I can't say I have a favorite novel or short story I've written because I like them all. I'll select the novel Near Death, just because. This story was innovative when first published, which is why Pocket Books bought it and why it was popular. Mainly, I was able to show a unqiue vampire to the world.
What genre(s) do you consider this story primarily to be, or how would you describe this story?
Vampire, dark fantasy, a 'soft' vampire caught in morbidity by his pre-undead nature, who is enamoured with the romantics and quotes Byron often.
What is a published fiction story by another author you would compare this story to and why are they similar?
I can't think of another novel that is like Near Death. Of course, there are other vampire novels out there, many. I have a vast collection of 2,000 vampire novels. I don't see that any have done what I've done, so other than the sub-genre theme of vampire, I couldn't say.
To what extent did you use any pre-existing story formula, template, paradigm, plot design, archetype, or theory or principle of story/plot structure in planning, writing, editing or rewriting this story?
I worked with the vampire archetype, of course. I've read about 2000 vampire novels to date (maybe about 1000 at the time I wrote this novel) and have collected books for years so I knew what had been done, and I know what has been done since Near Death was first published. I wanted to create a unique vampire that still remained solidly within the archetypal parameters.
How would you describe the first chapter, scene or section of this story in one paragraph?
Chapter one gets readers right into the story. A drug-addicted girl arrives at the vampire's ancestral home in Manchester, England trying to drive a stake through his heart. He stops her. She reminds him of a past love. He can't get the truth out of her heroin-soaked brain and has to dry her out first to find out who sent her to murder him.
What makes this chapter, scene or section an effective opening for this story?
Right from the get-go readers know what the story is about and who the two main characters are. It's a mystery that folds around revenge, romance and betrayal and the opening alludes to all of that.
What major stages, twists or turns does the story conflict take in this story before the conflict is resolved (or not resolved)?
Near Death twists and turns quite a bit and just when you think you have a grip on what's going on, the story spins another way. It would take too long to identify all the plot twists. I'd suggest reading the novel, which is available in print and also as an ebook.
How would you summarise the major sub-plot or sub-plots in this story? If this story has no sub-plots, how would youe describe the main sub-plot or sub-plots from one of your favourite published fiction stories by another author?
The main plot is: who sent Zero (the heroin-addicted prostitute) to kill David, and why? The subplot is: What is Zero hiding from her past that impacts on all this? Another subplot is: David's past lover and whether or not he can see beyond his illusions and recognize her as a threat. And a short but final subplot that unfolds in the other books in this world is: What role does the vampire half breed play in the future of this dark species?
What does the story gain from the sub-plot or sub-plots?
The subplots enrich the main plot, expanding the story, folding in on it, criss-crossing so that the story is not one dimensional but layered and complex.
To what extent would you describe your story discussed here as typical or atypical of your fiction stories?
Both typical and not typical, I'd say. I've written some stories and novels with a 'weak' protagonist, meaning a protagonist with a weakness . But essentially I'd say that each story and novel is so different from the others, which is how I enjoy writing, that I can't really group them into typical types.
Author website: http://www.nancykilpatrick.com
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