Dark Thirst »

Angela C. Allen, the editor of Dark Thirst, is a twin and a native of Texas. A graduate of Howard University, she is a veteran journalist whose work has appeared in the New York Post, the Washington Post, the Indianapolis Star, the Sun (London), and Honey magazine. She lives in New York City.

New York Times bestselling author Omar Tyree is the winner of the 2001 NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Literary Work — Fiction, and of the 2006 Phillis Wheatley Literary Award for Body of Work in Urban Fiction. His books include Boss Lady, Diary of a Groupie, Leslie, Just Say No!, For the Love of Money, Sweet St. Louis, Single Mom, A Do Right Man, and Flyy Girl. He lives in Charlotte, North Carolina. To learn more about Omar Tyree, visit his website at www.omartyree.com.

Donna Hill is the Essence bestselling author of Divas, Inc., In My Bedroom and If I Could. She is a public relations associate for the Queens Borough Public Library and lives with her family in Brooklyn, New York. Visit her website at www.donnahill.com.

Monica Jackson is the award-winning author of numerous novels and short stories. Her first novel, Midnight Blue, was produced as a BET television movie of the week. She lives in Topeka, Kansas. Visit her website at www.monicajackson.com.

A haunting anthology of vampire fiction -- one that brings a colorful new dimension to one of the world's most erotic and enduring myths. Featuring stories from some of today's most popular African American writers:

OMAR TYREE, writing as The Urban Griot The Old South falls prey to a handsome young vampire with a real taste for the ladies. Love at first bite never hurt so good.

ANGELA C. ALLEN The mafia is no match for the wicked charms of a beautiful young vampire once she's let loose on the New York City streets.

MONICA JACKSON Can a pair of fangs help a sister burn more calories? A full-figured woman goes on a thirst-quenching search for the perfect low-carb diet.

LINDA ADDISON It's a matter of life and the living dead for a half-vampire whose greatest wish is to save lives...and become human again.

DONNA HILL A sensuous vampire thirsts for something more...but can she find it without getting a dagger in her own heart?

KEVIN S. BROCKENBROUGH A vengeful vampire pushes one woman to the edge, unaware that her family secret gives her the power to fight back.

Publishers Weekly

This uneven anthology of sensual vampire stories by and about African-Americans breaks little new literary ground, but it provides a dose of pure escapist fun just in time for Halloween. Psychically commanding vampires, both men and women, both willing and unwilling killers, seduce unwitting humans and lead them to the slaughter. The majority of the stories share themes of beauty, power and the desire for love or approval-themes that Monica Jackson's "The Ultimate Diet" riffs on wonderfully as the obese Keeshia, rather than beginning another diet, figures out how to turn into a vampire so she can be slender and irresistible, just like her beautiful serial-killing neighbor. Donna Hill's "The Touch" follows Selena, a masseuse who uses sensual touch and sex to sate her desire for humans so she will not feed on them, as she begins to lose control of her urge for blood. Kevin S. Brockenbrough's outstanding "The Family Business" mixes vampires and werewolves with the real monsters-wife beaters and uncaring neighbors-as Shelly agrees to become a werewolf like the men in her family to get back at her abusive husband, only to have him return from the dead as a vampire eager for payback. The vampires are all ultimately alone, even as they reach out to the humanity that they themselves lack. Agent, Helen Wan at Frankfurt, Kurnit, Klein & Selz, PC. (Oct. 1) Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.