Patricia Nead Elrod (born 1954)Entry for P. N. Elrod in the Internet Speculative Fiction Database is an American novelist specializing in urban fantasy. She has 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.
Her suspense short story, Beach Girl, won the 2011 Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine Readers Choice Award.
Overview P. N. Elrod's start in professional publishing began at TSR writing gaming modules. She has published more than twenty-five novels, beginning in 1990 with her Vampire Files urban fantasy series, featuring hard-boiled private investigator Jack Fleming and his partner, Charles Escott, 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 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.
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 in 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 an honorable mention in the 2007 Pearl Awards for best anthology.
Her collection Dark and Stormy Knights, also with St. Martin's Griffin, was released in July 2010. She also sold a steampunk series, On Her Majesty's Psychic Service, to Tor Books in 2010.
In April 2011, Elrod was presented with the RT Book Review's Pioneers of Genre Fiction Award for "Forging the Way in Vampire Fiction Since 1990."
Her short story, "Beach Girl", published in the November 2011 edition of Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine, was presented with first place for their annual Readers' Choice Award.
Her collection, Hex Symbols, was released by St. Martin's in June 2012.
Bibliography
Jonathan Barrett, Gentleman Vampire
Red Death (1993, 2004 re-release) Death and the Maiden (1994, 2004 re-release) Death Masque (1995, 2004 re-release) Dance of Death (1996, 2004 re-release)
Ravenloft I, Strahd: The Memoirs of a Vampire (1993, ) Abridged, three-hour audiobook from Random House, performed by Roddy McDowell I, Strahd: The War Against Azalin (1998, ) Both available as audiobooks, unabridged.
Vampire Files #TitleAlso InPublication DateComments1Bloodlist 19902Lifeblood 19902.5Vampires Prefer BlondesChicks Kick Butt20113Bloodcircle 19904Art in the Blood19915Fire in the Blood 19916Blood on the Water19927Chill in the Blood1998Winner of the Lord Ruthven Award, best novel 19988Dark Sleep19999Lady Crymsyn200010Cold Streets200311Song in the Dark200511.4Grave-robbedMany Bloody Returns200711.5Her Mother's DaughterMy Big Fat Supernatural Honeymoon200911.6Hecate's Golden EyeStrange Brew200912Dark Road Rising200912.5The Devil You KnowApr 2009Signed, limited-edition novella, Vampwriter Books12.6Dark LadyDark and Stormy Knights2010
Her Majesty's Psychic Service series
The Hanged Man
Other novels Quincey Morris, Vampire (Baen Books 2001, ); an expansion of the short story "The Wind Breathes Cold" The Adventures of Myhr (Baen Books 2003, ) On Her Majesty's Psychic Service: The Hanged Man (Tor Books May, 2015 ) On Her Majesty's Psychic Service: The Chariot (Tor Books TBD) On Her Majesty's Psychic Service: The Empress (Tor Books TBD)
Co-writing with Nigel Bennett Keeper of the King (with Nigel Bennett) (Baen Books 1997, ) His Father's Son (with Nigel Bennett) (Baen Books 2001, ) Siege Perilous (with Nigel Bennett) (Baen Books 2004, )
Anthologies and collections Anthology or CollectionContentPublication DateEditorPublisherCommentsDracula, Prince of DarknessThe Wind Breathes Cold
Caretaker1992Martin H. GreenbergDAWVampire DetectivesYou'll Catch Your Death1995Martin H. GreenbergDAWVampire Files storyCelebrity VampiresA Night at the (Horse) Opera1995Martin H. GreenbergDAWWomen at WarFugitives1995Lois McMaster Bujold
Roland J. GreenTorTime of the VampiresThe Witch's Mark1996 2004P.N. Elrod Martin H. GreenbergMob MagicThe Quick Way Down1998Brian Thomsen
Martin H. GreenbergDAWVampire Files storyDracula in LondonWolf and Hound2001P.N. Elrod Nigel BennettAssassin FantasticMyhr's Adventure in Hell2001Martin H. Greenberg
Alexander PotterDAWFamiliarsDog Spelled Backwards2002Denise LittleDAWCreature FantasticThe Tea Room Beasts2002Denise LittleDAWVengeance FantasticThe Astral Outrage2002Denise LittleDAWDeath by HoroscopeBossman2002Anne Perry
John HelfersCarroll & GrafMurder Most RomanticThe Scottish Ploy2002Denise LittleWhite House Pet DetectivesIzzy's Shoe-In2002Carole Nelson DouglasCumberland HouseKittens, Cats, and CrimeThe Breath of BastMar 2003Ed GormanFive StarVampire Files story - EscottSorcerer's AcademySilva's Dream DateSep 2003Denise LittleDAW PBThe RepentantSlaughterOct 2003Brian Thomsen
Martin H. GreenbergPBVampire Files storyVampire Files Volume 1Bloodlist
Lifeblood
Bloodcircle2003Vampire Files Books 1-3Magic ShopsTarnished LiningsFeb 2004Denise LittleDAW PBDeath by DickensDeath in Dover2004Ann PerryanthologyRotten RelationsKing of Shreds and Patches2004Denise LittlePB OOPStepping Through the StargateVillains I Love to Hate2004P.N. Elrod Roxanne L. ConradFarscape Forever!: Sex, Drugs and Killer MuppetsFarscape Villains I've Known and Loved2005BenBella BooksAll Hell Breaking LooseThe Name of the Game2005DAWEssay for Horror: Another 100 Best BooksThe Night StalkerSep 2005Kim NewmanCarroll & GrafKolchak, the Night Stalker ChroniclesThe Why of the MatterOct 2005Moonstone BooksMy Big Fat Supernatural WeddingAll Shook Up2006P.N. ElrodWinner of the 2006 Pearl Award for best paranormal anthology.Vampire Files Volume 2Art in the Blood
Fire in the Blood
Blood on the Water2006Vampire Files Books 4-6The Kolchak CasebookPower HungryJan 2007Moonstone BooksMany Bloody ReturnsGrave-robbed2007Ace Science FictionVampire Files storyMy Big Fat Supernatural HoneymoonHer Mother's Daughter2008P.N. ElrodHonorable Mention, 2007 Pearl Award, best paranormal anthology.Strange BrewHecate's Golden EyeJul 2009P.N. ElrodHonorable Mention, 2009 Pearl Award, Best AnthologyVampires: Dracula and the Undead LegionsThe Company You Keep2009Moonstone BooksVampire Files story - KrounDark and Stormy KnightsDark Lady2010P.N. ElrodSt. Martin's GriffinVampire Files storyChicks Kick ButtVampires Prefer BlondesJun 2011TorVampire Files - Bobbi SmytheThe P.N. Elrod Lunch Time Reading OmnibusJun 2011P.N. ElrodVampwriter BooksB0051PC6N8, Ellery Queen's Mystery MagazineBeach GirlNov 2011original story; winner of EQMM Readers Choice Award for 2011Vampire Files Volume 3Chill in the Blood Dark Sleep2011Vampire Files Books 7, 8Vampire Files Volume 4Lady Crymsyn Cold Streets2011Vampire Files Books 9, 10Vampire Files Volume 5Song in the Dark
Dark Road Rising2012Vampire Files Books 11, 12Hex AppealOutside the BoxJun 2012P.N. ElrodSt. Martin's GriffinVampire Files universe story, Ellinghaus & Goldfarb
References
External links Official Website
RT Book Reviews Pioneers of the Genre Awards