Theresa Van Spankeren's Blog, page 14
December 5, 2014
Interview with a Vampire - Julia
Thank you for agreeing to this interview. I really appreciate it. Will Samuel be joining us?
The interview is no problem. I couldn’t convince Samuel to join us today. I guess you will have to convince him yourself.
It’s a shame he will not be joining us. I’ll have to find him later. Now on to the first question. Does living as a vampire have the same appeal as prior to being turned (if you’re that type of vampire)? If you had to do it over, would you?
Yes, I enjoy being a vampire for the most part. If I had to do it again, I would.
From what you’ve witnessed yourself, do the history books have it right?
Generally speaking, yes. There are always events that are left out. Sometimes that is a good thing. Other times … not so much.
Are there any female vampires around?
(Julia rolls her eyes) Seriously? I know we females are not as famous as Bram Stroker’s Dracula, but try to be more intelligent than that.
What do you think of the recent fashion for vampire books and films? Has it made your life harder or easier?
(She smiles and leans forward) Mortals are amusing. They have quite the imaginations. Certain books may have made life more difficult, but if other authors are convincing future Hunters that we are all sparkly in sunlight or eat blood substitute, I will not disagree.
According to folklore, vampires can’t cross moving water. Does this present problems for you?
You cannot believe everything you read.
Are there other vampires, and if so what role does gender play in vampire society?
Yes, there are other vampires. The hierarchy of our society is based on power, not gender. Both males and females can have the same amount of power. The amount of power a vampire has is based on numerous things, gender not being one of them.
They say a vampire’s bite brings pleasure rather than pain. Is that true, and how is that even possible?
(Julia looks deep in thought. She runs a hand through her light red hair) Ah, the bite. I can understand why mortals are confused by contradicting stories. If a vampire uses hypnotism, the human he or she is feeding from will feel no pain or perhaps even pleasure if that is what the vampire wishes them to feel. If the vampire doesn’t use hypnotism, well, I am told it hurts a lot.
Do vampires possess a soul? What difference does having or not having a soul make? What happens when you die? (Assuming you can actually die… Can you?)
I believe vampires possess a soul. The soul does not die when you are turned, although it can be good or bad just like humans. We can die, but vampires are difficult to kill. I am not sure where we go when we die – the dead has not told me that secret yet.
The dead? What do you mean?
(She looks startled by the question) That is a long story. Forget I said anything.
Uh, okay. Do you believe in ‘true love’ and ‘soul mates’?
Love can take many different forms with different people. Soul mates exist, but you are not guaranteed a ‘happily ever after ‘together.
Who made you, and why? Was it by choice, or was the choice made for you?
(Julia smiles sadly) Samuel is the vampire who changed me. It was my choice and we made a deal. He helped me and I agreed to challenge the leader of our kind in return for his help.
If you live forever, or for thousands of years, and are difficult to kill, and are very strong and powerful… how do you not become a sociopath? And go off and start doing anything you want and acting on any impulse?
My group has a set of ethics and retains a sense of humanity. We want to co-exist beside humans without being detected. Besides, if a vampire or a group of vampires gets too out of hand, then the mortals get suspicious and we end up with a new generation of Hunters after us. We really don’t want that.
No, we wouldn’t want that. Thank you for your time, Julia. I appreciate your willingness to speak to me considering you could be hunted.
(Julia stands up and smiles) Nowadays, most humans will never believe you. I am not worried. (She turns and walks out.)
November 19, 2014
Amazing Stories
My hat is off to Lachesha. Survyve: Daylight's Doom is an amazing story with engaging characters. She sucked me into her characters' world, in a way that I have not experienced in a long time. It is a dark story, but it is also filled with hope and love.
I have read other good stories as well, like The Heart Of The Forest. There are so many others that are just waiting to found! (Christmas list, here they come!)
November 6, 2014
Distracted Musings
Although he is probably best known for his sci-fi series 'Beserker', Saberhagen also had written a series based on Dracula. My father was the one whom led me to the series by suggesting 'An old Friend of the Family' which was one of his favorites. Needless to say, I have read most of the books in the series. Saberhagen had an interesting and unique vision of Dracula as a misunderstood being who is not necessarily purely evil
It is amazing to realize how many different books and authors helped influence who I have become as an author myself.
November 2, 2014
Thanks
October 30, 2014
Walking Dead Parody
Rick and his group have been on the move for months. The weather is still warm, but they notice leaves falling from the trees as twilight fell.
“How the hell did we end up going north? We were supposed to be headed east,” Carol muttered.
“Shh. Did you hear that?” Maggie said. She pointed at a cemetery on their right. “It’s coming from there.”
“Walkers,” Rick hissed. “Get ready,” he continued, raising his gun. Carl did the same. Darryl trained his crossbow carefully as Michonne pulled out her katana. The rest of the group followed their lead as the noises of wood splintering and concrete crashing got louder.
A trail of Walkers started moving out of the cemetery, shuffling past the group with their arms straight out, paying the living no heed.
Rick and the others looked at each other in confusion as they realized that wasn’t the only strange thing about these Walkers. They could make out intelligible words, growing louder by the moment. “Must vote, must vote,” the Walkers chanted as they shuffled past.
“What the hell? Rick, where are we?” Darryl hissed, watching the strange sight.
Rick thought a moment. “I think possibly Illinois,” he whispered back.
Carl laughed. “Well, that explains it.”
“So do we kill them, Rick?” Carol asked as the line of Walkers continued past, all chanting.
Rick followed the Walkers’ path with his eyes. “Nah, let’s not waste the bullets. We’ll just go the opposite direction of that abandoned polling place,” he said, pointing to a library with a large Nov. 4th Vote Here! Sign.
October 29, 2014
Kindle Edition Free Promotion
starting today, and running through Nov. 2nd,'All Souls Day' you can get the Kindle version of the first book in the War of Destiny series "Lost Soul " for FREE! Reviews are always welcome. :) Happy Haunting, everyone!
http://www.amazon.com/Lost-Soul-Desti...
October 17, 2014
Julia's Rose Garden
I left our kitchen after imparting instructions on cooking duck to our main cook, Natalie. The meat is not very common, even to our wealthy household, and I hoped the exotic food would please Gregory and ensure peace and quiet for me and my daughter later in the day.
“Mistress Juliana, the baby is being quite cankerous today. No matter what I try, she just will not stay quiet,” Emma said, meeting me in the hallway leading to my bedroom and my daughter’s nursery.
I stared at the older woman for a moment. Marie’s wet nurse looked exhausted. Dark rings circled both eyes and she had not been hit. “I believe she is just tired of this stuffy air,” I said as Marie’s cries once again perforated the air. “Get some rest, Emma. I shall take Marie out with me for a while.”
“Mistress Julia, you really should not … Master Gregory will not….”
“Marie needs her mother and some fresh air,” I replied as I gathered my skirts with one hand and stepped past her into the nursery. “Mama’s here, Marie. Shh, it is all right,” I cooed as I reached her crib.
Marie’s fussing quieted as I spoke. She turned her head and stared at me with large blue eyes. Those eyes were still sparkling from tears even as she reached up a tiny hand to grab mine. I smiled gently and picked her up, wrapping a blanket loosely around her.
My daughter laid her head on my shoulder as I turned and walked out of the nursery and down the hallway to the door. I think some time in the gardens would do both of us some good. “Mistress Julia, I must implore ye to think of what your husband has told you. He does not think you should spend so much time with the baby. Please….” The wet nurse begged from behind me.
I turned my head once. “You are exhausted, Emma. Let me have time with my child. You need some sleep,” I repeated. “I will worry about Gregory later.” Emma sighed as I stepped out the door and followed the path back into the gardens.
The heady scent of lilies, irises, carnations, and roses immediately penetrated my nose and I breathed deeply as I carried my daughter deeper into my little walled off paradise. She glanced curiously at the yellows, pinks, and violets of the various flowers but did not seem particularly interested.
Turning a corner, I saw my favorite stone bench come into sight. It was my favorite spot in the garden. Stone walls covered with ivy blocked the view of the house and there were several rose bushes surrounding the bench. A small pool of clear water was located directly across from the bench.
As I sat down, Marie perked up and smiled as she saw the scene. I turned her around in my arms and she instantly reached out towards the red petals of the nearest flower. Her fingertips touched the silky smoothness and she giggled.
She dropped her hand and stretched to reach a second bush with white flowers on it. I smiled as I smoothed my hand over her short black hair. She glanced back at me a moment, her blue eyes contrasting sharply with her dark hair. A smile broke over her face as she grabbed my finger and cooed.
“Do you like those pretty flowers, Marie?” I asked softly. Marie tilted her head and made more cooing noises before turning her attention back to the red roses.
I shook my head in happiness and bewilderment. I really did not know what fascinated her about those roses. She only seemed to like the red and white ones. We had one bush of pink roses and she never seemed to pay any attention to it. My gaze fell onto the little pond and I simply listened to Marie’s contented babbling.
A sudden sharp cry made me turn back to my daughter. Her tiny hand was partially wrapped around a red rose’s stem. “Nay, Marie! Do not touch that part!” I scolded as I pulled her hand away. A tiny drop of blood dripped down her thumb as she whimpered. The blood was as crimson as the flower she had pricked her finger on.
I pressed the corner of her blanket against the small wound as I whispered reassuring things to her. What had possessed her to touch that part of the flower? She never had done it during previous trips out here.
Before I could ponder the oddity any longer, I heard a voice – sharp, demanding. “Juliana, are ye out with that fool-born urchin? Where is my dinner?”
Marie’s wail pieced the air as I winced. Gregory was home.
September 27, 2014
Author Interview
September 15, 2014
Chapter 3 Excerpt
“But I thought it was Sunday today. And I swear I saw–”
Crystal cut me off, saving me although I didn’t realize it at the time. “No,” she said firmly. “You saw me on Saturday and it is Wednesday. You’ve been very sick, Julia. You’re delirious. You have no idea what you’re saying.”
“She knows exactly what she’s saying! She did see that son–of–a–”Gregory started from behind her.
“Gregory, be quiet! She saw me on Saturday. She’s been running an incredibly high fever and until now had been having coughing fits constantly. She’s seeing and hearing things. Besides just why is her jaw all purple and swollen? She has no idea what she’s saying. A little while ago she was talking about strange lights in the sky and vampires. We know they do not exist, right?”
“True,” Gregory growled, avoiding her question. He turned and left the room. Minutes afterwards, I drifted back into unconsciousness.
It was night and I was just emerging from a house. It wasn’t my mansion, but a smaller, less comfortable home. It looked almost like a wooden shack compared to the home I was used to. Adam emerged out of the house right after me. “So, this is living in the night,” he commented casually.
I nodded, glancing at him. “More or less. You blend into the shadows and do not see many people,” I answered.
Adam grinned. “I can get to like this. I can see you for the rest of eternity.”
“Forever,” I agreed. I turned and walked down the street. It was supposed to be pitch black out in the dream, but surprisingly I could see everything perfectly, including the dark green of tree leaves. “A child of the night,” I muttered softly. I smiled a little and continued walking. Adam followed.
“And I thought vampires were supposed to be evil. I guess they’re just...different,” he said quietly.
“Different but not necessarily bad,” I replied. The image was replaced by a different image instead. It was of Gregory holding an ax. I was bound and gagged behind him. Adam was thrown into the room by someone I didn’t know. He was unconscious and showed no sign of waking. Gregory raised the ax and I tried to scream, to warn him, but the gag prevented me from doing so. The ax came down across Adam’s back and there was blood everywhere. Somehow, I wasn’t gagged anymore and I began to scream endlessly.
I awoke to a world that held nothing for me.
September 14, 2014
It's Been Awhile
I knew that breaking my right wrist would cause problems in normal day functioning but I never realized how much you really do with that hand until now.
Typing has become a limited time thing because my arms (even my left) can only withstand so much and my spelling is atrocious without spell check.
Getting into clothes has become another interesting ordeal now that the weather has become colder. Does anyone realize how easy it is to become entangled into a simple long sleeved v-neck shirt? All the tugging and yanking, and retrying...
And sleeping... I thought it would be easier with a normal cast. I am not pinned to 1 position anymore, but I wake every hour or two because something fell asleep or is sore which requires readjustment.
The good news is that I will be getting a brace in another couple weeks. As long as all keeps going well.
Last bit of good news is that you all are in for a treat... an excerpt of the book to follow this post.
