P. N. Elrod

Patricia Nead Elrod is an American fantasy writer specializing in novels about vampires. Her work falls into areas of fantasy and (in some cases) mystery or historical fiction, but normally not horror, since her vampires are the heroes.

Overview
P. N. Elrod has written more than twenty novels, beginning with her Vampire Files series featuring hardboiled PI Jack Fleming and also include his partner, Charles Escott, his girlfriend, Bobbi Smythe and other recurring characters. The 11 books and counting are set in 1930s Chicago. Jack's first case was solving his own murder.

Next came Jonathan Barrett, Gentleman Vampire series, set during the American Revolution. The series has been re-released by BenBella Books, with all new material added. The twist on these historicals is that Barrett and his family are on the side of the British throughout the revolution, offering a unique point of view of the times.

Another series co-authored with actor Nigel Bennett, who played the evil yet seductive LaCroix on the television show Forever Knight, is of a very different character, but still features a good guy vampire. The Lord Richard, Vampire series from Baen Books consists of three novels and counting. While set in a different universe than the Files & Barrett books, this "James Bond with fangs" maintains Elrod's premise that there are different breeds of vampires co-existing out there.

Using this premise, she has linked her universe to that of Bram Stoker by writing a sequel to Dracula called Quincey Morris, Vampire. Quincey was killed at the end of Dracula, but is resurrected in this book as a vampire himself, albeit a different breed than the infamous count. Lord Richard makes a brief cameo appearance in the story.

Also quite different, and qualifying as horror, are the Dungeons & Dragons-related books in the Ravenloft world featuring the dark and sinister vampire Count Strahd von Zarovich. These books, I, Strahd: Memoirs of a Vampire, and it sequel, I, Strahd: The War With Azalin, are true horror and have garnered her critical acclaim from mainstream reviewers.

With The Adventures of Myhr she has broken into the humorous fantasy genre. Myhr is half-man, half-cat and all adventure, magically jumping from world to world spreading the good news about pizza and Beatles karaoke. His partner is a cranky wizard fond of techno raves and obscene T-shirt art.

Elrod has authored around two dozen short stories in the fantasy, romance, science fiction, mystery, and horror genres, and edited four collections: Time of the Vampires, Dracula's London, and with Roxanne Conrad (aka Rachel Caine) Stepping Through the Stargate: The Science, Archaeology, and Military of Stargate SG-1 The latter is non-fiction and has contributions from world famous scientists, doctors, the USAF military, FX wizards and actors from the TV series.

Her latest collection, My Big, Fat, Supernatural Wedding made the USA Today Bestseller list, and won the 2006 Pearl Award for best anthology.

Elrod continues to write and edit. Her next project is My Big, Fat, Supernatural Honeymoon due out in 2008 from St. Martin's Griffin.

Source of this entry's information: P. N. Elrod

Jonathan Barrett, Gentleman Vampire

 * Red Death (1993, ISBN 0441710948) (2004 rerelease ISBN 1932100199)
 * Death and the Maiden (1994, ISBN 0441000711) (2004 rerelease ISBN 1932100202)
 * Death Masque (1995, ISBN 0441001432) (2004 rerelease ISBN 1932100210)
 * Dance of Death (1996, ISBN 0441003095) (2004 rerelease ISBN 1932100229)

Ravenloft

 * I, Strahd: The Memoirs of a Vampire (1993, ISBN 1560766700)
 * I, Strahd: The War Against Azalin (1998, ISBN 0786907541)

Vampire Files

 * Bloodlist (1990, ISBN 0441067956)
 * Lifeblood (1990, ISBN 0441847765)
 * Bloodcircle (1990, ISBN 0441067174)
 * Art in the Blood (1991, ISBN 0441859453)
 * Fire in the Blood (1991, ISBN 0441859461)
 * Blood on the Water (1992, ISBN 044185947X)
 * Chill in the Blood (1998, ISBN 0441005012)
 * Dark Sleep (1999, ISBN 0441005918)
 * Lady Crymsyn (2000, ISBN 0441007244)
 * Cold Streets (2003, ISBN 0441010091)
 * Song in the Dark (2005, ISBN 0441013236)

Vampire Files Collection

 * Vampire Files, books 1-3 (2003, ISBN 0739440616)
 * Vampire Files, books 4-6 (2006, ISBN 0739480790)

Other Novels

 * Keeper of the King (with Nigel Bennett) (1997, ISBN 0671877593)
 * His Father's Son (with Nigel Bennett) (2001, ISBN 0671319817)
 * Quincey Morris, Vampire (2001, ISBN 0671319884)
 * The Adventures of Myhr (2003, ISBN 074343532X)
 * Siege Perilous (with Nigel Bennett) (2004, ISBN 0743488547)

Editor/co-editor

 * Time of the Vampires (with Martin H. Greenberg) (1996, ISBN 0886776937) (2004, ISBN 0743487338)
 * Dracula in London (2001, ISBN 0-441-00858-5)
 * Stepping Through the Stargate (2004, ISBN 1-932100-32-6) (with Roxanne L. Conrad)
 * My Big, Fat Supernatural Wedding (2006, ISBN 0-312-34360-4) Winner of the 2006 Pearl Award for best anthology.
 * My Big, Fat Supernatural Honeymoon (2008, ISBN 0-312-37504-2)