tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-49280477403107310102024-03-12T18:40:18.458-07:00IMMORTAL BLOGGERS!Sam Stonehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02589599325650332330noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4928047740310731010.post-49794967897834068952014-08-14T02:36:00.002-07:002014-08-14T02:36:23.176-07:00NEW VAMPIRE GENE BOOK PLANNED ...<i><span style="font-size: large;">Sam says ...</span></i><br />
<br />
It has been over two years since I put pen to paper to tell a tale of my immortal's in 'Silent Sand'. Those that have read the fifth volume in the series may suspect why. My vampires have been extremely quiet of late.<br />
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Since then I have gone on to write new things. A steampunk series (Kat Lightfoot Mysteries), the first volume in a post-apocalyptic trilogy (Jinx Town), and a short sci-fi novel (The Darkness Within).<br />
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<br />
The first novel in the Vampire Gene Series 'Killing Kiss' was also sold to a German publisher last year for translation.<br />
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Even so, Lilly, Gabi and Caesare have remained quiet.<br />
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But I'm happy to tell you I have heard some news of them this week. And they have a new tale to tell me. Provisionally this story is called JADED JEWEL. But I will know more once the tale begins to unravel.<br />
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For now though I thank you all for bearing with me on this long wait. A new book is itching to be written and more news will follow soon.Sam Stonehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02589599325650332330noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4928047740310731010.post-80480639652613865052011-11-22T04:20:00.000-08:002011-11-22T04:31:20.708-08:00Gabriele Says ...I read what Lilly wrote the other day about this strange thing called <i>I'm A Celebrity ...</i> and I'm not sure I totally agree with her ...<br />
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As far as I can make out, the twenty first century is obsessed with 'celebrity' and yet people have little clue what it actually means. It is a career aspiration for young girls at school to 'be a celebrity', and yet they have no idea how to get there. The route seems to involve wearing very little, having sex with as many men as you can, falling out of clubs and taxis wearing very little, pretending to be attracted to women as well as men, having affairs with famous men and women, and then telling the newspapers how dreadful it all is that everyone talks about you all the time, while being pictured wearing very little and falling drunk out of clubs and taxis. It's totally bewildering.<br />
<br />
I looked the word 'celebrity' up to see what the actual definition was. Here's what I found:<br />
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<ul><li><span class="definition">A famous person, especially in entertainment or sport</span></li>
<li><span class="definition"><span class="definition">The state of being well known</span></span></li>
</ul><br />
<span class="definition"><span class="definition">There's also an interesting article on something called Wikipedia which Lilly showed me. You can see it here: <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Celebrity">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Celebrity</a>.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span class="definition"><span class="definition">What is interesting to me is that these definitions don't actually include any validation as to exactly why a person is famous. For me, you would celebrate someone because they have achieved something which is worth celebrating ... my uncle Giulio for example, he was a great musician, feted in the day, and celebrated at parties across the land ... so he was a Celebrity was he? And what about Chez and Lucrezia? There are articles on this Wikipedia about them too ... and their father was Pope! So are they all Celebrities as well? I certainly wouldn't want to celebrate their family's achievements ... </span></span><br />
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<span class="definition"><span class="definition">Taking this into the jungle then, and there are very few people there who I would want to celebrate. I asked Lilly: which of them would you throw a party for to celebrate their achievements? If you take that tack, then maybe Fatima Whitbread (for her atheletic prowess); Willie Carson (for all those horseracing wins); and Stefanie Powers (a Hollywood actress, who has appeared in over 100 television and film productions since 1958 - Lilly told me that her real name is Stefania Zofya Federkiewicz - who would have believed it!) ... but who else? Some man who plays drums in a boy band, a man with muscles who is in a reality drama of some sort, two girls who have surgically enhanced their bodies so they can be models, a lady who is an actress of some sort and who loves her teddy, another women who I cannot understand a word she says, a radio DJ, another soap opera actor, and a singer who had some popular records twenty years ago. There's nothing worth celebrating there. None of these people have done anything that hundreds of others haven't done as well, if not better. The only other vaguely interesting person was Freddie Starr, apparently a comedian, but even I could tell he was not a well man.</span></span><br />
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<span class="definition"><span class="definition">The culture of the time seems to idolise the non-achiever. To lift up onto a pedestal people who have no right to be there. Role models are the unachieving walking disaster areas which fill the television channels. Aspiration for young girls is to get their breasts made bigger; for boys it's to be in a pop group and to go out with models with fake breasts; and for both it's to be famous ... without a thought as to how or for what. Hard work and talent seems to count for nothing.</span></span><br />
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<span class="definition"><span class="definition">But then that makes the culling so much easier. We can take people who are vapid and vacuous, who aspire to nothing and are simply walking wastes of space and air, and put them to very good use indeed. And on that note, I'm a little thirsty ...</span></span><br />
<br />
Yours<br />
Gabriele CacciniDavidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13752147546933122889noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4928047740310731010.post-71353965844851651422011-11-21T07:49:00.000-08:002011-11-21T08:14:12.994-08:00Lilly Says ...<em>I'm a</em> <i>Celebrity Get me out of here</i> is on again and I have been following this reality TV programme since the second season. There is something very amusing about seeing people being fed insects to eat, being put through the rigours of 'bush-tucker trials' and sleeping rough in the jungle, with all of their luxuries taken away.<br />
<br />
I also like to consider how each of these would taste during their terror or triumph. It's something of a fetish of mine. Adrenaline can give us an addictive rush if the victim is hyped up enough in the right way.<br />
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This year however I'm not finding the selection the slightest bit yummy or remotely funny. The so-called celebs are the worst bunch of zed-listers I've ever seen.<br />
<ul><li>Stephanie Powers - Hollywood Actress - starred in over 80 movies </li>
</ul>Okay Stephanie is a celeb - I agree. She starred in loads of films as well as a hugely successful series called <em>Hart to Hart</em> with Robert Wagner. Is she interesting in the jungle though? Not really. Blood - there probably is some in her veins, but I suspect it would lack nourishment.<br />
<ul><li> Anthony Cotton - Apparently famous for a series called <i>Queer as Folk</i> and for <i>Coronation Street</i>. </li>
</ul>I'd never heard of him before as I haven't watched either of these series. Is he a celeb? He's a British soap actor so possibly more than most. Anthony is quite likable and he does reasonably well on the trials despite his phobias. He likes to cook the food and seems to know what he's doing. I think Anthony would make a very tasty snack. He'd probably prefer to be bitten by Gabi or Chez though ...<br />
<ul><li>Lorraine Chase - Famous for being a cockney model with long hair. She also starred in <i>Emmerdale</i> recently.</li>
</ul>Lorraine comes over well. She seems very sweet, but I suspect she has a strong side. I was quite impressed with her assertive dealings with Fatima. She's likable. Might be entertaining if she gets a chance to do a trial as I suspect she'll be terrified but go for it anyway. As for her blood ... It's my experience that very thin women don't taste well. I like a little cholesterol in my donations.<br />
<ul><li>Fatima Whitbread - Olympic Athlete.</li>
</ul>Fatima comes over badly in the show. She is manipulative and competitive. She is also the person who looks for arguments and fights with the others. Is she a celeb? Hell no! She's an athlete - how does that make you a celebrity in anyone's eyes? I bet her neck would be tough to chew on.<br />
<ul><li>Mark Wright - Who?</li>
</ul>Mark is supposed to be the eye-candy for female viewers. Puh-lease ... I'd never heard of him before this show - there's something about 'Towie' and 'Essex' that keeps banding around that makes little sense to me. I don't care for Mark. He's full of himself and very annoying.I expect his blood would be flavourless. In fact, I have no urge to even have a nibble.<br />
<ul><li>Jessica-Jane Clement. - Again - Who??</li>
</ul>A very pretty and seemingly sweet girl, Jessica-Jane is unfortunately still not what I'd call a celebrity. I'd never heard of her before this show. Even so, I see she could make interesting viewing if they gave her more to do than take showers. She has great boobs though. Nutritionally I suspect she would bridge the gap between lunch and dinner quite nicely or make a nice dessert.<br />
<ul><li> Sinita - 80's Pop Star was her tag line. Some connection with Simon Cowell and <em>X-Factor</em>.</li>
</ul>Is Sinita a celeb? Well - having a failed pop career doesn't make you that much of a celeb, but at least she does have some claim to fame. Also it takes a brave girl to date Simon Cowell and then remain friends with him afterwards. I was saying to Gabi today that what usually makes <i>I'm a Celebrity</i> ... interesting is when you have a participant who is scared but some how they triumph over their fears. Or some of the screamers are actually funny. Sinita I feel is something of a Gillian McKeith: she screams a lot, but none of it is that genuine. Fake. Boring. The squealing makes me want to rip her throat out - it's not amusing at all. Weak females are as dull as misogynistic men. Even so, I suspect her blood would be pretty tasty. All that hyped adrenaline. Yum. <br />
<ul><li>Freddie Starr - Comedian. Man who supposedly ate a hamster. </li>
</ul>Freddie showed great promise at the first trial, but I knew when he walked into camp that he was totally unfit to be there. It was no surprise that his health took him out of the jungle very soon after. He's a little too unhealthy looking and wouldn't be my first choice of a meal. <br />
<ul><li>Willie Carson - Jockey - What the fuck?</li>
</ul>I suppose at least that most people had heard of Carson. He's not particularly what I would call a celebrity though. He had a long and successful career as a jockey though. Willie seems a decent guy - but that wouldn't stop me munching on his jugular if the mood took me. I'd imagine his blood would be nutritious.<br />
<ul><li>Emily Scott - Topless Model? Celeb? I think not ...</li>
</ul>Not too sure but Emily is a new arrival, following Freddie's exit. She may well have been brought in to replace him and so the producers of the show could be excused for bringing in someone that no one has ever heard of - oh wait - most of them you've never heard of ... Would I have Emily as an aperitif? Sure. She would probably be quite fun and it would be interesting to see if there is anything going on in that bimbo brain of hers. <br />
<ul><li>Pat Sharp - 80's DJ and Children's Entertainer (I Think!)</li>
</ul>Pat scored brownie points for looking after Sinita on their first night - spent in a cave with many insects. He seems calm and kind. Boring as hell though ... And when he was selecting all the young and beautiful people to be on his team, he came over as quite sleazy. Maybe he was a celebrity once, but if no one remembers you, or has heard of you, why do you still retain the title? Having said that, I wouldn't turn him out of my larder - he'd be a mature snack to enjoy sometimes.<br />
<ul><li>Dougie Poynter - Musician.</li>
</ul>I had to look up Dougie to learn that he was with the boy band McFly. Again, I'd never heard of him. This raises the question of - is he a celebrity then? Well, probably more so than Mark, Jessica-Jane, Emily, Pat and Chrissie. At least McFly was a fairly recent success. Out of all the men, Dougie is definitely the sexiest. He's understated, mild natured, not full of himself and I'd enjoy stalking him one dark night. I'm sure he'd taste of sensual sex ...<br />
<br />
(Sigh. Chez is getting a little jealous as he's reading this over my shoulder) <br />
<ul><li>Chrissie Rock - Soap Star on <em>Benidorm</em></li>
</ul>I have caught the occasional episode of <em>Benidorm</em>. It wasn't my cup of blood to be honest, and I don't recall Chrissie so she obviously had no impact on me. Before I comment on her celebrity status I'd like to ask you a rhetorical question. What is a celebrity? You see I think a celebrity should be classy, sophisticated, talented, attractive. Unfortunately Chrissie doesn't fulfil any of that criteria. Her accent annoys me beyond belief. She was supposed to be a comedienne, however, only <i>she</i> laughs at her jokes. The others politely smile - because she's <i>not</i> funny. I wouldn't bite her and I'm sure neither of the boys would bother either. I'd enjoy snapping her neck to stop her telling anymore of those ridiculous jokes though, and I'm sure the campmates would applaud if I did.<br />
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Overall, I'm totally disappointed with the roundup this year as there is only one seriously yummy contender, and no genuine laughs or real adrenalined fear to feed off.<br />
<br />
Lilly xSam Stonehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02589599325650332330noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4928047740310731010.post-36961030761034423942011-11-14T04:00:00.000-08:002011-11-14T04:00:26.775-08:00About the PlanetI was looking the other day at statistics on the state of the world. How much natural fuel remains for example. How many births there are every second in comparison to how few deaths. I asked Lilly about it because she was doing something called 'surfing' on the internet. I am getting a little better with the laptop. It's easy for me to type but I sometimes don't understand the technology. It's all a bit like voodoo at times.<br />
<br />
The planet seems to be in a bit of a mess. There are not enough deaths to the ratio of births for definite. Even my old-fashioned brain can figure that one out. The planet's oil resources - last time I looked - would deplete in 15,360 days or so. Which is 42 years approximately. That may seem like a lot of years to you - but believe me in my lifetime that is a blink of the eye. Lilly assures me, however, that it won't matter one jot to us as some human will discover a new source of energy. I don't care anyway. Horses and carriages was a perfectly good mode of transport and because we fly, air travel is not needed anyway.<br />
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Lilly told me that people now have to pay for carrier bags in the welsh supermarkets as this is the way they are trying to discourage you from using so many of them. It's something to go with the fact that the bags don't deteriorate in landfill - I had to get her to explain landfill. when I understood what it meant it made me realise just how much humanity had messed up.<br />
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Anyway - I just wanted to say - you should take better care of this planet. We immortals are going to inhabit it for a long time and I would appreciate it if you all stopped having so many children too - although I do know a very good way of <i>culling</i> a few of you.<br />
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Regards,<br />
Chez BorgiaSam Stonehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02589599325650332330noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4928047740310731010.post-30023307982336124092011-11-07T06:39:00.000-08:002011-11-07T06:47:06.221-08:00Now, Voyager - Lilly Says ...After Gabi was so enthusiastic about the Bette Davis film, <em>Now, Voyager</em>, I sat down and watched it this morning.<br />
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As Gabi says, for the time, it is well-written. But I had some major issues with it.<br />
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One: Charlotte Vale (Bette Davis) fell in love with Jerry Durrance (Paul Henreid) on a voyage while recovering from a nervous breakdown. She knows from the start that the guy is married, but is told by his friends that this is a very unhappy marriage. All clear so far? Then she spends five days alone with him (presumably having an affair but this is all very discreet) and afterwards the guy just goes back to his wife. They promise to not see each other again - but Durrance sends Camellias to her regularly as a present. It's my opinion that Durrance is an abusive asshole. If he's so unhappy as is implied, why doesn't he leave the wife and be with the woman he says he's in love with?<br />
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Two: Charlotte Vale starts to have yet another breakdown when her goddamn awful mother dies during an argument with her. She feels guilty but inherits all of her mother's substantial wealth - wrong! This is the moment of true freedom and so she should be jumping for joy!<br />
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Three: Vale goes back to the loony clinic and finds Durrance's ugly duckling daughter there. She's having therapy because Durrance's wife never wanted her ... same scenario as Vale herself. Vale makes an attempt to befriend the daughter and decides not to have her guilt breakdown over her mother's death. Does anyone else see the problem with this scenario but me?<br />
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Four: Vale decides to take the daughter camping - and then to live in her expensive mansion in Boston. Erm ... the doctor just lets her take his 12 year old patient away ... strange behaviour indeed.<br />
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Five: When Durrance learns that his daughter's new friend is Vale, he doesn't say - 'Oh my God you creepy stalker ...' which actually might be a little closer to the truth. He says 'I love you and agrees to let her keep his kid and pretend she is 'theirs'.<br />
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Mmmm. Not very realistic really in today's society Gabi. Although I don't deny that the execution of the plot was in fact well-done.<br />
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Maybe it's my twenty-first-century girl's mind that just doesn't get it, but this scenario taking place today would require a court injunction.<br />
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Lilly.Sam Stonehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02589599325650332330noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4928047740310731010.post-14661834433603492282011-11-06T05:50:00.000-08:002011-11-06T07:51:38.461-08:00Now, VoyagerGabi Says:<br />
<br />
A little bored yesterday and so I found myself, with the greatest of ease, watching a black and white film I haven't seen for a very long time. As you know I enjoy the cinema as well as the theatre. Old movies have a fascination for me, however in recent years I have been more devoted to watching horror movies. They are, for the most part, quiet hilarious.<br />
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A change of pace then - <em>Now, Voyager</em>. A film staring that gorgeous, big-eyed beauty Bette Davis. I met her of course in the 50's when she was at the height of her fame. But I digress ...<br />
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<i>Now, Voyager</i> tells the story of the plain-Jane, Charlotte Vale: an aging spinster who is at the mercy of her vindictive mother. Charlotte is always aware that she was the pregnancy and baby that her mother never wanted. Through a series of flashbacks you see the damage the mother has done to the woman, ruining her chances of marriage, not allowing her to cut her hair, chose her own clothing, or even diet when she becomes overweight. She is in fact a slave to her mother. <br />
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That's all I'm going to tell you of the plot - you will have to see the film for yourself. I will say this though, I was amazed at how well this one has stood the test of time, especially with my changing tastes in cinema. It was a very well constructed story, extremely well acted and I thoroughly enjoyed lying around in the lair watching it while Lilly, Chez and Anja went out clothing shopping - again.<br />
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Somewhat hilarious that I am recommending this film to you ... but watching Bet, reminding me of a night long ago, when she almost became one of my trophies. She was a wise woman with a future and destiny of her own to fulfil. No full blooded male could fail to find her completely fascinating though, and I for one, fell under her spell like millions of males at that time.<br />
<br />
Yours<br />
Gabriele CacciniSam Stonehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02589599325650332330noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4928047740310731010.post-46765049096403948832011-01-12T00:14:00.000-08:002011-01-12T00:14:28.032-08:00Lilly Says:Being the Matriarch of the Vampire Gene family wasn't exactly a career choice I had in mind ...<br />
<br />
When I meet Gabriele at Manchester University in 2006 I thought I was looking forward to a career in teaching. I was doing my English degree - and much to my father's chagrin - I hadn't gone to Oxford as he had. I must have been such a disappointment!<br />
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Then I met Gabi and my whole world changed. If you don't know about it then you need to pick up a copy of <a href="http://www.murkydepths.com/paperbacks.php">Killing Kiss</a>, Book 1 of the Vampire Gene Series. Gabi changed my life - literally. I was all set to have this normal mortal existence and then suddenly I'm an <i>immortal</i>.<br />
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Even then I didn't know what to make of the world. Part of me still wanted to carry on as normal. But that became impossible when Gabi lost it in a jealous rage ... But you don't have to take my word for that see for yourself. Since then a lot has happened, and I don't really want to give any spoilers but seriously, travelling in time can really mess with your head!<br />
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Now, almost five years on (in your time at least - but centuries in mine!) my life is very different. I'll live forever and I'm even being written about in books. I'm the head of the family, weird as that seems, and it's too complicated to explain here how that happened... <br />
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Anyway, I just wanted to have a little moan. I can do that can't I? Even though I seem to have everything? With 'everything' comes responsibility. I was only 21 when when this started. What 21 year old would really chose to be a 'queen' or even the mother of a very powerful family.<br />
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I'm sure you'll think me ungrateful, but just trying being me for a day ...Sam Stonehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02589599325650332330noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4928047740310731010.post-12718668493338663042011-01-10T01:38:00.000-08:002011-01-10T03:13:56.825-08:00Gabriele Says:<u><b>My Hobbies</b></u><br />
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Okay - so you want to know what a 400 year old vampire does in his spare time? Well, other than feeding - which I do enjoy immensely, I like to observe your society through film and TV.<br />
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Immortality is wonderful. But sometimes the days, weeks, months and years can be long. I don't work, obviously, but I do have a company that keeps control of my finances. We all need them after all. Don't be surprised by that ... how else do you think I can live this discrete lifestyle? I have several houses all over the world. Quite a few of them in the UK - an apartment in Manchester as you know and I have a house, mansion really, in Surrey. Although we haven't been spending much time there lately.<br />
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I like to travel - sometimes a quick exit has been essential. I also have several identities. Lilly says I'm like 'James Bond' with my obsession with new IDs, but you can never be too paranoid. The last thing any of us needs is to be caught by the authorities. I for one don't want to end up a lab rat with my fangs filed - Spike was quite a depressive when that happened to him in 'Buffy the Vampire Slayer'.<br />
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Lilly, who is reading this over my shoulder, has just told me to point out to you that I do know the difference between fiction and reality and realise that Spike and Buffy are just characters in a TV show. But, I stand by my paranoia. It's not impossible - after all I remember Roswell all too well...<br />
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Other hobbies include watching vampire movies. I just think most of them are hilarious. One of the worst I saw lately was '30 Days of Nights' where we were portrayed as being shark-like and also shown to have no mercy for our own kind. Erm ... Well we are blood thirsty monsters, I've never denied that. In fact I'd hate for anyone to think me a wimp at all. There's no angsting and nonsense going on in our world. Blood is blood and we'll take it when we feel like it. These days I'm incredibly happy with my immortality and accepting of my blood lust. But - seriously ...? Would we be so <i>stupid</i> as to wipe out an entire town? I think not. Having said that, like most vampire movies, it was good for a laugh.<br />
<br />
Among my favourite renditions of vampires has to be Bela Lugosi's, for his deeply sinister and provocative performance. I loved Frank Langella and Louis Jordan too. All very moving and sexy - I think they were good role models for me in the 20th Century. Seduction played such a large part of the game then. Later, in the 80's, it was Chris Sarandon in 'Fright Night' - that was very cool. Loved his coat. Of course when it comes to lovable rogues - you just have to admire James Marsters as Spike.<br />
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I understand a lot more about your culture through film. Vampires and immortality never seems to go out of favour, or at least, I noticed that every few years, what happens is that you have a new villain that everyone loves to hate.<br />
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I suppose what I'm saying is. I really don't mind being the next bad boy. I understand how these things work, and deep down, you really won't believe I'm real anyway.<br />
<br />
So my latest hobby may well be blogging a bit more for you. After all, I'm not so inhuman that I don't like a little bit of adoration. Don't make the mistake of thinking I've been tamed though. If I meet you in a dark alley, some day soon, it won't matter to me if you're a follower: I'll still drink you dry if the mood dictates.<br />
<br />
Gabi xSam Stonehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02589599325650332330noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4928047740310731010.post-17716629784873876312011-01-05T00:22:00.000-08:002011-01-05T00:22:28.991-08:00Lucrezia Says:<u><b>LUCREZIA'S STORIES </b></u><br />
<br />
I've interrupted my busy schedule and research to tell you about how I dictated a few stories about my life to Sam Stone a few months ago. We met several times in Manchester centre. Had coffee, not that I'm particular for it, and Sam brought along a recording device which she said would help her to be as accurate in the details as possible.<br />
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I didn't think much would come of it, but now, I believe, she has published the stories in a new horror collection called 'Zombies in New York and Other Bloody Jottings'. Naturally I'm pleased that she chose to use the title one of my stories as the main name for this collection... The story <i>Zombies in New York</i> tells the tale of my Renfield, Rocco, and what that idiot got up to while I was away on business. You can't get good help these days ...<br />
<br />
There is a section that opens the book entitled 'Lucrezia's Stories' and I hope you miserable mortals are going to buy this and check up on what I'm currently doing. Inside these pages you'll find out about my exploits in various centuries and cities, from Manchester to New York, Stockholm to Paris and also in Victorian England where I came across Jack the Ripper in <i>Fool's Gold</i>. If you want a little titillation you'll find some eroticism in <i>Tar </i>and <i>Red</i>. But I advise you take care when dealing with Angels as I had a little trouble with one of them a while back... In Paris I was involved in the Moulin Rouge - naturally there is no historical reference to this but if you want to know how I became involved then check out the first story in the collection, <i>Ameline.</i><br />
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Of course Sam will make out they all came from her imagination ... and I'll admit she's probably fictionalised them quite a lot ...<br />
<br />
If you want to learn about these times in my life then order a copy of the book now from <a href="http://www.telos.me.uk/category.php?id=3#112">Telos Publishing</a>. You should also check out the book cover which was designed by award winning artist <a href="http://www.vincentchong-art.co.uk/">Vincent Chong</a>. Personally, I'm looking forward to seeing the artwork inside too, by artist <a href="http://www.icarussart.com/">Russell Morgan</a>, as Sam says it illustrates the stories and poems beautifully.<br />
<br />
Anyway, if you pre-order this book before the LA launch apparently you'll get some special free gift from Sam Stone's Merchandise range. But this is only available for pre-orders so act now to avoid disappointment. <br />
<br />
Oh - and let me know what you think of the stories ... I only hope she hasn't said anything misleading about me... Again.<br />
<br />
Lucrezia Borgia<br />
AKA Lucy CollinsSam Stonehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02589599325650332330noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4928047740310731010.post-90635917927554057772010-12-23T08:00:00.000-08:002010-12-23T08:00:00.137-08:00What Vampires Do for Christmas...<div style="color: red;">I couldn't help it. I just had to ask Lilly and Lucrezia what their plans were for the holidays. Here's What they said: Sam x</div><br />
<span style="color: purple;">Lilly Says</span>:<br />
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It's Chez's first Christmas in the 21st Century, so Gabi and I are planning to make it extra special. We're trying to give him a little taste of what it's like in the UK at Christmas time. Unfortunately the only impression he's been able to get so far is that basically it's very commercial. Religion doesn't mean much to us, although Chez says he'd rather like to go to mass on Christmas Eve. He was brought up Catholic after all. Anyway, we've been taking him Christmas shopping. Last week we visited the Trafford Centre and it was heaving with people, despite the heavy snow.<br />
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Chez liked it there. He was ogling quite a few necks and pointed out that he would love to eat Chinese ... Luckily the beautiful little Chinese girl he spotted didn't hear and therefore didn't run screaming from the place.<br />
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I know this sounds weird - us going buying presents - but I think living as mortals, as much as we can, will keep us grounded and make us less boring. I was watching that series 'True Blood' on sky recently. It showed a vampire's lair as being very decadent and political. I can't think of anything more boring than us all being at logger heads. I would really hate it if we ended up so cliched. Although, Gabi and I love watching the series ... it's hilarious.<br />
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The boys went off together to buy me some presents and I was able to do a little shopping for them. When they came back they were all secret smiles.<br />
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I think Chez is enjoying the normality. It's what he needs right now. He's been through a lot. <br />
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<div style="color: purple;">Lucrezia Says:</div><br />
Christmas? Are you mad? What do I care about that nonsense! Listen, I know my father was a Pope but I walked away from religion a long time ago. Christmas Day is just another day to me.<br />
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I'll be working the grave yard shift at the morgue as I always do. Currently, I'm devising a diagnostic kit to help me recognise the carriers of the vampire gene. It's something similar to a blood glucose meter, except that it isn't checking blood sugar levels. I think I've almost cracked it too. Yes, I know Lilly can recognise them... But it's not a skill the rest of us has. Or at least it isn't something she's willing to teach us to do.<br />
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Anyway, the labs are pretty quiet over the holidays so I can do my own research without being disturbed.<br />
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Don't get me wrong, people still die during Christmas but we just stash the bodies until afterwards. The lab techs won't give up bank holidays for anything. Even so, there always has to be someone manning the morgue. You wouldn't believe how many bodies disappear when the place is left unattended. I'm still investigating the incident from last winter.Sam Stonehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02589599325650332330noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4928047740310731010.post-89269204134915073872010-12-21T00:46:00.000-08:002010-12-21T00:53:02.965-08:00Chez - Blog 1 - Introduction<span style="color: red;">Interview with Caesare Borgia at 3.15 am this morning. Now. I'm knackered. But really must return to </span><i style="color: red;">Hateful Hearts</i><span style="color: red;">.</span><br />
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<span style="color: blue;">Chez:</span> Sam, I'm not sure what this blogging is. Can you explain it to me? <br />
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<span style="color: purple;">Sam:</span> Oh. God. How to explain blogging to a 16th Century vampire who was lost in a hell dimension for two hundred years ...? Erm. It's like a diary, only everyone can see it. I guess that's the easiest way to explain it.<br />
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<span style="color: blue;">Chez</span>: Why would I want to do anything like that?<br />
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<span style="color: purple;">Sam</span>: To please me?<br />
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<span style="color: blue;">Chez</span>: (Laughs) Well you are writing my story for me...<br />
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<span style="color: purple;">Sam</span>: (Smiling) Yes! And I'm enjoying it too.<br />
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<span style="color: blue;">Chez:</span> But what you're asking is that I put my thoughts out there for everyone to see ...<br />
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<span style="color: purple;">Sam:</span> I guess so. But you don't have to reveal anything that you'd like to keep private. And obviously, I'll be vetting it for spoilers. We don't want the readers learning anything about the events in <i>Hateful Hearts</i> just yet.<br />
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<span style="color: blue;">Chez:</span> Not even about the Knights Templar?<br />
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<span style="color: purple;">Sam:</span> <i>Especially</i> not the Knights Templar. We could talk about your early years in the house of the Borgias.<br />
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<span style="color: blue;">Chez:</span> (shakes his head) No. I don't want to talk about it. It feels like another world now.<br />
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<span style="color: purple;">Sam:</span> Well, what about your thoughts on <i>this </i>world? I know you like to watch the news.<br />
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<span style="color: blue;">Chez:</span> It's a very dark world. <br />
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<span style="color: purple;">Sam:</span> Even more so at the moment. I'm bloody sick of this snow and frost ...<br />
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<span style="color: blue;">Chez:</span> The cold does not affect us. But our surroundings do. There are many bad things that happen in the world. But mortals seem to be less affected by them than we do.<br />
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<span style="color: purple;">Sam:</span> We are affected. We just pretend to ignore it. Otherwise we'd be worried about it all the time and then, we'd actually forget to enjoy ourselves. If you're mortal you try not to think about death and disease.<br />
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<span style="color: blue;">Chez:</span> Mortality is awful.<br />
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<span style="color: purple;">Sam:</span> It sucks! If you forgive the pun ... But don't let's not get too maudling on that or you'll depress me. <br />
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<span style="color: blue;">Chez: </span>I understand. But how then, do you bear to write horror ...?<br />
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<span style="color: purple;">Sam:</span> Hey! I thought I was interviewing you? (Laughs)<br />
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<span style="color: blue;">Chez:</span> (Smiles - showing a large amount of very sexy fang) All right. Say I <i>do</i> want to 'blog'. You know I'm not much good with tecnology...<br />
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<span style="color: purple;">Sam: </span>Yeah. Lilly told me about the mobile phone incident ...<br />
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<span style="color: blue;">Chez:</span> (Laughs) That was very funny actually, even if I say so myself ...<br />
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<span style="color: purple;">Sam:</span> Well. If you have got some thoughts you'd like to share, we could do it like this ... like a Q and A.<br />
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<span style="color: blue;">Chez:</span> Q and A?<br />
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<span style="color: purple;">Sam:</span> Sorry. Question and answer session. Just give me a subject you'd like to talk about and, well, I'll ask you questions and write down your answers. Pretty much how we're working on the book really. Except that mostly you're just telling me your thoughts and I'm just transcribing them.<br />
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<span style="color: blue;">Chez:</span> I'll think on it.<br />
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<span style="color: purple;">Sam: </span>Good. 'Cos the readers are very interested in you ...<br />
<span style="color: red;"><br />
</span><span style="color: red;"></span>Sam Stonehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02589599325650332330noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4928047740310731010.post-6389145092128826492010-12-20T05:54:00.000-08:002010-12-20T05:54:43.002-08:00Lilly - Blog 1 - IntroductionI'm Lilly, oldest of the vampires and the ultimate source of the vampire gene. Currently I'm indulging my sexual fantasies with my lovers, Gabriele and Ceasare.<br />
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Chez is naturally finding this a little easier than Gabi, since he is not of a jealous nature. We live in a secret lair, underneath a castle in North Wales. But don't get any ideas that if you turn up there we'll even talk to you, or turn you. For a start you'd have to be a carrier of the gene, or rather you'd have to have it in your DNA.<br />
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We're a little fussy about who we share our lives with, so you're more likely to become a meal than a new member of the family. If that's your bag, then come on over, blood donors are <i>always</i> welcome.<br />
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By the way, I'm looking for a new Renfield. My last one died of severe anemia... Anyone out there any good with fixing heating and air-conditioning units? You won't remember a thing about how to get in the lair, nor even being there at all. But I'll make sure you have some benefits, a mysterious reward placed in your bank account perhaps? Does that appeal at all?<br />
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Anyway, hit me with your comments ... I may answer, if the mood takes me.Sam Stonehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02589599325650332330noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4928047740310731010.post-75645941175239195242010-12-17T01:00:00.000-08:002010-12-17T01:00:33.670-08:00Gabriele - Blog 1 - IntroductionBy writing this blog I'm supposed to let you know that I am in fact, real. I'm not terribly sure that that is such a good thing. Sam Stone assures me however that you won't believe a word and you'll think it's just her writing in character. That's the only reason I agreed to do this. Plus it gives me a chance to decry all of the terrible things in this world - namely the bad singing that's supposed to be good.<br />
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Tonight, Lilly, Chez and I watched some Royal Variety performance at the Palladium and, I have to say, in my day most of them would have been thrown into prison for impersonating talent - very badly.<br />
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As you know my uncle Giulio Caccini was the man who, effectively, invented opera. He taught me everything he knew about music and I pride myself on being able to perform as an effective Tenor, which is why I feel I am very qualified to comment on singing and performance.<br />
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The ones that stood out the most for being the WORST - Cheryl Cole ... absolutely dreadful, deadpan and the most boring performance I've ever seen, with no absolutely no emotion. This is a woman who goes 'through the motions' but doesn't actually have any real talent beyond being gorgeous. And she is gorgeous, I admit that, until she opens her mouth of course and then the whole facade comes tumbling down. Lilly and I had a debate about her. I was certain she was miming, but then surely if she was, the vocals would have been better?<br />
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What the hell is this so-called band N'Dub? They were mostly out of tune and, to be honest I really can't understand this 'Rap' business. Talking on notes it's supposed to be. Personally I don't call it music and other than Eminem - who I find rather amusing - I'm not generally into the shouting and swearing that seems necessary with most rappers. My Uncle Giulio would turn in his grave to know that this is so popular...<br />
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Susan Boyle has a pretty voice: shame about her pronunciation though which was at times very poor and incredibly sloppy. My uncle would have rapped her knuckles with a heavy cane if he'd been her vocal coach. That would stop the laziness and keep her focused. She is a singularly unattractive lady though, isn't she? It's much better to close your eyes and listen to her, rather than watch her, as her voice sounds far younger than she looks. How old is she anyway?<br />
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I quite liked the performers from <i>Les Miserables, </i>however. The harmonies were beautifully sung. Lilly was brought to tears by the last song, <i>Bring Him Home</i>. A male quartet sang it tonight and Lilly said it was usually sung solo as she had seen it on the West End at some point or other. Some excellent falsetto and the arrangement for the four men was very well done.<br />
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I'm not generally keen on pop music but I did rather like 'Take That' too. Great performance and very strong vocals. A good conclusion to the show I thought. <br />
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Well that is all from me, for now. Ask questions if you want to and I'll answer them truthfully as I have nothing to lose since you think I'm a fictional character anyway. I think I'm going to like blogging. It seems like a good opportunity to rant about the world ...<br />
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Gabriele CacciniSam Stonehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02589599325650332330noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4928047740310731010.post-38771247999326564772010-12-16T10:17:00.000-08:002010-12-16T10:58:37.520-08:00Lucrezia - Blog 1 - Introduction<u><b>My Thoughts </b></u><br />
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I started talking to Sam Stone after she published <i>Futile Flame. </i>You see, she only had Gabriele's viewpoint of what happened in that book. Yes, I <i>did</i> tell Gabi the story about my life, and - but he misrepresented me a little bit. After reading <i>Futile Flame</i>, I realised I had to put my side across. I'm not sure what I want to say to you really - other than I've been maligned. You who've read Lilly's story in <i>Demon Dance</i> will now think that I have some hidden agenda. But why should I have one? Why even care what any of the others are doing? It's not as though their miserable, sterile lives would interest me really.That's when I went to see Sam. She was very interested in listening to my stories of the missing years. 'My readers will enjoy hearing more about you, they've been curious,' Sam told me. 'You're quite the woman of mystery.'<br />
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So, I told her about a few of my adventures. But don't get any ideas that they reveal everything about me ... I still want to remain a 'woman of mystery' as I rather enjoy the title. Sam is apparently publishing the stories in a collection called<i> Zombies in New York and Other Bloody Jottings.</i> This is going to be available in Feb 2011 by a company called <a href="http://www.telos.co.uk/">Telos Publishing.</a> The title is of course based on one of my stories - it's about the time I left my Renfield, Rocco, alone in New York. You can't believe the state I found things in on my return ... But you'll have to read all about that yourselves. I'm in no mood to discuss it today.<br />
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If I'd known what I was letting myself in for, I'd have never met up for coffee with Sam in Harvey Nichols in Manchester. Now, I'm under contract. That is to say, we've made a deal and I promised to talk to you pathetic mortals for her.<br />
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So, this is your opportunity. Ask me. What do you want to know?<br />
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Lucrezia Borgia Dec 2010<br />
(AKA Lucy Collins)Sam Stonehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02589599325650332330noreply@blogger.com0