Didn’t I do enough research for book one? No, not nearly enough. Book one was only a mere glimpse into the world that I’ve built. And it needs more lore. Hence the deep dive back into the research process.
However, I thought I would share with you all some of the resources I’ve pulled, as I’ve learned some pretty interesting stuff in my vampire-obsessed research.
I tend to get lost in the research process, and I have to remind myself that it’s an important part of the process in building the world I have in my head, how to put it into words – what we learn in the research part influences the imagination. I have learned things that helped me make important plot decisions or when figuring out what my vampires were like.
Anyways, here’s some stuff to keep you busy for a few hours.
Books
Vampire Sources
- From Demons To Dracula
A Chilling account of the evolution of the monster Dracula and the legends that created him.
I just bought this on Amazon – I haven’t started it yet, but I thought I would share it.
- Vampires Myths & Legends by Aubrey Sherman
Aubrey Sherman breaks down the legend of the vampire, across media and lore, the beast haunts us in more than just legends and lore.
History, media, literature, and science! Sherman covers it all.
III. Vampires Through the Ages by Brian Righi
I find it ironic that the publisher for this book is Llewellyn Worldwide, considering I based the name of my MMC Llewyn on – yeah, anyway, this book covers the evolution from Dracula to real cases of real-life vampires today!
IV. Vampires: A Handbook of History & Lore of the Undead
Found at Barnes & Noble, this book was highly crucial in my understanding of how many different traits that vampires could have across lore & legend. There is no one type of vampire, but Dracula set the standard for vampires in the media and literature.
V. The Vampire: Origins of the Vampire;Generation of the vampire; the vampire in ancient civilizations, the vampire in Literature by Montague Summers
This was a treasure found at the Oddities Convention that visited Phoenix last year, right when the research for Bloodmist & Bonedust was at its beginning. I didn’t know where to start because my only influences had been Dracula itself and Twilight. I needed to broaden my horizons, and I was happy to find this – with a plastic cover.
Mafia Sources
Al Capone by Deirdre Bair
Al Capone the summarized history of a man who defied all odds in the heart of prohibition Chicago. From rags to riches, Al Capone made a name for himself on the streets of the South Side.
Underboss by Peter Maas
Sammy the Bull Gravano gives the tell all of what it was like to be the underboss in the New York Mafia. Reading this was crucial to understanding Llewyn’s background and what it would be like to defect from an organization that would have skinned you alive at the thought.
The Mafia by Al Camino, Jo Durden Smith and M.A Frasca
The Complete story is the complete story – I don’t think I’ve read so much murder and mayhem in so many pages in such a short time. This book was crucial in understanding the roots of the mafia and how to implement them in creating a vampire mafia to terrorize Chicago.
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