IY: Fantasy Creatures – Vampires – My All Time Favourites

Posted on March 14, 2016 by Ileandra Young

Despite how much I love vampires, I realise that I’m not as well read around the creatures as I like to think I am. Obviously there are thousands upon thousands (if not millions) of books on vampires and I can’t read them all, but I have done the classic thing: found my favourite authors and stuck with them. That means that this list, while pretty broad to my mind, is nowhere near as expansive as it could be.

I’m going to fix that at some point.

Anyway! My all time favourite vampires (types and individual characters) are spread across film, TV and books. I’m a wimp, so I won’t be putting these in any sort of order, just spitting them out as they come to me.

Spike (Buffy The Vampire Slayer, TV Series )

Spike has an incredible character arc throughout the series, going from bad to kinda-good. And yet he never quite loses his bad-boy appeal, despite all the background and growth we get. He remains true to his own morals and loves, even when he transitions over to Angel and we see what is important to him after all. Makes me warm inside.

Alisa Perne (The Last Vampire series, Christopher Pike)

Aside from watching Buffy, I believe these books were the first time I properly encountered vampires. Alisa is a 5,000 year old vampire, the last of her kind, hunted down by the creature who made her way back in India in 3,000 BC when her name was Sita. I love these books. Love, love, love, and just thinking about them makes me want to find them again. What I didn’t realise is that the series continues beyond what I read, so now, rather than three, there are five books with a potential sixth on the way. To say I’m excited about this is a mad understatement and, when funds allow, I’ll be buying the whole series to return to my first love.

Count Dracul (Bram Stoker’s Dracula; Francis Ford Coppolla)

Yes, yes, I know, it’s all about books, right? But not this. Put aside, if you can, the horrific acting of Keanu Reeves, and Winona Ryder, this film starred Gary Oldman as the title character. And he was FANTASTIC! I still get a chill when I remember the earlier scenes, with the pale skin, hairy palms, and mad up-do. He plays it subtle, oh-so-subtle, but you know, beneath the love he feels for his lost Elizabetha, that he is a veeeeeeeeeeery dangerous man. For me, this is how vampires should be: mysterious, obviously deadly, though to look at them, it’s hard to put your finger on why. How else would they survive throughout the years? :p

Henry Fitzroy (The Blood Books, Tanya Huff)

Apparently, I’m someone who likes to blend true history with fiction. Not only do my vampires stem from Egypt with direct likes to Cleopatra, Marc Antony and Octavian, but Saar himself bounces through history with his hands in all sorts of pies. Henry Fitzroy is the same sort of thing, the bastard son of King Henry VIII, a real person that Tanya has taken to star in her books. I love that idea and I love her vampires. I love how she deals with the potential overpopulation issue by having them be territorial and unable to be too close together. I particularly enjoy the subtly of their powers and how it all came together in the Lifetime series, Blood Ties, which I know I’ve talked about before.

The God-Touched (Saar’s Legacy trilogy)

It may seem like a gratuitous plug to include my own books in this list, but it makes senses that I enjoy my own vampires. I worked hard to give them their own unique flavour and to make them different, yet related to other vampires I enjoy. They take their roots in ancient history, much like those of Christopher Pike, they are religious (Henry Fitzroy is a Catholic and that didn’t change upon becoming a vampire), they have a strict hierarchy based around their power, age and status and all their powers are dependent on blood. I’ve enjoyed writing about these people and how they live, but I’m looking forward to moving on. As I explore more about vampires and how different people view them, I’m hoping that future works of mine incorporate more of the different legends, tropes and ideas across the creature type.line break, swirling graphics, from openclipartAnd that’s it. My fav vamps, whittled down from a list that includes a whole heap of brilliant authors: Melissa De La Cruz, Charlaine Harris, Laurell K Hamilton, Sparkle Hayter, Christopher Moore, Johnny B Truant, Samantha Warren and Anne Rice. It was hard, and I know there’s more, but I can’t go on forever.

I would love, however, to chat with you about what vampires you like, if at all. Why not hit me in the comments?

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RS: I Haz Planz 07/03/16 & February 2016 Round Up

Posted on March 7, 2016 by Raven ShadowHawk

Iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiit’s March!

. . . that seemed to come out of nowhere! Sure, I’m aware of days passing and all that, but yikes, did February go fast. And not just because it’s short a couple of days.

Ho hum. Time to look at how I’ve been getting on.

Actions Over The Last Fortnight

~Complete deep edits on ‘Shh, The Kids Are Sleeping’
Done. At last! Dunno why that took me so long, but it’s done and I’m so thrilled with the story. A sweet little piece about a married couple, completed with two young kiddie winkles. But I’m not getting sentimental . . . no, not me . . . no way, no how. o.O

~Complete first draft of ‘Not Another Blind Date’ (after figuring out what’s bothering me about the words I have so far)
Another sweet story complete in first draft. The words I had so far were bothering me because they were sweet and sensual, rather than hard and rough. Sure, these Smexxy Snippets are supposed to be quick and rough, but I think a minor break for the emotions linked to extreme insta-lust is something nice to explore. So that’s what happened in this offering. I’ll get onto editing it later.

February Round Up

~Ensure the release of my third Smexxy Snippet (‘The Back Seat of My Sister’s Car’) releases as planned on February 22 2016 on both Amazon and Smashwords
All done. Came out without a hitch and it’s all looking rosy on that score.

~Complete and list the fourth Smexxy Snippet: ‘Shh, The Kids Are Sleeping!’
Woohoo, wrapped up this afternoon. Everything is in place and there are a few more checks that Smashwords needs to make before they’re happy.

~Complete the draft of ‘Not Another Blind Date’
Yes, as above, this is now done.

~Draft ‘It’s Fun To Share’
I think I’m 900 words in, or something like that. I started last week when I realised I was done with the other stuff, but never quite got to the end. Ho hum. I’ll do that this month too.

Change That Shit Up

Here is the full list again, just so I can take a look at what needs to be done, refreshing myself on the details, as it were. Completed tasks struck out, changes in red and new items in green.

  • Complete the Slippers & Chains series in full which includes:
    • Editing ‘Slippers & Chains: Picking Out Curtains’
    • Formatting ‘Slippers & Chains: Picking Out Curtains’
    • Drafting ‘Slippers & Chains: Number Four’ (I suppose I’ll also have to name it)
    • Editing ‘Slippers & Chains: Number Four’
    • Formatting ‘Slippers & Chains: Number Four’
  • Release the first ten Smexxy Snippets
    • The Back Seat of My Sister’s Car’
      • Release
    • ‘Shh, The Kids Are Sleeping!’
      • Edit
      • Format & list
      • Release
    • ‘In The Back Row of the Cinema’
      • Edit
      • Format & list
      • Release
    • ‘Guess Who’s Coming For Dinner’
      • Edit
      • Format & list
      • Release
    • ‘Not Another Blind Date’
      • Draft
      • Edit
      • Format & release
    • ‘It’s Fun To Share’
    • ‘So . . . I Bought A New Toy’
    • ‘Because Magic Is Sexy’
  • Plan some type of series/serial that I’ll enjoy writing for the foreseeable future

Targets For March 2016

I seem to recall deciding to shift my release schedule to every other month, rather than monthly, meaning I can sit back and chill just a tiny bit. Still, it would be nice to get the first drafts of all my snippets out the way, especially since, for some reason, I’ve also started making notes of ‘Slippers & Chains: Three’ even though that piece didn’t rank anywhere in my notes for last month. I’ve completed the notes too, and I’m ready to start deep edits pretty much any time now.

*sigh* Funny how I distract myself from my list in favour of anything else going!

Anyway:

  1. Ensure the release of my fourth Smexxy Snippet (‘Shh, The Kids Are Sleeping!’) releases as planned on March 22 2016 on both Amazon and Smashwords
  2. Draft the remaining three Smexxy Snippets
    1. ‘It’s Fun To Share’
    2. ‘So, I Bought A New Toy’
    3. ‘Because Magic Is Sexy’
      1. Work on this title because, at present, it sucks arse!

Activities For This Fortnight

  1. Finish drafting ‘It’s Fun To Share’
  2. Draft half of ‘So I Bought A New Toy’

Thoughts . . .

Sorted. That’s more than enough to keep me busy this fortnight. Let’s see how we do: half term is over, I have my working afternoons back, the household has calmed down for DSB and everything is smooth and shiny. Let’s go.

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RS: The ‘SM’ In #BDSM – Part Three, Pain

Posted on March 7, 2016 by Raven ShadowHawk

I suppose it would be kind to leave a warning here before you start. Many, if not all, of the links (and pictures) in this series of posts are totally NSFW. If you want to have a look, do, by all means, but don’t be surprised if you find naked boy bits at the other end . . . or girl bits.
Happy? Let’s go.

line break, swirling graphics, from openclipart

First up, let me just say that I’m writing this post while listening to the Showaddywaddy Megamix (followed by a J-ska version of Monkey Man) and, given some of the pictures I’m looking at, it is my most BIZARRE blogging experience to date. I find myself vaguely turned on and desperate to hit the dance floor and shake my tush.

ANYWAY . . .

I want to talk about to very specific aspects of pain today, CBT and NT or, cock-and-ball-torture and nipple torture. I focus on these as they are quick and easy discussion points and cover about as much as I know about pain for pleasure.

Sooooo . . . CBT. Good ole torture of the most delicate parts of a person’s anatomy. Or is it? I have it on good authority that both cock and balls can take rough manhandling before any pain is caused at all. Discomfort, sure, but pain? A kick in the nads isn’t at all the same as using the many tools I’ve heard of when it comes to CBT.

Pegs, wool (for binding), chopping up latex gloves, harnesses, collars, elastic bands, paperclips, weights . . . it goes on and on. And though there is often pain involved, that isn’t the be all and end all. Many times it is simply about the discomfort or the stress of the position the cock-bearer (haha, cock-bearer—and yes, I’m trying to avoid saying ‘men’ here as men aren’t the only people with cocks) may find themselves in.

There are more extreme forms of cock and ball play involving e-stim (electrical stimulation) and urethal play (nope!—Really not my cup of tea, but it takes all sorts).

Nipple torture can work much the same way. Putting the nipple, areola and/or the rest of the breast tissue in a situation of extreme stimulation. Can be achieved through slapping, pinching, licking, biting, whipping, you get the idea. Also, the same sorts of tools that may be used in CBT (see above).

This post talks about an experience with e-stim that I find fascinating, particularly since the pain/discomfort lead directly to pleasure rather than the usual things someone might assume would do so.

So why is this arousing? A bit like the last time, hell if I know, but, again, there are all sorts of articles, blogs and wikis that cover the questions in different forms over and over and over (and over . . . I didn’t wade through the whole article, but I did skim read it. Fascinating stuff).

In short, given that my writings these days are taking more of a BDSM turn, I’m keen to learn more about both these forms of stimulation because it think it would be fun to explore exactly that question above. Why? What does it mean? Is it healthy? Is it scary? Why is pain taboo at all? And so on. But you know me, I enjoy giving myself a rough time when I write.

Apparently. 😉

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IY: Mah Plans 29/02/16 & February 2015 Round Up

Posted on February 29, 2016 by Ileandra Young

Yes, the round up is early this month but I figure since today is the <em>last </em>day of the month, it makes sense to do it now rather than waiting a whole fortnight. First up:

Actions Over The Past Fortnight

~Complete deep edits on ‘On A Knife Point.’ Meh, why not?
Huh. That was easy. o.O Done!

~Switch Crossroads ‘deep edits’ into Scrivener and read
All moved over, but I’ve not completed my red yet. Shouldn’t take long to do though, I’ll whip through it tonight.

February 2016 Round Up

Mmm. Defo deserves 'well done Ovaltine!'

Mmm. Defo deserves ‘well done Ovaltine!’

~Complete half the deep edits on ‘On A Knife Point’ (45,000 words ish)
Sorted. The whole thing is done in fact. I guess I was really enjoying myself!

~Complete deep edits on Episode Six: Crossroads
Yes, they are done. The read through isn’t, but in terms of what I planned to do this month, we’re all good! Wow.

Changes To My Plans

This is the full list of what remains, just to remind myself of what is going on. Like usual, I list changes in red, new items in green and completed tasks are struck out.

  • Release ‘On A Knife Point’ in paperback and digital forms and thus complete the ‘Saar’s Legacy’ trilogy
    20160229_095149.jpg

    Credit: Moi

    • Complete deep edits
    • Send through beta readers
    • Complete beta edits
    • Final edits
    • Commission cover design
    • Format for all formats
      • Smashwords
      • Amazon
      • Createspace
    • List as pre order
    • Release
  • Complete the release of ‘Dead And Alive, Season One’
    • Release Episode Four (Resistance) on February 15
    • Release Episode Five (Answers) on April 15
      • Release
    • Release Episode Six (Crossroads) on June 15
      • Complete deep edits
      • Format
        • Amazon
        • Smashwords
      • List as pre order
      • Release
  • Submit ‘Clash of the Animal Kings’ to agents/small presses/open submission calls
    • Rewrite and edits
    • Beta readers
    • Further edits
    • Seek suitable submission opportunities
      • Agents
      • Small presses
      • Open submission calls
    • Submit
  • Outline plans for my traditional fantasy serial (I suppose it’s Wheel of Time-esque), especially to figure out how many novels it will take to tell the tale and how I would release them if I chose to start writing in 2017.
  • Outline plans for a new series, following/featuring characters from ‘Dead And Alive’

Targets for March 2016

  • Get Episode Six (Crossroads) ready for release and listed as a pre order
  • Clean up ‘On A Knife Point’ and send to Beta Readers
  • Commission ‘On A Knife Point’ cover design with Dave Johnson
  • Spend some time compiling x4 ideas for novel length stories featuring ‘Dead And Alive’ characters

Activities This Fortnight (complete by 13/3/16)

  • Complete final read of Crossroads
  • Format Crossroads
  • Approach my panel of Beta Readers
  • Put together cover brief for Dave Johnson and send

Thoughts…

thinking boy, black and white, with questions marks around his head

Credit: ryanlerch at OpenClipArt

I’m looking forward to this. ‘On A Knife Point’ is so different to the previous two books in Saar’s Legacy. I’m keen to see how people react to the level of action happen here and, whether or not a certain someone enjoys a particular character a little more. 😉

I’m also thrilled at the idea of being done. This trilogy has consumed my writing life for so long (SO LONG!).  Being near the end is liberating, terrifying and exciting. I’ll finally be ‘free’ to work on some of the other ideas seething in my head.

This is the finish line now, I can see the tape fluttering in the breeze . . . and the plate of delicious, chocolate chip reward-cookies at the end! 😉

20160217_140532.jpg

Credit: Moi

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IY: Fantasy Creatures – Vampires – The Accepted Basics

Posted on February 29, 2016 by Ileandra Young

Okay! It’s been a while so let’s dive on in with the basic tropes people expect when it comes to those delicious creatures known as vampires. Here are the top five (as I see them) in ascending order.

5: Super strength

Vampires are strong, yo. Far stronger than the average human and capable of fantastic feats of strength, enough to make Mr Universe and all his friends look like puny weaklings. There are examples of them lifting cars, stopping trains, fighting dragons (dunno about that last one, but I’d love to write it!). On top of that, vampires are generally accepted to have spectacular senses, so improved eye sight, keen sense of smell and exceptional taste (heh heh heh).

4: Super duper sexy and alluring

picture of spike from Buffy the vampire slayer

This can’t be ignored. I don’t think I’ve come across more than a handful of examples in which vampires were sex on legs. Nosferatu may be the notable exception to that, but even he fell in love, chasing after a woman who had a hard time saying no.

3: Sensitive to or severely allergic to daylight

A biggie: vampires don’t like the sun. Of course that is not the case in Bram Stoker‘s Dracula (he was merely weakened by sunlight) and of course, the similarly famous (infamous?) vampires of the Twilight saga who sparkle in the sun. There are myriad reasons for vampire to avoid daylight, but avoid it they do. Unless . . . y’know . . . they’re Blade or something. o.O

2: Eternal youth

Vampires maintain the apparent age of their turning. This makes for all sorts of fun shenanigans where vampires (usually male) fall for humans (usually female) who are decades, if not hundreds of years younger than them. *shrugs* Still, makes for some interesting story telling when you mix old cultures with contemporary ones.

1: Drinking blood

The big one! All vampires drink blood. Usually human blood. I’m yet to find an example of vampires in film or literature in which they don’t do this. Some vampires may have matured beyond the point of needing blood, or they survive temporarily on animal blood but they do still drink it. Always. It’s their food and is often (though not always) linked to sex.

line break, swirling graphics, from openclipart

Bram Stocker 1847-1912I guess my favourite traditional example of vampires has to be that of Bram Stoker. His vampire is able to express the deepest, most powerful love, and yet Dracula is a violent force of nature, capable of destruction in a manner few humans can dream. Not only that, but Stoker knocks the daylight issue on the head, simply by stating that, like the bat, day is not a vampire’s natural time, though he is capable of moving about in it. He is simply weakened. It is one of the tropes I’ve taken and used extensively in my own vampires, largely because I’m too damn lazy to work around stories that must take place at night. -_-

Credit: rejon

Credit: rejon

The most creative reason for avoiding sunlight I would (grudgingly) award to Stephanie Meyer, since the sparkling skin thing is certainly something I’d never heard of before she did it. Similarly, it’s a pretty damn good reason to stay out of the sun if a vampire is trying to stay below the radar. But the underlying messages of that and the rest of her books piss me off so much that I have trouble saying anything good about them without growling through my teeth.

So . . . there we are.

I must admit, I also very much enjoy the device employed by Charlaine Harris, her synthetic blood (True Blood) is a brilliant way to bring vampires forward into contemporary society and yet make them safe to be around. Sure, they still have trouble with daylight, but they aren’t forced to attack humans to survive which means they are able to run businesses, raise families and gain political power in a world that knows and acknowledges them. Very clever. ^_^

More next time!

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