In most myths, legends and even in plenty of popular
fiction vampires are described as either dead or undead, sometimes referred to
as walking corpses.
No heartbeat, no need to breathe, no need to eat
food or drink anything other than blood.
Honestly all that doesn’t make a whole hell of a lot
of sense to me.
For me vampires are different and extraordinary
creatures- and not dead at all. Just different.
I can understand them being described as dead in the
early incarnations. Because before the Gothic literature of the 1800s
romanticized vampires early myths and legends portrayed them as monsters-
grotesque walking corpses. More like today’s zombies than the sexy, romantic
and sometimes sparkling vampires that we often envision them to be.
I see being changed into as vampire as a
transformation, not death- at least not completely. It is death and rebirth. A
catalyst that transforms a person from human to Other. Changing from human to
vampire is the death of the normal human life but not a true death.
I simply can’t wrap my head around the concept of a
vampire being dead because of several things.
One they need to feed to “survive”. If you need to
survive then obviously you’re not really dead, are you?
Another thing- rapid healing abilities. If you can
heal, how can you be dead? Dead things don’t heal.
Other things I don’t agree with are the cold skin
and lack of heartbeat and breathing. I think vampires are evolved and don’t
need to breath as often as humans and their hearts don’t beat like ours- and
the slowness of their heartbeat and breaths has something to do with the whole
immortality thing.
And the cold skin… when they get cold that just
means they need to feed, if they are fully fed their skin is just as warm as
ours.
That brings me to the need for blood. As I mentioned
I see vampirism as a transformation, a disease or mutation that changes the human
body into something else, something more. It changes the metabolism and the
higher functions of the body. To keep these processes going the body burns up
its blood supply and constantly needs to be replenished.
The other powers of vampires- the glamour and mind
control and all that, even the teleportation and shape shifting that some can do…well
that goes into the magic slot.
I think vampirism is one part disease two parts magic.
In many of my stories the vampires defy the normal vampire conventions. They eat, they walk in daylight, they have heartbeats, and they breathe (usually). I try not to describe them as dead or undead and I don’t often stick them in coffins or in the ground.
In my newest book, Hex and the Single Witch, the vampires are all a little different from each other. Some have issues with sunlight, some do not, some have silver sensitivities some do not.
This is because there are many species of Others (fae, demon, shifter, witch, etc) than have interbred with humans over the centuries. When a human is turned into a vampire the dormant powers inside them become active. Most humans will never know they have “Other” blood inside them until the catalyst of becoming a vampire brings that dormant power to the surface. In addition vampires also gain some of their abilities and powers from the vampire that made them, their sire. The result is a species of vampires that have a wide variety of powers and abilities. Which is why they are so hard to track, kill or fight- you never know what you’re going up against when you deal with a vamp.
A 100% human with no “Other” blood inside will not survive the change into a vampire.
In the Vehicle City Vampire series I wanted to take all the myths, legends and variances of vampire abilities, mix them all up and create an explanation as to why vampires are so different. I hope that readers will enjoy my take on vampirism.
Hex and the Single Witch
Vehicle City Vampires Book One
By Roxanne Rhoads
It’s a new era in Vehicle City, supernaturals are running the town.
The P.I.T has their hands full with paranormal crimes. Top priority is a serial killer, who appears to be a vampire, draining young women in the city.
Anwyn is on the case with her sexy partner Detective Mike Malone.
Complicating things is her relationship Galen, a vampire who looks more guilty than innocent, although Anwyn trusts her instincts even if her power is on the fritz.
Mysterious spells, compromising situations, and a possible demon on the loose make it hard to focus on the case, but Anwyn has to make things right before the human police execute the wrong vampire.
Hex and the Single Witch contains magick, a little bit of mystery, a lot of supernatural mayhem, and a sexy love triangle that will leave you wanting more.
About the Author:
When not fulfilling one the many roles being a wife and mother of three require, Roxanne's world revolves around words...reading them, writing them, editing them, and talking about them. In addition to writing her own stories she loves to read, promote and review what others write.
Roxanne is the owner of Bewitching Book Tours and operates Fang-tastic Books, a book blog dedicated to paranormal and urban fantasy books.
When not reading, writing, or promoting Roxanne loves to hang out with her family, craft, garden and search for unique vintage finds.
Visit her online
Author blog www.roxannesrealm.blogspot.com
Book Blog www.fang-tasticbooks.blogspot.com
Bewitching Book Tours www.bewitchingbooktours.blogspot.com
Facebook
Twitter @RoxanneRhoads
Roxanne can also be found on Linked In, Goodreads and Google+
If you're in Michigan next week- drop by one of the signings:
October 24 Multi Author Book Signing
Paranormal and Urban Fantasy Panel
Featuring: Sidney Ayers (Demons Like It Hot); DJ Desmyter (Hunted); Bruce Jenvey (Angela’s Coven); Gary W. Olson (Brutal Light); Megan Parker (Scarlet Night); Cindy Spencer Pape (Immortal Cravings); Roxanne Rhoads (Hex and the Single Witch); and Nathan Squiers (Crimson Shadow: Noir).
7PM
Schuler’s Books Eastwood
2820 Towne Center Blvd.
Lansing, MI 48912
October 25 Multi-Author Signing
Davison Branch Genesee District Library
203 E 4th St
Davison, MI 48423
6:30 PM
Get into the Halloween spirit with a multi-author paranormal and urban fantasy book signing featuring Cindy Spencer-Pape, Bruce Jenvey, Gary W. Olson, Roxanne Rhoads, Nathan Squiers, and Megan J Parker.
October 27 Book Signing
Emporium 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. $5 at the door all ages welcome
3 comments:
Thank you for sharing an interesting post! I'm looking forward to reading Hex and the Single Witch(love that name!).
love the cover wow . book sounds great going on my wishlist
COVER LOVEEEE! I love reading paranormal books, and i'm sooo adding this book to my TBR! Thank you so much for the giveaway!
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