Paranormal Week: Keith Melton

August 29th, 2009 | Author: Selena

Vampires and Werewolves Unleashed!

Despite the melodrama of the title, I imagine it likely most werewolves would flat out refuse leashes, and the vamps wouldn?t allow it unless they were really into that kind of thing.

Let me pause to introduce myself. I?m Keith Melton, a degenerate author of Urban Fantasy-esque stories, and I was asked to be a part of Selena?s blog because she had an empty slot to fill on short notice (and I won?t tell you how I begged her desperately, promising never again to talk about how Siamese cats can really see ghosts, how good I look in a tinfoil hat, or how the mac and cheese diet changed my life). So now that?s out of the way and it?s time for the fun stuff! Werewolves and vampires in cage fights!

For a moment I?m going to indulge myself (why stop now, right?) and wax philosophical about vampires. They seem to have splintered into a few categories in recent decades, changing a bit from the fear-causing creature of Dracula and Stephen King?s?Salem?s Lot or the tormented creature of Anne Rice?s Lestat. Some authors keep them frightening and dangerous, and others play into the undercurrent of dark sexuality inherent in the myth. We have amusing tales, like?How to Marry a Millionaire Vampire by Kerrelyn Sparks, a whole legion of young fans for Twilight, and the sexy,?muy caliente vampires of our own Selena Illyria, whose Rysen and Kit light the pages on fire.?Warning! Blatant, self-serving plug dead ahead: We also have my own dark vampires in my novel?Blood Vice, far more dangerous than sexy. Vampire Karl Vance happens to be a hit man for the mafia, whacking wise guys so he doesn?t have to feed on the innocent. From there poor Karl?s life only gets more complicated when he meets Maria, a young woman who watched?Scarface and?The Godfather a few too many times and wants to make the entire city of Boston an offer they can?t refuse.

Astute readers will notice there was nothing particularly philosophical about the previous paragraph. However, if I start babbling in detail about the history of vampire characters in fiction we?ll be here all night, and the vending machine is out of Doritos. So, moving on?

Now I?ve always loved werewolves because wolves are such beautiful creatures, and quite frankly, having fur would save me big money on a winter wardrobe. Werewolves have also become more human, less ravenous monster since the days of?American Werewolf in London. Who wouldn?t want to be in tight with a pack alpha? They could probably score you great seats at the theater without even having to growl?much.?Warning! Blatant, self-serving plug ahead: In?Run, Wolf, my new and shiny werewolf novella, we have two non-alpha (in rank anyway) characters who defy the laws of the pack that seek to drive them apart. They risk everything for their love, planning to give the pack a collective thumb-in-the-eye on their flight to freedom. Will they escape to love another day when hostile wolves finally track them down?

As for vampire and werewolf cage fights, I think they?d be bigger than professional wrestling. I?d even pay for outrageously overpriced, watered-down soda and overcooked hotdogs to see that action.

If you?re interested in links for some of the stories mentioned here, I?d be more than happy to supply them. (Shocking, I know.)

RUN, WOLF by Keith Melton