It’s late on a Sunday night and I’m having the most curious thoughts pop up in my mind. Just got done watching the latest episode of True Blood, so naturally some of my thoughts are revolving around vampires. That and the fact that in the past several weeks I’ve been reading a lot of new authors whose heroine and/or hero just happens to be vampires.
Now, I know that each author constructs their own world when it comes to a mythology such as the existence of vampires and there are a couple of things that I’ve been curious about. For instance — why do vampires, for the most part, consider humans to be less than they are? After all, vampires had been human once. Does this make them the master race? Never quite got that one.
And if you build a world in which you have voluntary human donors, can you get a variety in flavor if the human eats excessive amounts of … say, chocolate, or citruses? Jaye Wells’ vampires will avoid junkies who do hard drugs. If you ingest blood of junkies who do heroine, you’re instantly hooked. Imagine being a vampire hooked on drugs for all eternity. Probably tough to kick that habit. How about a donor who’s a drunk? Does your vampire come away with an alcoholic buzz? And here’s one near and dear to my heart. 
What about a donor/victim who’s on chemo? What will that do to the taste of blood? Would it make it metallic? Mediciny?
Does it take a sick or twisted mind to consider these things? Maybe — maybe not. I just think these are questions an author has to ask herself when she’s building her world.
What are some of the more unusual things that you’ve read
That’s interesting. I wonder if vamps ingesting the blood of someone going through chemo would have hair loss. It goes through the blood, after all. Not sure if chocolate does. And just think what caffeine would do. They might have trouble sleeping during the daytime.
I read so many unusual things to mention. I’ve even written some. Okay, how about a cat turning into a human?
A vampire with too much caffeine. I like that. Never heard of a vampire in insomnia. That’s sorta funny. Would cause vamps to hunt far from the local Starbucks, wouldn’t it?
Yes, I was going to mention the whole cat turning into a woman oddity, but felt you’d probably want to. Think how awkward it would be going from four graceful feet to two long gangly legs? Poor puss.
What about a junkie bitten by the vampire? Would the newly-turned-vampire still jones for a high? Serious question so early on a Monday, lol. But seriously, if I were a vampire and bit a junkie, enjoyed the high, would I thereafter only bite junkies in order to continue my habit? I’m thinking that vampires won’t become afflicted with the same health issues caused by too much alcohol or whatever-drug-of-choice, so I say, YOU GO VAMPIRE JUNKIE! Hell yeah! Enjoy the high for all eternity. It’ll help the vampire cope with the usual night to night vampire angst.
Liz, the fur might be nice in winter, too. Though not so much in summer. The best part is you’d never have to worry about what to wear. And I never heard of a cat worrying that she/he was too fat.
“For instance — why do vampires, for the most part, consider humans to be less than they are?”
Hey – I’ve always wondered that, too!
Funny this is what I read first thing this morning. I had told myself some time ago I wouldn’t write vampires since there were so many of them out there already, yet a story grabbed me last night and my tapping fingers haven’t been able to keep up with it so far. I’ve been typing my little heart out, which is a welcome relief because I’ve been in a dry spell for a few months now.
Hey Liz, I never think about the vampire thing much… well, Twilight series sure grabbed me.
I like they way she romanticized what was a little scary for moi before. Eternal love and all that. Great post! Anything that can make one muse is a great thing.
I read more WF and non-fiction than anything. What intrigues me is the worlds we can’t see.
On a note, you go, Kate! Keep typing!
Geesh, Liz. This post was too funny. And I don’t find much about vampires funny though my son loves ‘em. I think it’s a generational thing.
Thanks for giving me a good laugh before I start work.
LOL, Kath. I always liked that term “jones”. No idea who coined that term but its great. Well, that’s my argument. Would a vampire who munches on a junkie crave nothing less in the future? Personally, I would see that as a problem. It’s like Cynthia Eden’s demons in her series. The lesser demons will usually turn to drugs and alcohol to tune out the voices. What a pitiful eternal existence.
True, Edie. One outfit for your entire life. I can handle that. I gripe more about Jezebel’s weight than she does. That cat’s a chub and I’m well aware of the fact that it’s my fault. Still, she doesn’t complain.
Fabulous, Kate. You go!
For awhile I was sort of the mind when it came to vamps. There are so many stories out there, but then I’m reading so many different versions that I find it interesting to see what various authors will do with a common subject.
Hate to say it, LaD, but the Twilight series pretty much leaves me cold. Maybe its the fact that I need blood and gore with my vamps or the fact that in the two movies I’ve seen Bella should have been dead at least six times when she was being TSTL … Too Stupid To Live for those who don’t recognize the anagrams.
And that whole shining like a diamond in the sunlight. Okay, that’s different but I had a hard time with it.
LOL, Liz! That’s one series that’s a hate it or love relationship, I’m beginning to think. I think it’s probably the romantical spin that got me more than anything. Edward looks the part to me, and I could see them together…forever.
I’ve also noticed a huge difference in the style of vampire book when its written by a male or female, Mary Jo. I can imagine that your son goes for the male author. Generally, they just don’t put enough romance in their stories. They usually follow the vampire myth more closely than a female author.
Just my observations.
I’m all for the romance, LaD. Its the way they portrayed the characters that gets me. Bella is far too angsty for my taste and truly … in the second movie, she did some really stupid things that really shut me down as far as having any sort of sympathy for the character.
Love the blog, Liz. In answer to your question, why do vamps think they are better than humans, because they, the vampires, hold the power. They are immortal. They are stronger, and have all kinds of extra-sensory overloads. Humans are their food source. But also, I think many vamps regret the loss of their humanity and take that anger and frustration out on the humans who have what they have lost forever.
Pretty good answer, Karin. Still … I like to think that if I were ever in a situation where I was vamped, that I would remember my “roots”.
Then again … because they’re a food source, I don’t feel particularly friendly towards cows or pigs. Now that might be different if I’d ever been one or the other.
I hear you, Liz, but birds of a feather flock together…I mean those damn mortals want to kil them!
Not a sick and twisted mind–but a creative one!! I think my vamps would enjoy a donor who loved chocolate.
In other words … the mind of a writer, Cyn.
I’ve been reading alot of Vamp books lately, I guess I was just a couple of years late to the party. lol
My favorite are the authors that make Vampires a separate and distinct species. They aren’t made, they are born. Like JR Ward’s Brotherhood series and Lara Adian’s Midnight Breed. In these humans are considered lesser because they are weaker, slower, more pathetic and well. . . food (for the breed series anyway. lol)But there is also the fact that humans are considered lesser in that they are less tolerant, more emotional, more likely to blow up the planet in their petty little wars.
I think Tracy O’Hara touches on the differences in the tastes of blood depending on what the host has eaten. And I know that in JR Ward’s Lover Eternal, the heroine is dying from Leukemia and when the hero seals a cut of hers, by licking it, he can taste the cancer in her.
I’ve got a Vampire series in mind- but with several serious twists. Unfortunately, I can’t start on it until I finish the two WIP’s I’ve currently got going, which means the sub-genre will probably be dead as a well. . . Vamp by the time I get around to it. lol.