Dear Mr. King

Author Stephen King recently made his feelings known about two fellow authors:

"The real difference is that Jo Rowling is a terrific writer and Stephenie Meyer can't write worth a darn," he said. "She's not very good."

What's that all about, Mr. King? I wouldn't think it would be professional jealousy or sour grapes -- though that's what it smacks of -- since you are a prolific, published and paid author yourself and have absolutely no need to be petty.

Okay, so authors can have opinions -- but, hey, that statement is really, well, mean. Even if that's what you truly think, why say it out loud? What good does it do other than making Ms. Meyer feel bad (hopefully she has a thick skin -- but, even so, it can't be pleasant to hear something like that)? And, how's this working for you? Did it make you feel better? Superior? What?

I haven't read any of Ms. Meyer's novels (TWILIGHT series) nor have I read any of Mr. King's later works (not anything to do with him or his writing -- just a change in what I like to read -- years ago, Mr. King's vampire story, SALEM'S LOT, scared the living hell out of me). I don't know whether I would like Ms. Meyer's writing but, even now, as a not-yet-but-hope-to-be-published author (and, yeah, I've written a vampire story), I wouldn't bad-mouth her or any other author -- and, if I were already a well-known author -- I'd definitely keep my mouth shut and leave the harsh comments to the professional reviewers or book bloggers (and, hey, for the record, they don't need to be mean, either -- you can always get a point across courteously, if you ask me).

Mr. King isn't the only author who has dissed other writers -- but he may be the one of the more famous ones. I've been on a few author blogs where the same sort of thing happened -- though not quite as public -- and I haven't been impressed with that, either.

Anyway, if I were Ms. Meyer, I think I would have only one response:

Dear Mr. King...bite me...

Admission of the Day

I love vampires!

I don't know where the love of them first came from -- but I'm thinking from DARK SHADOWS (which aired when I was a child. Back in the dark ages). I never found Barnabas Collins particularly appealing (back then, to me, he was an "old guy") but I figure something must have sparked then to send me on a lifelong affair with fanged boys.

The funny thing is I seldom read vampire fiction. I don't know why that is -- maybe because I have a mindset of how I want vampires to be so I don't like delving into anybody else's psyche about how vampires function or what they can do. I've actually written a vampire novel -- MR. PARRISH had been in my head for a long, long time and, finally, several years ago, I decided to attempt to write it -- and I did. There are some folks who have read it and I got good responses -- and one publisher nibbled but, in the end, I turned the "deal" down (long story which one day I'll share. Maybe). MR. PARRISH has been re-edited and I'm about to edit it again -- and then I'll start sending off those query letters. Wish me luck. I'm not sure why I've centered on MR. PARRISH as far as publishing goes -- I've written other novels which have nothing to do with the supernatural at all -- and which, perhaps, are better than MR. PARRISH -- but my gut feeling has always been go with MR. P and see where he takes me.

Anyway, one set of vampire novels I have read is Colleen Gleason's Gardella Chronicles -- there are four books (mass-market paperbacks) out already and one more coming. I started reading these because I saw an interview with Ms. Gleason in the newspaper and the plot and time period interested me so I said why not? Anyway, I've gotten quite addicted to them -- though the vampires in them are never (well, so far) good guys. But, of course, there's Max (think Richard Armitage in Regency period clothing...got it? Let the drooling commence...)

But I digress -- my whole point of this entry today was to discuss TRUE BLOOD which is now showing on HBO. The series is based on the Southern Vampire Mysteries by Charlaine Harris -- none of which I've read. But I have to say I'm enjoying the show -- it's different -- I'll give you that. And, while at first, I didn't find the character of Bill Compton (a vampire played by Stephen Moyer, pictured above) very appealing, he's grown on me and, in fact, has become quite the sexy vamp. The female lead -- Sookie -- played by Anna Paquin -- I'm not so sure about. Having not read the novels, maybe Ms. Paquin is perfect for the part but something about her just doesn't click with me. However, it's not a deal breaker.

Of course, there's the southern thing as well. To the southern ear, people using fake accents are pretty easy to spot -- even though everyone else may think they are dead on. The worst, though, is Tara's -- played by Rutina Wesley. I'm sure the actress is doing exactly what she's told but, quite frankly -- and at the risk of being totally un-PC -- someone like Tara would probably not sound that way at all. Not saying that no one would but, hey, I've been living in the south all my life so there are a few things I actually know to be true.

I've also added a link (in All About Reading) for author Marta Acosta's blog called VAMPIRE WIRE -- "for the latest news on paranormal and urban fantasy books, movies and television..." If vampires are your thing, check it out!

Hearing Voices

One thing I've appreciated as I've read other writers' (I'll put myself in that category even though I'm unpublished) blogs and forums is that they all have the same experience I have had -- they hear the voices of their characters -- and those characters tell them what to write. I always thought I was a bit crazy until I figured out I wasn't alone in this. I'd been telling my hubby and children this for years, not realizing just how normal this is for someone who writes fiction. To a non-writer, it probably still seems a bit insane.

My latest creation -- FANCY -- has been the most difficult thing I've written to date. I've blamed it on several things -- being tired and needing a longer break between stories, my daughter's wedding (a legitimate reason, I believe), having to put my own desires and wishes on the backburner so that everybody else can be satisfied first (let's see, we can call that the daughter/wife/mother syndrome). No matter what, the words have been hard to come by. And it didn't help when one of the characters asked to have the story partially told from his point of view. I had not counted on that but gave in -- only to have him get shy on me. Having to draw a story out of a somewhat repressed transvestite is no cup of tea.

I've tried to overruled my characters a few times -- with little success. I've had to change every place I'd written the obviously wrong name. I've had to accept them as a redhead instead of the brunette I thought they were. I've tried to stuff their square selves into round holes much to their displeasure. I've coaxed them into telling me things they didn't want to tell. I've asked them to be quiet just for one minute please while I think on my own. I've tearfully said goodbye as I write THE END on a story, though I know I can visit them when other, newer characters aren't being so damn pushy and needy.

I've fallen in love with a vampire. A time-tossed, curly-headed medieval man. A ginger-haired Scot. A man too good to be true, another with the voice of an angel. A cross-dresser. A history professor. A man who wasn't who he said he was but turned out to be even more.

And waiting in the wings...well, eventually they'll have their say. They'll tell me what they need. And some will even be gracious enough to allow me to share them with you.

Someone is whispering in my ear right now. I have no idea who it is. But that's okay. I'll know when it's necessary.

WHEN TWILIGHT BURNS

The fourth book in The Gardella Vampire Chronicles is in bookstores now. WHEN TWILIGHT BURNS continues the story of Victoria Gardella, vampire hunter, and the men in her life. Will it be Max or Sebastian? I'm on Team Max myself (think Richard Armitage in the role). The fifth -- and last -- of the series will be out in 2009. I can't wait -- but I dread the end at the same time.

Bloodsuckers

I love vampires. I always have. I think it must have started when I watched DARK SHADOWS as a child. I remember running home every day after school to watch it -- and the day it ended, I cried like a baby. I must have been 11 or 12. Back then, there was no internet to tell you when your favorite show was about to end its run so I was blindsided. It was a corny show but it had some scary moments. My favorite memories are of Daphne (Kate Jackson) , Quentin (David Selby) and Gerard (James Storm). There were also a couple of feature movies made and, later, an updated series, which didn't last very long. The thing is the feel of DS just can't be replicated today. Anyway, I just finished the third novel in the Gardella Vampire Chronicles and it made me wonder why I don't read more vampire fiction. After all, I'm trying to get my own vampire novel published and I love them so! Anyway, I guess it's because, as with everything else I read, I'm very particular. I'm not crazy about modern vampire stories (or modern anything although, again, I write stories set in modern times -- so what gives?!) I'm not interested in page after page of neck-biting and blood-gushing. I tend to want the vampire to be redeemed, which doesn't tend to happen very often. Well, maybe I need to discover more vampire books that fit my criteria. Or maybe I just need to write another one.