Word Out 2011

Q & A with Amy Gray

How to be a Vampire: A Fangs-on Guide for the Newly Undead by Amy Gray is a delightfully tongue (or should I say fang?) in cheek guide to all things vampire.  Learn how to “come out of the crypt” to your friends and family.  Find out what the stylish vampire wears and how to transform your room from dreary to “decadent den”. Explore the ancient legends and history of vampires and follow their rise in the world of literature, pop culture and movies.  We were thrilled when author Amy Gray agreed to answer a few of our questions regarding how to be a vampire and a writer!

Word Out(WO): So Amy, what prompted you to write How to be a Vampire?

Amy Gray (AG): I normally have a themed Christmas film marathon throughout the season and one year it happened to be vampires. I got out all my favourite films: Nosferatu, The Hunger, Hammer horrors where Christopher Lee goofs it up and glowers, that terrible one where Keanu tries to ruin a reasonable film with his attempt at a British accent and finally, Twilight. My housemates and I started arguing about Twilight so much and, in particular, the wealth of vampy myth and tradition that it ignored that it only seemed right to write a book about all my favourite vampires.

WO: Vampires have been around in legends and fiction for a long time. Why are vampires so hot in pop culture right now?

AG: Vampires have always been hot and they always will. They feature in some way in most mythologies, superstitions and religions and were simply waiting for film to come around before dominating it with iconic characters that chill or move our hearts. In the end, I think people truly love that which scares them. Vampires are demons who exist outside of the natural laws we hold dear and we are powerless against them. And if you make them cute? Well, we're just done for, basically. God help us if anyone ever writes a zombie romantic lead who is totally hot looking and trying to stay away from human brains.

WO: This book delves deep into the history, culture and legends of vampires. Did you learn a lot while researching this book?  What is the most interesting vampire fact you came across?

AG: I have always been a fan of vampires, strange histories, curiosities and oddities. I learned a great deal though, while writing this book. My favourite fact was discovering the Australian aboriginal vampire, the Yara-Ma-Yha-Who who would devour, vomit, then devour, then vomit, then have a bit of a nap and wait for you to become a vampire. Naturally, as an Australian, this was an incredibly proud moment for me even more so when I learned it was a terrible runner and got puffed quite easily.

WO: What do you personally like to read (vamp or non-vamp)? What book are you currently reading?

AG: I love reading.  I'm currently going through Anansi Boys by Neil Gaiman who is expert at welding myth with action in a credible, whimsical and hysterically funny way.  His comics and novels are brilliant.  Umberto Eco's my favourite writer and moves me to giddy excitement.  I re-read Bram Stoker's Dracula every year and recommend it to anyone who wants to bathe in a beautiful symphony of words.

WO: In your book, you talk about travel hotspots for the newly undead.  What is your ultimate vampire vacation destination and why?

AG: I'm a firm believer in horror and historical travel.  There's just too much to see.  Personally, I've ran through London at night and it's a great trip for vampire lovers in need of atmosphere but what about the vampire adventures waiting to be had?  What about a trip around Lake Baikal in Russia? There near the ancient and unfathomably deep body of dark, dark water?  Where it stays so dark and cold and where little has changed?  That is the perfect spot for some vampire action.  Someone needs to write about that.  Or a vampire at Chernobyl.  That is an interesting idea.

WO: Who is your favourite vampire of all time?

Amazingly enough, it's not a vampire.  It's the supporting characters I find so fascinating.  Think about Renfield, so enthralled and rent insane by Dracula. The Failed Håkan, so pitiful and shambolic but so very desperate to serve Eli.  It's easy to write about the vampires: the real fascination for me lies with those who serve and enable these creatures.  Why are these people dedicated and how did they get that way?  Why would anyone devote themselves to help someone be evil?

WO: What’s the best advice you have ever received about writing?

AG: Put it aside. Come back to it later. I've found that sometimes you'll be horrified to read what you have written, other times you'll be relieved and even impressed. The main reason this advice is so great is that it gives you the best buffer possible between you and your words, so you can objectively
assess and edit. Or spot the gem of an idea that really works.

WO: What advice would you give to aspiring writers?

AG:

• Don't edit as you write. Let everything come out in the first draft and don't hold a single letter back. Sort it out when you read it later.

•  Daunted by the thought of writing? Plan it. Break it down. Bite-sized chunks are easily managed.

•  Ask questions of your story and yourself all the time. What is he doing? How will she react? What will she do next?

•  Sometimes it's hard to convey what's sitting in your head onto the page. Everyone grapples with this, it's ok. Find your own way to deal with this. Talking out loud helps me.

• Writing is a beautiful craft – not an art, a craft – but it can be lonely so make sure you spend time with friends.

• Just goddamn write. Do it now. Don't stop.

WO: Any future projects you are working on, and would like to talk about?
AG: I've been busily writing but we'll have to see – the story could come out quickly if I devoted more time to it.

WO: In your opinion, what is the best power a vampire can have?
AG: Well, they all seem to have completely amazing fighting skills…

WO: Thanks Amy!