Ryu --
Thanks so much for writing. I hope all is well with you & yours.
Let me extend to you an invitation to participate in an important work:
I just got back from Pantheacon, a huge Pagan/interfaith gathering in San Jose, CA. While I was there, a rare opportunity opened up to me. A well-known metaphysical publisher was asking what I'd like to produce next in terms of books. I told them that, while I was very happy with the Codex, I also felt it was limited because it could only present one view. What I really wanted to see, I told them, was a collection that represented the many different voices within the vampire community, giving those who may not be able to write or publish a full book at this time the ability to have their perspectives heard.
The publisher, to my suprise, said, "We'd love it!"
So ... I will be editing an anthology of works on vampires and vampirism tentatively titled "Vampires: In Their Own Words." Anyone who contributes work that is accepted into this book will receive a contributor's copy upon publication. Furthermore, the book can serve as a leg up for other vampire writers to become established in the eyes of the occult/metaphysical publishing industry. With a writing credit to your name, you are far more likely to be able to pitch future book ideas to publishers in this genre. And of course, it achieves an even greater end: it allows the wider Pagan and occult communities to get a real feel for our own community, with its diversity of views, practices, and traditions.
I am going to divide the book loosely into sections, each covering a topic pertinent to our community and providing a multiplicity of views. The topics are:
Definition of Vampire/Vampirism
Feeding & Energy Work
Ethics
Awakening, process, experiences & tips
The Vampire Community/Social Issues
Magick, Religion & Spirituality
Vampire Origin: Myths & Theories
Spotlight/Personal Experiences
I am interested in getting this book put together as quickly as possible so it can be out on the shelves very, very soon. For this reason, I am open to the submission of already-written works. If you have articles that appear on your webpage, journal, blog, or forums that you feel would add to the overall perspective this book is intended to provide, please send them along to me. Works can be included in the body of an email or sent as an attachment in the following formats: .doc, .txt, and .rtf
If you wish to submit work, I will also need a short bio (100 words or less) describing who you are, your role in the community, the groups you have founded or belong to, and so forth. If you belong to a specific house or group, I would also like a 500-750 word long description of that group, its beliefs and structure, and its history of involvement within the community.
If your group has developed a code of ethics similar to the Black Veil, I would like permission to reprint this as well, in a section that will contain things like the Black Veil, Donors' Bill of Rights, etc., I must have the release of the author of these works in order to reprint them, however.
And that's the catch. I will need, for legal purposes, the full legal name and address of those who wish to be involved in this work. I will also need a signed form (attached) that identifies the work as yours and contracts it for publication in this book and in any future reprints of this book. This information is for the publisher only and will not be released to anyone else, but I will understand if some of you cannot participate for this reason.
I will need a copy of this form, with the signature, mailed to:
Vampire Voices Project
c/o Michelle Belanger
PO Box 1120
Brunswick, OH 44212.
Arrangements *may* be possible for faxed copies or scanned pdf/jpg attachments as well.
In addition to "Vampires: In Their Own Words" we are planning a collection of vampire rituals. These will be arranged according to tradition and will be preceded by a 500-700 word description of that particular tradition.
Some of you have already submitted an extensive interview to me, and I will be using this to create a spotlight section on you in the book. Spotlight participants will also receive a contributor's copy of the book and are of course encouraged to send in other work as well.
As soon as you can get material to me, please do. I may also be hitting your forums, FAQs, and journals and selecting work that I will request for reprint.
I am pleased & excited to be able to use my name within the publishing industry to help the others members of our diverse community get their voices heard. This is a rare opportunity, so please, help others understand who we are in all our facets by contributing to this work!
--Michelle
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--Michelle Belanger
author of "The Psychic Vampire Codex"
www.michellebelanger.com
