Archive for June 2011

Marianna Harutunian is clearly one of the best, if not the best Gothic jewelry designer in the U.S.  The designer is of Armenian descent, but moved with her family to American when she was two years old, and is a true  American Dream success story. Her designs  have graced the fabulous bodies of  Lady Gaga (Judas Priest video), Pink, Cher, Diana Ross, and a host of other celebrities and fashionistas. Most recently her designs will be seen on characters in  vampire series, "True Blood". You too can wear her  cuffs, necklaces, bracelets, and body designs. The Lady Gaga  Judas cuff is available in 24 carat gold plate with Swarovski crystals. She also has bridal designs.

To view customs designs go to: ilovemariannas.com.

Be careful when wearing these pieces, men with dark desires are drawn to such art.

Scene from TV series " True Blood":

Scene from "The House on Black Lake" trailer

Please Note:  The House on Black Lake has been adapted to screenplay. Go to Home Page to view cinematic trailer.

The House on Black Lake has three bad boys who push the boundaries of "good girl" Alexandra Brighton. Preternaturally good looking Ramey Sandeley was  born to wealth and power, rides a horse like a native, shoots wild game like a professional, and seduces every creature that crosses his path. He has never heard the word "No". Georgie La Pointe, Ramey's cousin, is a tanned and  muscle bound Canadian rock star who has never dated the same woman more than once and grooms his hair in the eyes of his admirers. Andra Labat is a seductive French Canadian artist who woos conservative Alexandra Brighton to his bed within hours of meeting her, and remains charming and seductive as he lures her into a web of deadly intensions.

Most women have loved a bad boy at least once in their lives. My personal favorite bad boy boyfriend was a 6'7" New Zealander with wavy dark hair to his shoulders. The perfect man to date after a messy divorce.  He was utterly primitive, an outlaw, and untamable. One day I plan to hunt him back down and write a non fiction account of our reunion. But until then... here is my list.

I have chosen the top twenty best bad boys in romance novels based in input from fans and forums (thanks to Amazon community).

Please Note:  "The House on Black Lake" has been adapted to screenplay. Go to Home Page to view romantic/suspenseful trailer.

 I am presently in discussions for marketing the screenplay of my novel.  As the visual representation of my story becomes eminent I have begun to consider what I find appealing in  films that feature romance.

My definition of " romantic" is : a passionate longing.  As with reality, the more thwarted the physical longing, dangerous, and evocative the setting, the more intense the romantic experience. With this in mind, I hope to create a visually  lush, sensuous, and dangerous romantic love story.

My favorites are in no particular order, although Casablanca, Gone with the Wind and Dr. Zhivago are universally accepted as the top romantic films of all time. I have tried to pick films of different times and genres to give a broad overview.

1. Casablanca

2. Dr. Zhivago

3. Ryan's Daughter

4. Mrs. Soffel

5. Bonnie and Clyde

6. A Summer Place

7. A Walk on the Moon

8. The Unbearable Lightness of Being

9. Reds

10. The Postman Always Rings Twice

11. The Last of the Mohicans

12. Titanic

13. The Graduate

14. From Here to Eternity

15. Queen Margot

16. An Officer and a Gentleman

17. Urban Cowboy

18. Out of Africa

19. Brokeback Mountain

20. The Big Easy

21.  Pride and Prejudice

22. Romeo and Juliet

23. Shakespeare in Love

24. Mountains of the Moon

25. The Age of Innocence

26. The Summer of '42

27. The Way We Were

28. Unfaithful

29. A Room with a View

30. Chocolat

31. Legends of the Fall

32. Gone with the Wind

33. Dirty Dancing

34. Dangerous Beauty

35. The Year of Living Dangerously

36. Love Story

37. The English Patient

38. Tristan and Isolde

39. Persuasion

40. Wuthering Heights

41. Swept From the Sea

42. The Phantom of the Opera

43. Dances with Wolves

44. Against All Odds

45. Body Heat

46. Splendor in the Grass

47. The Notebook

48. Revenge

49. The French Lieutenant's Woman

50. Atonement

The first documented music video based on a scene from a novel is in post production. The video for contemporary gothic suspense, "The House on Black Lake" was filmed by acclaimed cinematographer Frazer Bradshaw at reknowned author Sam Keen's ranch in Sonoma. The piece also features work of Trapeze Pro aerial artists performing a new flying/ static trapeze act called "The Heroine's Journey".

It will feature a dramatic new song, titled "Dangerous Games" . Keith Hoover, Elliot Shoenbart, and John W. Arnst play roles in drama and are featured in photographs.

Photographs courtesy of Dave Miller Photography.

Anastasia Blackwell, Keith Hoover, John W. Arnst