Valerie Mann: Vampire Dream Come True

Thanks, Valerie, for allowing me to take over a guest post on your blog! [Curtsies] It's a real honor to be here, oh 1NS master.

Yes. I'm being series.

Believing vamps to be a hard to sell to any editor even though the genre is still very much so loved by vampire romance fans, the paranormal callout for 1NS books was a dream come true for me. I threw caution to the wind and pitched the vampire tale that was in my heart. Needless to say I was full of excitement when it was given the go-ahead.

Using the cheesy yet classic vampire movies I love so much from the 80s as my inspiration, such as Embrace of the Vampire, I let my goth self loose on a .doc. Thus, Dracula's Kiss was born. I didn't think much about characters or emotions etc... before writing this story. It was a truly organic experience for me. Setting was the only thing I did decide before typing the opening sentence, and the blurb I used to pitch to Decadent Publishing. I wanted something dark and spooky, something fitting for my classic vampire tale. Once I had decided on some key locations in Scotland that are connected to Bram Stoker, there was nothing else to do but to write. Catherine Ela's , aka Cathela, name just came to me. And as it was set in Scotland, so I just had to have a Scottish vampire as her love interest. His name didn't come as easily, and I had a little bit of help from my friends.

I thought I would struggle to meet the paranormal call-out deadline, but in just three weeks, I had a story. A story I loved! I was a crazy three weeks of solid writing; normally, I'm not that focused. Life distracts me, as does my attention starved (yeah right, but to see him nudge for loves, you'd think so) cat, and my motherly duties and love. But I kinda lost myself in this story, and in Cathela. Infact, I did actually have a few dreams that I was Cathela. They were surreal, but gave me plenty of material to work with. You might find it odd, or not, when I say I'm a lucid dreamer. If I realize I'm dreaming, I can change the events as they happen. So dreaming, for me, is just another opportunity to make up stories.

Dreams and Scottish vampires brings me to another book...

I have other kind of dreams, though. Nightmares, actually. And usually when I'm stressing about something and feel out of control of a situation. I'm helpless in those dreams, a slave to the horror of...zombies. EEP

Slow in their chase, they still always catch up to me and just as they reach out to get me, I wake up. I've been unable to watch a zombie movie, not a serious one, because of this. They scare the bejeezus out of me.

Enter Literal-Addiction-Paranormal-Book-Club and a freebie zombie book I wrote for them.

It all started with a fun-packed author chat there in September, to celebrate the release of Sweet Irish Kiss. Upon mention of Dracula's Kiss, and my fear of zombies, somehow, we were plotting and planning a hilarious sounding vampire verses zombie romance spoof type story about a Scottish vampire wearing nothing but a kilt, battling zombies with a leaf blower. And it was decided, to help me over come my fear, that I would write this story in time for their Samhain Spectacular.

And guess what? The story is now out there...for free...and I think you agree with me when I say Literal Addiction arranged a fantastic cover! Syd Gill, the cover artist, did an amazing job! She even added in zombie parts. WOOT.

It's spoofy, be warned...

Be Stihl My Unbeating Heart

Leaf blower in tow, and his secret weapon at the ready, Archie focuses on getting back to his damsel in distress at all costs. But zombies, while slow, are tenacious, and it just might cost him an arm and a leg.

Can Archie battle his way through zombieland and save his lady love before the sun comes out to play again? Will Aquanet sufficiently hold his hair in place so he can maintain his hero good looks til the end of our tale? Will we ever discover if he’s a true Scotsman?...erm, will he sufficiently use his head for something other than zombie food?

Available to read online via Scribd, or as a PDF download. If you hit the 'mobile' selection in Scribd, and you have your reader plugged in, it will also send the story to your reader: http://www.scribd.com/doc/70718704/Be-Stihl-My-Unbeating-Heart

Book details.

Dracula's Kiss – “ JoAnne Kenrick writes with passion and excitement. She brings her characters to life through lavish attention to emotions and character. She weaved a tale that entranced my imagination leaving me wanting more.” – Night Owl Romance TOP PICK

Blurb:

Cathela's Office Halloween Ball is a complete bust. She spills out her Dracula's Bride costume, and her vamp fetish chases away her boyfriend. Only redeeming feature to the night? Necking multiple shots of Dracula's Kiss—a lush Black Cherry Vodka cocktail—and an interlude with a gorgeous man dressed Gary Oldman style.

No one comes close to satisfying Alec Murray's needs until he meets Cathela during some lame-ass party for bankers. One taste of her blood, sweet yet darkly dangerous, he knows she's perfect for him.

A night of goth bondage is planned for one. For the other, a night of sexual control is a must. A perfect fit. Alec is compelled to reveal his true nature, but can their relationship survive his dark secret?

JoAnne Kenrick, an ex-Ghost Tour Guide turned Romance Author, is a Welsh lass who has lived in various countries around the world. She now calls North Carolina her home, where she lives with her husband, two children and a lazy cat. When they aren't demanding her attention, she can most likely be found watching a vampire movie, reading or baking up a British favorite in her N.C. kitchen. That is, when she isn't writing or chatting up a storm on social networking sites. www.joannekenrick.com

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