Tag: Literature

Art, Events, History, Literature

“Bite Me” Vampire Exhibit Featuring a Special Lecture by Dacre Stoker

by Jennifer Vasquez7 Comments on “Bite Me” Vampire Exhibit Featuring a Special Lecture by Dacre Stoker
Vamp Jenn and Dacre Stoker
Vamp Jenn and Dacre Stoker

Did you know there are descendants of Bram Stoker alive today? One of these family members is Dacre Stoker who is the great grandnephew of the notorious Dracula author. He’s taken up the mantle as overseer of the Stoker legacy and, together with his wife Jenne, manages the Bram Stoker Estate. For years, he’s been traveling worldwide, giving presentations on his ancestor and the creation of Dracula and his other literary works. The Menagerie Oddities Market sponsored his most recent tour across California, and he delivered a fascinating lecture at the SugarMynt Gallery in Pasadena. This was done in conjunction with the gallery’s latest art show, the “Bite Me” Vampire Exhibit. It was an evening fit for the undead, and I’m here to share it with you.

Continue reading ““Bite Me” Vampire Exhibit Featuring a Special Lecture by Dacre Stoker” →
Literature

Spotlight On Rose Sinister: Vampire Scholar & Author

by Jennifer Vasquez11 Comments on Spotlight On Rose Sinister: Vampire Scholar & Author
Rose Sinister (Photo credit: Rachel Clinesmith, editor-in-chief Vampyre Magazine and owner of Vampyre Cosmetics)
Rose Sinister (Photo credit: Rachel Clinesmith, editor-in-chief of Vampyre Magazine and owner of Vampyre Cosmetics)

Author and content creator Rose Sinister has been on a mission to explore the question, “Why do we tell vampire stories?” This query laid the foundation for her podcast Rose Sinister: Vampires, which she launched in 2018. Since then, she’s branched off to work on multiple projects dedicated to enriching people’s knowledge of these creatures of the night, plus she’s just released her first novel within the vampire genre titled This Crimson Debt. I had the opportunity to interview the writer and read the story, and it’s fangtastic. Don’t worry; there won’t be any spoilers in the following review.

Continue reading “Spotlight On Rose Sinister: Vampire Scholar & Author” →
Literature

12 Unusual Facts About Mary Shelley

by Jennifer Vasquez18 Comments on 12 Unusual Facts About Mary Shelley
Portrait of Mary Shelley by Richard Rothwell
Portrait of Mary Shelley by Richard Rothwell

In 1818, Mary Shelley published her first major work, Frankenstein, or the Modern Prometheus. More than 200 years later, the novel is still popular among gothic horror fans. Not only has it sparked numerous movie adaptations, but the monster of the narrative has been the inspiration behind Halloween costumes, haunts and a Frankenstein-themed bar in the UK. The author also continues to be a prominent literary figure today, inspiring countless contemporary horror writers. There’s even an annual holiday commemorating her birthday and notorious book, Frankenstein Day on August 30th. To pay homage to the author, here are 12 interesting facts about Mary Shelley that may surprise you.

Continue reading “12 Unusual Facts About Mary Shelley” →
Literature

The Vampira Diaries Book Review

by Jennifer Vasquez13 Comments on The Vampira Diaries Book Review
The Vampira Diaries memorabilia
The Vampira Diaries memorabilia

Before Elvira, Mistress of the Dark, there was Vampira, famously known as the original Glamour Ghoul. Her pale visage, raven-colored locks, crimson lips, and highly arched brows made her quite the image to behold on late-night television. While she’s revered today as an icon in the underground scene, her claim to fame was short-lived during her time. 

In an all-new book called The Vampira Diaries: 1954-1956, author Jonny Coffin gives readers a closer look into the world of the queen of the night. Digging out archives from the grave, he presents a collection of unseen photographs, newspaper clippings and excerpts from her diaries, resurrecting the voice and presence of this dark soul. I recently finished the biography and want to share a bit of what lies on the pages.     

Continue reading “The Vampira Diaries Book Review” →
Literature

Midnight Light Book Review: A Poetic Exploration of Life & Death

by Jennifer Vasquez2 Comments on Midnight Light Book Review: A Poetic Exploration of Life & Death

“The moon appears in the night sky
Casting our souls into dreams
Endlessly flowing streams of subconscious move over the land”
-Another Perspective

Midnight Light
Image accompanying the poem “Underneath Icicles” in Midnight Light (Photo credit: Brian Paglinco)

Verse and imagery entwine in Midnight Light, a book that illuminates darkness and uncovers life pulsating in the land of the dead. It is the creation of two dear friends—writer Michael Pace and photographer Brian Paglinco—who wanted to share their artistic vision with the world, as well as pay tribute to their enduring friendship. The pages contain a series of gothic-inspired poems and photos that transported me to different time periods and places as I explored the work.

Continue reading “Midnight Light Book Review: A Poetic Exploration of Life & Death” →
Literature

Richard Delgado’s New Vampire Book Series: The Ancient Chronicles

by Jennifer Vasquez5 Comments on Richard Delgado’s New Vampire Book Series: The Ancient Chronicles
The Ancient Chronicles: The Newborn by Richard A. Delgado
The Ancient Chronicles: The Newborn by Richard A. Delgado

What would you do if you were forced to lead an existence that required you to forget your past and succumb to bestial instincts? Author Richard A. Delgado tackles this question in the first book of his new series The Ancient Chronicles: The Newborn. In it, readers meet Leonardo Le’ Muerte, a young man who’s suddenly turned into a fledgling vampire. Without fully realizing the implications of this transformation, Leonardo is forced to adjust to a darker side of life and confront many demons, inside and out.

Continue reading “Richard Delgado’s New Vampire Book Series: The Ancient Chronicles” →
Dining & Drink, Events, Film, Lifestyle, Literature, music, Travel

The Undead Way to Celebrate Dracula Day

by Jennifer Vasquez22 Comments on The Undead Way to Celebrate Dracula Day

From left to right: Bram Stoker, Vlad Tepes and Bela Lugosi as Dracula
From left to right: Bram Stoker, Vlad Tepes and Bela Lugosi as Dracula

On May 26th, 1897, Bram Stoker’s notorious novel Dracula was published. More than a century later, the vampire tale has indeed proven to be as immortal as its protagonist. There have been films, TV shows, music, books, art and entertainment events inspired by the Count. Stoker’s work has left such an indelible mark on, not just the literary world, but the creative world in general that there is a day dedicated to it—Dracula Day. There are many ways to celebrate and following you will find ideas for how to throw a fangtastic vampire soiree, whether alone or with others! Continue reading “The Undead Way to Celebrate Dracula Day” →

Literature, occult

Top 10 Must-Read Dark Books

by Jennifer Vasquez12 Comments on Top 10 Must-Read Dark Books

book-light

With the current Coronavirus pandemic, life seems to have become its own horror story. A novel illness is running rampant across the globe, streets have become eerily quiet, citizens have been ordered to self-isolate and panic has turned as contagious as COVID-19. But not all is as dire as it seems.

Since we’ve suddenly had to adjust to a new way of existing, I think everyone needs a break from reality and nothing provides that more readily than a good book! I’ve created a list of Top 10 Dark Reads with varying levels of darkness. Some embody gallows humor, while others are just plain morbid. They are presented in no particular order, but I do believe I saved the most sinister for last. Continue reading “Top 10 Must-Read Dark Books” →

Film, Lifestyle, Literature

The 7 Most Iconic Goth Couples

by Jennifer Vasquez6 Comments on The 7 Most Iconic Goth Couples

Still from Francis Ford Coppola's "Dracula" (© Columbia Pictures)
Still from Francis Ford Coppola’s “Dracula” (© Columbia Pictures)

Flowers, chocolates and anything and everything heart-shaped blissfully emerge when February 14th rolls around. For lovebirds, it’s all red, pink and sweet for Valentine’s Day, no? Well, for those that have a penchant for dark romance, there’s nothing more amorous than a bouquet of black roses, a moonlit picnic in the cemetery and perhaps even a keepsake in the shape of a real, bloody human heart.

To commemorate this holiday, I decided to pay homage to some of history’s most quintessential pairs that put an entirely different spin on the old adage “romance is dead.” For the following seven most iconic goth couples, romance is at its peak when in the grasp of passion and death. Continue reading “The 7 Most Iconic Goth Couples” →

Literature

Poe Pop Culture: A Birthday Tribute to Edgar Allan Poe

by Jennifer Vasquez10 Comments on Poe Pop Culture: A Birthday Tribute to Edgar Allan Poe

edgar-allan-poe

On January 19th, 1809, one of the most influential figures in Gothic literature was born—Edgar Allan Poe. The American writer is renowned for his terror-filled works, where death plays a major theme. His poetry and short stories have been categorized under the horror fiction umbrella, and they have also been associated with dark Romanticism, a subgenre of Romanticism that fixated on the grotesque and morbid. It should also be mentioned that he had a major impact on the development of the modern detective story.

More than two centuries later from the date of his birth, his words continue to stir the macabre spirit within us. I still have the research paper I wrote as an undergrad about The Black Cat. Since countless biographies have been published on the poet, I will not retell the details of his life. Instead, to commemorate this occasion, I thought I’d compile a brief, but amusing list of Edgar Allan Poe’s presence in pop culture. Happy Birthday Eddy! Continue reading “Poe Pop Culture: A Birthday Tribute to Edgar Allan Poe” →