First lines

Bathroom leaking. Ceiling sagging. OVER MY BOOKS. So I've had to move them and there are rather a lot. I got sidetracked by my vampire books and began to check out the first lines of some. I struggle so much to get exactly the right first line and I was interested to see what some 'names' had come up with.

'I'm the vampire Lestat. Remember me?'- first line of Queen of the Damned by Anne Rice.
Instantly recognizable as her book because of the name Lestat.There is something so spooky and threatening about this line but I think it only works if you've read the first book!

'Rachel swears she never wants to see another coffin as long as she lives.' Single White Vampire by Lynsay Sands - and don't we know it's going to be funny!! Makes me laugh every time!!

'The night was alive with the heartbeats of countless people.He walked among them unseen, undetected, moving with the grace of a jungle predator.' Dark Magic - Christine Feehan - I somehow think I'd have known that one from the style. Very her.

'Has anyone ever told you that you have a beautiful neck?' - I only have Fangs for you - Kathy Love. Oh hilarious!! If only I'd thought of it first.

'I knew my brother would turn into a panther before he did' - that one - I'm not telling!!! guess who?


And my own effort -
'Sex. Sex. Sex. Sex. Sex.
Oh God, couldn’t she think of anything else?' Falling for you - Barbara Elsborg


Anyone got any favorite first lines??

Fun in the Dark

In October, I'm attending the Authors After Dark Paranormal Weekend.

It's the first one and I'm soooo excited to be attending. There will be panels on mermaids, faery tales, vampires, shifters, witches, and more. There's a masquerade ball and all kinds of meals/mixers. There's a book signing.

I've had such fun planning a little goody bag that will go out during a morning mixer. Vampire teeth and vampire victim tattoos! Along with some promo items from me.

Yes, I'm doing the vampire panel. My very first book was a vampire story, which came in October of 2005, Bloodlines: Blood Kiss, and I have another vampire book coming out in that series in October, Bloodlines: Surge. I'm a big vampire fan.

However, I've neglected to plan something. Costumes! Eek. What am I going to wear. I'm thinking a vampire hunter. I have a cloak and black clothes. I could get a stake. LOL. Sort of A La Buffy.

I love all the fun planning that goes into attending conferences. So, is anyone going to Authors After Dark Paranormal Weekend?

Mechele Armstrong aka Lany of Melany Logen

Where Sensuality and Wonder collide

http://www.mechelearmstrong.com/

http://www.collector-series.com/

The future's never been so sexy

http://www.melanylogen.com/

The games shifter’s play

One of my long-time works in progress (WIP for those in the know) is a story called Bad Dog and the Babe. As you might have guessed, this is a play on Lady and the Tramp, a story of two werewolves in love, her from a ritzy shifter family and him just a guy who owns a bar where shifter guys go to hang out, drink cheap beer and eat puppy chow instead of pretzels.

I had a lot of fun coming up with this premise.

More recently I was working on Nightwalker’s Pet, about a vampire and a shifter finding love, and I realized that I didn’t know much about how shapeshifters behave with their mates. Obviously they had to have sex. I write erotic romance and sex is a part of that. But there had to be something exotic about how shapeshifters behave during the mating ritual. What games would a werewolf play with his lady?

And then it came to me. Tag.

The simplest game in the world. A chase game because basically all shifters are hunters, and they love running after something. In this game the object is to catch your prey... or your mate in this case and when you do, you get whatever you want.

Which if the prey was your mate, is probably what they want as well, some kind of terrific sexual experience. So no matter who wins the game, the result is a win-win for everyone and that leads us to what we all want in a story like this: A happy ending.

So, here is a chance for our trampy vamp community to get involved. What other games do you think shifters should play?

A New Release!

The release of a new book is always an exciting time for an author. This is my third book, but I feel safe in saying the thrill will never wane.

The Guardian books are a special series for me because they were so alive in my mind. Maybe that’s why I wrote three before I’d even sold the first. Something about these characters grabbed me and held on. Maybe it was the volatile intensity of pitting mortal enemies against each other. Maybe it was the potent drama of people falling in love in the midst of a life and death situation.

The Collision released September 8th from Loose Id. Here’s a nibble to whet your appetite.

The Guardians flew down the elevator shaft, and Molin jammed his crowbar between the doors at the second-lowest floor. It was as far down as they could go with the cab sitting at the bottom.


Once parted, the doors slid open on their own. The assault team rushed into the cavernous room. Balin stood center point, his weapon of preference the crossbow. Molin and Wendell flanked left and right, full attack mode. The rest of the Guardian assault team would enter through different points, surprising the vampires from all sides.


“Destroy all challengers. Spare only those who surrender without resistance.”


The bloodsuckers lounging nearby on expensive furniture stared numbly, as though they couldn’t believe their impenetrable fortress was under attack.


A moment of calm lingered, and then the first scream sliced through the erotic music throbbing within the macabre playhouse.


An enormous purple demon turned from the male slave who was sucking his cock and locked eyes with Balin. The creature shoved his slave away, let out an unearthly growl, and charged.


Balin loosed a quill from his bow. The arrow hit the vampire’s shoulder and sank deep. The beast ripped it out and flung it aside without breaking stride. He charged on like a steam engine, his blazing eyes focused on Balin with deadly intent.


The next instant, the beast stumbled and looked down at his chest. Blue flames licked outward from the small hole where the tiny glass reservoir of holy water had shattered upon impact. The demon stopped and let loose a bloodcurdling shriek. Flames engulfed him, and he exploded in a dazzling spray of blue sparks.


Balin threw his arm up to shield his eyes from the explosion. He charged on, careful to avoid sighting humans. If they weren’t in demon form, it was hard to tell the vampires from the slaves. Thankfully, the slaves were dressed in seductive clothing: the women in sheer strips of gossamer cloth and the men in skimpy latex that appeared sprayed on. Many of the slaves were bound to the circular support columns identifying the now-luxurious room as a former garage.


Balin rounded a cement column and halted in his tracks, horror-struck. The biggest fucking demon he’d ever seen was about to kill a young slave girl.


The monster held her by the ankles and was lifting her into the air as though she weighed nothing. His beastly cock jutted forward, as long and thick as a salami log capped with a gnarled fist.


The demon would tear her apart. Thankfully it hesitated, looking around as the screaming increased.


Chaos surrounded Balin; he knew only that the Guardians had spread into the room and stunned the vampires with their swift surprise attack, but he’d lost all other sights and sounds.


The girl in the beast’s grip was a tiny, flaxen-haired beauty, almost pixielike. He couldn’t let her be so cruelly sacrificed, not when the Guardians were seconds away from destroying this wicked den of iniquity.


Power surged through him before he consciously realized he’d summoned it. He flew across the area separating them, using only the ancient power passed to him from his ancestors.


Too late, he realized he should have used his wings.


Balin was unpracticed in the ancient magic and was able to call it forth only in frantic situations like this when his adrenaline raged.


He collided with the beast, surprising it into dropping the girl. Balin tumbled once before regaining his balance. He jumped to his feet, lifted his crossbow, and aimed.


The demon flung out his enormous arm and backhanded Balin across the jaw. Lights swirled in his twisting vision. He bit down on his tongue and tasted the coppery tang of his own blood. His crossbow flew out of his hand.


He collapsed on top of the slave girl and breathed in a wisp of flowers.


She squeaked out a scream and struggled beneath him, crushed by his much larger frame. The demon straddled them both, that inhuman phallus swinging like a baseball bat.


“Mine!”


Even as he fought unconsciousness, Balin knew he had one chance to save himself and the girl.


But would the ancient spell even work, or was it truly just a legend?


The demon bent, reaching with a beefy hand.


“No!” A human shout came from somewhere far away, and Balin had the sensation of soaring just as he drew the magic forth.

Are Vampires Inherently Bisexual?

I'm going to put on my rainbow glasses and make a bold statement.

Vampires are bisexual. Always have been. At least, the ones in fiction have had fluid sexualities.

Think of it. From the beginning, vampires, be they male or female, have fed on both members of the opposite sex. That meant at some point, their vampires lips would rest on the soft throats of men, if they were male, or women, if they were female. A female vampire would cradle a woman victim in her arms, latched onto her delicate throat, lapping, sucking, kissing that throat in what has always been seen as a very sexually charged bloodletting.

In Bram Stoker's Dracula, the count has nothing but male minions. Not women. No maids filled the castle, no maids worked for him in England. But he had men, like Renfield, who helped him during daylight, protecting him, and helping him with his victims. Sure, they hide behind the "he bit me, so he controls me" excuse, but I think, had Stoker been writing that first book about vampires today, those henchmen would have had a decidely more sexual attraction to the vampire.

After all, if you live basically forever, why wouldn't you be fluid? Wouldn't you be tired of eating chicken if all you ate was chicken for a year? I think after about four months, I'd puke everytime I smelled chicken. I figure it must be the same for vampires. Hundreds of years to live? Hey, why not switch it up? Try the beef? Maybe the pork looks good too?

Besides, if you're just doing it for the sexual thrill, and there is no emotional connection between vampire and victim, why not? Very few vampires in literature have been shown to be in a monogamous long-term relationship. Dracula didn't have a Countess Dracula. He had three female vamps. And male minions, least we forget.

Men or women, the blood is the same, and so possibly would be the sexual rush of feasting on their bodies' most potent fluid. Like my vampire Ivan once told his new apprentice David, "they all taste the same. Like chicken."

So, what do you think? Bi? Straight?
How do you like your vampires?

Lynn Lorenz

Guest Blogger J.A. Saare

The Trampy Vamps welcome J. A. Saare as our guest this Tuesday. Jaime's book A Kiss Before Dying is now available at Amira Press.

Hello Vampy Vixens! Thanks for having me as a guest today. It’s a pleasure to chat among those that share a love of fanged creatures with an aversion to the sun. For those that don’t know me, my name is Jaime, and I go by the moniker J.A. Saare.

So here’s the deal. Today I was cruising along on my way to the store, trying to think of something witty and awe inspiring to write about. Problem is, I’m neither witty or awe inspiring, meaning I had to think outside of the box. I knew the topic had to be something vampire related, but what? We all know what we like when it comes to vampires – hot, hot, and did I mention hot? And the more tortured, the better. There is nothing like a man that needs a woman to bring him back to life.

I wasn’t shocked that my mind drifted to *gasp* Stephenie Meyer's Twilight. Let’s face it, you can’t drive a mile without a billboard announcing the second coming of the sparkling vegetarian blood suckers in the as yet to be released film version New Moon. As someone that read the series, I started thinking about Breaking Dawn (I call it something else, but that is neither here nor there. Moving on…). As many are aware, there was a divide among the fans concerning this book. Namely complaints that there was no sacrifice involved, that Bella got everything for nothing.

Then inspiration struck, and I thought, “What element do reader’s and writer’s dislike in a story?”

I’d like to think I’ve done my fair share of reading over the years, and through those thousands of pages, I’ve met heroes I’ve absolutely fallen in love with. But there is one thing that will turn me off every single time.

Infallibility.

When I read a story, there has to be a risk of some kind to either the hero or the heroine to keep me satisfied. If there isn’t, there just isn’t enough conflict to maintain my interest. I recently read a new urban fantasy series in which the vampire “hero” cannot die. No, really. He cannot die - ever. You can burn him, stake him, melt him, blow him up. Doesn’t matter. He’s so hocking incredible and godlike that he will survive anything you throw at him. Where’s the problem in that, you might ask. Who doesn’t want a man that can walk on water? Me. And do you want to know why?

Emotional investment.

When I read a story, I want to care about the characters. When they are in danger, I want to fear for them, to cheer for them, to cry for them. I want to believe that nothing is certain, that good does not always triumph over evil. I have never been a staunch supporter of the HEA. I want it real, I want it stark, and I want it raw. If it’s heartbreaking, then I will carry the weight of the loss all the more precious. Give me that emotional connection, no matter how awful or miserable it may be. Blanket me in it, until the real world ceases to exist and there are only the pages of the book. Those are the stories I’ll remember decades from now. They are the ones that have creased spines and sauce stains from continuous reads. When I’m feeling melancholy, I will turn to them, remember them, and appreciate them.

Don’t know what I’m talking about? Check out The Vampire Queen’s Servant by Joey W. Hill (then finish up that series and start on her others). She’s a goddess of the written word. I adore all of her stuff because it pushes me, shapes me, and reminds me that as open minded as I think I am, I’m still in the caveman stage.

So now that I’ve shared, it’s your turn. What turns you off when you’re reading a story? Is it something simple, or something deeper?

Jaime AKA J.A. Saare



Visit J.A. Saare in the world wide stratosphere at
http://www.jasaare.com/
http://www.jasaare.blogspot.com/

Who Got the Girl?

Today I thought I’d do something a little different. I compiled a video of some lesser known (at least for me) vampyre movies. A few I’ve seen, some I’ve just heard of. I added quite a few of these to my “movies to see” list.

Perfect Creature will be the first I’ll see because I like Dougray Scott and the trailer was enthralling. You can view it here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C0mKCAWoMZ4

Next on my list is 1995's The Addiction – I can’t help it, I’m in love with anything by Christopher Walken and can’t for the life of me figure out how I missed this! Here’s a link to the trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LU7RgOmKllo

1994's Nadja made my list: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gZr6N_ABr8s

Now, here’s my question, “How many vampyre movies ended with the vamp getting the girl and living Happily Ever After forever?” I can only think of one, and I loved the movie. It’s the last clip on the video.

Can you name any?

If I were a Vampire...

Today I muse...If I were a vampire, I wouldn't have to worry about things like the common cold, which I'm currently suffering with. I'd be immune to all the little annoying sicknesses that we humans suffer with.

If I were a vampire, weight control wouldn't be a problem. I'd be on a liquid diet. No more exercising, portion control, weightlifting for added strength and tone. It would all be unnecessary.

If I were a vampire, I'd always look good. After all, whoever heard of an ugly vampire? I'd also take lovely pictures, provided my image showed up on the film. No more unattractive pictures of me that I'd rather burn than have others see.

If I were a vampire, depending how old I was, I'd be wealthy. Long life means plenty of time to save...and spend. I could travel the world, have several homes in several different parts of the world. I could cruise several times a year. The possibilities are endless.

Oh the many things I could do if I were a vampire. But alas, I'm not. So I make do with this mortal body, drink plenty of fluids, and take all my meds until this miserable virus runs its course.

Plotter, Pantzer, or Something in Between

How do you write?

What’s your process? When an author meets another author that is the question that always rears its head. I know it does for me. I’m always curious about the method another writer uses to get his or her words out of their head and onto the keyboard.
What is a plotter? This is the writer who needs to have his or her trip completely mapped before they ever start the journey. They create Storyboards and/or detailed outlines on their computer or in their journal before ever hitting a keystroke. For their muse to go to work, this author needs in front her the complete path of the story. Is this you?
Me? Hmmm… not exactly.
Then we have the pantzer, the writer whose rear hits the computer chair and starts writing as the story unfolds inside their head. They rebel at the idea of an outline or having to create a storyboard. For them, working out the details in advance is like injecting a paralyzing agent into their muse. Is this you?
Me? Well, not exactly.
What the heck am I then? I fall somewhere in between the pantzer and the plotter.
When I wrote Desire to Die For, I started off with the storyboard method. It helped me to start my novel, to define mid-point, and then to see what I needed to do to get me to that black moment and resolution. The only problem I found working with a storyboard was that it was cumbersome. Way too many Sticky Notes everywhere, and with the size of board you need, it quickly became a much larger tool than I could deal with.

I’d heard about the story board method in one of my favorite books on writing, Angela Knight’s Passionate Ink.

She also wrote about a software program sold at mindola.com called Supernotecard. Ms. Knight mentioned she moved from the story board method to this program and it had worked pretty well for her. So, I thought I would try it out with my current work in progress.
Result: I like it. A lot!
It suites my part pantzer/part plotter personality to a tee.
Supernotecard is based on a index card method of plotting your chapters/scenes. You can virtually create new decks or add new cards to decks, which you can then line up and view all at once.

On your home page, the decks appear as Beginning/Middle/End in correlation to your novel with all your chapters/scenes inside. Click on a deck, and all your scenes spread out within the window.

I love how you can add color to represent the POV’s contained within the scenes. And how you can display the tension level associated with any particular scene by selecting a thermometer reading and attaching it to the card. There are many other cool tools within the program that I don’t have time to mention here.

But if you’re like me, a somewhere in between writer who likes to plot a little then write a little, this may be what you’re looking for.

I would love to hear about any software you’ve come across that’s helped your writing, or any methods that you may have created to help you plot.