Using myth to build your own monsters

At the end of my last post I mentioned that a number of my works in progress contain vampires or vampire like creatures and so I thought I would share where my fixation on vampires has originated, and how it has progressed. Here’s some of my favourite vampire books, films and tv series and some anticipated reads/watches and I’ll discuss how these have informed the vampires in my own works.

I’m finishing writing this post whilst listening to a great Seed Talk by Kaja Franck on The Art History of Women & Vampire Literature.

The Classic Vampire

Dracula by Bram Stoker – Book

I know I read this at school but I can’t remember if I read it for school. I had (still have) this film cover version anyway. It’s still one of my favourite classics, that I still think holds up in the execution as well as the concept (*cough Borian).

Dracula – Film (1992)

As a Keanu Reeves and Winona Ryder Fan I jumped on this. Particularly liked seeing the different forms Dracula took in this.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer – Film (1992)

Was this potentially the first film I saw underage at the cinema? (I just checked my cinema ticket album. Yes I have tickets dating back from 1992! What of it! It was only rated 12 and I was 14 when I saw it. Although I did actually watch Kuffs ;”(rated 15) at 13 earlier that year, Untamed Heart (rated 15) at 14 and True Romance (rated 18) at 15 and Interview with the Vampire (rated 18) at 16 – Clearly I am prepared to break the law only for Christian Slater!). This film is so cheesy but I absolutely loved the concept of the traditional victim being the one the vampires should be scared of. Vampire rep in this was a bit bogus though and the death scenes a bit prolonged. If you know, you know!

Near Dark – Film (1987)

I really need to rewatch this one.

Interview with a Vampire – Film (1994)

Christian Slater and Brad Pitt were the initial draw for this film for me but Kirsten Dunst’s performance is the one that stands out. The immortal stuck in the body of a child.

I have a confession – I’ve never actually read the book – I’ve started it a couple of times (own about 5 books in the series) but I didn’t finish. One day though.

Blade – Film (1998)

Vampire Stephen Dorff had me in a chokehold (in fact now I think of it he has a similar vibe/pallor to Charlie Sheen in Ferris Bueller – also a teenage crush). Although the vampires were fairly classic, I did enjoy the dichotomy of Blade’s character.

The Forsaken – Film (2001)

Watched it for the tagline. Near Dark coded for sure.

Mina and the Undead by Amy McCaw – Book series

A recent young adult series by the wonderful Amy McCaw – set in New Orleans – full of myths and legends, rebuilding sisterly bonds, mystery and romance – what is not to love?

They Own the Night by Amy McCaw – Books

Amy’s recent release is a Dracula retelling set in the 80s where Vlad fronts a band – very zeitgeist. It also features MM romance and sibling relationships and killings that match the MO of their imprisoned serial killer Dad!

The Lost Boys – Film (1987)

This is THE seminal vampire film for me. Love the family relationships, the romance, the Frog Brothers. Nanook made me want a husky. Keifer is the ultimate bad boy. Death by Stereo. The soundtrack is perfection.

Although most of the Vampires in The Lost Boys are pretty classic evil blood suckers the film also crosses into my next category …

The Tortured Vampire/Vampire with a Soul

The Lost Boys – Film (1987) contd.

…with the half vampire characters of Michael, Star (& Laddie). They are desperately trying to resist their thirst and don’t want to kill. They want to return to humanity and in that is the conflict – and in a new mythology where vampirism isn’t necessarily a permanent condition.

The Secret Vampire by LJ Smith – Book

This book had such a hold on me. I remember picking this up in a small discount book shop in Barmouth in North Wales when visiting my grandparents, this was the type of book that was out around the same time as the Point Horror books and they were all short enough to read in one sitting. Imagine my surprise years later to discover it was actually the first in a ten part series (The Night World) – although sadly book 10 never came to be (although myself and others regularly checked to see if there was any news). Sadly the author passed last year.

In this vampire James saves his friend Poppy from cancer by turning her and she enters the Night World.

Twilight series by Stephanie Meyer – Books

I was Team Jacob when reading – mainly because Bella was less of a mope when spending time with him in New Moon. Although I’m not sure I’m team anyone now. I also remember being irrationally angry when SM changed the POV in Eclipse.

The Twilight Saga – Films

Twilight (2008)

New Moon (2009)

Eclipse (2010)

Breaking Dawn: Part 1 (2011)

Breaking Dawn: Part 2 (2012)

The movie series we love to take the spider monkey of.

Best reaction in a cinema ever was to that fight scene in Breaking Dawn Part 2. You could really tell who had read the books too. Gobsmacked I was.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer TV series (1997 – 2003)

Having seen the film when it was in the cinema, as soon as I heard there was going to be a TV series I was excited to see what could be done with it … and I have never looked back. Angel was truly the vampire with a soul and how they made him lose it was harsh af! I adore this series and am still angry that the reboot didn’t happen – although they could look to Kendare Blake’s series as a blueprint. In her version Willow’s daughter Frankie is the first witch slayer.

In Every Generation by Kendare Blake – Book Series

Angel – TV Series (1999 – 2004)

The Angel Spin off was much darker. Angel turns Supernatural investigator with these two vampire Private Investigator’s riding on Angel’s coattails but only getting one season each. I still had fun.

Blood Ties – TV Series (2007)

Moonlight – TV Series (2007-2008)

The Vampire Diaries by L J Smith (and others)- Book Series

Very different to the TV series. Fun and Whacky. Oh my which brother shall I choose? What was more vampiric was how LJ Smith was treated by publishers.

The Vampire Diaries – TV Series (2009-2017)

Team Damon.

Being Human – TV Series (UK – 2008-2013)

A vampire, a werewolf and a ghost are roommates – what’s the punchline? Plus we don’t have enough UK based supernatural stuff.

What We Do in the Shadows – Film (2014)

Found this hilarious. Vampire mockumentary style.

Monstrous or Allegorical Vampires

From Dusk to Dawn – Film (1996)

I mean they work in a venue called the Titty Twister.

Do Crime Face Vampires. Much like in…

Sinners – Film (2025)

I watched this very recently – loved the vampires – very evil. No redemptive qualities.

I am Legend – Film (2007)

Apocalyptic plague – zombie vampire hybrid. Loneliness and Survival.

I am Legend by Richard Matheson – Book

Can’t remember which way round I read/watched but I remember the book being excellent.

The Passage by Justin Cronin – Book

I just bought a fancy set so will treat myself to a re-read later in the year (and first read of the sequels). Vampirism as virus – bats. Prophetic much.

The Coldest Girl in Coldtown by Holly Black – Book

I received an Advanced Review Copy of this when attending Leakycon London in 2013. It gave me Near Dark vibes. Vampire colonies “Coldtowns’ that entice humans in via media – only problem is they never leave.

“Harmless”/Cute Vampires

The Little Vampire – TV Series (1986-1987)

My first memory of vampires was watching The Little Vampire series on ITV. Having a vampire friend who flew with you was a fun idea.

Count Von Count from Sesame Street – TV Series (1969 – )

Count Duckula – TV Series (1988-1993)

Rules for Vampires by Alex Foulkes – Book Series

Leo the teenage vampire is turning 111 and to celebrate her Birthnight she has to make her first kill but things don’t go to plan (much like her Grimwalk that left her with a prosthetic leg). Instead she ends up befriending Minna – a ghost (and Ghosts and vampires are meant to be immortal enemies) and they have to work together to stop some true evil.

Amelia Fang by Laura Ellen Anderson – Book Series

Amelia is a good-hearted vampire with a pet pumpkin called Squashy and friends Florence the Yeti and Grimaldi the Reaper.

Isadora Moon by Harriet Manchester. – Book Series

A series of chapter books for young kids where Isadora Moon, a vampire fairy ballerina learns about life, going to school, the importance of brushing your teeth and much more.

The Vampires in my stories

So do any of my vampires sparkle? Nope. Do I make Twilight references? Hell yes.

The fun of vampires is that I think they are infinite in how they can be portrayed. They can sparkle, be fuzzy, be humanoid or monstrous, be kind or evil, be representative of what scares us about the society we live in or they can be cute. I have five different versions of vampires I’m writing and probably the only commonality between all of them is the fangs!

The Briefest of Mentions

– First up Count Von Count gets a reference in a story that isn’t even about vampires and it’s one of my darlings (a scene I hope I don’t have to cut because it makes me smile).

The Unfinished Paranormal Romance

– The Secret Vampire definitely influenced the vampire book I started writing in my teens that I haven’t finished. Maybe one day I’ll return to it. The using vampirism to save someone you love from death and the internal struggle that both have as a result was the vibe.

What if there were vampires in the mix when the witch trials happened?

– The Vampire Fairy Witchy book I am writing is very much not of the Isadora Moon vibe and is much more feminine rage inspired so do drop your ragey female vampire suggestions below.

Vampires Are Immortal Which Means They are Suitable for All Ages

See vampires are for kids too. I have a Picture Book/Chapter Book Series I am working on with the cutest vampire to ever vampire. It’s closer to Count Duckula than any of the others and no blood is involved – but poo is!

Retelling my favourite with a modern twist

Funnily enough my closest to being finished novel Lost Girls is a The Lost Boys retelling. It’s gender-swapped, set in my hometown (also a beach town – but in the UK). It’s also an own-voices exploration of having undiagnosed ADHD – what if vampire blood was a cure – would you take it? The tortured soul/reluctant vampire who finds a sense of belonging comes face to face with big stakes peer pressure. Interestingly tonight’s talk touched a lot on vampire motherhood and this is a topic that does crop up in Lost Girls too.

Vampire as Virus

I am Legend and The Passage have very much done this and I wasn’t initially going to have vampires when I started planning what now has the working title Viral Intentions. However when a couple of people said they would expect vampires in their Dark Academia my vampire powers kicked in. These vampires are not human, no soul, but they possibly aren’t the worst of the evils in the book. Vampires as a critique for capitalism came up in tonight’s talk too – something else that does have a small influence here too.

I’ll talk more about the wider inspirations for this book in my next post.

Top of TBR/Watchlist

The Lost Boys Musical – Opened on Broadway 2026 – coming to the UK not soon enough

I have been obsessed. I’m watching and listening to any snippets I can. Have ordered merch, pre-ordered the cast album which releases 24th July and I hope I can get Lost Girls published to coincide with a UK transfer.

The Buffalo Hunter Hunter by Stephen Graham Jones – Book

This was on my radar anyway but it has just been picked for the July book for a horror bookclub I’ve just joined so I’ll be reading it even sooner than planned. When I first saw this I did not know vampires were involved but as soon as I discovered that it bulldozed it’s way onto my TBR.

Coffin Moon by Keith Rosson – Book

Heard such rave reviews of this one last year.

Be Still My Unbeating Heart by Josh Winning – Book (Releases Aug/Sep 2026)

Love everything Josh has written and I am sure this MM vampire comedy romance will be a fave too.

Interview with the Vampire/The Vampire Lestat – TV Series (2022- )

I mean the marketing for the new series has been on point and now I have massive FOMO.

Abigail – Film (2024)

Evil little girl vampire, Claudia on steroids. Looks like it might be quite gory so maybe I’ll watch during the daytime,

Death Wish by Lee Newberry – Book (Releases Jan 2027)

Vampires have become celebrities – humans compete for the chance to become one of them. Those that don’t win – die. It’s the thirteenth season – very unlucky for most.

Coldest Girl in Coldtown meets the Hunger Games – I have been excited for this one since I saw Lee pitch it on threads and it doesn’t even have a cover yet!

As I said above do drop your vampire media recommendations in the comments – particularly any that explore female rage.

My final question to you is If you could only ever consume one vampire media for the rest of time what would it be?

I think I’d go for Buffy (a film, plus seven series, plus all the books and comics should keep me entertained and put me through all the emotions). I will very much miss The Lost Boys though.

I will cover my very specific Vampiric Dark Academia TBR in my next post on Dark Academia Media. I’m not going to say when it is coming because this is over a week late – me + ADHD = consistently inconsistent.

(Originally posted on Substack 1/7/2026)