“Vampires then and now” with Jason Nahrung, Angela Slatter, CJ Dee and Liz Manthos

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“We don’t need no edjucashun” sang Pink Floyd; sadly, on the topic of vampires, I can’t join the chorus. Authors Jason Nahrung and Angela Slatter join me alongside reviewers C J Dee and Elizabeth Manthos to discuss vampires, their attraction, their metaphors and the writing that inspires current fascination with the bloodsucking fiends. I get an education and realise that maybe I like some horror.

Warning: no sparkles in this podcast. Not even a sparkly flair from Liz (Elizabeth) who loves paranormal romance. Liz discusses the trauma that was watching Twilight, for which she has not forgiven her boyfriend.

Quicklinks to save you scrolling

• Jason Nahrung – horror author with a flair for fangs
• Angela Slatter – Doctor of Fairytales and writer of horror
• C J Dee – aficionado of really good horror and the really bad
• Elizabeth (Liz) Manthos – YA and paranormal romance aficionado
• Works mentioned in this podcast

Jason Nahrung, vampire aficionado and horror writer

Jason Nahrung grew up on a Queensland cattle property and worked as a newspaper journalist for more than 20 years. Jason’s invariably darkly-themed work has won the William Atheling Jnr award and some Chronos Awards; it’s been highly commended in the Aurealis Awards as well as being shortlisted in the Aurealis Awards, the Ditmar Awards and the Australian Shadow Awards.

Jason’s favourite authors include Poppy Z Brite, Kim Wilkins, Stephen King and William Gibson…

A full list of Jason’s published work is here. Jason’s horror stories mentioned in this podcast include:

• Salvage, a slim seaside gothic published in 2012 by Twelfth Planet Press
• Blood and Dust, outback vampire novel published by Xoum, 2012
• The Darkness Within, paranormal suspense novel published in 2007 by Hachette
• Two new novels coming soon from Clan Destine Press

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Angela Slatter, PhD of Fairytales and horror writer

Specialising in dark fantasy and horror, Angela Slatter is the author of the Aurealis Award-winning The Girl with No Hands and Other Tales, the World Fantasy Award finalist Sourdough and Other Stories, and the Aurealis finalist Midnight and Moonshine (with Lisa L Hannett).

Angela’s short stories have appeared in such writerly venues as The Mammoth Book of New Horror #22 & #25, Fantasy, Nightmare and Lightspeed Magazines, Lady Churchill’s Rosebud Wristlet, Faerie Tales, A Book of Horrors, Steampunk II: Steampunk Reloaded, and Australian and US Best Of anthologies. In 2014 she will publisher three new collections: Black-Winged Angels (Ticonderoga Publications), The Bitterwood Bible and Other Recountings (Tartarus Press), and The Female Factory (with Lisa L Hannett, Twelfth Planet Press).

She is the first Australian to win a British Fantasy Award (for ‘The Coffin-Maker’s Daughter’ in A Book of Horrors, Stephen Jones, ed.). In 2013 she was awarded one of the inaugural Queensland Writers Fellowships. She has an MA and a PhD in Creative Writing, and is a graduate of Clarion South 2009 and the Tin House Summer Writers Workshop 2006. She blogs at www.angelaslatter.com about shiny things that catch her eye.

Angela’s publications are listed here.

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C J Dee, horror aficionado and reviewer

C J is a pop culture devotee who is happiest watching any incarnation of Star Trek, reading Stephen King or Joe Hill novels, viewing great movies [primarily from the action, horror, adventure or science fiction genres], or flipping through a DC comic. All of this is accomplished more often than not with her loyal and faithful feline companion by her side.

C J is a professional writer, but dream jobs would also include: Starfleet Captain, joining the Green Lantern Corps, Pokémon Master, and plumber for the Mushroom Kingdom.

While writing this, C J has also found that she quite enjoys talking about herself in the third person and may attempt to incorporate this in day to day life.

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Elizabeth Manthos, YA and paranormal romance aficionado and reviewer

I was introduced to the sci-fi and fantasy genre at an early age with Star Wars. Through my adventures with Han and Leia and later Harry, Hermione and Ron, Aslan and countless other captivating characters, my appreciation for the genre grew. My appreciation grew even more when my brilliant boyfriend expanded my knowledge of the Star Wars franchise and my amazing best friend introduced me to the magnificence that is Star Trek.

My drug of choice though, is the written word. Give me a book and I am instantly sucked in, the flowing words, witty dialogue and unique stories create a world of their own in my head.  I have too many favourite authors and novels to mention, but I am partial to young adult paranormal and fantasy novels.

I have a Bachelor of Communications from Monash University where a few of my best essays were on Star Wars, Harry Potter and of course Disney. And I currently work full time as a Legal Assistant.

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Works mentioned in this podcast

• Salvage by Jason Nahrung (Twelfth Planet Press)
• Dead Red Heart edited by Russell B Farr (Ticonderoga Publications)
• Kim Newman’s Anno Dracula series, in particular the Red Reign novella
• Byzantium by Neil Jordan
• ____ by Narrelle M Harris (Pulp Fiction Press)
• The Vampire Chronicles by Anne Rice
• Hide Me Among the Gravesby Tim Powers (Hachette)
• Assassins and Allies by Justin Somper
• a list of Australian vampire stories prior to 2007, compiled as part of Jason’s Masters research.
• Carmilla by Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu
• Dracula by Bram Stoker
• Dracula’s Guest by Bram Stoker
• James Asher/Vampire Series by Barbara Hambly
• The Vampire: His Kith and Kin by Montague Summers

Films & TV

• Byzantium
• Daybreakers
• The Blade Trilogy
• The Vampire Lovers (Hammer Horror version of Carmilla)
• Angel
• Buffy
• Interview with a Vampire
• Lost Boys
• Dracula

Info on Elizabeth Bathory

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Related:

Jason Nahrung Home and Hearth by Angela Slatter Vigil by Angela Slatter