I'm being interviewed @ Beyond the Veil today

CLICK HERE to read my interview by Amy Ruttan over at Beyond the Veil, a group blog by authors of paranormal, science fiction, fantasy and speculative romance.

5 on Friday - Set 90

Travis at Trav's Thoughts invites everyone to lay down a short set of music that takes their fancies for his 5 on Friday meme.

Susan @ West of Mars has been hosting Rocktober over at her blog, so for this week's 5 on Friday I'm taking part in the festivities.

Celebrate the collision of music and books however you see fit says the All-Access Pass on her blog. Susan invites us to share fiction, biographies or non-fiction that celebrates rock 'n roll in all its glory throughout the month of October. I'm sneaking in at the tail end, but the party's still in full swing. Let's rock!

Two of my dear blog buddies and writer friends have published stories set in the world of rock.


















Wylie Kinson's Law of Averages tells the story of British rocker Gabriel Law, known as the Dark Angel of Rock, who needs to reconnect with his missing songwriting spark and books a vacation spot in Bermuda to regroup.

For this week's first track, Jim Morrison from The Doors will stand in for Wylie's Dark Angel of Rock.

1 - Strange Days - The Doors



Megan Frost, worn-to-a-frazzle restaurateur - is already at the double-booked vacation home. When the Dark Angel realizes she doesn't know who he is, he's in no hurry to sort out the confusion.

I think if Gabriel dedicated a song to Megan on an upcoming tour, it would be this one:

2 - Little Wing - Sting



Wylie is giving away a free copy of Don't Ask, Never Tell, an anthology which includes Law of Averages to one lucky commenter.


















Hostess for Rocktober herself, Susan Helene Gottfried's Trevor's Song follows the story of a rock band whose sarcastic bass player finds it hard to weather the change in band dynamics when his lifelong friend and the band's lead singer builds a future with his lady love - especially when a secret Trevor keeps makes a friend's support even more prized.

Standing in for Trevor's bass playing in this next track is Black Sabbath's Geezer Butler.

3 - Supernaut - Black Sabbath



ShapeShifter front man Mitchell Voss is the rock god whose change in life path sets Trevor's equilibrium on edge. Standing in for Mitchell is Led Zeppelin's Uber Rock God Robert Plant.

4 - Communication Breakdown - Led Zeppelin



To finish out the set, here is my salute to Wylie and Susan and their fictional rockers.











5 - Paperback Writer - The Beatles

Thursday Thirteen - 232 - 13 Ways You Have Voted For The Ultimate Vampire - and Our Champion Is...

1 - As October rolled around, A Piece of My Mind readers took on the challenge of deciding who is The Ultimate Vampire.

2 - Beginning with a formidable roster of vampires - all of whom have inspired me over the years - readers were asked to vote for the outcomes of six no-holds-barred matches in the preliminary round:

Dracula vs Viktor from Underworld

Lestat vs Eric Northman

Jesse Hooker from Near Dark vs Bill Compton

Spike vs David from The Lost Boys

Angel vs Barnabas Collins

Dean Winchester from one episode of Supernatural vs Jerry from Fright Night

3 - The votes flew fast and furious.

The combatants were so well-matched there were three near-ties.

But the winners after the first round were:

Dracula

Eric Northman

Bill Compton

Barnabas Collins

Spike

Jerry from Fright Night

4 - Sudden-death elimination round, Week 2.

Again, A Piece of My Mind readers cast your votes.

Rising victorious from the fray:

Eric Northman

Bill Compton

Spike

5 - Week 3

The Title of Ultimate Vampire has now been chosen.

After using his superior political maneuvering - banking on Eric tiring himself out against Spike during the opening of the final three-on-three match, Bill Compton falls to a split-second decision on the part of Eric and Spike to work together, taking the third combatant out of the running.

Final tally:

Bill Compton - 2 votes


6 - Eric Northman and Spike are the last vampires standing.

Bill Compton's strategy did manage to wear down the 1100-year-old Viking, but Spike soon discovers Eric Northman won't be dissuaded when there is something he wants. The older vampire's superior strength will ultimately bring Spike down if the London punker poet doesn't come up with a strategy of his own.

7 - Letting himself appear weakened, Spike uses a barrage of sarcastic salvos to distract Eric. In a moment of clarity, Spike siezes his moment and pits his own concealed strength against the Viking.

Final tally:

Eric Northman - 3 votes
















8 - Final tally:

Spike - 7 votes



















9 - Buffy the Vampire Slayer's Spike has been voted The Ultimate Vampire by A Piece of My Mind readers.
















10 - Played by American actor James Marsters on both Buffy the Vampire Slayer and its spinoff, Angel, Spike shows that mere age, speed and strength are no match for a wickedly rapier wit. To be The Ultimate Vampire, you have to have it all.

11 - Here's a brief glimpse into why you chose Spike to wear the crown.



12 - I hope you will join me on my virtual book launch day -

11 - 11 - 11

I will be introducing my own Dark Ages vampire into the mix. Would he hold his own against Spike?

13 - You be the judge.

The Serialists - Scene 75

I'm now posting with The Serialists which appears on Wednesdays.

To recap this dark fantasy story so far:

As a small boy of seven, Scorpius was fetched from the nursery where he'd been raised to live among the nobility - fetched not by his family, but by a falconer to serve as his apprentice.

Scorpius soon learned that a close encounter with a dragon was preferable to the cruelties of the nobles he'd once hoped were family. His master did whatever he could to shield Scorpius from the world outside their cottage, but the falconer was merely a servant who must obey his own masters.

An attempt on the life of a young noble while on a hunt sent the falconer and his apprentice on abruptly different paths, bringing Scorpius into the service of Lord Thibault's noble house.

We now continue with Scorpius at age nineteen.

You can follow the progress of this story arc by clicking on the Works in Progress link just under the blog header.


Scene 75

Scorpius and his master waded into the sea of expectant faces, all craning to have a good look at the noble with his head on the marriage block.

The dukessa’s reception was so well attended, it was now something of a crush. His heart rate accelerating, Scorpius kept one hand on the pommel of his sword. He’d never faced such a potential mob as Lord Thibault’s man. Anyone could lurk in this press of silk and velvet.

There was no way to stick close enough to his master in order to protect him while maintaining a respectful distance. As the other young nobles swarmed ahead to greet the guest of honor, Scorpius was forced to stand shoulder to shoulder with his master, something that would not have been tolerated at any other time.

Thanking the gods for his extra height in these circumstances, Scorpius kept his gaze roaming the crowd for anything out of the ordinary. Of course, the duke had dispatched the household guard, who were liberally sprinkled amongst the servants and slaves. Their assured presence felt like a calm hand upon his shoulder.

As young ladies exhibiting their finer charms made their way forward, Scorpius forced himself to stop sharing sideways glances with his master as they made silent comment on the various matrimonial candidates. Instead, he made eye contact from guard to guard, nodding as they indicated all was well.

It was a relief when Lord Thibault finally sat down to eat. Standing behind his master’s chair, Scorpius had a far greater vantage point from which to scan the hall. From here he could see which heads tilted together for private conversation, which ladies eyed his master with undisguised hunger and which drew back in disinterest.

It became clear, as they waited for the meal-tasting slaves to finish their portions, that a particular young lady held her gazes for a considerable time with Lord Thibault. Both the chancellor and the dukessa had noted the exchanges from their perch in the gallery overlooking the hall, if their whispered consultations meant what Scorpius thought they meant.

From the expression Lord Thibault’s mother displayed, Scorpius knew the lovely lady in question met with official approval. As for the chancellor, he was much too far away for Scorpius to read the subtleties.

Besides, something else had begun to pull his attention to the far corner of the hall.

Several of the guard had posted themselves near a small group of nobles who managed to stand out from the rest, even in this finely turned-out company. Three males and one female, as richly attired as anyone else, yet something about their demeanor felt at odds. Scorpius’ senses sharpened to a knife edge.

The nearest door was a dozen strides away.

His best choice was to push Lord Thibault beneath the solid banquet table and cover him with his body while the guard took action, as he knew they would. Now that he’d worked out a plan, he fanned his fingers over his sword pommel and stood poised to spring.

Still, the eating and conversation continued, laughter pealing up over the coiffures as though nothing simmered in the afternoon air.

Somehow the young woman from the little knot of suspicious nobles had caught his master’s eye. This time, it was impossible not to notice Lord Thibault’s interest in the exotic lady, even when he could not see his master’s face.

Wasn’t she a beauty? Her skin was a shade darker than most other ladies’, her eyes alight with tracery that brought out an irresistible wildness. Her hair was well-concealed beneath a scarf and hat arrangement that only served to make Scorpius long to tug at them both, to see her locks tumble free.

The far more eligible young lady continued to engage his master with glances and conversation. The dukessa continued to smile discretely upon her son from the gallery. However, the chancellor followed Scorpius’ focus upon the unknown nobles and the interest shown them by the guard.

Scorpius tried to read the chancellor’s signals, but the older man was too schooled in deception to give anything away. All he could do was be ready to draw his sword if it came to that. Even if that meant striking down the most beautiful woman he’d ever seen.

© Julia Phillips Smith, 2011

5 on Friday - Set 89

Travis at Trav's Thoughts invites everyone to lay down a short set of music that takes their fancies for his 5 on Friday meme.

In the home stretch.

My debut vampire novel will be going for the final proof read early next week, then to the formatter, and then - voila! I'll be a real live author.

This week I've put together some tracks that would be perfect on a contemporary vampire film soundtrack.

I'm always setting my stories in my own invented worlds, or in Dark Age Britain or Victorian Tasmania, or in other similar time periods.

But if I were ever to write something that took place in the present time, I would include these types of songs to give that extra little creepy feeling. I love it when directors do this. A few examples that I've always loved:

Did You Ever See a Dream Walking? by Bing Crosby - used to chilling effect in 1988's Lady in White

Happy Heart by Andy Williams - casting a taunting shadow over 1994's Shallow Grave

To vote in the final round of my Vampire Smackdown, please scroll down to Thursday's post.

1 - In the Still of the Night - The Five Satins



2 - Walking After Midnight - Patsy Cline



3 - Good Rockin Tonight - Elvis Presley



4 - Night Time is the Right Time - Ray Charles



5 - I Could Have Danced All Night - Marni Nixon

Thursday Thirteen - 231 - 13 Ways We're Closer to Finding Out Who is the Ultimate Vampire

1 - Last week, six combatants faced off in an elimination round to see who will be named the Ultimate Vampire by A Piece of My Mind readers.

All fighters are vampires who have inspired me over the years, leading to my own take on the vampire mythos - Saint Sanguinus, which releases next month.

2 - After three vicious sudden-death rounds, the results are in:

Dracula vs Eric Northman

4 votes - 5 votes

Shocking! What an upset. After decimating his previous competitor, Dracula falls to transplanted Viking Eric Northman.

~~~

Bill Compton vs Barnabas Collins

6 votes - 3 votes

After surviving a pitched battle last week to win by only one vote, Bill Compton knocks Barnabas Collins out cold to take this round.

~~~

Spike vs Jerry (Fright Night)

8 votes - 1 vote

Though he won last week's close round by only one vote, this week Jerry is slam-dunk sucker-punched by transplanted Londoner Spike.

~~~

Thanks to all the voters - the sudden-death round brought a few surprises.

This week, our three remaining victors are dropping the gloves.

La-a-adies and gentlemen...

*bell ringing*

In this corner...














3 - Eric Northman

4 - Approximately 1100 years old.

Viking origin

Was turned after being wounded in battle. After his companions were killed by the vampire who would become his maker, Eric showed no fear to the figure whom he took for an angel of Death.

Rose to become sheriff of Area 5, a vampire domain in Louisiana.

5 - Stats:

Age brings power to vampires. He has been undead for over a millennium.

No longer influenced by human morality. Uses incredible speed and boldness to act decisively.











6 - Bill Compton

7 - Only 176 years old.

Southern Confederate States farmer and Civil War veteran before being turned.

Rose to become king of Louisiana. Eric Northman is his sheriff.

8 - Stats:

Still young by vampire standards.

Was turned by a vampire posing as a widow who offered him food and shelter on his way home after the war. When offered sexual temptation by the 'widow', Bill remained true to his wife, whom he mourned once he turned.

Closer to his human existence, suffers through moral dilemmas even when serving his vampire society.

















9 - Spike

10 - Approximately 150 years old.

A London society climber and 'bloody awful poet' before he was turned.

Rose to become a Slayer killer.

11 - Stats:

Still young by vampire standards.

Was turned by a female vampire who comforted him after a romantic rejection by an aristocrat.

Replacing his human desire to be a refined gentleman with his vampire punk persona, uses his passionate nature to challenge vampire society.

12 - Voting now closed.

13 - Will it be:

Eric Northman

Bill Compton

Spike

Come back next week to find out who will be The Ultimate Vampire.

Tuesday Serial / The Serialists - Scene 74

My Scorpius serial now posts on Tuesdays for Tuesday Serial.










I'm also posting with The Serialists which appears on Wednesdays.

To recap this dark fantasy story so far:

As a small boy of seven, Scorpius was fetched from the nursery where he'd been raised to live among the nobility - fetched not by his family, but by a falconer to serve as his apprentice.

Scorpius soon learned that a close encounter with a dragon was preferable to the cruelties of the nobles he'd once hoped were family. His master did whatever he could to shield Scorpius from the world outside their cottage, but the falconer was merely a servant who must obey his own masters.

An attempt on the life of a young noble while on a hunt sent the falconer and his apprentice on abruptly different paths, bringing Scorpius into the service of Lord Thibault's noble house.

We now continue with Scorpius at age nineteen.

You can follow the progress of this story arc by clicking on the Works in Progress link just under the blog header.


Scene 74

Already bathed and attired in his most tasteful doublet, Scorpius threw his master a linen to dry himself as Lord Thibault rose dripping from the water.

“I don’t know why she’s in such a scorching hurry.” His master scrubbed his hair back and forth until it stood on end. Stepping onto the soft mat beside his carefully arranged garments, Lord Thibault held his arms out so the slave could dry him off.

“Apparently, that is the way of mothers, my lord,” Scorpius said, leaning against his master’s bedposts, arms crossed before him. “Even the mothers of villagers and what-have-you.”

The slave drew a comb through their master’s hair. “And just what was so crucial at that precise moment that you left me to my mother’s scheming, utterly unprotected?” Lord Thibault asked.

“Do I not serve the chancellor before I serve my lord?” Scorpius watched as the slave deftly clothed their master in fine hose, hand worked linen and breeches cut to display Lord Thibault’s form as future sire of noble lineage.

Sulking darkly, Lord Thibault shrugged into a velvet doublet sparkling with silver stitching and gem stones.

“Permission to speak freely?” Scorpius asked.

“No,” Lord Thibault said, walking to the bench where he sat to be fitted with elaborate shoes. “You do not have my permission to speak freely, because I know what you’re going to say.”

Unfolding his arms to stand respectfully, Scorpius inclined his head slightly. “My lord.”

The slave pushed gingerly to slip the shoe on their master’s foot, taking care not to press too hard on the encrusted gem work.

“You’re going to tell me to stop being such a simpleton and at least have a look at these noble ladies before I reject them, simply because my mother has made a list of them. I still have a choice in all of this, do I not?”

“As far as I understand it, my lord.”

His master rose, shaking his head. “It’s my choice until my father informs me which one of them will be my mate.” Again spreading his arms wide, Lord Thibault stood as the slave buckled a ceremonial sword around his hips, draping a sash across one shoulder and fixing it with a jeweled clasp.

“You say the village mothers do this same thing to their progeny?”

“As far as I can work it out, my lord, they may chose whomsoever they wish, as long as the bride is one which the mother approves.”

“I suppose it’s entirely possible that there are ladies on the dukessa’s list who are convinced I am not a suitable choice for them.” Lord Thibault adjusted his sash and swordbelt to suit his own taste, now that the slave stepped aside.

“Without permission to speak freely, my lord, I would have to say that is highly unlikely.”

His master took a deep breath before leading the way into the corridor. “I don’t know why you should be so unkind to me today. Really, Scorpius, I could use cheering up.”

Keeping pace with his master, their footsteps striking the polished floor in unison, Scorpius dipped a hand into the fold of his doublet. He pulled the chancellor’s note free and offered it to Lord Thibault.

Gaze searching Scorpius for clues, his master checked his pace only slightly as he opened the note and glanced at its contents. Lord Thibault stopped walking then, and faced him.

“Another list?” his master said, grinning.

“The dukessa knows none of these, I think.”

“But the chancellor does.”

“He does, indeed, my lord.”

Lord Thibault tucked the note away, deep in the recesses of his velvet doublet. Continuing along the corridor, his master’s step grew lighter. “Look at us, Scorpius. We’re ridiculous.”

“Just for a few hours, my lord. Then we can shed all of this, and perhaps gentle hands will aid us in that endeavor.”

© Julia Phillips Smith, 2011