Lure of the Vampire: Revamped Edition

by Bertena Varney

Lure of the Vampire, A Pop Culture Reference Book, Revamped Edition is an updated version of the original book published in 2011. It is now being released with new information on the sexy and scary creature of the night, the vampire. The author takes the reader through the history and mythology of the vampire and then off into the vampires' invasion of mass media- books, television, and movies. But, readers will find that the trip doesn't end there. There are fun facts, "did you knows", links to websites, interviews of authors and more. She also looks at vampires as entertainment for children and teens in her sections that provide articles and lists that help guide parents to pick appropriate vampire shows, comics, games, manga, anime and books for their children and teens. Lure will then bring the reader to the real life aspect of the vampire by ending with academic information on real studies of vampires and real interviewers of "vampire lifestylers". Lure of the vampire is a must read for anyone who is looking for a quick grab reference book that's concise enough to assist you in finding the information that you desire without being too cumbersome and confusing. It is perfect for those that pride themselves as a vampire fan or even for those readers that are not as familiar with vampires. Audrey Koogler, Vampire Minister and Counselor said, " Bertena gives a fresh and unbiased look at the complex subject of vampires, where most books rehash the same tired notes she unearths overlooked melodies.."

Genres: Fiction

170 pages, Paperback

First published January 2, 2013

About the author

Bertena Varney began her studies at Morehead State University. Her studies included the following:
- B.A. in Social Science and Education
- M.A. in Social Science and Education
- M.A. in Sociology and Criminology
- Rank 2 Secondary Education
Certification

She used all of her extra essays, projects and independent study classes to study vampires in pop culture. Thus the creation of Lure of the Vampire.

She has worked in education as both a middle and high school teacher and college professor. She has also been a department director in a business college, and a substance abuse, youth, and domestic violence counselor.

She is a RYT - 500 Yoga Teacher, Meditation Teacher and Reiki Master.

She can be found on Facebook here http://www.facebook.com/pages/Bertena...

Her writing website is www.midnightmusings.blogspot.com

Reviews

[Natasha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review of Lure of the Vampire: Revamped Edition by Bertena Varney
Reviewed by: Natasha York


Let me first thank Miss Bertena Varney for talking me into buying her book at the 2013 Lexington Comic and Toy convention back in March, because if she had not talked me into it, I would have missed out on an informative and well put-together book, and never even known the loss of it. That said, Miss Varney, I apologize for it taking me so long to work my way through it and write you this review.

I began reading the book in question shortly after I got home from the convention and returned to my work-schedule, using it mostly to pass the hour-long drive home because I knew a quick read would never let me process or grasp it all. It's not a fantasy novel, it's an educational book, and as such deserved a more thorough, and much slower, read than what I usually give. I retain knowledge well through reading, and a lot of it I learn, but I wanted to soak this in. I was curious as to what effort she went to gather her information, how she put it together, how she decided what went where.

So it took me some time to get through it, but the more I did the more time I set aside specifically to read it. My social circles took a dive as, with Lure of the Vampire as a guide, I began poking and hunting and just in general verifying and digging into the book. I didn't grow up a fan of vampires-- that came on it's own in it's own time, but I always like reading about them, trying to figure out where it all came from. And reading this was incredibly, ridiculously informative. And while it may not be a book for everyone, it's got something for everyone, from top-ten lists to assorted lists of comic books and movies, to essays and interviews and resources for budding vampires as well.

Miss Varney studies her work, and she loves it. A few of her own essays are in the book, and you can tell she's passionate about it just in the writing. But she is also drawing in other people to her passion-- writers, vampires, and even people like me, who are book lovers and knowledge-addicts and possible-novelists and xenophiles on a whole. I don't know what caused her to try for my attention, but I'm glad she did. You have no idea.

But it is important to read the book slowly, or you miss little things. Somewhere in here I managed to miss information about how to get my hands on a free copy of Varney the Vampire, and I shall have to amend this with a rentless researching of the book.

Among the mass of pros for the book, one of which was that my not-vampiric-thrilled mother was interested to learn several details, there are only two cons that I can think of. One is that I really have no idea how to understand the Bibliography in the back. I'm sure this is a shortcoming of my own, as opposed to the book itself, because I've always been terrible at understanding things like that. The second is that it ends. The top ten lists are just that; they only list the ten. The movie list can only go up to about 2014, because that's all that's so-far been announced. Likewise, this isn't so much a con of the book, as my great and deep wish to learn more and have more information at my disposal.

All in all, this is an excellent book you should try, and if you sat and suffered through this probably very bad but certainly honest review, I think you might.

And one more thing I forgot to mention? Miss Varney will probably not hesitate to sign it for you if you ask. Though I think she was a little bit surprised when I did.