Guest Blogger: Emma Petersen

The winner of Emma's book is: JSB (Jana)! Congratulations, Jana. Send me your contact info and I'll pass it along to Emma. Thanks to everyone who participated.

So this weekend friends and I went to see Twilight. They had been after me for a month or more to see it and finally after a bit of trickery (on their parts) we ended up in our local theater.

Let me preface this by saying like many of us, I grew up on Anne Rice and Bram Stroker. Until much later, after the paranormal/urban fantasy genres exploded, Anne Rice and Bram Stroker's world building and mythos were the only ones I knew. And even though I had started reading the books in my pre-teen years, neither book could be mistaken as young adult.

And maybe that is why I was barely, barely able to sit through Twilight. I'm embarrassed to say that even though I had gone to the theater (albeit unwillingly) with the understanding that the movie and the book it was based upon were targeted for a much younger audience, I didn't realize there might be an absent of "darkness" and/or violence.

I know, I know, silly Emma these vamps are for kids. Maybe I'm desensitized. Okay, I've been quoted as saying Saw was the feel good movie of the year and have been known to laugh at the most inappropriate times during "scary" movies, so yeah there's a good possibility I'm desensitized. But to the point where I would wish for blood and violence in an almost children's movie?

Umm yeah. I waited. Hoped. Prayed that one the Cullen clan would be reminiscent of Claudia or that Edward would lose control around Bella and bite her. Hard.

Le sigh. I know. I know. I should be ashamed of myself. But I'm not. And while I'm not a fan of vampire light, I'll still watch New Moon when it comes out, no doubt waiting, hoping, praying for violence the entire time because, hey, I'm me and it isn't often that vamp/were movies come out. At least I'll be prepared for the lack of darkness and violence, or I least I think I will.

So my reaction to Twilight got me thinking. (Never a good thing.) How did my early reading selections shape my voice?

1. I write my vamps like I like to read them. Dark, brooding, bent and bordering on evil.

2. Fear is a good thing. And yes, call me twisted (so wouldn't be the first time) but I happen to think fear can be a heady aphrodisiac. (Don't believe me? Here's a paragraph of two from my latest release, the first book in my Dating the Undead series:

As I waited in the lobby for my cab, I couldn't help but notice my heartbeat hadn't slowed, and what I thought was fear didn't feel like the kind I would have experienced normally. What was it about St. Nic that made me need to do stupid things?

What's so stupid about wanting to be with him?

Besides the fact that a lot of predators played with their food before they killed it?

I was getting myself worked up for nothing. St. Nic didn't want me.

Then why did it feel as if he were the one in control of my body? And why didn't I mind more?

I had almost been killed -- okay, maybe a slight exaggeration -- and it turned me on. A lot of girls liked a little pain with their pleasure, but wasn't this crossing the line?

3. Darkness is needed to balance the light. Because a vampire without the darkness is like a mall without shopping. A spa without a masseur. Slipknot without the masks. (My feelings often waver about that last one.)

So what about you? Don't be shy. You're among friends. We won't judge. (much.) Do you prefer vamp light or vamp dark? And why?

Leave your answer in the comments and you'll be entered to win a copy of Seducing St. Nic.

http://www.emmapetersen.com
http://www.emmapetersen.com/blog

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A winner will be selected Tuesday evening and posted here.