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Wednesday, August 31, 2011

Listen to our DRACULA (Chris Lee) Discussion! (SPOILERS)

Our new CASTLE DRACULA PODCAST episode is up! This week: DRACULA starring Christopher Lee, AKA Horror of Dracula!

You can also listen right here:


Description: We talk DRACULA AKA HORROR OF DRACULA, the Hammer vampire film starring Christopher Lee and Peter Cushing. Hosted by the creators of the Alex Van Helsing book series (Jason Henderson), indy comic Halloween Man (Drew Edwards), and manga Psy-comm (Tony Salvaggio), and attorney Julia Guzman. 

Sunday, August 28, 2011

Thursday, August 25, 2011

Listen to the Fright Night 2011 Discussion (SPOILERS!)

The FRIGHT NIGHT 2011 episode of the Castle Dracula Podcast is up-- you can listen here or right here:



This week we discuss the 2011 "Fright Night" starring Colin Farrell and David Tennant with an amazing Buffy-like script from Marti Noxon. Plus, endorsements, and embarrassing convention-related revelations from Julia.

Also, check out our new Castle Dracula Podcast Blog!




Monday, August 22, 2011

Goodbye, Mr. Sangster

Jimmy Sangster, screenwriter of HORROR OF DRACULA (as it was known in the US) and CURSE OF FRANKENSTEIN-- not to mention all the other films he was involved in-- has passed away.
Peter Cushing as Van Helsing in Horror of Dracula,
written by Jimmy Sangster



The world of cinematic horror fiction lost a true great yesterday: the wonderfully prolific Jimmy Sangster passed away at the age of 83. The man's name might not ring any immediate bells, but any true horror fan (especially a British one) could tell you he was the go-to screenwriter for a large portion of the very best Hammer Films. (Hammer Films being a production company that churned out lots of horror films in the 1950s and '60s.) When Hammer opted to resurrect old Universal favorites like Dracula and Frankenstein, Mr. Sangster was the man behind the typewriter. His 1958 double feature of Horror of Dracula and The Revenge of Frankenstein would be the envy of any horror screenwriter, but Jimmy Sangster just kept on banging 'em out.


Goodbye and thank you, Mr. Sangster.

Friday, August 19, 2011

Girls in the Stacks: Voice of the Undead

Another neat review, this one from Girls in the Stacks reviewer Nancy Tuuling!

my take: Alex Van Helsing returns with a book full of action, villianous vampires, and budding teen romance! We enjoyed the first book in this series (see Vampire Rising review here) and I enjoyed this second book even more.

Nancy even keys in on my New Wave obsession, which creeps into the book:

I have to mention one of my favorite lines – when Alex asks “Who is Ultravox?”, Sangster said, “Well, for one thing it’s the name of a New Wave band.” “What’s New Wave?” Ahhh, Sangster – your young padawan needs some musical instruction. That, or vampires need to find names that don’t make the adults reading hum “Vienna” in their heads. Oh, wait, isn’t that the girl’s name with the green scarf? Hmmmm… Oh, Jason, you punny man.

Yes. Yes it is, Nancy... and here's my favorite Ultravox song (but not the only one that influenced Voice of the Undead) "Vienna."

Thursday, August 18, 2011

Associated Press/ABC News on Alex Van Helsing: "Tapping Into the Market of Books for YA Boys"

A great notice on Alex Van Helsing: Voice of the Undead turned up from the Associated Press on ABC's website:
In "Voice of the Undead," Alex attends school during the day and spends his nights searching Lake Geneva for the magic-protected Scholomance, an ancient vampire school. During one of these missions, he burns down Glenarvon Academy, which is forced to relocate to an all-girls academy down the road.
Summer Moore, AP


Meanwhile, the Polidorium want Alex to track down a vampire named Ultravox.


The Alex Van Helsing series is tapping into the market of books for young adult boys, and does so successfully. The novels are engaging and suspenseful, without relying on a central love story.

Check out the rest! And thank you so much AP writer Summer Moore!






Wednesday, August 10, 2011

Listen to the Dracula's Daughter Podcast!

The new episode of the Castle Dracula Podcast is up. This time our topic is DRACULA'S DAUGHTER, the 1936 vampire thriller starring Gloria Holden. Listen here and join us each week!

And don't forget to Friend the show and leave us notes and questions on Facebook!





Check out a trailer for DRACULA'S DAUGHTER:

Tuesday, August 9, 2011

@Bibliojunkies: 4.5 Stars to Voice of the Undead

Awesome Bibliojunkies review of Alex Van Helsing: Voice of the UndeadAlex Van Helsing: Voice of the Undead from blogger Shel:

My love of the Alex Van Helsing books is pretty well documented and that love continues. This book is fast-paced and fun. I enjoy the way the author illustrates Alex’s thought process when facing stressful situations. I also enjoy that while Alex is extraordinary in many ways, we also see how in many ways, Alex is a typical 14 year old. It was reminiscent of reading The Hardy Boys, except with vampires and cooler gadgets! All in all, I say 4.5 stars and I cannot wait for Alex No. 3! I also cannot wait until my 4 year old nephew is old enough to read Alex. Please tell me it is coming soon!

Read the rest!

Thanks Shel! First off, Alex Van Helsing: The Triumph of Death is coming next Summer. I've even got a draft finished already.

But thank you for kindly comparing Alex Van Helsing to the Hardy Boys-- that's absolutely my goal, to create a new boys' adventure series that can last a long time and mean something important to new readers. Thanks for making my day!

Friday, August 5, 2011

Ms. Yingling loves Voice of the Undead:"textbook example of how to write for the Adrenaline rush"

The fantastic Ms. Yingling blog weighs in on Voice of the Undead:
I liked Vampire Rising so much that I nominated it for the Cybils Awards.The second book is a textbook example of how to write for the Adrenaline rush: Alex is chased by two cars, has blood sucking leeches thrown at him by Elle, is attacked by the leeches again in his dorm room, and then the dorm catches on fire. That's just the first two chapters! The boys from Glenarvon have to move in with the girls at LaLaurie school until repairs are made.

Check out the rest-- but warning: SPOILERS!

Thanks Ms. Yingling!

Wednesday, August 3, 2011

Castle Dracula Podcast on THE LOST BOYS-- Listen here.

Our Lost Boys Episode is up-- listen in here!


This is our fifth episode of the podcast and I'm really enjoying it. I think the guys are beginning to get a good rhythm going, and we're actually having people show up in the chat room to throw questions at us.

Meanwhile, Alex Van Helsing: Voice of the Undead came out last week and we continue to get good reviews. I'll post some more soon!

Tuesday, August 2, 2011

Join us to talk LOST BOYS on the Castle Dracula Podcast

Tonight, 10:30ET/9:30CT. Go hear to listen in live, join the chat and ask questions!
Episode Notes: CRY LITTLE SISTER! A look at one of the most important vampire movies of the last forty years, THE LOST BOYS, starring Kiefer Sutherland and Jason Patric. Hosted by the creators of the Alex Van Helsing book series (Jason Henderson), indy comic Halloween Man (Drew Edwards), and manga Psy-comm (Tony Salvaggio), and attorney Julia Guzman. We'll cap it off with a look at vampires and pop culture, and of course Q&A from the audience!



I freaking love this movie so I can't wait to get into it. To get you in the mood, here's an original trailer and a cool video: