With hot titles like Twilight, The Blue Bloods, The House of Night and Vampire Academy series gracing store shelves, it seems like we just can't get enough vampire stories these days; but, today's guest blogger, Max Turner, reminds us that readers have devoured them for centuries. Below, he shares a bit of back story about his debut novel, NIGHT RUNNER, and muses on the enduring popularity of these enigmatic fanged figures.Are you a vampire? Click here to take a NIGHT RUNNER-inspired personality quiz.
With three young kids and a day job teaching high school science and computer technology, I don't have much time to write while the sun is shining. Fortunately (or unfortunately), I'm an insomniac, and so I do most of my work in the wee hours between midnight and two or three in the morning. So it was only natural that when I started mentally planning out my debut novel, NIGHT RUNNER, I had vampires on the brain. Diet aside, I was practically living like one.
When people find out NIGHT RUNNER is chock-full of vampires, the usual response I get is "Oh, they're hot these days." True enough. But when was this not the case? I can't remember a time when they weren't popular --- in books, comics, video games and movies. If the Internet had existed when I was a teenager, a Google search for vampires probably would have melted my computer.
I'm a history buff, and one of the most fascinating figures I've come across in my readings is Vlad the Impaler. During the mid-fifteenth century, he ruled the southern region of modern-day Romania, (a territory then called Wallachia). Tales of his atrocities were greatly exaggerated by his Transylvanian enemies --- and this may have been the reason why they became popular reading all over Europe. He was rumoured to be a living vampire, a man who ate the flesh and drank the blood of his victims. People were fascinated. Even decades after his death, private press owners were guaranteed to make money reprinting stories of Dracula. When Bram
Stoker resurrected the character in his 1897 novel, he had an instant best seller. In over a hundred years, the book has never been out of print, and for good reason --- it's a great read, and whether they're cast as heroes or villains, vampires are just plain cool. So, when I was looking for the perfect bad guy, an ancient vampire lord was the obvious, best choice.I'm now polishing up a sequel to NIGHT RUNNER, (my fifth version). It's been a tough grind. In the battle between good and evil, it's often very difficult to find a place for understanding and forgiveness --- the two most important themes in the original story. Balancing the action, romance, and mystery in the story is also a tough juggle. I love a novel with pace, and so I have to remind myself often to create scenes that let you slow down and catch your breath. I sometimes feel like I'm trying to direct traffic at a formula one race. Fortunately, I like Zack and his best friend Charlie. Writing about them is fun, and I'm experimenting with some new villain archetypes to keep everyone on their toes. Keep your eyes open for the sequel. It should be out in the spring. And please enjoy NIGHT RUNNER. It's a fun read.
-- Max Turner
