Thursday, February 10, 2011

Dianne Duvall Author Guest Post and Giveaway!

Vampires:  Heroes, Villains or Tragic Victims?

Vampires have undergone quite a transformation over the years.  For a long time, they were relegated to the pages of horror novels and only made eerie appearances in horror films.  These vampires for the most part were truly horrific creatures.  Heinous undead monsters.  Spooky.  Creepy.  Sometimes downright disgusting.  Reveling in the harm or murder of innocents.  Television shows and movies strayed from this occasionally with either a comedic or romantic portrayal, but novels remained fairly consistent in presenting vampires as horrific villains.

Until, that is, a few brave romance writers (Lori Herter and Maggie Shayne were the first I read) gave vampires a new identity in the early ‘90s: that ofRomantic Hero. And the paranormal romance genre was born. Vampire heroes in romances were often sexy, brooding, tortured souls then, unhappy with their existence, sometimes loathing what they had become. But, as more writers tested the paranormal romance waters and more publishers allowed them to (my first manuscript was often turned down because the editor or agent who read it wasn’t interested in stories that contained anything paranormal in nature), some cocky vampires who embraced their immortal status entered the fray. Extreme alpha males. Powerful, irresistible warriors who protect humans rather than harm them. Happy to seduce any woman enthralled by their presence. While vampires in early paranormal romances usually lived apart from their brethren in isolation and had to battle other vampires over territory, entire societies bloomed in recent additions to the genre.  Secret societies who went to great lengths to protect humanity from any brethren who chose to fall from grace and willingly succumbed to bloodlust or a hunger for power.

First villains, then heroes.  Now tragic victims?  In my Immortal Guardians series, I wanted to add a new twist to the vampire romance genre.  In Darkness Dawns, the first book in the series, vampirism is caused by a rare symbiotic virus that first conquers, then replaces the immune system, lending those who transform incredible strength, speed and longevity.  The downside?  Extreme photosensitivity and a need for blood, common drawbacks for vampires.  Both the immortals and the vampires in Darkness Dawns are infected with the virus and share these characteristics.  But for vampires there is another adverse side effect of the virus that transforms them from traditional villains to tragic victims.  Or perhaps tragic villains.  In humans who are infected with it, the virus causes brain damage that causes them to rapidly descend into madness.  Even if the vampire was honorable as a mortal, he is destined to become a ruthless killer as a vampire and, at least in the beginning while he still has lucid moments, will be aware of the atrocities he commits when deranged.  Vampires in my Immortal Guardians series don’t elect to become villains as some vampires do in other series.  They have no choice in the matter.

Immortal Guardians, fortunately, are saved from this fate.  Possessing far more advanced DNA, they were something more than human even before their transformation.  They don’t know the source of the unique DNA.  They know only that it mutates the virus and protects them from its more corrosive aspects.  Their DNA also lends them special abilities vampires lack, such as telekinesis, precognition, telepathy, the ability to heal with one’s hands, teleportation and more.  The older the immortal, the more gifts he or she possesses.  And he or she possesses these gifts from birth.  They are not a consequence of being transformed.

Immortals have been searching for a cure for the virus for centuries, or at least some way of preventing the brain damage that occurs in humans who are infected.  Unsuccessful thus far, they can only continue to hope as they hunt vampires that they know could very well have been good men before their transformation, a task that abruptly becomes far more difficult when -- in Darkness Dawns -- a leader unexpectedly arises amongst the vampire nation and gathers an army, bent on waging war.

Villains, heroes or tragic victims.  I admit to having a fondness for vampires in all of their incarnations.  I hope you will enjoy the latest in my debut novelDarkness Dawns.



Blurb

In this dazzling, sensual novel, Dianne Duvall beckons readers into a world of vampires, immortals, and humans with extraordinary gifts . . . where passion can last forever, if you're willing to pay the price . . .

Once, Sarah Bingham’s biggest challenge was making her  students pay attention in class. Now, after rescuing a  wounded stranger, she’s landed in the middle of a battle  between corrupt vampires and powerful immortals who also  need blood to survive. Roland Warbrook is the most  compelling man Sarah has ever laid hands on. But his  desire for her is mingled with a hunger he can barely control . . .

In his nine centuries of immortal existence, no woman has tempted Roland as much as Sarah. But asking her to love him is impossible -- when it mean forfeiting the world she’s always known, and the life he would do anything to protect.

Additional Information

Website:  http://www.DianneDuvall.com
Blog -- The Immortal Realm:  http://dianneduvall.blogspot.com
Facebook:  http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000816605112
Twitter:  http://twitter.com/DianneDuvall

I’m also hosting a Win a Kindle contest to celebrate and promote the release of Darkness Dawns.  Details are available on my website.  :-)




Question:  
How do you like your vampires?  Dark and brooding?  Playful and cocky?  Alpha?  Beta?  Hero or villain?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Thank you Dianne for coming to the blog today! 


As people who follow this blog know, I loved this book as evidenced by my review. Plus, it inspired my book boyfriend! *drool* Excuse me... ANYWAY... to enter to win for a book, Darkness Dawns, Dianne has graciously provided for giveaway, just answer the question or pose one of your own. Don't forget to leave an e-mail addy if it isn't in your profile. Btw, the giveaway is international!! I'll end the giveaway on the 17th. 10pm, MST. Just remember Roland is mine. ;)
Giveaway is now closed! 

60 comments:

  1. I Like Them Dark & Brooding
    "Alpha" & "Hero's"
    That is my Kind of Vampire!So Hot!
    sasluvbooks(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  2. I definitely enjoy the brooding type, that is an alpha. Really a vampire that's really jealous and possessive, otherwise what's the point of a vampire? Someone that will just 'take me' lol.

    Vivien
    deadtossedwaves at gmail dot com

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  3. I like them well-balanced. There must be advantages and disadvantages of such a state, only then they seem plausible creatures. Otherwise they are just silly and unreal. Oh and I want them to have a sense of humour.

    BTW you look lovely in your photo! What brand of nail varnish do you use? ;)

    portiabridget@yahoo.co.uk

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  4. Right after reading Bram Stoker's Dracula I've always preferred my vampires dark, brooding but sexy. Hmmm...a bit of jealousy, definitely. And not the kind that only come out at night. I prefer those that wander amongst us unnoticed.
    Sounds like a great book - I'll look out for Darkness Dawns.
    Sue

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  5. hey..I like them well-balanced. There must be advantages and disadvantages of such a state, only then they seem plausible creatures

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  6. I want the playful, alpha, hero vamp. Bones would be a good example of that kind.

    usignolc(at)yahooDOTcom

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  7. I am into the brooding type! they are more mysterious and captivating to me!

    kristen_babygurl@hotmail.com

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  8. What a great question.. I definately prefer a dark and brooding alpha Vampire. So much more dangerous and exciting and oh he definately has to be a Hero in the end. ahhh.....

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  9. Loved this post! I'm such a huge vampire fan, it's always fun for me to see how they'll be portrayed in each paranormal book I read. To answer the question, I like my vampires dark, sometimes brooding, and alpha. I always tend to gravitate toward the tortured or damaged hero, I'm a sucker for that type:) Can't wait to read this one and thanks so much for the giveaway!

    supernaturalsnark(at)gmail(dot)com

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  10. I would like to take dark, brooding, playful, cocky, alpha, hero and villain and make a yummy vampire cocktail! The only thing I would add is a bit of humor on top :)

    robin [at] intensewhisper [dot] com

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  11. Dark and brooding with glimpses of playful and cocky when he's around his woman. Plus, an alpha hero. Oh, that's the best!

    Thanks so much for the giveaway!

    loveletters.books@gmail.com

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  12. Wohoo I am in :)

    I like ..everything :D the Beta vamp, the alpha vamp, the sexy one, the rogue one. They are all fun, as long as they are hot

    blodeuedd1 at gmail dot com

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  13. I like all kinds of vampires, heroes and villains alike.
    Thanks for the giveaway!

    erinberry12 at charter dot net

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  14. I love vampires that you can sink your teeth into. Ha!

    I have seen this new tragic victims tread start to develop. It is quite interesting. The books I've read on this, The Strand and The Passage, make the vampires cold blooded killing creatures. And I've enjoyed the scientific element to it.

    I'm always on the look out for PN with a twist, and Melissa's enthusiasm for this series is making me crave it more.

    Thanks for the post and giveaway! So exciting.

    missie at theunreadreader.com

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  15. Oh I love my vampires "Hero", "Alpha" and "Playful". The best combination to have fun with. ;)

    Thank you so much for this giveaway!

    redfirewood888(AT)yahoo(DOT)ca.

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  16. Depends on the mood I'm in but majority I love them dark and broody but there are times I love playful and cocky. Gotta go with Hero though. I love when they get their HEA's.

    vampiremistress2010(at)gmail(dot)com

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  17. I think I like them as a mix of all the above. I like them dark and brooding, but at times I want them playful...and always cocky. They definitely need to be the Alpha, except to the heroine they'd have to be Beta. I also think they need to be the Hero in some situations and the villain in others. They can't be always good right?

    Lisa, bell198@aol.com

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  18. I have to say Alpha with a mix of playfulness. They have to be the Hero. I am always looking for HEA. I guess I am just to much of a romantic. LOL

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  19. I love my vampires Dark & Brooding with a touch of playful cocky-ness! He would have to be a good guy turned from his evil ways, because I LOVE me a bad boy!

    Jessica

    takingitonebookatatime@yahoo.com

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  20. Looks fantastic! Love the virus idea. I'll take my vamp playful and cocky - too much dark and brooding can me a bit much. And alpha hero of course!

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  21. stacey, Vivien, Kristen My Bookish Fairy Tale, and ChrisS : brooding Alphas are definitely in demand . . . for good reason. They're just so irresistible!

    anachronist and sim only plans : Balance is good. Without it, characters can be reduced to caricatures and decrease the realism of the story. And thank you for the complement! I admit that when it comes to nail polish, I tend to buy whatever brand promises to require the fewest coats or swears it dries the fastest so I can spend as little time as possible "painting." :-)

    Sue Roebuck: Sounds like you might like Roland. He dark. He's brooding. He's sexy. He's jealous, but not obnoxiously so. And he can tolerate some sunlight. (The older the immortal, the more sunlight they can tolerate.) And I'm a big fan of the "wandering amongst us unnoticed" paranormal societies, too. I just love that concept.

    caito45: Roland definitely has a playful side, but only Sarah brings it out in him. :-)

    Jenny: I'm a sucker for tortured or damaged heroes, too. Thanks for entering!

    Robin K: LOL! I'll take a vampire cocktail, too!

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  22. I love dark vampire heroes who have a sense of humor. Don't see too many of them but they're some of my favorites!

    lilazncutie1215[at]yahoo[dot]com

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  23. To answer your question, All of the above. It all depends on what I'm in the mood for.

    Thanks,
    Tracey D
    booklover0226 at gmail dot com

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  24. Cait @ Love Letters: You just described Roland. :-) He's dark and brooding, but Sarah brings out a playful, cocky side of him that even he had forgotten he had.

    Blodeuedd and Erinberry: I like them all, too!

    Missie: I'm not familiar with The Strand or The Passage. Who is the author?

    BLHmistress: Nice to see you again! With other romance genres, what I like to read depends on the mood I'm in. But with vampire romances, I can read them all -- dark and brooding, playful and cocky -- anytime! :-)

    Lisa: I totally agree and think the same holds true for villains. Few are ALWAYS bad. Perhaps both Roland AND Bastien (the villain in Darkness Dawns) will appeal to you. :-)

    DL Thomas: Playful Alphas are hard to resist. And I don't think there IS such a thing as too much of a romantic. ;-)

    Taking it One Book at a Time: Hi, Jessica! There are definitely some bad boys in my Immortal Guardians series. :-)

    Alyssa@Teens Read and Write: Glad you like the virus idea! And playful and cocky it oh so tempting!

    jeanette8042: I think you'll like Roland. He's usually dark and brooding, but Sarah brings out his playful, teasing side.

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  25. I like my vampires Playful and Cocky! An added plus is an accent.

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  26. Dark & brooding Alpha vampire!!! Love them!! This looks so good and he looks so hot!!


    Judy
    magnolias_1[at]msn[dot]com

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  27. I like my vampires as anti-heros. I've never gotten over my crush on Lestat and while he's not exactly a paranormal romance character there is a lot of sensuality in those books...plus he usually embraces the dark side of vampires! But I have to admit to a soft spot for Bones as well...

    Mel
    notanotherbookblog(at)hotmail(dot)co(dot)uk

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  28. I confess that I prefer dark and brooding but don't care much for the Edward Cullen-types. Definitely Alpha. Anti-hero but not villainous.

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  29. I am, most unfortunately, NOT a vamp lover, but I sure enjoyed this post! :)

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  30. And preferably in person!

    dsadler53 AT yahoo DOT ca

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  31. I'm definitely more of a "dark and brooding" vampire lover! lol

    kimbers10[at]yahoo[dot]com

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  32. I like my vampire to be a dark and brooding Alpha hero. Although if it's a great story with villainous vampires, I'll enjoy that too (such as in Vampire Empire: The Greyfriar).

    Barbed1951(at)aol(dot)com

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  33. I love my vampire cocky and villain! Something about a dangerous vamp, just makes me blush and giggle like a high school girl!

    loveangel132@yahoo.com

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  34. Ooh, what a fabulous giveaway! I definitely like my vampires (and any supernatural alpha creatures for that matter) dark and brooding. I think the age of sparkly, non-threatening vampires is long gone. :)

    Thanks so much for making this giveaway international!

    rebelprince89@live.com

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  35. Ack, I went to my Borders the other day and they said: "The shipment has just been made so another week or so." GRrrr. I want to read this one for sure.

    Why kind of vamps do I like? That's a major question. Can I answer all the above? Bones, Eric (mine Melissa- sorry!!), Edward (yes, Twilight), and a few other vamp characters are different but equally drool-worthy! heck, i even like James in Twilight too or is it just a Cam thing- hmm!?
    Right now i am enamored with Alec Royce from Jess Haine's novels. He's is arrogant and cocky but it's funner to read of the woman who makes then weak kneed. So perhaps I will take Dark, brooding, cocky and an alpha!!!


    Hmmmmmmmm- I have a feeling once I read Darkness I may have to fight you for Roland!!! mwahahahaha!




    lllinthe808AT gmail DOt com

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  36. Okay, so Melissa. First you know you have caught my eye with this book. And torment my WANT list along with TBR pile so. Now I need to give this book a try!

    How do I like my vampires? Well, I do like a take charge kind that is playful. Alpha I have to say. Although he can't fight with me to much, and I'm pretty stubborn. ;D And he has to be a evil hero. lol. Thanks!

    MyWorldinwordsandpages{at}gmail{dot}com

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  37. This book looks utterly delicious. I like my vampires dark, powerful and brooding ... guess there's still some sort of rescuer mentality surviving somewhere deep inside of me where it would really just feed my ego to think I could save some crotchety old vampire from all his moodiness. Groom him into self acceptance. LOL.

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  38. I like alpha, dark and brooding vampires.

    lillieblue613@gmail.com

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  39. I like the Dark and brooding type!

    aikychien at yahoo dot com

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  40. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  41. Thanks for the great giveaway! How do I like my vampires? Hmmmm, let me see.... All of the above!!! Depends on my mood! You did say vampire"s", plural. :-)

    BornajhawkATaolDOTcom

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  42. Definitely not dark and brooding! I like them playful, heroish, and alpha.

    meredithfl at gmail dot com

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  43. I like my vamps dark and pissed. Playful when it's appropriate and cocky if they have the spine. The rest, according to the situation. You need to be a little Alpha, Beta, Hero, with one or two villainous traits in order to win the war. If there was a war, of course ;-)t

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  44. Forgot to add my email
    magalyguerrero AT live DOT com

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  45. I love my vamps and I love them in the role of bad boy, the badder the better :) Dark, brooding, cocky, aloof, and I love to see them struggle within themselves. Trying to fight their nature and maybe loosing some of their humanity. I love to see them straddling the fine line between hero and vilian :)


    june111(at)att(dot)net

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  46. I want to go with all of the above. Really depending on the story and character creation they all work.

    bacchus76 at myself dot com

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  47. I definitely like the dark, brooding, alpha, hero type :)
    throuthehaze at gmail dot com

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  48. I definitely prefer my vamps to be stubborn, cocky alpha males and I especially like it when they know it.

    bittenbooks at gmail dot com

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  49. I like the alpha but other than that I'm really flexable

    meandi09@yahoo.com

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  50. It depends on the story. For the most part I enjoy my vampire like any other male lead...confident and sure of themselves enough to show their true colors whether that be all rough and tumble, playful or cocky. One usually does not fit the other properly to complete the story! The one thing I don't like is a whiny male lead.

    Thank you! mmafsmith@gmail.com

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  51. I like mine dark,alpha,brooding type with a little bit of playfulness in them.

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  52. He definitely needs to be an alpha. I like them brooding, fierce, passionate, dark, a little cocky, and snarky.

    iqb99@yahoo.com

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  53. I like the dark and broody alpha vampire with a playful side in private.

    Thanks for the opportunity to win. ladyrogue(at)ymail(dot)com

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  54. How do you like your vampires?

    I like all of those characteristics. Appearance of the Dark and brooding, yet playful and cocky, Beta with Alpha tendencies who's a reforming bad boy.

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  55. How I like my vampires totally depends on my mood - But Dark, Playful, Alpha Hero sounds like a good combo for today!

    Thanks for the giveaway, International here!

    Rusted ivory at hotmail dot com

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  56. I iike my vampire to be dark, playfyl, alpha, hero and villain.
    Thanks for the giveaway!!!

    artgiote at gmail dot com

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  57. alpha dark vampires are my favorite ones :P I like the heroes, because they get more pages hahahaha!

    sweet.sayumi@yahoo.com.br

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  58. I love them dark and playful. ...with a little of everything else. :)

    dorcontest at gmail dot com

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Thanks for commenting! I ❤ comments!