I've just finished reading a wonderful new dark fantasy novel called Blood Tears by Raven Dane. A blurb on the back called it' sexy, subversive and beautifully written'. Which really sums it up. The author has taken all the classic gothic cliches and made them fresh, new and exciting. The Dark Kind characters are beautiful, deadly and bewitching. I loved it. My partner is reading it now and he loves it too despite being about as un-goth as you can get! I think its only available from on line bookshops at the moment,there is another book of the same name but the one I read is definetly by Raven Dane. It was such a joy to find something great to read, with my favourite author Robert Maccammon not writing any more! Does any one know if Stephen King is still writing novels?

Sorry, folks, this was supposed to go in the book section of the forum and ended up on the main page. Didnt mean to be that high profile over a mere book review

Don't worry about it. Sounds like something I might check out in future.
I haven't heard anything about Stephen King recently but I do think he is in retirement mode at the moment, especially now he has finished with the Dark Tower books. Never say never though.

Oh no Verno! Another retired top author! Any suggestions of good books to keep me going till the Blood Tears sequel comes out? Something along the same lines as Stephen King?

Crikey er... I don't think there is anybody else like Stephen King.
You could try some early Anne Rice or for some proper horror you could try Brian Lumley, James Herbert or Simon Clarke. I must admit I haven't really been keeping up with the supernatural stuff lately. I've been doing a lot more contemporary reading.

Ta Verno..much appreciated! There was a couple of names I hadnt heard of there to investigate.

My sister's book group is reading Blood Tears by Raven Dane in March,I'll filch her copy when she's finished with it! I'm a huge fan of Robert Maccammon. Shame he seems to have retired from writing.

Ta for the tip off, Snowangel. Just started reading Blood Tears and I'm hooked! Already imagining a future film of the book and who could be cast in the main parts. Any ideas?

Mmmmm- really not sure about that. The Dark Kind being played by human actors? And who would be seductively handsome enough to play Jazriel? Maybe it would work as anime.
On the subject of books into films, does anyone remember the terrible fuss Anne Rice made on Tom Cruise's casting as Lestat? I think she wanted Rutger Hauer or was it John Malcovitch? I thought that so odd at the time, esp as Cruise had the right wasted elegance for the part.

The author has her email address on her website, maybe you could ask her directly who she would have playing Jazriel and co in a film?
I emailed her about the sequel and she was really friendly and helpful

Talking of which, has anyone ever written to an author or actor and got (a) a friendly, personal reply or (b) a snitty or funnily rude one!