(Art by AdroVonCrow –
DeviantART)
While the word vampire
is only a few hundred years old, it's predated by a wide variety of myths around
the world of spirits and demons feeding on the blood, flesh, or life force of
the living. The current popular image came from east European beliefs, however
it got a facelift along the way.
In Slavic, Romanian, and Romani (Gypsy) folklore vampires
are hideous monsters with ruddy complexion and crude manners. They were
believed to rise from the bodies of witches, criminals, and suicide victims, or
alternately, those of who died violent and untimely deaths.
It was the writers of fiction who gave vampires their pallor
and sexual magnetism. The monster became a Byronic hero, alluringly dark and
mysterious, and not to mention moody.
"It was evident that he was a prey to some cureless
disquiet…" (Lord Byron, Fragment of
a Story)
If brooding were an Olympic sport, the children of the night
would win every medal. Angel, Edward, Bill…they'll glare at you with their
dark, smoldering eyes and tell you that you should run from them, they're cursed,
will make you unhappy, and so on.
If it were me, I'd run. All that sulking is such a drag.
I mean, seriously, they're practically immortal, don't age,
have cellulite or high cholesterol, and don't even have to go to they gym. What
is there to sulk about?
I wanted to write story, something short and sweet, about a
vampire with a sense of humor and appetite for (un)life. Just to get it out of
my system. Naturally, my intended novelette turned into a full-blown novel of
over 70,000 words. The protagonists are Harvey, the spunky young vampire and
his love interest, Gabe, the conflicted slayer. Spirit Sanguine will come out at the
end of April, but is available for pre-order on Amazon and at the Samhain
store.
I'm not a fan of vamps, weres, shifters, fays, etc, etc, etc. Said this, I love your books and your kind of humour so guessing have to make an exception :-)
ReplyDeleteThank you. I promise, they are not too vampy. :P Well, Harvey is, on occasion. :P
DeleteI can't get into werewolves at all. For that reason I want to write a werewolf story one of these days.
Look forward to reading that story!
ReplyDeleteThanks! Only two and a half more months. :O
DeleteI'm glad you found where your heart should be in writing!
ReplyDeleteI love it when the characters take over.
DeleteGreat post! Spirit Sanguine sounds like something right up my alley - I love it when comedy plays into horror/supernatural.
ReplyDeleteImo, horror and supernatural especially need a touch of humor.
DeleteCongrats on your new book! I love this line - "I mean, seriously, they're practically immortal, don't age, have cellulite or high cholesterol, and don't even have to go to they gym. What is there to sulk about?" Love that awesome vampire photo, too!!
ReplyDeleteAm I right? You'd think vamps get the sense of humor sucked out of them when converted.
DeleteDeviantART has such great artwork. I was so happy that this picture had Creative Commons license.
Congrats on the new book! Vampires have rarely been more popular, and I recall all the other times they were popular in the 90s and before!
ReplyDeleteGreat stuff.
Tim
The Other Side
Thanks. I've been getting the impression that vampires have reached their peak and their popularity is fading. Zombies are the next big thing.
DeleteThe whole tall, dark and broody can get wearing at times can't it :). I like the sound of your take on the genre, looks like it will be a lot of fun to read.
ReplyDeleteI remember the late 80s and early 90s fondly because I'm a huge fan of films like My Best Friend's a Vampire and Once Bitten where there was some comedy and fun along with the fangs.
Imo, dark and broody men are good for a fling but are not relationship material. I can't imagine any of them bringing you breakfast in bed.
DeleteOne of my favorite vampire films used to be "The Fearless Vampire Killers."
Angel, still does it for me!
ReplyDeleteGreat post, and yes they do brood, but all they want is sympathy and love.
And no cellulite - damn that would make me turn in a second!
Nice to meet you via the blog hop -- and congratulations on the book release!
I had a thing for Spike. He was such a sexy bad boy.
DeleteCongrats on your upcoming release. I was a Spike girl. That vamp had a wonderful attitude. "I like the world, 5 billion happy meals on legs"
ReplyDeleteCongrats on the upcoming release!!
Yeah, Spike was my vamp too. I use a few food analogies in the book too. They're hard to resist.
DeleteHi, Lou, popping 'round from the Vampire Bite Hop. Love that "All that sulking is such a drag." bit - LOL! I dig the idea of a vampire hero with a sense of humor. Best of luck with Spirit Sanguine!
ReplyDeleteIsn't it though? It wouldn't be much fun dating a vampire.
Delete