Vampires
Vs. Werewolves-Jennifer Harlow
In this corner,
fighting for the ultimate modern female dream lover, coming in at 180 pasty,
bloodsucking pounds we have…The Vampire! [applause] And in the opposite corner, coming in at 200 snarling, hairy pounds
is…The Werewolf! [applause] Who will
win the hearts and libidos of millions of women? Only one way to find out. LET’S
GET READY TO RUUUUUUMMMBBBLLLLEEE!
“I
don’t get it.” This sentence has been uttered from quite a few of my male
friends in recent years. Their wives, sisters, even daughters have all fallen
under the spell of these mythical monsters, this writer included, and they
can’t understand why. It is a decent question. In the past five or so years the
Scoundrel Duke or Highlander have been replaced as women’s ideal romantic hero
by a walking dead man and/or bi-polar man-dog. (Their words, not mine.) What is
it about these creatures that we ladies find so sexy? And is there a place for
both in our hearts? Can you be both Team Edward and Team Jacob? Let’s explore.
I’ve
always loved monsters. I’ve seen so many horror movies and read so many books
since childhood I couldn’t stop myself from writing a few. (Mind Over Monsters, out now!) In my
book, the main character Beatrice Alexander finds herself caught between these
two creatures as they both vie for her attention. My werewolf, Will, is shy,
gruff, hates what he is, but is still responsible and a capable team leader. My
vampire Oliver is playful, roguish, and though 500 years old suffers from a
massive case of Peter Pan Syndrome. One is the kind you bring home to Mama, and
the other you put behind you in your promiscuous twenties. Yet both hold equal
room in Bea’s heart (as they do in their creator’s). Before I started writing I
made a conscious decision to include these two monsters into my menagerie
because I couldn’t chose which I, and in turn my readers, would have more fun falling
in love with. Both spoke to different parts of what I want in a fantasy man
(besides one who could take out the trash without being asked, but I can only
fly so far from reality). But what are those parts?
Vampires
weren’t always suave Counts or sparkly teenage heartthrobs. In folklore they
were more akin to the zombie: mindless, flesh eating, decomposing. Even Bram
Stoker’s Dracula was more ghoul than sex machine. It wasn’t until the story
“The Vampyre” in the early 1800s that the sexy vampire came to life. This
“vampyre” was based on Lord Byron, the bi-sexual poet who slept with anything
that moved (including his own sister), leaving destruction in his randy wake.
Women were driven mad by him, and their standing in society was lost. It wasn’t
until Bela Lugosi that the yummy vampire reached the zeitgeist and really never
turned back. But through all its incarnations a few things have remained
constant: they’re dead, and they eat us. So why would this be appealing to us
ladies? It’s akin to necrophilia with a leech. The answer is because they’re
dangerous. They play to our desire to change a man. That we alone can save him
from his evil ways. That though he’s been alive for centuries, we’re the only
woman who he’s loved because we’re unique and spectacular. He’s the Scoundrel
Duke but with more magic and bite.
The
werewolf is the same in most respects. Their legend hasn’t changed much through
the ages: a man is cursed with this ailment that turns them into a savage beast
at least once a month. In modern times they just have better abs. They’re a
dark prince under a curse, and once again our love is the only thing that can
tame their savage beast and free them from their turmoil. We can save him. And
even still he’s manly, strong, in touch with his animal side, yet loyal to the
woman he chooses as his mate. He’ll take care of you come what may. Who
wouldn’t like that?
These
creatures have a lot in common, but also seem to be polar opposites, always in
opposition (at least in my books). Why can’t they get along? A vampire has no
life, yet the werewolf has so much life he can’t seem to contain it in one
form. The vampire always seems to have boundless charm and charisma, blending
in with humans for survival, but the werewolf can’t seem to fit into normal
society as he’s too untamed. They’re both alpha males who represent different
things to us. Vampires are all about cold seduction, tempting us with their
magic and beauty, convincing us to give into our sexual desires in spite of the
danger. Werewolves on the other hand wouldn’t go to all that trouble. They’d
just grab us, throw us on the bed, and take us with wild abandon. Hot or
cold? Seduction or passion? Rock and a
hard place, I know.
The
battle rages on between these two alpha males. At least in my estimation, the
vampire has a firm lead, at least in terms of books written and movies made
about them. Bella ends up with Edward, Anita Blake’s boffing Jean-Claude more
than Richard, and for every Ginger Snaps
there are twelve Fright Nights. Maybe
that will change, maybe not, but these rivals will continue to hold a place in
our hearts and romantic imaginations for years to come. Now excuse me, I have
to go buy my boyfriend a cape and fangs. J
So,
are you a werewolf or vampire gal? Both? Do you agree with my assessment or am
I seriously far off the mark? Are werewolves getting their equal share of the
spotlight? Why not? Discuss.
The Buzz for Mind Over Monsters
“Monstrously fun!
Monstrously suspenseful! Monstrously good!” –Victoria Laurie
“A gritty, dramatic
police-procedural with a compelling heroine and a fascinating group of
sidekicks.”
--Karen Chance
“Harlow offers treats
for every paranormal lover to relish, with plenty of action, thrills, and
laughter.”
--Leanna Renee Hieber
“Mind Over Monsters is funny, scary, and creepy—and ridiculous
amounts of fun!” –Kat Richardson
Jennifer Harlow is the author
of Mind Over Monsters, the first in
the F.R.E.A.K.S. Squad series out now. You can read her blog “Tales From the
Darkside” and get the soundtrack to the book at her website, www.jenniferharlowbooks.com. You can also follow her on Facebook and
Twitter at jenharlowbooks.
*-*-*-*-*
To
Catch a Vampire
Jennifer Harlow
Jennifer Harlow
A F.R.E.A.K.S.
Squad Investigation #2
Genre:
Paranormal Mystery/Urban Fantasy
Publisher:
Midnight Ink
Date
of Publication: 9/8/12
ISBN:
978-0-7387-2711-0
Number
of pages: 288
Word
Count: 78,000
CLASSIFIED
F.R.E.A.K.S. Do
Dallas
Beatrice
Alexander, telekinetic special agent, is still adjusting to life among the
F.R.E.A.K.S. while wiping out zombies and other supernatural threats. When Bea
learns about her “special assignment” investigating a series of human
disappearances with Oliver Montrose, her gorgeous but annoying vampire
co-worker, she reluctantly agrees to go undercover.
Disguised
as a married couple, they infiltrate the gothic vamp scene in Dallas. While
sniffing out clues, Oliver's convincing public—and not so public—displays of
affection have Bea swooning in her bustier and fishnets.
Between
contending with her fake husband’s ex-lover Marianna and feeling guilty for
hiding the mission from her werewolf crush Will, Bea discovers she’s not the
only F.R.E.A.K. keeping secrets. Clubbing with the undead turns bloody when
Oliver's old enemy, the Lord of Dallas, decides to seek his revenge. Caught in
the crossfire, Bea is up to her neck in blood-sucking trouble.
Mind
Over Monsters
A
F.R.E.A.K.S. Squad Investigation
By
Jennifer Harlow
ISBN-10:
0-7387-2667-2
ISBN-13:
978-0-7387-2667-0
US
$14.95 • CAN $16.95
288
pages
Paranormal
heroes take on zombies in this funny and thrilling debut.
CLASSIFIED:
F.R.E.A.K.S. vs. Zombies
Beatrice Alexander is no ordinary
schoolteacher—she can move objects with her mind, an embarrassing skill she
hasn’t yet mastered or embraced. After nearly killing her brother by accident,
she joins the F.R.E.A.K.S. Squad, the Federal Response to Extra-Sensory and
Kindred Supernaturals. This top-secret branch of the FBI combats ghosts,
ghouls, and other monsters threatening humanity. With her teammates—among them
a handsome former-detective werewolf and an annoying Don Juan vampire who’s
dead-set on seducing her—Beatrice investigates her first case.
Disgustingly dismembered bodies
have turned up, bearing bite marks of the undead. Someone—or something—is
raising a horde of hideous, bloodthirsty zombies. And the master of the
flesh-devouring corpses is guarding a secret that’s even more horrifying . . .
Featuring
a team of monster hunters with unique paranormal abilities, the F.R.E.A.K.S.
Squad Investigation series combines humor, suspense, and supernatural
crime-fighting.
Praise for Mind Over Monsters:
“A
wonderful debut! Jennifer Harlow has written a gritty, dramatic
police-procedural with a compelling heroine and a fascinating group of
sidekicks. Looking forward to the sequel!” —KAREN CHANCE, NEW YORK TIMES AND
USA TODAY BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF CASSANDRA PALMER SERIES
“Mind
Over Monsters is funny, scary, and creepy—and ridiculous amounts of fun!”
—KAT RICHARDSON, AUTHOR OF THE GREYWALKER NOVELS
“Monstrously
fun! Monstrously suspenseful! Monstrously good! Jennifer Harlow's debut
novel had me laughing and gasping from start to finish!"“ —VICTORIA
LAURIE, NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF THE GHOST HUNTER MYSTERY
SERIES AND THE PSYCHIC EYE MYSTERY SERIES
“Mind
Over Monsters is a non-stop rollercoaster ride that fans of urban fantasy
will love! Fast-paced, fun, and wildly entertaining, Jennifer Harlow has given
the paranormal police procedural a fresh spin with her loveable
machete-wielding heroine. A quirky cast of characters and sharp writing make Mind
Over Monsters a wholly wonderful debut. I can't wait to read more!”
—JEANNIE HOLMES, AUTHOR OF BLOOD LAW AND BLOOD SECRETS
“With
its breezy style and exuberant sense of fun, this monstery mystery is a total
delight!” —CAROLYN CRANE, AUTHOR OF MIND GAMES AND DOUBLE CROSS
About Jennifer Harlow:
Jennifer Harlow
spent her restless childhood fighting with her three brothers and scaring the
heck out of herself with horror movies and books. She grew up to earn a degree
at the University of Virginia which she put to use as a radio DJ, crisis
hotline volunteer, bookseller, lab assistant, wedding coordinator, and
government investigator. Currently she calls Northern Virginia home but that
restless itch is ever present. In her free time she continues to scare the
beejepers out of herself watching scary movies and opening her credit card
bills.
Visit Jennifer at www.jenniferharlowbooks.com
Tales
From the Darkside Blog
Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/jenharlowbooks
Pinterest:
http://pinterest.com/jenharlowbooks/
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