Heather Kuehl's Top Ten Paranormal Hotties

Dear Reader,

Please welcome Heather Kuehl!

There is nothing readers love more than a super sexy hero or heroine. Here’s a list of my ten favorite paranormal hotties in no particular order; it was way too hard to choose just one favorite.

Eric Northman (Sookie Stackhouse series by Charlaine Harris; True Blood) – He’s yummy and a real Viking. While he’ll lie and omit details to get his way, it shouldn’t come as a surprise since this is the type of person he is. But even then, a girl could be happy with a guy like him (and let’s not forget that sexy shower scene in Dead to the World).

Spike (Buffy the Vampire Slayer) – The fan fiction books and the season eight comic (published by Dark Horse) has led me to adding Spike onto this list. Even before he won back his soul, Spike was a teddy bear hiding behind his bad boy exterior. Heck, not even Buffy could resist the purr of his British accent in her ear. What makes you think anyone else could?

Rachel Morgan (The Hollows series by Kim Harrison) – It’s no surprise that this ginger witch made it on to my hottie countdown. Not only is she bad ass, but she does so while wearing the sexiest clothes ever described. While she hooks up with almost every eligible bachelor she meets, I’m keeping my fingers crossed that she hooks up with Ivy at least once. They’ve been going at the cat-and-mouse game since Dead Witch Walking. It’s about time to give readers what you’ve been hinting at, Ms. Harrison.

Mercy Thompson (Mercy Thompson series by Patricia Briggs) – She’s Native American, turns into a coyote, and works as a mechanic for a living. How is she not hot? Even after finding out that the cover art took liberties with her looks (Mercy only has one tattoo, not the full body artwork the covers depict), I still love her attitude.

Adam (Mercy Thompson series by Patricia Briggs) – He won me over in Iron Kissed. Originally I thought that he was going to be another Richard (from Laurell K. Hamilton’s Anita Blake series); a tortured werewolf who wants to be nothing but human again. Happily, I was wrong. Adam turned out to be a strong alpha wolf who’d do anything for the woman he loves.

Spade (Night Huntress series by Jeaniene Frost) – Do you want a tortured vampire in need of some love? Read First Drop of Crimson to see why Spade fits that request easily. While scrumptious Spade can be a bit over protective. To me that is the only down side with this mysterious vampire. I can deal with from protective issues if it means getting to be in his arms for the night.

Zarek (Dark Hunter series by Sherrilyn Kenyon) – If anyone ever needed a hug, Zarek would. Trusting no one, Zarek does his best to stay away from everyone. Because of his inability to follow orders, Artemis has him isolated to Alaska where he can be closely watched. Reader can’t help but pull for him in Dance with the Devil, hoping that Astrid will be able to see the man beneath the monster and make him whole.

Micah (Anita Blake series by Laurell K Hamilton) – Kind, understanding, and loyal…what more can a girl want? With yummy chartreuse eyes and tawny build, this wereleopard could keep me warm on any night of the week.

Jane (Twilight series by Stephenie Meyer) – While I’m not a huge Twihard fan, I must say that Ms. Meyer had a stroke of genius when she created Jane. Jane has no good side to get on, and loves using her ability to inflict pain whenever she can. To me, there’s nothing sexier than a dangerous bad ass in sheep’s clothing.

Pam (Sookie Stackhouse series by Charlaine Harris; True Blood) – As Eric’s right hand woman, Pam is one not to underestimate. She may like pastels and dress like a girly girl, but she’ll throw down with the best of them. But she has a soft side too, one that comes out when she’s around Eric or Amelia. I wouldn’t mind having Pam at my back during any situation.

This list was harder to compile than I first thought it would be. I wanted a variety of authors, but quickly discovered that the hottest paranormals in fiction were usually created by the same author. And with the hundreds of paranormal hotties out there, I knew that I had to leave some out. So tell me, who would you have on this list and why…

Check out some of my other favorite hotties (a biased opinion…I know) in the Sarah Vargas Series. Books one and two in this series, Fade to Black and Malevolent Dead, are available now from Eternal Press. Book three, Blood Moon, is due out on March 7, 2011.

Fade to Black blurb:

Werewolf bounty hunter Sarah Vargas has only one goal in life; to kill the Were that attacked and changed her. However a slew of werecreature murders send Sarah and her partner, Jared Fontaine, on the mission of their lives, ending with a discovery about Jared’s past that might destroy them both.

Malevolent Dead blurb:

Werewolf Sarah Vargas thought all she had to worry about was the Blood Moon Corporation's retaliation. She never dreamed that another vampire would arrive, disputing Damian's claim over the throne to Charleston, SC. To make matters worse, he is no ordinary vamp; he's a vampire necromancer. He's exceptionally hard to kill, and Sarah will have to do what ever she can to keep those that she loves safe... Even if it means doing the unthinkable.

Blood Moon blurb:

After she broke her contract with the Blood Moon Corporation, Sarah Vargas knew that it was only a matter of time before they came for her. What she didn't know is what lengths they would go to make sure that she had no where to run. Everyone Sarah has every relied on is in danger during a time when friends become enemies, and Sarah quickly realizes that the Blood Moon Corporation will never give up until she is dead. The Blood Moon Corporation is coming, and even Sarah doesn't think she can make it out alive.

Buy Links

Malevolent Dead: Book Two of the Sarah Vargas Series, Eternal Press

Fade to Black: Book One of the Sarah Vargas Series, Eternal Press

Promises to Keep, Eternal Press

Coming Soon

Blood Moon: Book Three of the Sarah Vargas Series, Eternal Press (3/7/2011)

All proceeds from Blood Moon will be going to MUSC Children's Hospital. Please visit http://www.musckids.com/ for more information about this wonderful children's hospital.

Visit Heather Kuehl online at http://www.heatherkuehl.com/,http://www.heatherkuehl.blogspot.com/ or follow her on Facebook or Twitter.

Heather Kuehl Presents; Promises To Keep, Character Interview

Hello everyone! I’m Heather Kuehl and I have a special treat for you today. T.D. Drake from Promises to Keep is here to talk about being a witch, playing with guns, and her personal reasons for helping Starlette DeFore.

HK – T.D. thank you for being here with me.

TD – The pleasure is mine.

HK – First I have to ask, what does T.D. stand for.

TD - *laughs* That seems to be everyone’s first question, Heather. T.D. stands for Tabitha Desdamona, which is kind of a mouthful for a child to say so my parents cut it down to T.D. Besides, I think T.D. strikes fear in the hearts of nasties everywhere. Tabitha…not so much.

HK – I have to agree with that. So, what exactly are you? And what do you do that requires you to deal with “nasties?”

TD – I’m a witch. The Covenant calls my type of witch an Enforcer because I take out the trash. I also do the odd job for those that require my type of services…for a fee of course.

HK – The Covenant? What is that?

TD – I had forgotten you’re human. The Covenant is a group of witches that govern over other witches. They make the rules, and send me out to “enforce” them.

HK – Is that how you met Starlette DeFore?

TD – That was an interesting set of circumstances. I was hired to take out a sorcerer in Verella…

HK – Take out? What’s Verella?

TD – Patience. I’ll get there. I took care of him and earned me the wrath of his mother, the Dark Lady Dreashae. She came into our world and attempted to kill me. Starlette’s father saved me. In exchange for that deed, he was kidnapped by Dreashae and taken to Verella. I feel that it’s my fault he’s there, and I have promised myself that I will assist Starlette in any way to get her father out of Verella.

HK – And Verella is?

TD – It’s a separate world. Within it lives dragons, centaurs, and other mythical creatures. Go to your library, pick up any high fantasy book, and that is the world you’re stepping into when you travel to Verella.

HK – That sounds, pardon the pun, magical.

TD – Oh it is, until some super powered nasty tries to kill you. Then, not so much.

HK – What type of weapons do you use when dealing nasty things?

TD – In Verella I tend to go medieval since modern weaponry works differently there. When I’m here, I tend to favor the finer things, like my two FN Five-Seven semi-automatic pistols. Now those are bad ass. I also have an FN P90, but I only pull that out on special occasions.

HK – Sounds to me as though you like your guns.

TD – Like? I love them! Have you ever taken out a vampire at 400ft with a wooden stake? I don’t even think Buffy could do that? But with my P90, I can do that and much more.

HK – Vampires? Wow that’s some world you’re immersed in.

TD – It’s your world too sweetie. I just take care of the baddies so you can sleep well at night and pretend the things that go bump in the night aren’t real.

HK – I don’t think I’ll be sleeping too well tonight. Well, that’s all the time we have here today. Thank you again T.D. for taking the time out of your harrowing schedule to answer some questions.

If you want to know more about T.D. and to see whether or not she helps Starlette save her father grab your copy of Promises to Keep, available now from Eternal Press.





Blurb:
Starlette is on a mission, and nothing will get in her way. Starlette DeFore knows that her father is alive, even though her family buried him ten years ago. When a faerie confirms this she travels to Charleston, South Carolina to hunt down Sivad Night, the only person to have ever escaped from the hands of a powerful sorceress, the Dark Lady Dreashae. With help from a witch, Starlette travels into Verella, a fantasy realm filled with centaurs, dragons and magic. She is very close to finding her father, but first must defeat Dreashae. Will Starlette, a mere mortal, have the strength needed to finish her quest and save her father?

Want to read an excerpt? Check out Chapter Seven

Heather Kuehl was born near the Great Lakes, but made her way to South Carolina where she lives to this day. While working at her local library, she earned a Bachelor of Science degree and worked on her writing. She is the author of Promises to Keep and Fade to Black (#1 Bestseller in fantasy eBooks on Fictionwise.com) as well as numerous short stories and poems. Visit Heather online at http://www.heatherkuehl.com/, http://www.heatherkuehl.blogspot.com/ or follow her on Facebook or Twitter.

Brigit Aine Visits The Paranormal Blog

Dear Reader,

“Sharp teeth elongate out of his gums, he licks her at the tender spot between her jaw line and neck. Slowly he puts his mouth over where he had just licked. Then he…”

So what do you suppose he is about to do? Bite her? Is he a vampire? Is he a werewolf? What about a succubus who has her tranced and is going to feed off her energy and just a little bit of blood?

Well he could be any of those things I suppose. It all depends on the writer, the character and in this case the reader. So what do you think he should be? Are you a vampire fan? Or perhaps shifters are more you style? A good incubus can be hard to find as well…because they are all so bad!

Of course it could be that he isn’t going to use the teeth at all. Maybe he has more control. Do you suppose that is possible? That this paranormal, aroused male is going to be able to control whatever baser instincts he has? That he isn’t there to bite her at all?

So now that we have established this character could be any number of creatures, about to do a multitude of things, where do you suppose they are?

Hmmm…

“pushes her back up against the alley wall next to the door they had just exited. As he is about to finish what they had started he hears a noise. Lifting his head he looks over his shoulder and there is…”

Now, is he the bad guy or the good guy? Is he going to kill her to spite whomever is watching, or share her? Maybe he’ll taunt the watcher by slowly siphoning off her blood, or moving back to her lips and taking a deep long kiss? Any ideas?

As you can see it takes a lot to write just a small passage. Any twist or turn could happen depending on what the character wants, perhaps where the author is seeing the story as going, and the mood that is being set.

Right now this is a dark mood, suspenseful (to some degree for a small snippet), and being made up as I type this blog.

Tel me where you think it should go. Where would you take it? Who would you make him?
Brigit

(P.S. I have a book out today with Eternal Press. See below for an excerpt and the cover. Thanks for playing with me)

Brigit

Cassie’s Awakening:

http://www.eternalpress.ca

Excerpt:

“I repeat. What did you think you were doing?” Cassie asked, with more bravado than she was feeling. She had never felt anything like the pulsating emotions emanating from Jared. It seemed to overwhelm all her senses and she was struggling with just getting breath in and out of her lungs. She looked up at him and found herself face to face with eyes that were so intense she could see nothing but them. There was a slight glow that fascinated her; she had never seen eyes like this before, incredibly deep with a special inner light.

“Don’t ever touch Kraig again or let him touch you,” Jared growled from deep in his chest. He was having trouble keeping his wolf in check. When Kraig had kissed Cassie it was all he could do to not rip the pup’s head off. She didn’t know anything about being his mate, or even what it entailed, but Jared did and he was having trouble controlling the wolf because of it. He had barely managed to control changing, and he certainly wasn’t going to stop the rush of jealousy and anger at his mate being touched by another man. Not just a man, but another werewolf. And with that acceptance, he quit thinking and did what his wolf wanted. He kissed her.

Dawné Dominique Presents: Moongypsy Cover Art

Dear Readers,

There is so much talent at Moongypsy Press, and not just the authors themselves, but those who works behind the scenes. Wonderful artists that bring our creations to light, to give a reader a visual encompassing our work in colorful and vivid art.

The Head Cover Artist of Moongypsy Press, Dawné Dominique, has created so many works of art for so many of us, and the following are just a few examples of how she takes our thoughts and ideas, to make them reality.

She is also the author of a fabulous Vampire Series!!! To find out more about the artist, and her books:

http://kaydenmcleod.blogspot.com/2009/10/writing-world-of-dawne-dominique.html

http://dawnedominique.com/

Other Works Dawné Dominique has done for me:

Jezebel's Article Is Now In Print!!!!!!

To Buy E-Book Click Here

To Buy Print Click Here

For Excerpt, Blurb Etc Click Here,

Hi Readers,

I haven't been able to sit still nor work since I saw JA on Amazon.com this morning!!!! I just had to share....

Cheers,

Kayden

Kayden McLeod Presents: Jezebel's Article

Erotic Paranormal

By: Kayden McLeod

Cover Art: Dawné Dominique

http://dawnedominique.com/

Genre: MMF Erotica, Vampire ménage a trois, Heat Level 5

Length (word count): 15K

PUBLICATION DATE: DECEMBER 7th 2009

To Buy: Jezebel's Article

Tag Line:

When one decision can unlock your deepest, darkest fantasies

Synopsis: (Rated-R)

Jezebel has a new job, writing a sex column article for a small specialty interest paper in Vancouver British Columbia, and has decided to join her best friend Jade in attending a very specialized party…a sex party in fact, where she meets two of the most tempting men she could’ve ever imagined. And too make it that much more tempting for her, they were vampires, Jezebel’s one weakness. Adrian and Doros watch with igniting desire, craving to take a knowing human, who they didn’t have to cut themselves off from. One they could play with to their heart’s content, and the moment they met Jezebel, it was already over. There was no contest, and now only one question remains. Will she want them, as much as they want her?

Excerpt:

“You won’t even feel it…if you don’t want to. I can make it pleasurable or painful, or even make you forget it had ever happened. However, I know you want to remember it, experience it, and like it.”

“Okay.”

I groaned when Doros peeled the wet panties away from my body, waiting anxiously to feel his mouth against me without the obstacle of any cloth in his way.

His mouth returned to my body, efforts renewed tenfold now with purpose or an unspoken challenge I hadn’t been let in on. Never could I’ve imagined this right, even if I had expected it when I had come here.

Adrian smiled, but the flames never left his eyes, “I can’t believe you’re letting me do this,” he mumbled against the side of my face.

“You said you weren’t going to hurt me.”

“And you believe a mythical monster?” Doros asked from between my legs and I swore in my head. Damn telepathy.

“Apparently so.”

Adrian groaned and nuzzled my neck. He laid his lips against my pulse, and I felt his chest swell when he inhaled deeply.

“So nice,” he muttered, “willing, perfect and sweet.”

The moment Doros sucked my clit back into his wicked heat,Adrian raked his slowly returning fangs over the thin flesh at my throat to send deep helpless shudders through me. He raised his head up slightly to adjust the angle, and struck too quickly for me to properly follow.

The Writing of Bite Me

I never intended to write "Bite Me" until the night before I started. This is the only one of my novels where that was the case. I had been planning the novel that ended up following it, "Waking Echoes", for two years, and fully expected to begin it the weekend after I wrapped up Halloween Romance.

[Brief aside: I do not have a deal with Eternal Press for "Waking Echoes" at present, but it explains the odd things that are happening to Taylor Calvin, the Anghels' next-door neighbor and Dianne's older friend. Many of the events in the
two stories are simultaneous.]


Lying in bed considering Ferdinand and Selene and where I left them, living happily enough for a while, I needed to know what happened to their daughter. I got to thinking about consequences of old deeds, the seldom-explored phenomenon of a modern teenager who fiercely loves her parents, family relationships under pressure, and dealing with change in oneself. And I realized that moping, to a certain extent self-pitying, romantic vampire Ferdinand seriously needed a foil.

So I came up with Doctor Nat Silver, the jovial, learned, and terribly dressed vampire. With Dianne changing partially into a wolf in moments of strong emotion and Ferdinand struck with some strange malaise, the Anghels find in Nat both medical help and a dose of enthusiasm.

At age fourteen, which is when I began the first draft, I could have used a Nat
myself. Dianne's journey through dealing with her involuntary shape-shifting paralleled my own growing awareness that something was "wrong" with me, and the tension between the loving Anghels came to echo the strain my own three-person family went through when I was diagnosed with a mood disorder. "Bite Me" went on hiatus for about three months of deep depression, the only complete writer's block I've had all my life. Things improved marginally when I could write again.

The final two chapters of "Bite Me" were written in severe, anxious jet lag. My doctors in China - I have been an expat much of my life - had concluded that my family needed to move back to the U.S. on a five-day notice so I could receive better care. The hopeful yet realistic resolution was a sign of health on my part, despite the doubt that swirled around me at the time.

Now I am far, far better, though I have come to accept that the touched with fire are never fully "normal" and happiness is more tenuous than I had supposed as a child. This peek behind the scenes is not meant to tug on your heartstrings and drum up sympathy - it is hardly unique among stories of trial. But I want you to know that though the characters in "Bite Me" have magic in their blood, they are woven out of the same mundane, flawed, hurting, and terribly beautiful threads as you and I.

Welcome Tabitha, and her new book Witch's Magic

Hello Readers!

My fellow Paranormal author at Eternal Press, Tabitha Shay, has just released her latest book in the Winslow Witches series, Witch’s Magic. I’m excited to present to you the prologue of this latest fabulous book. So, please read on!
Hint, hint….where to buy: www.eternalpress.ca
http://www.tabithashay.com

Disclaimer: Explicit Language….eighteen plus, please.
Until next time…

Tabitha

Prologue of Witch's Magic

We are in Transylvania, and Transylvania is not England. Our ways are not your ways, and there shall be to you many strange things.
~Dracula (Bram Stoker)

Transylvania
Anghel Crypt
Resting Place of Dracula
Mortal Realm


A Do Not Disturb sign swung from an old, rusty chain at the foot of his coffin. He knew it was there.
By the gods, he’d hung it himself before retiring at least five centuries ago.
So why am I being disturbed? Damned illiterates, can’t they read? How was a creature supposed to rest if…?
I said wake up! I need your help.
Annoyed at the rude intrusion blasting his mind and interrupting his most private thoughts, Count Dracula snorted. I hoped it was merely indigestion giving me heartburn or the wind rattling my chain, but truly, do I hear an upstart who dares to enter my sanctum? Go away!
He had not walked among his clan in many centuries. And there was good reason. The world held no surprises. No happiness. No romance. Chivalry was as good as dead. Buried. Well, dead, maybe not buried. He shuddered at the thought of being under all that dirt. And by the gods, he was the most chivalrous being he knew.
Still, it was downright depressing. There were no more knights in shining armor. No damsels in distress. No Rapunzels with thick ropes of hair to toss out a tower window and her one true love scale the wall to rescue her from the evildoer. No unicorns. The last dragon was slain right before he decided he’d had enough of the world.
He’d seen and done it all to the point of boredom; to avoid spending useless years with nothing better to do with his time than to suck and fuck, he took to his coffin centuries early. To be content a vampire needed challenge. Romance. Sex. Oh yeah, lots of the hot stuff.
Brutal honesty forced him to admit he was glad he no longer spent time with his clan, but he hadn’t exactly resigned his position of Ruler of the Ancient Tribunal. It was more like he’d materialized into a bat one night and winged his way off the job, leaving an abrupt message he’d had enough. He’d planned to spend the next several millennia in the sacred Sleep of the Druze, an ancient sleep, and one only the very eldest achieved.
He hadn’t obtained his goal…yet.
The only thing he craved was peace. Rest. Quiet. He had no need to feed, except when the hunger became too much to ignore. He was perfectly happy snatching a bothersome rat when one ventured too close to his coffin. Then he had a quickie snack and went back to sleep.
Rats were good. Dammit, they were!
They might not be hardy, filling or nutritious, but they contained enough blood to sustain life…for a few weeks at a time.
Being one of the Ancients, his need for rest was much more crucial than his need to feed. At his age, all he wanted to do was prop up his feet, so to speak. Yes, peace and quiet was all he craved now. Well, and the occasional female. Two. Three.
No one had dared to disturb him...until now.
So who was this, this person who called to him? A voice he did not recognize. Not surprising. It had been a long time since he’d mentally connected with anyone. He’d pretty much forgotten the sound of speech.
He stirred inside the raggedy satin-lined coffin hidden in a decaying old crypt, all but lost by the passage of time. The only ones who knew where he slumbered were the two other members of the Ancient Tribunal. So how had the upstart rapping on his coffin dug him up?
Get up!
Dracula cocked an ear. Nope, he didn’t have a clue who was silently yelling at him. It wasn’t an Ancient who summoned, but one of the Children, one of the Young Ones.
Annoyance surged through his veins, veins dried and withered to threads from lack of sustenance. Waking an Ancient who had not fed thoroughly for years was strictly forbidden to the Young Ones. It created a danger for all who came near him for several hours.
There were rules, and reasons for those rules. If awakened in a state of extreme hunger, he’d attack and feed until he drained the person dry; then he’d go for the next, and the next, until he was engorged.
Gluttony was a shameful act for his kind. He’d die from embarrassment if discovered devouring his food, that is, if the undead weren’t already in that precarious state.
It was imperative he be awakened slowly.
Nourished slowly.
Regain his strength slowly.
And it was extremely vital at least four females awaited him when he rose. Everyone knew a vampire who’d Druze-slept woke violently horny.
You dare break the laws of our people? Disobey my orders? Ignore my sign? Disturb my slumber?
Yes! Now, get up!
Stop knocking on my coffin! I’m at rest. I need my rest. Go away, upstart.
I need your help, your wisdom, your guidance.
Do I know you?
Don’t pretend you don’t know who I am, Grandfather. You might be Ancient, but there’s nothing wrong with your memory.
Huh?
And don’t pretend you’re deaf. I know your hearing is acute. You can hear a pin drop three miles away.
Huh! Do you have four females waiting for me?
No. You don’t have time to fuck.
No time to fuck? Incredulous, Dracula’s eyes popped open. Aw, shit! There are two spiders doing ‘it’ on the ceiling of my coffin! He shuddered. You know what that means? I’ll be sharing my sleeping quarters with hundreds of their little bastards. I detest the creatures. Always moving in and taking over a fellow’s home. I suppose that means I must give up my bed.
He cleared his throat. Son, listen to me very closely. One must always make time to fuck. Spiders do.
“Filthy vermin. Freeloaders. Go find your own house!” He slapped at the ill-mannered eight-legged arachnids doing the ‘nasty’ above his head.
I’m not your son. And no, there is no time. A war comes, a terrible war.
You woke me because of a lousy war? Pish! There have always been wars. There will always be wars.
Not like this one.
A sigh. What is different about this one? Nothing. Don’t you recall your bloody ancestor and all his wars? Do you have any idea how many people I impaled? Now those were the good old days. Chop. Chop. They got in the way, up on the pike they went. I made damn certain of it. Just thinking about it makes me tired. Let me go back to sleep. There will be casualties, son. There are always casualties. We live. Some die. Others do not. Our kind goes on…if we breed. To breed we must fuck! No time to fuck, my ass! I want to talk to the person who schooled you. He didn’t teach you a thing. Who was he?
You.
Oh.
There’s no time for sex, Grandfather. Not this time. There’s no time to waste. We are too few.
Uh-huh, that’s from not fucking!
For the gods’ sake, this war might see the end of our kind.
A snort. Why do you think such nonsense?
Because this war isn’t simply battles amongst our own, but one that will include the forces from all realms: Vampyre, Demon, Witch and Were. Only the gods know which other realms might become involved. I’m afraid it’s only the beginning. You must rise.
I don’t want to rise.
You’ve slept long enough, Grandfather. Get up. I can’t do this by myself. Get up. Now!
All right! Stop ordering me to get up. No need to get snappy. How do you know this war comes?
I’ve seen it in visions.
Visions? If you’ve seen it in visions, then when will it come? I could sleep until…
No. Get up. Now!
A drawn-out suffering sigh.
When will it begin?
It has already begun…

Vampire Love in the Afternoon!

Sadistic? Check. Domination? Check. Happiness?
Not for all.

Antonio Welshire accepts the mysterious Mestiphles' offer for vampiric power, but fails to consider that not all in his family desires evil. Daughter Victoria revels in the debauchery, but eldest daughter Samantha loathes the darkness. Charismatic rebel Gaston turns up to rival for Antonio's power; the vampire lover Jean can destroy them once and for all, and henchwoman Lilith seeks to supplant Antonio as Mestiphles' favorite. Who will be declared the victor? And in the end, though they've survived coven wars and persecutions since the 12th century, can The Vampire Family survive each other?

Killing his abusive parents isn't enough for Antonio Welshire. Rape and death follow him through his youth in the 12th Century-until a stranger named Mestiphles give Antonio unimaginable vampire powers. Fearful yet captivated by his allure, Antonio's adopted sisters Ann and Elizabeth share this gift with him and their children-Victoria, James, Samantha, and Stephen. Antonio is a cruel ruler , and after his defeat of the young rebel Gaston, Antonio struggles with Lilith-another magical pet also created by Mestiphles. Antonio's vampire family grows over the centuries, each vampire loving and losing vampire fledglings over time. Wars, persecutions come and go, but the family's troubles always stem from within. Elizabeth may be his wife, but Ann supplants her as Antonio's mistress. By the 20th century, Elizabeth has found love again-unfortunately her fledgling Jean shares Samantha's disdain for the vampire life. Will The Vampire Family self destruct before the 21st Century?


It may be afternoon, but here at The World of the Paranormal, we're always in the spirit of the night. So, Good Evening I say to all our Pale, spooky, and macabre friends! I'm ready for falling leaves, pumpkins, harvests, and Halloween-aren't you? Have autumn early with me and my 2008 Eternal Press release The Vampire Family!

The Vampire Family began life as a simple vampire story passed among friends in high school way back when. Since its 2008 ebook release from Eternal Press, The Vampire Family has grown in popularity due to hype from online stalwarts such as Paranormal Romance, Coffee Time Romance, Fallen Angel Reviews, and Night Owl Romance among others. This summer, the undead buzz exploded for our paperback release, currently available on Amazon. In addition to virtual appearances, I've visited the Philadelphia Book Festival and the Collingswood Book festival in support of The Vampire Family. This year, we'll be visiting the Collingswood Fest again, in addition to several local bookstore appearances. If you're in the New Jersey area, check out our calender at the Kristin Battestella Yahoo group for a complete list of real world signings.

http://groups.yahoo.com/groups/kristinbattestella


Blending horror, dark fantasy, and paranormal romance; the trials and tribulations of The Vampire Family are tough to pigeon hole. There's plenty of historical action, contemporary horror, ill fated romance, and dastardly vampire covens to span the novel's journey from 12th century Britain to the 21st century and beyond. Here's a quick old world blurb to bring some vamp to your lunch hour!




“Catherine?” Antonio’s shadowy figure stood at her door. The tiny flame shortened in a clump of wax as the maid looked up.
“Yes, sir?” She set down her quill. “You sound different, sir. Are you ill?”
“Yes.” He stepped toward her. “I need your help.”
The dim light shined in his face. He couldn’t see. His eyes felt bloodshot, and his hands seemed pale as the candle flickered. He put his hands on Catherine’s arms. She felt warm to his cold touch. Sharp teeth cut the inside of his lips.
Antonio’s voice trembled. His hands shook. “I need your help.”
“Of course, sir.” She put her arms on his, but Antonio shook and felt the muscles of his forearm clench. “What can I do? Here, sit down.”
His arms came around her waist. Antonio heard her blood rush and saw her face flush. He put his head down on her chest. She trembled, but held Antonio’s head.
“Such overwhelming!” He spoke more to himself than Catherine. His words and hot breath were muffled against her. “Now I know what Mestiphles meant. I know what to do. I need to do it. I have to have it!”
“I’ll get some water.” Catherine was about to get up, but Antonio clenched his hands tighter around her.
“No,” he said hoarsely. His nails dug into her sides, and she winced. Antonio relaxed his grip, and she allowed his hands to roam. He unlaced her dressing gown. His hands stopped shaking, and bewitched, Catherine gave him total control. He pulled the loosened gown off her shoulders and swept Catherine to her feet in one swift motion. Yes, he knew she was captivated and paralyzed. He could be so frightening, yet masculine and desirable. Antonio put his head to her neck and bit the pumping jugular.
She flinched, but her blood flowed into Antonio’s mouth. The short life drain was ecstatic, but soon grew empty. Her life was now in him.
Antonio let Catherine’s limp body fall to the bed. He had her, and now he wanted more.



You can read more excerpts, reviews, and interviews at any of the following locations:

http://jsnouff.com/kristin
http://vampfam.blogspot.com
http://kristin724.livejournal.com

And of course, feel free to friend, subscribe, or join us at these fine sites:

http://myspace.com/kristinbattestella
http://www.facebook.com/kristin.battestella
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/kristinbattestella


Now, in keeping with the literary vampire, who doesn't love a good horror film fest? For a little bit of nonfiction and horror critiques from Yours Truly, check out my review blog I Think, Therefore I Review. There I rant about horror books, movies, television, and music-in addition to more quizzes and fanlistings to keep things interesting!

http://ithinkthereforeireview.blogspot.com

Up next writing wise is a horror short story I've been going back and forth on called The Haberdasher. Samples of this and other short stories are available on the Yahoo Group. I've also done some editing work on my pal Leigh Wood's sf erotica On The Way To New Isosceles. Looks for her release this November! I've done several interviews recently talking about these and The Vampire Family, most notably with Raine Delight

http://leighwood.blogspot.com
http://authorrainedelight.com/2009/03/author-blog-spotlight-is-on-kristin-battestella/

While I should be working on The Vampire Family's two sequels, tentatively titled Tales From The Vampire Family and Requiem for The Vampire Family- ingenious titles, I know!- I'm doing some more virtual appearances, too. Look for us this September:

9/3 Fallen Angels Reviews Loop
9/8 Eternal Press Authors Blog Paranormal Day
9/8 EP Authors at Cover 2 Cover

Fellow New Jerseyan and Eternal Press Author Leigh Wood also hangs out at the Kristin Battestella Yahoo Group, so look for her this month as well:

9/1 Eternal Press Authors Blog Erotica Day
9/9 EP visit Romance Bistro After Dark
9/15 Leigh Wood Guest Day at the Kristin Battestella Yahoo Group


October is packed up like a crypt as you can imagine! To get in on the vampire action, check out our affordable ebook edition from Eternal Press. If you need the feel of a real book in your hands, check out our paperback edition on sale from Amazon. If you have an account at Fictionwise or the Barnes and Noble virtual storefront, you can pick up a copy of The Vampire Family there, too.

http://www.eternalpress.ca/vampirefamilynew.html

http://fictionwise.com/ebooks/eBook66272.htm

http://www.amazon.com/Vampire-Family-Kristin-Battlestella/dp/192664722X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1236643886&sr=8-1


All right, no more links! I've scared everyone enough for one day! Horror, sex, blood, and gore, it's back to the spooky sequel world for me!