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by eden

Vampire skeletons—fact or hype for paranormal romance books?

June 5, 2012 in Paranormal Romance Books

Source: naharnet.com

First it was last week’s zombie apocalypse news, this week it’s the discovery of centuries-old vampire skeletons. It seems like the real world is turning into a setting for a series of paranormal romance books. Maybe I won’t have to worry so much about my upcoming 18th birthday—we may just be living in an apocalypse world by then.

According to Channel News Asia, skeletons that were treated for vampirism were unearthed in Bulgaria. Scientists found skeletons with stakes thrust through their chests—and whether you’re read any paranormal romance books or not, everyone knows what the best method for killing vampires is.

The old school legend says that evil people were magically transformed into vampires when they died. Young adult fantasy books often take creative liberties, making vampires out of those simply bitten by other vampires or catching plagues that instill a craving for blood. While the existence of vampires in Bulgaria has never really been confirmed, what has been proven is the widespread superstition that if rods were thrust into the corpses of those who were evil during their lifetime, this would prevent them from becoming vampires. While in fantasy and adventure books, this usually happens once the person is already a vampire, maybe the Bulgarians had it right by taking preventive action. Maybe that’s exactly why there is no recorded existence of vampires there! The people took care of the problem before it happened.

According to Bozhidar Dimitrov, the head of the National History Museum in the Bulgarian capital, Sofia, over 100 corpses stabbed to prevent vampirism have been discovered over the last decade. He said that in some parts of Bulgaria, this was a regular practice, up until the beginning of the 20th century. Sounds like their people definitely took fantasy and adventure books featuring vampires to heart.

While young adult fantasy novels like Twilight or Vampire Academy brought vampires to our minds in recent years, hopefully it won’t lead to these superstitions being made popular again. Who knows, if zombie-ism can occur, maybe vampires really can exist too.

by eden

Eclipses and adventure romance novels

June 1, 2012 in Adventure romance tips

Sopurce: psychedelicadventure.blogspot.com

We have a rare eclipse on Monday—a full moon eclipse during the “supermoon.” It’s interesting to me because it seems like a lot of adventure romance novels deal with themes of either a full moon or an eclipse. Some books even have either in their title.  It’s like there’s a fascination with the power of the moon. I’ve met people who believe it can give you extraordinary powers while others think the moon it can cause mood swings or even crazy behavior. They say that the crime incidents increase and jails overflow during full moons.

Lunar eclipses occur when the sun, full moon and Earth are perfectly lined up so that the moon crosses through the shadow of Earth. This one in particular occurs two weeks after the solar eclipse, and in the middle of a rare Venus Occultation, so this window of time right now is a powerful one of transformation. Apparently, we can use this period to change our lives. It makes sense then that so many books, particularly paranormal romance books, use this in their plot to explain or attribute supernatural powers and magical forces.

Astrologers say this is a time to focus on what you want out of life. This has really got me thinking less about all my adventure romance novels and more about reality. In her astrology column, astrologer Kristin Fontana states “This period of time could very well represent life altering changes of direction on the path after re-thinking what you now need at this point in your life or you could experience surprise calls, emails or  visits from people from your past as Venus is retrograde in the middle of it all. Everything that is unresolved is making its way to the surface for you to review, refine and work though if necessary which will just about guarantee personal evolution.”

Obviously, this makes me think about my situation with Jamal, and the bigger picture of the Save the Pearls campaign. It makes me wonder if I can really make a difference. Is it possible to have the same kind of influence that characters in paranormal romance books have during a full moon or eclipse? If so, how can I tap into it?

I honestly think that we could all avoid a romantic apocalypse if we do something to help our class as a whole. Of course, that’s why I started the Save the Pearls campaign—I really thought that just a few of us could make a difference. Now I’m wondering how to take this little window of time to make something happen. I have so little time left myself and it’s making me look for any sign of hope.

Whether I escape the fate of my romantic apocalypse or not, I hope that someone out there has the power to change the fate of all the Pearls. Whether we use energy from the moon and stars, an underground network or we get help from the outside, one thing is for sure—we’ve got to do something.

 

 

by eden

The best romance fantasy novels of all time

May 24, 2012 in Post Apocalyptic Books, Romance fantasy novels

Source: weirdthings.com

Since I love to escape into romance fantasy novels and science fiction and fantasy books, I figured I should make a list of my absolute, all-time favorites. That way I’ll know which ones to pack in case the Uni-Gov comes knocking on my door. I’ll need some material to keep my mind distracted when I actually do have to escape. I know not what the road ahead of me has in store, so if I have a few romance fantasy novels, at least I’ll be able to have a place where I can get into a fantasy state of mind.

For awhile, I was really into paranormal romance books, so yes, I did follow the masses and check out that old classic Twilight series. I admit, it’s a favorite. I’d take it with me if I had the room.

Another of my favorite paranormal romance novels is Vampire Academy. A boarding school where vampires learn the ways of magic? Sign me up! St. Vladimir’s Academy sounds rad to me. Plus, the forbidden romance is pretty delicious.

Since I love science fiction and fantasy books, I was thrilled to find one with some romance woven in. Gifted with mysterious powers and pointed ears, Analia is held captive in a world she doesn’t belong in, When she escapes and hides on a merchant ship, she meets and starts to fall for a devastatingly handsome demon who has the power to save her. It’s a really cool and unique story, with graphic, way out there elements that take me to another world, as well as all the romantic twists and turns that set the best adventure romance novels apart from the rest.

Those are probably the only YA novels I’d have to take with me. As much as I love YA, there’s something about the classic fantasy romance novels that makes you want to keep re-reading them. A perfect example is F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby. It’s the ultimate tale of jealousy and obsessive love. Witnessing Gatsby’s attempts to win back Daisy’s love is just so sad and riveting—it’s like you want to look away but you just can’t.

Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, a sort of remake of one of the most famous romance fantasy novels by Jane Austen. The idyllic town of Meryton is transformed into zombie mayhem by a mysterious plague. As the dead come back to life, we get to see a new kind of butt-kicking Elizabeth Bennet—she’s a sword-throwing zombie assassin. We follow the same story of her romantic tug o’war with the super arrogant Mr. Darcy. I’d bet he’d be a Coal in the New World.  All the fun of the best adventure romance novels but with more blood than you would ever imagine.

I think the absolute greatest of all fantasy romance novels is Gone With the Wind. I could read this book over and over again. You want to strangle Scarlett so many times throughout the book, to make her see what’s she about to lose and get her to stop with the self-sabotage. I love the ending, bittersweet as it is. It’s so easy as a reader to fall in love with Scarlett and her ability to survive, you want so badly for her to finally find true happiness. If I only could take one book with me, this would be the one.

by eden

Heroes in fantasy romance novels

May 19, 2012 in Fantasy romance

Source: loveromancepassion.com

Where can I find a dude like the heroes I read about in fantasy romance novels? Do they really exist?

Yes, I do read fantasy romance novels as a form of escape. Yet I can’t help but compare Jamal to the guys in these novels. Are they just examples just too difficult for a real person to live up to? Even a Coal?

One of my favorite things to do is read urban fantasy books with a love story intertwined. I get to escape into an imaginary setting and witness the characters overcome all sorts of obstacles to find or win the love of their life. The male is always this amazing specimen, who conquers mountains and tumultuous terrain to save the one he loves from a premature demise.

If the writers behind these fantasy romance novels are “writing what they know,” then there had to be real people in their lives who inspired these characters—which means that, at some point in time, there really was some amazing man who came to their rescue or proved to be worth risking everything for.

Even in post apocalyptic books, when there seems like there’s no hope whatsoever, some modern day knight-in-shining-armor comes through, changing the plot forever. Even when the character starts out being a jerk, he undergoes a metamorphosis like no other, and becomes the hero women used to dream of in the Old World.

Where does that leave those of us stuck in reality, where mating is a requirement for survival? Can anyone truly be themselves with the kind of pressure we experience on a daily basis? With the tick-tick-tock of the clock counting down the days to our deadline to mate, how can anyone just relax and let a relationship take its natural course? While it seems easy to be swept off your feet in all the urban fantasy books I read, it just isn’t in the New World.

So while I love to feel a glimmer of hope when the heroine in one of my post apocalyptic books finds the love of her life and escapes her demise, it’s hard to apply it to my own life. It’s like the cherry on a hot fudge sundae, a little extra bit of pure ecstasy awarded after a treacherous struggle for survival. But the sundae will melt, and where does that leave the cherry?

As much as I love to dream, I feel like these heroes are fictional ghosts from the Old World, with little to no place in the one we live in now—except for in fantasy romance novels.

Prepping for a real or romantic apocalypse—the safe house

April 12, 2012 in Urban Fantasy

As we move through 2012 and the masses obsess over a zombie takeover, the end of the world or a romantic apocalypse, recommendations and schools of thought are basically erupting out of the woodwork. There are zombie survival panels, shows like Doomsday Preppers, and in essence, even we have succumbed with our creation of the Save the Pearls movement.

Source: zombiesandtoys.blogspot.com

While fans of Zombieland, The Walking Dead and post apocalyptic books dream of surviving a zombie apocalypse, it seems like many manufacturers are getting savvy and taking advantage of the vast marketing opportunities. Everyone has an idea of the best place to go, the best weapons to stockpile, and how to best slay a zombie. Yet in the meantime, why not take a cue from Doomsday Preppers and use the time we have now to prepare for the supposed END?

Just like everything in life, for truly successful survival, one must be prepared. Instead of burying your nose in fantasy and adventure books, take this time to put those key skills you learned in girl scouts or boy scouts to use. From what I’ve garnered from all these “survival” guides, the most important thing, across apocalypse causes, is to secure a location where you will be safe and protected—in other words, a safe house.

As you should know from watching zombie films and reading post apocalyptic books, the last thing you want in the case of THE END is to be on the run. Those with a place to go have a significantly greater chance of surviving, as opposed to those on the streets, left to scavenge for food, exposed to the elements, and fend off the undead, terrorists or the Uni-Gov.

The necessity for a safe house is such a well-known concept that there have actually been Zombie Apocalypse Safe House competitions for several years now. Teams of architects who clearly have a penchant for fantasy and adventure books and films strive to create the ultimate safety zone. In Warsaw, Poland, a team of engineers created their aptly named Safe House, a building that turns into an impregnable concrete cube at the touch of a few buttons. Versions have been constructed across the entire gamut of possibilities— from compact extending shells that can be carried on your back complete with potable water systems to entire fortified neighborhoods complete with electrified lawns and zip lines.

Anyone harboring apocalyptic thoughts should take a look at some of these fascinating monstrosities designed to keep threats away. These disaster-proof, self-supporting designs boast everything from independent ecosystems, solar panels and greenhouses to rainwater collectors, built-in weapons arsenals and canals.

Whether you choose to turn your house or basement into your safe house, or team up with your entire community to create an ominous bunker, either way, if you want to survive a terrorist, zombie or romantic apocalypse, you better start working on your zone.

 

Obsessed with zombie films and post apocalyptic books

April 5, 2012 in Urban Fantasy

It seems like every decade we re-popularize the trend in zombies movies and post apocalyptic books. There’s something people seem to love about the end of the world and watching zombies roam deserted cities, searching for brains and wreaking havoc along the way. They annihilate most of the human race, destroy civilizations and cause a romantic apocalypse everywhere they turn. And we love them.

What is it about ugly creatures and the end of the world that has us so fascinated? The popularity of post apocalyptic books dates back hundreds of years, based on scenarios that include aliens, natural disasters, and of course, zombies or demons. Once the film industry began, it was a no-brainer—no pun intended—that movies of the genre would enjoy success. Even in present day, as outrageous as it may seem to rational members of society, urban fantasy books and films based on zombie apocalypses and takeovers are bestsellers and box office winners. Just look at Zombieland, Shaun of the Dead and Dawn of the Dead, as well as one of television’s most popular series, The Walking Dead. There’s no denying it—zombies have a corner on the market. The same goes for dystopian novels; The Hunger Games and Revealing Eden (Save the Pearls Part One) are two perfect examples.

Maybe it’s the fact that people enjoy the idea of a little guiltless killing—if a member of the undead is trying to eat you and your loved ones, what other choice do you have? Or if the idea of an apocalypse world is like a land of urban fantasy books to you, where you can run free through deserted stores, looting and pilfering as you go, then perhaps these books and movies give your imagination an outlet to play in.

Another reason for the popularity of post apocalyptic books and the zombie film could be that people enjoy watching or reading about characters facing horrific circumstances and seeing their transformation. A once mousy introvert or big geek could become a zombie assassin, slaughtering the undead with utter nonchalance and newfound skill. It’s a fascinating character arc, isn’t it?

Maybe, just maybe, these art forms offer their audiences a sense of hope. They grow attached to their main characters and get to watch them fall in love, and in some cases, avoid the romantic apocalypse, living happily ever after in a dystopian society.

I have a theory that fans tend to experience a catharsis of contemplating simpler “life” forms—or undead forms. An apocalypse world filled with zombies is simpler and more succinct. When there are violent undead creatures chasing after you, lusting after your brains and causing destruction everywhere, it makes you realize that your real life is just not as bad as you originally thought. Zombies are ultimately driven by the same things we are—a will to survive. When you strip us of all our material possessions and good looks, obliterate our resources and motivate us by destroying life as we know it, we could very well be walking in a zombie’s shoes. So that’s my idea—zombie films and post apocalyptic books remind us to stay present and make the most of our lives. Therapy in an undead form!

Source: Thedeadfuture.com

Eliminating zombies apocalypse world style

March 23, 2012 in Apocalypse World

After reading the last blog post from our oh-so-lovely Ethics Officer on killing zombies in an apocalypse world, I came up with some ideas of my own. I figure neither one of us has actually ever met a real life zombie, so who’s to say one of us has more experience than the other?

Using some inspiration from all the science fiction and fantasy books I read, along with a little online research, I developed some other ways for getting rid of the undead. Many of us don’t have guns or know how to use them, so if we find ourselves in survival mode, deep in a post apocalypse world, it’s best to have some ammunition-free options to work with.

Imagine yourself taking a breather or having a moment of adventure romance with your loved one inside a local shopping mall, when all of a sudden, it’s overrun with zombies, Dawn of the Dead style. You want to keep your brains intact but they’re coming for you and you don’t have a gun. This is the perfect time to unleash your machete and go on an undead decapitation spree, severing them right at the neck. Or if you only have a knife on you, you can run up on them and stab them through the brain like they do on The Walking Dead. Clean, quick and simple. All you have to do is keep your machete and knives sharpened at all times.

A less messy way to eradicate the zombie you run into at the park is to throw a little liquid nitrogen at their head followed by a lit match—I’ve read about vampires getting offed that way in several paranormal romance books. All you have to do is keep a water bottle filled with it on you at all times. This keeps the element of surprise, as the zombie will have no idea that it’s not just H20—if they can even think at all. Make sure not to get any on yourself!

If one night your adventure romance is interrupted by one of these rotting creatures knocking at your door, get resourceful. Use furniture, cleaning fluids, bleach, hair spray, pots, pans, forks and whatever else you can find to fight them off. Even a glass vase or mirror smashed over their head may do the trick. You can also use one of the shards of glass or a pair of scissors to spear them through their brain.

Obviously, as we’ve read in many paranormal romance books and seen in science fiction and fantasy films, there are tons of inventive ways to banish the undead. Grenades, molotov cocktails, and those industrial style arrows are other good choices for survival in an apocalypse world. I think the most important thing is to find the method that you’re most comfortable with and can get really good at. Get in the best shape you can, always be alert and on point, and have your method of choice on hand at all times. Sleep with it, eat with it, live with it. Good luck, especially to all the Pearls!

Source: Scottemerson.wordpress.com

Apocalypse world tips—how to kill zombies safely and efficiently

March 15, 2012 in Apocalypse World

The Walking Dead has little Miss Eden Newman thinking about an important topic—how to endure and survive all the atrocities and threats of an apocalypse world. While Eden brings up an important potential scenario—what to do if a loved one becomes zombified—it’s probably best to focus on one overall strategy for eliminating the riff raff of the undead, former friend or not. There’s no doubt about it, putting these nasty brain-suckers out of their misery is the right thing to do, and the only way to ensure your own survival.

We’ve all seen lots of science fiction and fantasy films and television shows that depict certain ways of killing the undead—a stake through the heart, bullet in the head, decapitation, etc. Successfully killing one of these undead dudes requires solid planning, as well as preparation for a slew of unexpected problems. While the various techniques portrayed in most fiction are interesting enough and make some sense, no one has yet to actually meet a member of the undead, so we have to plan beyond common speculation.  Until I meet someone who has survived an apocalypse world, I will prepare myself for any type of situation.

While most  fantasy and adventure books and movies portray zombies as slow, uncoordinated creatures, who knows if they really can be outrun? In addition to getting in the best possible shape of my life (how else do you think I keep my adventure romance alive? You guessed it, by keeping that booty in shape), I plan to procure the best in running shoes and buy every type of acceleration device known to man during the next few months.

Even if these guys are slow, getting cornered in a confined space with a bunch of them could be fatal. In order to hang onto your brains, it’s best to be strapped and carry a variety of knives to wield at close range. Let’s hope they don’t get close enough for a little adventure romance with you, but if they do, a knife through the brain is probably your best bet.

If you do have time to shoot, make sure to aim directly for their forehead. We’ve all seen too many science fiction and fantasy films where civilians waste a ton of valuable ammunition shooting in the leg or arms. If you’re in an apocalypse world, ammo is bound to be scarce, so save it for the right shot. With that in mind, make sure to start going to a shooting range now to learn gun safety and hone your skills. The last thing you want to do is waste your bullets or bust a cap on some poor human.

If for some reason, you have no ammo left and you’re forced to engage in a little hand-to-hand combat with a member of the undead, it’s good to have some martial arts and knife-wielding skills. Remember, unlike some fantasy and adventure movie where you have nine lives or a loved one who pops up to save you at all the right times, you’re going to have to be on point at all times. One slip up and you could be reduced to a grunting, brain-craving beast limping down the road in a zombie style crip walk. Not fun and not attractive. Start preparing for an apocalypse world, my little Pearly Pearls!

Spurce: Crimlaw.blogspot.com

 

To kill or not to kill—what if the one you love became a zombie?

March 14, 2012 in Apocalypse World

Last night’s brilliant episode of my favorite apocalypse world series, The Walking Dead, really got me thinking. In it, the main character had to shoot the best friend he’d been through thick and thin with in order to survive. While his besty wasn’t yet a zombie, he soon became one and had to be killed twice. This made me start to fantasize, and obviously not in a good way, about what I would do if one of my loved ones actually became a zombie.

If I became a zombie in some apocalypse world scenario, I would definitely want to be off-ed. Becoming a mindless shell wandering the streets, lusting after brains and uttering unintelligible gibberish does not sound very appealing to me—it sounds like straight suffering. While it may be a beautiful thing in a science fiction and fantasy film, it’s just a little too primal for me.

No matter how much you would miss someone, you wouldn’t want them to suffer either. That being said, it would probably be really difficult to have to end a fantasy romance by killing your mate with a shot through the head. You would have to be completely detached from this lackluster, undead version of your former love or best friend. It would be a moment you would definitely remember for the rest of your life.

The most important thing you’d have to keep in mind is that this zombie is no longer a human being, and therefore, not your friend. Unlike some of the best zombie or demon characters in our favorite horror, science fiction and fantasy flicks, these are shells of the people they once were. Once you fully comprehend this, a plan would need to be made and executed, no pun intended.

If we do actually wake up in an apocalypse world populated with brain-craving zombies, or if the Uni-Gov somehow turns all of us Pearls into the undead if we don’t mate by 18, then it seems like the solution is pretty straightforward. You would start by creating the quickest, most efficient way to eradicate the zombie—there is definitely no room for mistakes here. The last thing you want to do is prolong your loved ones’ suffering. From everything I’ve read in young adult books and seen in fantasy and adventure films, the most efficient method seems to be a gunshot through the head. Quick, simple, effective—the perfect combination.

If I actually woke up to Jamal the zombie, I would obviously be devastated. It would not only be the end to my fantasy romance, but my chances for survival would be cut in half at best. Yet I would cast that anxiety aside and do what I needed to do. That stands for everyone else in my life too. They would probably be after my brains anyway, so it would become a matter of my own survival.

Let it be known—if we wake up in an apocalypse world and I’ve become a brainless gut-muncher, you have my permission to kill me.

Source: i.zdnet.com

Hand to Hand combat training—A must for an apocalypse world

March 1, 2012 in Apocalypse World

In an apocalypse world, women are going to need much more than a can of pepper spray to defend themselves—and nothing compares to the effectiveness of hand to hand combat training. While the sound of it may make some women pretty uncomfortable at first, after hearing about the looting and pillaging and all other crimes that may be a rampant part of post apocalypse life, the latter obviously sounds a lot worse.

Let’s face it: hand to hand combat skills can help you survive on a daily basis in an apocalypse world. We’re not talking the kind of training that takes place in an afternoon either. While you may learn some helpful skills, like how to react to a perilous situation without much thought, there are too many methods of attack—it would be impossible to cover them all in one afternoon, let alone in one month. Plus, it takes lots of practice to truly react quickly in situations requiring self-defense—and we’re talking about a completely dangerous, dog-eat-dog (or zombie-eat-human) world, not the settings we read about in young adult fantasy novels.

To truly improve your chances of survival, regular training is a must. In addition to getting in to the best physical shape possible, we suggest signing up for at least one type of martial arts school. Cut down some of the the time you invest in your adventure romance and direct it to taking as many classes as possible. Some great fighting styles include Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Kenpo Karate, Muy Thai, Tae Kwon Do, Capoeira, Kung Fu and old school Kickboxing.

In addition to taking martial arts classes, you may even want to learn some boxing moves. Taking a few boxing classes is a great way to build stamina and endurance while learning how to throw and block punches. Plus, if you are in the throes of an adventure romance, you can suggest taking classes together as an exciting type of date and bonding experience.

Another great self-defense system that all of us at Save the Pearls recommend is Krav Maga. Developed in Israel, Krav Maga is an eclectic form that involves wrestling, grappling and striking techniques. It’s got a heavy focus on real world scenarios and is extremely brutal and efficient. Maybe not your idea of a walk in the park, but again, we’re trying to prepare you for hand-to-hand combat in an apocalypse world, not the imaginary futures of young adult fantasy novels. Good luck!

Source: Frontroomcinema.com

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