By Alexis Morgan
I have something to confess.You know, just between you and me. Here goes: I seriously love a man who has fangs and knows how to use them. This isn’t a new thing for me, either. I’ve loved vampire stories since I was a teenager watching Dark Shadows while I worked at my summer job. Barnabas Collins. After all these years, he still gives me chills—the good kind.
The next vampire I remember stealing a piece of my heart was Don Ysidro from Barbara Hambly’s Those Who Hunt the Night. He wasn’t the hero in the book, but he sure dominated the story for me. He’d almost forgotten what it had meant to be human, but over the course of the book he rediscovers his code of honor. When the story ended, I worried about him, wanted to know how he did. It was years before she wrote the sequel, but I was so glad she did.
Then there was Andre Le Brel, the sexy vampire in Mercedes Lackey’s Diana Tregarde series. We first met him in The Children of the Night when his and Diana Tregarde are both hunting for the same villain and team up. Come to think of it, it’s been a while since I’ve read those stories. I’ll have to dig out my copies and remind myself why I’ve kept them all these years.
I’ve loved watching the vampire evolve over the years from pure evil to heroic. Granted, in some stories, they are still the bad guys, but they don’t always stay that way. Spike, anyone? But part of what I love about vampire stories is all the amazing ways writers have taken the basic mythology and tweaked it to make it their own. I love Stefan in Patricia Briggs’s Mercy Thompson’s series. He’s a soldier with a soldier’s honor and sense of duty. Works for me. Then there’s Zsadist in JR Ward’s Black Dagger Brotherhood series. His story left me absolutely stunned. My list of favorites could go on and on.
Which brings me to VAMPIRE VENDETTA, my first full-length vampire book. I had such fun creating my own version of what it means to be vampire. In my world, there are pureblooded vampires, hybrids called chancellors, and then the humans. The hybrids are sometimes looked down by both humans and vampires, but actually the chancellors are the strongest of the three. They have the strength of vampires but none of the limitations. They can move freely in the sunlight and don’t need blood to live.
Oh, and they have those fangs. Works for me. Back in November, I did a Nocturne Bite starring Ambrose O’Brien, the head Chancellor to give readers a taste of my new series. Now, In VAMPIRE VENDETTA, Seamus Fitzhugh is a pureblood vampire on a mission to avenge his family honor only love with a hybrid chancellor gets in the way. I love a wounded soul hero who at long last finds something—or someone—that makes him remember what happiness feels like.
So if you’re a fan of the fang, who was your first? Who’s your favorite? I’d love to know.
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Leave a comment or question for Alexis to enter to win VAMPIRE VENDETTA. If you’re reading this post through a feed on Facebook, Goodreads, or another social network, please visit the comment trail at www.museinterrupted.com to be eligible for the draw.
To read Alexis’s bio and the cover blurb for VAMPIRE VENDETTA, see yesterday’s post. To learn more about Alexis and her books, check out her website at www.alexismorgan.com.
Hi Alexis,
I’ve enjoyed vampire stories over the years, and lrecently enjoyed, “La Vida Vampire,” by Nancy Haddock. Lke you, I enjoy how writers are rebuilding the vampire world. It’s fun to see the twists and turns. Take care and I wish you every success!
Sincerely,
Diana Cosby
http://www.texomaliving.com/magazine/expert
Your hybrid vampires sound great! I always thought that I wouldn’t want to be a vampire. Imagine never eating chocolate again, or some of my favorite Italian foods. (Can you tell I’m dieting?) But if I could eat and be a vamp, that would be different.
Besides vamps in old Dracula movies, my first was Ann Rice’s. I used to read Barbara Hambly’s books, but I missed the one you mentioned. I’m going to the library today and will see if they have it.
Diana,
I’ll have to check out La Vida Vampire. I’m always up for a new take on the fanged folks!
And Edie, there are lots of series where vampires eat food. In Lynsay Sands’ series, when a vampire starts craving food again, it means they’ve met their lifemate. So wanting chocolate means you’re falling in love.
Thanks for stopping by–
Alexis
Hey Alexis – As you know I love all your books, so this one is a must have.
Hi Alexis,
I agree with your comment that vampires have evolved in interesting ways. I don’t read them on a regular basis, but will certainly bite into Vampire Vendetta.
Oh, and congrats on the RITA nomination for Darkness Unknown!
(My favorite cover too – yummy!)
Cheers,
Julia
Hi everyone, and welcome to Alexis!!
Alexis, I’ll admit that I don’t usually read vampire romances. I always thought they would scare me too much. I have a very vivid imagination, shall we say. However, my friend, Catherine Mulvany, wrote SOMETHING WICKED, a vampire romance. It sat in my TBR pile at least a year, LOL. Finally, I picked it up. I was totally surprised that vampire romances did not scare me! I guess I thought they would be more Stephen-Kingish. I can NOT read a Stephen King novel. I’ve tried. My husband is named Steven King, so I thought I should read his famous counterpart’s books. I just can’t. I get nightmares far too easily.
I should give another vampire romance a try.
Alexis,
You asked about our first encounter with vampires, well, I have to say that mine was bad:
I was little during the Viet Nam war and my Dad was military – meaning he worked tons of hours, so a special treat for me was when he took me to a Saturday Matinee at the base theater. The summer of 1970 he took me to see Taste the Blood of Dracula with Christopher Lee. I literally had nightmares for months.
So, it’s taken me years to put my toes back in that water, so to speak. I am slowly being acclimated to the new pool. The evolution of vampires from villian to hero is a good one. And, I really enjoyed your twist with the Chancellors. Ambrose was just a wonderful hero. So, I am very much looking forward to Seamus’s story!
Dee–*waving at you*, I h pe you do enjoy Seamus’s story.
Julia–*waving at you, too*. Thanks for the happy thoughts about Darkness Unknown finalling in the RITA’s. I didn’t touch ground for several days after I got the “call.”
Cindy–I managed to read one of Stephen King’s books (The Shining), but when I tried a second one I did get nightmares. He’s a brilliant writer–who else could make bushes so scary?–but they’re too edgy for me. But vampire romances and urban fantasies have a very different tone than vampire stories written for the horror genre. Some are dark and emotional, others are lighter and funny. There’s a lot of variety.
Caron–I’m a real movie weanie. I’m sure I’d have had nightmares from Christopher Lee movies, too. I’m glad you enjoyed Ambrose’s story in my Nocturne Bite.
Alexis
Hi Alexis,
I haven’t read too many vampire stories, but I plan to read yours. I love your hybrids. I write werewolf stories and I can imagine a vampire or two in the mix. So much fun, and a great way to get away from everything else for an intriguing read. I remember Barnabus Collins. I had no sooner started watching Dark Shadows than they cancelled the series.
Congratulations on the Rita Final. 🙂
Jeanmarie Hamilton
Jeanmarie–I really enjoy stories that have a mix of paranormal characters that populate the world. Vamps and weres seem to go together even if they don’t get along. Maybe especially if they don’t get along.
Thanks for the congratulations–it’s my first, so that made it extra special.
Alexis
Christopher Lee in Horror of Dracula was such a fright — and I absolutely loved him. And that sexy Peter Cushing. What can I say. I was impressionable. Do I right vampire? O-o-oh yes, baby. Just wish I’d sell one.
Annette
oops! I mean write vampire. I’m all flustered with that topic. : )
Annette
Annette–
I’ll keep my fingers crossed for you that you’ll find a home for your vampire stories. I started off with a short story in the Mammoth Book of Vampire Romance. Then I did another short story as a Nocturne Bite before I did a complete book.
Alexis
Hi Alexis!
Loving a man with fangs! That made me laugh.
Years ago, I went through an Ann Rice phase and I’m a huge fan of J.R. Ward’s Brotherhood series. (I also remember rushing home after school to watch Dark Shadows). I can’t wait to get my hands on Vampire Vendetta! Congratulations on the release.
Laura
Alexis, thanks for the encouragement. Didn’t know about your vampire writing until I followed the word “vampire” and there you and your book were. Sounds like I’ll love your vampires too.
All the best, Annette
Hi Alexis–Great blog! My first “encounter” with vamps was the movie Interview With A Vampire with Brad Pitt and Kirsten Dunst. Still, I never read a vampire book until I picked up a JR Ward version. Now I’m hooked, lol. I’d love to read Vampire Vendetta–those chancellors sound intriguing!
Have a great day. 🙂
Mary
My first “encounter” was Blood Games by Chelesa Quinn Yarbro. Lately I’ve fallen in love with vampire novels with humor – Lynsay Sands Argenaux series and Kresley Cole’s Love at Stake series. Then there’s Jeaniene Frost’s Night Huntress series – and your series. Having read the first two shorts – I’m impatiently awaiting Vampire Vendetta release.
Laura and Mary–Yeah, I’m a huge J R Ward fan and have her latest on preorder. I like all her guys, but Z and V are extra special, maybe because they’ve had so much farther to go to accept some happiness in their lives.
Delilah–I thing Lynsay Sands “Accidental Vampire” is one of the best funny vamp books I’ve ever read. I still chuckle over that one. I usually prefer darker stories, but her series is terrific.
I just read Spade’s book and loved it. Jeaniene Frost has created a great vamp world. I’m also counting the days until the new Charlaine Harris book comes out–gotta have my annual dose of Eric.
Alexis
I’m imagining a story with vamps and weres right now. That they don’t get along makes for some great relationship posibilities. In fact I’m thinking of adding one to a story I’ve already started.
Thanks for the inspiration. 🙂
Jeanmarie
I was just talking with a friend about Dark Shadows the other day…that was my earliest experience with vampires, and see how far they’ve come!
Hi Alexis! I was so excited when I saw your newsletter pop up in my email today that Vampire Vendetta is available. I can’t wait to read it!
I’ve been watching those old scary vampire movies since I was a kid, and I remember sneaking into the room when my mom watched Dark Shadows. (Heard it’s being remade w/ Johnny Depp staring as Barnabus Collins!). But the first one that really got my heart pounding was Chris Sarandon’s portrayal of a vampire in the 80’s film Fright Night. My sister and I saw it 8 times in the theaters. (I can quote movie lines.) He was sooo sexy, but also terrifying.
Interview with a Vampire was the first time I read about a vampire having a conscience where he wished things could’ve been different.
Eric Northman–I swoon over him too! I can’t wait for the next book in the series. And, of course, I love JR Ward’s Brothers. All of them.
Laurie
Hi, Alexis!
My “first” vampire? I remember watching Roman Polanski’s “Dance of the Vampires” as a kid, but though it’s a comedy, it gave me a real fright and nightmares for ages!!
Then there was Stephen King’s “Salem’s Lot”…
Nowadays I really love those tough – as – nails…uuhmm…fangs vampires like J. R. Ward’s brothers or Jeaniene Frost’s “Night Huntress” series, Lara Adrian’s “Midnight Breed” – aaand there are some interesting vampires in Nalini Singh’s new “Guild Hunter” series, though the main characters are (arc)angels and humans…
I can’t wait to pick up “Vampire Vendetta” and see your view on the topic! 😉
Sandra
Tina–I suspect Dark Shadows was the first vampire story for a lot of us.
Laurie—Wow–Johnny Depp as Barnabas? Really? Oh, heart be still! He’d do a great job as an angsty vampire.
Sandra–sounds like we read a lot of the same books. I thought Sharon Ashwood did a great job with her vampire, Allesandro Caravelli in her book Ravished. If you haven’t read her series, you might give it a try. I also love the vampire/werewolve world that Keri Arthur has created.
Alexis
Alexis – my favorite by Lynsay Sands is Single White Vampire. I’m sorry, a vampire at the RT convention??? I LMAO everytime I read it. (that’s about 6 times) Only one that comes close is your Redeemed in Darkness.
Delilah–
I must have missed that one of hers. I’ll track it down immediately. I’m glad you’ve enjoyed Redeemed in Darkness so much. I have a few favorites like that–those timeless stories that never get old. I just reread Midnight Rainbow by Linda Howard not too long ago. Grant Sullivan is one of the first lost soul/wounded warrior heroes I ever read.
Alexis
Alexis – I haven’t read anything of either Sharon Ashwood or Keri Arthur, but I’ll sure check them out, thanks. 🙂
Oh – and I’ve forgotten to mention the great vampires of Rosemary Laurey! Her vamps are really some characters 😀
And, yes, it seems we’re on the same page where books are concerned (pun intended). I got an email today: my copy of Silver Borne has finally been shipped! At last!!
Sandra–
Keri Arthur is Australian, so her books take place there, which I thought was cool.
I really enjoyed Silver Borne, so I think you will, too.
Alexis
Hi Alexis! (and Dee and Caron and Delilah)
I popped over to say hi! My first vampire movie was “Interview with the Vampire” in high school. it was senior ditch day, I think, but being a freshman, I ditched with all the seniors and they wanted to see a movie, soo..
My favorite vampires are Lara Adrian’s Midnight Breed series, Kresley Cole’s Forebearers from her IAD series, and of course the BDB. I like Sherrilyn Kenyon’s Dark-Hunters, but I don’t think of them as vampires really. And you’ll never believe what I just did? I just read all 7 of Susan Sizemore’s Primes and HOLY CRAP!!! What a great series. Did you say you 2 are going to be in 1 book? is it 2 stories or a collaboration?
We’re each writing a novella set in our respective worlds. Mine is about Penn Sebastian, and hers will be set in her Prime world. I’ll let her know that you like her series.
Alexis
Hi Alexis!
I finally got here, lol. Crazy day. And I can’t pick just one, I can’t!
I have loved “everything” vamp from as long as I can remember. I just wish you could “see” my office, I’m looking at a pair of fake fangs right now, lol. And please, when I see you, remind me to tell you the story of a real live bat that flew into my living room the SAME time I was watching FRIGHT NIGHT. . . at midnight! Really! Lol.
Congratulations on Vampire Vendetta, I can’t wait to read! And I’m so excited about your Rita Nomination. 🙂
Gayle
Hi Alexis! Your vampire sounds pretty sexy. I’ll have to check him out. But I guess I’ll have to give a confession here: I’m a werewolf girl myself. Strong, elemental, obsessed with food and physicality? Yes, please!
I still remember convincing my mom to take me to “Interview with a Vampire.” (I wasn’t old enough to go on my own.) I had a thing for Brad Pitt, and Louis was pretty great… although, looking back, I bet I’d like LeStat better now.
Favorite vampire of all time? Angel or Spike. Tough call. Totally obsessed with Buffy… great show.
Hi Alexis:
I’m a true Vampire fan, and your books sound great! IMO there is nothing better than a strong, sexy, totally alpha vampire to get things hot! I am a total BDB addict and am looking for that next vampire series to kick things into gear. I’m new to your writing and have the Paladins in my TBR pile. Congrats on your Rita Nomination!
Gayle–Waving at you from across the Sound! Thank you for stopping by! Congratulations to you, too, for the success of your book, Tsunami Blue. It was fabulous and I can’t wait for the sequel.
Kate–I love werewolves, too. The whole pack mentality is so powerful in a story. I love Patricia Briggs’ series for that reason. And I sure understand about the difficulty in choosing between Angel and Spike. They were both so powerful.
Vixhen–Right now I’m reading the latest Crimson City book with an alpha hero. He’s torn between duty and the woman who is his soulmate. I hope you enjoy my Paladins. While they aren’t vampires, they are definitely alpha.
Alexis
Thanks to everyone for dropping by and to Alexis for a fantastic blogging day. The winner of VAMPIRE VENDETTA is…drum roll…
Laurie Hunsaker.
Congratulations, Laurie! Please look for an email from me in your in-box.
My next guest blogger is paranormal romance author Gabi Stevens, May 11th. Mark your calendars!
Cindy
I love vampires too! My favorite is Damon from The Vampire Diaries.
I love vampires! Alexis, would you ever consider writing werewolf books?