Book Blogger Fair Guest: Noree Cosper
Posted: 7.22.2013 by Cole Knightly Labels: blogger book fair, guest postHistory of Vampire Hunters
We all know of Van Helsing and
his cadre of vampire hunters. I loved them so much that I’ve created Van
Helsing’s descendants in A Prescription
for Delirium. Buffy was “the chosen girl in all the world to fight the
vampires.” The Winchester brothers didn’t do a bad job when they faced off with
the leeches as well. But these came from the myths and beliefs of the existence
of vampires. Where people believed, there were hunters.
So several cultures, especially
those in the Balkans had specialized vampire hunters for destroying the hellish
creatures. The most famous were
dhampirs, the sons of vampires and usually gypsies. If you like anime, think
Vampire Hunter D, or if you like video games, think the Castlevania series. The
dhampir was believed to have special powers in detecting and destroying
vampires.
Usually a dhampir would start out
in a village claiming he could smell something foul. He would attempt to locate
the invisible vampire, perhaps by using the sleeve of his shirt as a telescope.
Once he found the vampire her would engage and dramtic hand-to-hand fight or
shoot it. When it was killed it usually smelled worse and sometimes there was a
bloodstain. Yes, this sounds a bit spoony. (Oh, spoony means suspicious.)
The vampirdzhija or djadadjii of Bulgaria operated on a more traditional
fashion. They would locate the grave that held the vampire’s body by using an
icon or holy picture. Then they would impale the body or burn the body.
Now, Eastern Europe wasn’t the
only region to be overtaken by the vampire craze. In the late 1800’s vampire
kits were sold to superstitious travelers for their safety as they traveled through
Europe. They contained bibles, crosses, stakes, silver bullets, and glass vials
that contained concoctions that supposedly warded off vampires. One such was
used in 1890, by a man named Andrew A. Kaufman. He used his kit to kill a
vampire that had slain the woman he was betrothed to. He then wrote her mother,
telling her he had vanquished the creature.
This wasn’t just at the beginning
of the century. The Highgate vampire incident happened in London between 1967
and 1983. Sightings of a phantomlike entity were reported in the Cemetery of
St. James in the Highgate area of London. This culminated with a girl claiming
to be attacked in her room. These sightings caught the attention of Sean
Manchester of the Vampire Research Society. Manchester claimed to come across a
vampire who he sealed away. He continued his investigation for years until
encountered the same vampire again. This time he performed an exorcism and
staked the body. He then burned the remains, a slimy, foul substance, along
with the coffin.
Know that even if the vampires
have hidden in fiction, a few still know they are real. They are out there protecting
you so you sleep at night.
A Prescription for Delirium
Ninety years ago, Gabriella di Luca promised to protect
the family of her dying lover. She failed to keep that promise. She was too far away to stop the devil that murdered the eldest Van Helsing son. Years later, Gabby learns the devil has
resurfaced. She arrives in Hampton, TX, determined to stop the devil before it can lay a bloody hand on the remaining three brothers.
However, madness is spreading through Hampton. She
suspects the devil is using this madness to test a drug which has a side effect
of demonic possession. Gabby rushes to
end the source of the madness only to fall victim to it. For a woman cursed
with eternal life, dying is no threat. However, Gabby must stop the devil's plot
or risk losing her most precious possession: her mind.
A Prescription for Delirium is
free during theBlogger Book Fair, July 22-26!
Get Yours Now:
About
Noree Cosper
Noree Cosper loves writing about magic in the modern
world. While growing up in Texas she constantly searched for mystical elements
in the mundane. She buried her nose in both fiction and books about Wicca,
Religion, and Mythology. Everyday became an adventure as she joined a group of
role-players, acting out her fantasies of vampires, demons, and monsters living
in the world.
She embraced her nerdom wholeheartedly.
Noree grew, but never left her love for fantasy and
horror. Her dreams pushed her and her hand itched to write the visions she saw.
So, with her fingers on the keys, she did what her heart had been telling her
to do since childhood. She wrote.
Thanks for hosting me Cole!