It's Been Awhile, But...

Hello, all!

 

Yes, I know it's been a long while since last I posted here, but I've been so involved in my writing that I really haven't had the time to write here. I'm going to try to improve on that, but I can't really make any more concrete promises.

 

As of this writing, there are three of the four Siofra-related novels available, as well as one short story, "Féasta Fola". They are, in order, "Siofra", "Fiach Fola", and "Droch Fola". I am currently working on the fourth novel, "Cosán Fola", which I hope to release by late summer of 2014.

 

Originally, I thought the series would consist of three novels, but in the course of writing things, it became clear that it would require four novels to tell the story properly. Not what I'd expected, but if you don't want to shortchange people and/or leave gaping plot holes, this is what has to happen.

 

I'm also working on some more short stories, so that's been fun. It has given me an opportunity to "cleanse" my brain and take a little time away from the series, too. That helps to deal with scary things like "writers' block", which no one wants to experience. Trust me on this.

 

Here's hoping you had a wonderful 2013 and that 2014 is at least as good if not better for you and your loved ones!

 

I'll be checking in again soon, once I have more news of Siofra, Nathaniel and their companions.

 

Until then, I remain,

 

Anna Rose

The State of Vampire Fiction

Most vampire-related fiction today seems to involve teenagers, erotica or what amount to romances where one of the main characters ends up being a vampire. Some of these vampires (Kenyon's "Dark Hunter" series comes to mind) are practically bloodless in that their vampiric heroes must abstain from drinking blood or they end up being one of the bad guys.

Vampires are blood drinkers. That's just the way things are. The whole "monk" or "vegetarian" vampire idea tends to be rather silly to me.

If they hate being a vampire, or what being a vampire requires them to do, then why not end themselves? It also seems silly to me that in some of these novels, the story ends with a "cure" and the two main characters go off to lead a boringly short and very mortal life together.

My vampires, at least the ones who are at least a century old, are enjoying their existence. They aren't angsty and they aren't mopey about their situation. They don't sparkle, they aren't spending their seventieth year as a high school senior and they most certainly don't spawn so-called "half-vampire" offspring.

But that's another gripe entirely.

If you're looking for something different than what is currently on the shelves, "Siofra" may just be what you're looking for in entertainment. There are no zombies, witches, demons, ghosts or detectives to be found. Just explorations into vampiric existence and what it means for those who experience it.

If you like the kind of books I've been less than kind about, that's fine. I'm cool with that. I'm just wanting to bring something else to the table.