Why Vampires Just Won’t Die

I fell in love with vampires through Buffy… or more specifically… Spike on Buffy. Wait… that sounded wrong. But really, that was a lot of the appeal. I mean they knocked down a building fighting and having sex. That’s pretty hot. Sorry, where was I?

Oh yeah. Vampires. Before watching Buffy, I never saw vampires as “sexy”. But then, suddenly I did. I got so obsessed with Buffy that I thought, “That’s what I really wish I could write, but everyone will think I’m trying to be like Anne Rice. Rice already did it.”

In hindsight this is pretty funny. I had no idea the vampire craze, far from being over, was just getting started. I even went out of my way “not” to write vampires at first because I didn’t want to be seen as jumping on a bandwagon. The soon-to-be-released second book of my series, Save My Soul, was written first.

It features an incubus that is trapped in a house by a 50-yr-old curse. My reasoning was that an incubus is “kind of” like a vampire but not the exact same thing so it would be different enough that people would just give the story a chance rather than think I was trying to hop on the vampire fad.

Then after I’d written Save My Soul, Larissa Ione came out with “Pleasure Unbound” which was about an incubus. And I was like: CRAP. Dammit! “People will think I’m copying her!”

To my extreme relief, upon reading the book, I found Larissa’s incubus stuff is very different from mine. (Though hers totally rock!) But then I watched Gilmore Girls and discovered Save My Soul has a “Buffy meets Gilmore Girls” feel to it. *head desk*

Once I fully understood that there were no new ideas, I settled down on the whole vampire issue. Which is good, because they’re probably here to stay.

I had been through a few rounds of edits for Save My Soul when I heard about a contest one of the big romance epublishers was running. They wanted novellas about werecats. This was how Kept, my first novella in Blood Lust (first book in my series) came about. I thought… “Werecats aren’t vampires! Yes!”

Though by this time I had chilled on vampires enough to introduce one, Anthony, as a side character in Kept. Anthony is the hero in the second novella and plays a much larger role in my expanding world.

I’ve finally lost the fear of writing vampires because vampires just won’t die. Like Dracula, you think you’ve killed them. But then they rise up out of the mist again. I think there are a few logical reasons for this.

Vampires are about all the things we desperately crave: immortality with eternal youth and health. Vampires help us confront our darker selves and our primal sexual urges. They help us make sense of an increasingly scary world where it’s sometimes nice to think about a silly non-threat like vampires or a zombie apocalypse, instead of all the crazy crap going on in the world today.

Vampires also speak to our need for connection. In most mythologies vampires can not only enthrall their victims and pets, but they can create a link or bond to someone through blood exchange. This connection shines a light on our desire to be protected and cared for. If a vampire has a blood link with you, he can find you anywhere and protect you from the big, bad world.

The vampire mythology is one of the most seductive mythologies around. The extent to which werewolves, demons, and other creatures capture our imagination seems to hinge on how well they meet the same needs vampires do.

So if you think you’re tired of vampires, maybe what you’re tired of isn’t vampires themselves, but the idea that they should still be a novelty or fad, instead of what they are: an enduring myth that some part of our psyche seems to need. Just as we’ll never tire of stories about humans, stories about vampires will never stop being written.

Now that I’ve gotten all blah blah on you, in gearing up for the release of Save My Soul, I’m doing a newsletter drive and contest from my blog.

The rules are simple. Send a blank email to newsletterdrive@gmail.com

You’ll be subscribed to my newsletter (which you can later unsub from if my writing isn’t right for you or you just don’t want the newsletter), get a free digital copy of Kept, and be entered to win 10 paranormal romance books (paperback). The winner gets to choose the books!

You can also enter the secondary contest where I’ll be drawing 10 winners to receive a signed print copy of Blood Lust, which is an anthology of my three novellas: Kept, Claimed, and Mated, OR a signed print copy of Save My Soul when it comes out.

For full contest details and rules, please visit my blog: http://zoewinters.wordpress.com (Post stickied to the top)

Hi everyone!

Today I'm introducing you to Stella and Audra Price — sisters who write together even though they are an ocean apart. I haven't met Audra, but I've spent time with Stella, and she's fabulous! She's been busy getting things together for the Authors After Dark event (which I would LOVE to attend, but I did manage to get a basket of goodies out for it,) so she hasn't had much time to promote her new release.

So here she is! Happy release day, Stella and Audra!!! (And don't forget to click on the link for their contest!)

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Just Released!

Book two in the American Satyr Series by Stella and Audra Price, To Collar and Keep!
A surrender to the unknown has never been sexier.

Olanis, the summer holiday is upon the Satyr clans once more and it is the time for Harlequin, prince of the Rummer clan, to claim his first and only female, the Grecian Satyr princess Arabella, sight unseen.

Unsure of what kind of woman his clan had brokered for him, he is both interested in the woman that would wear his collar, and nervous that she won’t meet his standards. His female has to rival him in all things, and his hopes of that coming true are slim and none.

Arabella craves two things, finishing her education, and being claimed by her Satyr. An anomaly in the Satyr world, Arabella was afforded opportunities other princesses weren’t. Now, in a foreign land she is given over to the Prince she was promised to, and she couldn’t be more nervous. What's a girl to do when you’re being gifted to a man you have never seen?

Harley is a commodity to the Rummer clan, one that his father plans to exploit regardless of his son’s wishes. When he gives Harley an ultimatum, Harley and Bella have two choices-agree to the terms or rebel.

When sparks fly and new alliances are forged in the Satyr ranks, both Harley and Bella have to decide what it is they want and what kind of future they wish to have. Only together will they succeed, if they can suffer the slings and arrows.

WARNING: This book contains a Satyr prince with unconventional ideas about his princess, a princess with a mind to rival Hawkings, a feral Satyr with a hidden agenda, F/F scenes, polyamory and lots of hot sex.

Naughty Sexy Satyrs! And theres a Contest too! Wanna a Satyr goodie pack? Check Stella and Audra’s bloggy for details!

*WHAT FANS ARE SAYING ABOUT THE AMERICAN SATYR SERIES:

Of Crimson and Collars is an extremely erotic and playful story that was a delight to read. I predict that I will be re-reading this one soon and believe you will be too. I will be waiting, impatiently, for my next visit with the American Satyrs. ~ Joyfully Reviewed

A Reviewer Top Pick! Stella and Audra Price work together to bring us a stunning story of domination, submission, demons, satyrs, water nymphs, trickery and lust…I would definitely read anything else they write as this was a most enjoyable read. ~Night Owl Reviews

They have created an erotic world of d/s which does not humiliate, a world where the innocence of the submissive is an engaging power. If you enjoy a book packed full of erotica then this is the book for you. I enjoyed it so much I went back and bought 3 more of there books from a different series. ~Loose Knickers and Window Lickers

This is a book I loved reading and didnt want it to finish so soon. This Satyr world is one I’m going to enjoy getting to know. ~Ramblings of a Book Bitch

YOU CAN BUY TODAY AT TOTAL E BOUND!

Hi everyone!

Normally, I do these interviews in my newsletter, but since my newest victim, K.T. Grant, has a book out that falls between them, I figured I’d subject her to my blog instead. I'm also going to give away a copy of her newest ebook, The Princess's Bride!

K.T., in case you aren't familiar, writes erotic romance and lesbian romance. I've read my share of m/m romance, but K.T.'s books are my first foray into the f/f subgenre. K.T. has been a huge supporter of my books, and I'm super happy to return the favor here on my blog, so here she is. Just leave a comment if you want to win her newest…a very spicy lesbian pirate romance!

On with it:

The Imp Round:

Favorite pizza toppings?

KT: Just cheese

Ale or lager?

KT: Ale… sweet summer ale.

Small purse or large tote?

KT: Large tote so I can carry all my books around

Mac or PC?

KT: Mac

Laptop or desktop?

KT: Laptop. Keeps my lap warm.

The Cruentus Round:

What’s the worst thing you’ve ever done to one of your characters?

KT: From The Princess's Bride. My sweet innocent heroine is kidnapped and held for ransom by her former lover who wants revenge. Former lover also wants to have her wicked way with my heroine.

The Bedim Round:

Which of your books contains the sexiest love scene?

KT: In my debut release, Lovestruck, my two heroines have some sexy times with a Jack Rabbit vibrator together.

The Sora Round:

Which of your books was the easiest to write?

KT: For the Love of Mollie was pretty easy to write since I had played the entire book in my head and just needed to get it written down on paper.

The Fallen Angel Round:

Which of your covers is your favorite? (I'm partial to The Princess's Bride!)

KT: For the Love of Mollie. My heroine Mollie, is curvy, and the female model on the cover shows that perfectly. (also has some nice man-titty to drool over)

The Seminus Round:

Who is your favorite Demonica brother? (What? You know I had to ask…)

KT: Eidolon from Pleasure Unbound. He's a sexy doctor who won't stop having sex with the heroine, Tayla, until she orgasms. And since she has problems with finding her "O", Eidolon has a lot cut out for him He's quite the giver!

Thanks for being with us, K.T!

Thank you my favorite author of hot demons ;)

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Okay, so just leave a comment about anything, maybe tell us if you've ever read an f/f romance before, and I'll announce a winner tomorrow!