(to the tune of “I’m Gettin’ Nuttin’ for Christmas”)

I’ll be a vampire for Christmas
Mommy and Daddy don’t know
I’ll be a vampire for Christmas
My skin is as white as the snow

I can’t go out in Christmas day
Somebody drank my blood
On Christmas night I’ll have to play
Somebody drank my blood
My Christmas dinner comes in bags
Really they don’t taste too bad
I like hanging out with Vlad
Somebody drank my blood

I’ll be a vampire for Christmas
Mommy and Daddy don’t know
I’ll be a vampire for Christmas
My skin is as white as the snow

I’m up all night with Santa Claus
Somebody drank my blood
I just might get to see him because
Somebody drank my blood
And I know some would say it’s wrong
But did ya ever wonder how he’s lived so long
He might be the reason for this song
Somebody drank my blood

I’ll be a vampire for Christmas
Mommy and Daddy don’t know
I’ll be a vampire for Christmas
My skin is as white as the snow

MERRY VLADMAS, MINION HORDE!!!

Merry Hanukkahchristmaskwanzaasolsticewhatever! Whatever it is that you celebrate (or don’t), happy day to you!

Auntie Heather’s been very busy lately, but in a good way. The tree is up (it’s the Great Tree of Goth Awesomeness), the lights are on the house, the charities have been charitied to, the music is playing, and the presents are (for the most part) wrapped. And Auntie Heather is sitting by the fireplace, staring up into the darkness, awaiting a fat guy in a red coat to come tumbling down…preferably with chocolate for her stocking.

Aside from the usual holiday business, I’ve also been busy with writing. I finished TWELFTH GRADE KILLS (I’ll pause while you all celebrate), and you can watch for that in September 2010. I finished copyedits for an anthology short story that’s also coming out in September 2010. The story is a creepy lil number I call SHADOW CHILDREN and the anthology will be called FEAR: 13 STORIES OF SUSPENSE AND HORROR. What’s important about this antho is that International Thriller Writers (ITW) is teaming up with RIF (Reading is Fundemental), to raise money for their totally amazing cause. So…buy a copy. Heck, buy six!!

So now that I have a moment, while waiting on my editorial letter for TWELFTH, I’m working on BLOODBOUND.

And it is AWESOME! Such different writing than Vlad, so rich with description, and a lot of fun to write. I adore Kaya (the main character), as well as Maddox, Trayton, and yes, even Darius. (It’ll be so funny when you’ve all read the book and can go back and say, “Really, Auntie? Even Darius? Are you sure?”) So…I’m keeping busy and enjoying myself.

But I’m also thinking it’s time I rent some office space, as Auntie is tired of writing from the place between her dining room and living room. It’s like some kind of weird void, where distractions abound. I need my space. it’s not you, void, it’s me. Maybe we should see other people.

Also, are there any reviewers that haven’t received ARCs of ELEVENTH GRADE BURNS just yet? Because I still have a few…