P. N. Elrod
Encyclopedia
Patricia N. Elrod is an American
novelist specializing in urban fantasy
. She's written in the mystery, romance, paranormal, and historical genres with at least one foray into comedic fantasy. Elrod is also an editor, having worked on several collections for Ace Science Fiction, DAW, Benbella Books, and St. Martin's Griffin. She self-published a signed, limited edition novel under her own imprint, Vampwriter Books.
In 2010, she was nominated for the RT Book Reviews Career Achievement Award in Urban Fantasy. In 2011, she was presented with the RT Book Reviews Pioneer Achievement Award in Vampire Fiction.
Jack Fleming and also include his partner, Charles Escott, his girlfriend, Bobbi Smythe, and other recurring characters. The 12 books and counting are set in 1930s Chicago
. Jack's first case was solving his own murder.
Next came the 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 three book Lord Richard, Vampire series from Baen Books
are set in a different universe than the Files & Barrett books, but 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
with her sequel to Dracula
, Quincey Morris, Vampire. Quincey was killed at the end of Dracula, but is resurrected as a vampire himself, albeit a different breed than the infamous count. Lord Richard makes a brief cameo appearance in the story, and Morris' vampiric state is attributed to a previous blood-sharing with Nora Jones from Elrod's Jonathan Barrett series.
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 its sequel, I, Strahd: The War With Azalin, have garnered her critical acclaim from mainstream reviewers.
With The Adventures of Myhr she broke 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 several collections including 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.
In 2006, she edited an anthology of supernatural romance stories, My Big Fat Supernatural Wedding, which made the USA Today Bestseller list, and won the 2006 P.E.A.R.L. Awards for best anthology. She followed it with My Big Fat Supernatural Honeymoon
released in January 2008 from St. Martin's Griffin. It made the New York Times Bestseller extended list and won honorable Mention in the 2007 Pearl Awards for best anthology.
The anthology, Strange Brew, from St. Martin's, also reached the New York Times extended bestseller list in July 2009.
Her collection Dark and Stormy Knights, also with St. Martin's, was released in July 2010.
Her next collection, Hex Symbols, sold to St. Martin's in 2010.
Also sold, a new steampunk series, On Her Majesty's Psychic Service, sold to Tor Books in 2010.
In April 2011, Elrod was presented with RT Book Review's Pioneers of Genre Fiction Award for "Forging the Way in Vampire Fiction Since 1990.">
Elrod continues to write and edit.
Full list, including reprints are on the vampwriter.com website
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
novelist specializing in urban fantasy
Urban fantasy
Urban fantasy is a sub-genre of fantasy defined by place; the fantastic narrative has an urban setting. Many urban fantasies are set in contemporary times and contain supernatural elements. However, the stories can take place in historical, modern, or futuristic periods...
. She's written in the mystery, romance, paranormal, and historical genres with at least one foray into comedic fantasy. Elrod is also an editor, having worked on several collections for Ace Science Fiction, DAW, Benbella Books, and St. Martin's Griffin. She self-published a signed, limited edition novel under her own imprint, Vampwriter Books.
In 2010, she was nominated for the RT Book Reviews Career Achievement Award in Urban Fantasy. In 2011, she was presented with the RT Book Reviews Pioneer Achievement Award in Vampire Fiction.
Overview
P. N. Elrod has written more than twenty novels, beginning with her Vampire Files urban fantasy series featuring hard-boiled PIPrivate investigator
A private investigator , private detective or inquiry agent, is a person who can be hired by individuals or groups to undertake investigatory law services. Private detectives/investigators often work for attorneys in civil cases. Many work for insurance companies to investigate suspicious claims...
Jack Fleming and also include his partner, Charles Escott, his girlfriend, Bobbi Smythe, and other recurring characters. The 12 books and counting are set in 1930s Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
. Jack's first case was solving his own murder.
Next came the Jonathan Barrett, Gentleman Vampire series, set during the American Revolution
American Revolution
The American Revolution was the political upheaval during the last half of the 18th century in which thirteen colonies in North America joined together to break free from the British Empire, combining to become the United States of America...
. The series has been re-released by BenBella Books
BenBella Books
BenBella Books is an independent publishing house based in Dallas, Texas. Founded by Glenn Yeffeth in 2001, BenBella specializes in non-fiction books on popular culture, health, and nutrition, along with books on science, politics, psychology, and other topics....
, with all new material added. The twist on these historicals is that Barrett and his family are on the side of the British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
throughout the revolution, offering a unique point of view of the times.
Another series co-authored with actor Nigel Bennett
Nigel Bennett
Nigel Bennett is an English actor/director/writer who has been based in Canada since 1986. He is best known for playing the vampire patriarch Lucien LaCroix in the TV series Forever Knight, for which he won the Canadian Gemini Award for best supporting actor in a dramatic series.-Life and...
, who played the evil yet seductive LaCroix on the television show Forever Knight
Forever Knight
Forever Knight was a Canadian television series about Nick Knight, an 800-year-old vampire working as a police detective in modern day Toronto. Wracked with guilt for centuries of killing others, he seeks redemption by working as a homicide detective on the night shift while struggling to find a...
, is of a very different character, but still features a good guy vampire. The three book Lord Richard, Vampire series from Baen Books
Baen Books
Baen Books is an American publishing company established in 1983 by long time science fiction publisher and editor Jim Baen. It is a science fiction and fantasy publishing house that emphasizes space opera, hard science fiction, military science fiction, and fantasy...
are set in a different universe than the Files & Barrett books, but this "James Bond
James Bond
James Bond, code name 007, is a fictional character created in 1953 by writer Ian Fleming, who featured him in twelve novels and two short story collections. There have been a six other authors who wrote authorised Bond novels or novelizations after Fleming's death in 1964: Kingsley Amis,...
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
Bram Stoker
Abraham "Bram" Stoker was an Irish novelist and short story writer, best known today for his 1897 Gothic novel Dracula...
with her sequel to Dracula
Dracula
Dracula is an 1897 novel by Irish author Bram Stoker.Famous for introducing the character of the vampire Count Dracula, the novel tells the story of Dracula's attempt to relocate from Transylvania to England, and the battle between Dracula and a small group of men and women led by Professor...
, Quincey Morris, Vampire. Quincey was killed at the end of Dracula, but is resurrected as a vampire himself, albeit a different breed than the infamous count. Lord Richard makes a brief cameo appearance in the story, and Morris' vampiric state is attributed to a previous blood-sharing with Nora Jones from Elrod's Jonathan Barrett series.
Also quite different, and qualifying as horror, are the Dungeons & Dragons
Dungeons & Dragons
Dungeons & Dragons is a fantasy role-playing game originally designed by Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson, and first published in 1974 by Tactical Studies Rules, Inc. . The game has been published by Wizards of the Coast since 1997...
-related books in the Ravenloft
Ravenloft
Ravenloft is a campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons roleplaying game. It is an alternate time-space existence known as a pocket dimension called the Demiplane of Dread, which consists of a collection of land pieces called domains brought together by a mysterious force known only as "The Dark...
world featuring the dark and sinister vampire Count Strahd von Zarovich
Strahd von Zarovich
Count Strahd von Zarovich is a fictional character originally appearing as the feature villain in the highly popular Advanced Dungeons and Dragons adventure module I6: Ravenloft. Later, this character and his world would be explored in followup modules, novels, and a campaign setting called...
. These books, I, Strahd: Memoirs of a Vampire, and its sequel, I, Strahd: The War With Azalin, have garnered her critical acclaim from mainstream reviewers.
With The Adventures of Myhr she broke 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 several collections including Time of the Vampires, Dracula's London, and with Roxanne Conrad
Rachel Caine
Rachel Caine is a pen name of Roxanne Longstreet Conrad, an American writer of science fiction, fantasy, mystery, suspense, and horror novels. She also publishes media tie-in novels as Julie Fortune.-Personal life:...
(aka Rachel Caine
Rachel Caine
Rachel Caine is a pen name of Roxanne Longstreet Conrad, an American writer of science fiction, fantasy, mystery, suspense, and horror novels. She also publishes media tie-in novels as Julie Fortune.-Personal life:...
) 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.
In 2006, she edited an anthology of supernatural romance stories, My Big Fat Supernatural Wedding, which made the USA Today Bestseller list, and won the 2006 P.E.A.R.L. Awards for best anthology. She followed it with My Big Fat Supernatural Honeymoon
My Big Fat Supernatural Honeymoon
My Big Fat Supernatural Honeymoon, edited by P.N. Elrod, is the 2007 sequel to the 2006 book My Big Fat Supernatural Wedding. Honeymoon is an anthology of honeymoon stories contributed by several authors such as the author of the Otherworld series Kelley Armstrong, the author of The Morganville...
released in January 2008 from St. Martin's Griffin. It made the New York Times Bestseller extended list and won honorable Mention in the 2007 Pearl Awards for best anthology.
The anthology, Strange Brew, from St. Martin's, also reached the New York Times extended bestseller list in July 2009.
Her collection Dark and Stormy Knights, also with St. Martin's, was released in July 2010.
Her next collection, Hex Symbols, sold to St. Martin's in 2010.
Also sold, a new steampunk series, On Her Majesty's Psychic Service, sold to Tor Books in 2010.
In April 2011, Elrod was presented with RT Book Review's Pioneers of Genre Fiction Award for "Forging the Way in Vampire Fiction Since 1990.">
Elrod continues to write and edit.
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) (Winner of The Lord Ruthven Award, best novel 1999)
- Dark Sleep (1999, ISBN 0441005918)
- Lady Crymsyn (2000, ISBN 0441007244)
- Cold Streets (2003, ISBN 0441010091)
- Song in the Dark (2005, ISBN 0441013236)
- Dark Road Rising (2009, ISBN 044101755X)
- The Devil You Know (Signed, limited-edition novella, Vampwriter Books, April 2009)
Vampire Files collection
- Vampire Files, Books 1-3 (2003, ISBN 0739440616)
- Vampire Files, Books 4-6 (2006, ISBN 0739480790)
- Vampire Files, Books 7, 8 (2011)
Other novels
- Quincey Morris, Vampire (2001, ISBN 0671319884)
- The Adventures of Myhr (2003, ISBN 074343532X)
Co-writing with Nigel Bennett
- Keeper of the King (with Nigel BennettNigel BennettNigel Bennett is an English actor/director/writer who has been based in Canada since 1986. He is best known for playing the vampire patriarch Lucien LaCroix in the TV series Forever Knight, for which he won the Canadian Gemini Award for best supporting actor in a dramatic series.-Life and...
) (1997, ISBN 0671877593) - His Father's Son (with Nigel BennettNigel BennettNigel Bennett is an English actor/director/writer who has been based in Canada since 1986. He is best known for playing the vampire patriarch Lucien LaCroix in the TV series Forever Knight, for which he won the Canadian Gemini Award for best supporting actor in a dramatic series.-Life and...
) (2001, ISBN 0671319817) - Siege Perilous (with Nigel BennettNigel BennettNigel Bennett is an English actor/director/writer who has been based in Canada since 1986. He is best known for playing the vampire patriarch Lucien LaCroix in the TV series Forever Knight, for which he won the Canadian Gemini Award for best supporting actor in a dramatic series.-Life and...
) (2004, ISBN 0743488547)
Editor/co-editor
- Time of the Vampires Short Story "The Witch's Mark" (with Martin H. GreenbergMartin H. GreenbergMartin Harry Greenberg was an American speculative fiction anthologist and writer.-Biography:Dr. Martin H. Greenberg was born March 1, 1941, to Max and Mae Greenberg in South Miami Beach, Florida...
) (1996, ISBN 0886776937) (2004, ISBN 0743487338) - Dracula in London Story: "Wolf and Hound" co-written with Nigel BennettNigel BennettNigel Bennett is an English actor/director/writer who has been based in Canada since 1986. He is best known for playing the vampire patriarch Lucien LaCroix in the TV series Forever Knight, for which he won the Canadian Gemini Award for best supporting actor in a dramatic series.-Life and...
(2001, ISBN 0-441-00858-5) - Stepping Through the Stargate "Villains I Love to Hate" (2004, ISBN 1-932100-32-6) (with Roxanne L. ConradRachel CaineRachel Caine is a pen name of Roxanne Longstreet Conrad, an American writer of science fiction, fantasy, mystery, suspense, and horror novels. She also publishes media tie-in novels as Julie Fortune.-Personal life:...
) - My Big Fat Supernatural Wedding (2006, ISBN 0-312-34360-4) Winner of the 2006 Pearl Award for best paranormal anthology.
- My Big Fat Supernatural HoneymoonMy Big Fat Supernatural HoneymoonMy Big Fat Supernatural Honeymoon, edited by P.N. Elrod, is the 2007 sequel to the 2006 book My Big Fat Supernatural Wedding. Honeymoon is an anthology of honeymoon stories contributed by several authors such as the author of the Otherworld series Kelley Armstrong, the author of The Morganville...
(2008, ISBN 0-312-37504-2) Honorable Mention, 2007 Pearl Award, best paranormal anthology. - Strange BrewStrange Brew (book)Strange Brew is an urban fantasy short story anthology, edited by P.N. Elrod. It reached the NYTimes extended bestseller list in July 2009.-Stories:#"Seeing Eye", by Patricia Briggs#"Last Call", by Jim Butcher#"Death Warmed Over", by Rachel Caine...
(July 2009, ISBN 0312383363, ISBN 978-0312383367) Honorable Mention, 2009 Pearl Award, Best Anthology - Dark and Stormy Knights (July 2010, ISBN 0312598343, ISBN 978-0312598341)
- Hex Symbols (sold to St. Martin's Griffin, 2010)
- The P.N. Elrod Lunch Time Reading Omnibus (June 2011, B0051PC6N8, Vampwriter Books)
Short Stories
- The Wind Breathes Cold, Dracula, Prince of Darkness, Ed. Steven H. Silver & Martin H. Greenberg. DAW 1992
- Caretaker Dracula, Prince of Darkness, Ed. Steven H. Silver & Martin H. Greenberg. DAW 1992
- You'll Catch Your Death, Vampire Detectives, DAW Ed. Martin H. Greenberg. Pub. 1995 (Vampire Files story)
- A Night at the (Horse) Opera, Celebrity Vampires, DAW Ed. Martin H. Greenberg 1995
- Fugitives Women at War, Ed Lois McMaster BujoldLois McMaster BujoldLois McMaster Bujold is an American author of science fiction and fantasy works. Bujold is one of the most acclaimed writers in her field, having won the prestigious Hugo Award for best novel four times, matching Robert A. Heinlein's record. Her novella The Mountains of Mourning won both the Hugo...
& Roland J. Green, Tor 1995 - The Quick Way Down, Mob Magic, Ed. Brian Thomsen & Martin H. Greenberg, DAW 1998 (Vampire Files story)
- Myhr's Adventure in Hell, Assassin Fantastic, Ed. Martin H. Greenberg & Alexander Potter, DAW 2001
- Dog Spelled Backwards, Familiars, Ed. Denise Little, DAW 2002
- The Tea Room Beasts, Creature Fantastic, Ed. Denise Little, DAW 2002
- The Astral Outrage, Vengeance Fantastic, Ed. Denise Little, DAW 2002
- Bossman, Death by Horoscope, Ed. Anne Perry & John Helfers Carroll & Graf, 2002
- The Scottish Ploy, Murder Most Romantic, Ed Denise Little 2002
- Izzy's Shoe-In, White House Pet Detectives, Ed. Carole Nelson DouglasCarole Nelson DouglasCarole Nelson Douglas is an American writer. She is best known for two popular mystery series, the Irene Adler mysteries and the Midnight Louie mystery series....
, Cumberland House 2002 - The Breath of Bast, Kittens, Cats, and Crime, Ed. Ed Gorman, Five Star March 2003 (Vampire Files story - Escott)
- Silva's Dream Date, Sorcerer's Academy , Ed. Denise Little, DAW PB September 2003
- Slaughter, The Repentant, Ed. Brian M. Thomsen and Martin H. Greenberg PB October 2003 (Vampire Files story)
- Tarnished Linings, Magic Shops, Ed. Denise Little DAW PB February 2004
- Death in Dover, Death by Dickens anthology, Ed. Ann Perry. 2004
- King of Shreds and Patches, Rotten Relations, Ed. by Denise Little. PB OOP 2004
- Farscape Villains I've Known and Loved, Farscape Forever!: Sex, Drugs and Killer Muppets 2005, BenBella BooksBenBella BooksBenBella Books is an independent publishing house based in Dallas, Texas. Founded by Glenn Yeffeth in 2001, BenBella specializes in non-fiction books on popular culture, health, and nutrition, along with books on science, politics, psychology, and other topics....
- The Name of the Game, All Hell Breaking Loose, DAW Books, 2005
- The Night Stalker, Essay for "Horror: Another 100 best Books" Ed. Kim NewmanKim NewmanKim Newman is an English journalist, film critic, and fiction writer. Recurring interests visible in his work include film history and horror fiction—both of which he attributes to seeing Tod Browning's Dracula at the age of eleven—and alternate fictional versions of history...
, Carroll & Graf, Sept, 2005 - The Why of the Matter, Kolchak, the Night Stalker Chronicles Moonstone Books, October 2005
- Power Hungry, The Kolchak Casebook Moonstone Books, January 2007
- Grave-robbed, Many Bloody Returns, Ace Science Fiction, 2007 (Vampire Files story)
- The Company You Keep, Vampires: Dracula and the Undead Legions, Moonstone 2009 (Vampire Files story - Kroun)
- Dark Lady, Dark and Stormy Knights, St. Martin's Griffin, 2010 (Vampire Files story)
- Vampires Prefer Blonds, Chicks Kick Ass, Tor, no release date yet (Vampire Files story - Bobbi Smythe)
- Beach Girl, Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine, November 2011 (Original story)
Full list, including reprints are on the vampwriter.com website