A big welcome to our readers today! Be sure to read to the end of the interview to find out how to WIN the fabulous prizes being offered up.

PLEASE NOTE: This is not a fixed time event, the post just goes live at 12:00 pm Central. You can stop by any time during the day or evening and leave your questions and chat.

PLEASE KEEP SPOILERS TO A MINIMUM. Not all of the readers today have read Meredith’s book.

Interview:

Hi Meredith!

Welcome to Bitten by Books, we are excited to have you here today!

I would like to thank you taking the time to join us for the question and answer session with our readers. It has been very interesting to get to know more about you and what makes you tick as a writer! Readers, if you haven’t done so already please stop by and get your copy of Meredith’s newest book Vampire Taxonomy.

BBB: What are the most challenging and the most rewarding aspects of writing?

MW: The most challenging part of writing, for me, is editing. Deciding what stays and what goes. When you’re compiling a round up of vampire dance offs where do you draw the line? I could write forever about The Hunger’s use of Bauhaus’ “Bela Lugosi’s Dead,” Once Bitten’s “Hands Off” dance scene, even Fright Night’s “Good Man In A Bad Time,” but eventually you run out of room. Not everything can make the cut, and that is just maddening. But thankfully, just getting the conversation started can generate talk outside of your writing. Which leads to the most most rewarding part. Nothing is better than listening to people discuss something you just wrote about. It’s like a spring board for great conversation.

BBB: As a result of your research, who would you say is the scariest literary/book vampire? What about a movie version?

MW: That’s a tough one because there are a lot of terrifying looking vampires out there. The big vampiric reveal in Mark Pavia’s The Night Flier always stuck with me as a particularly terrifying vampire, especially when you see the beast relieving himself in the bathroom. And of course the urinal is filled with blood. Yeah it was a bit funny, but I didn’t expect the mangled face of the vampire in the end, yikes. But the award for most terrifying on screen vampires has to go to Max Schreck for his slow moving Count Orlok, do not watch it home alone.

As far as a frightening literary vampire goes, I know he’s completely misunderstood and it a tragic figure, but the description of Varney The Vampire always gave me chills. It could be the way that it was written but when he feeds it was pretty gruesome with a “hideous sucking noise.” It just felt real.

BBB: What are your top 3 favorite vampire books and movies?

MW: Top three vampire books:

Garth Ennis and Steve Dillon’s Preacher, Cassidy is the ultimate bad ass Vampire, period. I’m really enjoying Chuck Hogan and Guillermo del Toro’s The Strain, it reminds me of Fringe, but with Vampires. Plus it brings out the ugly side to the undead. And, of course, Anne Rice’s Interview With A Vampire.

Movies, it’s very difficult to pick only 3:
Near Dark, possibly the only scene in a vampire film to bring me to my feet clapping and cheering, of course I’m talking about Severen’s bar scene. Next would be Fright Night for the sheer campiness of it, plus who didn’t dream of a vampire moving in next door. And finally The Hunger, Catherine Deneuve is just divine, and terribly sad, especially since she keeps all her old, decaying lovers stuffed in a box in her attic. But I’m sure I’ll change those in a month. There are too many good vampire films out there.

BBB: Can you offer our readers a primary tip for avoiding the undead, if they so desire?

MW: An easy tip for avoiding the undead is to get educated on their ways. Brush up on your vamp pop culture and keep your eyes and ears peeled for possible warning signs while out and about. Also never trust anyone who never drinks, eats or sleeps.

BBB: What do you feel are the benefits of the new electronic readers such as Kindle 2 or Sony Digital Book Reader to the environment?

MW: The electronic book movement is fantastic. It’s putting the long literary word back into the public’s hand. There’s only so much I can stand to read on an phone, plus that’s mainly news. The electronic readers put books back into people’s hands, period. And if that means more readers, then fantastic!

BBB: What impact do electronic readers create on the bottom line for authors in the end? Do you feel they have a negative impact or positive, or no impact at all that you can see?

MW: I really cant speak on the subject just yet, we’ll have to wait and see.

BBB: Can you tell us about your book and and the storyline that drives it?

MW: My book is basically a guide to surviving in a world of modern vampires. There have been so many variations and deviations from popular lore it’s impossible to keep it all straight. Consider this a fun round up of notable trends, occurrences, and evolution, using pop culture as a guide.

BBB: What else do you currently have in the works? When can we expect your next book?

MW: I spend most of my days writing about supernatural what-not and scifi happenings over at http://io9.com. It’s jam packed with news, rants and amazing feature stories from my fellow editors, who are all brilliant and all supremely intelligent genre fanatics. Plus there’s a hefty amount of vampire talk. Please stop by!

BBB: Where are the best places to go and find vampires if you do not want to avoid them?

MW: The best place to meet people-friendly vampires are bigger cities. So much is happening its easy for a coven to slip under the radar. Plus searching for vampires in a place with a large population greatly increases your chance of survival, on numbers alone. In the desert, no one can hear you beg for mercy.

BBB: Tell us about a few of the weirdest vampire paraphernalia you have discovered in your travels.

MW: That’s easily the Twilight sex toy, primarily because it’s advertised as a cold experience, just like the touch of a vampire. Oh and it sparkles. That’s a little to literal for me. But still, I understand the joke/appeal.

BBB: Where do you see the paranormal/urban fantasy genre headed? Can you see it slowing down in the near future, or do you think that the immediate future is pretty bright for it?

MW: I’m a huge fan of urban fantasy, and I don’t think it’s going anywhere anytime soon. Especially with films like Amy Heckerling’s Vamps in the works, and the continual success of Twilight along with Vampire Diaries. There’s a lot more “vampire in the city” or “vampire in a high school” to be had. Me personally, I’d like to see return of early 90s and 80s vampire cowboys features. We need to find the right people to make Preacher a movie, and while we’re at it bring back the on the road type vamps that were overlooked in films like The Forsaken. John Carpenter’s Vampires was the ultimate Tombstone with fangs, I’d love to see more of that. Plus I’m a sucker for any sort of outlaw slayer type, be it the demon fighting Winchester brothers from Supernatual to Buffy. Give me an beat down classic car, the open road, and a pack of unruly vampires any day.

BBB: Dracula is pretty P.O.’d about this whole Cullen deal (as you can see from this video here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_3NDl0sV9FA ). What can you tell us about this sparkling skin condition that Edward Cullen has?

MW: This video is hilarious, and a good example of the “if silver is not used in a video taping process vampires can be video tapped or photographed.” Well, according to Mick St. John from Moonlight. It’s natural that an old fashioned vampire would be upset by these new sparkle kids. It’s changing the way the public views vampires, and don’t the original baddies always hate it when a bunch of new kids show up and shake things up? But this is the nature of all things supernatural, they change. Besides even Anne Rice’s ancient vampires had a bit of a sheen to them as well, so who are we to say that the diamond-like glow is completely out-of-left-field. Ok, it’s a little funny, but it’s something new and I respect that.

BBB: If you had the choice to become a vampire would you? Why or why not?

MW: I think I would, or at least, I would try and take a hit of V-juice to explore the vampiric side effects. You only live once, unless you live forever.

BBB: Do you have any plans for book signings/ readings anytime soon? If so, where can our readers find you?

MW: As a matter of fact I do! I will have a book signing in December 8th in NYC at Borders on 7PM. Please come and talk vampire with me!
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Learn more about Meredith Woerner below:

To read reviews of this author’s work go here.

To visit the author’s website go here.

Follow her on Twitter here: http://twitter.com/MdellW

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CONTEST: PLEASE NOTE THE NEW CONTEST EMAIL ADDRESS TO SEND YOUR ENTRIES TO BELOW. There are also revisions to the rules for this contest, please read them all carefully. Also, PLEASE LEAVE YOUR FIRST AND THE INITIAL OF YOUR LAST NAME in your comment/post so we can give you the proper credit for your entries.

Readers, here’s how to enter the contest. You can do just ONE or ALL of these things, and each thing you do will give you additional entries at a chance to WIN. REMEMBER you have Until at 11:59 pm Central 11/20/09 to do the different things that YOU choose to do. Contest is open to readers worldwide except where noted.

She will be giving away THREE copies of Vampire Taxonomy!

1. In order to be entered into this contest the ONE thing you ALL have to do is ask Meredith a question or leave a comment. It can be ANY question you like. No questions/comments = no entries! You can come by through 11/20/09 at 11:59 pm Central and ask Meredith your questions. Good for 10 entries. (max 2 questions that count towards entries)

2. Spread the word! Use this direct link to the event: http://bittenbybooks.com/?p=13138 on twitter, at another blog, website, Myspace, Ning Group, Facebook, Yahoo Group, Goodreads, Shelfari (any group where it is appropriate). You MUST come back here to this interview and post those links in one response here in this thread so we can verify your entries. Good for 100 entries per place you post the event link.

3. Enter the Win a Kindle 2 Contest here: http://www.noobie.com/kindle-giveaway?ref=813331493 and leave a comment. Good for 50 entries.

4. VOTE in this week’s poll here: http://bittenbybooks.com/?p=13065 and leave a comment. Good for 50 entries.

5. Make a purchase in our Bloody Cafe store here: http://www.cafepress.com/bittenbybooks. We are all volunteers so your continuing support is deeply appreciated. Email us a copy of your purchase receipt to bittenbybooks.contests @ gmail.com (no spaces). Sorry no faxes or snail mail copies. Good for 100 entries.

NOTE: if you post multiple links here, your post will not show up right away. If you don’t see it, don’t keep posting it, we WILL approve your entry later on in the day.

RULES AND LEGAL DISCLAIMERS

The contest ends on 11/20/09 at 11:59 pm Central and the winners will be contacted via email. You will receive your prize bag directly from the author. PLEASE LEAVE YOUR FIRST AND THE INITIAL OF YOUR LAST NAME as well as a valid email where we can contact you. REMEMBER the more things you do, the more entries, the greater the chances of winning.

1. Please note, the prize stated IS the prize you will receive, there will be absolutely no substitutions or changes the prize is non-transferable. If you don’t want the prize being offered, please don’t enter the contest. If you ever win an electronic copy of a book, please note that it is ILLEGAL to forward, give away or copy it in anyway once you receive it. Doing so violates copyright. If we find out that it has been done, you will no longer be eligible to win any of our contests.

2. You have THREE days from the day the we contact you to claim your prize by sending your name/mailing address to me. Failure to contact me will forfeit your prize. BBB can at that time, choose either to re-award the prize to another entrant or not.

3. The prize stated IS the prize you will receive, there will be no substitutions, trades or changes. No exceptions. Please do not ask. If for some reason you do not wish to claim your prize, please let me know as soon as possible. Bitten by Books has the option to re-award it or not.

4. Contest is open to USA readers except where noted. The prizes are shipped directly from the author.

5. Bitten by Books is in NO way responsible for the prizes being offered in any of the contests. If for some reason a contributor does not honor their prize, there is nothing we can or will do about it. We are not worried that this will happen, but we want to be very clear that WE are not offering these prizes, the contributor is and it is their responsibility to fulfill their prize obligations.

6. These rules are subject to change or be modified without prior written notice.

7. Contest is void where prohibited.

8. By entering this contest you are agreeing to our terms of entry

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