Colleen Gleason Asks “Why Fangs?”

BLOOD, FANGS, IMMORTALITY: SOMEONE PLEASE TELL ME, WHAT’S THE ATTRACTION?

Vampire books are coming out the wazoo, and yet there are more and more in the wings. Waiting to sink their teeth into the rabid romance and paranormal markets. Publishers keep finding and putting out new, fresh versions of takes on Dracula, et al. Not to mention Hollywood!

Since I write vampire books, I get asked the question an awful lot: what’s the attraction of vampires? Why vampires? What is it about them?

And I have to confess: I don’t have an answer for that.

See, in my books, the vamps are bad. Evil. Malicious. Self-centered. Damned. There aren’t any soulful Angels, or any chip-embedded Spikes lurking about.

And while there’s a vamp or two who’d love to lure Victoria into his/her bed, she’s not interested in joining him. She’d prefer to slay the bastard.

So, can someone tell me: why? What is it?

Is it the thought of one’s neck, an extremely erogenous zone, being sucked, bit, drawn on? Those needle-sharp fangs sinking in, tinging pleasure with pain? The rush of hot blood surging, coursing into a warm mouth?

Or is it the immortality of the vampires? The live-forever-and-never-age part? The idea of an immortal soulmate?

Is it the vulnerability, meshed with superhuman strength? The fact that sunlight burns crazily, a stake to the heart kills, but the vampire is stronger than Rambo (since I know how much Bam loves Rambo)? [Bam: Shut up.]

What is it?

I’d sure like to know.

_______________________________

Colleen Gleason is the author of the severely addicting series, The Gardella Chronicles, a sort-of Buffy Meets Jane Austen dealie. The third installation of the series, The Bleeding Dusk will be released on February 5, 2008 and soon to be reviewed by Bam. Mwahahaha.

13 Responses to “Colleen Gleason Asks “Why Fangs?””

  1. Suzette
    1

    All of the above and then some. For me, it has alot to do with the fact that in most cases the vampires are looking for the light to their darkness. Their need to find someone to love them as they are, fangs and all. I love the vamps that are looking for redemption of sorts and find it in the arms of their one true love. The fact that most of the vamp books I read have really hot vampires also helps. They are usually really strong, sexy, arrogant, sexy, protective(sometimes overly), and did I mention sexy. LOL. I admit, vamps are some of my very favorite to read.

  2. bam
    2
    Author Comment
  3. MaryKate
    3

    I think what appeals to me about vampires is the whole eternity thing. If you find your true love and he’s a vamp, you can have him forever. What’s not to love about that??

  4. Cory
    4

    I don’t know that I would say it’s the vampire part that actually draws me to books where the hero is a vampire. (It was as a teenager and I still don’t know why!)
    I simply like a strong, masculine hero. And it seems that a lot of them these days are actually vampires. If there’s a paranormal creature that I would actually want myself for a soulmate it would be were of some type.
    Like others, I think it is probably the immortality part that gets a lot of people interested. People like the idea of always being with there lover, and of course they like the idea of always being young.

  5. Nadja
    5

    I’ll take a were-creature over a vampire, preferably something furry like, say, a were-leopard. But I do agree that vampires hold a strong appeal. I think it’s the danger and vulnerability rolled into one. Who wouldn’t mind taming a predator?

  6. rebyj
    6

    It’s all those things and it’s also that it’s a type of fiction where we can be immersed in sometimes terrifying danger, enjoy the scare and all the while knowing it would never be a REAL danger. If the same situations were in a “true crime” fiction novel sans vampire , I’d never be able to read it.

  7. Katie Ann
    7

    The immortality is a big draw, because I like when the vampire has been around for hundreds/thousands of years, and has all that knowledge and experience and wisdom. Plus it just seems like it must be awful special to them to finally find TEH ONE!!1! after all that time; still haven’t grown tired of the “meant to be” aspect some people complain about in paranormals.

  8. Kimberly
    8

    For me, it’s totally the immortality thing. First off, I’m a big history buff, so the notion of someone who has lived through the great events of the past is extremely appealing. Secondly, there just seems to be so much potential for star-crossed lovers and tragic romance. Imagine having to watch the one you love wither and die. Or else having to make the decision whether to turn him/her into a vampire as well (and in some stories, once the change has been made the relationship must end).
    That isn’t to say I don’t enjoy the kind of story where vampires are just the bad guys, plain and simple. I like my villains seductive.

  9. Jennifer
    9

    I’ve never been able to figure it out either. I think maybe as a kid I just envied them staying up ALL night and not having to wake up at the crack of dawn (hah).

  10. Colleen Gleason
    10

    Thank you for all your feedback. It’s really interesting to hear the different perspectives!

  11. bettie
    11

    I’m not a huge vamp fan, but I always thought the most basic appeal was penetration. The dark appeal of sex and death; of attraction and danger. The forbidden allure of creatures that live only by night.

    I find the modern, sexy vampire characters interesting because the vampire is both powerful and vulnerable. For every strength, there is a weakness. Sure vampires are strong, immortal and mesmerizing, but things humans can easily survive like sunlight, holy water, or crosses will kill them.

    Also, they need humans to live. This supernatural character is inextricably bound to humanity, unlike, say, elves or fairies who, in most modern manifestations, need nothing from humans. Add to that the idea that the vampire used to be human, that he or she is forever reminded of what they gave up for power, and you’ve got a grade A+ recipe for some serious drama and angst.

  12. Bev(QB)
    12

    I think it’s partly because vamps are the ultimate bad boy. Who can resist the lure of THAT?! Plus they are redeemed by their woman’s magic hoo-haw deep tru lurve.

    Although, in real life, I’m pretty sure I’d have to stake him before too long. Who the hell can put up with that overbearing, overprotective, alpha hard-ass behavior for eternity?

  13. SweetNSourGirl
    13

    It might be the dark brooding asshole that could lure you into a whole new world thing. Vamps are always pale, brooding and a bit of a prick, but they’re hot mo-fos too since they’re ALWAYS taken at the height of prettiness for whatever reason. (Or it could be a vamp virus that makes you gorgeous!) The vamp always opens the eyes of the love interest and whatnot, and that’s sexy. And the biting thing, pain = pleasure principle. And the “I’ll love you for eternity” thing is pretty cool, because death is a scary thing and not having that particular problem is a big bonus, the bad part is you can’t sun tan or hang out on a beach. ‘Course I’ve always prefered night…

    Love the cover and I can’t wait to sink my teeth into the this one, Ms. Gleason. Victoria kicks ass!



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