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.

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.

Thursday Thirteen - 230 - 13 Reasons to Vote in A Piece of My Mind's Sudden-Death Round Vampire Smackdown

1 - Last week, twelve 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 six frenzied bouts, the results are in:

Dracula vs Viktor (Underworld)

18 votes - 2 votes

Not even close. "Hail to the king baby!" says Tim Brannan

~~~

Lestat vs Eric Northman

9 votes - 10 votes

Well-matched. This was a close one.

~~~

Jesse Hooker (Near Dark) vs Bill Compton

7 votes - 11 votes

A respectable showing between two former Confederate soldiers.

~~~

Spike vs David (The Lost Boys)

14 votes - 5 votes

A clear winner in the battle between the blonds.

~~~

Angel vs Barnabas Collins

9 votes - 10 votes

Another close match. Ultimately, classic cult gothic soap opera trumped the spin-off of one of the 50-greatest-TV-shows.

~~~

Dean Winchester vs Jerry (Fright Night)

9 votes - 10 votes

The third near-tie match resulted in the Sword of Michael raising the white flag to the vampire who can blow out a flaming cross meant to stop him.

~~~

Thanks to all the voters - that was an awesome elimination round.

La-a-adies and gentlemen...

*bell ringing*

In this corner...









3 - Returning to defend his legendary status - Dracula

versus













4 - Eric Northman, known for ripping hearts right out of his foes' chests and sipping the sweet nectar.

Voting now closed.

~~~

Round 2














5 - Bill Compton, southern farmer who gained a taste for gentlemanly pursuits over the past century. Now the vampire King of Louisiana, he does what a monarch must do in order to rule.

versus













6 - Barnabas Collins, a gentleman of 18th century New England, who guards his dark nature in order to protect the current descendants of his family.

Voting now closed.

~~~

Round 3










7 - Spike, renowned Slayer killer and wielder of scathing sarcasm.

versus











8 - Jerry, unrelenting predator who takes psychopathic delight in his victims' despair.

Voting now closed.

~~~

9 - Once the votes are tallied, three victors will remain from this sudden-death match.

10 - All twelve originally-featured combatants are my personal favorite vampire characters from film and television.

If your favorite vampire didn't compete in the Smackdown, who is your personal favorite vampire?

11 - What makes a perfect vampire for you?

The total package - looks, demeanor and moves?
The history of the character? (backstory)
The modern ways in which the vampire adapts to life now?
The manner in which the vampire feeds?

12 - Do you prefer your vampires to behave as predators at the top of the food chain?

Would you prefer that vampires retain their underlying humanity, carrying an emotional burden with them wherever they go?

13 - Join me next week to see who survives to the final round - and who will take home the coveted title of Ultimate Vampire.

Thursday Thirteen - 229 - 13 Ways to Take it to the Mat - Vampire Smackdown 2011

Welcome to the pre-show of my Resistance is Futile Blog Tour of the Universe. In just over a month, my debut Dark Ages vampire novel Saint Sanguinus will be available for purchase.

Until then, let's find our ringside seats for the ultimate showdown between these fearsome vampires who have inspired me over the years.

Here's how the Smackdown works.

There are six bouts between twelve combatants. PLEASE VOTE on each bout in the comments section.

Come back next week to watch our six victors take on one another in a sudden death match.

*bell ringing*

In this corner...



1 - Dracula









versus



2 - Viktor (Underworld)







Voting is now closed.

~~~

Round 2













3 - Lestat (The Vampire Chronicles)

versus



4 - Eric Northman (True Blood)














Voting is now closed.

~~~

Round 3



5 - Jesse Hooker (Near Dark)




versus



6 - Bill Compton (True Blood)



Voting is now closed.

~~~

Round 4



7 - Spike (Buffy the Vampire Slayer)









versus



8 - David (The Lost Boys)







Voting is now closed.

~~~

Round 4



9 - Angel (Buffy the Vampire Slayer)





versus













10 - Barnabas Collins (Dark Shadows)


Voting is now closed.

~~~

Round 5













11 - Dean Winchester (for one episode of Supernatural)


versus



12 - Jerry (Fright Night)










Voting is now closed.

~~~

13 - Please join me next week for Vampire Smackdown 2011's qualifying round for the title of Ultimate Vampire.

Scorpius will return in 1 week

Hope to see you here next week for the latest instalment of Scorpius' newest 19-year-old story arc, where he and his new master Lord Thibault must learn to navigate the dangerous tides of politics, while still finding time to sow a few oats, as 19-year-olds will do.

Join me tomorrow for the first in my Resistance is Futile Blog Tour of the Universe event - I'll be hosting a Vampire Smackdown where you can vote on your favorite fanged contestant.

Which vampire will face off against the other?

Drop by tomorrow and get ready to rumble...