A Good Man is now available on DVD

Many of you have been asking where you can watch the short film based on my story A Good Man/Un homme bien. 

It is now featured as an extra on the DVD of the documentary Forgotten Scares: An In-Depth Look at Flemish Horror Cinema (they're both by the same director), which is available through Zeno Pictures. The film is also mentioned in the documentary itself.

You can read the screenplay on which the short film was based on Kindle. Two versions exist: English and French.

Exciting book and movie news

Signing session after a screening of Un homme bien (A Good Man)

Lots of exciting things happening, guys. LOTS of exciting things. 

NEXT TO HER 

In half an hour, I'll be off to yet another film production meeting. If everything goes well, my short film script Next to Her (which you can read here) will be filmed this August. It'll be part of an anthology, but will also be available separately. Thrilling, right? Of course, Avalon will have a BIG appearance in the film. 

AVALON 

Talking about Avalon... His book is my most popular and best-received one to date. It has been listed as one of Amazon's best-selling cat books almost constantly since it came out. Of course, with Avalon as the main character, I didn't expect anything else. Lots of blogs have been talking about Avalon lately. Too many to mention them all, so here are a few favorites: 

• My Cat From Hell 
• A heartwarming True Cat Story  
• A Wonderful Summer Read 
• Book review - Avalon by Vanessa Morgan
• Sebastian the Sensitive Soul 
• Author Spotlight
• 10 statements
• Mochas, Mysteries, and Meows
• Two Ends of the Pen

A GOOD MAN 

Un homme bien (the French film adaptation of my vampire story A Good Man) continues to thrive at festivals. Recently, the film was screened at the Kala Ghoda Arts Festival in India, the Flanders Week in Gdańsk (Poland), the Independent Days 15 Filmfest in Karlsruhe, Germany, and the Shamiana shortfilm happening in India.

DROWNED SORROW 

Horror author Stuart R. West interviewed me about my supernatural thriller Drowned Sorrow. It was one of the best interviews I've done in a long time. Read the interview here.

Also, this is the last day to enter for a chance to win a $25 Amazon gift card, a signed copy of Avalon, a cat collar, and a selection of cat toys. Enter now before it is too late.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Awards, film festival selections, and new editions

* My blog Traveling Cats has won The Bloggers' Lounge Blogger Of The Year Award. A big thank you to everyone who voted and shared. What a great way to end 2014.

* A Good Man (Un homme bien) is going to India! The French film adaptation of my vampire story, will be shown at the Imphal International Film Festival in India on December 27 and 28. 

* A Good Man (Un homme bien) has also been officially selected for Film Festival System D in Brussels, Belgium. The festival starts today.

* I concocted horror movie quizzes for an upcoming trivia book by the makers of Horror 101 and Hidden Horror. The book will have over 1200 questions covering hundreds upon hundreds of films. The working title is Horror U: Twelve Twisted Trimesters of Horror Trivia. It'll probably land in January in both ebook and physical form.

* My supernatural thriller Drowned Sorrow is available in a new paperback edition with a cover by award-winning designer Gilles Vranckx. Some places where you can get the book are Amazon US, Amazon UK, Amazon FR, and B&N. 

* The Strange Color Of Your Body's Tears (the movie for which I modeled for the poster) is now available on DVD/Blu-Ray and Instant Video. It's an excellent film, so be sure to watch it.

* My short film script Next To Her will most probably be directed by Fedrik De Beul (Août 1914). The movie will be in Dutch, but I'll make an English version of the script available on Kindle, Nook, etc. The cover is being made as I'm writing this. If you have a blog and want to do a cover reveal, review, or interview I'd greatly appreciate it. You may contact me at eeriestories75(at)gmail(dot)com.

Monday Mishmash - Festivals and Transylvanian castles

* Un homme bien (the French film adaptation of my screenplay A Good Man) will be shown at the Dracula Horror and Fantasy Festival in Romania in October. One of the screenings will take place in a famous Transylvanian castle. The film will also be screened the 11th of October at the Indiana Short Film Festival. My vampire story will be part of the Saturday Nite Fright.

* Can't go to these festivals? You can now also discover Un homme bien / A Good Man on FestTV, the VOD channel of the Benelux horror distributor Zeno Pictures. Or you can download the original screenplay from Amazon.com, Amazon UK, or Smashwords.

* To top it off, Un homme bien / A Good Man has received a diploma for "higher cinematic culture for solving social issues" at the Krivoy Rog Film Festival. 

* I'll be present at four different festivals this autumn, starting with the Strasbourg European Fantastic Film Festival on Thursday, and then the Sitges Film Festival, the Film Festival of Ghent, and Razor Reel.

* I've started preparing the Halloween edition of Traveling Cats. Expect lots of cemetery pictures this season.

* I finished my book on Avalon. I'll be sending it out to the first beta-readers this week.

* Also wrote another short film script: Next To Her. More about that soon.

Hosted by Kelly Hashway

Feature in Gemeenteberichten Zaventem

My grandmother stumbled upon this feature on the film adaptation of A Good Man in the magazine Gemeenteberichten Zaventem.

A Good Man/Un homme bien is the story of an altruistic vampire who occasionally feeds the poor, and occasionally eats them instead. Check out the movie trailer here.

The original feature-lenght screenplay can be dowloaded from Amazon, Smashwords, B&N and Kobo. The screenplay is also available in French from the same retailers.

Feature in Het Laatste Nieuws

The French movie adaptation of my vampire story A GOOD MAN will premiere today at the Brussels International Fantastic Film Festival. Here's an article from the Belgian newspaper Het Laatste Nieuws that talks about the film. Also, Colimetry has done a special feature on A Good Man and an interview with me to celebrate the release: http://burgandyice.blogspot.be/2013/04/vanessa-morgan-and-good-man-at-brussels.html

Purchase

Amazon (ENG) * Smashwords (FR)

Feature in Het Nieuwsblad

 

Purchase

Amazon (ENG) * Smashwords (FR)

Un homme bien - Official movie trailer

Check out the official movie trailer for Un homme bien, the French film adaptation of my story A Good Man. You can read and download the original screenplay from Amazon (ENG) and Smashwords (FR).

Karma, vampires and coffee

Rainy Of The Dark published a fictional interview with the main character of  A GOOD MAN, Louis Caron. They talked about karma, vampires, aromatherapy and coffee.

What were you like before the story began?

Lonely. Tired. Old. Vampire.

Who are you opposing and why?

I'm not opposing anyone. I'm a vampire, yes - but I only kill people who deserve to die... Lost cases also - people without hope, without a future. I'm a good man.

Do you think maybe you should just lay off the caffeine a bit?

Do you believe caffeine is the reason I'm a vampire? What a brilliant idea! You should be a novelist instead of a journalist.

Have you tried aromatherapy, then?

Yes. I put a few drops of lavender essential oil on my pillow every night before going to bed. It calms the nerves and the less nervous I am the less blood I need. t calms the nerves and the less nervous I am the less blood I need. t calms the nerves and the less nervous I am the less blood I need. t calms the nerves and the less nervous I am the less blood I need.

 Alright, so what it is you plan to do once you have reached your goal?

My goal - meeting the woman of my dreams and spending a lifetime with her - is not possible. Love is only temporary for a vampire. Falling in love with a fellow vampire would help, but that. Does. Not. Happen.

What would your mother think of all this?

My sweet mom... I haven't seen her for almost 300 years, but I still miss her. She was already gone when I got turned into a vampire. I'm afraid she can still see me from her little place in heaven and be sad for what has become of me. I hope she understands I'm doing the best I can despite my vampire nature.

Right. So, how would you describe yourself?

Friendly. Honest. Romantic. Animal addict. Vegetarian. Vampire.

How would your opponent describe you?

Weird. Womanizer. Dishonest. Evil. Vampire.

Who are your closest allies?

My closest allies are the other vampires in my vampire support group (sort of like AA for vampires). They are the only ones who can help me with my vampire-related problems. I can also count on Vincent and Emma, my two human friends, even though they can't fathom what I am.

That’s great, but haven’t you heard the good guy always wins?

It's all karma. The more good you do around you, the more your karma will reward you. If you misbehave, your karma will punish you. Problem is, I'm a vampire. Without blood, I will be paralyzed for eternity.

***

Do you like Dexter and American Psycho? Then chances are you will love A GOOD MAN.

Louis Caron is a good man – he's a vegetarian, feeds homeless people, takes care of animals and is converned with the ecological well-being of the planet. But his altruism has a sinister edge – he's a vampire and local detective Taglioni becomes increasingly suspicious of him. Louis' attempt to escape the police will take him on a journey into his own private hell where he is not only forced to confront his worst fears, but where he will also destroy the lives of those he cares about.

Where to purchase A Good Man:

• Amazon US
• Smashwords

Disponible en français sur:

• Smashwords
• Amazon FR 

Interview at Rachelle's Window

Here's an interview I recently did for Rachelle's Window. Enjoy!

What drew you to the horror genre?

I’ve always been fascinated with horror movies and the paranormal. As a child, I tortured my Barbie dolls and loved going to video stores to look at the covers of horror movies, hoping that I would be able to see them one day. Writing horror was a natural progression.

Which character from A Good Man should you be dating?

To celebrate the release of my new supernatural thriller "A Good Man", take this super fun quiz to see which character best suits you.

Should you be dating Vincent or Louis?

Vincent and Louis both love to travel, have their insecurities, and are hopeless romantics—but while they share those things, Vincent is human and Louis is not. Vincent is in his twenties and Louis is in his fifties. Vincent loves Wax Tailor and Vitalic and Louis is all about Bach.


1. What is your favorite book?

a.      “White Nights” by Fyodor Dostoyevsky (short story) – A man is never smitten with the woman that truly loves him.
b.      “Shangai Baby" by Wei Hui – Exotic, urban, steamy.
c.      “Nevermore" by Kelly Creagh – Supernatural creatures exist.
d.      “The Unbearable Lightness Of Being" by Milan Kundera – I think I have a dark side, but I'm positive and balanced in real life.

2. What do you want to eat tonight?

a.      Spaghetti allo Scoglio - Can we go to that romantic Italian restaurant near the lake?
b.      Cheesecake - Let's just grab something small before we go out.
c.      Hemoglobin - I think I have some leftover blood in the fridge.
d.      Falafel and salad - Vegetarian, please.

3. What is your dream destination?

a.      Budapest - The city of romance.
b.      London - Dining and music.
c.      Hereafter - One way ticket.
d.      Prague - Architecture and culture.

4. What pet would you like to own?

a.      Dog – It matches with the image of the perfect family unit.
b.      No pets – I don't want the responsibilities that go with it.
c.      Vampire bat – There's something strangely familiar about these animals.
d.      Cat – I'm a total cat person.

5.  What is the best season?

a.      Spring – Flowers, dresses, romance.
b.      Fall – Perfect time for a city trip.
c.      Winter – It gets dark early.
d.      Summer – Reading in the park.

6.  What is your favorite color?

a.      Pink – Maternity, protection, fragility and love without passion.
b.      Red – Ambition, confidence and independence.
c.      Black – Suppression of desires and worldly aims, hidden depths, inner longings.
d.      Green – Harmony, balance, peace and patience.

7.   What job do you want your man to have?

a.      Accountant – Stability is the magic word.
b.      DJ – Music is sexy.
c.      Temp – I don't want to stay in the same country or city for too long.
d.      Retired (or almost) – I have a thing for older men.

8.  What movie do you watch over and over again?

a.      The Good Girl – You rarely get what you want in life, particularly in love.
b.      L'auberge espagnol – Living abroad, meeting people, having fun.
c.      A Good Man —A new vampire movie that shows us vampires the way they really are.
d.     Brief Encounter – They don't make movies like that anymore.

If you answered...

Mostly a's: After a series of short-lived love relationships with men that can't commit, you want to settle down with a serious guy that treats you right. Chances are that Vincent may be the one who sticks with you, but you'll never know who else is on his mind.
Mostly b's: There's a fun concert tonight. Wanna be Vincent's date? If you play it cool, he'll be head over heels with you.
Mostly c's: You are probably a vampire, just like Louis! You will have a lot in common with him, but he'll hate you for it.
Mostly d's: Go and read your book in the park instead of on the couch and you might be lucky enough to stumble upon Louis. Love is in the air!

***

Louis Caron is a good man. Vegetarian, he feeds the homeless, takes care of animals and is concerned with the ecological future of the planet. But his altruism has a sinister edge - he's a vampire - and local detective Taglioni is becoming increasingly suspicious. Louis' attempts to escape the police will take him on a journey into his own private hell where he is not only forced to confront his worst fears, but also to destroy the lives of those he cares about most.

Purchase

Amazon (ENG) * Smashwords

Music that inspired A Good Man

To celebrate the release of my new supernatural thriller, A GOOD MAN, let's have a look at some of the music that inspired this unforgettable vampire story!

Wax Tailor - Fireflies
Because it mingles so well with the atmosphere of the story, I often listend to Wax Tailor's album In The Mood For Life when writing A Good Man. Fireflies in particular would be a great accompaniment to the beginning – Louis seeing Nathalie for the first time on the street, then entering the bar when the more catchy part of the song starts...

Holly Golightly - My Love Is

I imagine this song playing in the background in one of the scenes where Louis is watching his neighbour, Nathalie. The lyrics summarize well what he feels for this woman, but he knows that his insecurities will prevent him from ever telling her that personally.

Vitalic - Poney

One of Vincent's favorite songs; he often plays it in the bar where he's DJ'ing. The song also eludes the feeling of youth that his older friend, Louis, longs for. It's in strong contrast with the calm, often classical, music Louis listens to at home that reflects his unwillingness to take any risks.

Cinnamon Chasers - Luv Deluxe
Another one of Vincent's favorite songs that he often plays in the bar where he works. The girl in the music video reminds him of his ex-girlfriend Céline.

Chinese Man - I've Got That Tune

I've Got That Tune would be the perfect song for when Louis comes home after his somewhat destastrous date with Martine, drinking wine alone in his apartment. Solitude, loneliness, love... It's all there.

Wax Tailor - Seize The Day

Wax Tailor's Seize The Day has always been the perfect song to accompany the last two scenes of A GOOD MAN. We all know that we should seize the day and enjoy the small things in life without worrying too much about the bigger picture. Unfortunately, most of us realize this when it's too late.

***

Do you like Dexter and American Psycho? Then chances are you will love A Good Man.

Louis Caron is a good man – he's a vegetarian, feeds homeless people, takes care of animals and is converned with the ecological well-being of the planet. But his altruism has a sinister edge – he's a vampire and local detective Taglioni becomes increasingly suspicious of him. Louis' attempt to escape the police will take him on a journey into his own private hell where he is not only forced to confront his worst fears, but where he will also destroy the lives of those he cares about.

Purchase

Amazon * Smashwords

Character Interview With Louis Caron

To celebrate the release of the vampire thriller, A GOOD MAN, we asked the main character, Louis Caron, to stop by today. Louis Caron is a good man - he's a vegetarian, feeds the homeless, takes care of animals, and is concerned with the ecological future of the planet. But his altruism has a sinister edge - he's a vampire! If you've already read A GOOD MAN, this interview should be amusing and insightful. If you haven't read it, hopefully, the character interview will pique your interest.

What do you think it takes to become a good man?

Louis Caron: Let me quote Jonathan Safran Foer to answer your question: "Cruelty depends on an understanding of cruelty, and the ability to choose against it. Or to choose to ignore it." It's impossible to be a good man 100% of the time. Imagine you are in a relationship that is not working out for you anymore and you are very unhappy because of it. If you leave the woman who is still madly in love with you, the woman's friends and family will probably tell you how cruel you are, even if you are a good person in all other areas of your life. But is there a better option? In my opinion, a good man is someone who chooses to be good whenever he can, but it doesn't necessarily mean sacrificing your own health and happiness.

Interview on Suko's Notebook

Below is an interview I did for Suko's Notebook about my latest release A Good Man and its movie adaptation.
 
Suko's Notebook: In December of 2010, I first interviewed Vanessa Morgan, after having read her unnerving novella, Drowned Sorrow. I'm thrilled to present another interview with this writer in which we discuss her latest project A Good Man currently in preproduction with Radowski Films. It's about Louis Caron, a vegetarian who cares about homeless people, animals and the future of our planet. If Louis seems too good to be true, then trust your instincts, because he has a sinister side as well - in fact, he's a vampire. The story, the screenplay, the film - it all sounds very exciting to me!

A Good Man Number 1 on Amazon

Un homme bien (also available in English as A Good Man) is now number 1 on Amazon France in the 'SF, Fantasy &Terreur' category. It also has Top 30 positions in the categories 'cinéma' and 'scénario'.

The English translation, A Good Man, is equally doing well on Amazon US - with a Top 25 position in the 'Arts and Entertainment' category.

About A Good Man:

Loved Dexter and American Psycho? Then you'll love A Good Man.

Louis Caron is a good man - vegetarian, he feeds the homeless, takes care of animals and is concerned with the ecological future of the planet. But his altruism has a sinister edge - he's a vampire - and local detective Taglioni is becoming increasingly suspicious. Louis' attempts to escape the police take him on a journey into his own private hell where he is not only forced to confront his worst fears, but also to destroy the lives of those he cares about most.

Screenplay reviews for A Good Man / Un homme bien

Gnostalgia

"A Good Man is a tasty little morsel that will stick with you for some time. Vanessa Morgan's vampires are different, very different. Karma, vampires, life, philosophy, I was hooked from the start. Excellent story; my mind's eye can still see the final scene as I write this post. I highly recommend A Good Man."

Love, Literature, Art, and Reason

"A Good Man is captivating, thought provoking, and it makes you wonder if we really know our friends. And of course, it makes us wonder if Louis is a good man and what a good man really is. This story makes you ponder the nature of good and evil and the nature of man, despite the fact that Louis is a vampire. He's refreshingly very human. Louis has definite similarities to Patrick Bateman from American Psycho, which is great. I'd love to see this story unfold on screen. The character of Madame Renaud reminds us how some of us are more obvious than others, but that we are all dishonest in some fashion, Louis especially. This story also makes you think about how what you do causes a ripple effect, whether you mean to impact the lives of others or not. Whether negative or positive, your effect on others means you matter. This was one of those stories that was deeper than the surface."

Kipp Poe's Blog

"A Good Man is very engrossing. I could not wait to see what was going to happen next. Great characters that Vanessa brings to life and that will make a great film. I give it a fun five star rating."

Interview on Midnyte Reader

Below is an interview that appeared on Midnyte Reader.

I would like to welcome author Vanessa Morgan today. After checking out her blog I became increasingly intrigued with her stories and her writing process. Vanessa has several spooky projects published which are all available on Amazon.

Blog tour schedule for A Good Man

For over 90 days and on over 100 blogs, I will be posting exclusive excerpts, book giveaways, character interviews, quizzes, fun guest posts, and so much more to promote the release of A Good Man. If you're a blogger who wants to join the tour, please email for more details eeriestories75 (at) gmail (dot) com.

APRIL 2012

April 15

Aobibliosphere (book release announcement and giveaway)

Zombies Everywhere (book release announcement)

Sweeping Me (guest post and giveaway)

Deborah's Books (author interview and giveaway)

Kipp Poe's Blog (review)


April 16

Eva's Sanctuary (book release announcement)

Gnostalgia (review)

Attention Earthlings (review)

Book launch of A Good Man / Un homme bien

Loved Dexter and American Psycho? Then you'll love A Good Man.

Louis Caron is a good man - vegetarian, he feeds the homeless, takes care of animals and is even concerned with the ecological future of the planet. But his altruism has a sinister edge - he's a vampire and local detective Taglioni is becoming increasingly suspicious. Louis' attempt to escape the police takes him on a journey into his own private hell where he is not only forced to confront his worst fears, but also to destroy the lives of those he cares about most.

View or sample it at Amazon US (Kindle), Amazon UK, Smashwords (PDF, Text, Nook, iPhone, etc)

Un homme bien est également disponible en français sur: Amazon US (Kindle), Amazon FR (Kindle), Smashwords (PDF, Text, Nook, iPhone, etc)

Vous avez aimé Dexter et American Psycho? Alors, il y a de fortes chances que vous adoriez Un homme bien.

Louis Caron est un citoyen honorable - végétarien convaincu, il nourrit les sans-abri, prend soin des animaux et se sent concerné par l'écologie. Mais son altruisme accuse un revers sinistre - Louis n'est autre qu'un vampire - et très vite, suite à une disparition des plus suspectes, l'inspecteur Taglioni en vient à nourrir de sérieux soupçons à son égard. La tentative de Louis d'échapper à la police le mènera au coeur de son enfer privatif: une impasse où il devra non seulement faire face à ses pires craintes, mais également détruire la vie de ceux qu'il aime...

Cover Preview A Good Man / Un homme bien

I just received the cover art for A Good Man / Un homme bien, which is slated to be released April 15 in both English and French. The story is now being turned into a French feature film by Radowski Films. A star cast has been attached to the project and includes names such as Pierre Lekeux (Strass, Last Night On Earth, La Danse des esprits), Matthias Pohl (Secret Story 2), Eric Demin (Dikkenek, Potiche) and Flavio Tosti (American Buffalo, The Drowned World). Have a look at the cover preview and let me know what you think. Feel free to share this cover on your blogs and forums. You may contact me at eeriestories75 (at) gmail (dot) com if you want to be included in the book tour for a review, interview, guest post and/or giveaway.

Cover design by Allan Beurms

Loved Dexter and American Psycho? Then there's a good chance you will love A Good Man.

Louis Caron is a good man - vegetarian, he feeds the homeless, takes care of animals and is even concerned with the ecological future of the planet. But his altruism has a sinister edge - he's a vampire - and local detective Taglioni is becoming increasingly suspicious. Louis' attempt to escape the police will take him on a journey into his own private hell where he is not only forced to confront his worst fears, but also to destroy the lives of those he cares about most.