It’s been a slow week for me. I’m currently reading Anne Rice’s The Claiming of Sleeping Beauty and it’s not engaging me that much. I want to read it, and it is interesting, but my mind has already wandered away from it (I think I’m going through a reading funk, which the Wii is not helping with). I just picked up Katie MacAlister’s Playing with Fire and my mind is telling me to forget about Beauty and pick it up. So that’s why there hasn’t been any reviews lately, but give me another day or so and I’ll have a review for Playing with Fire up.

I also found a new Yahoo! Group. This one belongs to Rachel Vincent and she likes putting up discussion prompts, so yes, she is actively there. It’s something to check out at least.

Urban Fantasy Land has an interesting poll up right now. The question is:

One day it may be reported that vampires are completely passe and the next it will be faeries or shapeshifters or that publishers are just not looking for yet another crime-fighting wizard.

What do you think?

Personally, I don’t think the paranormal will ever go out of style. It’s been around for decades, if not centuries, so there’s obviously a market for it. Between Dracula and Frankenstein’s success in the 19th century to the ever popular urban fantasy genre today, there is always going to be a audience for it. People are going to continue to want to be scared or fascinated by something they’ll never encounter (again, if you know a vampire, a real one, send them my way). People may not understand the popularity of the monsters, but it’s there and it’s been there for a long time now.

I haven’t actually read anything by Lori Devoti, but she’s been checking out my site lately, so I went over and checked out her site. She has a new excerpt and cover art up for her new novel, Wild Hunt, and I have to say it looks interesting. I’m not usually one to buy the Silhouette books (too much like Harlequin and I’m not a fan of their novels), but the topic alone intrigued me. There are all these references to the Wild Hunt in so many different novels, that I don’t think I’ve ever came across a book about someone who is apart of the Wild Hunt. So when I noticed the book was about a hellhound brethren and a Valkyrie female, it was enough to interest me. I love reading anything involving mythology and this seems like it may be a good read. You can be sure it’s been added to my TBR list.

So now I’m going to help Amber spread the word. A couple of weeks ago, she interviewed JF Lewis about his first novel, Staked. Today, she received word that JF Lewis’ second novel, Re-Vamped was just picked up by the publisher and it will be released. Amber did a review of Staked and if she says it’s good, then it’s a sure thing and I’ve already added it to my TBR list. So check out her review and the book.

Interviews:

• Stephanie Kuehnert interviewed Jeri Smith-Ready about Wicked Game. Kuehnert’s new YA novel, I Wanna Be Your Joey Ramone, focuses on music as well, so most of the questions center around the Rock ‘n Roll elements.
• Ann Aguirre interviews herself with questions she has received via e-mail.
• Melissa Marr is over at Witchy Chicks talking about her writing process.
• Gena Showalter is going to be chatting at the Knight Agency website tonight at 8:00 p.m. EDT. All you have to do is go to the website and click on the TKA CHATROOM link. Enter a screen name and simply select “login.”
• NY Entertainment Magazine interviewed Joss Whedon
• Jeaniene Frost is guest blogging over at Avon Romance.

Articles:

• Agent Savant has some interesting data and information on romance publishing posted from a recent speech given at a RWA Conference in San Diego. The article addresses trends, opinions and statistics.
• Slash Film reports that the Twilight sequels might be shot right on top of each other.
• Here’s a list of the “Most Unjustly Canceled Series” for sci-fi/fantasy/paranormal gems like Firefly, Angel, and Moonlight as reported by SyFy Portal
• Compare and contrast for 15 points, Buffy and Reaper. I haven’t actually seen Reaper yet, but after reading the article and how it compares to Buffy, I might give it a try.
• Buffy the Vampire Slayer is being taught in colleges. This is actually old news, but I still find it amusing that people are still raving about this show even though it’s no longer on the television. In relation to this article, another interesting site is the Undergraduate Journal of Buffy Studies.

Reviews:

• Shara Saunsaucie reviews Jeaniene Frost’s Night Huntress series.
• Maggie Shayne’s Lover’s Bite by Queue My Review.
• Norma Lehr Dark Maiden by Temple Library Reviews. You can also read an excerpt here.
• Graeme reviews Moon Called and Ciaralira reviews Blood Bound by Patricia Briggs. Both of these novels are awesome. I reviewed her third novel, Iron Kissed, but I haven’t gotten around to re-reading them so I could post reviews yet.
• Rhinoa is back from her vacation and just posted a review of Wild Swans by Jung Chang.
• Sidhe Vicious just reviewed the Darkest Night by Gena Showalter.
• Amber has a review of Savannah Russe’s Under Darkness.
• Sam reviewed Ill Wind by Rachel Caine.