“Why Vampires?” with Emma Meade – Immortal Monday

Vampires are no stranger to Immortal Monday. Traditionally they were the things of nightmares, creatures lurking in the dark and something to be feared. Today’s we’ve come to look at them in a new light. They’ve been romanticized and are now approached from many different angles. We have dark and sexy vampires that will befriend you (Damon Salvatore, Eric Northman, Angel or Spike) and strong protective vampires that can  walk in the sun (Edward Cullen and Blade). Many fans enjoy immersing themselves in tales a power and intrigue.

Today I have a special treat for you. A friend and writer of vampire tales is here to talk about what started her along the path of author, and of vampire stories in particular. Please welcome Emma Meade to the blog.

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Image via Wikipedia

Thinking back, I’m blaming The Lost Boys for my obsession with these creatures of the night and the world of the supernatural.  It must have been around 1990 or 1991, and I was staying at my older cousins’ house.  The boys were watching Kiefer Sutherland and his immortal gang devour the young population of Santa Carla, and I was having a scary, whale of a time watching this horror movie, which I knew full well my parents would not approve of me watching.  To this day, I get delightful chills and a poignant sense of nostalgia whenever I hear “People Are Strange” by The Doors.

From The Lost Boys, I progressed to Child’s Play and Nightmare on Elm Street.  Still not ten years old, my fascination with the world of monsters and horror was fuelled.  My sisters and I would beg my father to tell us the story of the shadow man who lives under the bed.  We had heard this tale a number of times during our childhood, but we would huddle together on long drives home from summer holidays while my Dad regaled his daughters with the spooky story we knew by heart.

 Then along came Mulder and Scully, and paranormal fiction reached out and enveloped me forever.  At school, I wrote short story after short story about ghosts, witches, vampires and aliens.  I can still hear one English teacher sighing and asking me, “can’t you write anything normal for a change?”  Inspiring me at this time were the Point Horror and Nightmares books.  Many of these stories involved teen romance with intense feelings of love and a desire to live beyond the normal human bounds.  I devoured tales of romantic entanglements between humans and paranormal creatures.  Later, I would move on to Anne Rice and the gothic fiction of Virginia Andrews.

image via Buffy Wikia

I stumbled upon the TV show, Buffy the Vampire Slayer one evening.  Randomly flicking through channels, I had the good fortune to find the very first episode, “Welcome to the Hellmouth” and I was hooked.  Buffy and Angel’s story was one that gripped so many girls, and women back in the nineties.  I think Giles summed up their love story pretty well when he said, “A vampire in love with a slayer.  It’s rather poetic.”

Angel was beautiful; he had a soul and suffered daily for his past sins.  He was the typical, brooding, Byronic hero women wish to save, the ultimate bad boy we dream about taming and making our own.  Vampires were no longer the ugly creatures of old.  They were desirable demons, like Louis from Interview with the Vampire, struggling to hold onto his humanity.

We have seen many forms of vampire down through the years, from gruesome, blood-thirsty creatures like the vicious animals in David Slade’s 40 Days of Night, to the sparkly, ‘vegetarian’ vamps of Twilight, to the enigmatic and untouchable beings in Anne Rice’s intoxicating and lush novels.  No matter what form they take, vampires continue to fascinate us.  They have the ability to live forever; remain eternally young, and in a world obsessed with vanity and youth, to be a vampire is to gain access to the holy grail.

(The links above will take you to trailers and videos)

My own YA vampire novel, Under the Desert Moon allowed me to create my very own vampire-human story.  Small town girl, Erin Harris longs to get far away from the stifling town of Copperfield, Arizona, until the night James Linkin shows up.  He’s the star of a cheesy, vampire movie, Kiss of the Vampire being shot in town, and he’s got his eyes set firmly on Erin.

And for adult eyes only, meet the sexy rock star, vampire Tristan and his girlfriend Alex in Night Sighs. Tristan is trying to persuade Alex to come over to the dark side. Just how long can she hold out? Hint – it’s not very long!

Pick up Night Sighs on Amazon or Smashwords today! Add it to your Goodreads list.

And check out Emma’s latest’s accomplishment: Under the Desert Moon.

Goodreads  Amazon   Soul Fire Press

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Emma Meade lives in rainy Ireland. She has a BA in English and History from University College Cork and an MA in Literature and Publishing from NUI Galway.When she’s not reading or writing, she can be found at the cinema checking out the latest movie releases or sipping rosé or drinking Barry’s tea in her backyard with family and friends. Books, DVDS & TV show boxsets take up lots of space in her home, and she collects all the Point Horror books she can get her hands on. Writing supernatural stories and watching marathon reruns of Buffy are some of her favorite ways of escaping reality.

Connect with Emma Meade:

Emma’s Ramblings on Supernatural Fiction  Twitter  EmmaMeadeBooks.Com

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Reminders: Don’t forget to enter for your chance to win a copy of The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer. Also, it’s never too late to jump on the Thor Tour. All you need to do is drop me a line. Finally, this blog will be relocating to a self-hosted site at some point at the end of October, beginning of November. I hope you’ll follow us to the new digs. My fabulous designer, Laird Sapir, and I have some pretty amazing ideas (I think) and I hope you’ll enjoy what we create there.

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~oOo~

I love hearing from you! If you enjoyed this post or any of my previous posts, I’d be delighted to have you hit the follow button or add this blog to your RSS feed! You may also find me on twitter at @DebraKrist. Tootles! Thanks for stopping by!

47 thoughts on ““Why Vampires?” with Emma Meade – Immortal Monday”

  1. EmmaEmma

    Thanks a mill, Debra. It’s very cool to feature on Immortal Monday x

    Reply
    September 17, 2012
    • Debra KristiDebra Kristi

      You’re most welcome, Emma! It’s my pleasure. 🙂

      Reply
      September 17, 2012
  2. Jennette Marie PowellJennette Marie Powell

    I loved the Lost Boys! Also loved the first vamp romance I read, Kiss me Forever by Rosemary Laurey. Now it’s a bit more challenging to find one that isn’t the same ol’ same ol’ but Emma’s books sound good. Thanks for a fun guest post!

    Reply
    September 17, 2012
    • Debra KristiDebra Kristi

      People keep buying so writers will continue to write them. If the story comes from the heart it will read that way. It helps it sell. Lots of vampire fans. Go figure. 😉 Thanks, Jennette!

      Reply
      September 17, 2012
    • EmmaEmma

      I’ve never heard of Kiss me Forever but I’m going to check it out. Thanks, Jennette.

      Reply
      September 18, 2012
  3. Tameri EthertonTameri Etherton

    I am so with you, Emma ~ I can’t hear ‘People are Strange’ without thinking of that movie. It’s one of the few movies I still have on VHS. There’s something about watching it old school that I love. Vampires have always fascinated me. Your trailer is awesome! That’s probably one of the best taglines I’ve ever read ~ ‘It’s good to be alive when you’re dead’. Love it!

    Reply
    September 17, 2012
    • Debra KristiDebra Kristi

      Who can NOT think of that movie when they hear ‘People are Strange?” That’s what I want to know. Wasn’t that a fun trailer? I found that with my sneaky investigator skills. 😀

      Reply
      September 17, 2012
      • EmmaEmma

        Great investigator skills, Debra.You did lots of research.

        Reply
        September 18, 2012
    • EmmaEmma

      Lol, I have it on VHS too! It’s actually on Sky Movies Horror and Sky Movies Comedy every other week these days. Loved the two Coreys in The Lost Boys. I like that tagline too, thanks.

      Reply
      September 18, 2012
    • Debra KristiDebra Kristi

      Thank you, Indiewritersreview. We love Emma here at Immortal Monday. Thanks for stopping in.

      Reply
      September 17, 2012
    • EmmaEmma

      Hiya, Michelle. You’re very loyal 🙂

      Reply
      September 18, 2012
  4. ElisaElisa

    I love The Lost Boys and Buffy 🙂

    Reply
    September 17, 2012
  5. Reetta RaitanenReetta Raitanen

    Your watching and reading history sounds a lot like mine, Emma 🙂 But I’ll add White Wolf’s Vampire the Masquerade RP as one of my biggest influences. My vampire interest really sparked in high school and I wrote some vamp stories for my teacher’s “pleasure” too 😛
    I loved the trailed and I bought both of your books.

    Reply
    September 17, 2012
    • Debra KristiDebra Kristi

      Very cool that you bought Emma’s books. Thank you, Reetta. That’s really neat that you wrote stories for your teacher’s pleasure. 🙂 Super cool, actually. You made me look up White Wolf. I’d never heard of that RP. Guess it’s rather big. Has its own Wiki. Cool!

      Reply
      September 17, 2012
    • EmmaEmma

      Wow. Thanks, Reetta. I must have a look at Vampire the Masquerade. Did that have anything to do with the TV show Kindred The Embraced? I’m sure the teachers got a kick out of your stories.

      Reply
      September 18, 2012
  6. susielindaususielindau

    I haven’t seen all of those movies, but have to admit to the guilty pleasure of watching a bit of Buffy and Vampire Diaries… don’t tell…
    Great post!

    Reply
    September 17, 2012
    • Debra KristiDebra Kristi

      What? You haven’t what? ;D I’m just playing with you. Our lips are sealed. Your secret is safe. Thanks for stopping by Susie.

      Reply
      September 17, 2012
    • EmmaEmma

      And The Vampire Diaries is back very soon, Susie.

      Reply
      September 18, 2012
      • susielindaususielindau

        OOooooooOOOooooo! I watch a few episodes during the season and love how I don’t really know what is going on, but can still be entertained by it!

        Reply
        September 18, 2012
  7. jansenschmidtjansenschmidt

    Sorry, just don’t “get’ the vampires. Nothing interesting or sexy about them. The actors who portray them on the big screen are sometimes too hot to handle, but the whole concept, just can’t buy into it.

    Great interview with Emma though. Fun to read other people’s take on other worldly creatures.

    Patricia Rickrode
    w/a Jansen Schmidt

    Reply
    September 17, 2012
    • Debra KristiDebra Kristi

      Vampires aren’t for everyone and that’s OKAY! Imagine how boring this world would be if we all thought the same way? It would be a real life version of The Stepford Wives. Ugh! We’re glad you still stop by. *Big hugs*

      Reply
      September 17, 2012
    • EmmaEmma

      Hey Patricia. Try the vamps from 40 Days of Night. They are terrifying and definitely nothing sexy about those guys and gals. Do you have a paranormal creature you like?

      Reply
      September 18, 2012
      • jansenschmidtjansenschmidt

        I like subtle paranormal like people with a sixth sense, or the ability to read minds. As far as paranormal creatures, I’m somewhat fascinated by fairies (elves). Of course that might be because Disney made them all so cute and cuddly. And I’m intrigued by the whole witchcraft magic and voo doo stuff. I’ll read any day books with those elements.

        Patricia

        Reply
        September 18, 2012
        • EmmaEmma

          I love reading about people with a sixth sense too. Witches are probably my next favourite, after vamps.

          Reply
          September 18, 2012
  8. Diana BeebeDiana Beebe

    What a great progression of horror to get where you are today! When I was in high school, I saw The Lost Boys in the movie theater four times and then countless times when it finally showed up on cable. Buffy is now one of my daughter’s favs, too. Thanks for sharing. 🙂

    Reply
    September 17, 2012
    • Debra KristiDebra Kristi

      How great that must be to enjoy Buffy with your daughter now! I look forward to that day with mine. Right now my kids ask that anything with vampires be turned off if they are to walk in the room. 🙂 I don’t blame them. The Lost Boys is a classic. Love that movie. Thanks for stopping by Diana.

      Reply
      September 17, 2012
    • EmmaEmma

      Hi, Diana. I’m hoping my little niece will become a big Buffy fan just like her auntie 🙂
      I hope they releas The Lost Boys in the cinema some time. I’d love to see it on the big screen.

      Reply
      September 18, 2012
  9. The Good GreatsbyThe Good Greatsby

    I’ve tried to understand the vampire obsession of some of my female friends. I still don’t get it but that’s probably because I’m jealous of vampire men stealing so many of our human women.

    Reply
    September 17, 2012
    • Debra KristiDebra Kristi

      Hello The Good Greatsby! Is it really just vampires or other types of sups as well? I would say there’s an overall interest/fascination with power, beauty, and pure fantasy today. Women aren’t looking for realism in their reading material so much as they are an escape from the everyday. Either that or it’s mass hallucination. ;D

      Reply
      September 17, 2012
      • EmmaEmma

        Escapism is definitely what we’re after, Debra.

        Reply
        September 18, 2012
    • EmmaEmma

      Ha ha. There are plenty of female vamps out there too. Try out the German flick, We are the Night. There are no male vampires in that movies.

      Reply
      September 18, 2012
  10. deborahjhughesdeborahjhughes

    My first exposure to vampires was in the soap opera Dark Shadows but I was quite little at the time and though I was fascinated with the show, it scared me to death! My view on vampires changed considerably when I watched “Cliffhangers, The Curse of Dracula”. Oh my, did I like that poor vampire or what! Suddenly I was seeing them in a whole new light. I think that was actually one of the nicer vampires to make it on TV way before they became super popular. Best of luck to you! Thanks for sharing your story.

    Reply
    September 18, 2012
    • EmmaEmma

      I’ve never seen Dark Shadows. I didn’t even make it to the cinema to see the Johnny Depp version but I am determined to fix that just as soon as I can.
      I’m going to Google Cliffhangers now. Thanks, Deborah.

      Reply
      September 18, 2012
  11. Coleen PatrickColeen Patrick

    Loved Buffy & Lost Boys too! And how cool is your trailer? Very rockin’ 🙂

    Reply
    September 18, 2012
    • EmmaEmma

      Thanks, Coleen. The Lost Boys is definitely one of my favourite vampires films. It’s just great fun, doesn’t take itself too seriously.

      Reply
      September 21, 2012
  12. Louise BehielLouise Behiel

    Thanks for sharing your evolution into the world of horror. and vamps of course.

    Reply
    September 19, 2012
    • EmmaEmma

      Cheers, Louise.

      Reply
      September 21, 2012
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