With Halloween just around the corner & THE BITE BEFORE CHRISTMAS newly released, you know my vampire viewing has increased exponentially.

So here’s a list of some of my faves—& some of my greatest inspirations. :winkwink

My Top 5 Favorite Vampire Movies

5.  Buffy the Vampire Slayer (the movie)

4.  Blade: Trinity (this is about the only one I can watch; the other two just don’t do it for me)

3.  From Dusk Till Dawn (the first half has nothing to do with vampires…then it gets good)

2.  Van Helsing (I know this one has gotten a bad rap, but I really like it. And, after all, we are talking Hugh Jackman here.)

1.  The Lost Boys (a total classic…it’s funny, sexy, hip…yep, a total classic)

Honorable Mention goes to Underworld: Rise of the Lycans (also Underworld & Underworld: Evolution, but Rise of the Lycans is my favorite of the three), Dead and Loving It, & John Carpenter’s Vampires.

My Top 5 Favorite Vampire TV Shows

5.  Dark Shadows (I’m more of a fan of the “The New” Dark Shadows over the original, but that may have something to do with the fact that it was in color & also starred Adrian Paul & Michael T. Weiss. )

4.  Forever Knight

3.  Angel

2.  Kindred: The Embraced

1.  Buffy the Vampire Slayer (the series)  (DUH!)

Honorable Mention goes to Moonlight & Hex.

How about you?  What are your favorite vampire movies & television shows of all time?

As most of you know, I’m packing for the upcoming NJRW conference.  (Yes, I’ll be away for a while, but never fear—I have pre-dated some extra-fun posts here in The Dungeon to keep you occupied, as well as leaving Mistress Heidi behind to maintain law & order. :ouch )

I’ve gotten almost everything together, but since I can’t go anywhere without a book in my hand, that’s one of the last things remaining on my packing list.  I’m just finished up Out of the Light, Into the Shadows, which means the decision of what to start next—& take along with me to the conference—is wide open.

This is never good, though.  I have too many options piled up all around me, so when I’m not sure what to read next, I start to feel sort of overwhelmed & schizophrenic.  (Mostly because I want to read everything all at once!)

Suddenly, I’m in a Christmasy mood (gee, I wonder why *g*), so I dug out a few holiday titles I’m kind of eager to read.

Christmas Confessions ~ Kathleen Long

The Christmas Clue ~ Delores Fossen

Do Not Disturb Until Christmas ~ Charlene Sands

Wish List anthology ~ Lisa Kleypas, Lisa Cach, Claudia Dain, Lynsay Sands

They all look good, so I could easily jump on any one of them to start.

But I’ve also been on a bit of a Lori Foster kick & would love to read something else of hers.  Just a Hint–Clint, maybe, or the Jingle Bell Rock anthology she headlines.  (That’s Christmasy, right?)

Then there’s Iris Johansen’s Deadlock staring at me, taunting me.  I do so love her books.  And some more paranormals that I feel like I should read, since A.) Halloween is coming up, so that would be more appropriate than starting Christmas books already, & B.) I’m working on my own vampire story, so they could act as motivation.

The Weddings from Hell anthology, maybe…the Dead After Dark anthology…the next book in Gena Showalter’s “Lords of the Underworld” trilogy…  All ones I’ve been meaning to get to, that look good, that are staring at me, taunting me.

They all do that, in case you couldn’t tell.  Do your To Be Read piles taunt you?  Read me….  Read me… What are you waiting for?  Read me now…  It’s quite disturbing. :stalker

So help me out. What do you guys think I should start next & pack to take along on my trip?  (There won’t be a lot of time to read, I know, but as I said, books are my version of the American Express card—don’t leave home without them! :cantputdown )