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[From VBC: We’re very excited to have Jeaniene Frost on the blog again today. And we’re so anxious for Once Burned, her spinoff book featuring Vlad. It comes out in June and at the end of this post there’s a chance to win advanced copies. With that, we turn it over to Jeaniene.]
I’m fresh off a superhero high after seeing The Avengers this weekend, but aside from my new found love for The Hulk, the movie also got me thinking about the attributes of larger-than-life heroes and heroines. If you haven’t seen The Avengers yet, I’ll describe the members of the team. There’s Ironman, a “genius, billionaire, playboy, philanthropist” named Tony Stark who fights evil while wearing an incredibly high-tech suit; Thor, demi-god of the planet Asgard, whose hammer-wielding badassery is only eclipsed by his mighty biceps; Steve Rogers’ Captain America, a formerly brave yet scrawny man who was transformed into a superhuman through breakthrough genetic tampering; The Hulk, whose non-mean-green-and-ready-to-ream personality is mild-mannered scientist Bruce Banner; Black Widow, former Russian spy Natasha Romanoff who uses her looks, wit, and lethal fighting skills to save the day; and Clint Barton, nicknamed Hawkeye, a S.H.I.E.L.D agent whose skill with a bow and arrow makes Legolas look like a child playing cowboys and Indians. Although not a fighting member of the Avengers, the mastermind behind them is Nick Fury, human director of the espionage agency S.H.I.E.L.D.
What I particularly loved about The Avengers is that three of the six superheroes are regular humans. See, my books feature supernatural creatures – in this case, vampires – fighting evil and finding love with humans. I get asked a lot about compatibility issues in a human/nonhuman relationship and I think the movie gives a great example of how being compatible has more to do with will, perseverance, and bravery than with matching supernatural abilities. Black Widow doesn’t have any otherworldly abilities – or a high-tech Super Suit – yet she’s critical to the success of the Avengers because of her other strengths. Same goes with Hawkeye. Tony Stark, even without his Ironman suit, is still instrumental to the team because of his intelligence. Sure, having the ability to withstand injuries that would kill a normal person (Captain America), or a huge magical hammer (Thor), or enough strength to throw a demi-god around like a rag doll (The Hulk) are also critical, but they’re not enough to defeat the villain and his army without those extraordinary yet “regular” Avengers.
As I said, I’ve played with the same themes in my books. My vampires may have abilities like super strength, telekinesis, mind control, or the ability to fly, but that doesn’t make their human counterparts less extraordinary, in my opinion. Take my upcoming novel, Once Burned. In it, my heroine Leila is a human whose exposure to a massive dose of electricity left her with some unusual abilities; namely, her body gives off voltage and she picks up psychic impressions through touch. While those abilities initially throw her together with my hero, a pyrokinetic vampire named Vlad (yes, that Vlad :)) it’s her mental fortitude that impresses Vlad the most. Without that, Leila would have been merely another tool he used against his enemies. But her inner strength proves so captivating that even the uncrowned Prince of Darkness ends up drawn into the most high-stakes battle of all: falling in love.
I’m going to assume that everyone agrees mental fortitude is important, but just for kicks, if you could have any supernatural ability (flying, mind control, pyrokinesis, telekinesis, shapeshifting, a big magic hammer, Hulking-out, etc.) what would it be? Everyone who answers will be entered to win one of two advance reading copy of Once Burned.
CONTEST DETAILS AND RULES
1. To enter, you leave a comment on this blog post answering Jeaniene’s question above.
2. You do not need to follow Vampire Book Club to be entered, but we sure do like it.
3. This contest is open internationally.
4. Contest closes at 11:59 p.m. CST on June 3, 2012.
5. The winners will be selected using Random.org. Then each will be contacted via email and given 48 hours to claim her prize. If we do not hear from the winner(s) within that time, a new winner will be selected.
6. Entrants must be at least 18 years old or have their parent’s permission to enter. Please review our privacy policy, if you have any questions as to how Vampire Book Club uses your information. (Short version: we’ll only use it to contact you for this contest.)
7. Though unlikely, Vampire Book Club has the right to change or cancel any giveaway at any time without prior notice.
8. Vampire Book Club is not responsible for prizes lost or damage in transit.
9. Big thank you to Jeaniene Frost for providing the two ARCs of Once Burned.
Loved the Avengers! Not only a good action film, but a great comedy! If I had to choose one superpower it would have to be mind control. If you could make other people do what you want, you’d have greater power than almost anyone. Hopefully I would use my powers for good because “with great power comes great responsibility”
The supernatural ability I’d love to have would be shapeshifting into animals and my second choice pyrokinesis .
I loved the Avengers movie- the dialogue between Ironman/Hulk especially, was hilarious. If i had to choose a supernatural ability, first choice would be mind control/being able to hear people’s thoughts, closely followed by Cat’s power to ‘borrow’ other vampire’s powers, like Peter in Heroes 🙂
I would love the ability to control time. Thanks for the arc contest.
i have not been to the movie yet… im planning 2 go on the weekend! 🙂 but the best superpower for me will be healing, so i can help sick people around the world.
I’m insecure, I think it would be great to read people’s minds! Gotta know what they are thinking!
Thanks for the contest. I would like the ability to control peoples minds. Especially my kids.
My husband is a major comic book guy so we have often had this conversation. I always wanted to fly. But if you can fly, it seems like a certain level of invincibility would come in handy as well. Stronger bones and an accelerated healing factor would have to be part of the package.
I would love to have the power to manifest items that I need, whether a weapon to defend or food to eat. If you had to power to create whatever you needed you would be able to help yourself and others greatly.
I’d like my power to be the telekinetic ability to blow up tires on cars where the driver is on their cell phone driving slow in the fast lane. I know it’s a rather specific stupid super power but I’m sure I’ll get a lot of use out of it.
I would like mind control then if I need something done I can make people do it or see it my way
LOVED the Avengers! Very well done Movie! I would LOVE to have the Power to Heal! Can not wait for “Once Burned” and of course MORE Cat & Bones!!! Can never get enough!
My choice would definitely be the ability for shapeshifting (at least if the one I turn into would be a predator not some prey like a bunny-shifter :o)))). In case I can’t choose in what to shift I would like flying.
I like telekinesis. It would make everything easier!! I love the books of Jeaniene Frost!!
Mind control would come in handy! Thanks for the giveaway!
I would like to have the ability to borrow another superhero’s powers.
I would like mind-reading powers (‘cos I’m usually SO naive that I end up looking like a dork); but I’d have to have the ‘filtering’ kinda stuff already imbued 🙂
I’m a ridiculous (closet) fan, and have read ALL your superb books (so I know what I’m likely to get when “Once Burned” comes out!) 🙂
Thank you! for this lovely contest!
I would want to be able to teleport myself and other people to wherever I wanted to go! Thanks for this fantastic contest!!
I would love to be able to shapeshift into a bird, because then I could have the best of both worlds. I could fly and also be a human when i want to be!
It would be awesome to be able to teleport.
Robi
If I had a supernatural ability it would be to be Pyrokenetic like Vlad it would be so cool to be able to make people go up in flames ( Premature In flamulation – Vlad) love that!! yep definitely pyrokiniesis! 😀
I’ve always wanted to be able to teleport, maybe it would help me be on time for everything! Or not. 🙂
For me it’s a toss up between invisibility and teleportation.
I would have to say Mind Control for those pesky days when your hubby just won’t take out the trash.. I can not wait to read Vlad’s book he has had my attention since the moment he graced the pages of cat’s books..
The ability to transport immediately to any place, time or era would be awesome! 😀
I’d like telepathy. I want to know what the President is thinking.
I think having the ability to read people’s minds would come in nice and handy at work. Then I could totally tell when my ventilated patients are really feeling!:-)
mmbrack At earthlink dot net
I’d have to go with mind control. That would be so awesome!!!
I would really like to have the ability of shapeshifting,becoming a beatiful black panther .Thank you for the books contest
I can’t decide between shapeshifter or mind control. I guess it would be the shapeshifter. Thanks for the great contest!
The supernatural ability I’d love to have would be reading ppls thoughts
Mind reading Thanks for the contest
i would like to be able to time trave. thanks for the book contest.
I would like a superpower that is much like Cats. I would like to be able to touch someone and steal their ability. That way I could have them all. The Avengers ROCKED! What’s not to love about a bunch of super studly men in uniforms! *Drool*
I have not seen the Advengers movie yet but with 3 boys in our house we will be soon! I would love the ability to steal any super power at anytime, that would be the best of all worlds.
Please hurry I miss Cat and Bones! I can’t stand the wait!
So hard to choose….ability to transport, steal another’s super power, or mind reading all sound good to me. Can’t wait to read Once Burned!
Time travel, I think! Can’t wait for the book! 🙂
If i could have super powers: i would like to be able to teleport myself and anyone i want to take with me anywhere i want to go by just thinking about it! That would be cool! wine from Italy, Belgian chocolates and cheese from France! Yumm!
I’m very excited for more of Vlad 🙂
While I think the ability to transport myself anywhere at anytime would be the most fun… I have to choose the power to heal myself and others. It would be such a blessing to take away the physical pain of my Loved-ones and others!!
Once Burned is one of THE 2012 book releases I’ve been anticipating. Here’s hoping I’m finally lucky enough to win THIS arc.
I can’t wait to get my hands on Vlad’s book. I dare say I might like him a little more than Bones.
OMG….you did just say that LOL
I would like to be a Dragonshifter with mind control. Can’t wait for Once Burned. And, love Cat and Bones.
I would love to have invisibility. So I can go anywhere, do anything I please and don’t have to worry about people staring at me weirdly. Or have to put clothes on just to go out for a walk.
Hmmm….a super power, huh? Let’s see, I think if I had to pick one it would have to be teleporting. I hate to drive and it would be so cool to just close my eyes and be somewhere else.
Looking so forward to Once Burned, I love me some Vlad!!!
Definitely for me it would have to be pyrokinesis or the ability to “borrow” anyone elses powers (kinda like rogue but without the drawback of not being able to control it ;)).
Super excited for this book and all other books in the future!
Personally, my super power would be the ability to heal myself and others. I was in a car accident when I was 17 and almost 9 years later am still in pain and unable to work. My mom was injured in a car accident when I was 5 and as a result has 3 herniated disks in her back and neck. I hate seeing her and others I love suffering and not being able to do anything to help.
My fiance, however, thinks it would be awesome to control gravity. You control the air, you can control everyone and everything within it. (Oddly enough, we had this conversation just last week.)
Definitely invisibility and the ability to manipulate time.
Thanks so much for the contest!!
Joss Whedon is a genius. The Avengers seriously rocked.
If I could have any supernatural ability, I would love to be able to fly. I imagine there is nothing as freeing as flying. Telekinesis would also be very practical and cool. I think it would be perfect if I could have both.
I’m dying to read Once Burned. Vlad is my favorite Jeaniene Frost character and my second all time favorite vampire, although lately he is coming close to first place since Eric Northman is losing his appeal. I named my cat Vlad. I’m willing to trade my first born for an ARC. Any takers?
I think if I could choose a superpower it would be teleporting, How cool would it be to be able to just think it and be there? My second choice would be telekinesis, because I am essentially lazy and if I could move things with my mind … WOW!!!
I loved Avengers . If I could have a superpower I would want to shapeshift into whatever I could imagine, not just an animal. If I needed to be a table to hide from the bad guys, look like another person to hide in plain sight or be a crowbar to hit the bad guy. The possibilities are endless