iDrakula

Why I really wrote the book:

From the librian blog The Half Time Blog — “Just last week, an eighth grade girl returned the latest teen vampire novel, idrakula, which includes updated iphone texts and other new technologies. “Miss, this is the second book I’ve ever finished.” (They never say it’s the first). “I haven’t finished a book since Junie B. Jones.”

More news…

Three years after publication, iDrakula is still getting great reviews and making “Halloween Best of” lists!

Reviews: Fairy Tale Magazine, Girl’s Life (again!), New York Public library’s Tall Dark and Deadly,Be a Better Book Talker, and YA Reading List.

Top 10 Lists: Search Engine Journal, E-Week, iPhone Pro Guide.

* * *

IDRAKULA on Booklist’s Top 10 Horror Fiction for Youth list! They said: “The gimmick—Bram Stoker’s tale retold entirely via smart phones, text messages, PDFs, etc.—results in a surprisingly upsetting one-shock-per-page pulse. And all those auto-rejected e-mails from Dracula’s lair? Shudder.”

Bloody love for IDRAKULA at Vampire Empire!

IDRAKULA tops “Funny Paranormal Teen Reads” at Kirkus Reviews.

Another award! IDRAKULA wins a silver Publisher’s West Design Award!

Tasty reviews at Bookgasm and horrornews.net!

Terrific interview at GetFanged.com.

Lovely mention of iDrakula on Publisher’s Weekly today in Today’s YA Scene.

iDrakula has been nominated for an Appy award for best book app.  It’s pretty elite company,  and the Drak is honored.

Love from The Horn Book Blog, Publisher’s Weekly (again!) about Today’s YA Scene!

iDrakula mentioned in the School Library Journal Teen newsletter.

iDrakula hitting the top 10 lists for Halloween apps! It’s listed at #3 by PC World! It’s listed as Halloween App #2 in 10 Spookiest Apps for Halloween here, # 3 here

iDrakula featured on the front page of the Book section at girlslife.com!

Did a five minute spot on FOX in Denver talking about iDrakula.  It was very fun!

iDrakula is recommended by School Library Journal. As someone who grew up in libraries, this is very close to my heart.

New York Journal of Books did a great review, plus put up the audio clips (only place you can hear them if you don’t have access to an iPhone or iPodTouch). I love those guys!

Science 20 likes it too! As does Free iPhone apps!

iDrak is number one! It’s the number on most downloaded book on the app store TODAY!!!!

iDrakula is featured in the Apple App Store, behind the Halloween button and just below R.L. Stine. Wow!

Wonderful article in the San Francisco Chronicle about iDrakula!

Enthusiasm from the Publisher’s Weekly blog too!

Terrific mentions by Jason Pinter at the Huffington Post and also at Media Bistro.

Fun guest blog over at Janice Gable Bashman’s blog about “Where I Like to Write”

Interviews with The Big Thrill, Authors & Appetizers, Third Place Teens, and In High Spirits.

Great reviews from Kirkus Reviews, Booklist, and NY Journal of Books, plus the blogging community are all here.

Brief mentions in USA Today and the Chicago Sun-Times!

Kirkus Reviews says “Black brings Bram into the modern age with e-mails, smart phones and websites, all while preserving the brooding heart and vicious nature of Dracula, the literary ur-vampire…” For more, see the Books page.

iDrakula chosen as a selection by the Junior Library Guild!

iDrakula a featured book for Sourcebooks at BEA

Bekka Black spotted at Sourcebooks Fire launch

Interview with Dianne Salerni

Dark Faerie Tales likes the cover

Mouth-watering reviews are coming in for iDrakula. He will not feast on their necks…

The trades:

“Check out the first text: “Renfield had a psychotic break. Carted off to Bellevue. More l8r.” It’s an opening gambit indicative of Black’s storytelling instinct, which consistently proves itself able to transcend gimmick. The format, with its realistic images of iPhone and iPad screens, actually lends the book a chilling sort of one-shock-per-page pulse—and let’s not forget that Stoker organized his novel with the letters and diaries of his time, too. Black’s enjoyable modifications turn the plot into a love triangle (well, actually, counting the count, a love pentagon): Mina is a jujitsu-practicing romantic; Jonathan, a womanizing cad; Lucy, his boozy booty call; and Abe Van Helsing, a premed student (“He’s old,” e-mails Mina, “twenty or so”)…Fast, inventive, creepy, and sure to be popular.” — Booklist

“Black brings Bram into the modern age with e-mails, smart phones and websites, all while preserving the brooding heart and vicious nature of Dracula, the literary ur-vampire….Mina’s heartfelt final e-mail to Lucy blends a traditional goodbye with the ephemeral nature of today’s digital technology.” — Kirkus Reviews

“Black’s seminal retelling speaks to today’s gigabyte-obsessed youth in a language they will certainly understand and undoubtedly relate to…A book is supposed to speak to its audience, though, and in that respect it’s hard to envision an author following that rule in stronger fashion than Black. Indeed,iDrakula seems perfectly crafted for a generation for whom communication is primarily keyboard based, often exclusively keyboard based.” — New York Journal of Books

“It’s a hoot!  Done all in text messaging and emails, it tells the Dracula story using a present day setting, technology and teen talk.  I laughed out loud and constantly felt the urge to tell anyone around me what was happening (“Listen to this!”)  Refreshing and delightful, I downloaded it to my iPhone and can’t wait to share it with everyone I know.” —Publishers Weekly, Beyond Her Book Blog

“How’s this for some spooky fun? Author Bekka Black makes Bram Stoker’s classic vampire story newly accessible for a generation of connected teens…Teens will dig the mash-up that’s sort of CSI meets Dark Shadows, and you’ll love experiencing the app with them.”—School Library Journal Teen Newsletter

” Looking for a modern twist on an original spooky story? Check out iDrakula by Bekka Black…a thriller told through emails and text messages. Unravel the nail-biting mystery of Bram Stoker’s classic Dracula story — updated for the techno-savvy generation. You won’t be disappointed.” — Girls Life

“Non-purist Stoker fans will enjoy this reimagining as a loving homage to the classic; readers up on their vampire lore will chuckle at allusions like “Tepes Travel” and “Ask Vlad” search engine. As in the original novel, readers must fill in the gaps between communiqués to finish the narrative; what’s left to the imagination can be even creepier than what’s included.” — Horn Book Blog

Great blogger reviews too!

“At long last, here’s a classic story retold for a young and tech-savvy generation! Bekka Black (otherwise known as Rebecca Cantrell) tells a story that is firmly rooted in the original novel but then diverges in several unusual ways. iDrakula is an excellent choice to give to a teenager who spends too much time on the computer and not enough time reading books.” —  Be a Better Book Talker

“Totally hilarious. I suppose if Bram Stoker’s Dracula was based on the 21st century where everyone uses the latest tech gadgets like iphone or ipad, which would be totally awesome…The story was short, got me laughing all all over and totally great. Recommended to everyone! While you guys check this out I will have to go stalk check out more of Bekka Black’s work ;)” — Smutty Dirty Bitch

“Being an avid fan of “Dracula” and the style in which it was written, this fresh modern take on the classic is both fun and ingenius. It opens up one of the original vampire legends for our next generation of vampire lovers while keeping the scares and the mysterious feel of the original.” — Infernal Dreams

“Gritty and clever, iDrakula is the ultra-creative introduction to the basic outline of Stoker’s horror novel.  If hunting for a reasonable, gripping vampire novel with a surprising ending, no complicated love triangles, and a new theory about vampire transformation, iDrakula is one of the best choices.” — examiner.com

“If you are looking for something different to try, pick up a copy of iDrakula by Bekka Black. This brings Bram Stoker’s original Dracula to today’s world. The book is written in text messages, e-mails and reproductions of computer browser screens and PDF attachments. What could have just come across as gimmicky instead really works as a fast, inventive tale with chills popping up on almost every page.” — NorthJersey.com

“iDrakula: iClassic? Bekka Black’s upcoming novel iDrakula is a clever take on the classic vampire tale told by Bram Stoker…Be on the lookout for Bekka Black’s iDrakula coming out this October. We all need a book with a bite.” — Kiss My Lit

Comments are divided between “I can’t wait for this book to come out!” and “[Remakes] are insulting to the original classics.” (both by people who have not read the book)

“From: Mister Groonk

To: Faithful Readers
Subject: The modern retelling of the strange old man who doesn’t drink….wine.
Sent: October 29, 2010

Here’s a curious idea. Take one classic tale of the great and powerful king of all night creatures your count and lord, Dracula. Take it from its humble, and now quaint, 1897 origins. Then transform and infuse it with all the 21st century trappings. Instant messages. Voicemail. Email. And cram it all in your handy portable Steve Jobs device.

And the first part of iDrakula is free!

*Traps a spider. Inspects it briefly. Eats it.*

The master must be informed of this “new age magic.” he must know. For the retelling, like the blood, is life.

The dark lord’s humble servant,
G” — groonk.net

“A completely different twist on Dracula, this book is a completely idea and is pulled off in such a creative way you can’t help but enjoy it…t’s really clever, and I loved looking at Mina’s search bar to see what she was looking up and why. It was like a mini-mystery inside the book, and was a lot of fun.

If you have read the original, trust me, it is very different. If you think you know how it’s going to end, think again…this book is a lot of fun. It’s creative, very entertaining, and a great one-sitting read. Have a good time with it, I know I did!” — Young Adult Books Reviewed

A completely different twist on Dracula, this book is a completely idea and is pulled off in such a creative way you can’t help but enjoy it.
“Bekka does a great job with her modern day spin on Drakula, as iDrakula is written all in text or email form. I honestly didn’t know what to expect reading a book written all from email and text, but it worked for iDrakula and I was pleasantly surprised…I think vampire fans will enjoy iDrakula. It’s a quick, fun read, with a great modern day Drakula spin for teens.” — Mundie Moms

“While I’ve sort of been put off paranormal lately, iDrakula called to me, with it’s unique way of storytelling and I’m so glad I picked it up!  Not having read the original of even seen a movie version of Dracula (which I did so afterward and of the two iDrakula wins) it was fun to experience the story in one of my favorite ways, through emails, text messages, web pages etc. I’ve heard that the original is told in letters and diaries, so I think it’s really fun to see how that was modernized in this book too!” — Pop Culture Junkie

“iDrakula is kind of a modern day abridged version of Bram Stoker’s novel, Dracula which, if you think about it, was kind of different for its time as the plot unfolded in letters. However, instead of being told through diary entries, newspaper articles and personal letter excerpts, iDrakula for your iPhone is presented in text messages, voice mail, emails and web site screen shots…Teens and young adults who don’t have the patience for verbose dialog and descriptions will enjoy eavesdropping on the drama of this vampire story…Expect to be entertained for a couple of hours or so if you scroll straight through the text messages and emails.” — April Lentini

“I was intrigued.  I quickly downloaded it and read the first 5 days of this story.  It’s an easy transition to read a book in a text message, email format.  That’s what we do all day.  And to read a book like this actually made it fun and interesting.  I know some will say this classic book shouldn’t be touched and fooled around with.  But I say give it a look see.  She isn’t trying to re-invent the story.  She is trying to give the book a new feel for today’s readers that many not want to pick up the book otherwise because it’s considered a classic.  You will be surprised.  It’s well done.”– {indie}pendent books

“I applaud Bekka Black for discovering what really seems to be a natural medium for retelling the classic Dracula. Although short, the reader gets the highlights of the original. Unfortunately, along with the modernization comes added sexuality which I do not remember from Dracula.” — The Literate Mother

“IDrakula is waaayyy better than Dracula by Bram Stoker…There I said it. LOL I tried to read Dracula so many times, but it’s just too boring. I think I will never finish reading Dracula, but IDrakula by Bekka Black is another story. Just like me, I think the young ones will prefer to read IDrakula. It’s from our generation. The whole book is made with email exchange, internet browser, iphone texts and comes with cool pictures. For me it was pure AWESOMENESS! Wasn’t boring at all, Bekka Black catches the real Dracula and made this IDrakula for young people AND she didn’t change the real story’s soul. (Like I said, I didn’t finish reading Dracula, but I did read a lot and saw the movies and all). I really liked it.” — YA Lover Geek

“Bekka Black’s Mina has taken all of the original’s potential and turned it into a strong, free-spirited, fiercely proud, and truly confident young heroine. She is on top of her game from beginning to end…when she starts to think a vampire is the cause of all of her current uncertainty and misery, she goes out and finds that vampire and lets him know who is boss.” — horrornews.net

“Bekka Black’s iDrakula is a modernization of Bram Stoker’s Dracula. The original text consisted of letters and diaries, and this update uses a similar format but with text messages, emails and Web browser screenshots. The story is not an exact retelling of Stoker’s classic, but Black sets an excellent tone with the opening text: “Renfield had a psychotic break. Carted off to Bellevue. More l8r.” An excellent addition to the Dracula canon.” — A Reading Life