New Contest!

Erin McCarthy, "One of the romance writing industry's brightest stars" (Romance Reviews Today), returns with a flat-out delightful, new, and sexy contemporary romance about a woman who's happy being single - and the man determined to change her mind. FLAT-OUT SEXY releases in November is is available for pre-order now and we're celebrating with a fun new contest giving away THREE autographed copies from her backlist!Independent single mother Tamara Briggs wanted to find a new, sexy, no-strings-attached man - just not one as young as NASCAR driver Elec Monroe. But he sure does get her heart racing. And after she's tricked into a blind date with him, Tamara gives in to her passion. Things screech to a halt, though, when he asks to meet her children. Whatever happened to wham-bam-thank-you ma'am? Suddenly Tamara has to decide how much risk she's willing to take to experience the power of true love.

For details on how to enter, head over to http://www.authorisland.com/ - A winner will be drawn on November 30th - Good luck!

Fun Contests!

FALLEN officially hit the shelves last Thursday and to celebrate I'm doing a fun contest with three other authors. All you have to do is give your answer to the question below in the comments section and I'll pick a random winner from those who post on Tuesday and Wednesday. Up for grabs is a copy of FALLEN, plus an assortment of 15 paranormal romances by various authors. Then after you comment here, hop over to the other three authors blogs and answer their questions for a chance to win even more cool prizes!

Make sense? Sort of? :)

Here's the question you need to answer:
Which celebrity do you think is a vampire?

Here's what we thought...
Anya Bast- Tom Cruise. He's either a vampire or an alien.
http://www.anyabast.com/blog/

Michele Bardsley- Paris Hilton. C'mon. She's pale, doesn't eat, and only comes out at night.
http://blog.michelebardsley.net

Tate Hallaway- Of course the old joke is Dick Clark, but he's sort of dropped out of the scene (in hiding until he can rise again?) My other answer is equally obscure: Jim Davis, the creator/writer of the Garfield comic strip. I think he's a vampire because he has this magical ability to continue to be immensely popular with kids. My son Mason devours anything Garfield related. Another friend of mine said her daughter did the same thing. I think it's clearly all about vampire glamour.
http://tatehallaway.blogspot.com

Erin McCarthy- I stole this answer straight from Lori Devoti (see her interview with the Impalers a few weeks ago) but I thought it just had to be true. Oprah is clearly a vampire... no one can exert that kind of influence without the use of glamours. And she is tight with Tom Cruise after all.

So which celeb do you think is a vampire? And make sure you visit the other author's blogs for a chance at more great prizes. :-)

Erin

Diabetes Auction Basket

Author Brenda Novak is running her amazing Diabetes Auction again this year during the entire month of May, and Kathy and Erin have donated a vampire basket. Visit www.brendanovak.com to bid on it.

The basket includes the following books:
Any Way You Want It
Fangs For The Memories (with sexy new mass market cover!)
My Sister Is A Werewolf
High Stakes
Bit The Jackpot
Bled Dry
Sucker Bet
An Advanced Reader Copy of First Blood, an anthology with Susan Sizemore, Erin McCarthy, Chris Marie Green, and Meljean Brook (August release)

PLUS, an Impalers CD, an Impalers t-shirt and other vampire goodies.

Help us help a great cause!
The Impalers

Lori Loves Werwolves

Okay, despite this admission, we are thrilled to introduce Lori Devoti, www.loridevoti.com Nocturne author extraordinaire. (Even if she does have bad taste in preternatural creatures--wink, wink.)

Lori Devoti grew up in southern Missouri and attended college at the University of Missouri-Columbia where she earned a Bachelor of Journalism. She, however, made it clear to anyone who asked, she was not a writer; she worked for the dark side—advertising. Now twenty years later, she’s proud to declare herself a writer and visit her dark side occasionally by writing dark paranormal romances for Silhouette Nocturne.

Lori lives in Wisconsin with her husband, daughter, son, an extremely patient shepherd mix, and the world’s pushiest Siberian husky. And she's pleased to announce her newest Nocturne, Guardian's Keep...

Kol Hildr had spent the last century battling hellhounds and warlocks who sought to usurp his portal’s magic. A mighty shape-shifter with the ability to change into wolf form, Kol made accessing the powerful gateway nearly impossible–unless you were a witch of Kelly Shane’s talents. She had a score to settle and would do anything to close the portal that led to her unearthly prison. Though an alliance with her compromised Kol’s purpose, something about the little witch overwhelmed his fierce, battle-worn soul. But when he learned Kelly’s life might be in jeopardy, could Kol put aside the one thing he thought he valued most–the portal–to journey to the other side and rescue her?

Hi Lori! Thanks for joining us today. How's about answer a few questions for us.

Why do you write about vampires? (Kind of a trick question)
My first published foray into vampires will come out this December—a novella in the Holiday with a Vampire Silhouette Nocturne anthology. But I also have a couple (ahem) unpublished vampire tales lurking on my hard drive. Why write them? They are the epitome of the tortured hero…and have bad boy potential out the wazoo. Who could make a better romance hero? (except maybe a hellhound…)

If you could go on a date with a vampire, what would you do?
Besides wear a turtle neck? A moonlit dinner on top of some medieval castle’s parapets would certainly be appealing. If he was a more modern kind of guy…all night bowling?

Do you prefer long hair or short hair on your men (vampires, heroes, etc)?
Okay, I’ll admit it I like my heroes with long hair. Maybe it’s because so few men in real life can carry the look off.

What is your favorite vampire movie?
Underworld, hands down.

What is the favorite of the books you've written?
I think it actually may be Wild Hunt which won’t be out until June. It’s the story of a hellhound who is looking for a way to kill his father and winds up getting caught up with the Wild Hunt. Tortured sexy hero and some kick ass women. Gotta love that.

What celebrity do you suspect is a vampire?
Oprah. Seriously, how can woman have gotten so much power over humans in one mortal lifetime? And have you seen some of her guests? The books she makes into best-sellers? There is some serious mind-control going on there.

What food would you miss the most if you were a vampire?
Can I still have Lattes? How about salsa—that’s pretty much liquid, right? Maybe I’d just have to stalk all night Starbucks and Taco Bells…If you are what you eat and all that…

If you were an Impaler, what instrument would you play?
I played the clarinet for years, but wouldn’t even ask the undead to listen to me play that. Maybe the banjo or harmonica—I am from Southern Missouri, and a little tinge of Bluegrass might liven things up.

Vampires or werewolves? Why?
Sorry, guys, gotta go with werewolves since most of my books have either hellhounds or garm (wolf-shape-shifters) in them. Like I said, I am working on a vampire tale though for December release.

If you were a vampire, where would you sleep? Coffin? Darkened bedroom? Crypt? Or other? If other, explain.
Something surrounded with all those laser alarm beams you see in spy movies—try and stake me, will you? Boom—cage drops on you and you’re a midmorning snack.

If you weren't a writer, what would you be?
Sane?

What's the best part of being a writer?
Playing Freecell and calling it work.

What is your favorite color?
Red, isn’t it yours?

If you were a vampire, what time period would you have been made one?
I don’t know about me in particular, but the world could have used a kickass female vampire in the late 1800’s and early 1900’s. It could have put a whole new face on the women’s suffrage movement. Oh, yeah.

Who was a better vampire? Brad Pitt or Tom Cruise?
Neither is really working for me. I went to college with Brad Pitt and I can’t shake the all American image that’s left over. And Tom Cruise, you’re kidding me, right?

Well, the werewolves win, but at least we have a draw on the Pitt/Cruise debate!

Kay Stockham Picks Brad Pitt

Today we're talking to Superromance author, Kay Stockham, www.kaystockham.com, who doesn't write about vampires, but clearly should. Here's what Kay had to say...

If you could go on a date with a vampire, what would you do?
Get tips on staying young. ;)

Do you prefer long hair or short hair on your men (vampires, heroes, etc)?
Hmmm.. tough call. Medium length? Enough that if I ran my fingers through the length it would curl. *shiver*

What celebrity do you suspect is a vampire?
LOL Tom Cruise (see now below). I think Katie is entranced.

What food would you miss the most if you were a vampire?
Chocolate.

If you were an Impaler, what instrument would you play?
Definitely keyboard/piano. I've always thought there was something haunting about the sound.

Where is your favorite place to go on vacation?
I love having sand beneath my feet and hearing the crash of waves against the shore. There's something so soothing about it.

If you were a vampire, where would you sleep? Coffin? Darkened bedroom? Crypt? Or other? If other, explain.
Darkened bedroom--I definitely like my creature comforts.

What's the best part of being a writer?
The best part of being a writer is being able to create new worlds. That rocks.

Of all the characters you've created, who's your favorite?
Hmmm... that's a tie. Have to be either Joe Brody (Man With A Past) or Nick Tulane (His Son's Teacher). Both have a hard shell and soft center.

What is your favorite color?
Black. See? I fit right in!

Who was a better vampire? Brad Pitt or Tom Cruise?

Brad Pitt. Tom Cruise sucks (pun intended).

That's another one for Brad... go Louis. Thanks for dropping by, Kay!

Blog Party

We love a good party, and we've heard that reader Laurie is throwing a big one for Brava author, Dianne Castell, March 13-15th. If you're interested in prizes, excerpts, and sexy books, head over to http://lauries-laudanum.blogspot.com/ Thursday and Friday and chat with Dianne about her new book, HOT AND BOTHERED.

The book is set in Savannah, another great city for vampires to hang around in. Maybe it's time for an Impalers road trip...

Ren

Interview with Lori Foster

The Impalers sat down with New York Times Bestselling author Lori Foster to get her thoughts on vampires, long hair, and the favorite character she's written. Hint: Look at the cover to the right.

Thanks to Lori for answering all our random questions, and here's what she had to say...

If you could go on a date with a vampire, what would you do?
[Lori Foster] I love movies, and it’s dark in theaters, so I guess that’d work. But to keep from offending anyone, I’d make it an action flick and not a horror. ;-)

Do you prefer long hair or short hair on your men (vampires, heroes, etc)?
[Lori Foster] That very much depends on the guy, but overall, I think MOST men look much, much better with shorter hair, at least on their heads. Chest hair is good. No waxing, please. It’s for sissy boys.

What is your favorite vampire movie?
[Lori Foster] Underworld, the second one, with the romance. LOVED it. But I do like the scary vampire movies too, where the vamps are bad guys, not romantic figures.

What is your favorite of all the books you’ve written?
[Lori Foster] Right now, it’s SERVANT: The Acceptance, written under my initials L. L. Foster. It won’t be out until September, but I just finished it, so it’s freshest in my mind. I love weaving a thread of romance through horror-type plotting.

Would you like to stay up all night and sleep all day? What would you miss about day-walking?
[Lori Foster] LOL. I’m a very early to bed, very early to rise kind of person. NOT a nightowl at all. But I come from a long line of nightowls, so maybe I’d be able to adjust if I had to.

What celebrity do you suspect is a vampire?
[Lori Foster] LOTS of them! Angelina Jolie, Nicole Kidman, Johnny Dep... they all seem very vampish to me.

If you were an Impaler, what instrument would you play?
[Lori Foster] Drums! My grandson is currently very into the drums. He’ll drum on anything –and somehow I always end up drumming with him. I have zip for rhythm, but as a two year old, he doesn’t mind.

How did you start writing?
[Lori Foster] I read several really wonderful books, pondered how things would have gone if the plot were different, and ending up creating my own plots. That got me going, and pretty soon I started writing them out, then typing them out. After I sold my first book, I bought a computer.

What's your favorite song?
[Lori Foster] Hmmm. Right now, it’s “Coming Undone,” by KORN. Very intense, but with a wonderful beat.

Who is your idol?
[Lori Foster] I don’t really have idols, but I very much admire our military.

Vampires or werewolves? Why?
[Lori Foster] Vampires. I like chest hair, but not back, neck, stomach, shoulder hair. The whole dog-like thing sort of creeps me out.

Where is your favorite place to go on vacation?
[Lori Foster] Anywhere near water, but preferably a big lake with a cabin in the woods, a hot tub on the back deck, and lots of nice nature trails to walk.

If you were a vampire, where would you sleep? Coffin? Darkened bedroom? Crypt? Or other? If other, explain.
[Lori Foster] Since I already sleep in a very darkened bedroom with a sound machine and a fan, I guess that’d work. I’m something of an insomniac, so I need the right setting!

If you weren't a writer, what would you be?
[Lori Foster] Either a painter, or a teacher. I love to paint, but never have enough time now, and I’ve always thought teaching was one of the most important jobs in our country.

What's the best part of being a writer?
[Lori Foster] I get to create entire worlds. I get to think about what a character should say, instead of getting caught off guard, as is the case in real life. I get to create a lot of happy endings – because I believe in happy endings.

Of all the characters you've created, who's your favorite?
[Lori Foster] My female character in my Servant series. She’s ballsy, upfront, honest, and a hero. She doesn’t have to play political games or worry about what society will think. She does the right thing, the best way she knows how. I admire her – even when she’s slashing someone to death.

What is your favorite color?
[Lori Foster] Black or bluejean. ;-) That’s what dominates my closet.

Who was a better vampire? Brad Pitt or Tom Cruise?
[Lori Foster] Brad Pitt, hands down! No matter what, he’s sexy!

Congrats to Lori for hitting #2 on the NYT with her February release, HARD TO HANDLE!

The Impalers

Ren, Drake, Johnny, Dave, Wyatt, and Vittorio (sometimes)

Solange Ayre, galaxy-hopping investigative journalist, also serves as a policy advisor to the United Conglomeration of Planetary Jurisdictions. She makes her home on Ayriana, her private island-republic in the West Caribbean region of Earth.

Her novella for Ellora’s Cave, ONE THOUSAND BRIDES, details last year’s shocking abduction of Earth women by aliens.

Would you like to stay up all night and sleep all day?
Darling, how else does one LIVE? All the fun happens at night. I haven’t seen the sun in ten years!

How did you start writing?
I started writing when I realized that my career in intergalactic journalism gave me unique insights. For instance, when the Terilian aliens came to Earth last year and simultaneously kidnapped 1000 women, I was able to communicate with their ship and get the entire amazing story.

What's your favorite song?
“Because the Night” as sung by Patti Smith. Dear Bruce Springsteen wrote the song in a futile effort to woo me.

Which Impaler would you date?
Any of you, you’re all adorable! However, my heart is still given to my dear deceased husband, St. Georges Ayre, who was mysteriously assassinated by ninjas.

Vampires or werewolves?
Vampires, OF COURSE! I dated a werewolf years ago. He wanted me to wear my furs and howl at the moon! Perhaps I would have been up for that (I was a bit wild in my younger days) but the steak tartare was simply too much for me.

If you weren't a writer, what would you be?
Perhaps something incredibly boring, such as an indexer of state statutes. Oh! The mind reels at the very thought!

What's the best part of being a writer?
The near-fanatical worship from my millions of fans.

Of all the characters you've created, who's your favorite?
Delos, the alien hero of ONE THOUSAND BRIDES. I love long-haired men with good physiques. And his cat ears really bring the Sexy.

Who was a better vampire? Brad Pitt or Tom Cruise?
Brad Pitt was more convincing. Since Tom really IS a vampire, he had to be careful not to give himself away. That had an unfortunate effect on his acting.

Thanks, Solange! The Impalers think being an indexer of state statues sounds sexy. ;-)

Why Vampires Hate Valentine's Day

Is there anyone dead or alive who really likes Valentine's Day? Honestly. It's a holiday just designed to lead to disappointment. Come on, you know this is true. It's one of those holidays that has all this expectation around it, but just never pans out.

Then factor in the possibility of suffering through hundreds of these days of roses and candies and flowers. And again--inevitable disappointment abounds. Why you ask?

Well, let me give you a scenario. You go out and get your love bunny a dozen roses. Good, right? Well, then February 14th comes again next year, and there will be disappointment if you don't mix it up. So you get a huge foil, heart-shaped box of chocolates for your sweetie-pants. Which is a bit of a dud gift, if you are dating another undead, but it's the thought, right? You can see a little disappointment, but you still get lucky, so okay. We'll call this one a win. Then next thing you know, yep, it's February 14th again. So you go for jewelry this time, except it's not the piece she'd had her eyes on. But how were you supposed to know she wanted the garnet earrings, not the onyx one? Okay, you could have listened. But sometimes that's hard too.

You see where I'm going here. Now do this every year for eternity.

Valentine's Day sucks.

I'm going back to my coffin now and wait for February 15th.

- Jack

Book Proceeds Go To Battered Women's Shelter

The Impalers have Rhonda Stapleton here today to talk about DREAMS AND DESIRES 2: A Collection of Romance Tales, a special anthology collection she's participating in.

From the publisher, Freya's Bower:

By purchasing this collection, you can help turn someone's nightmare into the pursuit of dreams. Every year, four million women are assaulted by their partners. At Freya's Bower, we want to do our part to bring this statistic down to zero. To this end, all net proceeds from every Dreams and Desire anthology purchased will go to a battered woman's shelter. Through education and support, we can make a difference.

Authors: (in alphabetical order of last name): Jenna Bayley-Burke, Faith Bicknell-Brown, Amanda Brice, Sela Carsen, Rachelle Chase, Gemma Halliday, Candace Havens, Zinnia Hope, Jackie Kessler, Susan Lyons, Richelle Mead, Debbie Mumford, Rhonda Stapleton, Bebe Thomas, Emily Veinglory, Sasha White, Lois Winston, Shaunna Wolf, and Kit Wylde.

Here's the amazon link to purchase this anthology and help support the cause:

http://www.amazon.com/Dreams-Desires-Collection-Romance-Tales/dp/1934069736/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1201326840&sr=8-3

The Impalers want to put an end to domestic violence too, and watch for info in the next few weeks about our own efforts to raise money to rebuild the battered women's shelter in New Orleans.

And now, on to the fun stuff. Our random questions for author Rhonda Stapleton:

-What is your favorite vampire movie? Interview with a Vampire is near
the top of my list, of
course, as are Blade I and II. However, my all-time favorite HAS to be
the 1979 classic, Love at
First Bite, starring our favorite uber-tanned vamp George Hamilton.

-Would you like to stay up all night and sleep all day? What would you
miss about day-walking?
For the first question, I'd definitely like to stay up all night. I
used to be a night owl, but due to my day job, had to change my sleep patterns. For your second
question, I think the obvious answer here is sunshine; however, since northeast Ohio tends to not get much of it anyway, I think I'd probably miss dumb little things, like matinee prices at the movie theater, or "earlybird" shoe sales.

-What celebrity do you suspect is a vampire?

Ooooh, good question. I think it's probably someone no one would suspect, someone who looks innocent and sweet...like Betty White.

-What food would you miss the most if you were a vampire?

Chinese food. Oh, and sushi. And fried chicken. And pasta. Dang, I'd miss a lot of stuff.

-If you were an Impaler, what instrument would you play?

I'd be a vocalist. Or a rockin' drummer...you should see me tear it up with the Rock Band video game (nerd alert!).

-What is your favorite hobby? What would your hobby be if you were a
vampire?

My favorite hobby is photography. I have an awesome digital SLR, and I love it. If I were
a vampire, my favorite hobby would be staying alive. hahaha

-Vampires or werewolves? Why?

Vampires, hands down, because they are sexy and alluring. Werewolves creep me out. *shudder* Plus, the werewolf grooming factor alone makes them too
high-maintenance for me. haha

-Where is your favorite place to go on vacation?

Somewhere warm, with good happy-hour specials! Places I've been so far fit the bill: Hawaii and New Orleans.

-If you were a vampire, where would you sleep? Coffin? Darkened
bedroom? Crypt? Or other?

I don't think I could sleep in a coffin. Claustrophobia
and all that. It would have to be a super-dark bedroom with a huge bed. I tend to wiggle and
steal covers in my sleep.

-What's the best part of being a writer?

I get to make up weird conversations and situations in my head, and people think it's mysterious and part of the writerly process (instead of me just being weird--haha).

-If you were a vampire, what time period would you have been made one?
I think I would have been turned in Pre-Raphaelite England (mid to late 1800's).

-Who was a better vampire? Brad Pitt or Tom Cruise?

Brad Pitt, definitely.

You see that, Tom? Rhonda likes Brad better too.

Thanks for dropping by, Rhonda and hopefully we'll see you in New Orleans again in 2008!

Guest Author Jamie Denton

Jamie Denton, known for her sizzling Harlequin Blaze stories and her romantic suspense books for Brava was gracious enough to take time away from writing her latest serial killer to chat with the vampire boys.

Her latest title, REMAIN SILENT, is up for Best Villian at All About Romance. Check it out at www.jamiedenton.net .

The Impalers read Remain Silent and as a result have decided that Jamie is one scary woman, and that she could easily find a way to end their undead lives if she set her mind to it.

Here's what Jamie had to say.

1. Why don’t you write about vampires?
Um…because Erin McCarthy and Kathy Love do it so much better than I ever could.

2. If you could go on a date with a vampire, what would you do?
Heh, heh, heh.

3. What is your favorite vampire movie?
Salem’s Lot, the original with David Soul. Scared the beejeebers out of me!

4. Would you like to stay up all night and sleep all day? What would you miss about day-walking?
I pretty much do that now. Maybe I’m really a vamp at heart? But I’d really miss those early bird sales during the holidays.

5. What celebrity do you suspect is a vampire?
Angelina Jolie. If there ever was a blood sucking bi…uh…woman, she’s it! Just ask Jennifer Anniston.

6. What food would you miss the most if you were a vampire?
Cheeseburgers!

7. What is your favorite hobby?
Knitting.

8. What would your hobby be if you were a vampire?
Flying. And that whole putting a glamour on someone thing seems like it’d be pretty cool, too.

9. Who is your idol?
Katherine Graham. Now there was a woman with ba…uh…teeth.

10. Vampires or werewolves? Why?
Definitely vampires. They don’t shed.

11. Where is your favorite place to go on vacation?
New York City because it’s the center of the universe.

12. If you were a vampire, where would you sleep? Coffin? Darkened bedroom? Crypt? Or other? If other, explain.
A suite at the Ava

13. If you weren't a writer, what would you be?
A millionaire.

14. What's the best part of being a writer?
No pantyhose! No makeup! And I can work all night and sleep all day if I want to..

15. If your were a vampire, what time period would you have been made one?
The Renaissance. Love the art from that period.

16. Who was a better vampire? Brad Pitt or Tom Cruise?
Brad Pitt. He’s cuter.

Thanks, Jamie! And that's three votes for Brad Pitt. Note to Vittorio: Long hair and melancholy eyes works with authors.

I'll Take Antonio Banderas

It's Wednesday again, time for another Hump Day Interview. Today The Impalers are chatting with Christine Nolfi, who we met at the Heather Graham Conference in New Orleans last year. We think it's cool that Chris is a finalist in the Amazon Breakthrough Novel Awards, so go check out her entry. Then come back and read what she had to say to us, your curious roving vampire reporters.

Christine Nolfi-
Finalist, Amazon Breakthrough Novel Awards
“A Place to Belong” – Romance Division
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00121SFS0

1. Why don’t you write about vampires?

I don’t have Erin or Kathy’s expertise. Any good novelist will tell you, “Write what you know.” Erin and Kathy have many friends in the vampire world. I don’t. They’re well connected to the movers and the shakers in the World of Blood, especially in New Orleans.

Frankly, I wear a turtleneck sweater whenever I’m around either one of these fabulous women. I’m simply never sure if they reside with the living or in the world of the undead.

2. Do you prefer long hair or short hair on your men (vampires, heroes, etc)?

Long hair, definitely. It’s such a nice compliment to the bad boy vibe. I’ve dated several vampires and every one has deliciously long, dark hair. These are men who may live among the undead, but they’re hot. Given their heightened animal instincts, they never fail to impress. And satisfy.

Of course, I wear a turtleneck on the date. A tight-fitting one.

3. What is your favorite vampire movie?

Interview with the Vampire. I’ll take Antonio Banderas with fangs any day of the week. The man has HEAT written across his every movement and expression in the film.

4. What food would you miss the most if you were a vampire?

Pasta. I’m not sure how one could eat a nice linguine without revealing fangs. Of course, vampires will have a light meal if it’s especially delicious. And they drink. One vampire I dated thoroughly enjoyed Bloody Marys. It was probably an inside joke, and no doubt he enjoyed watching me fiddle with my turtleneck while he languidly played with his swizzle stick.

5. Do you believe vampires are just people too? Why?

Absolutely. Vampires are just like you and me. They fall in love, pay taxes, have favorite haunts and close friends. Of course their favorite haunts involve crypts and coffins, and the occasional dank cave. Speaking of coffins, some are quite nice. Velvet lined, with music piped in. And if you’ve never been invited to a crypt for fine wine and serious groping, you don’t know what you’re missing. I’ve visited crypts that are quite palatial, and beautifully decorated.
Most people are acquainted with a vampire or two even if they don’t know it.

The dark-eyed stranger in the bar at 2 A.M. who keeps throwing sizzling glances your way? Vampire. The long-limbed babe magnet in the cubicle next to yours at work, the guy who always arrives early and stays late? Vampire. It’s true you’ll never meet the undead on a sunny beach, but who said love is perfect? On the up side, you’ll never have to pack sunscreen if you go off for a long weekend with your undead lover.

6. What is your favorite hobby? What would your favorite hobby be if you were a vampire?

Like most novelists, I enjoy spending my time reading and writing. Which is the hobby, and which is work? I’m never sure.

If I were a vampire, I’d enjoy the transfiguration thing. I’d love to be a bat. I’m not sure if I’d be a bat hobbyist, but I would enjoy winging through the night and eavesdropping on other people. Of course, novelists are notorious eavesdroppers, so I might come up with great material for a future book.

7. Vampires or werewolves? Why?

Vampires, definitely. I don’t mind a little blood on the sheets, but canine hair? That’s where I draw the line.

Thanks for stopping by, Christine, though we have to ask... why do all women dig Antonio Banderas??

Five For Friday

I've decided to let you all in on some secrets about vampires. Private things that most mortals don't know. Myths that need to be dispelled.

1. Vampires are repelled by garlic.

Okay, vampires are actually fine with garlic. It's a great little seasoning. What would garlic bread be without it? It's when people wear links of the stuff that it gets dicey. But it isn't because we are vampires that we don't like it. No one likes that.

2. Vampires cast no reflection.

We do cast a reflection. They are a little hazy and see-through, but we do. How else would we do our hair? Or in Vittorio's case, his eyeliner. (He loves that whole 80's goth look.)

3. Vampires cannot go out into the sun.

This one is true. But what isn't known is that this intolerance to sunlight is actually because we cannot process vitamin D. It has nothing to do with dark vs. light, good vs. evil. It's an allergic reaction. Vampires are nerd s with allergies. It's true.

4. Vampires cannot eat food.

Oh, we can eat. We just can't process the food. Which means we have to get rid of it by other methods. And trust me, it ain't pretty. Can anyone say, eating disorder.

5. Vampires can turn into bats.

This one is true, and frankly just weird. Bats? Yeah, that's the best way to travel.

Do any of you have questions you'd like to ask about the whole vampire mythos? Ask away. I'd love to tell you the truth about our kind. Go ahead, hit me!

~ The Impalers

Hump Day Interviews

Since Erin and Kathy have gotten us hooked on romance novels (good coffin reads), The Impalers have decided to have a guest author every Wednesday on the blog. We get to hear all about their latest book and then read their answers to questions about their writing (and other stuff we just wanted to know). We think we're the first official undead book club.

So today we're checking out J.C. Wilder...

Winter's Daughter by J. C. Wilder
ISBN: 1-59998-843-7
Length: Novel
Price: $5.50
Genre: Paranormal Romantic Suspense
Publication Date: December 7, 2007


The Coven, Book I
Bubble, bubble, toil and trouble...Twenty years after the untimely death of her mother and cruel separationfrom her sisters, Synnamon Angelov returns to her abandoned childhood homein Salem, Ohio. She is determined to find her sisters and search for theanswers behind the half-buried memories and nightmares that still plagueher. Not surprisingly, the superstitious people of Salem aren't all happy that Syn is back in town.


http://www.mybookstoreandmore.com/product_info.php?products_id=778


Here's what J.C. had to say in response to our questions:

1. Why do you write about vampires?
I didn't choose the genre, it chose me. When I began writing my first book,ONE WITH THE HUNGER, my hero Val simply appeared as one. It was a surprise to me.

2. If you could go on a date with a vampire, what would you do?
Depends if he's hungry or not. :)

3. Do you prefer long hair or short hair on your men (vampires, heroes, etc)?
Long. A girl needs something to hang on to when she gets her good night kiss. :)

4. Why do you think blood is red as opposed to say blue, or green? (We know about the whole oxygen thing, but why do we actually see it as red?)
Red is the color of your root chakra, the basis of all life. I cannot imagine it would be any other color.

5. What is your favorite vampire movie?
Underworld

6. What is your favorite of the books you've written?
Usually it's the latest one. I'd say Winter's Daughter - there is more of mein that book than any other.

7. Would you like to stay up all night and sleep all day? What would you miss about day-walking?
I used to work nights so I lived that schedule for a year or so. I did miss seeing the sun but I can't think of any activity I missed. You can do just about anything at night that you can during the day, except for sunning yourself that is.

8. What celebrity do you suspect is a vampire?
Louis Black - no one can be that angst ridden without having lived at least two hundred years.

9. What food would you miss the most if you were a vampire?
Macaroni and Cheese, brownies and garlic bread - though not together of course.

10. If you were an Impaler, what instrument would you play?
Guitar, but I'm the most un-musical person on the planet. I can barely play a CD on a good day.

11. How did you start writing?
My father gave me a set of Laura Ingalls Wilder books and I instantly fell in love with the written word. Then I received a set of C.S. Lewis' Narniatales and that was it for me. I'd finally found a way to channel all of my creative energies into something that 'fit' me.

12. What is your favorite hobby? What would your hobby be if you were a vampire?
Making jewelry, painting - I don't think it would change should I become a vampire. In fact I'd probably have more time to play as I wouldn't have to cook!

13. What's your favorite song?
This is very possibly the most difficult question anyone has ever asked me.I am so into music, I traveled with an alternative rock band in my twenties,and I can't narrow it down to just one. So how about a few:Black - Pearl JamCuz I Can - PinkHibernation - Ted NugentThe Low Spark of High-Heeled Boys - TrafficThe End - Doors

14. Who is your idol?
My father.

15. Which Impaler would you date?
I've always had a thing for drummers...

16. Vampires or werewolves? Why?
Vamps! The whole furry thing just doesn't do it for me.

17. Where is your favorite place to go on vacation?
New Orleans, it's my second home.

18. If you were a vampire, where would you sleep? Coffin? Darkened bedroom? Crypt? Or other?
A coffin for one night, then I'd be over it. A nice, fluffy bed with heavycurtains.

19. If you weren't a writer, what would you be?
Artist

20. If you could be any preternatural creature, what would it be?
Were-cat!

21. What's the best part of being a writer?
Being able to work in my underwear!

22. Of all the characters you've created, who's your favorite?
Syn from Winter's Daughter

23. What is your favorite color?
Purple

24. If you were a vampire, what time period would you have been turned in?
Ancient Egypt

26. Who was a better vampire? Brad Pitt or Tom Cruise?
Brad Pitt - Cruise's character was SUCH a whiner!

Thanks, J.C... you are definitely a chick who knows her way around vampires. Make sure you stop by and say hey next time you're in New Orleans.

What do you all think? Is Tom Cruise a whiner?

Happy Hump Day,
The Impalers

Upcoming Updates

Howdy Impaleriacs,
(That doesn't exactly roll off the tongue, does it?)

Anyhow, I wanted to tell you about updates, which should be happening in the next couple days.

* A new installment of Drake, Tales of A Lusty Pirate
* New pics of the band members
* New band members introduced (namely, me.)

Also on the blog...

* Hump Day interviews with some of our favorite authors
* The Impalers book club
* And other odds and ends that we want to chat about. (Okay, mostly Ren talking about what he wants to talk about. Shh, don't tell him I said that.)

So keep checking in, there's lots of new stuff ahead.

~Buck (one of the newest members of The Impalers)

Bandits of Romance

I gotta say I like that image. In fact, I think Wyatt may have written a song about that. Or not.
What am I talking about, you ask?

I'm talking about the fact that our very own Kathy Love is over chatting at the Romance Bandits about her newest book and the creation of us. And you know you want to read about that.

So go check them out, and all you little bandits, please post something here. We love new blood.

Cheers,
Ren