Damn, another year has just FLOWN by, and the NaNoWriMo Challenge for 2013 is upon us. And I've toyed with the idea of not participating this year. Why? Well, to put it simply, I'm too flippin busy to take on another project. Between real life (which is increasingly more demanding every day), injuries (which happen a LOT with my clumsy ass), writing a YA book for Blue Ribbon Books (if they'll still take it), writing an Inspirational Romance for BRB, writing DON: Tribulation, editing DON: Sanctuary, picking up on my Tuesday's Teasers for Fractured (in theory), and the dozens of other WIPs I have stored on my hard drive, not to mention job searching (still) and house hunting (I hate this house!), I sometimes forget how to breathe. And it gave me a crazystupid case of writers' block for the last few weeks. Sometimes, I could barely write my name, let alone a status update or (god forbid) make any progress on any of my projects.
So Ashley, why the @%!* are you taking on ANOTHER project, knowing how thinly you're spread?
Great question. And the answer is...I'm setting a couple of things aside. I'll still be working on my BRB manuscripts-well, at least the YA one-and editing Sanctuary, but Tribulation and Fractured, as well as my other WIPs, will be on hold until after November. I'm sorry to have to do it, but in order to get everything in order, I'm having to prioritize. And this challenge can allow me to churn out a book in 30 days. Well, in theory, anyway.
I am, however, going to try and recruit more authors for interviews, guest posts, and features for your viewing pleasure. Hopefully we'll have interesting content to fill up the blog soon, so many thanks to those who've loyally been keeping up with all things DSP!! We got stuff brewing, so your efforts will not go unrewarded!! :)
Friday, October 25, 2013
Thursday, October 24, 2013
Throwback Thursday
It's Throwback Thursday!! Let's see what the Penguin dug up this week...
The hubby and I were cleaning out our office closet the other day, and we came upon a rare treasure-old photos! Mostly of me and my family, but cool nonetheless!
Okay, ready for this one?? Get ready to laugh...
Yep, I was a total weirdo nerd, and that's one of my little brothers. We were so cute, weren't we?? Hehe, yeah, we were awesome. And yes, that is my hand holding up the photo because I had to take a picture of a picture and no matter how hard I tried, every other angle made one or both of us look like we had alien heads. :)
Hope you enjoyed a good giggle at our cuteness, and we'll see you again soon!! :)
Thursday, October 17, 2013
Throwback Thursday
Wow, another week has flown by, and it's time for another Throwback Thursday!!
And for this week's trip down memory lane...Friends Forever!!
Yup, we are a couple of weirdos, that's for sure, but I wouldn't have it any other way and I wouldn't trade her for the world!! Me with my Aly...the Disastrous Duo...yeah buddy. Look out world!!
Happy Thursday!!
Saturday, October 12, 2013
Cover Reveal - Broken Earth, by Lee Ryder
Today, penguin lovers, we have the beautiful cover reveal for the debut book by Lee Ryder, Broken Earth!! How very exciting!!
The Book
It all began with a war… Jess’ life was turned upside down when the plagues came and destroyed her family. The cities are surrounded by immense graveyards that are inhabited by dangerous gangs that rule the cities and hold the inhabitants under their thumbs. It’s a game of life and death and only the strong survive to live another day.
The Author
Lee Ryder is a mother of 3 children and one angel. She currently lives in New England. She started writing small works at an early age and was featured in local publications. She studied theater and vocal performance and was featured in several plays. She believes in love at first sight and married her soul mate at age 19. She also has read reviewed and edited other published works. You can visit her at her blog and on her on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/MsLeesFanfiction?ref=br_tf
http://leeryderabfa.blogspot.com/
Very very cool stuff here!! Let's show Lee some love!!
The Book
It all began with a war… Jess’ life was turned upside down when the plagues came and destroyed her family. The cities are surrounded by immense graveyards that are inhabited by dangerous gangs that rule the cities and hold the inhabitants under their thumbs. It’s a game of life and death and only the strong survive to live another day.
The Author
Lee Ryder is a mother of 3 children and one angel. She currently lives in New England. She started writing small works at an early age and was featured in local publications. She studied theater and vocal performance and was featured in several plays. She believes in love at first sight and married her soul mate at age 19. She also has read reviewed and edited other published works. You can visit her at her blog and on her on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/MsLeesFanfiction?ref=br_tf
http://leeryderabfa.blogspot.com/
Very very cool stuff here!! Let's show Lee some love!!
Friday, October 11, 2013
Release Day Blitz - REAP by Christina Channelle
Hi again, all you Drunken Penguin lovers out there! Today, we have a special treat for you: the lovely Christina Channelle, author of the NEW RELEASE Young Adult book Reap, allowed us the opportunity to put together a blog blitz to celebrate her big day. So sit back and relax, and enjoy the blitz!
The Book
Foreign, or rather unfamiliar, would be the word I would use to describe how I felt.
Faintly, I could hear the glimmer of voices surrounding me in this dark haze, caressing my ears like skin against silk. I felt like I was in a cocoon of sorts, protectively enveloped, quietly drifting in some far-off place. I wanted to stay that way forever.
But we all know that what you want never really seems to happen in the real world.
Something’s not right in Mia’s head.
The first thing is that her name isn’t Mia. In fact, she has no clue what her name is—who she is. All that she knows is that she’s not like the ones who found her: Dante with his kind blue eyes, Amy with her child-like demeanor, James with his questioning gaze.
And Briggs.
The one she cannot decipher no matter how hard she tries.
As Mia tries to fit in with these people, a strange occurrence is amidst outside. And as she finally remembers who she is …
Well, let’s just say that things get a little more complicated.
Genre: Young Adult Paranormal Romance
Pages: 92
Buy it Here:
Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/reap-christina-channelle/1116875194?ean=2940045253406
Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/355391
Excerpt
I opened
my eyes but had to squeeze them shut against the harsh lights. My lids felt
swollen, heavy with fatigue. My eyes burned, tears leaking from their corners.
It
was the most uncomfortable of feelings.
I
must have been dreaming.
“Hello?”
Although
the word seemed alien to me, almost as if I had never heard it before, I
instantly understood its meaning. The voice that had spoken was warm, making me
feel as if I were suddenly sitting in front of a fireplace, wrapped in a heavy
blanket, flames crackling. The heat of the word practically licked my skin.
Again,
I tried opening my eyes, this time a bit more cautiously. Blinking, I slowly
adjusted to the artificial lights, now able to see.
I
found myself staring back into a pair of bright blue eyes, a look of wariness
in their depths. For a brief moment I couldn’t look away as I stared up at him.
Then he cleared his throat and glanced away, as if uncomfortable with my gaze.
With the spell of his eyes broken, it was then that I noticed I was lying on
the ground—no, on hardwood floor.
And
with not one, but three interested faces peering down at me.
I
sat up, then winced at the abruptness of my movement, bringing my hand to the
back of my head.
Pain, my mind whispered.
“Careful
now.”
I
directed my eyes toward the person who had spoken such kind words. It was the
first person I had noticed, the one with the blue eyes and the warm voice. His
voice was deep and calming, and as I sat there I tried to think of the emotion
I should be experiencing. Inhaling softly, I closed my eyes, ignored the
painful throb in my head, and waited for the proper term to flutter into my
mind.
Gratitude.
“Where
did you come from?”
Satisfied
I had found the correct word, I opened my eyes again to the voice speaking to
me. It was a pleasant voice, reassuring to say the least, and immediately
captured my attention.
At
that moment, I didn’t notice the black hair atop his head, a striking contrast
against his blue eyes that looked like I was staring into an ocean. I didn’t
notice that the corners of his eyes crinkled up when he smiled kindly at me,
complementing the single dimple in his right cheek. By just looking at him,
anyone could tell that he was someone who knew how to laugh. But I didn’t
notice any of that.
All
those things I would notice later.
I
stared at the corner of his lips as he continued to speak, not toward me, but
to the others present in the room. “Guys … I don’t think she understands a word
I’m saying,” he mumbled softly, as if afraid I’d be insulted at the notion of
not comprehending him.
“I
like her,” stated the girl kneeling next to him. She looked quite outrageous
wearing a short black dress with a black choker wrapped around her neck, pink
shiny embezzlements adorning it. Her white-blonde hair was extremely long,
almost past her lower back, as the ends brushed the floor. I directed my gaze
to her face and found blue eyes staring down at me.
Her
eyes were identical to the man’s.
“It’s
always the silent ones we should be weary of.” The words themselves were harsh,
but as I looked to my right I was greeted by a kind smile with equally kind
brown eyes behind wire-framed glasses. They belonged to a man casually sitting
on a couch, his shoulder-length dark brown hair tied back. As he continued to
stare, he tilted his head to the side as if analyzing a computer software
program that wouldn’t work properly.
I
guess I was the computer software program.
“James,
help me out, will you?” the man with the blue eyes asked calmly. The man on the
couch, James, stood up and slowly sauntered over to my side, then both he and
the blue-eyed man grabbed my arms and brought me to my feet. I didn’t protest,
shuffling alongside them as we entered a kitchen, where they placed me on a
wooden chair next to a table.
Sinking
down into the hard chair, I averted my eyes downwards and focused on a crack on
the wooden table. I knew I was still being stared at, three pairs of eyes
boring holes into the crown of my head.
It
was difficult not to look up but I managed. I needed a distraction, so I
started to trace the crack on the table instead, feeling the texture of the
wood as it scraped against my skin.
I
find wood to be … quite rough in manner.
“Here
you go.” That calming voice spoke once again and I looked up to find a glass of
orange juice placed in front of me. It was in that instant that I realized that
I was thirsty. I reached for the glass, instinctively bringing the rim
to my lips. The juice was cool down my throat.
Refreshing.
This
was familiar: the taste of juice in my mouth. Closing my eyes, I licked my lips
slowly, trying to memorize this feeling. Perhaps if I stayed like this long
enough, I would be brought back to that time of familiarity….
“Yo,
Briggs!” James’ voice beamed through the kitchen and I startled, setting the
glass on the table, the clanking of the glass hitting the wood almost palpable
to my ears. I hadn’t noticed the front door had opened—I believe an apartment building was where we were located—and a new
presence had entered the living room. I looked over to where he stood by the
stairs, utterly still. Although we were indoors, he wore sunglasses. And even
though I couldn’t see his eyes, I knew they stared directly at me, hard as
stone.
He
didn’t like me.
If
the man with the blue eyes was warm like a fire on a cold winter day, this man
was like the wood I had just caressed: rough, jagged.
Broken.
Character Interview: Amy Nolan
Christina: Alright, guys!
Another day, another interview. Today I bring in the lovely Amy Nolan. She
busted free from the confines of her apartment building, courtesy of three
brawny dudes, and she’s here to chat with us. Hi, Amy!
Amy: Hi! Sooooo
happy to be here. I can’t even contain myself.
Christina: I can see
that, Amy. You can’t seem to sit still.
Amy: Sorry.
Christina: That’s okay.
No need to pout. Let’s get on with some questions, the very reason you’re here.
People want to get to know a bit about you.
Amy: That’s
amazing, I love people! Ask away, ask away.
Christina: Okay. Let’s
start easy. What’s your favorite color?
Amy: Pink, of
course. Every shade imaginable.
Christina: How about
music?
Amy: I love Adele,
Christina (you and her have the same name, you know) and Florence (everybody should love Florence). Oh, and
Maroon 5. That Adam is dreamy…
Christina: That he is.
What about your favorite show?
Amy: Glee! The
Bachelor and the Bachelorette. Basically anything that involves love and
singing.
Christina: Twilight or
Vampire Diaries?
Amy: Twilight!
They’re so much friendlier, don’t you think?
Christina: Right, Amy,
dear. I hear you like to bake and made a business out of it. What’s your
favorite cupcake?
Amy: Oh, that’s
easy. Vanilla cupcake with white chocolate chips and macadamia nuts, topped
with coconut shavings. Mmm, I want one right now…
Christina: I’m right
there with you on that. How about you make some when you’re done?
Amy: I would love to.
Christina: Yum … I mean,
great! Next question: What’s your favorite fashion accessory?
Amy: My choker, of
course. It’s a gift from my wonderful friend, James. He’s a dreamboat, let me
tell you.
Christina: I bet he is.
Dog lover or cat lover?
Amy: Kittens! They
are the cutest thing ever. I met a girl with eyes just like a kitten’s. I even
named her. Mia. Sounds almost like, meow.
Christina: You named a …
girl?
Amy: Yeah. I know,
sounds crazy. But it’s a long story.
Christina: Right. Well,
that seems to be all the questions I have for you today. Thanks so much for
stopping by.
Amy: Can I do it
again sometimes? I can even bring Dante and James. I don’t know about Briggs
though.
Christina: Absolutely, Amy. Wait! Before you go, about those cupcakes…
The Author
Author Name: Christina Channelle
Bio: A dreamer, Christina Channelle holds
two degrees in health sciences but has always had a passion for writing. You
will find her reading other young adult novels, or typing up a new story on her
computer. When not writing, Christina spends her free time at the movies,
listening to music, or eating sushi. She’s a reality TV junkie and has a close
relationship with many characters on TV that have been a topic of many heated
discussions among friends. She resides in Ontario ,
Canada
Author Links:
Other books by
Christina Channelle
Blood Crave Series
Dahlia
Fallen Tears (A Blood Crave
Novella)
Rowan
Novellas/Short Stories
Dealing With It
Those Four Letter Words
The Giveaway
And now, for the good stuff. Firstly, there's a giveaway happening right now, and it's TODAY ONLY, so share the word and get as many entries as possible before midnight tonight! Enter below RIGHT NOW!!
Secondly, there is an HOURLY giveaway starting at 2pm EDT and running through 10pm EDT. You can join in on the fun by signing into Facebook (not affiliated with this giveaway) and go to my page HERE. Every hour there will be a giveaway, but to find out what prizes are up for grabs or how to win, you gotta be there!
The Hosts
We've gathered a handful of bloggers participating in the blitz, so let's show them some love!!
**HOURLY GIVEAWAY CHALLENGE!!**
The random password is PINEAPPLES!!
Thursday, October 10, 2013
Throwback Thursday
It's that time again....!!!
So for today's Throwback, let's take a trip down memory lane and look at baby me!!
Aww, wasn't I friggin adorable?? And how pretty was my mommy? Forgive her 1980's hair...hehe! And I have that contemplative stare...wonder what I was thinking. Probably "Is that gas or...nope, it was poop." We are awesome. :)
Happy Thursday!!
Why You Should Visit Us This Weekend...
This weekend is a big weekend! Tomorrow, we're hosting the Release Day Blitz for the new book Reap, by Christina Channelle. Organized and put together by yours truly!! Then Saturday, we're posting a cover reveal for a fellow author/blogger/reviewer friend, Lee Ryder, for her upcoming debut book Broken Earth. Exciting, right?!
Also, I think I have a new Theme Day to preset you all...Wednesday, stop by and see the new theme!! And bring a drool bucket...
Also, I think I have a new Theme Day to preset you all...Wednesday, stop by and see the new theme!! And bring a drool bucket...
Tuesday, October 8, 2013
Fundraising a Family
Hiya folks. I know this isn't book or paranormal related, but I wanted to share this with you.
My husband and I have been trying to start a family for over four years with no luck. (Those hands in the picture are ours-mine is the incredibly pale one!) We need the help of a specialist, and we plan on adopting at some point anyway, so we need help getting our family started, one way or another.
That's why I started this fundraiser. It's not a cry for help for something we could afford ourselves. It's not entirely selfish-we plan to foster-to-adopt, rather than pay someone to have a baby for us. It's something that means so much to my husband and me, but we just can't do it ourselves. Fertility specialists are expensive, and adoption is often even more. While we'd love to have a child on our own, we also want to adopt anyway. See, Andy was adopted, and without his parents having the heart to take him in and bring him to the US from Korea, I would never have met my soulmate. I owe them so much for bringing him into my life, and we've decided to pay that forward. While international adoption is just outside of our means, we plan to adopt a child who needs a loving home. We're going to try for our own first, but in the end, we plan to adopt.
So, in light of this, I am posting this today and asking your help in becoming a family. There are multiple reward levels, many of which will include photos or books, and a few that include both. We're asking everyone to help us become the family we've always wanted either by supporting our fundraiser or sharing it with others who might be able to help. Or both. We welcome both, too. :)
Thank you all for listening and for any support you may offer us.
With love and insanity,
Ash
That's why I started this fundraiser. It's not a cry for help for something we could afford ourselves. It's not entirely selfish-we plan to foster-to-adopt, rather than pay someone to have a baby for us. It's something that means so much to my husband and me, but we just can't do it ourselves. Fertility specialists are expensive, and adoption is often even more. While we'd love to have a child on our own, we also want to adopt anyway. See, Andy was adopted, and without his parents having the heart to take him in and bring him to the US from Korea, I would never have met my soulmate. I owe them so much for bringing him into my life, and we've decided to pay that forward. While international adoption is just outside of our means, we plan to adopt a child who needs a loving home. We're going to try for our own first, but in the end, we plan to adopt.
So, in light of this, I am posting this today and asking your help in becoming a family. There are multiple reward levels, many of which will include photos or books, and a few that include both. We're asking everyone to help us become the family we've always wanted either by supporting our fundraiser or sharing it with others who might be able to help. Or both. We welcome both, too. :)
Thank you all for listening and for any support you may offer us.
With love and insanity,
Ash
Saturday, October 5, 2013
Which Breed of Vampire Are You?
There are a bajillion different books/book series as well as movies that deal with vampires, but one thing that is consistent is the inconsistency of the vampire breeds. Everyone has their own version of a vampire, describing them as they believe they would be. Here's a rundown of some of my own personal favorite vampires. Which breed would you be?
Ah, Louis, Lestat, Claudia, and Armand were the trendsetters for all things vampire. They paved the way for future vampire themes, bringing the monsters into a new light. Beautiful and eternally young, some are given special gifts while others are not. They do not age, they cannot change. They survive only on blood, and must drink a hefty amount each day. I recall in the movie Interview with the Vampire, Lestat would kill three a day. They turned to ash in sunlight, but the myths about crucifixes and stakes through the heart don't affect them. They do, however, require a coffin, which is creepy but hey, better than dying in the sunlight, right? These vampires are social to an extent, and in the Queen of the Damned movie, Lestat became a rock god, so they don't necessarily hide in the shadows. Which is good if you want to have some semblance of a social life. These vampires are turned by draining them to the point of death then feeding them vampire blood. The body dies, but then you're reborn into darkness, then living for nearly forever-they're pretty hard to kill with their uncanny ability to regenerate and the fact that they're already dead, technically.
The first vampire to be more human than Nosferatu, many books and movies were made about him. There are many different legends here, so pinpointing the truth may be a little harder than expected. Dracula is a shapeshifter, able to transform into a bat, and in some stories, a wolf or werewolf. He survives on only blood, and is a complete recluse except when he finds his love, Mina, in the movie Bram Stoker's Dracula. He turns his victims by simply drinking from them, infecting them with his virus through his saliva. Although in the same movie, Mina is stopped from becoming a vampire when she is not permitted to drink from Dracula, so there's a little confusion on this one. He's a total badass, even if he is hundreds-possibly thousands-of years old. (Okay, admittedly, I'm rusty on my Dracula facts on this one, but you get the idea.) Stakes through the heart and crucifixes are deadly for Dracula and his vamps, and coffins are a necessity. Garlic and holy water are major turnoffs. He's nocturnal, but when he finds his Mina he seems to walk about during the day unharmed.
Blade is a breed all his own, but for the sake of time and sanity, we'll kinda group him with the vampires he hunts for the sake of time and sanity, since he is a watered down version of them anyway. These vampires (Blade excluded) burst into flames in sunlight or any UV light, and are allergic to silver, but don't seem to sleep in coffins. In fact, I don't recall ever seeing any of them sleep, aside from when Blade was unconscious. They're vicious and have no regard for human life, treating them only as pets and food. They survive only on blood, and crave power in all three movies. They're definitely superhuman with their strength and speed, but not quite as much as the vamps in Interview with the Vampire or even Twilight. They are definitely badasses though, and once even unearth Dracula (Drake) to help them rise to power.
These vamps are special indeed. They're not badasses. They are marked with a crescent moon on their heads which fill in when they make the change. They study to become vampires, learning all about their culture, history, and all the while discovering their strengths and abilities. As full grown adult vampires, they do drink blood, and some of the younger fledglings mix it with wine, but they also eat regular food too. Which is great, since food tastes really awesome. There are different rules for these vampires, especially where relationships are concerned. Consorts, mates, imprinting, warriors, and guardians. Oh my! These vamps also manipulate the elements, Earth, Air, Fire, Water, and Spirit, and while usually each vamp gets one, the main character Zoey controls all five. Which, let's face it, is cool as hell. The stake in the heart, silver, garlic, crucifixes, coffins-all that doesn't apply here. These vamps aren't dead, they're just improved, and they don't live forever, just unnaturally long life spans. They seem to be fairly easy to kill, but their vulnerability makes them appreciate life a little more than most vamps.
These sexy vamps reinvented sexy. In fact, they brought sexy back. (Hehe.) A new breed of vamps ushering a new generation of the world's youth into the world of vampire acceptance, although they're not widely accepted by the previous generations of vampire fans. Actually, they're kind of hit or miss, but I like em, so here ya go. They only drink blood, their bodies are dead, they have no reaction to garlic, holy water, crucifixes, silver, or a stake through the heart, nor do they require coffins. They also don't sleep. They're ridiculously strong and can move at incomprehensible speeds, and some are gifted with talents, much like in Interview With the Vampire, only there are many different types of talents and gifts. All it takes to turn someone into a vamp is to bite them and get vampire saliva into their bloodstream. Their bodies are also changed biologically, their skin becoming hard and impenetrable, their bones being strengthened and almost impossible to break, and their saliva becomes venom. Their eyes also change colors depending on how thirsty they get, which can be great for practical jokes. However, they do sparkle in the sunlight. And while glitter is always fun, it's not in the least bit scary or intimidating, so you may get called names and ridiculed. But they are definitely beautiful (though the casting for some characters could have been better in the movies) and forever young, living indefinitely until killed by another vampire or wolf.
These vamps follow a hierarchy, with royals being the powerful and blood-drinking breed, while the dhampirs are the fighters, guarding and protecting the royals to ensure survival of their kind. The dhampirs are half royal, half human, the men are sterile, and they don't drink blood. The royals are the babymakers and can have children with female dhampirs. The royals are gifted with an affinity for one of the elements, much like in the House of Night, but Spirit is the one that is rarest, driving most who are gifted with that affinity to madness and sometimes suicide. They often have talents above and beyond the elements, too. For this group of vamps, it's all about the protection and continuation of their civilization and way of life. Like many before them, they are not affected by garlic and don't sleep in coffins, nor are they affected by holy water or crucifixes. There is a breed within these vampires called Strigoi, the seriously bad ones that often started off as royals but chose to live a life of murder and hate. They can be killed by a silver stake, and would bleed the world dry if given the chance.
Now, we're at a crossroads. Do we go with Buffy the movie or the TV show? For consistency's sake, let's say the movie. These vamps are definitely dead, and literally crawled out of the grave. They live on only blood, cannot come in unless invited, and are affected by holy water, crosses, garlic, and are especially vulnerable to stakes through the heart. They're super strong and in at least one scene, can fly. Or float. But they are seriously bad guys and only want to drink your blood. The only one who can defeat them is a teenage blonde cheerleader, and only one slayer is born in a generation. One slayer against countless vampires...I'd say odds of survival are pretty good if you stay far away from the slayer.
Now these guys are sadistic, twisted, gruesome, and will totally ruin someone's night. While they have some vulnerabilities, like holy water, crosses, and if I recall correctly silver, they are tougher than most of the aforementioned vamps. Plus, they have the added benefit of morphing into these hideous creatures that are barely humanoid, looking instead more like demons. They only have to bite to turn someone, and they go for the goriest kill possible. During the day, they look normal inside their biker bar, but when the sun goes down, these guys are hideous monstrosities. They also burn up in the light, so that's a major downer. For them, anyway...
These vampires died-well, kind of. During the process of death, they are presented with the choice of crossing over into the light or choosing to remain in darkness forever. If you choose darkness, you wake up a vampire, painless and a newer, improved version of your old self. They require blood to survive, but they also eat regular food too. Crosses, holy water, garlic, and silver don't affect them, but much in the same way as if you rammed a stake (or any object) through your own heart, they can be killed by stakes. They can be killed by knives. It's harder to kill them, but they are not invincible. They are often gifted with one or more abilities, such as telepathy, seduction, projection, elemental manipulation, or the ability to inflict pain-both physical and mental-upon their victims. They don't sleep in coffins, but keep a nocturnal schedule. Though it's unprecedented, it's found that when vampire and witch blood combine in one person, they are able to procreate like humans do, creating a new breed of vampire that has all the best qualities of a vampire and of a witch. An awesome treat to be so powerful in so many ways, yet remain vulnerable and able to appreciate your indefinite lifespan.
By no means is this the ultimate list of all vampires, it's just some of my faves and some of the more well-known vampires in pop culture. (Plus my own vampires, who while they might not be as well known...well, like I'm gonna leave them off this list?)
So which breed of vampire would YOU be? Share in the comments!
The Vampire Chronicles Vamps
Ah, Louis, Lestat, Claudia, and Armand were the trendsetters for all things vampire. They paved the way for future vampire themes, bringing the monsters into a new light. Beautiful and eternally young, some are given special gifts while others are not. They do not age, they cannot change. They survive only on blood, and must drink a hefty amount each day. I recall in the movie Interview with the Vampire, Lestat would kill three a day. They turned to ash in sunlight, but the myths about crucifixes and stakes through the heart don't affect them. They do, however, require a coffin, which is creepy but hey, better than dying in the sunlight, right? These vampires are social to an extent, and in the Queen of the Damned movie, Lestat became a rock god, so they don't necessarily hide in the shadows. Which is good if you want to have some semblance of a social life. These vampires are turned by draining them to the point of death then feeding them vampire blood. The body dies, but then you're reborn into darkness, then living for nearly forever-they're pretty hard to kill with their uncanny ability to regenerate and the fact that they're already dead, technically.
Dracula
The first vampire to be more human than Nosferatu, many books and movies were made about him. There are many different legends here, so pinpointing the truth may be a little harder than expected. Dracula is a shapeshifter, able to transform into a bat, and in some stories, a wolf or werewolf. He survives on only blood, and is a complete recluse except when he finds his love, Mina, in the movie Bram Stoker's Dracula. He turns his victims by simply drinking from them, infecting them with his virus through his saliva. Although in the same movie, Mina is stopped from becoming a vampire when she is not permitted to drink from Dracula, so there's a little confusion on this one. He's a total badass, even if he is hundreds-possibly thousands-of years old. (Okay, admittedly, I'm rusty on my Dracula facts on this one, but you get the idea.) Stakes through the heart and crucifixes are deadly for Dracula and his vamps, and coffins are a necessity. Garlic and holy water are major turnoffs. He's nocturnal, but when he finds his Mina he seems to walk about during the day unharmed.
Blade and the Bad Vamps
Blade is a breed all his own, but for the sake of time and sanity, we'll kinda group him with the vampires he hunts for the sake of time and sanity, since he is a watered down version of them anyway. These vampires (Blade excluded) burst into flames in sunlight or any UV light, and are allergic to silver, but don't seem to sleep in coffins. In fact, I don't recall ever seeing any of them sleep, aside from when Blade was unconscious. They're vicious and have no regard for human life, treating them only as pets and food. They survive only on blood, and crave power in all three movies. They're definitely superhuman with their strength and speed, but not quite as much as the vamps in Interview with the Vampire or even Twilight. They are definitely badasses though, and once even unearth Dracula (Drake) to help them rise to power.
House of Night Vamps
These vamps are special indeed. They're not badasses. They are marked with a crescent moon on their heads which fill in when they make the change. They study to become vampires, learning all about their culture, history, and all the while discovering their strengths and abilities. As full grown adult vampires, they do drink blood, and some of the younger fledglings mix it with wine, but they also eat regular food too. Which is great, since food tastes really awesome. There are different rules for these vampires, especially where relationships are concerned. Consorts, mates, imprinting, warriors, and guardians. Oh my! These vamps also manipulate the elements, Earth, Air, Fire, Water, and Spirit, and while usually each vamp gets one, the main character Zoey controls all five. Which, let's face it, is cool as hell. The stake in the heart, silver, garlic, crucifixes, coffins-all that doesn't apply here. These vamps aren't dead, they're just improved, and they don't live forever, just unnaturally long life spans. They seem to be fairly easy to kill, but their vulnerability makes them appreciate life a little more than most vamps.
Twilight Vamps
These sexy vamps reinvented sexy. In fact, they brought sexy back. (Hehe.) A new breed of vamps ushering a new generation of the world's youth into the world of vampire acceptance, although they're not widely accepted by the previous generations of vampire fans. Actually, they're kind of hit or miss, but I like em, so here ya go. They only drink blood, their bodies are dead, they have no reaction to garlic, holy water, crucifixes, silver, or a stake through the heart, nor do they require coffins. They also don't sleep. They're ridiculously strong and can move at incomprehensible speeds, and some are gifted with talents, much like in Interview With the Vampire, only there are many different types of talents and gifts. All it takes to turn someone into a vamp is to bite them and get vampire saliva into their bloodstream. Their bodies are also changed biologically, their skin becoming hard and impenetrable, their bones being strengthened and almost impossible to break, and their saliva becomes venom. Their eyes also change colors depending on how thirsty they get, which can be great for practical jokes. However, they do sparkle in the sunlight. And while glitter is always fun, it's not in the least bit scary or intimidating, so you may get called names and ridiculed. But they are definitely beautiful (though the casting for some characters could have been better in the movies) and forever young, living indefinitely until killed by another vampire or wolf.
Vampire Academy Vamps
These vamps follow a hierarchy, with royals being the powerful and blood-drinking breed, while the dhampirs are the fighters, guarding and protecting the royals to ensure survival of their kind. The dhampirs are half royal, half human, the men are sterile, and they don't drink blood. The royals are the babymakers and can have children with female dhampirs. The royals are gifted with an affinity for one of the elements, much like in the House of Night, but Spirit is the one that is rarest, driving most who are gifted with that affinity to madness and sometimes suicide. They often have talents above and beyond the elements, too. For this group of vamps, it's all about the protection and continuation of their civilization and way of life. Like many before them, they are not affected by garlic and don't sleep in coffins, nor are they affected by holy water or crucifixes. There is a breed within these vampires called Strigoi, the seriously bad ones that often started off as royals but chose to live a life of murder and hate. They can be killed by a silver stake, and would bleed the world dry if given the chance.
Buffy's Vamps
Now, we're at a crossroads. Do we go with Buffy the movie or the TV show? For consistency's sake, let's say the movie. These vamps are definitely dead, and literally crawled out of the grave. They live on only blood, cannot come in unless invited, and are affected by holy water, crosses, garlic, and are especially vulnerable to stakes through the heart. They're super strong and in at least one scene, can fly. Or float. But they are seriously bad guys and only want to drink your blood. The only one who can defeat them is a teenage blonde cheerleader, and only one slayer is born in a generation. One slayer against countless vampires...I'd say odds of survival are pretty good if you stay far away from the slayer.
Dusk Till Dawn Vamps
Now these guys are sadistic, twisted, gruesome, and will totally ruin someone's night. While they have some vulnerabilities, like holy water, crosses, and if I recall correctly silver, they are tougher than most of the aforementioned vamps. Plus, they have the added benefit of morphing into these hideous creatures that are barely humanoid, looking instead more like demons. They only have to bite to turn someone, and they go for the goriest kill possible. During the day, they look normal inside their biker bar, but when the sun goes down, these guys are hideous monstrosities. They also burn up in the light, so that's a major downer. For them, anyway...
Daughters of Night Vamps
These vampires died-well, kind of. During the process of death, they are presented with the choice of crossing over into the light or choosing to remain in darkness forever. If you choose darkness, you wake up a vampire, painless and a newer, improved version of your old self. They require blood to survive, but they also eat regular food too. Crosses, holy water, garlic, and silver don't affect them, but much in the same way as if you rammed a stake (or any object) through your own heart, they can be killed by stakes. They can be killed by knives. It's harder to kill them, but they are not invincible. They are often gifted with one or more abilities, such as telepathy, seduction, projection, elemental manipulation, or the ability to inflict pain-both physical and mental-upon their victims. They don't sleep in coffins, but keep a nocturnal schedule. Though it's unprecedented, it's found that when vampire and witch blood combine in one person, they are able to procreate like humans do, creating a new breed of vampire that has all the best qualities of a vampire and of a witch. An awesome treat to be so powerful in so many ways, yet remain vulnerable and able to appreciate your indefinite lifespan.
By no means is this the ultimate list of all vampires, it's just some of my faves and some of the more well-known vampires in pop culture. (Plus my own vampires, who while they might not be as well known...well, like I'm gonna leave them off this list?)
So which breed of vampire would YOU be? Share in the comments!
Friday, October 4, 2013
The List of DOOM!!
I haven't posted in a bit, and I'm sorry for that. I've been working on a few projects and then got really ill for a while. I'm better now, but my new medicine makes me kinda loopy and incredibly sleepy. Given the opportunity, I'd sleep the whole damn day away.
But, I'm back today, and I bring with me a list. A list that is so awesome it's better than all other lists that have come before it. It's listacular. It's fabulist. It's the list to end all lists. It's...
The List of DOOM is going to be an ongoing list that I'm keeping track of (without the Penguin's knowledge, so please don't tell him!) that includes the greatest movie death scenes of all time. And this is interactive-add your favorite death scenes in the comments and I'll update the list as often as possible! To get us started I've added a few of my faves below:
But, I'm back today, and I bring with me a list. A list that is so awesome it's better than all other lists that have come before it. It's listacular. It's fabulist. It's the list to end all lists. It's...
The List of DOOM!!!
- Freddy's Dead: The Final Nightmare - Breckin Meyer. For starters, it has two of my favorite things; psychedelic music and video games. I still can't listen to that song without getting the feeling that I'm gonna get sucked into my TV.
- Hellraiser - take your pick! Just about all the deaths in this movie franchise involve chains with hoks on the end ripping the characters bodies apart and peeling the flesh off, exposing the muscular system. Yeah, that's a sucky way to go.
- Evil Dead (2013) - chainsaw scene at the end. Man, that was gory and sick. I mean...just watch the video (only if you're not queasy!) and you'll see why it's the sh*t!
- House of 1000 Corpses - Baby's Guessing Game. For whatever reason, this character makes me wanna piss my pants, but when she start's scalping the dude...yeah, that did it for me.
- The Cabin in the Woods - Monsters Unleashed. Holy crap, every possible nightmare comes to kick the crap out of these people. Seriously, this is the kind of stuff I live for. :)
Okay, so there's five to start us off, what are some of YOUR favorite movie deaths you'd like to see added to the List of DOOM?
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