Dear Vampire David: What Makes a Vampire A Hero?

This column is for entertainment purposes only.  I make no claims of having therapeutic expertise.  I have only the common sense that comes with living over a hundred years.  Join us and enjoy!

–David

Dear David,

I've been reading a lot of vampire books lately.  I mean a lot.  What makes a vampire a hero?  Aren't you supposed to be evil and nasty things that hang out in the dark?

BTW, what did you bring Susan from Paris?

Amy

Dear Amy,

Easy question first.  I brought a bottle of Shalimar cologne for Susan.  It's her favorite. 

Wow, the next question is more for an author, but I'll give it my best.   What makes any man a hero?  It's what he does.  It's the choices he makes.  Heroes tend to put themselves at risk for others, stand by others, and sometimes die for others.  A hero puts others above himself. 

What makes a vampire a hero?  For a long time, vampires were portrayed as villains–you know the Nosteraftu types that we in the Arnhem Knights refer to as savages.  They are more rabid animal than man and only look at humans as food.  Some have the capacity to reason, but most don't bother.  In 1625, New Amersterdam (which later became New York City) was founded, and in the same year, Vampire Maximillion Vander Meer founded the Arnhem Knights and their society called the Arnhem Society.  It was a conscious choice of Max and two other vampires to live a civilized life–not to be the monster–to live beside mankind.

The vampire as hero is growing in prevalence in novels today, and I'm glad.  One of the biggest problems I face every day are the vampire slayers.  Some are professional and some are hobbyists.  Neither want to recognize the civilized vampire.  To them all vampires are bad. 

I'm not telling you to trust all vampires.  Don't.  The savages are still out there.  The amoral vampires that look like us but treat people as food are still out there.  But since Max and his two friends started the "civilized" movement on the North American continent, I'm proud to say that more vampires are embracing our ways. 

What makes a hero?  My final answer is love.  Love inspires and makes a person stand up against all odds, and it's all because they love someone or something and place it above themselves.  Love will bring out the hero in anyone. 

David

P.S.  Susan will be having a contest and party at The Romance Studio on Thursday, March 24, 2011 all day.  http://www.theromancestudio.com/party/

–Vampire David Hilliard

–Susan Hanniford Crowley

Find out more about David in The Stormy Love Life of Laura Cordelais

http://www.susanhannifordcrowley.com

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