Home of the Alpha Showdown, and one-stop shop for urban fantasy, paranormal romance and fantasy news and reviews.
[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.
Wow that is a hard question! I’m thinking shapeshifting with mind control and mind reading coming close on the heels.
Even though I am WildAboutBones, I adore Vlad and am thrilled he has is own book/series now and I can’t wait to read it. Would love to win it.
Follow blog by email.
I’m having trouble picking just one, but if I had to pick one it would be the ability to read minds. If I could read minds I would be able to know what my “enemy” was thinking. Also, I’d be able to read really smart people’s minds and invent new machines. I guess that counts as stealing.
I’d be a shapeshifter, taking on the form of whatever I wanted, which in turn would give me the ability to fly since I could transform into a bird (or even a butterfly).
I am a big fan of telekinesis. I’ve always wanted that ability, but I would want it without the telepathy. People can keep their thoughts to themselves. 🙂
….And I absolutely LOVED The Avengers as well!! Looking forward to reading Once Burned. I hope there is Bones/Vlad bantering. I love it! 🙂
If I could choose any superpower, it would definitively be to be able to memorize every face/text I see/hear, as it would enable me to feed my constant hunger for knowledge.Also, I would get a kick out of sounding like Mencheres all the time 😀
Telekinesis, I think. Although flying would be cool!
I would love to be able to teleport. It sure would cut down on travel time and you can just wink yourself away if the situation warrants. I am really looking forward to the Book and can’t wait until it comes out. Thank you for entertaining us with your wonderful work.
If I could choose any supernatural ability I’d pick telepathy.
If I had to choose only one superpower, I would love to be able to teleport! How amazing would that be? Just by thinking of a place, and concentrating, I would be there !!
I would want to be able to make clones of myself at will. Theres just to much to do in one day at times.
I would love to be able to fly! Such freedom in that, to soar away.
I would like to be able to teleport. That would make my love of travel so much easier (and a whole lot cheaper!)
I would choose telepathy.
If i had a super power it would definitely the ability to conjure up anything that i need by just thinking about it. I need my slippers, BOOM, slippers in hand. I need a scythe to cut off the head of a zombie, BOOM, big ole blade & dead zombie!
thanks for the contest & i can not wait to read this book!
I would like to froze time such a Piper in Charmed, you imagine all the things that you could do ??
Hello!!! ♥ I like ♥♥
my supernatural ability: telekinesis
Id want the ability of being able to conjure stuff. I want an iPad poof now I do. I want a lovely hot cup of tea in a mug poof got that too lol. I’m a very material person, it’s a huge flaw of mine but I am what I am and I’m to old to try and change now. Thank you for the opportunity to win a copy of this book. I luuuuve Vlad!
I would like the ability to freeze time like Piper from the show Charmed. That would be so awesome when I needed a time out from my boys! It would be cool to blow things up like her too, but the freezing would be much more useful!!!
I´d love to be able to turn random, stupid things into money… that way I could always go shopping and buy new books 🙂
I think I would like to make myself invisible! It would be amazing to be able to be anywhere you wished without being detected. It would make just about anything possible!!
Teleportation. I could travel the entire world for free!
Mind control would be great. That way Thor would be all mine and never have clothes on.
Thanks for the giveaway. I love Vlad and can’t wait to read his book.
If I had a choice I would be a telepath. I would love to be able to hear others thoughts. I would love to be able to help and save people that needed it.
I am a huge fan of this series and have turned a lot of friends on to her books. I love Cat & bones, but my fav since he first appeared has been Vlad. I love his and Cats relationship. I also love that Bones is jealous. My favorite scene with Cat & Vlad is when she woke up and was bitting him. Just the way she described it was great, especially his and her reaction.
Shared on twitter: Jeaniene Frost Guest Post & Giveaway: The other “super” in superheroes http://shar.es/2Jw0x via @sharethis
If I could have any super power I would choose being able to shape shift. Being able to manipulate yourself into anything would be an amazing power!
i would have to go with mind control. i have always been attracted to supernatural beings who glamour 🙂
That’s a hard question! I would probably want to have telekinesis…it seems like it could have practical and impractical uses. Plus I loved the character of Prue on Charmed and all the awesome stuff she used to do.
Loved the Avengers movie!
That is such a hard question. Just one? Okay, I would have to pick shape shifting, and it would have to be into anything, not just one particular animal. Some days you want to soar, some day’s you want to run, & sometimes you want to just hide under a rock! lol
How many times have you said to yourself “If I would have seen that coming I would have (fill in the blank)” so totally Precognition … if I can see it before it happens then I can prepare myself what better tool for a minor control freak? 🙂
I totally enjoy your books… thanks so much for entertaining us all with your “supernatural ability” 🙂
I would want to be able to look like other persons (like Mystique in X-Men) and sound like them.
Then I would change my looks into Jeaniene and go steal a copy:P
I think I would be being invisible! That way I could sneak in places and read all the advanced copies =D
Thanks for the giveaway!
Well, since invisibility isn’t an option, I’ll go with shape shifting. It would be fun to swim under water and fly–both on the same day!
Love your books–have read every one. Bones is one smooth guy. Looking forward to Vlad!
I have given this a lot of thought over the years. I would totally love to fly. Although, I like the word “conjure” and being able to conjure up stuff sounds like fun… still have to go with flying.
I would have to say mind control. The thought of being able to tell my 3 kids that once we get on the softball field for a game that everyone will listen, behave and not attempt anything that will cause injury is a much needed relief some days! LOL 😉
I would be a shapeshifter, who could change my own shape and the shape of things around me. ONCE BURNED looks great; I’m really looking forward to reading it.
Oh I would want to have telekinesis, most definitely!
I would love to be able to fly. I would get home to my one year old so much faster if I didn’t have to sit in traffic!!! (and Cat and Bones offer up some good ideas for date night while flying!!)
If I could have a superpower it would be the ability to control the 4 elements.
Well I would choose pyrokinesis because I am obsessed with Avatar these days and ability to control or set fire seems really wonderful to me.And
I think shape shifting would be the most fun. Every day you could be another “something”, it wouldn’t be boring that’s for sure!
I think I would go with the telekinesi. I would love to move objects without me doing anything, or move myself so I don’t have to walk everywhere!
I think other powers can be destructives to the person who has them, but the telekinesi can’t do yourself any harm.
That’s a very hard question to answer. But If I had to I would be the ability to stay awake all the time. Must be fun never having to sleep 🙂
Telekinesis would be the power I’d use the most. Man I would abuse the crap out that talent!! But the power I’d most want to have would be mind reading. As long as I could turn it on and off at will.
I would love to be able to go into people’s mind’s and see their memory’s . So if someone has lost their memory ‘s and would love to go into their head’s and find what they need good or bad.
Ooohh, superpowers. I think we should get to choose one psychic power and one physical power! I’d want the ability to read minds as the psychic power, and the ability to move “instantly” from place to place as the physical power.
If I had to pick any supernatural ability it would be very Avatar: Last Airbender like the ability to control any element like water or earth 🙂
Amazing contest idea Jeaniene can’t wait for Once Burned!! TeamVlad!
Teleport would be awesome. I would love to travel the world or teleport into a bank vault. 😀
I’m so excited for Vlad’s book! Thanks for the fabulous giveaway.
If I could have any super power…it would be mind control or something similar to what Professor X has in X-Men. The mind is the start of everything, if I had the ability to manipulate it, then most other super powers wouldn’t compare since I could control you and your ability! There is a reason he is in charge 😉 Just have to say I am beyond excited for Vlads book!!!
I’d like to shapeshift. That power is very flexible and I could change into something that would help in just about any situation.
I wrote a novel about a character who had the power to make people do what she wanted them to do. She called it “Obi-Wanning.” (“These aren’t the droids you’re looking for.”) That could be endlessly useful.
But someone else mentioned time travel, which would just be super cool!
So one of those.
Boy I don’t know so many powers to choose from I suppose I would like to be a shape shifter with psychic powers yeah a shifting black panther.