Fresh Fiction Blog | Lori Handeland

Another Halloween has passed us by, and I've handed out the candy to princesses and cowboys and football players and teenagers in Scream masks. But as always my favorite costumes are the good old fashioned monster costumes.

Not surprisingly I've got a soft spot for those old fashioned monsters. Give me a vampire, a werewolf, a zombie, a mummy, a witch. Please. I love monster movies, monster books, monster artwork, monster dolls and toys.

My favorite monster movie, one I watch every Halloween, is Bram Stoker's Dracula. What a romance! What a monster!

Sometimes I troll the Internet observing great monster artwork. Some of my favorites are Native American renderings of werewolves. Considering what I write, no big shock there.

I also have a freaky Barbie collection. I bet you didn't know they had monster- ish Barbies. I've got The Munsters, The Addams Family, The Wicked Witch of the West and several others. And when it comes to books about monsters, werewolves are always my favorite. My most recent release, MARKED BY THE MOON (available now!) is a continuation of my popular Nightcreature Novels, and it has a great monster. Julian Barlow is an ancient berserker--a Viking warrior who, in the heat of battle, became a wolf. Every after, when the moon was full he would change. But his tendency to become furry beneath the light of the moon isn't the only thing monstrous about Julian.

Julian holds a grudge against the werewolf hunter who killed his wife. Death is too good for Alexandra Trevalyn. The only way to make her suffer is to make her just like him. What Julian doesn't understand is that sometimes revenge doesn't turn out the way you think it will. Sometimes revenge turns sweet.

Click here to read an

Comments

Love monsters, don't have a favorite I love them all.
(Michelle Stice 1:53am November 4, 2010)

I love the new breed of monsters in books: villains that have a heart and though they have a dark and twisty side( like a were), can still surprise you and actually be a hero in disguise:)
I still like the old-fashioned scary ones who kill anything in sight too, but only if balanced out with a hero/ine I can love/relate to. Otherwise if its just pure horror, that's not really my favorite genre,lol
(Bella Franco 2:29am November 4, 2010)

I also love monsters. Especially when they have very human traits that mix with their primal traits.
(Joanne Reynolds 6:20am November 4, 2010)

I don't like the traditional monster. I really didn't like 'American Werewolf in London' for example. I am a HEA girl. But the modern, he's a good-ish guy with a monster problem, well that is another story. That is like liking our alpha men. But he (or she) must be good when everything is said and done. But that's just me. (And I do expect a vamp to drink blood & a werewolf to hunt small furry creatures like rabbits no matter how cute. Let's get real...)
(Victoria Colyer-Kerr 6:22am November 4, 2010)

Lori, you must be my book twin lol
I LOVE vampires & werewolves, and grew up glued to the tube watching Dark Shadows, the Addams Family, The Munsters, etc.
And my personal favorites are the ancient, eldritch creatures of the night - as those seem to be richer, more full-developed personas that come to us across ages of experience & insight.
Furthermore, it's the complications of these personas that intrigue the reader. As we ourselves grow and develop, we discover that nothing in life is black or white, there is no dichotomy that exists - all are only shades of gray. So our monsters must be no less developed than we, the reader.
So it's nice to discover an author with 3-Dimensional characters, be they monsters or no.
:D
(Mary DeBorde 6:36am November 4, 2010)

who doesnt love a good monster book specially with a little romance added in.. my fav? vamps and weres of course
(Tammi Page 7:04am November 4, 2010)

I look forward to each new Lori book!
Blessings,
Marjorie
(Marjorie Carmony 8:05am November 4, 2010)

My monsters have to have redeeming qualities...no monsters just for the sake of monsters. :-)
(Jl Welling 8:28am November 4, 2010)

They're all fun, aren't they, Michelle?
(Lori Handeland 8:34am November 4, 2010)

I love villains who become heroes, Bella.
(Lori Handeland 8:34am November 4, 2010)

Human monsters. Lots of them out
there, Joanne.
(Lori Handeland 8:35am November 4, 2010)

I haven't read this series yet and wouldn't this be a great time to start? . I have been partial to smexy demons lately. The plot of MBTM sounds magically delicious ;)
(Sharon Stogner 9:01am November 4, 2010)

I love a good, hot "monster". A misunderstood man (be it vamp or shifter) who has a bit of a chip on his shoulder! But in a whole, no-not a big fan of the horror flick monsters! It's much creepier to watch a movie that depicts a normal person doing the crazy stuff! :0)
(Kirsten Christensen 10:44am November 4, 2010)

Hate the scary monsters, but the ones in books, even the semi-scary ones that have the ability to be redeemed, oh yeah!
(Tammy Barringer 10:50am November 4, 2010)

I like the traditional, 100% evil monsters for the hero and heroine to fight. I also like the monsters that can be redeemed with the love of a "good" woman. Vamps are still my fav (since I was 7), but shifters are up there.
(Anne Muller 11:17am November 4, 2010)

I love all kinds of monsters. The tortured ones, crazy, misunderstood ones.
(Sue Brandes 11:30am November 4, 2010)

Misunderstood man be he monster or not
is one of my faves, Kirsten.
(Lori Handeland 11:34am November 4, 2010)

The redeemable nature of the paranormal
romance is a big draw, Tammy
(Lori Handeland 11:34am November 4, 2010)

I'm a big fan of the evil myself, Anne.
(Lori Handeland 11:35am November 4, 2010)

Tortured, crazy and misunderstood.
Perfect, Sue.
(Lori Handeland 11:35am November 4, 2010)

I do like monsters. Zombies are currently my favorite, but weres are definitely a close second. I love the dual nature thing they have going.
(Nicole Telhiard 11:43am November 4, 2010)

Love zombies, NicoleT! I also did a book,
Shakespeare Undead, where Shakespeare
fought zombies.
(Lori Handeland 1:00pm November 4, 2010)

I love to see witch costumes. They are always changing.
(Lena Lee 1:10pm November 4, 2010)

I am a wolf lover but I have to say my fav is the Vamps!!! Gotta love em. Love the whole concept of the dark, mystery ridden,sexy lifestyle.
(Karin Arthur 1:38pm November 4, 2010)

Dracula has got to be the all time best monster. For a good read tho I do love the weres and vamps, however, the modern "monsters" just really aren't that scary. They have to many redeaming features.
(Elizabeth Parzino 1:50pm November 4, 2010)

I like monsters that have a reason for being a monster (Beast in Beauty and the Beast- any version). They went through something tragic (even if it was just a bite or scratch or something more) and they have to live with their new lives. Some turn evil, some turn evil for a while and then change to the good side, some make the most of it and realize that they aren't really a monster, just have unusual qualities and/or appearance. Those are my favorite 'monsters'.
(Dea Lea Herrington 1:53pm November 4, 2010)

I enjoy monsters in books and movies... werewolves are a fav!
Happy November!
(Colleen Conklin 2:21pm November 4, 2010)

There is a tender place in my heart for a tortured hero be he vampire or werewolf. Still trying to find a way to warm up to zombies.
(Mary Brady 3:05pm November 4, 2010)

I like monsters but only if they are not too scary.
(Pam Howell 3:24pm November 4, 2010)

I like Bram Stoker's "Dracula" but Mary Shelley's "Frankenstein" is way scarier because the monster is so human.
(S Tieh 5:30pm November 4, 2010)

I don't like the traditional, totally evil, monsters. I like those who have protective natures. That's true even if monsters head out for a little live snack later. I'm anxious to read the next book in the Nightcreature saga.
(r w 5:33pm November 4, 2010)

love the monsters as well..but love the look on lil ones faces and the fun they ave.other then that i love all the costumes exciting to see how many different ones there r.
(Diane Vos 7:10pm November 4, 2010)

There was a buffy episode about witch
costumes the other night, Lena.
(Lori Handeland 8:38pm November 4, 2010)

Something about a vamp, Karin. I have
one in my UF series.
(Lori Handeland 8:39pm November 4, 2010)

Bram Stoker's Dracula is a classic,
Elizabeth.
(Lori Handeland 8:39pm November 4, 2010)

Tragedy is always a good motivation, Dea
Lea.
(Lori Handeland 8:40pm November 4, 2010)

I'm a big zombie fan, Mary, but can't see
them as a hero. Better a villain.
(Lori Handeland 8:41pm November 4, 2010)

Have you read Dean Koontz's
Frankenstein series, Tieh?
(Lori Handeland 8:41pm November 4, 2010)

I do love monsters. It's been vampires for me for as long as I can remember, but the past few years I'm leaning towards werewolves. They are just so fluffy!
(Jessica Badeaux 9:41pm November 4, 2010)

Love werewolfs and vampires. Grew up watching Dark Shadows with my mom.Love the paranormal and horror in books and movies. Looking forward to reading this series
(Teresa Ward 10:12pm November 4, 2010)

I love Gargoyles. I read some folklores and legends that are protectors of humankind and some stories say that they are human cursed to be monsters at night and stone by day and the only way to become human again is to right a great wrong. (I'm translating the stories from some Asian folklores).
(Kai Wong 10:38pm November 4, 2010)

Lets face it, we all have "monster" qualities in ourselves. Paranormal creatures are just an outlet for the qualities to be acceptable. My favorite monsters are any level of attractiveness, either gender, mysterious, clever, charming, strong-willed and overall not as evil as we thought. There has to be some kind of redeeming characteristics.
(Cindy Gilles 10:39pm November 4, 2010)

I like both the old fashion monsters and the new ones. I too like Bram Stoker's Dracula and I own the dvd.
(Ginger Hinson 11:51pm November 4, 2010)

I love all the varieties of vampires and weres,from the Carpathians to the Dark Hunters to the homeless Atlanteans, and from all the different species of weres like wolves to tigers, that can be found in today's paranormal romance, as long as they aren't totally evil and irredeemable. But, sorry, just can't warm up to the idea of a zombie hero! Decay, squish, things falling off? Ewwwww!
(Mary Holden 2:57am November 5, 2010)

April's Affections and Intrigues: Love and Mystery Bloom

Authors To Watch

Fresh Fiction Blog
Get to Know Your Favorite Authors

Lori Handeland | Monster Mash

Comments

Services

SPECIALS

FOR AUTHORS

We Love

April's Affections and Intrigues: Love and Mystery Bloom

Authors To Watch

Fresh Fiction BlogGet to Know Your Favorite Authors

Lori Handeland | Monster Mash

Comments

Services

SPECIALS

FOR AUTHORS

We Love

Fresh Fiction Blog
Get to Know Your Favorite Authors