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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.
If I had chance to choose a supernatural ability I would choose be able to become invisible at will.
If I could have any super power, i think I so would like The XMEN’s COLOSSUS, the ability to turn my skin into Metal, would be all kinds of awesome.
To shapeshift into any animal I wanted, that would be fantastic! Can’t wait for ‘Once Burned’ to be released 🙂
The supernatural ability I would choose would be a super healing time traveler. It would way cool to go back and get a first-hand accurate account of history.
I was always a Jean Grey fan growing up, so telekinesis/telepathy would be my choice.
I’m going to have to be the greedy one and say I would want the power to be able to take other peoples powers =P (Hell yeah Rogue!)
However if there wasn’t alot of people with superpowers about I’d go for immortality
I’d love to have telekinesis. I think it would make being a working mom just a little easier! 😉
I would love to have mind- control! I think it would be a lot of fun to mess with people I dont like!
I would love to be able to talk to animals. Lame, I know… But there are times, I really would like to know what my german shepherd is thinking when she’s staring at a squirrel.
I would love to have the ability to make a double of myself. So then when once burned is out my clone can go to work while I stay home and read it front to back none stop.
I would love the power of mind control. Thank you for the giveaway and a chance to win 🙂
That is really hard, flying or reading someone mind, I will go with flying!! That would be so so cool!
Wow, interesting question. I’ve always loved the power over fire. I think I would go with that power! 😀
If I could have a super power I would like the power to heal anything and anyone. Thanks for the contest 🙂
I would love to be able to sift from place to place. Time travel would be pretty neat, too!
If I could have any super power, I would want to be a mind reader.
Being able to either accommodate one’s wishes, or use them against you.
I’m looking forward to Vlad’s book, but when is Ian going to get his own story?
Teleportation! Late for an appointment, no drive, no trying to park…poof there. Kids sick and need picked up from school…poof. Need to change your clothes because you apparently decided to wear your lunch…poof home. Want to pick up the latest Frost book on your break…poof bookstore. Want to get my book signed, but her only tour dates are three states away…poof there! Want to read Once Burned before it is released….poof Jeaniene’s book pile! 🙂
Super speed so cleaning the house won’t take so long 🙂
If I had a superpower, I would want telekinesis, like Jean Gray – I think it would be awesome to be able move objects around and mess with people, and would especially help my laziness!
Mind control would be awesome!
Definetly telekinesis/telepathy
I’ve always been a bit of a Superman fan – so it would have to be flight and super-strength. But you can’t beat a bit of Batman, really – all of that intelligence and he definitely has the mental fortitude going for him (and a bit of a bad attitude..).
I’d love the ability to travel the stars. So I could instantaneously teleport to any place in the night sky and not get frozen, fried or asphyxiated when I get there.
Time traveling. I would love to go back in time or to the future. 🙂
I would love to be able to turn invisible! 😉 I think it would be awesome to be able to sneak around without people knowing!!!
Thanks for the chance to win!! 😀
I would like to be able to have the super power of teleportation because I would be saving on gas money, and then I would like to also have telekinesis because then I could chores quickly while still reading.
Ohhh can’t wait to read this book! If I had to pick any power, it would have to be shapeshifting. 🙂
Okay, if I have to choose just one superpower, it would be the ability to fly. I’ve always wanted to be a pilot, and when I was considering careers in high school, I seriously considered going to the Air Force and being an astronaut. But nothing could rival the ability to fly of my own accord, the freedom that comes with that.
Great post and so much truth to it! Sooooooo excited for Once Burned. I adore Vlad! 😀
I think I would choose telekinesis for my supernatural ability.
I would want the ability to control people’s emotions. To make them feel, or not feel, to influence,sway them , to make a connection to them on a deeper level they are not really even ware of.
Oh, wait a minute ! There are already of group with this power..they’re called Writers !
Of any superpower I would love to have the ability to read minds at will. But if I could have more than one superpower it would be to take others powers/gifts away from them.
I think i would like the telekinesis ability. I am so excited for the Once Burned release! Thanks so much for the chance to win a copy!!!
Hi frome France, if I could chance to have a supernatural ability I would like “mind control” for speak with my family or friends in our heads !
I would love the supernatural ability to be able to know the future and to be able to change the outcome of it as well.
Oh man – its a toss up between the ability to fly like Bones and Cat do (no wings just WOOSH!) and some Samatha-esque twinkle my nose and Voila! Stuff gets done skills.
I would love to be able to teleport. To just think of a place and then “Poof!” I’m there. Would definitely make my commute to work 1000x better.
Does it have to be just one??? Lol. I just can’t decide between empathy I like to know peoples feelings. If they’re sad I like the chance to cheer them up and happy people make others happy. The thing I feel most people lie about are feelings knowing them would make certain things in life slightly easier. Or to fly I imagine that flying through the air would be very freeing. I can’t wait for this book. I love Vlad and love to escape into the night huntress world.
I would like mind control because it would get me out of any sticky situations I found myself in. I’ve always loved that trait in the vampires of Jeaniene Frost’s Night Huntress World!
I have always thought being able to fly is the ultimate superhero power. Its SO unhuman to jump up in the air and take off! That’s my choice – flying!!!
Hmmm if I were able to choose an ability for myself I guess it would have to be to bend all the elements!!! Serious Avatar fan over here.
I would love to shapeshift. It always seems so cool when characters can turn into any person or animal that they want.
Invisibility! I’ve always admired H. G. Wells’ “The Invisible Man.”
If I had a superpowetful object, I think I would like to have Mary Poppins carpet bag (yep I know she’s not a superhero, but you can get an awful lot in that bag). As holidays would be great as you could take as much with you to and from your holiday without any extra charges.
I would love the ability to teleport since I always seem to be running behind…so maybe speed…or while I am running fast I can shape-shift. Can I have it all?
Teleportation, go wherever you want.
I would love to be a shapeshifter! The things Id do! hehehe =D
My superpower would be simple. I would want to be able to tell when people are telling me the truth or not. My kids would hate it, but I would love it! Thanks for doing the giveaway, I cannot wait to read Once Burned 🙂
I choose the super power of healing.
Any power? Hmm.. I think I would like pyrokinesis. It’s a great offensive ability (you know, just in case the Chitauri try to attack earth again and the Avengers are unable to assemble), not to mention – you’d be able to keep yourself warm if you’re stuck somewhere cold!
Thanks for the great contest, Jeaniene!
~ Amanda
I wouldn’t mind having mind-controlling abilties! Can’t wait for some Vlad!