Vampires. I have a love hate relationship with vampires. On the one hand, they are interesting characters to play around with. They have this dark but sexy vibe that is pumping through the veins of (western) culture right now. Vampires have allusion of portraying human characteristics but at the same time, they are monsters. Bottom line, point blank.
It doesn't matter how much sparkles you put on a vampire, they are creatures of the night. They hunt, prey and consume blood. Now whether that blood is animal or human (or if it has to be human or no) that's a whole other matter.
Either way, vampires can be used pretty interestingly in books. And they have been. Which brings me to the loathing part of our relationship.
On the other hand, vampires are literally everywhere. You can't walk into the romance section of Barnes and Noble without seeing a vampire book staring you right in the face.
And let's not talk about the Young Adult/Teen section. Vampires are literally everywhere.
Which is exactly why I won't write about them. Currently.
I say currently, because I like vampires. I like seeing them in their non glorified state. I like seeing them in the purest, oldest form possible. I like seeing them as monsters and killing people.
And maybe I like to see the internal struggle between being a monster but looking human and still feeling like a human. Just without the overly dramatic, "I want to taste your blood (but I can't because I love you SOOO much)!" part.
Additionally, I've written short stories about vampires (which is in Everblossom 2, so you'll have to wait and read it!) and I would like to take it a step further and write a YA paranormal romance novel about them (notice, it's not going to be a series!). However, I just don't want to become part of the vampire teen section thing.
I guess I'm conflicted and confused.
As a writer, I know there's a story behind these characters but would I really want to become part of the thing I rebel against the most? Do I want to be part of the vampire crowd?
What do you love or hate about vampires?
I couldn't agree with you more. I much prefer them in their original state. Although, I do love some good guy vampires that were ahead of their time. For example, I totally geek out and LOVE Buffy the Vampire Slayer. I feel like those vamps had depth and their love was more realistic in a way. Anyway, I think most of the book world is catching up to our way of thinking and the oversaturation of the market is starting to take it's toll.
ReplyDelete-Kate the Book Buff
Recent Post: Review: The Gallows Curse by Karen Maitland
Hey Kate, thanks for stopping by and leaving a comment!
DeleteI'm glad I'm not the only one! It seems like the people who love Twilight never really know the original vampire or Buffy, or Interview With A Vampire or any of the prior history of vampires which is really a shame.
But I completely with you. I fell in love with BVS (Buffy the Vampire Slayer) when I was younger and that love still captures me anytime the theme song plays. The characters, plots and themes in the show were just right. Joss Whedon kept the vampires authentic and classic all at the same time. Love, love, love BVS.
Man, I hope that's true. I haven't read a vampire book in a while and I'm sorta missing them, lol. :)
I remember Julie Kagawa saying that she won't ever write a vampire story, but then she wrote one. I think it depends on the character. If the right vampire character pops up, I think you should write it regardless of the market. I'm not one for sparkling vampires, but I love my vampire romance. There's just something so fascinating about vampires, about their sometimes never ending struggle to be good while they're "inherently" evil. I'm also in a more mood for vampires in their original state after the saturation of the market.
ReplyDeleteNing @ Reading by Kindle Fire
Hi Ning! Thanks for stopping by and leaving a comment!
DeleteThanks for your input. I think I will write the YA PNR book after all. They're kinda sticking to me like glue, lol. I guess their story just won't be ignored. Just like the other stories that pop up in Everblossom 2. I can't wait to write some of them. Especially this steampunk one . . . I think readers are going to love it!
Anyway, I agree. Even though I hate the fact that everyone loves a vampire romance, there's a reason why it's popular: It's the lure, the draw, the conflict of the vampire/human situation. So yeah.