Your FREE STORY for World Dracula Day! 🧛

🦇HAPPY WORLD DRACULA DAY!🦇This is what you’ve been waiting so patiently for: Finding Bela Lugosi!

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Go to: https://BookHip.com/TCAPFXV
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Enjoy—and let me know what you think!

You wanted my goth history…?

It was World Goth Day on May 22^nd , and I dropped a fun little video for all of you who have be insisting in the “Ask Raven Anything” poll that that’s what you’re here for. There are more individual stories coming—at your request!—but here is a basic overview. Get ready to get dark…

Raven Belasco in conversation with Amber Benson at Hellmouth Con

I will be at Hellmouth Con, in Torrance CA, from June 13-15. I will be selling signed copies of the series—and there will be a secret surprise new swag item for everyone buying the books on the Hellmouth! (While supplies last, obvs.)

When I’m not vending, I will be doing a panel with Amber Benson (you know, Tara Maclay on Buffy the Vampire Slayer). We’ll be talking about writing dark fantasy and about vampires, and I think it’s going to be an amazing conversation.

For those of you who can’t make it, it will be recorded, but if you possibly can get to the Hellmouth that weekend, it is entirely worth your time. This convention happens at the high school where Buffy was shot, so it’s really immersive. Also, Buffy fans are, generally speaking, particularly sweet and welcoming people—even if Buffy isn’t your main fandom, you’ll be made welcome. Also, just check out all who will be attending: you all know what a huge Trekkie I am, and I’m beyond excited to meet Armin Shimerman 🤓

HellmouthCon on the Hellmouth | Buffy | Fandom Charities

Fandom Charities Inc.® is excited to announce the return of the HellmouthCon, a global fandom event, set for the weekend of June 14, 2025, at Torrance High School, the filming location for “Buffy the Vampire Slayer.” This event symbolizes a mystical convergence of fandom cultures. The HellmouthCon offers an array of weekend activities to be revealed soon.

www.fandomcharities.org/hellmouthcon

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Today is World Dracula Day!

Two of the books in the series have been published on this day, and so it holds extra meaning for me.

From a series I’m doing on IG/FB about what my characters have taught me

I was fascinated by Vlad Țepeș since about age 12. I remember going to the local library’s book sale, and in one of the cardboard boxes on the lawn in front of the library was In Search of Dracula by Raymond T McNally & Radu Florescu.

I had no idea at the time, but that moment would change my life. In that moment, however, I just excitedly added “A true history of Dracula and vampire legends—with 60 illustrations!” to my pile of used books to buy.

This is the very book I grabbed out of the box; a little battered now!

I had already read Stoker’s Dracula (I was a precocious lil nerdling and in my “paranormal phase” to boot: anything about vampires, ghosts, werewolves, cryptids, or psychic phenomena was a must-read for me; I had already devoured all the books on witchcraft a year or so before) so I knew that story perfectly well. But the real story was so much more fascinating—which is how I still feel today. And why the Blood & Ancient Scrolls series deals with Vlad Țepeș as a historical figure and not as merely Stoker’s Count.

It was with shock and delight that many years later, I found out that my friend Dr. Ligia Buzan (who had done the Romanian language and sensitivity edits for the series) was actually a student of the esteemed Radu Florescu, and getting to talk to her about working with him, and about Romanian vampire myth has been one of the highlights of being a vampire author 💝

I want to take a moment to thank all of you for being such an amazing support system. I’m so lucky not to have just distant unknown “fans” but readers who are truly invested in the series and in me as an author. You lot are what’s making this whole indie author thing actually work, and are giving me a chance to live my passion. I’m glad that on this special day, I am able to give back to you.

I raise a glass of your favorite red beverage to you! 🍷 May you (metaphorically) impale every enemy that tries to stand in your way!

‼️Reminder: you can still ask me anything…!

To everyone who made it this far, you’re fucking amazing and I adore you! Until next time, be good or be good at it! 😘

💭 I’d love to hear your thoughts, questions and feedback: drop me a note 📨

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