Tiffany Ashley | Vampires, Werewolves and Fairies

I don't know about the rest of you but I am tired of reading stories about vampires, werewolves and fairies. I realize the paranormal craze has reached new heights since the release of Meyer's TWILIGHT series but I have to ask, how much is too much? Don't get me wrong, I have purchased and enjoyed several new paranormal reads (Twilight being amongst them) but lately it seems I can't walk into a bookstore or library without seeing an elaborate table display for books about vampires.

It reminds me of when the Sex and the City HBO series first aired and everyone fell in love with Carrie’s fabulous lifestyle. Before you knew it, new TV shows were popping up on every major network about a single white female who lives in a thriving metropolis. When she is not on the search for true love, she manages to squeeze in enough time to write an article for the trendy magazine she freelances for. I'm sure you can think of a few shows that easily fit this criteria. My point is, when ‘the power that be’ see a formula that works, they will beat it into the ground. Thus ... the flood of vampire novels arriving on the market. 

Many will remember our interest in vampires was peeked in 1976 by Anne Rice's INTERVIEW WITH THE VAMPIRE (one of my favorite books). Rice was among the first to depict vampires as not simply vicious predators but emotional beings who were enslaved by their existence. Rice’s novel was released several years before I was born but WOW... what a classic! Nobody can describe the inner thoughts of a character quite the way Rice does.

In 2001, Charlaine Harris created a strong following with her Sookie Stackhouse series, a story about Louisiana vampires and shape-shifters. In wake of TWILIGHT’s success, in 2008 the Stackhouse series was turned into an HBO show (True Blood). It's viewing audience is fairly faithful.

The recent obsession with vampires has opened the door for other series such as Fallen, The Vampire Diaries, Vampire Academy, City of Bones, etc. The list goes on and on. As a result of the paranormal fad, authors who might not have normally gotten marketing exposure are now benefiting from the aftermath of Twilight mania. They are finding their books strategically placed near Meyer's books (and all the spin-offs). This is a very good thing.

It should be said here, never has there been a better time for an aspiring writer to get published in this genre. Publishers everywhere are pushing their paranormal titles to the forefront to cash in on the trend before it burns itself out.

All that being said, I am ready for the next cult culture obsession to take hold of America. If you're not, I'd wager you will be within the next year. As for me, I've had my fill of dead people falling in love with weird loners. In the real world, there is a name for that; it's called necrophilia.

-Tiffany Ashley

Want to read more from this author? Visit her website at www.tiffanyashleybooks.com