Bertena Varney - The Popularity of Vampires in Fiction - Contest

Enter to win and eBook from Bertena Varney!

***
The Popularity of Vampires in Fiction
by Bertena Varney

In my book, Lure of the Vampire I have several essays in the literature section that discusses the popularity of vampire throughout our life. Lure of the Vampire is a nonfiction book that looks at the vampire thru mythology, history, literature, and more. Here are a few of the topics that are discussed in Lure as to why the vampire is so popular. Instead of looking at it historically as it was written, we will examine how we encounter the vampire throughout our life via literature.

First let’s look at children’s literature. In 1979 Bunnicula was introduced to children. Bunnicula, a beginning reader book was written by husband and wife team, Deborah and James Howe and told the story of a cute bunny that is also a vampire. Bunnicula is adopted into a new home where the other pets, a cat and dog, are fearful and not accepting of him. Through different adventures the cat and dog finally accept the “different” and “new” member of the family. This was a perfect story of teaching children to learn to accept differences in other children as well as address the rising issue of divorce and mixed families in the late 70’s and early 80’s.

As time has passed, other authors have found that children as much as adults love the vampire. Thus the creation of books like Dick and Jane and Vampires, My Sister the Vampire, and The Young Vampires series that allow the vampire to sneak into our lives from the beginning via books. As A result, the vampire is now a friend and no longer a monster to be feared.

Once these children grow into teens they begin to search for their identity. As a lot of teenagers do, they search for who they are within books. They begin looking for who they identity with and who they want to seek out as a first boyfriend. This is where the difference in literature tastes takes place.

For the teenagers who were into the more cuddly and safe idea of the vampire may choose Twilight. These books identify to the girl next door that want a prince charming and because they are used to their new cute vampire friend this series comes naturally. The reader of this series is usually a little younger and not really sure about the world of the vampire but is lured in by the romance. These readers usually will grow to enjoy the paranormal romance and erotic literature that is so popular today.

The vampire then is attributed to the erotic lover and thus the reason he is so popular for this group of readers.

The other alternative is the young girls who are kind of the goth girls or girls that are not mainstream. They tend be outcasts or students on the fringe of various circles of the teen scene. They are usually artistic and very much an individualist. These young girls start out in middle school with books such as Vampire Kisses by Ellen Schreiber and graduate to the Vampire Chronicles by the Queen herself Anne Rice. To these readers, they are looking for their identity. These vampires are beautiful, strong, rich and live forever but they live outside of society. They don’t mind being the outcast and create their own world thus the allure to these teen readers. They can finally find a world that addresses their social needs.

Now, as they grow all of these teens are faced with a tough choice.. what vampire books are they going to be drawn to? But, the good thing is that there is a vampire for everyone and for everyone’s mood at the time that they choose to pick up a book.

As an adult, the vampire in literature can be so many things. It can allow us to find our soul mates in paranormal romance and erotica books, visit the dark and romantic castles of Dracula, read about taboo love in Carmilla, or release our inner beast via the wonderfully graphic and very monstrous vampire books such as Let the Right One In or Stephen King’s Salem’s Lot.

So, why is the vampire so popular in literature? Well, it’s because the vampire can transform into what we need at that time. Whether it’s our soul mate, our erotic lover, our protector, what we fear in the night, or our inner dark desires. The vampire allows us to accept who we are while filling a void that is missing in the readers’ lives. It allows us to create our own world that is why the vampire is so popular in literature.
What is your favorite genre of vampire literature? Traditional? Romance? Erotic? Graphic? Young Adult?

Why do you think that particular genre has stayed so popular?

~~Bertena Varney~~~
www.bertenavarney.com

Lure of the Vampire: A Pop Culture Reference Book of Lists, Websites and Very Personal Essays

By Bertena Varney, M.A.
Paperback: 176 pages
Publisher: Search for the Lure
Published: June 22, 2011
ISBN-10: 0615501567
ISBN-13: 978-0615501567

Lure of the Vampire is a pop culture reference book that begins with history and mythology and ends with modern living vampires. The author has provided "fun" lists like the Powers of Dracula, Real Live Vampire Murders, Television Shows and African Americans who have Played Vampires. There are also websites in each section that show the most popular vampire books and even children's shows and books. But, there is a personal twist when it comes to Lure of the Vampire. The author has provided personal essays from national and international vampire authors as well as her own. They range from a personal look at vampires in mythology to the romantic lust filled vampire. There are also interviews with various groups and individuals involved in the vampire community. Lure of the Vampire: A Pop Culture Refence Book of Lists, Websites, and "Very Telling" Personal Essays is a perfect quick to grab reference book for the vampire fan or author. It is concise enough to assist you in finding links to what you are looking for without our being too cumbersome and confusing.

Lure of the Vampire contains essays from authors: Denise Verrico - David MacDowell Blue - Charles E. Butler - C.J. Ellisson – BittenTwice – Elizabeth Loraine

Interviews with: Vampiric Council of New England, Vlad the Gothic Vampire Magician , Audrey Koogler, Vampire Priestess , and Hugo Pecos, creator of The Federal Vampire and Zombie Agency

Lure of the Vampire is great for any writer who would like to find fun facts to give their vampires in their story. For example, what powers have vampires in mythology possessed or the first literary vampires? There’s a section for that.

What if you are a vampire fan who is looking for new YA or adult authors- there is a section with titles, authors and their websites.

What about vampire games? There’s a section for that too.

Sections include: Mythology, History, Literature, Movies, Television, Recreation, Children’s Vampires, On the Web, Education, and Real Life Vampires. There are lists, websites, essays, and interviews included in throughout the book.

Lure of the Vampire: A Pop Culture Reference Book of Lists, Websites, and "Very Telling" Personal Essays is a perfect quick to grab reference book for the vampire fan or author. It's concise enough to assist you in finding links to what you are looking for without our being too cumbersome and confusing.

You can buy Lure of the Vampire at Amazon.com in print here Lure of the Vampire: A Pop Culture Reference Book of Lists, Websites and Very Personal Essays (Volume 1).

Ebooks are available on Kindle and Nook.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Bertena Varney is from Winchester, KY and currently resides in Bowling Green, KY. She attended Morehead State University where she received the following degrees:
- B.A. in Social Science and Education - M.A. in Social Science and Education
- M.A. in Sociology and Criminology - Rank 2 Secondary Education Certification

While in college She used all of her extra essays, projects and independent study classes to study vampires in pop culture….thus the creation of Lure of the Vampire.

She has been employed as a middle and high school as well as college instructor. Here past employers include Morehead State University She has been employed Morehead State University, Eastern Kentucky University and National College and will be lecturing at Bowling Green Community College in the fall.

Currently she is planning her lecture tour schedule. In the past she has presented papers at conference such as Sirens in Vail, Colorado and The Harry Potter Witching Hour in Salem, Mass. Currently she is scheduled for ScareFest, Dance on the Dark Side and A Day of Mystical Blood Lust.

She is also planning to begin a vampirology course based upon her studies of vampires in pop culture.

--------To Enter the Contest--------

Just comment on the post below and leave the first bit of your email address. You do need to be a NOR Newsletter / Fan Club subscriber to enter. Ends - 9/16/2011