Amish Vampires–What Do You Think?
Yes, you read that title right. Today Author Leanna Ellis is going to tell us about her story FORSAKEN, the first from her Amish-Vampire “PLAIN FEAR” series. Leanna has written this for a secular publishing house but the stories OF COURSE has a lot to say about spiritual matters. Here’s the blurb:
Hannah Schmidt,a young Amish woman mourning the mysterious death of her beloved Jacob, must decidebetween two brothers, between good and evil. When she learns her first love is now the vampire Akiva, she must forsake him and cling to a new love, a lasting love, one that will protect her soul.
Here’s Leanna and why she wrote this story:
“Amish and vampires? Really? Yes, really. I’m asked a lot how this book came into being. Forsaken actually began as a joke. I was at a book signing and another author and I made a joke about we should write an Amish-vampire story because those were the two genres that were selling so well. Well, it really was a joke. I didn’t rush home and start writing the book. But I suppose some seed was planted in my warped little brain and took root. Soon a character was speaking to me about her story and wanting me to write it. I resisted. But there was a veryintriguing element that I couldn’t seem to ignore. To me, this was a Phantom ofthe Opera type story, with a love triangle, and a clear dividing line between good and evil. So I wrote the prologue and first chapter. Then I set it aside because I was busy meeting other deadlines. Besides what was I to do with anAmish-vampire story? I mentioned it eventually to a couple of writer friends.They laughed but in a good way and encouraged me to write it. Well, I wasn’t so sure although I was becoming obsessed with the story. I spent a lot of time in prayer over this book, because I don’t want to write something that God doesn’t want me to write. Also, I knew I’d have to leave the Christian market and sell it in the secular market. I wasn’t about to make that move without God’s clear direction. And he began to show me in more ways than one that this was the book He wanted me to write. More than a year passed, and I was at a writer’s conference minding my own business and not pursuing this story at all. An editor said the perfect submission would be…you guessed it! An Amish-vampirestory. So I made an appointment to meet that editor and just talk about the idea.It almost felt like when an addict first admits she has a problem. I felt likeI was teetering on the edge when I said, “I’m a writer and I’ve written an Amish-vampire story.” Well, she requested it. What I love about this story is that it shows the battle of good and evil. Evil doesn’t always appear with pitchfork and horns. Quite often, evil is appealing and attractive and hooks us in before we realize what has happened. Such is the case with my heroine Hannah. She simply loved a boy. But she opens her heart and her mind too easily and the consequences could be devastating. Even though this story is published in the secular world, it has a powerful spiritual message, a message the world needs to hear.”–Leanna
Bio:
Winnerof the National Readers Choice Award, Leanna Ellis writes women’s fiction.Known for her quirky characters and wacky plots, don’t let the quirkiness fool you as Ellis probes deep in the heart and plucks at the heartstrings. She lives deep in the heart of Texas with her husband and children and an assortment of dogs and cats, including her crazy labradoodle, aka Hilo Monster, and her new kitten, Sawyer.
Amazon link:
Excerpt link:
http://leannaellis.com/forsaken.html
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Leanna-Ellis/49487472434
So that’s the story and Leanna’s reasons. I’ve often thought that the popularity of vampire fiction is one way for God to send out his message of good vs. evil in a world that has turned its back on spiritutal matters. So do you like vampire novels or movies? Does Leanna’s story intrigue you?–Lyn
I was thrilled to read an advance copy of this book. I loved it. I believe readers will see the good of this wonderful story.
Thank you both!
Thanks, Juanita! Hope you like it!
And thanks, Marion! I appreciate the prayers for this book. It’s really interested me how many reviews of this book really like that vampires are finally evil again! I think vampires became the ultimate bad boy and so entered that fantasy of women taming their bad boys. But who was tamed? Who was really changed? Hope you enjoy the book! And thanks for the comments and thoughts. Best wishes on your books!
Blessings,
Leanna
Best wishes with that children’s book, Hope!
I have been waiting for this book ever since I heard that story about the writer’s conference! Congratulations!! It’s about time. I know Christian authors have had a terrible time getting vampire stories published, and if anybody ought to be writing about the struggle between good & evil, it’s us! My own (still unfinished, due to various other projects) vampire novel has an Amish vampire in it (he’s the villain, not the hero vamp), thanks to that comment about combining the two types of fiction, but it’s set on the West Coast, and I’m sure bears absolutely no resemblance to your book, Leanna, which I can’t WAIT to read! I agree with Susan M about the sex in most vampire books. When did writers decide vampires were sexy, anyway? The original vampire stories couldn’t have been less romantic! I checked one out of the library recently, a sort of chick lit vampire story, and am just appalled at not only all the sexual references, but the obscenities falling casually out of people’s mouths. And the newly born vampire seems to think she’s a Christian. Hello! Not according to scriptural standards. So we need to set a new standard, and you, Leanna, and Sue Dent and (hopefully in the not-too-distant future) others (including me) can share God’s love with people in this always fascinating art form.
Thanks again for hearing the comment, listening when the Lord spoke to you, and then following His guidance to do this. May He bless it so much that even Christian publishers will see that there is a place for vampires, etc., in their supernatural fiction section.
Now, I’m off to finish editing and working on illustrations for the children’s book He’s been after me to get published. (Everyone reading this, please pray the Lord will bless & prosper this project & help me to get it done! Thanks!!!) God bless you Leanna, Lynn, and all the Strong Women!
Wow, sounds intriguing, would love to win one of those. Putting that on my wish list.
Hi, Susan M! Thanks for your interest. You are not the only one who has felt convicted about reading any books with explicit sex scenes in them. I would say my book is rated PG. So you shouldn’t have any worries. Hope you enjoy the book! And thanks, StrongWomen! You are right. Thanks, Lyn for having me here today! Blessings, Leanna
Susan M,
I’m sure there’s no explicit sex in this one!
I used to read vampire books and watch the movies. Not so much anymore because there was a lot of graphic sex in them. God spoke to me on reading those things I have pretty much stuck to Christian fiction since. I do have to say though that this story does intrigue me and I believe I will give it a try.