Tuesday, October 20, 2026

Top 10 Tips for Grabbing the Paranormal Readers’ Attention- Guest Blog by Shereen Vedam #EpicFantasy #CozyMystery



1.      Tie into readers’ emotions about your story’s setting. Abbie Grimshaw, in Death Takes a Detour, reflects my fascination with graveyards. It’s where she befriends a ghost, which sets her on her path to claim her destiny.

2.      Delight the readers with a bit of history. History and mythology are a rich mine of information to be plundered, not only in your own country, but from all around the world. One of my favourite discoveries was Mama D’leau from Trinidadian mythology. In Death Swipes Right, she’s transported to Kent, England, given a new backstory, and set free to torment my characters.

3.      Make it personal. Whatever story you’re writing, it has to be personal to the main character. In When the Magic Comes, a cozy epic fantasy mystery, Kennard, our hero, is desperate to prove his father wrong about magic, and the readers might sympathize with this familiar feeling of wanting to prove yourself worthy.

4.      Don’t break the rules. Especially not if you created them. People relate to restrictions. They live with them every day of their lives. So, place some boundaries around your magic, your creatures, and your world. When your character slams into one, your reader might not only relate, but sympathize.

5.      Readers love familiarity! This is why they buy long series and follow the same characters from book to book, and setting to setting. In When the Magic Comes, I built a whole university, which will be the playground for many of the stories in the series. You look forward to going home for Christmas until you discover a dragon’s moved into your family’s shed.

6.      Tease the reader. Readers like the thrill of discovery. The wonder of suspecting something and waiting for the big reveal. In When the Magic Comes, when someone burns one of Kennard’s students in a fountain, it’s just the very first clue of many about who might be behind this unusual crime.

7.      Entertain the reader with multiple plot lines. This is a favourite ploy of soap operas. It’s why they have so many loyal followers, year after year. I still love to watch Days of Our Lives. We can also do this by giving every character, even minor ones, a goal, motivation, and conflict. Then weave these conflicts into each other, so at the end, they all connect and resolve at a big wedding or funeral.

8.      Unravel characters as if you’re peeling an onion. Not every secret about our characters has to be given to the reader in the first chapter. Save some for later chapters. It keeps the character and the story fresh and ever enlightening.

9.      Show the reader the meaning behind the magic. Not everyone will react the same way to the same event. When Kennard’s dragonet comes to protect him against his sister, he’s proud of her and touched at her wanting to defend him, while the strange and dangerous-looking creature horrifies his sister. Same magical event, two different viewpoints, and it gives Tala, the dragonet, so much depth of character.

10.  Have fun as a writer and enjoy your “characters” as you would your family, and so will your readers. Let a dragon break some magical “wind.” Remember, not all characters are the perfect size, shape, or have impeccable manners.


When the Magic Comes
A Grimm Medieval Mystery
Book One
Shereen Vedam

Genre: Cozy Epic Fantasy Mystery
Publisher: Shereen Vedam
Date of Publication: October 13, 2026
ISBN: eBook 9781989036464
ISBN: Paperback 9781989036471
ISBN: Audiobook  9781989036488
ASIN: B0FVYCWP33
Number of pages: 240
Word Count: 62,000
Cover Artist: Suzie O’Connell from Sunset Rose Books

Tagline: Magic. Prophecy. Murder.

Book Description:

It’s been said that Kennard of Grimm is destined to be the first in a long line of warriors who battle evil with magic.

Just one problem: he teaches magic at a prestigious university, but he has no magical abilities.

What he has is a dangerous curiosity, piercing instincts, and a responsibility for a baby dragon named Tala. Normal chaos rules Kennard’s life until a student is murdered, and another is blamed. Convinced the accused is innocent, he sets out to find the real killer.

To further complicate Kennard’s life, his mother and sister visit him, sparking Tala’s protective instincts. Then things turn more dangerous when a second body shows up.

The killer’s audacity is mounting.

Kennard must stop the murderer and soothe his indignant dragonet or risk death and destruction on a much larger scale.

If you enjoy your mystery with a hint of fairy tale, you’ll love meeting Kennard of Grimm and his dragonet, and sharing in their epic adventure as amateur detectives in a magical medieval fantasy world.


Excerpt

This is who I am. I’m the widow of a knight. My father was the Baron of Grimm. I’m the eldest of four. And my brother is the first Grimm to insist he can see magical creatures. My name is Violet.

On this November day, in the year of our Lord 1312, an unusual crime was committed at Edensa University, where my brother lives. There had been no warning that this event would be life-changing for both him and me.

As Master of Magical Theory and History, he soon became entangled in the event, for it had magical undertones. I intended to keep him out of harm’s way. But then I became worried, as I wondered if his convictions were not just the result of an overactive imagination.

What if there really are invisible monsters?

* * *

“Surely magical creatures are naught but myths, sir?” Gazi spoke from a bench two rows back. “They don’t exist.”

This late-night class, the first Kennard had held this autumn, would hopefully be the last. It had made for a long day.

The lit torches shadowed Gazi’s strong features, giving him a devilish cast. He suspected the clever lad of being deliberately provocative. At fourteen, he was only seven years Kennard’s junior, yet Gazi might as well have been a mischievous child of eight, the way he sometimes acted.

Kennard addressed his students. “What do you think of Gazi’s question? Is it worthy of our consideration?”

“No!” Fanil lounged on a bench to Kennard’s left and flashed Gazi, his arch-nemesis, an over-the-shoulder smirk. “But such creatures are present in Bernada,” he added, snapping on the bait despite his avowal to the contrary.

Two vociferous rivals for the class fool.

“As if you would know.” Gazi chuckled. “You’ve never been to the sorcerers’ kingdom. No mortal has.”

“Our queen has,” Elspera countered, one of only three lasses registered for his class, and the only one of them present tonight. She sat directly across from Kennard, her favorite spot.

Her maid sat by the door, head tilted, eyes closed, and mouth half open, while releasing soft snores.

Elspera pointed at a portrait of our fair monarch on the wall. Her long sleeve slid down as she raised her arm, revealing a pale hand and wrist covered in intricately painted, darkly dotted patterns.

Gazi straightened on his bench, running a hand through his hair. “I grant, unlike us, God bestowed Queen Amity with exceptional powers. Yet, even she’s never spoken of magical creatures, not in our lands or even in Bernada.” His tone grew soft as his gaze rested on the fair maiden. “Also, this topic is about magical creatures, like ogres, griffins, and water spirits. Not sorceresses.”

“As a sorceress,” Elspera argued, “the queen could be considered a magical creature. If you seek further evidence, what about religious texts, which mention behemoths, demons, and even dragons? They do not lie.”

“My pa says it is blasphemous to discuss witchery,” a lad said from the last row. “The church forbids it.”

Though Gregory had addressed his comments to the class, his gaze lingered by the doorway. Was he hoping he could be anywhere but here? Possibly. Kennard glanced toward the doorway, where Elspera’s maid, having awoken, sat straight and blinked tired eyes. It had been a long day.

His attention returned to Gregory, who hailed from a small village in Greece. Normally, a quiet lad. Why a religious boy wished to attend sacrilegious lessons had once troubled him when the lad’s family applied to enroll him in this class.

Had the Church sent this “little bird” to Edensa to report on Kennard’s teachings, so they could smear his father’s name? For the Baron of Grimm had spoken out against the Pope a time or two.

Kennard’s fist had clenched at the possibility of his behavior being used to attack his father. In the end, he met Gregory, and his instincts insisted the lad had good in him. So, deciding an enemy close at hand was worth three in the bush, he’d admitted him. Time would prove if he’d been wise or not.

 


About the Author:

Once upon a time, USA Today bestselling author Shereen Vedam read fantasy and romance novels to entertain herself. Now she writes heartwarming tales braided with threads of magic and love and mystery elements woven in for good measure.

Shereen's a fan of resourceful women, intriguing men, and happily-ever-after endings. If her stories whisk you away to a different realm for a few hours, then Shereen will have achieved one of her life goals.











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Tuesday, October 6, 2026

Whispers of the Pale Witch by S.A. Sizemore with Exclusive Excerpt #Horror #ParanormalThriller


Character Confession from Whispers of the Pale Witch by S.A. Sizemore

 

Things haven’t been the same since Hester died. I know what happened, but I can’t tell anyone. Even if I could, I don’t think they would believe me. It’s like I’m not even here.


I blame the woman who showed up a couple of months ago. The one that smelled like dirt. I thought she came to fix the lightbulb down in the cellar, but then she wouldn’t leave. She made herself comfortable as if she owned the place.


And Hester… Hester thought the woman was a ghost…at first. But ghosts don’t make that much noise, and they don’t leave cans of food lying around for me to find.


I can’t believe Elizabeth took me away to live with someone else. I thought she loved me.


It didn’t take long for me to run away and get back home.


When I arrived at the yellow and white house on Beckett Street, a rodent darted across the porch step. A moment later I left its lifeless body next to Hester’s rocking chair. Then I crawled through the cellar window and hopped down to the floor. A faint cloud of dust was all that tipped off my presence.


In the shadows I saw her. That woman. She was back again.


I crept up the cellar stairs, careful not to wake her. As I wandered down the hall, the house felt strange. I walked into the sitting room and realized what it was. All the furniture was missing.


Where did she put it?


I passed by the fireplace, the one with cream-colored tiles and patterns of the moon. Was I hearing whispering? It sounded like Hester and someone else she used to talk to.


Oh good, my tower’s still here. But this wasn’t home anymore. Not with Hester gone.


There wasn’t a reason for me to stay any longer. Just as I was about to leave, I heard a sound on the front porch.


Footsteps. Not ones I recognized.


Then another sound. A key slid into the front door lock.


I needed to hide.


I ran down the cellar stairs as fast as I could. The woman was still there. Now she was holding an axe. I jumped up the cabinet of cleaning supplies and squeezed through the cellar window. It clattered just as the sound of thunder cracked against the clouds above. The rain had arrived, so I didn’t want stick around and see what might happen next. The only place for me to find shelter was under the porch.


A few minutes later I heard Elizabeth’s voice say, “Hello?”


Another voice, someone young with dark skin and curly black hair, met Elizabeth above me on the porch. They talked for a few minutes. After Elizabeth left, the newcomer, who looked like Hester, brought boxes into the house.


I stayed the night under the porch until something woke me not long after midnight. That evil woman with the axe was leaving. I crawled out from under the porch and watched her steal Hester’s garden cart. She tucked a black plastic bag into it. Once she left and was far enough down the ally, I crawled back into the house.


Was the young human still alive?


When I got to the main floor again, I heard music coming from upstairs. A shadow on the wall above meant she was there. As I placed my paw on the top step, I found her lying on a mattress in the hallway sleeping peacefully. I didn’t know who she was, but I liked her. She reminded me so much of Hester.


I went back downstairs and jumped into my tower in the sitting room. I’m home again, and I have found my new family. My name is Solstice, and I belong here with the Becketts.


 

Want to hear what happens to Solstice and her human family? Check out my new multi-award-winning book Whispers of the Pale Witch. It’s a story four hundred years in the making set in Salem, Massachusetts.


Shall we begin?


BeckettCoven.com



Whispers of the Pale Witch 
Beckett Coven Series
Book One
S.A. Sizemore

Genre: Horror/Paranormal Thriller
Publisher: Rowan Prose Publishing
Date of Publication: September 29, 2026
ISBN: 978-1-961967-99-1
ASIN: B0FTBTKG9J
Number of pages: 398
Word Count: 98,000
Cover Artist: Kelly Moran

Tagline: Shall we begin?

Book Description: 

Some secrets should just stay buried. 

After the sudden death of her great-aunt, Kylie Beckett lands her dream job as a forensic photographer in the small seaside town where she was born. But once there, a series of murders and the theft of a dangerous relic force Kylie to uncover the dark truth about her ancestors. 

With the help of newfound family, she learns to harness unconscious powers to stop the vengeful and unstable Pale Witch before she unleashes a demonic spirit on Salem, Massachusetts once again. 

Shall we begin?

Excerpt 2 from Chapter 3

Elizabeth was distracted. This is just so damn overwhelming, she thought as she studied Kylie’s face.

The last time they were both on this porch, Elizabeth held her small toddler hand and tried not to cry as they hugged goodbye. Now, Kylie Beckett was a grown woman standing in the doorway some twenty years later. Elizabeth waited decades for this moment, but it felt unexpectedly awkward and strange.

Kylie had the same caramel complexion and bright smile of her African American father, along with a feminine version of his athletic build. Her mother’s Anglo-Saxon features were also apparent in her soft reddish-brown hair and intense amber eyes. She looked rather androgynous without any makeup or earrings. Her t-shirt, jeans, and sneakers were more appropriate for Southern California this time of year than the coming New England autumn.

The rain poured down hard on the porch roof.

“You can come inside if you like.” Kylie motioned for her to move forward.

Elizabeth glanced past the front door towards the cellar. A pained look flashed over her eyes. “It was me.” She touched a tiny bronze cylinder hanging from a chain around her neck. “I’m sorry, I wasn’t completely honest. I was the one who found Hester after the heart attack. I haven't been able to step foot in the house since.”

There was an awkward pause between them.

Kylie was thrown upon meeting Elizabeth. After their phone conversations, she had pictured someone quite different. Instead of the frumpy, busy-body white woman she imagined her to be, Elizabeth was by far one of the most strikingly beautiful women she’d ever met. It was strange, though. She felt familiar, like a childhood friend, not just a recent acquaintance.

“I meant to be here when you arrived.” Elizabeth tapped some raindrops from her umbrella again. “My assistant only just told me you called. We had a very busy Friday afternoon.” She pointed to the left of the doorframe. “The switch for the porch light is on the wall just by the coat hook.”

Kylie leaned over to flick it on. The porch became bathed in a warm glow as if the house was coming back to life. A moth tapped on the ceiling lamp after missing its warmth.

“When do you start your new job?” Elizabeth asked.

“Monday.” Kylie brightened. “Thank you so much for the introduction. I’m really looking forward to it.”

A warm smile crept across her mouth as Elizabeth noticed the tiny, white seashell on a black cord around Kylie’s neck. More emotions rose inside her.

“I'm sorry.” Kylie rubbed her eyes. She didn’t want to seem inhospitable, but she was very tired. “It took a few days to get here, and I still need to pull some stuff out of the car before I get to bed.”

“Of course. Of course.” Elizabeth nodded in agreement. “Can I help you?”

“Oh, no worries.” Kylie peered out at the rain and then back at Elizabeth’s impressive heels and expensive suit. She waved her hand. “I've got it. Just bringing in a couple of things.” She paused for extra emphasis as she said, “I really do appreciate everything you've done for me over the last few weeks.”

Elizabeth thought her heart was going to break right there and then. Her fingers fumbled around in her vest pocket and fished out a white business card. She handed it to Kylie. “Here’s my contact info again in case you need anything. I'll have my assistant set up a time for us to talk. Maybe The Roof on Sunday for brunch?” She opened her umbrella, but the showers magically abated as she descended the porch steps.

“Sounds fun.” Kylie nodded in agreement, not having a clue what The Roof was.

“And we can discuss the lawsuit,” Elizabeth said as she walked down the path.

“W-wait, what?” Kylie stuttered. “What lawsuit?”

“I emailed you about it.” Elizabeth turned slightly. “Beulah Prudaetor is contesting your aunt's trust. But don't worry. She can't take this place from you. I'll make sure of that.”

“But...” Kylie moved forward and wrapped a hand around the white porch post. She looked past Elizabeth at the neighborhood beyond. She liked this place. Loved its quirkiness. Hester’s house already felt like home, even though she’d only been there for a few minutes.

The stress on Kylie’s face drew Elizabeth back to the porch. “Please don't worry about it right now. Go in and get a good night's rest.” Then, she broke her promise and said what she had planned to hold back. “You look so much like your father and so very much like your mother.”

“You knew them?” Kylie asked while startled and curious by the sudden compliment. “You knew my mother? I never did.”

“I know.” Elizabeth pushed down her emotions and patted Kylie's hand. “You get settled in. There will be plenty to talk about and lots of time in which to do it...now that you’re back.”

Before Kylie could see her cry, Elizabeth walked out to the rain-soaked street. She got into her brand-new, white, electric sedan and drove off.

Kylie was alone again on the porch.

The rain paused long enough for her to run out to her hatchback and bring in a few boxes. Before going inside, she picked up the business card she had set down on the porch railing and read it aloud, “Elizabeth Ingersoll, Esq.”

There was so much to focus on in such a short time. Kylie hadn’t noticed the surname until now. Ingersoll was her mother's last name.

“Elizabeth is family.”

 

 

 


About the Author:

Drawn to playwriting from an early age, S.A. Sizemore began writing professionally while studying English and theater arts in college. After producing several plays regionally in Southern California, Sizemore pivoted to the themed entertainment industry. Whispers of the Pale Witch is the first installment of the Beckett Coven series inspired by Sizemore’s ancestral connection to the Salem Witch Trials. She is a full member of the Dramatists Guild of America, proud member of the LGBTQ+ community, European and Cherokee/Chickahominy decent, and resides in California with her wife and two dogs, Agatha and Harry.









Readers Group:

Goodreads: 







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Monday, October 5, 2026

Supernatural Dating Tips with Jennifer Silverwood Author of Bound Beauty


Vynasha’s Guide to Dating a Beast

I never thought I would find myself in this situation, but what person does? No one expects to find themselves trapped in a cursed castle with only ghosts and beasts for company. Now that this has happened to me, now that I know I am not the first maiden lured to Bitterhelm by old magick, I feel I must leave a few notes of advice behind. Best of luck to you, should you find yourself a prisoner as I have become.


1. Treat him kindly during the day, when he looks and acts (mostly) like a man. After nightfall, when he shifts into his beastly form, he may treat you more gently if you’re kind. This can be a great challenge, I know, as the beast during daylight hours is prone to acting like an ass. 

2. If you hear him growling outside your (locked) bedroom door, keep calm. He isn’t fully in control of his furry self and is prone to acting on instinct.

3. If you find yourself waking the next morning slumped against the inside of your bedroom door, don’t panic. You most likely sleepwalked trying to reach him and your locked door kept you from meeting an untimely end. 

4. Some nights, you may find yourself too eager to explore the castle. This is fine, so long as you don’t find yourself in the dungeons. If you do, look for a grumpy gatekeeper called Grendel. He can show you the secret way back to your bedroom.

5. On that note, if you choose to wander against all sensible advice, do avoid running into your beast. If he remembers your scent, he may choose not to devour you and instead drag you back to his lair. 

6. If he does drag you back to his lair, try singing his favorite song, and only offer very light petting and cuddles. 

7. Remember, he only wears the skin of a beast under starlight, so don’t be surprised when you wake up alone the next morning. A beast is still a beast, no matter the skin he wears. 





Bound Beauty
Wylder Tales 
Book Three
Jennifer Silverwood

Genre: Dark Fantasy / Fairy Tales
Publisher: SilverWoodSketches
Date of Publication: July 14, 2026
ISBN: 979-8186406099
ASIN: B0GY9XF3LC
Number of pages: 390
Word Count: 96,456

Cover Artist: Qamber Designs and Media

Tagline: Forgotten gods haunt her steps, and the cursed prince she left behind isn't done fighting for her soul.

Book Description:

Vynasha is bound to the prince of Bitterhelm. Even if she were to die, her spirit will remain trapped with him in the castle forever. But she won't give in to Grendel without a fight. With the aid of an oracle, a witchling, and the wolf that claims her heart, Vynasha plans to claim her power as the curse breaker.

Ceddrych guards their nephew secretly while fighting to keep the feral beasts roaming their borders at bay. But the monsters are closing in, and the madness he has struggled with drives him to one desperate, unforgivable act.

A war is about to begin between the forgotten people of Wylderland and the cruel might of Bitterhelm. Beings of prophecy and legend unite in the epic third chapter of the Wylder Tales Series, a romantic gothic re-telling of Beauty and the Beast.

Excerpt

IN A FORGOTTEN CASTLE IN WYLDERLAND…

Alone with Grendel, the man she had been tempted to love, the prince she loathed, Vynasha didn’t want to wake up. Let her sleep for a thousand years like the cursed princess, Morana. Let these walls crumble, the rose garden spread throughout the keep with thorns and vines to keep the world out forever.

“I know you are awake, Ashes.”

Vynasha opened her eyes. The prince stood before the hearth, his back to her. He hadn’t changed clothes since she had last seen him. Yet his faintly luminous skin had dimmed from bronze to the dull gray she remembered. “What happened?” she asked.

“A fever in your sleep. Odym says it was the runes.” Grendel’s shoulders hunched as he hung his head. “I should not have come, I know this. But I…” he twisted to face her. “Forgive me, Vynasha, but I cannot stay away from you any longer. I could feel your pain through the bond, yet there was nothing I could do to stop her,” he growled. “Do not ask me to leave you again, I beg of you.”

Vynasha should have been disgusted, but she was coming to accept the fact that Odym had been right. No matter how she truly felt, they needed each other. And she could not deny the way his words danced about her mind and breathed life back into her limbs.

“I wish I could tell you I was different,” he continued, “before my mother cursed me. But the truth is, I was always a monster.” Grendel drew his shoulders back and lifted his chin, pushing away from the fireplace mantel. He shook his head and held his hands before him, palms upturned. “I never wanted to be my father. I shall not make his mistakes, and so I will be honest with you, Ash. No more secrets.”

She shuddered and desperately wished she could bathe, could banish dreams of Nymwe and be rid of the prince. The dread she felt before only grew as Grendel paused, clenching his fists as though steeling himself for words he could not take back.

“I owe you everything, so much more than you know. When you willingly accepted the curse, you took some of the monster into you. I have not been forced to change into a beast ever since. It has given me time to remember myself in your absence, who I was and who I hope to be.”

Vynasha ground her sharp teeth. So they not only shared a bond with his spirit, but she had taken part of his beast? That they were forced to share something she had learned to take pride in made her ill.

Whatever he saw in her face must have pained him, enough for him to turn away. “Forgive me. I shall go. I should have never hoped…” He shook his head, dispelling whatever he might have said as he took two more steps to the door.

She traced the tip of her tongue on her lip, tasting the blood she spilled to forget. His hand was on the doorknob when she said, “Wait.” The strength behind her command surprised her and caused the prince to freeze in place.

Vynasha lifted her hand with surprising ease. “Stay?”

We need each other.

His graying skin flickered to golden life as he turned with hope burning in his violet eyes. “Always.”

At his word, his promise, Vynasha released the breath she didn’t know she had been holding. Even then, a small corner of her mind railed against her actions, at the feelings she couldn’t seem to control. It must Grendel’s influence, his feelings trickling through their bond.

This is wrong.

Still, she couldn’t deny how the persistent itch beneath her skin abated with him beside her, holding her hand. It shouldn’t have mattered. Truly, she hated how easily she gave in to these feelings. She could never tell him. Grendel had bound her life to his. Even if she were to leave, to beg the wylderfolk to take her back into their home, she would never be rid of him. And the longer she remained in the prince’s castle, the less she wanted to be free.


About the Author:

Jennifer Silverwood lives in the middle of an enchanted forest surrounded by cursed books, nosy spirits, and mischievous goblins she calls her children. After beginning several nonsensical degrees, she found her calling helping other authors bring their books to life. Jennifer is the author of two fairy tale fantasy series: the Borderlands Saga and Wylder Tales. Because she wasn't satisfied writing in one genre, she also invites you to explore uncharted space with the Heaven’s Edge Novellas—and dare to fall in love again with the standalone romance titles Stay and She Walks in Moonlight.









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Dead Man’s Trigger by Kat Huddleston #UrbanFantasy


KAT’S TOP FIFTEEN VAMPIRES IN BOOKS, TV AND MOVIES
By KAT HUDDLESTON

I love vampires. They are the best monsters, and they come in all different types. Vampires not only have cool superpowers, they can choose who they want to eat. They can be oh, so bad, or not. They can be sexy, scary or downright terrifying. Here is my list of the top fifteen vampires, because ten is not enough. And no, the novel Dracula isn’t in my list, although a Dracula is. These are in no particular order.

One note, I’ve marked where TV shows and movies might be available to watch. However, things change on the internet all the time.

Lestat de Lioncourt – Interview with the Vampire, the book by Anne Rice (1976)
Yes, Louis was the vampire being interviewed, but Lestat embraced his vampirism fully in the books. Louis was a bit whiny, while Lestat was funny, charismatic, selfish and a very bad boy. I loved this book and thought it was better than the rest of the books in the series, although The Vampire Lestat expanded on the character in interesting ways.

Barnabas Collins – Dark Shadows (1966–1971)
I adored Dark Shadows, which was a soap opera that went where other soap operas didn’t. In every way, Barnabas Collins was my first… vampire. The series was truly dark and Jonathan Frid’s Barnabas Collins was captivating. He was a real antihero who was frightening, tragic and yet he could also be sympathetic. He’s mostly forgotten now because it’s been so long since he was on television. But today you can still see the series on Pluto TV, Tubi TV or DarkShadows.tv.

Count Orlok – Nosferatu (1922)
No, I was not around in 1922, but I did see this silent movie at some point and Max Schreck was terrifying as Count Orlok. Imagine what the people who watched the movie in 1922 must have thought, seeing a monster come to life before their eyes. You can catch Nosferatu on Tubi, Pluto TV or The Roku Channel.

Angelus – Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1997-2003)
You thought I was going to include Angel. Really? He was broody. But Angelus was absolutely monstrous when Angel lost his soul and he tore the Buffy gang apart. David Boreanaz looked like he was having a blast playing it bad and it showed. The twist brought the series to another level. The series is available on Hulu and Disney+.

Selene – Underworld (2003)
I really liked Underworld and found Selene to be a fascinating and complex character. She finds out she’s been lied to, well forever, and she goes rogue. Kate Beckinsale’s Selene is why Underworld stood out. She’s completely believable as she kicks both werewolf and vampire ass. You can find Underworld on Starz or Amazon Prime Video.

Eric Northman  –  The Sookie Stackhouse / Southern Vampire Mysteries book series by Charlaine Harris (2001-2013)
Yeah, I know. Everyone’s going to go for Alexander Skarsgård’s Eric in the HBO series, True Blood. But I thought Eric, the powerful vampire sheriff of Area 5, was more interesting in the book. Eric is playful and funny and powerful, while his relationship with Sookie is complicated and develops over time. And the end of True Blood just really sucked. Pun intended.

Pamela Swynford De Beaufort  –  True Blood (2008-2014)
While I’d choose book Eric over TV Eric, Kristin Bauer van Straten brought Pam alive in the HBO series. She was very funny and cynical and sarcastic and really, really vicious. I absolutely loved her. You can watch True Blood on Hulu and HBO Max.

Thomas and Lara Raith  –  The Dresden Files book series (2000-present)
Wizard Harry Dresden has a lot of monsters in his life and a lot of vampires. Thomas and Lara Raith are brother and sister White Court vampires who feed on human life-force through sexual desire. Thomas, who first appears in Grave Peril, becomes very important to Harry. He’s funny and sarcastic and morally complex. In Blood Rites, we meet Lara, who begins to take on an important role, but she’s a much darker character. They aren’t like other vampires.

Jean-Claude  –  Anita Blake: Vampire Hunter book series (1993)
The first five books in the Anita Blake: Vampire Hunter series, starting with Guilty Pleasures, were fantastic. Anita, a vampire hunter and necromancer, is torn between her complicated attractions to Jean-Claude, a master vampire, and Richard Zeeman, the alpha leader of the St. Louis werewolves. I have to admit I was Team Richard initially, but as the books go on, Jean-Claude proves to be a true ally to Anita. He’s also intelligent and sophisticated and powerful.

Miriam Blaylock  –  The Hunger (1983)
Catherine Deneuve’s Miriam Blaylock is an ancient and beautiful and predatory vampire who takes lovers and feeds on them. Over the centuries she watches those she loves grow old and die. Her character was complex and sad. I’ve seen lots of vampire movies, but this one really stayed with me because of Deneuve’s portrayal. The movie also featured David Bowie and Susan Sarandon. It’s available on Tubi or Amazon Prime Video.

Damon Salvatore  –  The Vampire Diaries (2009-2017)
I do think it’s pretty creepy to have a romance between a moody teen and a centuries-old vampire. And yes, I’m looking at you Twilight, but for some reason not you Buffy (at least Buffy wasn’t depressed). While some might have gone for Paul Wesley’s Stefan, I think Ian Somerhalder’s Damon Salvatore had a more interesting journey. He started out being funny and dangerous and selfish but became a very complex antihero. Available on Hulu, Peacock and HBO Max.

Frank Langella  –  Dracula (1979)
Christopher Lee was a fascinating Dracula through many films starting in 1958. But the Dracula I liked most was played by Frank Langella. He was charismatic and seductive, and of all the Dracula movies I remember his characterization the most. It’s available on Netflix and Amazon Prime Video.

All the horrific vampires  –  The Strain (2014-2017)
The Strain brought vampires back to the horror of Nosferatu, in a way. There are no pretty, sexy vampires in this one. All the vampires in this TV series from Guillermo del Toro and Chuck Hogan are terrifying. In this stark world one tiny vampire worm thingy gets in your body and it causes a parasitic infection that turns you literally into a monster. It was a truly disturbing version of vampirism. You can watch it on Hulu and AMC+.

Spike – Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1997-2003)
While Angel/Angelus was either good or bad depending on who was driving, Spike was completely unique. James Marsters was brilliant as the funny and vicious Spike. At first, he’s all in as he attempts to kill his third Slayer. Unfortunately, Angelus wants to bring about hell on earth, which is a problem for Spike. He likes earth the way it is. That turns him into a very complicated character, and in fact, my favorite vampire. The series is available on Hulu and Disney+.



Dead Man’s Trigger
A Max Maguire Vampire Novel
Book One
Kat Huddleston

Genre: Urban Fantasy Vampire Thriller
Date of Publication: Oct. 5, 2026
Number of pages: 378
Word Count: 119,000
Cover Artist: BRoseDesignz 

Tagline: Former Special Forces Sniper. High School History Teacher. Vampire.

Book Description:

Who Knew Immortality Could Be So Short?

When high school history teacher Max Maguire begins to suspect one of his brightest students is in trouble, he ends up walking down the wrong alley. Suddenly, he's staring down the fangs of a beautiful, powerful, and utterly merciless vampire named Jade.

As Max's life takes a dark turn, he’s forced to learn how to survive in Jade's twisted world. But if Jade thinks her hostage is going to play nice, she really should have read his resume. This former Special Forces sniper might just have to dust off some very lethal muscle memory.

While Max plots exactly how to kill the most dangerous predator on the planet, he discovers there’s another group of vampires that have their own plans for Jade. Before he knows it, Max is caught in the crosshairs of a vampire war that neither side can afford to lose.

And there's one thing neither side knows... Max has a secret of his own.

CONTENT WARNING: This is NOT a romance. The novel contains mature content intended for readers 18 and older. This is a gritty, fast-paced genre hybrid combining vampires with dark urban fantasy, tactical military thriller action, and sarcastic humor, with a wisecracking protagonist at its center. There is explicit sexual material, including non-consensual sex, graphic violence, torture, adult themes, and visceral horror elements. In other words, my vampires don't sparkle.

Excerpt from Dead Man’s Trigger

When Max Maguire joins a group of vampires who hunt vampires, his first mission gets complicated very quickly and Max has to draw on his Special Forces training – and get creative.

Without a word, the team quickly exited the van. They barely made a sound, with only the muffled noise of doors opening and closing to betray their arrival.

Max crawled up into the passenger’s seat and waited. Terry had a revolver out and ready on his lap. Chase and the team stood near the trees sizing up the situation.

“Five hostiles inside with two humans, two hostiles out back,” Chase said in a low voice through his headset. Max watched as Chase pointed to Sumi and Tank and then to the rear of the house. He knew from experience, no one would talk at this stage unless they had to. Sound was always risky.

Sumi and Tank took off in a blur. Max did as Tank suggested and reached out with his senses to follow the action. The rest of the team crouched by the tree line for a moment and then Chase motioned for them to go.

Chase, Shades and Father Frank were beginning their approach from the front. Everything in the backyard was happening so fast, Max was having trouble keeping track of what was going on. One of the vamps went down immediately and vanished from Max’s internal radar. The other had avoided a round to the heart and took off. Sumi was in pursuit, but Max lost her. He tried to find her again, but she was out of his range.

He looked at Terry, a worried expression on his face.

“She’s okay, Max. She can take care of herself,” he said.

Max nodded and got back to the action. The attack from the front had started and Max could sense the chaos in the house as the vampires dove for cover or tried to reach their weapons. Two were killed immediately, but the other three were putting up a fight. Then one of them dove through a side window, right through the wood covering it, and Max saw he was out of the house and headed for them. Max didn’t have a weapon, but he wasn’t about to be a sitting duck. Terry nodded at Max and they both opened their doors to get out of the van.

The vamp looked like a biker, defined by leather, tattoos and long hair. And he was really pissed. When the angry vampire saw them, he raised his revolver and started shooting at them on the run. One of the rounds whizzed by Max’s ear and he dove to the ground in a roll, coming up on his hands and knees. Terry started firing back, but the vampire was moving fast. They were trading shots, so Max pushed himself up and flew at the vampire, tackling him, the two rolling one over the other until they crashed into a tree.

Max was stunned for a moment, but so was his opponent. He saw the flash of the revolver and he went for it, the two struggling over the weapon. The vampire smashed Max in the chest with his fist and sent him flying backwards. Ending up flat on his back, he rolled onto his knees just as the vampire got a shot off. Suddenly his lower back was on fire and Max knew he’d been shot. Now he was pissed.

Terry was rounding the van. He took a shot, but missed the vampire. The bad guy was distracted for just a moment, and that’s all Max needed. He scrambled onto his hands and knees. Ignoring the pain, Max launched himself at the vampire again, breaking a branch of a tree off along the way and knocking his opponent to the ground. Max drove the large end of the branch into the vampire’s chest as the bad guy was raising the weapon to take another shot. The vampire stopped, a look of total surprise on his face. The branch with its leaves still intact stuck out of him as if the tree was growing right through him. And then he turned to dust.

Max’s back hurt like hell and he fell to the ground on his side. Then Terry and Chase were standing over him.

“Death by maple. That’s a first,” said Terry.

About the Author:

Kat Huddleston is a Chicago-based writer, teacher and artist who loves all things sci-fi. She was an entertainment journalist for the Syfy Channel’s website and for Sci Fi Magazine a while ago, and has always had a deep addiction to writing, teaching and creating art.

Kat is an award-winning painter and fused glass artist who taught fused glass, and her art can be found in several galleries.

While Kat has mostly lived in a fantasy land, she’s made a living as a journalist and dabbled in short story and screenplay writing. 

Dead Man’s Trigger is Kat’s first novel in the Max Maguire Vampire series.

Kat lives with her two helper cats, Jax and Nicky.






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