#OctoberFrights Blog Hop October 10-15, 2016!

This week kicks off the annual October Frights Blog Hop, organized by Clarissa Johal.

Two dozen authors will be bringing you deadly delights...

For my part, I'll be sharing AF Stewart's new book of poetry when she celebrates her launch tomorrow. Be sure to visit me on October 11 for a review and special giveaway.

I'll also be breaking big news this month and would love to share it with you. If you love urban fantasy books that are cover-to-cover-full of vampires, werewolves, witches, oracles, and long-past deities, then you won't want to miss it. All you have to do is sign up for my mailing list and you'll get the news fresh (as well as get access to special subscriber offers).

Sound good to you? Awesome! And here's a bonus: sign up by entering this Rafflecopter giveaway and I'll pick three of you to get a blog-hopping goodie. There's extra chances to win...just click away!

Enter my October Frights giveaway here:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

See who else is playing in the dark...

click on the link below to get hopping!

An InLinkz Link-up

And don't miss the other giveaways you'll find when you click on the October Giveaways tab up above or click here for a handy shortcut :)

CHARM CITY: Get hooked on a new #urbanfantasy series!

CHARM CITY Kindle release day!

There are demons all around us, legions of the dark that break loose from Hell's restraints to prowl the mortal plane. Most people can't see them and will never suffer their torments. They are the lucky ones.

Guess that makes Simon Alliant the unluckiest man alive.

He's learned that the only luck a man has is the luck he makes for himself. Call him exorcist. Call him master of the dark arts. Call him dime-store magician. Most names don't matter, not when Hell knows yours.

Armed with his spells and his amulets and his desperate drive toward redemption, he fights the rising darkness and sends those demons screaming back into Hell, one minion at a time.

But not all demons can be exorcised. Some dwell too deep inside a man's bones to be so easily banished. Simon is smart--or, at least, cynical--enough to know which battles are worth fighting.

It takes more than a fistful of charms to stay alive in his line of work. And staying alive is the only way to avoid giving the Devil his due...

Welcome to the world of The Demon Whisperer.

It kicks off today with the Kindle release of

the first book in the series: CHARM CITY.

Now available on Kindle!

CHARM CITY (The Demon Whisperer #1)

The darkness is rising and one man stands against it: the exorcist mage Simon Alliant. But in Baltimore, he finally meets his match...a part-mortal divinity with the power to whisper away demons.

Simon Alliant is an exorcist who battles demons, whether he wants to or not. Sometimes it's not so bad...he gets to play with magic, after all. But for Simon, magic represents a demon of another kind. He's addicted to magic and it takes more than a handful of charms to keep that particular demon at bay.

Chiara is part Light, part Dark, and stubbornly mortal. The woman has a way with words: she literally talks demons into abandoning their human hosts. Simon thinks that's not the only trick she has up her sleeve-and that's pretty high praise coming from a mage like him.

As intriguing as that may be, Simon has too many reasons to distrust her...one of them being his more-or-less partner, an angelic Watcher. Amidst all the celestial warnings of the rising dark comes a new prophesy that makes him wonder: is Chiara a threat to him and all of mankind?

Or will she be his salvation?

Join the legions and pick your side: Light or Dark. Just know this...decisions like this are never easy, because there's no black and white when it comes to good and evil.

Grab your lucky charm. You might need it.

October Frights Blog Hop (VII): Halloween Costumes

 

(Just joining the hop? Check out this post for prizes, how to enter, and who else is haunting!)

 

Blind Alleys: A Collection of Dead Ends
Free on Kindle through October 8th!

 

Today's Spotlight is on...
Words That Bind
(paranormal romance)

Social worker Tam Kerish can’t keep her cool professionalism when steamy client Mr. Burns kindles a desire for more than a client-therapist relationship—so she drops him. However, they discover she’s the talisman to which Burns, an immortal djinn, has been bound since the days of King Solomon…and that makes it difficult.

Ethical guidelines are unequivocal when it comes to personal relationships with clients. However, the djinn has a thawing effect on the usually non-emotive Tam, who begins to feel true emotion whenever he is near. Tam has to make a difficult choice: to stay on the outside, forever looking in…or to turn her back on her entire world, just for the chance to finally experience what it means to fall in love.

 

 

Glad you're back for another October Frights Blog Hop post! Hope you're getting your entries in...it's easy, too: just comment on each post for an entry in the big giveaway!

 

Today's spotlight book is Words That Bind, a love story about a genie and his therapist.

 

Mr. Burns, an ancient djinn, spends his time wearing one of a variety of guises. Sometimes, he's Burns, a man who even the normally cool-as-a-cucumber Tam Kerish must admit is attractive. Sometimes, he's a twist of smokeless fire or a screaming whirlwind.

 

And sometimes, he's a complete animal. 

 

WORDS THAT BIND Excerpt:

“So. You’ve destroyed a stereotype for me. A genie who lives in a library. Different.”

“When in Rome, no?” He stirred his cup before setting down the spoon with a light clink against the saucer. “Or, I suppose it is more accurate to say when in human form. When I am Burns, I prefer here.”

“Human form.” It didn’t sound right. Who said things like that, and meant it? “Can you change into anything you want? Any shape at all?”

He stretched out his legs and cocked his head, sliding his gaze up and away. “I suppose I could. I’m getting old and set in my ways. There’s this…” He swept his hands down the line of his body.

Her eyes were unable to keep from following, not even when he lingered over his midsection. Even lounging, his shirt was tightly tucked into his beltline. No belly fat there.

He tilted his head and gave her an upper-teeth smile, nibbling gently at his lower lip. “And apparently this form is pleasing to the eye, so I wear it often. But there are others. Tiger, a favorite. Savage and regal and the colors of flames in the night. Fearsome to behold, but very useful when dealing with physical conditions in which a human form may be outmatched. Plus, I can lash my tail.”

His voice took a teasing, conspirator’s tone. “I love my tail. You’d love it too, if you saw it.”

She trained her eyes firmly upon his. No way would she give him the pleasure of checking out his tail.

 

If you couldn't tell, Burns really loves the way he looks. I always imagined genies would lean toward the cocky side. Part of the fun in writing that book was describing him in all his various forms of glory.

 

Maybe that's also why I love Halloween--the excuse to dress up. Wear a costume. Step out of my normal limits and assume the guise of someone else. (Usually, my costumes involve a black cape. And I'm not talking Batman, folks. I dressed like a vampire long before I'd even starting reading Anne Rice. I suppose it was all that parochial schooling that did it to me.)

 

So that brings us to today's comment-to-enter the giveaway...

If you could change form--be a shape shifter--what form would you choose? And would you want it to be limited, like a Halloween costume for a party? Or would it be something you'd like to slip into every now and then? Tell us in a comment and you're entered into the grand prize giveaway.

 

And today you can get a bonus entry...if you post your favorite Halloween costume on your social media (or find one you love online) POST A LINK TO THE PICTURE in a separate comment! (Optional: tag me if you'd like in your sosh meeds post and I'll share it along! Use #octoberfrights2015 Twitter @ashkrafton or Instagram @ash_krafton)   

Commented? Got your free book? Get back to the hop...pick your next lucky stop:



October Frights 2015: Paranormal and Horror Author Blog Tour

Halloween Blog Hop Time!

This year I'm participating in Clarissa Johal's October Frights Blog Hop! (And it's huge...just check out the link list down below)

I'll be posting throughout the hop with different activities so be sure to stop back often :)

This year, I'm thinking along the lines of Prize-a-Palooza:
Print copy of The Heartbeat Thief: historical dark fantasy
Print copy of Boxed & Broken: spec fic anthology
Print copy of M is for Monster: horror
And I'm pretty sure I have some Halloweenish things that would like to creep their way into your home. :)

(Question is, do you trust my judgment?)

Entries will be collected through comment during the duration of the hop. At the end, entries will be placed in a pretend hat and winners drawn. (Actually they'll be numbers and random.org will pick the lucky digits.)

Stop by each post throughout the hop and enter as many times as you please! There are a great bunch of authors participating and this is a great way to get to know everyone a little better...

Frightful Freebies

You might be too old to go door-to-door trick or treating, but that doesn't mean you doesn't deserve sweets. That's why during the blog hop I'll be offering free copies of two of my books on Amazon...grab 'em both!

Free on Kindle October 1-5: Ebook copy of The Scent of his Feathers
Free on Kindle October 6-10: Ebook copy of Blind Alleys

(Download your copy today. Everyone's a winner :)

SO let's get the ball rolling...today's a mixer so entry will be easy.

 

Since this is a paranormal and horror author blog hop, you're most likely either a reader or a writer (or both!) Leave a comment telling us which one you are, and tell us one of your favorite books or stories in the genres. That's all! Let's see who's here and what we're most fond of reading....

Stop back tomorrow for another chunk of Halloween Hop fun, but visit the other authors today!

See who else is frightening us:

If Jane Austen married Edgar Allan Poe...

I can't believe it's December already.

I totally get that as I get older, time seems to pass faster and faster. Maybe it's because I'm busy. Maybe it's because there are so many wonderful things in my life that I don't have enough time to appreciate them all. Maybe it's because the space-time continuum has been altered and instead of a leisurely stroll along we're now tumbling down a steep slope, plummeting toward a singularity of everything and nothing and all in between.

Nah... it's probably just holiday stress. :)

Looking back over 2014, I can see why the year passed so fast. WOLF'S BANE (Demimonde #3) came out this summer...WORDS THAT BIND was released in October... and TALES OF THE DEMIMONDE came out last month. There were so many tours and giveaways that I honestly lost count. What a busy year... and I loved every fleeting moment of it!

I should be taking some time off to decorate the house and maybe even relax a little (ha ha, a little mom humor there. Moms don't relax). But I can't stay away from my computer because there is a novel in there that wants to be edited.

THE HEARTBEAT THIEF is undergoing content edits right now. This is my New Adult Victorian paranormal... think Jane Austen marries Edgar Allan Poe. (I think about that all the time... and have shipped them in a myriad of ways.)

It’s a little bit Jane Austen, a little bit Edgar Allan Poe, and a whole lot of stealing heartbeats in order to stay young and beautiful forever. From the posh London season to the back alleys of Whitechapel, across the Channel and across the Pond…How far will Senza Fyne go to avoid Death?

You know what? Let's have a poll. Vote for Most Appropriate Jane Austen/ Edgar Allan Poe ship and leave your vote in the comments. I'll award an ARC of The Heartbeat Thief to a random commenter... in fact, I'll award one ARC for every ten entrants. Invite your friends, share this post, and increase your chance of winning by increasing the number of ARC prizes!

ARCs will be available once edits are complete.

SO...THE POLL

Most Appropriate Jane Austen/ Edgar Allan Poe ship
A) Joe
B) J. Edgar
C) Scary Jane
D) write in your own suggestion



Be sure to include your email and your choice in the comments to enter.

Have fun with this one... I'm off to relax and edit my heart away.

"Tales From The Demimonde" Release Day

 

Tales of the Demimonde

for

Amazon Kindle

$0.99

 

Tales of the Demimonde is a collection of short works based on the urban fantasy trilogy, The Books of The Demimonde. Follow the saga of Sophie Galen, who is saving the world, one damned person at a time. The advice columnist-turned-oracle must save her Demivampire lover from the fate that threatens each of his race: evolution and the destruction of his soul. Learn more about the Demimonde when you read BLEEDING HEARTS, BLOOD RUSH, and WOLF’S BANE available from the publisher Pink Narcissus Press (www.pinknarc.com) as well as many online book retailers.

 

Now, all the Demimonde companion pieces can be found in one collection, along with never-before-seen material.

 

You'll find the short stories "Scent of Hope", "The Blood Countess Chronicle", and "The Horus Bird"... along with the unreleased lyrics by Turn of the Wheel to "Ocean's Daughter". Read Sophie's musings on Sunfall and a dissertation on the preservation of Demivampirekind by Marek Thurzo. Also included are several behind-the-scenes articles on the Demimonde books as well as excerpts from BLEEDING HEARTS. 

 

 

BLEEDING HEARTS, BLOOD RUSH, and WOLF'S BANE

(BLEEDING HEARTS for Kindle only 1.99)

 

 

This collection is sure to delight current fans of the Demimonde as well as readers who are new to the series. If you haven't yet checked out this series, TALES OF THE DEMIMONDE is sure to give you a taste of what you've been missing...

 

The Demimonde Awaits

 

The Genie Is Out Of The Bottle... WORDS THAT BIND #release #paranormalromance

 

Today is the worldwide release of WORDS THAT BIND, a paranormal romance from The Wild Rose Press!

 

When a hot hero meets a cool heroine, there's bound to be steam.

 

The Wild Rose Press Amazon Kobo All Romance Bookstrand

Calm, cool, collected... it's not just a professional veneer. It's the way social worker Tam Kerish has always gone through life.

Emotionally detached. Clinically non-emotive. She's never known what it means to truly feel what others take for granted. A smile. A tear. A single moment of exhilaration.

That all changes the day he walks into her office. He's her polar opposite--and the ideal case study.



Burns is consumed by emotion, his fiery temper, his passionate drive to achieve his desires. Born of fire centuries before Christ, he is the last of Solomon's mighty djinni. Seething and smoldering, he is keenly interested in Tam, and the treasure she hides from him. It's only a matter of time until he gets what he wants.



He'll get so much more than he bargained for.



Lots of places to visit in the next couple of weeks--meeting new readers, checking out new blogs, and spending time talking books with some of my dearest friends. *hearts*

Before the book tour starts on Monday, let's have a little blast to spread the good news... pop in to the following spots to say hello and check out the blogging lovelies!

 

October 10 Release Day Blitz

Courtesy of Bewitching Book Tours

Urban Fantasy Investigations

http://urbanfantasyinvestigations.blogspot.com/

Sapphyria's Book Reviews

http://saphsbookblog.blogspot.com/

Angel’s Guilty Pleasures

http://angelsguiltypleasures.com

SBM Book Obsession

http://sbmbookobsession.blogspot.com/

Deal Sharing Aunt

www.dealsharingaunt.blogspot.com 

BookShelves Of Dreams

http://www.bookshelvesofdreams.com/ 

Fang-tastic Books

www.fang-tasticbooks.blogspot.com

Roxanne’s Realm

www.roxannerhoads.com

Lisa’s World of Books

www.lisasworldofbooks.net

The Creatively Green Write at Home Mom

www.creativelygreen.blogspot.com



Do You Want to Fall into Fantasy?

FOR UPDATES:
GO TO THE PAGE TAB ABOVE!

Calling readers, writers, and bloggers 

of fantasy and paranormal stories!
*Open to YA and adult books*

Writers have books. Bloggers want to talk about them and readers want to read them. This is the event that brings all of us together in a big ball of wonderful!

-oO Click here to Tweet and share Oo-

 

Once again, this October we'll be holding the FALL INTO FANTASY giveaway. It has something for everyone!

 

READERS:

Authors of fantasy and paranormal stories are eager to get their books into your hands.

We'll be giving away books and swags to lucky readers so don't miss your chance to win!

You'll enter to win their books by following them on social media and filling out a Rafflecopter form.

NEW THIS YEAR: There will be two forms--one for YA books and one for adult books.

 

AUTHORS:

Last year, over FIFTY authors participated...

and it looks like we topped that number this year!

We all met new readers and found new reader audiences when we pooled our resources.

If you'd like to promote a new or previously-released book, this is a great way to do it!

Sign-ups for this event are closed.  

 

BLOGS:

We'd love your support!

If you host a book review blog and would like a chance to offer your readers a chance at winning dozens of prizes, we'd love to feature your followable site on the entry form as well.

Bloggers interested in learning more should email me at the address below and I'll get the details out...

 

For more information, email me at ashkrafton at Gmail dot com and be sure to put "Fall into Fantasy Giveaway" in the subject.

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway






a Rafflecopter giveaway

You can also win great author SWAG from:

Ash Krafton

Jami Gray

Ronesa Avila
Sharon Buchbinder
M Pax
Debbie Christiana

 

Special thanks to our book blog supporters!

Sapphyria's Book Reviews

Housewife Blues and Chihuahua Stories

CoverReveals
Danyelle Leafty's Myth-Takes

Bookmark this page for easy return!

 

Hot Paranormal Nights Blog Hop

 

Welcome to my stop on the

Hot Paranormal Nights Blog Hop!

I'm thrilled to join my good friend Tricia Schneider on a fun and sexy summer reading venture. Who better to accompany on a blog hop like this than the author of the Merriweather Witches series, herself?
 

 

In fact, it was Tricia and her books who inspired me to approach The Wild Rose Press with a story of my own. Lucky for me, senior editor Callie Lynn Wolfe loved the story as much as I did. "Strangers at the Hell Gate" is a Wild Rose Press July 2013 release.

 

About Stranger at the Hell Gate: When a charming Seraph knocks on half-demon Jagger’s door, he doesn’t expect her to be anything more than a vulnerable woman in need of shelter. Sonya, however, isn’t just another pretty angel. She’s an unexpected ally in his war against Hell, his brother…and himself.

Find it at The Wild Rose Press!

 

YOU CAN WIN a gift certificate to The Wild Rose Press just by leaving comment on this post.

 

Have you enjoyed a Hot paranormal story lately?

 

Let us know the title and the author, as well as a little about why you liked it so much. (We like teasers *grin* )

Share the love and let us all know who we should be reading next!

 

Winner will be announced at the end of the hop,

which goes until July 30, 2013.

Good luck and thanks for hopping!

 

(Be sure to check out the other giveaways that are going on by clicking the tabs at the top of the page.)

SEE WHO ELSE IS HOPPING...more books to discover, more chances to win!

 



F*R*E*E on Amazon May 14-18: Strangers at the Hell Gate

STRANGERS AT THE HELL GATE (Wild Rose Press 2013)

 

Jagger Sintallon, a half-demon warrior, has dedicated his existence to fighting demons who enter the world through Hell gates. A loner of conflicting ideals, he offers shelter to a troubled woman but knows he is too rough, too dangerous, and too cocky for her delicate nature.

Dedicated to Divine Will, Sonya Camael, a Seraph, is determined to discover why she is drawn to Jagger's doorstep and the reason behind her mission. She needs the demon's help but fears he may get himself killed before she can figure it out and the world slips into Hell's dominion.

Sonya faces grave danger with evil stalking her every move, and Jagger shouldn't care but realizes he cares more than he'd likely admit. Sonya knows Jagger cannot win this war alone, but will her divine intervention mean his imminent end? Or will just the right combination of Heaven and Hell set the world right once again?

 

My first book with the renowned romance publisher The Wild Rose Press is the Black Rose release Strangers at the Hell Gate.

She's a determined angel on a mysterious mission. He's a demon hunter, who is half demon himself. When she knocks on his door, heaven meets hell...and opposites do more than attract....they ignite.

*Amazon Reviews*

"I hope this will be part of a series because I'd like to read more about Jagger and Sonya...MORE, MORE, MORE!" 

"...a wonderful blend of romance, suspense and humor into this book making it a thoroughly enjoyable book..."

"Very hot and sweet at the same time. Great read!"

You can pick up STRANGERS AT THE HELL GATE on Amazon for free this week (May 14 to May 18) so don't wait!

 

SHOUT OUT to Bewitched Book Tours for hosting a Free Kindle Blitz and to the bloggers who are supporting this book on its free Kindle days...

 

Announcing the Blitz Line-Up:

 

May 14

 

Laurie’s Paranormal Thoughts and Reviews

http://lauriethoughts-reviews.blogspot.com

Sapphyria's Book Reviews 

http://saphsbookblog.blogspot.

Saph's Steamy Books

saphssteamybooks.blogspot.com

Cover Reveals 

http://CoverReveals.blogspot.com

A Bibliophiles Thoughts on Books

http://bibliophilesthoughtsonbooks.blogspot.com/

Total Eclipse Reviews

http://totaleclipsereviews.blogspot.com

Escape Into A Book

eatsleepread88.blogspot.com

Words of Wisdom from The Scarf Princess

http://wowfromthescarfprincess.blogspot.com

Babylone the Geek Reads

http://borneanbookworm.blogspot.com

Sun Mountain Reviews

http://sunmountainreviews.wordpress.com

Literal Hotties Book Reviews

http://literalhottiesnaughtybookreviews.blogspot.com/

Bookswagger

http://bookswagger.com/

 

May 15

 

Demons do it Better

http://jocelyndex.blogspot.com

LilyElement

www.lilyelement.blogspot.com 

Pembroke Sinclair.  

pembrokesinclair.blogspot.com

Elfie Books     

elfie-books.blogspot.co.uk

May 16

 

Immortality and Beyond

www.immortylcafe.com

Faerie Tale Books

www.faerietalebooks.org

CW Book Reviews

http://houseofmalfunction.com/c-w-book-reviews/

Pick Your Poison Book reviews

http://pickyourpoisonbookreviews.blogspot.com/  

Indie Paranormal Book Reviews

http://indieparanormalbooksreviews.blogspot.com/

4 the LUV of SANITY

http://www.fortheluvofsanity.blogspot.com

Books and Pals

booksandpals.com

May 17

 

The Wormhole 

http://wormyhole.blogspot.com

Penny For Them.... 

http://pennyforthem1.blogspot.co.uk

Gimme The Scoop Reviews

http://gimmethescoopreviews.blogspot.com/

Fandom Fanatic

http://fandomfanatic.blogspot.com/

3 partners in Shopping, Nana, Mommy, & Sissy,  Too!

http://3partnersinshopping.blogspot.com

Offbeat Vagabond

http://offbeatvagabond.blogspot.com/

Books, Books the Magical Fruit

http://booksbooksthemagicalfruit.blogspot.com

 

May 18

 

2 Bibliophiles Guide    

http://2bibliophiles.blogspot.com/

A TiffyFit's Reading Corner

http://tiffyfit.blogspot.com

Reviewing in Chaos     

http://reviewinginchaos.blogspot.com

Ramblings of a Coffee Addicted Writer 

www.coffeeaddictedwriter.com

Share My Destiny

http://sharemydestiny.blogspot.com

 

 

Waking Up With A Stranger...

Or, to put it less salaciously, waking up to find my story STRANGER AT THE HELL GATE (The Wild Rose Press, 2013) available on Amazon. J

Last week, I finally got the news I'd been eagerly anticipating: STRANGER AT THE HELL GATE was set for release on July 10, 2013. After working with Callie Lynn Wolfe for several months, we finally had the date as well as the approved galley. It was a great achievement and I couldn't wait to share the announcement.

A heavy work schedule put me off several days from hitting the Internet, though. When I finally had a moment to do it, though, there was another email waiting for me.

STRANGER would go up on KDP Select first. And it would be up in a few days.

All my plans were tossed up into the air. So much for my leisurely announcement--now it was a completely crazy situation. What's an author to do? 

Practical as I occasionally am, I wrote my post for the Query Tracker blog (aptly focusing on the KDP and my emergent situation). Then, it was a matter of sit and wait. 

Well, the wait wasn't much of a wait after all. 

My STRANGER has arrived.

STRANGER AT THE HELL GATE
by Ash Krafton

Jagger Sintallon, a half-demon warrior, has dedicated his existence to fighting demons who enter the world through Hell gates. A loner of conflicting ideals, he offers shelter to a troubled woman but knows he is too rough, too dangerous, and too cocky for her delicate nature.

Dedicated to Divine Will, Sonya Camael, a Seraph, is determined to discover why she is drawn to Jagger's doorstep and the reason behind her mission. She needs the demon's help but fears he may get himself killed before she can figure it out and the world slips into Hell's dominion.

Sonya faces grave danger with evil stalking her every move, and Jagger shouldn't care but realizes he cares more than he'd likely admit. Sonya knows Jagger cannot win this war alone, but will her divine intervention mean his imminent end? Or will just the right combination of Heaven and Hell set the world right once again?

This is my first release with The Wild Rose Press. I'm thrilled to be a part of their garden--and proud to be included in their Black Rose line. Thank you, Editor Callie and thank you to all the readers who take my STRANGER home with them.

You Never Forget Your First...

…vampire sweetheart, that is.

What is it about these creatures that haunt us, possess us, and draw us away from the well-lit safe places of our everyday lives?

Is it…eternal love? The promise of an eternity of dwelling in another's eyes, of being loved to the point of consumption. To quench the desire of someone who would starve without us. To become their life, their reason to exist.

Yeah. That's probably it.

Or…is it the danger, the rush of treading that silver blade between life and death, pleasure and pain?

But then again, with vampires, there is no "line between". Life and death, pleasure and pain, light and dark, good and bad. They are everything, all at once.

Heroes with unimaginable power, undone by a brush of sunlight. Strength and weakness, entwined.

No wonder vamps ensnare us: we do like our men complex, after all.

WELCOME TO THE V4V GIVEAWAY HOP! Be sure to enter to win...the entry form is at the end of the post...
I have to go back a long time to remember my first vampire crush. I cut my teeth on Anne Rice when I was in college. My boyfriend had an English assignment on Interview with a Vampire and wanted me to read it so I could help him with the paper. (Come to think of it, I read a LOT of extra novels in college for the same purpose.)

I balked at first. Vampires weren't my thing.

Then, Boyfriend turned big baby brown eyes on me and fluttered those long lashes. Seriously. He had eyes like the puppies on those rip-your-heart-out animal fundraiser posters. So, I heaved a sigh and read it.

I WAS BLOWN AWAY. Louis had such depth, such tragic humanity. And Lestat? What an ass. I hated him. He was cocky, he was mean, he was so in love with himself that he eclipsed the sun. That jerk had little regard for anyone else, no matter how much I wish he would.

I didn't realize he was setting himself up to be a Bad Boy. Uh oh. My first human crush was a Bad Boy. Unrequited love all the way for six solid years. I listened to more miserable music over him than I did for the boys I actually dated. That crush was my secret agony.

Lestat didn't disappoint. And, unrequited? Heck yeah. I still ache a little inside when I think of him (or when I see old Reutger Hauer movies.) I'd never invested myself in a character the way I did Lestat. I hadn't known it was possible.

It was tough but eventually I moved on and found other vampire crushes. Jean Claude: I never wanted him more than the way I did in the very first Anita Blake installment. That hint of a suggestion of a tease was a complete PHEROMONE. Eric Northman: I have not the words. (The suggestions, I got a million of them, but when I open my mouth, nothing comes out.)

There's Eric chum Bill Compton but he's off limits. That's Sookie's first vampire love. I understand the sacredness of that bond. Sookie needs to keep that all to herself, to keep it in her heart-shaped box and cherish it always. Eric, on the other hand, is free game. =)

Not all vampires aren't loveable. I know there are some really bad ones out there and some of them are downright Nosferatu. Some of them—like Still-Heart in my upcoming release BLEEDING HEARTS—are beautiful creatures but don't be fooled: inside is a demon. He may act like a Bad Boy but deep down, he's just bad.

In fact, all the vamps in my book are bad, bad, bad. But the Demivampire? Another story altogether. *wicked grin*

But don't worry…that story will be told when BLEEDING HEARTS: Book One of the Demimonde is released on March 15th through Pink Narcissus Press (http://pinknarc.com)

Follow this blog to stay up-to-date on release news—we'll be going on a Bleeding Hearts Blog Tour in March, with lots of fun giveaways and visits to incredible blogs.

And although the vampires in my book are better off left alone, there's plenty of crush-worthy vamps in countless other books to love. I mean, have you visited any of the other stops on this blog hop? ;)

Which leads me to…the CONTEST! I am nothing if not an enabler. Everyone has their own favorite flavor of vampire. It was really tough to decide what to give away on this blog hop. So I decided to give away a build-your-own-vampire-sundae of sorts by offering an ebook spending spree at Amazon!

You can enter to win a $25 gift card to that monstrous online bookstore—that way you have a little cash to pick up some of the other vampires you've met along this blog hop. The cherry on top of said sundae is an eARC of my soon-to-debut urban fantasy BLEEDING HEARTS: Book One of the Demimonde. You can visit my demivampires any time you want. ;)

What did I tell you? I'm an enabler.

You can enter to win my goodies by Liking my Facebook page. You can get up to three extra entries by following me in other places (you'll see the links on the Rafflecopter form.) If you've never entered a Rafflecopter giveaway, it's really easy: you sign in with either your Facebook profile or your email and just follow the easy steps to Winning Land. Good luck!