Change in BLOOD LAW release date!

The release date for BLOOD LAW has changed from June 22 to July 6, 2010.

Before you start screaming, the change was made to take advantage of a great promotion opportunity through Barnes & Noble: BLOOD LAW will receive placement on the tower display in B&N! Woohoo!

This is a good thing. Trust me.

Okay....now you can scream.

Author Scavenger Hunt Twitter Contest

Author Scavenger Hunt Twitter Contest

I'll be attending the RT BookLovers Convention in Columbus, OH this year. (Yay!) I'll be running a special contest the week of the convention, the Author Scavenger Hunt Twitter Contest. It's part scavenger hunt and part social media interaction. Here's how to play:

1. Follow me, JeannieHolmes, on Twitter.

2. Every day I will announce the start of "The Hunt" and post clues regarding my location along with a special code word and time limit for finding me.

3. The first person to find me and say the code word wins a Super Special Sekret Prize.

4. Contest is open to RT attendees only.

5. You must follow me on Twitter to find the clues.

6. Times and locations will be random. Multiple "Hunts" during a single day are possible.

7. Opening day of "The Hunt" will be April 28, 2010 and closing day will be May 2, 2010.

It's A-Liiiiiiive!!!

New Fan Forum is now live! Come chat with me, hear the latest BLOOD LAW news, and more! (Free registration is required.)

Click here to visit the Jeannie Holmes Fan Forum.

Winner of April Fool's ARC Contest is....

Congratulations to Frank B. of Mobile, AL!!

You're the winner of a signed, collectible advance reader copy of BLOOD LAW. I'll send it out tomorrrow morning.

Thanks to all who entered. Be sure to check back after May 1 for a new ARC contest. You won't want to miss it -- it'll be the LAST contest before BLOOD LAW is released June 22!!

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Answers to the April Fool's ARC Contest:

Which of the following vampire "rules" does not appear in the original European legends?

A) Vampires sleep in coffins. (TRUE. It was believed vampires must return to their coffins/crypts for "sleep" or "rest.")

B) Use poppy seeds to distract a vampire since they must count all seeds before continuing their pursuit. (TRUE. Villiagers believed by scattering poppy seeds on the ground before a charging vampire, the vampire must count ever seed before continuing their pursuit.)

C) Vampires feed on blood. (TRUE. Before more advanced understanding of decompostion, when the coffin/crypt of a "resting/sleeping" suspected vampire was opened, the natural processes decomposition would often result in dark fluid -- thought to be blood -- seeping from the suspected vampire's mouth. This led to the belief that the corpse was rising from the grave to feed on blood.)

D) Garlic will ward against vampires. (TRUE. Garlic, with its pungent aroma, was thought to be an effective ward against vampires.........and nosy neighbors.)

E) A wooden stake through the heart will prevent a vampire from rising from the grave. (TRUE. It was thought that by driving a wooden stake through a suspected vampire's heart, it would pin him/her to the ground beneath, and prevent the corpse from rising.)

F) Sunlight will harm/kill a vampire. (FALSE. Vampires were capable of walking about during the daylight, although it was believed their powers were dimished. The proper belief that sunlight can harm or kill a vampire began in 1922 after the F. W. Murnau's film NOSFERATU showed Count Orlok fading away with the rising of the sun. This had no basis in legend or myth but was instead a special effect created for the film and a convenient plot device used to dispatch a cornered Count Orlok.)

G) Crosses are effective protection against vampire attacks. (TRUE. It was believed that crosses, as well as other religious symbols, could protect one from vampire attacks.)

April Fool's ARC Contest

April's Fool ARC Contest (No, this isn't a joke!)

Vampires have invaded modern pop culture like locusts in a wheat field. Nearly every film, television show, or book follows the "European model" for the vampire, as set down by Bram Stoker in his novel DRACULA, and plays on the "rules" that these night stalkers must follow. However, there is one fundamental "rule" that isn't based in the myths and legends of Europe.

This month's contest is a multiple choice question. Rules for the April's Fool ARC Contest:

1. Contest begins April 4, 2010 and ends MIDNIGHT April 17, 2010. All answers must be received BEFORE the deadline.

2. E-mail your answers to contest AT jkholmes DOT com. PLEASE DO NOT POST THEM HERE. Feel free to leave comments but answers must be received by e-mail to be valid.

3. You may enter only ONCE -- that's one (1) time -- in order to keep it fair.

4. Contest is open to international participants.

5. Winner will be determined by random drawing from CORRECT entries and announced here on April 18, 2010. Winner will receive a signed, collectable (featuring the original cover art!) ARC of BLOOD LAW!

Now, here is your multiple choice question:

Which of the following vampire "rules" does not appear in the original European legends?

A) Vampires sleep in coffins.
B) Use poppy seeds to distract a vampire since they must count all seeds before continuing their pursuit.
C) Vampires feed on blood.
D) Garlic will ward against vampires.
E) A wooden stake through the heart will prevent a vampire from rising from the grave.
F) Sunlight will harm/kill a vampire.
G) Crosses are effective protection against vampire attacks.

Good luck!