then turn him on his ear.  In fact, she’s insightful, which is even more dangerous to the king than her intelligence.

Don’t get me wrong.  Dage is tough–a true Alpha.  He’s a soldier and a diplomat…who has been waiting centuries to meet his mate.  I have an excerpt of CLAIMED on my website if you’d like a peek.  I hope you enjoy it!

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FATED has Launched!

By Rebecca Zanetti · Comments (12)
Friday, March 4th, 2011
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So, FATED was released on February 22nd. My first book. And yes, I did hurry down to our local bookstore and take pictures. We had a wonderful launching party at a very cool specialty wine and food store…I signed books for three solid hours.

A big thank you goes out to everyone who made it to the party. I think that the venue was really nice. A winemaker came and gave out samples…and sold about eight cases for the night. People hung out and visited, making the evening relaxed and a lot of fun. This was my first book signing, so I don’t know if this is normal, but people bought two or three books each…to send to family and friends. I learned a lot of new ways to spell names!

I also wanted to send a big ‘thank you’ to my friends and supporters on the internet…I really appreciate all the blog comments and best wishes throughout the last year. In addition, I wanted to thank my awesome editor, Megan Records, and her pals at Kensington for not only buying my book, but for being just wonderful through the whole process.

As a debut author, you just don’t know what to expect–and you hear some horror stories from the internet. But my experience couldn’t have been better. I wouldn’t change one thing. Cheers. :)

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It’s Howling Time

By Cynthia Eden · Comments (20)
Wednesday, February 23rd, 2011
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Or, rather, it will be…when my paranormal romance NEVER CRY WOLF releases on June 28, 2011. :-)

I’m very excited about my next Kensington Brava release. I love writing about wolf heroes. Wolf shifters are tough, smart, and very, very dangerous. With a wolf shifter, wildness lurks just beneath the surface. Control is an illusion.

What can I say? I think wolves are hot.

The very first book that I sold to Kensington Brava (HOTTER AFTER MIDNIGHT) featured a wolf shifter hero. Since then, I’ve had the pleasure of writing about vampires, a dragon shifter, demons, and, yes, once even a guy that I considered a paranormal boogeyman. I’ve had a great time exploring paranormal characters (and I’ll continue exploring later in 2011 when the first book in my Fallen Angel series, ANGEL OF DARKNESS releases!).

For those of you who read IMMORTAL DANGER, the hero of NEVER CRY WOLF was a secondary character in that book. Lucas Simone was a wolf with a serious attitude in IMMORTAL DANGER. In NEVER CRY WOLF, the attitude is still there. This time, the pack alpha isn’t fighting to protect his brother; instead, he’s fighting to protect a woman with dark and very dangerous secrets. Secrets that others would kill to keep.

Since I’m chatting about shifters, I’d like to know…do you have a favorite shifter? Wolves and dragons are at the top of my list (followed closely by jaguars). Or, is there a shifter you’d prefer to never, *ever* read about in a book? Share!

Thanks for checking out my post!

Cynthia Eden
www.cynthiaeden.com
DEADLY HEAT–Available 1/25/11 from Grand Central (Forever)
DEADLY LIES–Available 2/22/11 from Grand Central (Forever)

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Win a signed copy of FATED!

By Rebecca Zanetti · Comments (58)
Friday, February 4th, 2011
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UPDATE:  Congratulations to Brinda B for winning the copy of FATED.  I’ll send it right out!

My debut book releases this month. :)   Well, technically FATED releases on March 1st, but it will be available on February 22nd.  My magnificent editor, Megan Records, sent me some promo copies…and I’d love to give one away today.

Here’s the back cover blurb: 

MARRY ME

Cara Paulsen does not give up easily.  A scientist and a single mother, she’s used to doing whatever it takes to protect her daughter.  But “Whatever it takes” has never before included a shotgun wedding to a dangerous stranger with an attitude problem…

OR ELSE

Sure, the mysterious Talen says that he’s there to protect Cara and her daughter.  He also says that he’s a three-hundred-year-old vampire.  Of course, the way he touches her, Cara might actually believe he’s had that long to practice…

The interaction between these two very stubborn people makes for some steamy situations.  Here’s an excerpt of FATED: 

Slowly, Talen pushed to his feet and strolled across the conference room.

Cara took a step back, her breath hitching.

Smiling, he leaned against the closed door. 

She’d need to go through him to get out.  God, he was huge.  Even if she had known how to fight, she doubted she’d stand a chance when faced with such size and obvious strength.  A feminine fear and a flutter she refused to identify whispered through her, and her spine straightened with a sharp snap.

“I won’t hurt you.” His voice lowered, deepening to a tone that increased her flutter.  He relaxed his stance against the door, his muscled arms crossing.  “I won’t let anyone harm either of you.  Ever.”

Okay.  Fine.  He was too big for her to fight, but she did have a brain.  “Listen, Talen,” she kept her voice soft, soothing.  “It’s great your dating pool just opened up and all, but I’m not looking for—”

A dimple winked in his cheek, stopping her words.  She fought to keep her tone mild.  “Am I amusing you?”  Her chin lifted.

“Yes.” 

“Why?”  She could even feel his amusement in the air, damn it.

“Your people.  I’ve never understood why you ignore fate.  She has her own plans.”

“Fate?”  He was throwing destiny at her?  Come on.

He nodded. “Fate.” 

“Wow.  That’s poetic, Talen.”  Sarcasm replaced the softness.  “But there’s no way fate is involved here.”

“You’re wrong.”

“Prove it.”

“Okay.”  He lifted his right hand, palm out.  A crest, an intricate one, spread across his calloused skin.  Thick and black, a webbing of arcs together formed a knot with what might be an elaborate ‘K’ in the middle.

“A tattoo?” She quirked an eyebrow, wondered if he had other tats on that magnificent body.

“No.  A brand of sorts.  It appeared earlier after I took your arm.”

“A brand?”  She snorted.  “Bullshit.”

Talen shrugged.  “It’s true, Cara.  The Mark usually doesn’t appear until the mating act, but there are exceptions.”  Golden eyes pinned her.  “Our bond must be strong.”

“No.”

Talen lifted a shoulder.

Her mind rebelled at the physical evidence before her eyes.  “I said, no.  I choose to ignore your fate.”  How could the mark have appeared?  Conviction sat easily upon his face and her stomach rolled at the question of how far he’d go to follow his fate. 

“That is your choice,” he agreed.

“Damn straight.”  She searched his face for a trick, determination tightening her own jaw.  A raised eyebrow met her glare.  “But you don’t know anything about me.  I could be married.”

“You’re not.”

“How do you know?”

He shrugged.  “My brother Dage shot your file to my smart phone.”

Smart phone?  Vampires used smart phones?  Come on.  “Where were you?”  Damn her curiosity.

“In a meeting with my other brother, Conn.”

Geez.  Sounded like a family oriented creature of the night.  Or day.  Or whatever.  She tried another tack.  “Besides, I have a date tonight.”

She wasn’t sure what her goal was, but she didn’t reach it.  A genuine smile played across his lips, and he uncrossed his arms.  “You’re not going to make it.”

I’d love to give away a copy of FATED to one commenter.  I’ll draw a name in a few days.  So, do you believe in fate?

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The Dark Protectors

By Rebecca Zanetti · Comments (1)
Friday, January 7th, 2011
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So, Kensington will release FATED in exactly 46 days on February 22nd.  Yes, I’m counting down.  I’ll write about the launching party and release fun in my February blog.  I’ve spent most of my Brava blogging time talking about writing and introducing myself, so today I thought I’d talk about The Dark Protectors. 

Book one is FATED and is about Talen Kayrs, a vampire prince and strategic leader of the Realm, and Cara Paulsen, an empath and plant physiologist.  They meet and mate rather quickly…and Talen’s idea of a wedding night is more like a sexual taming.  Of course, then the bad guys let loose a virus to attack vampire mates…

CLAIMED is book two in the series, and it features Dage Kayrs, the King of the Realm, and Cara’s sister, Emma Paulsen, a brilliant geneticist.  Dage is quite possibly the most powerful Being in existence, yet human Emma is more than a match for him.  Stubborn and smart, she understands the king better than he understands himself.

HUNTED is book three in the series, where Conn Kayrs ventures to Ireland to reclaim his mate, Moira, who’s a hundred year old witch.  Talk about two fighters with incredible power.  Throw in a series of villains after the two, and they either need to work together or just let the world blow up.  It’s a toss up for awhile.  :)

So, those are the first three books in the Dark Protector Series.  I’m hoping that I’ll have a giveaway next month…until then, everyone have a very Happy New Year.  I thought about doing a blog about resolutions, but wasn’t sure what to say.  One of my resolutions is to get healthy and in shape!  Yeah, it’s a cliché, but I am still determined this year.  What is one of your resolutions?

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A Year After The Call…

By Rebecca Zanetti · Comments (25)
Friday, December 3rd, 2010
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So, I was wracking my brain on what to write for my blog entry today, and it occurred to me that my one year anniversary is coming up from getting “The Call.”  It was a snowy December Wednesday when the wonderful Megan Records called with a three book offer from Kensington.  I had just walked in the door and was so surprised I dropped the groceries.  The tomatoes splatted on the floor.  I shoved the dogs outside so they wouldn’t eat the tomatoes.  The dogs promptly went crazy, barking at our neighbor who was shoveling off his roof.

But I thought I kept my cool.  Until Megan said, “Ah, do you need to sit down?  I had a lady faint once…”  (I still have this crazy thought that she pictures me in the middle of nowhere surrounded by loud noises and barking, crazy dogs.  She needs to visit the Pacific Northwest sometime to see how beautiful and peaceful it actually is here.)  :)

So I sat, my mind spinning.  It’s been an amazing year.  I went from uncontracted and unagented to having a three book contract, a wonderful agent and a terrific editor.  I sent my page proofs back to New York about a month ago, so it took 10-11 months from the offer until my writing/editing job was finished with the first book.  Of course, now there’s PR, which I’m enjoying quite a bit.  FATED will be released on February 22, 2011.

I wasn’t sure about submitting a book about vampires, since there seems to be a few out there.  But FATED is a bit different in that vampires are born, not made, they like the sun and are being threatened by a biological weapon in the form of a virus.  Science plays a key part and genetics, quantum physics and string theory come into play.  (Just a little bit).  There’s love, romance and a whole lot of steam.  In fact, my first review ever was just posted, and it’s a doozie. 

So, where do you want to be in a year?

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would you marry a vampire?

By Heidi Betts · Comments (13)
Tuesday, October 26th, 2010
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Halloween is, without a doubt, my very favorite holiday.  Followed as a close second by Christmas & then my birthday.  (My birthday falls on Veteran’s Day, so, yes, it is actually national holiday. :mrgreen: )  I go absolutely ga-ga over the movies, the books, the decorations…most years I even dress up whether I’m planning to leave the house or not. :twisted:

And since I’m now writing hot & sexy vampire romance, I seem to be even more deeply enamored of the dark & spooky, fun & fangy.

Lately, I’ve been giving a lot of thought to whether or not I would make a good Bride of Dracula.  Or in the case of THE BITE BEFORE CHRISTMAS, a good Bride of Connor/Sean/Ian.  (All three would probably be pushing it, but they’re really sexy, & since the laws of immortality are different from ours, I might be willing to give it a shot. ;-) )

So here is my Pros/Cons list…

Top 5 Reasons I WOULD Make a Good Vampire Bride

5. I love staying up all night & sleeping all day!

4. Living forever means I’d finally have time to catch up on all of my reading & TV/movies.

3. I’m not squeamish…about most things, anyway.

2. I look good in black.

1. Spending eternity with a perpetually hot husband…oh, yeah.

Top 5 Reasons I Probably WOULDN’T Make a Very Good Vampire Bride

5. I’m exceptionally fond of garlic.

4. I’m moderately fond of mirrors.

3. I’d have to drink blood to survive. (Yuck, yuck, pooey. Unless it tasted like…I don’t know…Diet Cherry Coke.)

2. I’d never be able to take family photos. Or I could, but they  might turn out curiously blank.

1. Do cats & vampires get along?

Okay, your turn—what qualities would & wouldn’t make you a good vampire bride?

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The Mystery of October

By Rebecca Zanetti · Comments (15)
Friday, October 1st, 2010
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October is here! I think the month is especially fun for those of us who write paranormals. At least where I live in the Pacific Northwest, October is the month of change, the month of flux. Summer is GONE. Winter has yet to appear. Leaves die and scatter with that cool creepy sound down the street. The moon seems bigger and has more to say. The days get shorter and the nights get longer…and the creatures come out to play.

Sure there’s Halloween, when we pretend to be someone we’re not. Superheroes, villains, femme fatales – it’s the one night you can wear something you’d NEVER wear to the next PTA meeting. But for one night…I get to be wonder woman. Bracelets and all.

Sure, November will be here before we know it. Snow will fall and nature will take a big breath in relief. Because the mystery of October disappears until the following year. But for now, the air is full of expectation and it’s a fabulous time to write. Anything seems not only possible but probable. So those of you who are writers, sit on down and create something wild. For those of you readers, find a good book, sit by a roaring fire and…lock your doors. Until November.

So, what’s your favorite part about October?

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The Bite Before Christmas is HERE!!!

By Heidi Betts · Comments (14)
Tuesday, September 28th, 2010
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How fortunate that the day for me to blog here at Brava Authors also happens to be release day for my very first Brava title, THE BITE BEFORE CHRISTMAS!  Yippee! Feestje Pictures, Images and Photos

If I haven’t bent your ear quite enough yet about this sexy, funny holiday vampire collection—& my Brava debut!—you can learn all you need to know at my website: http://heidibetts.com/ Back cover blurb, excerpt, where to buy…everything.

And in honor of this story I am SO very excited about, I have put together one of the most fun giveaways I think I’ve ever done.  I call it the “Fang-Tastic Vampire Swag Bag Giveaway,” & it’s exactly what it sounds like—a collection of fabulous vampire swag.

But just because I’m calling this a giveaway doesn’t mean I’m actually going to just give this stuff away.  Nope, I’m gonna make you work for it. :twisted:   You see, because of a major mess-up over the summer, my entire collection of addresses for my mailing list has been lost & I need to build it back up again. So in order to enter, you must sign up for my newsletter, even if you’re a long-time reader & think you should already be subscribed. A winner will be drawn from all the new addresses collected.

So here’s all the information you need to know about this fun contest…& please spread the word—the more the merrier, & there’s plenty of time to enter!

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CONTENTS

star Pictures, Images and Photos Demonia patent coffin tote (coolest thing ever—sorry, just sayin’ )

star Pictures, Images and Photos bloody fangs necklace (to show the world you don’t mind being bitten…by the right tall, dark, and fang-some)

star Pictures, Images and Photos set of sexy red handcuffs (courtesy of Mistress Heidi, of course, but strong enough to keep your vampire lover in line)

star Pictures, Images and Photos rubber Devil Ducky (the unofficial mascot of The Dungeon & Mistress Heidi’s favorite pet)

star Pictures, Images and Photos bat Pez dispenser (with Pez candy, of course; you need to keep your strength up when you’re dating the undead)

star Pictures, Images and Photos Cold-Blooded ice cube tray (this makes the neatest fang ice cubes for your Bloody Mary!)

star Pictures, Images and Photos Vampire Brew (blood red hot chocolate (a delight for humans & vampires alike—yum!)

star Pictures, Images and Photos Death Mints (for that pesky morning “blood breath” )

star Pictures, Images and Photos a vampire fang whistle (this could used as either a rape whistle if you’re attacked by a bloodthirsty vampire…or to call one, if you’re in the mood for a little fang-alicious fun)

star Pictures, Images and Photos other (the Halloween season is upon us, after all, & I fully intend to collect even more vamp-tastic goodies to include; updates as they become available)

RULES

star Pictures, Images and Photos To enter, you must sign up for my Newsletter. (And remain subscribed, of course.) Please use this form to join the mailing list: http://heidibetts.com/newsletter/ (Note: Even if you think you may already be signed up, please sign up again…a major catastrophe has wiped out all previous subscriptions.)

star Pictures, Images and Photos Contest will run until All Hallow’s Eve…or October 30, 2010 for the unenlightened.  Winner to be announced on my WIPs and Chains blog.

star Pictures, Images and Photos U.S. residents only, please.  (For the prize only, because of the high cost of overseas postage rates.  But everyone is welcome to sign up for my Newsletter!)

star Pictures, Images and Photos If the winner doesn’t contact me with her mailing information within seven (7) days, another name will be drawn & a new winner announced.

Good luck! Bat Vampire Dracula Coffin Candle Dancing smiley smilie smileys smilies icon icons emoticon emoticons animated animation animations gif gifs Happy Halloween Pictures, Images and Photos

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