Friday, September 21, 2012

Guest Post Vampire Professor

Bertena Varney



How/why did you start to write?

I never liked writing or considered myself a writer but I do love research. So during one of my last graduate degree programs I ran out of classes so I got to create a few independent study classes and they were vampire-based- mythology, sociology, etc. Of course, I had to write papers as a requirement for the class and one day my professor and a few of my friends read them and they mentioned that I should compile them into a reference book so I did.

How did you become an author?

Well, I lost my director position at a local college three weeks after I lost my part-time professors position at a local university so there was nothing left for me to do but write and write and write.

What was your first published piece?

Lure of the Vampire: A Pop Culture Reference Book

Where was it published?

Self-published- didn’t trust anyone really until I found my new publisher at Hydra Publishing and am working now on the 2nd edition

How long ago?

June 2011

What did you do before embarking on your writing career? Was it an asset to your writing? How?

 I started writing for Examiner.com and from there just putting together research and more. It really helped strengthen my writing because as I said above I consider myself a researcher and lecturer first then a writer.

What inspires you?

 I don’t know I just wake up and get excited and can write for days and then I can’t write again for days. I think it’s when I go to the horror conventions and I am there signing my books and someone famous comes up and looks at my book and gets it. The last one was Collin Ferguson from Eureka. We spoke about his history teacher being Dacre Stoker and he loved vampires. I love teaching too. I teach sociology and love teaching about literature, mythology, and of course culture. 

Please share one of your successful marketing techniques

I am a former middle school and high school teacher. Currently, as a college instructor, many local libraries hire me to do talks for their kid, teen, and adult reading programs.

I market myself as the Vampire Professor to many horror conventions. They bring me in as a guest star and I do lectures and signings.

My boyfriend also makes vampire-slaying kits and stakes. We sell these at conventions, consignment, and paranormal stores. He even does interesting demonstrations.

Writing for Examiner.com as the Vampire Examiner and True Blood Examiner really helps. I own a promotions business that I created, first for self-promotion, but have met all kinds of really cool people.

And I have great friends who help me out!

I will be at the ScareFest in Lexington from Sept 28-30 for the largest horror and paranormal convention in the area.

Parting words

Well, I find that writing is an outlet for me. I am not a creative person but I find that I know a lot of “useless” information--I include this in my book.

I’m the type of person that can’t sit down and write and read for a long time. So my books are full of short, factual paragraphs.



Here is my book trailer - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lPMyiYjS6Y0&feature=results_video&playnext=1&list=PL966763577B241140


Bertena Varney- Writer, Professor, and Lecturer
Buy my book Lure of the Vampire here - http://amzn.to/jj1iPr
Buy Lillian: A Vampire's Story here - http://amzn.to/tAotpF

 


Book blurb

Do you ever wonder where vampires come from? Why women love those hot sexy vampires on television or in books? Why vampires are no longer scary to kids? These and other questions are answered within. Lure of the Vampire is a pop culture reference book that begins with the history and mythology of vampires and ends with interviews of modern living vampires. The author has provided "fun" lists like the Powers of Dracula, Real Live Vampire Murders, Television Shows and African Americans who have played vampires. There are also websites in each section that show the most popular vampire books and even children's shows and books. But, there is a personal twist when it comes to Lure of the Vampire. The author has provided personal essays from national and international vampire authors as well as her own. They range from a personal look at vampires in mythology to the romantic lust filled vampire. There are also interviews with various groups and individuals involved in the vampire community. Lure of the Vampire: A Pop Culture Reference Book of Lists, Websites, and "Very Telling" Personal Essays is a perfect quick to grab reference book for the vampire fan or author. It is concise enough to assist you in finding links to what you are looking for without being too cumbersome and confusing.