RIP Dear Vampire Man...

Jonathan Frid was the perfect vampire Barnabas Collins on the gothic TV daytime serial Dark Shadows. No one can replace him. He was intensely sexy, charismatic, dangerous and charming all at the same time.


Jonathan died on Friday the 13th at the age of 87. Looking back, I realize now that he was in his forties when he appeared on Dark Shadows from 1966 to 1971. No wonder I find middle-aged men sexy!


I'm not ashamed to admit that the character of Barnabas Collins was my inspiration for my hero Val Drakul in my best-selling novel, Help I'm Falling for the Vampire Next Door. There was a sense of vulnerability about Barnabas that was irresistible. He couldn't help it that he'd been turned into a vampire--it was Angelique the jilted voodoo witch's fault. He struggled with his blood thirst while he struggled to find love and happiness. It was the makings of the perfect tortured (yet strong and sexy) paranormal hero.


I was going to write more about the vampire tale I'm currently working on today, but my heart is breaking knowing my favorite vampire man is with us no more. Rest in peace, dear, dear vampire man.