Vampires » anne rice

An Interview with Author Denise Verrico

Bryce — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 15:53:03 +0000

Author Denise Verrico was gracious enough to take the time out of her busy schedule to discuss all things vampires. More so, she spilled a bit about her book The Immortyl Revolution, and where she sees herself in 5 years!

What are your career plans for the next 5 years?

I want to keep improving my craft as a writer – there is always room for improvement. I’d like to build a loyal fan base; talking with readers in person is fun for me. Coming from the theatre, I’m an extravert. I have lots of ideas for books, including a Shakespearean inspired high-fantasy novel and a YA fantasy. My current plan for The Immortyl Revolution is a series of nine books told from the POV of three different characters. My dream is to become a full-time writer!

If you were your character Mia, what would you have done differently than she did in the book?

I’d never have taken-up with an older, married man as she did as a mortal; that relationship was doomed to failure. I can say that I wouldn’t have put up with being Ethan’s slave for thirty-eight years, but she didn’t have much choice. Buying into Brovik’s schemes wasn’t a good move either.

Why did you choose the characters of Mia and Kurt to be biological beings with no “magical” powers? Do you feel as creatures of the night, that they lose their mysticism?

Vampires are immortal and that alone gives them a god-like quality. Mia’s master Ethan takes a very Nietzschean point of view on immortality. I set-out to explore the question of what would cause vampirism and what would vampires be like if they really existed. I’m a skeptic by nature and a big fan of science. Nothing is more fascinating and mysterious to me than the workings of the natural world – it’s amazing that tiny molecules of DNA can become a human being with a capacity to learn, love, and create.

I explore how vampirism affects the human brain and body. I have a lot of the traditional vampire powers and handicaps; they can’t go out in the sun and they can drink only human blood. My vampires do have enhanced physical abilities and an ability to experience an empathetic response to a partner in a blood-exchange. The otherness comes out of the dark world they inhabit. I wanted to create a unique sub-culture that brings in elements of ancient cultures, but still differs from those of mortals. My mythology comes out of India – the adepts of the ancient arts in my third novel practice a form of tantrism. They are very spiritual and seek enlightenment through erotic rituals.

Where do you feel that your novel weighs in on the vampire bandwagon in this day and age, especially with popular book series such as True Blood and Vampire Diaries?

I don’t write paranormal mysteries, although I do enjoy reading them. I’m more of a throwback to the Anne Rice style of vampire with a nod to my favorite historical fiction writers, Mary Renault and Robert Graves. I love stories about intrigue and politics. I wouldn’t call the book a “romance;” Mia and Kurt’s relationship is romantic and an important part of their story. The others she becomes involved with only use her for sex and political intrigues. Cara Mia has its share of blood and gore. Recently, I read a comment where someone said Cara Mia reads like heroic fantasy. I think the science also sets me apart. I Am Legend is one of my favorite vampire stories.

Please tell our adoring readers what initially began your obsession with vampires:

The TV series Dark Shadows – I used to run home from school to watch this Gothic soap opera with my mom and some ladies in the neighborhood. This was in the late sixties or early seventies. I was a little kid who loved monster movies, and Barnabas Collins was the first sympathetic vampire I’d ever seen. I actually met the actor Jonathan Frid through a friend of mine back in the eighties; he did one-man Shakespearean shows. My husband and I are theatre folk, and we got the opportunity to watch him do a preview of one of these at his home in New York. He lived on Gramercy Park back then; I have Mia living on Gramercy Park at one point in the novel as a little tribute to him.

- Bryce

Review of The Master of Rampling Gate: A Vook by Anne Rice

Cult Hero — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 04:38:46 +0000

Every so often something comes along that provides some new and innovative way to enhance the art of storytelling.

The latest in storytelling innovation comes from the trailblazers at Vook. A Vook is the blending of both video and text (video+book=Vook) to create an experience unlike any other. Vooks combine entertaining stories with videos that compliment them by providing the reader with interesting information and special features such as author interviews. Add to the mix informative links to such sites a Wikipedia for those wishing to learn more about the topics within a story and you have yourself the makings of a fascinating read.

I recently had the chance to experience Vook for the first time with the retelling of Anne Rice’s short story The Master of Rampling Gate.

The Master of Rampling Gate, Anne Rice’s first and only short story dealing with vampires tells the tale of a young woman and her brother as they visit their ancestral home after the death of their father. Rampling Gate, passed down from generation to generation for centuries had always been the home of the Rampling family. That was of course until their father had left the mansion vowing never again to return. Both siblings are awestruck by the beauty and magnificence of the place which makes fulfilling their father’s deathbed wish all the harder for their father has commanded that Rampling Gate be torn down.

Neither sibling knows why their father had made such a strange request until one night Julie, a bright young lady with a mind full of fantasy meets the true master of Rampling Gate… A centuries old vampire who has been alive since the age of the Black Death.

As an avid Anne Rice fan I have read The Master of Rampling Gate before but even though the story may not have been new to me the presentation certainly was. I enjoyed being able to read the story as well as watch the short videos peppered throughout. Each chapter includes it’s own video involving such topics as Gothic literature, the Black Death, an explanation of the story by Anne and of course information on Anne herself. Oh and don’t forget the vampires. Links to such pages as Wikipedia and AskOxford.Com are also peppered throughout the tale providing information to the reader about topics related to the story.

Vooks may not be taking the place of books anytime soon but they are enjoyable, informative and even though fairly new there is already a wide variety to choose from. Anne has often spoken of her interest in Vooks on her FaceBook so hopefully we shall be seeing more of them from her sometime in the future.

The Master of Rampling Gate is available for both online reading and as an iPhone App from Vook on their website and is currently on sale for .99 cents for a limited time.

-Chris

Anne Rice Vooks the Master of Rampling Gate

Moonlight — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 19:33:52 +0000

The legendary author Anne Rice has turned her one and only vampire short story, The Master of Rampling Gate, into a Vook. If you’re like me then you’re probably wondering what the hell a Vook is, well, “A vook is a new innovation in reading that blends a well-written book, high-quality video and the power of the Internet into a single, complete story. You can read your book, watch videos that enhance the story and connect with authors and your friends through social media all on one screen, without switching between platforms.”

The Anne Rice video book, which includes an author interview, was released earlier this month and can be purchased through the iPhone, iPod touch and other digital devices for only 99 cents (for a limited time only).

“Vook presents a powerful story by the undisputed Queen of Vampire Literature, Anne Rice. The Master of Rampling Gate is a chilling tale of vampiric seduction enhanced by seductive videos about vampires, the black plague, the gothic style, and Anne Rice herself.

Set in the gasslit streets of 1888 London and the wild moors of the countryside beyond, The Master of Rampling Gate tells the story of Julie, a young woman who becomes obsessed with the house her father swore her and her brother to tear down upon his death. Julie can’t imagine what lies in wait at Rampling Gate, a spirit that haunted her father for years and now yearns for her flesh. The Master of Rampling Gate is a sublime love story in which Julie struggles to choose between the world of reason and rationality and the dark promises of a creature she is almost helpless to resist.

Experience this rare Anne Rice short story as a Vook. Read AND watch the heart pounding tale as you take a journey back in time to the late 1800s, a world of endless nights, secret passions and the promise of dark and nameless pleasures.”

Check out the vook trailer for The Master of Rampling Gate.

Click here to view the embedded video.

- Moonlight

The Vampire Archives

kate — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 00:38:51 +0000

This has got to be one of the best kinds of vampire books – one that has tons of stories in it! It’s official name is The Vampire Archives: The Most Complete Volume of Vampire Tales Ever Published. And if the book is as thorough as its title, it’s sure to be!

The book includes 86 different tales, poems, and short stories (both fictional and non-fictional.) Among these stories are some of the older works such as Dracula’s Guest as well as newer stuff, such as The Lovely Lady by D.H. Lawrence. Even Anne Rice and Lord Byron make an appearance in the book. But the one that I’m most excited about? That’s got to be the story Popsy by my fave author, Stephen King. The entire book was put together by Otto Penzler, who from the sounds of it, did a brilliant job of mixing only the very greatest vampire stories into one full, complete anthology! Plus, mingled in amongst these we’ll also be able to find some history and fun facts on vampires. The complete volume, indeed!

But in case you need some help breaking it all down, the book is divided up into sections for you. 13 sections, of course. These sections start with “Pre-Dracula” and include a section for poems, vampires from different regions, and different types of vampires, such as psychic vampires. And, if you’re still not feeling full after this reading, an entire bibliography of vampire books wraps it up at the end.

This book is truly something that every vampire fan needs. I am most excited about the King story, but I love the idea that someone has actually compiled everything all in one place for us – history, trivia, short stories, poems, and a full list of even more reading! What more could we possibly ask for?

Think You’ve Got What it Takes to Write a Vampire Novel?

kate — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 23:04:46 +0000

There are lots of people who think that they have better ideas of what a vampire should be than Stephenie Meyer, Laurell K. Hamilton, or even Anne Rice. But do you really? Do you really think that you could write a vampire novel better or more popular than these best-selling authors? You just might, and if you think you do, you might want to consider writing your own vampire novel. But there’s one thing about vampire fans. They are very specific about what they like, and what they will accept as “open interpretation.” Go too far off the mark, and they might just end up saying that boys who sparkle don’t like girls. So what does it take to write a vampire novel? Well, a good imagination for starters. Along with these few tips you might want to keep in mind.

First, read several books in the genre (which, if you’re interested, you’ve probably already done.) Pick and choose the vampire elements that you like the most. Include these in your vampire novel, but elaborate on them to really make them your own. For instance, you may not want to write a book where vampires sparkle in the sun. But you might want to do something different other than the old folklore of they can’t be in any sunlight whatsoever.

Next, think hard about your main character. Make sure that you not only make them interesting, but believable. Readers like a character that they can relate to and that they feel they understand. Figure out what qualities you want your character to have, and again, use your imagination to elaborate on them.

Start actually writing the novel by first writing a short story of your novel. This will get your main ideas out, and give you new ideas to build on. Then write a draft of your story. Don’t go back and change things or analyze things while you’re writing, although keep notes of these things. First just get the story out of your head. There’s lots of time for corrections later.

Finally, go through and make corrections and changes. Make sure that your novel has tons of spooky, vampire atmosphere and that the language is appropriate. If you’re writing about Victorian vampires for instance, you don’t want them speaking in modern-day slang.

Lastly, choose a catchy and hot title for your book. Titles can often jump out at a reader when they’re standing in front of rows and rows of vampire books. A bad title could make sure that your book never gets read.

Even if you’re not serious about ever getting published, trying your hand at writing your own vampire novel could be a lot of fun. And then whenever you’re making fun of Twilight and a fanatic sneers, “Yeah, you think you could do better?”, you could reply, “As a matter of fact, I have!”

- Kate

The Vampire Lestat Graphic Novel

Moonlight — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 13:00:43 +0000

Ok, practically all of us have heard of or read Anne Rice’s Vampire Chronicles; I mean the woman is pretty much a living legend. I bet many of our readers have every single one of Rice’s vamp books sitting on their shelves – but, do you have The Vampire Lestat graphic novel?

For some reason very few people have heard of the Lestat comic, which is a shame since it rocks. The graphic novel is actually a collection of twelve separate illustrated volumes adapted by Faye Perozich. There are a handful of talented artists involved in the book – some of which are incredible, others…not so much. I admit, some of the art is hideous but then other parts done by other artists are stunning.

As I am sure you have guessed the story follows Anne Rice’s The Vampire Lestat novel. It is significantly slimmed down for obviously reasons, putting that entire lengthy book into graphic novel form would be damn near impossible. If you have forgotten Lestat’s story or have never read it here is a quick overview…

“The story begins in our own time with Lestat, tall, blond, and handsome, a world-renowned rock star. His gifts are timeless, his youth never withers. But he was not always the powerful and famous child of darkness. Before his long earth-encrusted sleep, he was an aristocrat in the heady days of pre-Revolutionary France. It was then that he came face-to-face with the incarnation of evil and the temptations of love that he has ravenously pursued through time. Where it has led him and what he has become is the heart of the tale that has captured millions of readers.”

If you are a big Anne Rice fan then this is for sure something you should pick up. You can’t find it in stores anymore but you can buy it from online sellers. But if you do buy it be careful who you buy it from. Some sellers claim that this novel is “SUPER RARE” then charge $100 for it, which is insane because you can find it for under $10 used and in good shape.

- Moonlight

Vampires and Servants

Moonlight — Sun, 03 Jan 2010 13:00:51 +0000

Something that is used in quite a few vampire books, movies and shows is the whole vampire and vampire’s servant relationship. You have the Underworld movies where the lycans are the daytime protectors and slaves to the vampires. Then in Bram Stoker’s Dracula you’ve got the insane Renfield who worships Dracula and is completely devoted to the vampire. And in more stories than I can count you have the obsessed fans that beg the big bad vampire endlessly for immortality. It goes on and on – but there are a few different kinds of vampire/servant relationships.

- In some stories a vampire will drink from a little blood from human and then let the human drink a small amount of blood from them (but not enough to turn into a vampire) and the result is a telepathic bond between vampire and human. The two have become closer on a deeper and magical level. This is similar to the human servants in the Anita Blake novels, or in True Blood.

- There are then the vampire stories where the vampire uses their hypnotic powers to force a human into serving them. In some stories this can destroy the human’s mind if not done correctly. You see this kind of hypnotic control a lot in The Vampire Diaries; it’s also been used in Anne Rice’s novels, the House of Night series, and about a hundred other books and movies.

- The vampire can seduce the human into becoming their slave. Just the idea of becoming a vampire’s personal sex toy will make many humans willing to obey any order from their vampire lover. I’ve seen this relationship in a lot of vampire romance novels, of course.

- Sometimes, usually when the vampire is of noble blood, the human simply loves and respects the vampire so much that they will do anything simply out of friendship and admiration. This is another one we’ve seen in Anne Rice’s novels, usually with Marius.

- Then there are circumstances where a vampire will just use fear as a way to gain obedience. This has been used in damn near every single vampire book or film out there.

- Moonlight

Never Ending Emo Vampires

Moonlight — Sun, 27 Dec 2009 13:00:32 +0000

Let me set up the scene for you – you have the full moon shining down on the dark dismal cemetery and there, sitting upon an aged mausoleum is a vampire. This vampire is just sitting there staring into the nothing, brooding all serious-like. This here is your classic emo vampire, the vampire that sits and sulks all night long, the vampire that hates the vampirism he is a slave to.

Self loathing vampires aren’t anything new. While many think that the famous Twilight’s Edward started it all that is actually far from being true. Yea Edward hates what he is; he thinks he is a monster and blah blah whine whine. But before Edward you had Angel from the show Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Angel was just as whiny, he hated himself for the centuries he spent as the evil Angelus, brutally torturing and killing countless innocents. There are a handful of episodes featuring Angel simply sitting in the dark brooding silently. But where am I going with this? Read on…

You see, before Angel you then had Louis de Pointe du Lac, the tortured vampire in the renowned novels by Anne Rice. Louis, like the others, he was a slave to the curse he despised, he felt that he was eternally damned. His sufferings were more than you could bear. Oh, but dear readers it doesn’t end there, before Louis there was another hate filled vampire and before that one yet another. But where does this long list even begin? Cue Varney the Vampire.

Varney the Vampyre came out in 1847, years before the influential Dracula by Bram Stoker. It was Varney that had part in inspiring Bram for Varney was the vampire that had fangs, left two puncture wounds on the necks of his victims, had hypnotic powers, and had superhuman strength – all ideas used by Stoker. Anyway, Varney was possibly the very first sympathetic vampire, a vampire that hates what he is.

It started in 1847 and has lasted until 2009, so chances are the moody self loathing vampires will continue to last for all time. Oh boy.

- Moonlight

Brad Pitt Has Returned to the Vampire World

Moonlight — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 17:24:41 +0000

So good news vampire fans, it looks like Brad Pitt and the makers of the Twilight movies, Summit Entertainment, are in the process of making another vampire flick for us to sink our hungry fangs into.

The incredible Brad Pitt is set to produce a new film called Vlad, which tells the story of the young Count Dracula. The movie will reportedly focus on Dracula as a young prince and will also incorporate the true tale of Vlad the Impaler, the Romanian ruler said to have inspired Bram Stoker’s legendary vampire Dracula.

Brad Pitt’s Plan B production company has teamed up with Summit Entertainment, the studio behind the insanely popular Twilight franchise, for the venture. And not only that but rumors are that the famed music video director Anthony Mandler, who has done multiple videos for Rihanna, OneRepublic, Nelly Furtado, Maroon 5, The Killers and even Eminem, is said to be in negotiations to direct the picture. Considering how amazing his music videos are, there’s no doubt a full out movie directed by him won’t be just as incredible (check out Rihanna‘s Disturbia video or The Killers’ Tranquilize).

Unfortunately, we don’t know yet if the gorgeous Brad Pitt will have a starring role in the movie, but if he did he would no doubt be beyond drool-worthy.

And for those youngins that don’t know, this isn’t the famous actor’s first trip into vampire-ville. Brad Pitt was one of the stars of the 1994 movie adaptation of Anne Rice’s Interview with the Vampire, playing the dark and tortured vampire Louis, along side Tom Cruise‘s wicked Lestat. If you haven’t already, watch the movie. Yea yea, there’s no tween love story but there is an excellent story, horror and the very sexy Brad Pitt, Tom Cruise, Antonio Banderas and even the flawless Thandie Newton (before she was famous).

- Moonlight

Snow, Glass, Apples

annimi — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 13:53:07 +0000

Vampires can creep in and scare you from just about anywhere; Neil Gaiman made this apparent in his short story titled “Snow, Glass, Apples.” I have read a lot of revamped fairy tales, pun not intended, and can easily see where vampires fit into them, –Bluebeard, Hansel & Gretel, Sleeping Beauty, and others. By the way, you can read the story in various published anthologies, though I personally suggest Smoke and Mirrors. I love fairy tales, because they take you back to the more base female and male desires, to survival in a time we today can only imagine. It might be fantasy, but there are shadows of truth in all fictional literature. So maybe the appearance of a vampire in one of the most beloved children’s stories of all time casts a ripple of terror before it hits the surface of the water of our imaginations.

Once the story does make its splash, you’ll be forced to come to terms with an evil queen, who was simply “misread” by others, and the subject of evil rumors. The little princess, Snow White is actually the villain, and she isn’t the fairy tale vampire, innocent and childlike that we might imagine either. She makes Anne Rice’s Claudia, or Near Dark’s Homer, look about as unruly as the kids on Sesame Street. If you like your stories short, dark, and dirty, you’ll love Snow, Glass, Apples, because Neil doesn’t have the mind of a man who can easily censor himself to make his fiction more palatable for everyone. He plows right on through the story, spilling his dirty secrets like wine on what we’d like to pretend is the perfect white rug of our minds.

Because when it comes down to it, don’t we like to feel debauched by what we’ve read? After all, we are almost involuntarily trying to imagine what the author had in mind when he was transcribing his own imagination on the page. Maybe we’re making it more horrible than it is, maybe we can only provide pale shadows of the terror Neil had in mind. Either way, the force of his imagination is a thing to be reckoned with, and later, when we’re curled in bed, we’ll be alone with our thoughts with an instant or more, relishing the true self that gave us waking nightmares, and savoring the leftover taste of sin on our tongues.

Vampires » anne rice

An Interview with Author Denise Verrico

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Review of The Master of Rampling Gate: A Vook by Anne Rice

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Anne Rice Vooks the Master of Rampling Gate

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The Vampire Archives

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Think You’ve Got What it Takes to Write a Vampire Novel?

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The Vampire Lestat Graphic Novel

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Vampires and Servants

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Never Ending Emo Vampires

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Brad Pitt Has Returned to the Vampire World

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Snow, Glass, Apples

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