NON-SPARKLY, NON-ROMANTIC, NASTY, EVIL, BLOODTHIRSTY VAMPIRES

Late last year, Samhain Publishing took my short novel Under the Ice -- which had previously been a self-published Amazon e-book -- and brought out their own version of it. And this year they're doing the same again, with a much longer novel this time.

Hot Blood runs to over 120,000 words and is a vampire epic, starting in New York, taking in Central America, and finally moving on to Eastern Europe ... Prague, then Budapest, then finally the Carpathians. And these aren't any Twilight kinds of vampires I'm describing. No, these bloodsuckers are very definitely not nice ones.

After all the swooning and white weddings, I get the feeling some readers will be extremely glad to see some non-sparkly vampires back. But for those who prefer a little romance mixed in with their dark fantasy, the heroine of the novel is a supernatural being herself, although of a very different kind. She ...

No, I cannot tell you too much in advance, now can I? Hot Blood will be out as a Samhain e-book in September 2014.

THE MALTESE FALCON? NO, BUT THERE ARE DUCKS

Valetta

Valetta Bay

Entrance to Mdina

St. Paul's Grotto, Rabat

Several of our friends down the years have recommended Malta as a place to spend some chill-out time. So last month -- as a little winter break -- Louise and I decided to give it a try, and found ourselves on a beautiful and very friendly island full of history and magic. We were only there for three days, but managed to pack plenty in, visiting the walled part of the capital, Valetta, the 'Silent City' of Mdina -- one time home to the Knights of St. John -- Rabat with its catacombs and underground chapels, and the gorgeous resort of St. Julian's (above). A great time was had, in other words, and we're determined to go back. Oh, and in the place where we were staying, just across from our hotel, there was a tiny village that has been built especially for the local ducks. Don't ask me whose idea it was or how it got there. It's just there, that's all. I like that.

"Someone's snapping photos of us. Do you reckon it's Sam Spade?"