Vampire romance's are now over the top.

To be sure, I'm quite sick of it too! B. Stoker

I feel quite drained by the whole experience. M Harker

I think we're all in agreement with you. It's bandwagon madness and unfortunately the forces of marketing. The trouble is, publishers in their rush to make a quick buck on the back of one lucky hit, probably miss some damned good writers in other genres. In some ways you can't blame them. They're in busines to make money, but it still irks. Unfortunately the publishing world has changed greatly from even twenty years ago, you only have to look at the plethora of books on sale written by so-called TV stars, personalities and celebrities. If you've got a name (TV), don't worry about learning the craft of writing. You'll get your book published regardless. YUK! I know, sour grapes and all that. These books (and the kiss-and-tell variety) seem to appear overnight and are in the main ghostwritten, while a short story for a magazine can be sitting around for nearly a year before the editor makes a decision on it. Quite an amazing state of affairs really.

It's just the current spirit of the times, who know's in 3 years time every other book being published will be about aliens visiting earth through our unconscious minds, then someone will write a hit book about it, and a few others will bring there book out at the same time about it, and yet they never knew each one was writing it. Interesting tale I was once told, when Dennis the menace was first introduced to the uk, (the red and black uk version) over in america at around about the same time an american dude brought out exactly the same idea but with blonde hair, they both swear neither had any knowledge of the other. I think its something do with the collective conscious of modern day man, the idea's come from our unconscious. everything original ever written comes from there. Its like a well of ideas the whole world has access too, but only a minority know how to tap into it. Right now the unconscious spirit of the times is fixated on the idea of vampires and immortality.

The next big thing is books about Umpires, D.Bird

Won't all that fake blood make for a sticky wicket? I'll get my lab coat. W.G.Grace.

Apparently, even agents are sick of it :)

Sorry I missed this thread but I've been in the bath. I think the stories are bloody good! I can't get enough of that stuff. Elzabet Bathory.

Elzabet! Is that really you? V.Tepes.

I agree - far too many in the market now. Imagination seems limited to the latest flavour of the month. This extends to television, movies and, to a lesser extent, new music as well. It is almost as though most 'artists' don't create, they regurgitate. How boring!

All my very favourites here! Let's have a discussion we can really get our teeth into. Nosferatu

Aah, so here you all are. I've been searching for you all. Just let me get my little mallet and sticks and things ... Van Helsing (Prof)

Elzabet, where do you find all those virgins? Do you nip across the border to Hungary? I have trouble finding victims who have been chaste all day, never mind their whole lives! Nosser

Try N'wawlins, Mr Feratu. A.Rice

Hi, Nosser. Yes, Hungary is very good especially when I'm, hungry. Tee hee. But if you really want to know, deep, dark places are best, like mines and pits. Personally, I shop in Austria, at Ingrid Pitt's. Elzabet

Mr Peaceful, I make a point of avoiding stakes and garlic, although I am very fond of a porterhouse blue. Elzabet, I was at Hammer House the other day and Christopher mentioned the very shop. If they don't have any he says he usually goes to Valerie Leon's in Chiswick. N.Osferatu

Do they sell anything other than ra-ra skirts? B. Uffy

I don't know about you guys but I'm going Goth. Vlad.

I just can't handle the buckles nowadays http://community.webshots.com/photo/fullsize/2969762700044785100bTzGcu

BTW http://www.abctales.com/story/ewan/once-bitten Check the date

The names you have all come up with! Ofcourse once everyone was intregued to learn of these long-living cannibals, when at first written in fiction, how much of it was true in strange lands brasov, none of these teenies reading twilight will be inclined to go & research. Pagamus D.T. Same as pirates, what has Jack-a-sparrow done?! I am afraid most children will have no curiosity left do writers continue this way. When I was young our history lessons of King Arthur & the local legends were inspiration enough!

Mimbled over this for a bit :-) No curiosity for history? I beg the success of Terry Deary and his Horrible Histories collection, much in the tradition of Hogarth et al: http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/art/features/naughty-by-... (Flagged up on Arts and Letters Daily) How subtexts diffused through modern communication and artforms inform and engage children has much to to with traditional forms of cultural exchange of information. Perhaps recent western populist media and entertainment's cyclical return to European mythology assuages an anthropological need for belief in something other than C19th empiric tyranny and reflects a commercial opportunity to fill a void. Is there an imperative human requirement to believe in something greater than self.. ..and will post reformation Britain inevitably take the P*>> out of it, whilst propagating myths according to pecuniary advantage ? :D

Well, lenchenelf, I had to look up a few of words then! I see what you mean & horrible histories are great, though I just thing books like twilight is all mush! I would rather read a historic novel that is atleast half true. American writer sharon Penman s book Here be Dragons, is part fiction which makes it a good read, and also a lot of good facts you can look up & learn about. I dont think you can say much wrong about my King Arthur stories, I always hold the magic & myths in them as historical truth. :D

Interestingly, this has just been flagged on A&L Daily http://chronicle.com/article/All-the-Dead-Are-Vampires/65829 Could be something to get our teeth in to. ;)