I Tawt I Taw a Vwampire Part III and Book Review

I've discussed vampirism today in our society and vampire movies and TVs. I left out one of my favorite vampire movies: 'The Librarian The Curse of the Judas Chalice.' 'The Librarian' series are based around the concept that there has always been a Librarian who keeps the world's artifacts. I thoroughly enjoy watching these. They star Noah Wyle as Flynn Carsen a new Librarian. In 'The Curse of the Judas Chalice' Flynn finds himself in New Orleans helping a female vampire save the chalice from evil hands.
Noah Wyle is just a fun actor who makes these movies so entertaining.

On to the top selling Vampire books:
First of all, there are all sorts of opinions on this, depending on the sub-genre. However, I believe these are top sellers:

Charlaine Harris Sookie StackHouse Southern Vampire Mystery Series - this is where the TV show True Blood came from.

The Twilight Series by Stephanie Meyers

Dracula by Bram Stoker

Interview with a Vampire by Anne Rice

Betrayed (House of Night, Book 2) by P.C. Cast and Kristen Cast

Deadly Desire by Keri Arthur

Vampire romance genre is taking more than its share of 10 sellers.

Lothaire by Kresley Cole is one.

My friend Beth Muscat just reviewed 'Vampyre Kisses' by Elizabeth Kolodziej. Beth gave it 5 stars. Here is the review: http://bethsreviewsandpromotions.wordpress.com/
It certainly looks to be an excellent read.

But my all time favorite has become 'The Amaranthine Series' by Joleene Naylor. Not since the Harry Potter books have I been more impressed with an author. Her series are action, thriller, mystery, horror, and erotica all thrown into each book.

Joleene has 3 out right now: 'Shades of Gray', 'Legacy of Ghosts', and 'Ties of Blood', with books 4 and 5 due out this year. I cannot wait!

'Shades of Gray' is the first in the series where we meet Katelina - a human and Jorick - a vampire from centuries ago. Right from the first page, I could not put this book down.
Same with the other two:


What did I like about them? Everything. I am serious. These are the best reads I've had in a long, long time. I read around the clock. Be prepared. They are about vampires, so I won't deny there are horror scenes in them and certainly some tastefully done erotica. But putting that aside, it was fascinating to watch the interactions of other vampires with Jorick.

As Katelina and Jorick fall in love with each other, and their love deepens, I was impressed at how well Joleene did in developing this relationship.

Would I read them again? You're kidding! Seriously, when I finished 'Shades of Gray' I wanted to immediately read it again! I wanted to make sure I didn't miss anything.

Joleene Naylor is an amazingly talented author, and I think her time of discovery will be soon. She has several smaller books out on the lives of each of these vampires.

Who's my favorite? Well, of course I like Jorick - he's a brooder. I like Oren too - he's more of a brooder. I like Jeda. She's very much the perfect lady, yet vampire. Loren is a teenage vampire, recently turned who is a lot of fun to read about. Oh, there are just too many.

In 'Ties of Blood' we meet yet another vampire, Verchiel. I can't wait to see whose side he's really on. Verchiel is not well like by Jorick, yet he's saved Katelina more than once. And he's funny, and a tease, and mishchevious; and I love his character.

Honestly, friends, try these books out. I don't think you'll be disappointed. 'Shades of Gray' sells in e-book form for only 99cents at Amazon. The other two are only $2.00 each. $5.00 for some of the best writing out there today.

How I discovered Joleene Naylor's works:
Joleene advertised to interview writers' characters. I thought it would be humorous for her to interview Geraldina since Geraldina does not believe in vampires. You can read Geraldina's meeting of a vampire by clicking the above tab and reading 'An Offer I Must Refuse.'

Joleene agreed to the interview and I sent her my parts on Geraldina. She was a wizard at developing my parts into the interview with Katelina. Here for your enjoyment is the meeting reprinted:

Interview with Geraldina Pottwatts

Hello! My name is Katelina, and welcome to Weekend Character Interviews. Using state of the art-mumbo-jumbo author magic, Jo has temporarily bent the laws of fictional space and time to allow various literary universes to converge long enough for me to ask different characters a few questions. Since I spend a lot of time in the Amaranthine series quizzing vampires on what they’re doing, where they’re going and why, Jo thought I would be the perfect interviewer.

Today we have Geraldina Pottwatts from a collection of short stories by D M Yates – and it looks like she’s brought her cat. I think this is our first pet! Now we’ll have to have a dog later to even things out.

Geraldina: Well, hon, I’m 65 years old. I hate glasses, but I do use these here pince nez. As you can see, I’m properly groomed with short styled hair. I’ll admit I’m rather tall, but my late husband, Wally, didn’t mind. God rest his sweet soul. He was an archeologist. That’s someone who digs up old stuff. Now, I devote my time to the Lard (at this, she throws up her arms, looks to the ceiling and yells ‘Hallelujah, Lard’) and to my precious widdle Snookums-Doodles. (She looks fondly at an excessively overweight cat, wearing a knit sweater, laying on his back in a pet stroller eating a cat treat. As if in answer to her, he stops eating for a second and produces a rather loud belch, then continues eating). I live somewhere in the Midwest, but I ain’t gonna tell you where. You can see how attractive I am, and I don’t want a lot of male visitors coming by. (She leans forward and with her hand to her mouth, she whispers, ‘you know what I mean’) Now, the Midwest is in the United States, Sweetie, in case you didn’t know.

K: Actually, I was just there recently. There’s not much in the Midwest, is there? Or at least not in my literary universe. So you’re not actually in a novel yet?

G: I think we established that, dear. That’s ok. Don’t feel bad. You’ll smarten up with age. I’m a character in a collection of short stories, named after me (My idea to name ‘em after me. One thing my author did listen to.) You can see a couple of ‘em on her blog-thingey at http://dmyates.blogspot.com, including the one with the young boy who thought he was a vampire. (Gerri laughs and slaps the table again). I straightened him out, right proper, I did. I’ll tell ya, I don’t know what’s wrong with a good sturdy typewriter and paper. This world, mm, mm, mm.

K: You’re sure he wasn’t a vampire? I mean, I do know a few… *stops at look from Geraldina* Um, anyway, over the course of the short stories how do you change or evolve or-

G:Mm, mm, mm. Such difficult questions from someone so young. Are you married? Marriage is holy in the sight of the Lard. (She repeats the gesture of throwing her arms up and looking at the ceiling. She yells ‘Hallelujah’) Now, Shirley – she’s my friend- (someone has to be her friend, you know) – she has this lazy son, Buddy, whose not married. He ain’t much of a catch, but at your age, well, take what you can get, I say. What’s that? I’m a tch deaf. Oh yes, your fancy question. I’m simply a character composite of older women barn in an earlier time. (She leans forward with her hand to her mouth and whispers ‘that’d be last century, but we don’t have to tell the world that, since I’m so young looking’).

K: What’s the biggest challenge you face in the stories?

G:What’s that? Biggest challenge? My, my. That’s easy. Why, it’s getting people to listen to my advice, my words of wisdom. (She repeats her gesture but this time cups her hand to her mouth and whispers, ‘Thank you, Lard that I’m not as dumb as this girl here’. She looks back kindly at Katelina and smiles politely).

K: Uh-huh. I suppose you probably don’t have any enemies then?

G: Enemies? Don’t be silly, Missy. Everyone who meets me stands in awe of me. Why, most people barely talk when I’m around. (Repeating her favorite gesture, she yells, ‘Thank you Lard for making me so perfect). Mm, mm.

G: Well, that’s a no-brainer. One night, a starving young actor just pops up in my bedroom. Mm, mm, mm. Poor lost soul. Thought he could act and that he was a vampire. (She laughs and slaps her hand on a nearby table). Lost little young ‘un, wasn’t he, Snookums? (She looks lovingly at her cat who had just grabbed another cat treat from a large pile next to him and munches away unconcernedly). Poor boy. No decent coat, just some old cloak. Thought he was from Transylvania – as if such a place exits. (She slaps the nearby table again). See what can happen when you don’t eat right or get enough sleep? Now, the way your eyes keep getting bigger and your mouth gets prunier while we talk, why I’d say, you need a good dose of Prune Juice daily and start eating prunes for snacks, you poor girl. Take my advice. I know what I’m saying, and I’ve seen that look many a time before when talking to people. Mm, mm, mm. The foods people eat today. All plugged up, like you.

K: *swallows* I have a bad feeling about what happened to that vampire-

G: Poor Lost Soul, you mean. Confused-

K: Right. Next question. You mentioned marriage earlier. Are you in a relationship or-

G: Now, you shouldn’t ask such personal things, young lady. What kind of mother did you have? My sweet Wally has been dead this many a year. There was one man once I thought would do alright, but he must have been intimidated by my smarts. Never did see him again. What about you? Buddy is still single and with that scrunched up look on your face, well, you know. I bet you don’t get asked out much. Think about it, Sweety. And don’t forget to drink Prune Juice. Might make Buddy like you more if your face wasn’t like that. My, my, and it’s getting worse as we talk.

K: Um, yeah. Thanks, anyway. I think Jorick might get a little upset about that. *looks towards the door he usually appears through, but he fails to show up*. Okay, then. Thanks, Jorick!

G: MM? What? Who are you talking to? Are you alright?

K: Yeah, yeah. Peachy. Oh, it looks like we’re running low on time. What’s the one thing you want in the whole world?

G: Why, I just want the whole world to love the Lard as I do. (Again, she does her favorite gesture. ‘Hallelujah, Lard, hallelujah!). Then everyone would be as near perfect as me, and my work here on this tainted earth would be done. Mm, mm, mm.

G: Why, I’d tell them to carry the Good Book where-ever they go. Makes for good reading. AND, it’s useful if you have to smack a stranger to get your point across. Listen here, little girl. You ain’t one of those who talk about them vampires, are you? Silly young ‘uns today. My, my, my. What’s the next question? I haven’t got all day, you know. You just talk too much. No wonder young men don’t come around you much. You’re not too bright, are ya? And that face, and my, my, my, do you ever stop talking for one minute? Mm, mm, mm. You need a lot of work. (She repeats the gesture of throwing her hands up and looking at the ceiling. ‘Thank ya, Lard, for bringing me to this needy child). An adult, you say? (Gerri laughs). You young people all think you’re adults. Silly young ‘uns today. Why, when I was your age, not that long ago, we young people were much smarter. Probably ’cause we ate right.

K: *scowling* Uh-huh. You know, Jorick thinks I’m just fine! *again he does not appear* Fine! Just stay hidden!

G: There you go again. It’s things like that that are causing your trouble!

K: *through gritted teeth*I don’t have any trouble. If you could say one thing to your author, what would it be?

G: Her writing needs work. Now, I write a weekly newsletter for my church. I’m willing to show her how to write a story properly, but she pretends she can’t hear me. Thinks she’s Miss Perfect Writer. Well, she’ll see. Someday, she’ll come begging me to help her. And she has that same pruney face, like yours. I told her what to eat. Stubborn as a mule, that one. You know, you didn’t ask where I’m going from here. This writer – and I use the word lightly, if you know what I mean (Gerri winks at Katelina) – tch, tch, has some more ideas she’s working on. She’s slow and a bit lazy, if you ask me. I’d have all these stories done by now. What am I supposed to do while waiting. I’ve already read my Good Book cover to cover many times. How thoughtless can you get, but then, she fancies herself a writer? Mm, mm, mm. Dreamer, more likely.

K: *softens a little& I can sympathize with lazy authors-

G: Now, Snookums Doodles and I have typed up a few more suggestions on how to improve our church. I’m meeting with our Pastor and so I best be on my way. I’ll leave you my phone number. You give me a call. You and Buddy are aging quickly, you know. (As she strolls Snookums out, she stops and using her favorite gesture, she yells, ‘Hallelujah, Lard, I just saved ya another soul.’ Meanwhile Snookums Doodles releases gas so vile smelling that Katelina really puckers up, holding her breath). I’ll be sending along some prunes. Mm, mm, mm. So young to have a face like that. (Gerri and Snookums Doodles leaves).

K: *stares after them* Well, that was – erm-

Jorick: *appears through doorway* Interesting?

K: Where the hell have you been?! Oh never mind! Thanks to Geraldina and, um, her foul smelling cat for stopping by today. You can find her on DM Yates’ blog at http://dmyates.blogspot.com/p/geraldina-pottwatts-short-stories.html

And a special thanks to DM Yates for playing along!

If you’re an author and would like your character(s) to be interviewed by me, then check out this very cool page that has all the details:

http://joleenenaylor.wordpress.com/character-interviews/

also check out her Amaranthine website:
http://joleenenaylor.wordpress.com/about/



Joleene, I cannot thank you enough for writing the 'Amaranthine' series. You know I'll be grabbing books 4 and 5 as soon as they're out.

A big thank you to all of you for your friendship and for reading my blog.

LHR and PAWS for Success.