The Soul of a Vampire

Happy Friday, everyone! For today's post, I'm going to talk about something that has been nagging me for a very long time. Not just days or months, but years, over a decade. Pretty darn close to two decades, actually. I believe the thought first entered my mind when Mrs. Page, my wonderful high school librarian, introduced me to vampires via Anne Rice's The Vampire Lestat. Yes, I read Lestat before reading Interview with a Vampire. I was hooked immediately. Since then, I've read quite a few vampire stories and each one is unique and different. But a question arose and has been debated for a very long time.  

 

Do vampires have souls? 

Blood Moon is almost ready!

It's a tough question, to be sure, and I believe that everyone's answer to that question is influenced by other values they hold. Personally, I believe they do. I don't think any god would punish someone and damn them to an eternity of hell because of a choice someone else made for them. I believe vampires (and werewolves, for that matter) have a choice in where they end up, regardless of their circumstances and it's their actions and their actions alone that determine what happens at the end of their life. Some may choose to revel in the fear and death that is often associated with vampires, but others will choose a life of peace, or as much of one as they can manage. Of course, vampires are interpreted differently by everyone, and that interpretation will also influence where someone believes a vampire will end up.

So that's my very brief take on the matter. What's yours?

Sneak Peek: Blood Moon

Happy Sunday! I was trying to come up with a fun post idea on this lazy chilly morning and thought, Hey, maybe my readers would like a little glimpse into the next Jane book. So here you go, folks. A tiny peek at Blood Moon. Enjoy!

The clang of metal rang through the hills behind the ranch. Anyone within earshot must have wondered when they were ported back to fourteenth century England and why anyone was fighting in the dead of night. I panted as I lowered my sword and raised a hand for respite, trying desperately to catch my breath. An image of Ado's last moments flashed in front of my eyes and I gritted my teeth. Shaking my head to clear the thought, I glared up at Felipe.

"Please tell me again why you're making me learn to use such an archaic weapon?"

He was stretching in front of me, his own sword nestled snuggly in the sheath by his side. "It is important you know as many forms of defense as possible. You never know when you'll need to use something that isn't going to blow a huge hole in the side of a building."

He flashed me a glimpse of his perfectly white teeth and I melted at his winning smile. He was lucky he was cute. Sighing, I raised my sword again and squared off. "Alright, let's do this."

Felipe's grin grew and he slid his sword from its home, bringing it arcing around and toward my head in one swift motion. I barely got my own weapon up in time to block the blow and I could feel the vibrations through my arms as the two swords met.

A loud buzzing noise brought a premature end to our bout. Scowling, Felipe lowered his sword and plucked the cell phone from his hip. "Yes?"

"Hey man, it's Jax. I need your advice on something."

"I'm a little busy at the moment. Can it wait?" Felipe rolled his eyes, ready to hang up the phone.

"Yeah, I guess." I could hear the stress in Jax's voice through the phone and gave Felipe my best 'your friend needs you' look.

My wonderful husband opened his mouth to argue with me, then sighed and rolled his eyes again. "Hang on. I'll be back there in a few."

Jax's tone perked up noticably. "Thanks man. I'll be on your porch."

Felipe closed the phone and glared at me. "You just don't want to spar anymore."

I smiled and wrapped my arms around his waist, letting the flat of the sword slap playfully against his backside. "Well, that is definitely an added bonus. But he sounded upset. And it won't hurt to take a break. We've been out here for over an hour."

"Alright, alright. I'll see you back home soon." He kissed my forehead and disappeared into the trees surrounding the field where we sparred.

I plopped down into the grass, gazing up at the moonless night. The stars shone brightly, but without the moon, it was dark outside, even to a vampire. A glimpse of light drew my attention and I watched the little glowing ball bounce up and down as it grew bigger. It followed the path through the woods from the house and I could easily see the shadow behind it, even from that distance. I waited where I was, resting my head back into the soft pillow Mother Earth provided, examining the heavens above. The light grew bright enough where I had to squint until it suddenly went out. As it did, I felt the grass move beside me and heard a snort as someone settled down.

I let my head flop to the side, raising an eyebrow at the scrawny boy. It took me a minute to remember he couldn't see my raised eyebrow. "What's up, Robbie?"

He let out a soft sigh before answering. "Oh, nothing."

I laughed a little. "You're out here in the middle of the night when I know you're afraid of the dark, and you have a pretty big frown on your face. What's up?"

The young man turned his head and glared at me. I shot him a grin that he couldn't see before he turned back to look at the stars. He was quiet for a bit and I didn't push.

Several minutes had passed before he spoke. "Jane, how do you deal with it?"

"Deal with what?" I knew exactly what he was talking about, but I needed to hear him say it first.

"It." He had a hard time getting the words out, but once he wrapped his mind around what he was trying to say, they flooded out. "You know, death. Losing someone so close to you, losing someone who means more to you than the world. He was my best friend, he was my mentor. He was like my father. I never had a dad, but when he took me on as his assistant, he didn't just treat me like I was an employee or a grunt. I've seen the way the other assistants were treated. He didn't treat me like that. He was always there for me whenever I needed him. Even when I didn't want him to be. He was..."

His voice broke and he turned over, burying his face in his arm as sobs wracked his body. I sat up and placed a hand on his shoulder, waiting until his tears receded enough so he could hear me. Finally, he sat up and wiped his face.

"Sorry, Jane. I didn't mean to do that."

I wrapped an arm around his shoulder and pulled him close to me. "Don't ever be sorry about that, Robbie. Losing someone you love dearly is one of the worst things you could ever go through. I thought losing Steven was going to kill me. Oddly enough, I guess it kind of did." I frowned at that thought, then shook my head. "Anyway, what you're going through right now is normal. Don't ever be ashamed to feel that kind of pain. Don't try to hide it, and don't try to make it go away. It will get better with time, but it's necessary to grieve for those you've loved and lost. Don't let anyone ever tell you it's not."

He sniffled and I'm pretty sure he wiped his nose on my shirt. I tried my best not to gag or yell at him. "But Felipe and Jax never cry. They were like statues at Father Bellini's funeral."

He pulled away and crossed his arms, a look of pure anger on his face. I brushed his cheek with my finger, wiping away some of the tears. "They were, that's true. It was all they could do to keep from killing anyone who spoke to them. They locked their anger and hurt inside, and it was almost destructive to both of them. But they both wept, as well. They wept privately, where few could see. And they both still suffer greatly, but they're finding ways to deal with the hurt. Sometimes their ways could be better," I said as I glanced toward a splintered tree at the edge of the woods. "But they're trying and learning."

Robbie sighed again and drew up his knees to wrap his arms around them. I rested my chin on his shoulder and my forehead against his ear. We sat there for awhile in the still night, listening to the sounds of the dark and watching the stars. A light wind came up and rustled the grass. On the brief gust of air, I noticed a smell--one we had been taught to be aware of and keen to. One that we were supposed to kill.

What You See When You Look At Me

Today's post comes from a talented author, Uzuri M. Wilkerson. Uzuri's book Sweet will be out soon. In preparation, she is doing a blog tour with Positively Published. Enjoy her wonderfully insightful post!

  

What You See When You Look At Me

I am a writer. I cannot be any more specific than that because I write across genres. My first major publication is paranormal fiction. I have other novels in various stages of edits, saved away on my hard drive and in stacks of pages in my office. They are urban fiction and chick-lit, thrillers and young adult. I don’t classify myself as one type of writer.

I, therefore, shouldn’t be surprised when others do. During one of my many spiels about my forthcoming publication, this particular person looked on in astonishment while I described the general plot of Sweet. He shook his head in amazement.

“It’s funny because you don’t seem like someone who would write that. You don’t look like that’s what you’re into.”

I had nodded slowly as I took that in.

“Well,” I informed him, “I do.”

I assume it was because of the color of my skin. Supernatural content is for nerds, which I am. I guess you mostly picture pasty-skinned, greasy-haired, bespectacled stereotypes raising their hands in Trekkie salutes whenever possible. I do have glasses but believe me when I say I’m no nerdy stereotype.

Even so, I do enjoy supernatural fiction. From television shows to movies to books. There is just something about suspending your beliefs in this grounded reality of ours and becoming engrossed with what if? Books really are a gateway through which to escape the mundane and often mad world we live in.

For me, if I really enjoy something that I am watching or reading, I will envision myself kicking ass alongside the main characters. I find it much easier to insert myself into supernatural fiction, especially if there is action abound. That doe-eyed little kid who actually believes in the implausible still lives inside of me. Maybe that’s why it wasn’t so hard for me to give it a stab, no pun intended.

I can agree that I may not share the attributes of my fellow paranormal writers. With my curly Afro and laid-back persona, it’s no wonder people are surprised to find that I am a writer. I tell you this: it’s just that, a persona. There are many sides to me that I am able to express through words. It’s easier that way. Many of my main characters turn out to be young, Black females because of that slightly conceited part of me that wants the action to happen to me directly. This is what life would be like if I were dating a vampire. Or if I were on the run from an assassin. Or living in a housing development in Boston. I wouldn’t trade that for the world.

With writing, my real voice is able to shine through. I’m quite aware how reserved I appear in everyday life. Only a few are afforded a peek of my more silly side. The one who dances and laughs out loud and lip-syncs (and real sings) songs as she bops around the house. Self-consciousness and daily fears usually stand in the way. I worry that I will be stuck at the same job for another year where I feel like a very tiny piece in the cog and am only acknowledged when someone needs something that they won’t do themselves. I have to be reminded of my less than stellar love life that is nothing to write home about. I don’t eat healthy enough. I don’t exercise daily. I’m told to look to the positive that is happening to me, in order to see past the negative. It doesn’t work. What can I say? Scorpios are born-pessimists. My only real release is through writing, where I get to swear like a sailor, write intense fight scenes, and describe naughty things.

So, how does it feel to hear someone is surprised to find I enjoy supernatural? Well, it is surprising. As I go around, trying to drive interest in my book, I find there are a lot more people who look like me that are into the supernatural. Of course, my own brother is a prime example as he was probably the first to introduce me to vampires and things that go bump in the night. But when talking with people, I found I came across two types: the ones who were excited by the prospect and the ones whose eyes glazed over at the thought of yet another vampire book. They’d had enough of the hype. Over time, however, I have discovered that the former far outweighs the latter. People are still into a good sci-fi story. What is it about the supernatural that appeals to readers? Personally, I like the idea of creatures with superhuman abilities. Who wouldn’t want to become invisible at will or teleport or move objects with their mind? You would never have to work for money again! I kid!

The point is: we’re out there. The dorky stigma associated with fantasy and supernatural is no longer as prevalent as it used to be. People are proud to be Team Edward or Team Jacob, Gryffindor versus Slytherin (I’m Ravenclaw, by the way), fangbangers and the like. This can be explained by the evolution of literature and trends. As time passes, these stories become more ingrained with our own realities. They take place in modern settings, with relatable, flawed characters, dealing with issues that you and I know about firsthand. These trends all merge together to make it easier for a wider audience to feel included in this form of fiction.

As with real books, where you can’t always judge it by its cover, the same rule can be applied to people. That brown-skinned, Afro-ed lady behind her computer may just be into the same thing you are.

So what about you? What do people see when they look at you? Do you show your true self to the world, or is it only fully revealed in the words you write? 

UZURI M. WILKERSON graduated from Wellesley College in 2005. There, she studied film with a concentration in screenwriting. After finishing school, she eventually moved back to novels, where she found more freedom for her expression. Sweet came into fruition after a lifetime love affair with the supernatural. It was only a matter of time before she took her own stab at the genre. She currently resides in Boston, Massachusetts.

To learn more about Uzuri Wilkerson and to read more about her upcoming novel Sweet please visit her website. To reserve your autographed copy of her debut novel and to enter for your chance to win a $25 VISA gift card, visit www.azizapublishing.com and learn about the Sweet photo contest or to reserve your autographed copy of “Sweet”.

Guest Post: A Case for Vampires and Zombies

This week's guest post comes from the lovely Barbara McDowell.



I’ve got a thing for vampires and zombies. Anything vampire and zombie-related and I’m there…movies, books and TV shows. The first glimpses of the blood-suckers came from the 1970’s Saturday afternoon B Movies that played when a Godzilla knock-off wasn’t on.

The theme of these flicks was romantic, older male vampire wanders into city/village area and starts seducing and making a horde of female vampire brides. As a twist, the brides would then sometimes start a feeding frenzy until the movie’s hero hunted down the head vampire to save everyone’s souls. Insert cheesy music, darkly lit scenes and even dubbing for English-speaking voices. Yet I would watch because the idea of someone being able to have that much psychic pull on another was fascinating.

I next remember reading Stephen King’s Salem’s Lot circa fourth grade and being enraptured. Even though his take on the famous lore was quite violent and not romanticized in the least, I wanted to see the town first hand and understand what made the creatures tick. Vampires in King’s hands were conniving and vicious predators.

For most of us, the first introduction to modern zombies was in the George Romero classic Night of the Living Dead.

One moment, it is just a sunny, happy day. The next there are instinct driven, hungry humans lurching about with chomping teeth. How awful (and also exciting) to be chased through a cemetery by such slow-moving terror! Of higher interest is Romero’s treatment in the movie—as well as some of his subsequent films—of how the characters react both to the terror and working with each other to survive. The lack of concrete information or explanations from the government, the mistrust and backbiting in the hideout home and even frozen fear all play out as a testament to the human condition.

Now for dealing with zombies, I’m talking pure zombies and not the rage or virus filled models of the new millennium. Those virus versions are just nasty little critters. Yes, I’m still a little disgruntled on the switch up of skills they were allowed in the Dawn of the Dead remake, though it was freaky to see how fast the buggers could go from a doorway to hopping onto the hood of a car. I’d be doomed. So if I ran up on a zombie in the alley I’d pretty much need a Romero stagger one to know what I was dealing with. I see the lurching zombie fellah coming and I know to turn and dart the other way.

And that, I think, is where a core of my interest lies. Maybe my affection is for the known expectations. Bottom line is that with vampires and zombies, you know what you are working with. Both want to bite your bits. Even the so-called Twilight-era romance vamps, who profess odes of love and affection, still want to bite you. Listen to the loving coos, but don’t get it twisted. The thirst is all-encompassing and will get you bit.

I once heard a presenter say that as he gets older, he finds he can’t stand people. I’m not yet into that boat, but do see that my tolerance for drama has lessened. “Monsters” to me are those traipsing around putting their emotional gook onto everyone else. There was even the coinage of the phrase “emotional vampire” for those hapless souls who will suck your last will to live down into their spiral to hell. These are the ones I’d trip as we ran from the zombies.

Other people are wired so quick triggered that you don’t know what you are going to get. A simple hello can turn into a rant about all their perceived evils in the world. Ask about a status of a project and risk witnessing the face of someone considering pouncing on you for having the gall to follow-up. Flick to change lanes and watch five cars purposefully speed up with rage and glee. And don’t get me started on the drama criers. You cry because of being in a truly emotional place, I get it. You cry every day seeking some level of sympathy or credit from me, good luck with that.

Not so with the creatures of my dreams. While the zombies will eventually wander off and starve, I guess the vampires, if lucky, have centuries to get their emotions together.

What spurs your love for the horror genre’s creatures? Do you have a love for other monsters or supernatural beings? What are your thoughts on our levels of tolerance and patience as we get older?

By day, Barbara McDowell works in training and development, managing the
educational needs and course development for the staff of a regional accounting firm.
In the depths of the night, she is a crafter of stories birthed with dark, human themes.
Suspense at each corner turned. Horror sometimes waiting at the end. Primarily a short
story writer, Barbara has recently started her first novel. A lover of coffee, cats, crime
dramas, crochet, conspiracy theories and chocolate, Barbara can be found blogging at
http://writenowlife.wordpress.com/ or tweeting at @BMcDowellOH.

Til Death (Jane #5) Now Available!

You heard that right! Your favorite snarky vampire is back in the fifth installment of Jane. And as usual, Jane manages to get herself into quite a mess as she tangles with the wrong vampires. Will this bride-to-be come out on top? Or will her wedding day spell the end for her?

Available on Kindle and Nook. If you need other formats, please contact me directly.