Dust, Blood or Flames – How do your Vampires die? by Pat Sawtelle

Bram Stoker’s Dracula, Anne Rice’s Interview With The Vampire, and Twilight by Stephanie Meyer, are just a few of the many books that have invited us to explore the life Vampires. Lon Chaney, Bela Lugosi, and Gloria Holden are some of the earliest actors putting fear in the hearts of humans with their vampire fangs as they lurk in the shadows of the movies. Over the course of time, these magical creatures stalked unwitting humans drinking their blood before retreating to the dark places on earth, or coffins, to sleep away the day.

Staking the death walkers ends the life of these creatures. However, this is where authors use a variety of creative methods to remove the scary creatures. Vampire deaths range from bursting into flames, disintegrating into dust/ash, becoming a corpse, melting into a pile of bloody pulp, turning to glass then shattering, or even drifting into tiny particles of fiery light that floats away for a happy ending.

Vampire enthusiasts judge the creative treatments and beliefs of vampire stories based on the constraints of their favorite character in books or movies. Vampires that “glitter” in the daylight caused some very lively discussions as the twist challenged the beliefs of these enthusiasts.

For vampire enthusiasts, I encourage you to read and learn to look for the authors to explain the whys behind their death style creativity. For writers, I remind you to provide legends or logic to support your selected results from staking the evil that walks. Without support, readers can become disenchanted with your story if it conflicts with their preconceived beliefs about vampire deaths.

And yes, Chalice Moon contains support for why my vampires turn to ash! Check it out and see what you think. Fangs for reading!

Summer in the City

Realms Of Imagination
Edited By Kimberly Richardson

http://darkoakpress.com/realms.html

Lose yourself in fourteen stories of urban fantasy where make believe and myth collide with the modern world. The magical creatures of old didn’t disappear. They now live hidden among us. All we have to do is pay attention to the signs and beware their mirth and mischief!

The Stories:
Clean Up In Aisle Seven by Lori Ratti
Black Mary by Allan Gilbreath
The White Rider by M. B. Weston
Favoritism of the Damned by Collie James
The Restless Dead by Gail Z. Martin
Voodoo Children by John G. Hartness
The Spelled Blade by D. B. Jackson
Cornelius Dex by Kimberly B. Richardson
Hall and Goats by John G. Hartness
A Twist of Fate by Missa Dixon
Stolen Thunder by H. David Blalock
Minnow Slough by Kay Woo
Footloose by John G. Hartness
My Ainsel by James Ferris

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Sabotage, Spies, Dragons, Knights, Magic… and Puzzles

Enjoy The Arfifice Conspiracy and check out the latest addition to our Find-A-Word Puzzle collection. Are you up to the challenge? Find the puzzle on the Dark Oak Press site.

The Artifice Conspiracy

Great Action Makes A Great Gift!

Dragons Reign Supreme

Mankind had no place in a world where dragons reign supreme. In fact, they were considered little more than a distraction for the young or bored, insignificant insects to be manipulated for entertainment or destroyed as pests. All that changed when Thytira, one of the greatest mages of dragonkind, discovered that the magic of man may have merit after all. After living among humanity for centuries to learn their lore and increase his own power, he emerged as the most powerful dragon of his generation. But all knowledge has a price, and years spent among mankind cursed Thytira with the greatest liability a dragon can have: a conscience.

Now as war drums sound and a new, terrifying threat arises from humanity, Thytira alone stands between the wrath of dragonkind and the total destruction of humanity. However, the fate of men and dragon alike may ultimately depend upon the decisions of a young woman who long ago denied the birthright of her race. But that is only if Thytira can find her …

http://darkoakpress.com/dragonssleep.html

Living Legends

Creiton’s Swords were legends in their own lifetimes. The tales of Duke Creiton’s personal guard were known in every tavern and alehouse, but for Bryant they were just stories. He had no time for stories. It was all he could do to carve a place for himself among the guard of Bren while coming to terms with guilt for the family he’d left behind. But then the bells of Bren pealed out the warning of war, and there was only time for survival.

Bryant’s first taste of battle was nothing like the ballads. He saw no glory or honor in the butchery, and instead of riches there was only terror and ignoble death. But as he buried his closest friend, Bryant made a simple promise that would change his life. Never again would he stand idly by when he had the power to act. Never again would he hide behind the lie of helplessness. And when his first act on that promise led to saving a powerful nobleman’s life, Bryant found he’d started down a road with no way back. For Bryant had gained the attention of Creiton’s Swords, and no one who did that was ever the same again…

http://darkoakpress.com/creitons.html

Books For The Busy life!

For the avid book lover there is nothing more frustrating than a busy life. You want to read, but you don’t want to miss that soccer game or dance recital. We have a solution…. Anthologies!

These quick reads give you the satisfaction of reaching the end of a good story in a short amount of time. As an added bonus, you can sample the writing style of  several authors or genres like tasting everything on the dessert menu. They also make great gifts for friends and family! Visit our catalog and read a bit from the books to pick your starting point and enjoy the satisfaction of reading again.

• Capes & Clockworks (books 1 & 2)
• Dreams of Steam (books 1 & 2)
• Gadgets
• Gizmos
• Clockwork Spells and Magical Bells
• The Big Bad (books 1 & 2)
• Luna’s Children” Stranger Worlds
• Realms of Imagination
• A Tall Ship, a Star and Plunder
• Malice In Memphis Ghost Stories
• Malice in Memphis Bluff City Mysteries
• Malice In Memphis Elmwood: Stories to Die For
• 

 

The Cozy Paranormal

Do you enjoy cozy mysteries? Were you enticed by the latest vampire love story? Maybe it’s time for you to try a Cozy Paranormal.

Cozy Paranormal is a new sub-genre of paranormal / fantasy fiction where the gore and tension are downplayed and the characters represent one or more groups of magical creatures like vampires or shape shifters. Here are some things to help you understand the genre.

• The main character is an everyday person with a charming appeal to the reader. Kimie and her best friend Sydney met in college and instantly shared a “gut feeling” connection that built a special bond between these mischievous best friends.
• Gore and tension are downplayed.
  Find out why Vampires turn to dust when they die.
• Magical creatures feel like they could be someone you know.
  Owners of construction companies or gyms, these people are your neighbors.
• Magic can’t solve everything.
  Life isn’t scripted and like humans, magical creatures can die. Being a vampire has its own laws and life limits. If you are evil, there are consequences.
• Good must always triumph in the end.
  You have to read the book if you want to find out how the ending happens!
• Romance, especially in a series, keeps the hope for better times alive.
  Love comes in all forms and takes patience. When humans and magicals fall in love, there are always complications.

Check out Chalice Moon for a good example of a cozy paranormal. This is the first book in the new Chalice Princess series by Pat Sawtelle.

http://www.darkoakpress.com/chalice.html

Vampires For Valentines!

Mikal Baldevar – The legendary living Philosopher’s Stone and a murderous sociopath!

http://www.darkoakpress.com/crimsonshadows.html

Simon Baldevar and Meghann O’Neill have twins, Elizabeth and Mikal. Elizabeth is a mortal, loving, and normal child while Mikal is his father’s son. Simon and Meghann separated in order to keep their children safe; he to an isolated Highland island with their vampiric son and Meghann to New York to raise their human daughter.

Eighteen years later, despite Simon’s best efforts to raise his son, there are serious issues. In fact, Mikal has absolutely no sense of right or wrong, nor any sense of pleasure or pain. He’s a true sociopath in every sense of the word. To Simon’s dismay, Mikal leaves home on a murderous rampage.

Simon originally got Meghann pregnant to produce the legendary living philosopher’s stone, knowing that his vampire child would possess powers that other vampires could only dream of, including the most fearful of all, Mikal is able to walk in daylight. Now, Simon Baldevar is faced with the most horrifying of choices; be a loving father or a ruthless killer. Either way, he must face what he has unleashed upon the world.