Wednesday, August 29, 2007

Guest Blogger: Cynthia Cooke

I want to welcome Cynthia Cooke to the convertible today! She's a great friend, and if she wrote book #2 in the Dark Enchantments series that started with my book, Familiar Stranger, last month.

Gothic Castles

That’s what I think about whenever I look at the cover of my latest book, RISING DARKNESS. There are two very different castles in this story, making me want to take a trip to England, Ireland, and Wales all the more. My daughter asked me the other day what I wanted to do before I died, and visit England was tops on my list. What’s on the top of yours? I’m not all that interested in London. I want to go out into the countryside and tour mazes, old crumbling estates, spooky graveyards, to breathe in the past.

When other people look at the cover the first thing they notice is the hot guy. Yep, love the cover for that too! He is hot, and better yet, he’s a vampire. I was having dinner the other night with a neighbor who read an advance copy of my book. He was surprised vampires are so sexual. That got me thinking. Is it just women who become totally seduced by the image of a vampire on the screen, or the strong forceful embrace between the pages of our favorite vampire books? My husband says no, men also find the whole vampire experience seductive and the actual biting of the neck the ultimate climax. Gotta love that guy! ;-)

When I think of all the vampires I’ve loved, they were all sexy as hell. How could my neighbor be so surprised? Then I started thinking about who were my favorite vampires. That was tough. Lestat will always be number one with me. I think absorbing so many of Anne Rice’s stories through the years about Lestat running amok causing trouble and losing his heart, has earned him favorite vampire status.

Although that new hottie on Blood Ties is something else, I don’t need to follow the show’s sometimes painfully simple plots. I just need to stare at him. And I’ll admit I thought about him, and what he had that turned me on while I was creating Damien my vampire hero of RISING DARKNESS. I might be a little biased, but I think Damien is sexy as hell, too.

Who is your favorite vampire? (movie or fictional) And which vampire turns you on? And what is it about him that you just can’t resist? Share your deepest vampire desires and I’ll pick one winner from those who comment today to receive a signed copy of RISING DARKNESS. Then you too can fall in love with Damien and long to visit England to see what or who you find in those dark gothic castles.

Cynthia
For pictures of the Cadre castle depicted in the Dark Enchantments series, visit my website! And check out the Dark Enchantments blog where the characters are posting!

32 comments:

Unknown said...

Welcome to the convertible, Cynthia! We're delighted to have you with us! Love your new cover and can't wait to read the new book.

As to my favorite vamp-- probably one of JR Ward's "brotherhood." Any one would do, but I particularly liked Rhage and Butch. Ummm. All that leather and those big black Escalades. (Everytime I see a black Escalade on the freeway I'm reminded of the vamps from her books! How's that for smart marketing?) And I love the "code" they have about protecting women.

And castles. . . I'm a sucker for those, too!

flip said...

My favorite vampires in books is the J.R. Ward series. My favorite tv vamp was Spike on Buffy. I agree that the vamp in Blood Ties is gorgeous.

Cindy Gerard said...

From one Cynthia to another, welcome to the convertible!!
I'm not well versed on vamps :o) But I do remember loving John Claude in the EARLY Anita Blake books. Very sexy, very tortured. Frankly, I lost interest in the books around Narcissus in Chains because things just started getting too weird. But wow, we was compelling.

Michele Hauf said...

Glad to see you here, Cynthia!

I do like the Black Dagger Brotherhood, but any tall, dark, brooding, sexy vamp will do in a pinch. (Or should I say, in a bite?) :-)

Lestat is also my all-time favorite spoiled, arrogant, sexy, lonely, powerful fictional vampire.

And I'll take Spike in a second. Wish they would have given him a spin-off series. Course, I suppose that would have been hard, since he's dead now.

M

Sally said...

I have a thing for Laurell K. Hamilton's Jean-Claude too. I also find Eric, in Charlaine Harris's Sookie Stackhouse books, to be very appealing. Both sexy as hell and who could resist them?

Meljprincess said...

Hi Cynthia,
Just popped over from MySpace. I'm an anglophile and have been to London. We share the same interests as far as wanting to visit castles and spooky places. I really want to visit Scotland!
My favorite vampire is Gary Oldman in Dracula *1992*. The scene where he's in bed with Winona Ryder and she says "Take me away from all this death". Oh, that whole scene reves my engine! Have you seen it?
My cat's name is Damian. Spelled a bit different than your "Damien". I can't wait to read RISING DARKNESS!

Melissa

Unknown said...

Oooooh, Sally-- I had forgotten all about Eric! Big viking marauder become civilized-- mostly. He sets my toes tingling. Although I like Quinn, the were-panther Sookie is now seeing, I have a yen for her to end up with Eric. And in the last book, when he bit her to save her from that other creep. . . that was heroic, in spite of what Sookie thought at the time! Can't wait for the next installment.

But that will have to wait until I read Cynthia's RISING DARKNESS. Sounds GREAT!

Cynthia Cooke said...

Ah, but Michelle, they brought Spike back in Angel. He was a ghost vampire. He would appear and disappear randomly. I can't remember why though!

I guess I'm going to have to read the J.R. Ward books, I like the image of vamps in black Escalades!

Thanks everyone for coming to visit me today! I seem to be having trouble posting. I hope this goes through and that there aren't multiple copies!! LOL!

Cynthia Cooke said...

LOL!! Melissa, we must be soul sisters!!! How funny. I'm going to have to rent that movie, cause I can't remember that scene!
Cynthia

Cynthia Cooke said...

Thanks Betina!!!

Meljprincess said...

I'm with your hubby as far as the "ultimate climax". You MUST rent the movie and watch with him 'cause when she bites his chest...delicious!

Diana said...

I can't wait to read your book. I too find myself falling head over heels in love with your cover. Really Hot and SEXY!! hehe!! I am sure it will be a great book. And what's even better that its about a certain sexy vampire.

Helen Brenna said...

Welcome, Cynthia! Love your cover.

I'm like Cindy, not well-versed in the genre, and I have to admit a scaredy cat where vampires are concerned. For that reason JR Ward's characters seem "safe" to me. Does that make sense?

Maybe I need to step out more!! Yeah, that's it.

Debra Dixon said...

Welcome Cynthia! Love the title RISING DARKNESS.

Funny you should ask about vamps because I was struck by a need to revisit the ANGEL series last week. I'm working my way throught the shows. Not sure if Angel is my favorite vamp so much as Joss Whedon (sp?) is my favorite writer of tv comedy vamps. Love Spike.

I agree that Blood Ties has painfully simple plots.

As for Laurell K. Hamilton, I'd really like her to wrap a little more story around her sex. Love her work but lately I don't feel like very much is happening in the world.

Anonymous said...

angel of course/

Cherie J said...

Hi Cynthia,

Your book sounds great! The whole series sounds wonderful. Got to get to the bookstore soon to buy yours and Michele's. My favorite vamps are JR Wards. Thanks for blogging here.

Trenae Evans said...

The thing at the top of my list before I move on to another life is not so much going somewhere but it's accomplishing something and for me (I'm sure a lot of others too) is getting published...

The cover is very nice - very yum. Yes the guy is eye catching - but for me the colors on there really draw me in.

I have to agree - Angel is one HOT HOT HOT vampire. I wish that show was still on - although love him on Bones.

Christie Ridgway said...

Welcome, Cynthia! I didn't get into Anne Rice, so Jean-Claude was the first vamp I ever read. Loved him in the early Anita Blake books. Don't read the later Anitas.

And Eric! Love Eric! (And I still have a soft spot for Bill, too.)

I also fell hard for J.R. Ward's Brotherhood. I really surprised myself there. Didn't think I could get past the names, but because no one else blinks at them in the stories, then neither do I.

I do want to watch Blood Ties. I keep forgetting.

anne said...

Hi Cynthia,
Great book and striking cover. I would love to travel to many places, especially Italy, before I get too old and cannot benefit from the wonderful experience. Best of luck and vampires are the ultimate.

Cynthia Cooke said...

Hi Debra,
Loved Angel, too. Especially the season with him and Spike working together. Talk about a great mix of characters! And as much as Angel brooded about his one true love, I believe Spike loved Buffy deeper. Didn't he make the ultimate sacrifice for her? Great stuff. Joss is a god!

Cynthia

Cynthia Cooke said...

Thanks Anya! The cover gods blessed me! But really, Nocturne has been doing an awesome job on their covers. Michelle's "Kiss Me Deadly" out in September too, is incredible!!
Cynthia

Cynthia Cooke said...

Thanks Cherie and Tammi!!

Cynthia Cooke said...

Well, I can see I'm definitely going to have to move the J.R. Ward books up higher in my tbr pile!!!!

Michele Hauf said...

Yep, you gotta read Ward, C. :-) Christie, I admit the names in that series make me cringe, too. Initially didn't think I could read them, but then the story is just so good, so I read on.

Anyone love the original story of Dracula? I read the anotated version (highly recommended 'cause there's so much that needs explaining). Really just love that story. Use it as a basis for most of my vamps.
M

Unknown said...

Welcome Cynthia. So glad to have you here with us.

I have to admit, though I hate to, that I don't really get vampires. Sorry. Maybe it's cuz I'm so easily frightened. But what a craze it is right now, huh?

Kathleen Eagle said...

Hi Cynthia! Welcome to our ride!

I'm in the "not well-versed" column. What was the name of the soap opera from years back? Dark something? Friends kept talking it up, and I tried, but, well, it was a soap opera. I've watched bits of the movie with Tom Crusie and Brad Pitt and bits of Buffy, but ... hey, does the Count from Sesame Street ... um ... count?

HOWEVER...
I adored Anne Frasier's PALE IMMORTAL. For one thing, she kept you guessing about whether he was or wasn't. I really liked that.

Cynthia Cooke said...

It's awesome Lois. And I really like how so many authors are creating new vampires mythologies (sp?). Kathleen, I haven't read Anne Frasier's book, but that sounds really interesting. I like the idea of making the reader wonder. That must have been really hard to pull off for the whole novel. I bet you're thinking of Dark Shadows. I saw bits and pieces, and started getting into the remake, but then they cancelled it. But I'm a huge Buffy/Angel fan.

tetewa said...

My favorite vampire in a movie would have to be Stuart Townsend in The Queen Of the Damned. (He is so sexy) Love the Angel series watched everyone. (miss it though)My favorite genre to read is vamps in paranormal series. Oh and Kathleen I think your referring to the soap Dark Shadows with Barnabas Collins. This was my first ever take on getting started on loving vampires. Cynthia looking forward to your read and glad to have you here today!

Cynthia Cooke said...

Thanks tetewa! I loved Stuart Townsend too. I thought he was a lot more sexy than Tom Cruise, although Tom had that arrogant spoiled thing down so well. I think the last 30 seconds where he attacks the reporter with that Stones song playing was the best part of the whole movie!

Anonymous said...

My favorite vampire is Spike from Buffy. James Marsters was totally hot as Spike. :)

Cynthia Cooke said...

I agree Kaitlin! Well, thanks for having me, you've all been great and a lot of fun!!! I think the winner will be posted in the morning? I'll check back then!!
Thanks so much everyone!!!!

Meljprincess said...

Thank you, Cynthia *Soul Sista'*. It was fun. I agree with ya'll about Stuart Townsend. I was going to mention him yesterday. Yum!