There are many fine people in the vampire community, both on and offline, people who believe in the best that the community can offer, who believe that there is a vital and necessary message that needs to be sent out.

Our guest today is a poet, artist, musician, published author and modern Sanguinarian vampire ~ RVN is privileged to present a one-on-one interview with ~

Drake Mefestta

RVN: Thank you for affording the time to participate in this interview Drake. If I may start with question based on recent events, why did you choose this particular time to “come out of the coffin” publicly?

Drake: Truth be told, there were many times I considered coming out publicly, prior to when I did. Anyone who harbors a secret involving themselves forced into an altered state of living not of their own choice will carry a frustration. I came to realization that simply coming out through what could have been seen as mad rants and ravings on say a YouTube clip, would not have been sufficient enough to be taken seriously. I was met with the opportunity in the form of a History Channel interview to try and make a statement not just for myself, but for others in the community, who shared in my frustrations as well with the stereotype.  However, this did not pan out in the way that I had hoped.

I am a musician and a self-employed entrepreneur. I have very few nearby relatives nor have I settled down with a family of my own. Thus, I felt I could publicly speak as a representative for the community without fear of retribution. I walk without apprehension, I already live in a world of predetermined eccentricities; being an artist, I found the reception of my public disclosure to be easier for someone like myself as opposed to someone who has a practice such as a lawyer or doctor.

These shows, which promised to reveal the “truth” about vampires all ended with, the same-sorted quote that simply mocked the lifestyle rather than explain it, ” I thought to myself, knowing there was no handbook for the average person and even less for the few existing Sanguinarian, I looked to take the negative views and turn them into something of a positive one.  So, when the opportunity came to go on a reputable network, I saw it, as a chance to speak to a society that I hoped wanted to listen with an honest ear.

When I was a teenager and first dealing with the symptoms of what I now identify as Sanguinarianism, I sought guidance from a rational source to help me identify and deal with what was happening to me.  Despite my earnest searchings, I found no accommodating resources or role models.   Therefore when the aforementioned shows aired claims to have “real” vampires on it, I thought I would be finally receiving a basis for comparison to myself.   However, after the experience of these shows I was left with utter disappointment. The “vampires” on the show had nothing in common with what I experienced and the guests, clad in stereotypes made me feel embarrassed for them. So over the years, one show after another, one disappointment after another, I became jaded to the point where I felt I never wanted to associate with anyone who identified themselves as “vampire.”

RVN: Do you think the community, both offline and on, has changed radically since you became involved?

Drake: I do not think that there has been much change of anything.  Nor do I think I have had any real impact on the community though, there is always constant change in all things, diminutive as it may be.  I commonly do not associate with consortium and communities, as they tend to obscure the overall beauty of individuality and the larger they grow, the less an individual has to express personal insights, for fear of group disparagement and this leads to the limitation of progress.

If an institution’s characteristics align with negativity to one another, then a vicious cycle has begun. Do not misread me; there are benefits to a group IF it remains supportive and properly governed by its own entities. In this case the idea of a community embodying a place to belong when the rest of the world thinks you are crazy is a noble idea, but not at the cost of the individual’s sense of self.

I do not label myself as “vampire”. I can only disclose my experiences of being a Sanguinarian. I also no longer endeavor trying to decipher the seemingly countless sub-cultures, as they do not hold weight with me.  Ergo, I cannot rightfully speak on matters or conditions I do not associate with myself.

However, I find that there is the constant founding of new sub-cultures and they vex their perspectives into what I see now as a mottled populace that has strayed from its original intention, which was giving a place to be for those who seek sanctity.  It has been arduous enough to explain myself to others, being associated with the word “Vampire” to begin with, let alone the “how” in the rationale of the sub-cultures, and then to also have an entire community worth of things unrelated to me in most aspects, now connected to me alongside with it.

Furthermore, anyone who claims to be a “vampire”, in the eyes of the public somehow becomes a representative for an entire community even if they are in fact, unassociated with it.   I also feel the community should designate a representative that is involved as opposed to an uninvolved person representing the whole group from simply sharing a condition.

RVN: What do you think needs to be the focus of the community today, and in the near future?

Drake: An old adage is that “the devil is in the details”. In glossing over the inherent differences in an attempt to unify the vampire community we have ironically created countless points of needless dissension for all members and confusion for new entrants in the community.

More importantly, newcomers to the community exploring their own constitutions need to find points of comparison in a more streamlined fashion in order to hone in on a sense of community. I believe individuals need to have the responsibility to take inventory of themselves and govern their own condition beginning with the appropriate platform. This starts with honest categorization and honest self-evaluation. In short, there needs to be room for a sense of individualism and a place where people who share them may do so without judgment.

Sadly, laziness will most likely prohibit this from becoming a reality.  Many members of the community had agreed upon having this open communication in the past but never enacted. Many suffer from flaws of not letting go of the past. Therefore, I encourage those who see this to be part of the solution. [Addressed to reader] If this statement angers you, then most likely you are part of the problem.

Although ideally I would like to see the term “vampire” eventually removed from parlance, it’s most likely here to stay.  If anything, I would settle to see the word’s importance minimized to the sole thing that bonds all these different groups into one community. If we embraced our differences and de-emphasized the importance of “needing to belong” there would be no need to fight over “who the true vampires are.”

I deal only with being self-aware, personal responsibility, acceptance of personal peculiarity, and the desire for constant improvement of self if only for the betterment of those around me. With this concept in mind, there can be no arguing amongst one another about who is to blame but rather who wishes to take the necessary steps to help repair the issues addressed and those who do not, may leave.

RVN: Do you think the community is providing enough support and direction for newcomers today?

Drake: The community as a whole, no, but there are individuals however few and far between I have seen strive to create good resources that I applaud. Personally, far too many within the community are preoccupied with tearing ideas down rather than offering anything constructive. Progress is achieved in putting yourself out there, to do well for the sake of being a positive role model for individuals afraid to do anything for fear of judgment. Especially given our shared condition, there is no need to win a popularity contest.

I had professionally scouted several associates of mine independently to research the interactions of the community with an objective outlook to begin with as if they were “newly awakened vampires” in search of answers like I had. Their general response: “A bunch of children wearing plastic capes and white make-up bitching at a keyboard in their parent’s basement, leading a tragic woe-is-me life, probably think they were someone important in a past life, can change into a bat, and can cast spells too. How the hell can you call yourself part of this crap?” These were the unbiased opinions of uninformed outsiders who were screened for objectivity and conceived their opinions of the community based solely on what they saw from material produced by the vampire community itself.

Again, improved organization and responsible self-evaluation is necessary for a newcomer’s navigational rights seeking their own sanctuary within the community, this all starts with the appropriate platform.

Our image problem is based on a lot of our own doing.

RVN: If there was one thing you could have changed in, or put into the community, what would that be?

Drake: The idea that the word “Vampire” doesn’t matter beyond a beginning platform.  This is something the community needs to instate, the understanding that we give a word too much power. The reality of the root of all this is that we are here to understand the “what” of ourselves in order to live out the “who”.  It appears that the “what” is less significant than it’s made out to be.

When the majority stops holding the word, as something other than a descriptor, and the vampire identity is no longer sacrosanct, and regards itself in more terms more readily accepted by the general public.  If this would occur it is my hope that all will look inward with more support and then perhaps, want to engage this condition from a scientific standpoint.  Interpreting it for what it actually is, and we’ve come to know it, a unique health condition. This is something I hope for consistently.

RVN: I’d like to find out a little about your current projects now. Congratulations, firstly, on the completion of your book, what inspired you to write it?

Drake: Thank you very much. Addressing what inspired the book, it was a means to finally close a chapter on my life, and to move on to the next. The art, prose, and poetry are laced with truths of my past, my hopes and dreams. The book is symbolic with some portions more subtle than others for wont of slight personal digression and artistic license. A cryptic journal throughout these past five years, had allowed me to scream out what I was to the world with the use of art, which bears the freedom of the context in being art. This is something artists often do since images created in a state of catharsis can be freely interpreted by the viewer’s projection with (hopefully) no sense of bias.

Aside from working and doing book publications I have been very busy traveling, working as an actor, musician, doing public performances.  This has entailed working with a few movie producers as an advisor, owning my own business as a designer, graphic artist, and photographer.  I’ve even participated in booking and promotion of fellow performers in a vast array of genres, and still find time to be working as a session keyboard and vocalist for musical projects for studio, live, and tour.

I do this for myself and I hope it proves to others as well that being what I am is secondary to all. I can do as I wish as can anyone else if they wish, I may be a Sanguinarian but I will be damned if it ever has been a defining factor of “who” I am or what I can accomplish.

RVN:  Do you have plans for further publications? And will they be in a similar vein?

Drake: I do have three short stories I have written and at the moment, I am in the refining process. I never wish to stay in the same vein for too long because my ideas and tastes are innumerous and there already is too little time on this earth to do and express everything I wish to. Thus, I wish to span out as far as I can as quickly as I can.

RVN: We also understand that you are very busy musically of late, what musical projects are you currently engaged in?

Drake: There are two, primarily DiAmorte, which is my own Gothic Opera Symphonic Metal project and then Earthen, which is a folk metal based band. These two bands represent two of my primary and distinct facets of self.

First, DiAmorte shows my taste in the eccentric, the decadent, and theatrical. DiAmorte’s music is expressive of the decadent and is highly melodic.

I also do session work for a band called URN periodically. Beginning with them, I had resurrected their songs with heavy orchestral complex elements they did not have. This complexity was highly sought after by front man Dominic St. Charles, lead vocalist/guitarist of URN and has made for a very enjoyable experience.

RVN: Do you have further plans for media involvement with the History Channel or other documentary/news projects?

Drake: If I deem it legitimate. Several senseless offers from even major networks have been made. They obviously never did any research and thought me another freak curiosity, to parade out there like the ones I despised in my youth.  Their ideas conceived and proposed were ghastly and represented the polar opposite of what I want to convey. The number of proposals that I refused would be enough to keep you up at night. (If you’re not up already…)

RVN: In the description of your book at Amazon.com you wrote: “Darkness does not define me, but had helped me to stargaze and through dreams I can become a light for others.” What do you mean by becoming a light for others?

Drake: As earlier stated, the book is a visual journal of my life these past years. This quote means though I faced negativity being Sanguinarian, I have not succumbed but instead looked at it as means to help others. I use the “darkness” of my past to educate others experiencing what I had, to show them that they are not alone. The statement “Darkness does not define me” illustrates the point of how becoming a victim of voluntary ignorance is not something that I will succumb or adhere to.  Rather I will reinforce my resolve to research my constitution and educate others on what I know so that we may all rise above it.

I will face opposition for sure.  People do not understand when bias is a built in factor and are blinded too much by the biases to be enlightened. I aim for a better life and for a future with improved acceptance. If the future is a failure, we will have no one to blame but ourselves. I encourage others to reflect on this before contributing with unconstructive criticism.

RVN: Considering all of the people that have been in the news, who’ve committed violent crimes and said that they were “vampires?” Does that offer some proof, in your opinion, that the “vampire community” is pathological?

Drake: The vampire community is one of the more non-violent, level headed, and constructive communities I’ve ever been a part of – far from pathological or violent. If vampires are an Identity Group, then calling yourself “a vampire” DOES NOT MEAN that you are doing the same thing that we are doing. We are building an identity based on communication, cultural consensus, and personal meaning. Simply pretending that you’re a fictional monster isn’t going to identify you with this community. Quite the opposite, actually. This is a typical logical fallacy known as a Straw Man argument. We’re talking about one identity group and whether or not its members are OK to be who they are, in the manner they have chosen. THAT MANNER DOES NOT INCLUDE VIOLENCE OF ANY SORT. We’re not talking about whether “vampirism” as we define it includes that sort of delusional behavior. It doesn’t, by simple point of fact. So bringing up “vampire murders” when we’re talking about community participation is like bringing up the demolition derby when we’re discussing highway safety. The ONLY reason to bring up such crimes is to try to provide evidence for the pathology interpretation of vampirism, but it can only do so by tacking on a social demographic that’s ONLY related to the actual vampire community by the “V” word, and in no other way.

RVN: Do you believe that anyone who “claims they’re a vampire” is “obviously crazy” as the general public sees it?

Drake: The vampire community’s identity is that of individuals who self-identify as real vampires aren’t mentally ill, they are defining their identity by shared experiences – social, physical, or otherwise.

The meaningful thing to take away is that people are beginning to make meaning by examining themselves, and placing themselves into conceptual categories as a method of understanding their self-observations. These categories aren’t rigid prisons for the self; they’re placeholders that allow people to name and explore different aspects of their experience. The Identity Group is a tool, a new technology with which to serve existing psychology of identity.

As I have seen it, identity options that are new, unfamiliar, or a little bit challenging, those get labeled “pathological” in a knee-jerk reaction before anyone really examines whether or not there’s really anything wrong here. Clog dancer is fine, Civil War re-enactor is honorable, amateur robotics enthusiast is all right, vampire or werewolf is bad.

Keep in mind that this is a case of ordinary people who are adopting what appear to be extraordinary identities. Also keep in mind that ordinary people are generally inclined to understand themselves in a positive light. So either the ENTIRE vampire community (thousands of people here) is suffering paranoid delusions of being an outsider and also being better than you, OR there’s some way in which these people really are ordinary, and are pulling something positive out of this supposedly off-the-wall interpretation.

RVN: Do you think that modern Vampires, per se,  have an identity disorder; they’re delusional or mentally ill about having superpowers and they’re detached from reality as some people have suggested?

Drake: Vampires realize that their metaphor is a metaphor, but it would be nice to be able to ease the paranoia of the mental health sector that this isn’t some kind of case of mass delusion. What’s more likely, that thousands of people are driving themselves crazy by deliberately detaching from reality in the same way, or that a new cultural expression is being misinterpreted, in a change-induced panic, as more dangerous than it really is? Previous examples include but are not limited to: the French novel, popular stage plays, musical theater, women voters, African American voters, birth control, the musical stylings of Elvis, BB King, Dr. Dre, Ozzy Osbourne, and Marilyn Manson, video games, the entire Internet, and text messaging. Really, this is a case of old-fogeyism distrusting new-fangeldness.

________________________________________________________________________

RVN would like to express it’s profound thanks to Drake Mefestta for taking the time to provide us with a truly insightful and thought provoking interview. He undoubtedly stands out as a role model for others in the community and a “a light for others.”

His book, “Courting the poetic craft: The art and prose of Drake Mefestta” has recently been released and can be found at Amazon.com

To find out more about this fascinating community icon please visit his website at Drake Mefestta.com

Copyright: RVN & Drake Mefestta, 2012

NB: This interview is closed for comments

** The views and opinions presented in this interview may not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of RVN, its owners, officers or assigns.

There are a number of websites that have come and gone in the last decade in the OVC and a number of people who have moved on with them. In moving on there will be those who will move away from the OVC in search of personal truth and new paths, there are others who will grow and evolve so that when they create and define a new site the experience they have accumulated comes into play in a much more positive and meaningful way than ever before. These are the people who do, and will continue to, keep the community alive and relevant.

One such real vampire is Victorianrose.

The lady has been involved OVC and VC since 1996 continuously. She is a blood drinker or sang or inheritor and, by her own admission, “a vampire that needs blood to stay healthy so whatever title you want to give me.”

In a personal insight she shared with us, she comments,

“My personal opinion about modern vampirism is pretty vast.  I am an open person so I tend to believe there are a lot of things that even our own kind don’t understand so I try to do as much research as I can to find the truth in a lot of different things to make my own judgment if I believe something to be true or not. As far as the OVC, I can honestly say that the OVC has helped me grow and learn more and more about who and what I am and without the OVC I wouldn’t be the person I am today.”

Today, Victorianrose has kindly agreed to answer a few questions for us about her latest venture,

Crimson Tavern.

RVN: Good evening Victorianrose and thank you for joining us.

VR: Good evening RVN, thank you for having me.

Q: Where can people find Crimson Tavern?
A: www.vampiresrose.ning.com

Q: Who are the Owner and Chief Administrators of Crimson Tavern?

A: I, Victorianrose, am the owner and the chief administrator.

Q: In general, where is Crimson Tavern based?

A: Colorado, United States
Q: Who is Crimson Tavern aiming to cater for?

A: Real vampires of all ages

Q: How many staff members has the group at present?

A: Right now it’s just the owner as the staff but hopes of adding more staff as it grows
Q: In general, how would you describe the main purpose of Crimson Tavern?

A: To help people be educated about the real vampire community and to share ideas and opinions as a whole.  A place that is fun to be at.
Q: What content or type of material is going to be the main input for Crimson Tavern?

A: It has lot of different things people can come and do. You can add photos, music, videos, journals, join different groups, real time chats, forums on different topics, world news about our kind, events all over the world, etc.
Q: What would you like to see the group/website become from here?

A: My last site didn’t have as much interaction and things to do as my new site does so the hopes are that it will grow to be a strong and well respected site for vampires to be able to come to and be with others they can communicate with.

Q: What else would you like to tell people about Crimson Tavern?

A: Crimson Tavern is a free society.  It’s not a site where people are judged.  Others opinions are welcomed, even if others don’t agree with their opinion, and people are not kicked off the site or banned because someone does not agree with their opinion.  It’s a place where people can come and feel they can be themselves which in my own opinion is important for any site. Crimson Tavern welcomes all that want to come and learn about vampires or is a vampire and needs a place to rest their weary soul.

***********

We would like to thank Victorianrose for allowing us the opportunity to present this information.

Crimson Tavern represents what the OVC is best known for and will undoubtedly be an invaluable resource to the community. No matter whether you have just arrived in the OVC or, have been around for years, why not do yourself a favour ? Drop by and say “hi” at ~ Victorianrose’s Crimson Tavern, a real vampire website for real vampires.

Copyright RVN & Crimson Tavern 2012

…and in other news today:

From Toronto, Canada ~

The Varsity University of Toronto’s Student Newspaper Since 1880

Vampire literature course offered for first-year students

Vol. CXXXVI, No. 15

“Fans of Dracula, True Blood, and other vampire-centered fiction can now look forward to studying these mythical creatures in class.

According to a Faculty of Arts and Science press release, the Department of Germanic Languages and Literatures offers the course Our Vampires, Ourselves, as part of the First-Year Seminars Program.

The seminar allows students to examine vampiric myth and study these supernatural characters as reflections of society.  The department’s associate chair of undergraduate studies, professor Erol Boran, teaches the course.”

Meanwhile, from Malaysia:

New Straits Times   ~   Malaysia 18 January 2012

By Umapagan Ampikaipakan
well.lit@nstp.com.my

“THE Well Lit. Sessions are a part of our sustained effort to get people reading. It is our attempt at creating a shared social space where people can come together and talk about all things literary. It will take the form a monthly reading club that is open to one and all.”

“The Well Lit. Sessions take place in two locations — the Klang Valley and Penang. Check the Well Lit. pages every Wednesday in Life & Times for our book selection.”

“This week, we will be take a look at some potential topics of discussion for Bram Stoker’s Dracula.”

READ MORE

If you have a news story from the vampyre world that you think should be featured at RVN please feel free to get in touch with us at:

Good evening and welcome to “Chatting with Vampires” ~ this is a special presentation, it is the inaugural ‘one-on-one‘ marking a new series of individual interviews with members of the VC/OVC.

There are many different views in the VC/OVC of how the community should be catering to its members and how it should be prepared, or preparing, for the next generation of the community. Many of the voices you will hear [read] will expound many different suggestions and many different methods for achieving things within the community.

You may have heard the saying, around the community, that “it’s easier to herd cats than to get vampires to agree on anything” ~ it seems to be a truism that has become entrenched in the consciousness of the community. Sometimes, however, you will find a person in the community who has a way of cutting clearly and concisely to the basics and who has solid ideas for the betterment of the community as a whole. One such person, who probably needs little introduction, is Fr. JP Vanir of the Temple UVUP .

Father J P Vanir came to the vampire community, in very active roles, in 2000 and is the Founding Father of Vampyrian Temple UVUP which came into being on Dec. 18th 2003. He describes himself as;

“a hybrid Old School Cyber Vampyrian, Gothick-Graver. I now consider myself a   Spiritual Energy Dancer, Empath & Proud Phreak”

He also has a deep love for, and affinity with, music; so much so that he has established his own net-radio “Vampyrian Dark Radio”.

No stranger to controversy, Fr. JP Vanir has, nevertheless, weathered the storms and maintains his course, his stance and his commitment to bettering the lot of real living vampyres.

It is our privilege to have been afforded the time to ask Fr. JP some questions and get his insights into some of the basic concerns that face the VC/OVC today.

RVN: Good evening Fr. JP and thank you for joining us today.

Fr. JP: You are very welcome.

RVN: Fr. JP, the debate of negativity versus positive action in the VC/OVC has recently become a talking point again and one poll^[1] at least, indicates that members of the OVC, at least those who voted, are feeling that there is much more negativity about recently than there has been before, why do you think this is happening?

Fr. JP: I have mostly noticed the drama and bickering not to mention the more recent popularity of Vampires and because of it the many people giving us a bad name. I have noticed the popularity surges that come and go in our ADHD society, lol. However, Vampires will always come back because the allure is always there and the fact that they are “the most human (like) of the monsters” in the media…

RVN: What, in your opinion, would be the most positive course that the community in general could take at this point?

Fr. JP: First, stop the bickering and drama and embrace our Vampyr family. Second, continue doing good things to help others such as the Kindred Career Network , NOVA’s (New Orleans Vampire Alliance) Feasting with Vampires and the Homeless , etc. Third, stop continually posting so much negative news so as not to bring popularity to such topics and try to focus more on the progress of the community and post more Real Vampire News and positive stuff. I do love what the site Real Vampire News  is doing in making sure we get Real Vampire News instead of just news about people who commit crimes with blood involved so it becomes so called “Vampire News”. I will admit however posting topics such as this in the past but I know it was wrong and will no longer be drawn into such things; I apologize.…

RVN: May we ask, have you chanced to read the post entitled “Anyone been a vampire” at Schizophrenia.com Support Forums and one of the recent “surveys” that is out in the OVC, “Depression and the Vampire” ? Do you think that there is a clear and present danger of creating, or reinforcing, an image of modern vampires being “unstable” by running such polls and writing such articles?

Fr. JP: Yes of course I have seen it as a regular subscriber to the VCN on Drama Book; I mean Face Book lol. I was not a fan of the post however I personally believe Doctor’s often label people who may misinterpret what they have as a disease. I myself have been diagnosed as OCD, Bipolar, Anxiety, ADHD, with severe Depression. Not all Vampyres are the same of course and by no means should we focus on those of us who happen to have such “mental conditions” as most seem to do just fine with being a Vampyr with out it messing up their life as long as they know how to feed properly and get enough to remain healthy…

RVN: With many of the so called “old guard” remaining “silent” in the wider community and many of the currently “high profile” people simply engaging in back room politics, one-upmanship and deliberately obtuse, obnoxious or irrelevant rhetoric, where do you see the “new guard” or the next generation of the VC/OVC coming from?

Fr. JP: I have mostly noticed young kids sprouting in the community thinking they are Vampires or wanting to become Vampires ever since Twilight (which I despise), True Blood (which I happen to like), and now Being Human. It is harder now than ever to tell who is “fake” and who is “real”. I am actually very concerned with where we are headed. It seems that most of the real Vampyres wish to stay hidden when it would be easier to stay “in the light” if there wasn’t so many things making us want to steer clear of it. I for one still have no intention of remaining in the shadows despite what the media has done. I refuse to let Hollywood and the “bad eggs” take our title (Vampire/Vampyre) away…

RVN: Do you think that the current OVC has a proper and viable structure in place to be able to support and reassure newcomers who are perhaps struggling with their “new” identity?

Fr. JP: I do not believe so. Unfortunately most of our best and most well know ledged Vampyres want to stay in the shadows and we will be harder to reach in order to bring the truth forward for them. Also most of them have the wrong idea, are in the wrong place, and will be harder to be correctly guided in the right direction especially since so many “Vampyres” in the community want to let people find their own way online which often leads to lies and misdirection with all the fiction and crap out there now a days…

RVN: What role do you foresee the Temple UVUP playing in the near future in the online vampire community and how will you work toward that goal?

Fr. JP: Honestly I try not to compare Temple UVUP to the general Vampire Community as it is very eclectic and not all of the people in the VC are Spiritual or combine their Vampirism with their Spirituality. I merely try to help those I come in contact with find their own way and offer what I know but tell them to take what they wish from it. At first I will show them the general beliefs of the VC and then let them in on my personal beliefs but never try to give any of them as gospel. I want everyone to find their own way but also warn them of the dangers of a lot of the misguided information and cults out there who preach their truth as the only way…

RVN: If you had fifteen minutes, uninterrupted, to deliver a message to the entire Vampire and Online Vampire Community, what would you say?

Fr. JP: Wow, I am never good on the spotlight lol. I would just encourage the VC to be open and kind to our fellow kin. I have always seen Vampyres as family and there is nothing worse than family bickering. I would then encourage them on the steps in my answer to question 2 – What is the most positive course that the community in general could take at this point (see above). I also think it is very important for us to aid the confused and newly awaked find the correct information so they do not lose their way, harm others (while feeding), and keep themselves healthy and positive…

RVN: What’s the next project for Fr. JP Vanir?

Fr. JP: I am constantly working to improve the new network including adding to the new library, forums, and wiki. I am also saving up to make our Temple official so we can help out more in the community as well as the less fortunate (more so than my basic donations and support) and saving up for property as well. I have so many plans and ideas jumbled up in my brain I find it difficult to know where to start (hopefully in that order) as disorganized as I seem to be. Perhaps I should focus more on finding help there first, lol.

RVN: Thank you very much for joining us Father JP, we are very pleased to have been able to share this time with you.

Fr. JP: You are very welcome as I try to help as I am able…

© RVN & The Temple UVUP 2012

Father JP can be found at:

The Temple UVUP

Which he describes, in one quote, as:

“We are an ECLECTIC (Universal) Temple and not everything here is my personal belief. I am a THEOLOGIAN first and want my Temple to be open to know about ALL possible beliefs /religions/ spirituality’s. I DO NOT know it all but wish to teach what I have researched over the many years of my Spiritual awakening to the present.”

NB: This article is not open for comments.

The views and opinions presented in this article may not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of RVN, its officers or assigns. All quotes used with permission of The Temple UVUP and Father JP Vanir.

[1] http://www.facebook.com/groups/vampirecommunitynews/311222868917319/

Dragon design credit - Mary M. Peralta @ suite101.com

“As the fifth sign in the Chinese zodiac, the dragon is the most extraordinary and a symbol of the Emperor or male as well as a symbol of power.”

Welcome to RVN 2012

Good morning, good afternoon or good evening depending on where you happen to be in the global village and welcome to Real Vampire News 2012.

The ‘Year of the Dragon’ has kicked off very well and there has been keen interest in the New Year’s program here at RVN. In the two weeks to January 14^th (inclusive) we have been fortunate to have experienced an average of just over 1,000 page views per day from places as far afield as Latvia, Lebanon, Iceland, Egypt, Denmark, Brazil, Turkey and Germany.

We are very pleased that our work finds such a diverse and global audience and we are very grateful for the continuing support of our readers.

Reporting, commenting on and highlighting, such diverse topics as the community, entertainment, contemporary vampire related RL news and vampire lifestyle we believe we have something to offer everyone in the community.

Could your website or project benefit from being featured on RVN?

Do you have a new website or resource for the real vampire community? Do you have practical services to offer the community such as Royal Blue Ronin from New York who has established a community service called The Kindred Employment Network; Aislin and the Georgia chapter of Bloodlines International who, at last report, have made clothing collections and donated to 14 needy families, assisted other families with their utilities and collected and supplied monthly food aid packages to 47 families or, as reported by Elzie Roze at her website, the work of the New Orleans Vampire Association (NOVA) in their ongoing, and highly commendable, efforts to aid the homeless.

Why not send us the details of your Vampire, or Vampire related project, website or community board and take advantage of our “Website Spotlight” series. What better way to reach over one thousand viewers per day?

Send us your ideas…

If you are, or know of, a community group or member who is making major contributions either within or outside the Real Vampire Community, someone who is making a difference to those around them, then share the good news. Bring it forward and let us show the world.

Always on the lookout to improve our presentation, commentary and reporting for our readership we would like to get your ideas on how we can improve RVN for you, our audience. We’d like to read your comments about what you would like to see included, or see more of because, after all, our strength is in the strength of our readership.

Why not become an RVN “Guest Contributor” **

We would like to receive written articles and commentary on the subject of the real living vampire community, community news, events or discussions for inclusion at RVN.

No commitment, no obligation, we want to hear from members of the community and those interested in the lifestyle, about what they think. Why not send us your thoughts for publication on the RVN site?

New developments:

Q&A

Have a question that you would like to ask about vampires or the vampire community? Send it in and we’ll do our best to answer it for you. If we can’t answer it we’ll almost certainly know someone who can.

Chatting with Vampires series development.

Last year we commenced work on the “Chatting with Vampires” series where we ask invited guests from within the community to share their thoughts on topical questions that relate to the modern vampyre world. This year we will be continuing that series but also inaugurating the “Chatting with Vampires One-on-One “ spin-off where we will have exclusive “chats” with invited guests from the community.

Please, feel free to contact us via the comments box below or by email to the following:

RVN ~ Real vampire news for everyone

** Please note: 

RVN reserves the right to approve or decline to post any submission at the sole discretion of the owner.
Messages that fall outside the acceptable ToS of RVN or Wordpress.com will not be accepted.
RVN reserves the right to refuse publication of any comment, opinion or view where it is believed that
such material represents slanderous, libelous or defamatory content or intent.

Pic. credit ~ http://modeducation.blogspot.com/

In March of last year we presented an article entitled “Into the OVC – Which way now?”, it was an article aimed at newly arrived people, aimed at offering them some preliminary insights of the things to aim for, things to explore and to watch out for when beginning their first forays into the online world of the vampire. People, as newcomers, who might have read that article are no longer “newbies”, they will be coming up to their first anniversary in the OVC and they may well be involved in offline activities in the vampire community as well. Many of them may no longer be participating in the VC/OVC and if that is the case the question has to be asked why?

Allow me to draw a parallel, let’s take the example of a service organization. If the organization is providing, satisfactorily, the service required by its clients then the clients keep coming back. If, on the other hand, the organization is failing to meet the clients expectations then the client will leave and not return; not only that but they may well tell others, “Don’t bother going there, they aren’t any good.” That’s how organizations perish.

During more than ten years in the OVC I have read, and participated in, discussions about every possible and imaginable aspect of the modern vampire reality. Discussions from the folklore and mythology of the vampire to the variety of modern theories for the origin of the modern vampire; from the process of awakening to the sudden realization by some members of the community that the path they have followed for years is no longer the right one for them. Discussions involving the probabilities of the global population of “real vampires” to the damage wrought by sensational media presentations revolving around vampire crimes and from the spiritual ethic behind vampirism to the cold, hard psychology that is attributed to the modern vampire subculture. In fact, I don’t believe that there is a stone unturned or a question unasked at this time and while some of the answers remain as elusive as ever there are others that may well be permanently unanswerable. I have discussed belief structures and opinions with sanguinarian, psi, empath, hybrid and elemental vampires alike. I have delved into OVC politics and been privy to the thoughts and musings of a number of prominent community figures and for all of that I have still been given to wonder what it is that draws people to the community and what keeps them here.

In his inaugural address on January 20^th, 1961, John F. Kennedy said:

“And so, my fellow Americans: ask not what your country can do for you – ask what you can do for your country. My fellow citizens of the world: ask not what America will do for you, but what together we can do for the freedom of man.”

The sentiment expressed then is no less relevant today, in national and global terms but if I may be allowed to paraphrase the great man, perhaps the question that needs to be asked now, by every member of the OVC, is:

“Ask not what is it we can do for the OVC, rather, what is it that the OVC can do for us.”

Naturally, in order to ask that question it is necessary to have some idea of what it is you want.

Each person who involves themselves in some activity does so with the expectation of gaining some benefit from it; the benefit may be personal satisfaction, it may be altruistic satisfaction, it may be personal material gain or it may be a genuine desire to see things improved beyond what they currently are; a change for the greater good for example. It is inevitable that somewhere along the line people involved in a community or society will look for the benefits that are coming their way from their participation and if those benefits do not materialize then the people begin to lessen their participation or cease it completely. Eventually the “community” devolves into a loose amalgam of cliques, tribes or clubs that have little interaction.

From 2006 to 2009 the Vampire & Energy Work Research Survey (VEWRS) and the Advanced Vampirism & Energy Work Research Survey (AVEWRS) were conducted. In all they achieved a combined response total of over 1,450 surveys making it the largest and most in-depth research study ever conducted on the real vampire/vampyre community/subculture. The surveys were translated from English into French, Spanish, German and Russian and in all seventeen countries were represented in the responses. Truly an impressive level of participation and one unprecedented in the history of the VC/OVC to my knowledge. Perhaps now it is time for the community to find out about itself as a whole, rather than about its individual parts.

One suggestion could well be a “Poll”, but not a “mere” poll, a poll that attracts a response of the same scale. However, what form could the question take?

Example:

What is the main benefit you want to derive from belonging to, and participating in, the VC/OVC?

Available responses: Friendships, Information, Guidance, Fun, Peer Recognition, Fame, Notoriety, Money, Escapism, Donors, A “soapbox”, Discussion, Support

Perhaps even a text box for Other ~ Please define.

Information gleaned from such a poll could be used, positively, to determine the future course of the OVC. It could be used to determine how to make the VC/OVC more relevant to more people and provide clues as to what it can do to improve its stature and standing with audiences outside of the community.

It took a good decade or more to get to the point we are at today, maybe it will take that to get back or move to the next level of community evolution but it’s as J.F.K also said;

“There are risks and costs to a program of action. But they are far less than the long-range risks and costs of comfortable inaction.”

Copyright TB & RVN 2012

NB: The views and opinions expressed in this article may not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of the owners, or other officers, of RVN. Please refer to our ToS for further information.

There is just one other thing you might wish to consider…

“Positive anything is better than negative thinking.”

~ Elbert Hubbard

Pic. Credit ~ http://artsfuse.org/ and http://www.gammtheatre.org/

“Vampires before they sparkled were humanities way of dealing with death, sex, and the idea of what price would you pay for immortality? They were and are that uncomfortable mirror we look into and wonder just what would happen if we learned that humans were not at the top of the food chain.”

Thanks to: Kat

@ The Steampunk Empire

That statement, succinctly, epitomizes the concept of the vampire in fiction, folklore and history, and it is a statement with which it is almost impossible to argue with in its own context. Doubtless, it is a statement with which the majority of those not of the modern vampire community would agree. Which begs the question, how should the community present themselves to those who come looking for answers?

This morning, in the RVN email inbox, we received a message from a person from the Philippines. The query read:

“ i’d love to know more about vampires.. i wanted to see one of them to know if they really do exist.. few stated that they don’t hurt people..”

The message was addressed for Lady M’s attention and went on to say:

“are you a real vampyre ? i want to know about real vampires.. i’m *******, 21, ****** from philippines.. i don’t want lies..”

It would, in our opinion, be a safe bet that the hype surrounding vampyres in the entertainment industry would have brought thousands looking for vampyres, or looking for real vampyres and the question above reflects one of the first things they would want to know. Sure, the community can, in its own inimitable fashion, drop the proverbial boom on the newcomers as it has been wont to do so often but wouldn’t it make a lot more sense to answer the questions patiently, confidently and helpfully? The community must demonstrate a willingness to respect those who come looking for answers if they wish to be respected themselves and these serious “seekers”, as they are commonly called, don’t want lies, or fairy tales, they want facts.

Could it go one step further than that, what about providing “role models” for these newcomers to learn from? Role models from among the ranks of “real” vampires who are not going to claim to be centuries old and claim they can make a young person immortal with the “dark kiss”, or some such nonsense.

The term “role model” can be defined, strictly speaking, as: a person whose behavior, example, or success is or can be emulated by others, especially by younger people. [1]

More generally it is held to mean: “any person who serves as an example, whose behaviour is emulated by others” [2] In writing this I am given to wonder just who were the role models that the members of the Crimson Blood Wolf Pack [3] in Texas were influenced by?

The first question the community would have to ask itself is, “how do we know/recognize/create such role models?” Do we simply equate age with wisdom and say, “Oh, so-and-so has been around for absolutely ever… they must be experts and they know absolutely everybody, they should make good role models.” Perhaps it is a case of whoever gets their name in print the most is to be considered the “expert” or the “modern community ideal”. Perhaps it is destined to be an accolade reserved for those that can claim and trace their story back to the pre-Black Veil scene, whichever it’s to be we must be careful that we don’t end up represented by any who might tend to exaggerate, weave truth with fantasy or paint us all with the same brush, so to speak.

Aside from the personality factors involved in such a move there are certain members in the communities that would be in strong contention for the title of “role model”, for example ~ the members of the New Orleans Vampire Association for their work with the homeless in that city, the people at SBTV (Savage Blade Productions Internet TV Channel) and Vampire Banquet for their efforts, in this past Christmas season, on the Toys for Tots Program in the New York City area, or community member Cynthia Kent for her role in creating a facebook group called HELP STOP CYBER BULLIES [4] Actual, real-time, real-result activities that make the world; not just the vampyre world, a better place for others no matter whether it is one other, ten others or a hundred others.

It is also vitally important that these “role models” and their actions are displayed in public forums and news groups. A statement that appeared just recently read something along the lines of introducing a cultural tradition of good works that are conducted without expectations of thanks or recognition and while it went on to say the works of those in the community should be recognized by the community, presumably exclusively the vampire community, putting such news “out there” in the public arena to neutralize the negatives in the community defeats their actions, or purpose. I, for one, can’t fathom the reasoning behind this.

The vampire community has, if the reports appearing of late are accurate, a great number of individuals working for the greater good of those around them their example and their work should be used to inspire others to get involved and thus have the effect of increasing the benefits all round. What are the bigger benefits of doing good works? Feeling good within oneself, or feeling good within oneself AND encouraging others to do good works? These people are the role models we should have on display so that when people who are not in the community come looking they find a community of involved, compassionate and caring individuals rather than a community that has the appearance of a quasi-political, narcissistic, argumentative grade school playground.

© TB 2012

NB: The views and opinions presented in this article may not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of the owner, or other officers, of RVN.

1.   Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.

2.  “Role model”. Wiktionary.

3.   http://www.dazeddigital.com/artsandculture/article/8797/1/teenage-wolfpack-wolfie

4.   https://www.facebook.com/groups/170679796337469/

Pic. credit ~ http://www.medievalfantasiesco.com/

No, we’re not actually suggesting you purchase one of these to travel around in but if you are going to look to getting around a bit in 2012 there’s plenty for the discerning Vampyre to do.

Naturally the planning for the 2012 season of European tour holidays has all been done and perhaps you might even find yourself in the neighbourhood of the “old country” ~ Transylvania. What better place to soak up the culture and ambience of the vampyric?

Transylvania Live – Dracula Tour, Romania

7 days, escorted tour ~ Special discounted price for July 22

A Dracula Tour departing from Bucharest, intended for Dracula enthusiasts, Transylvanian lovers, culture and history fans and adventure seekers. The tour includes the most important historical places related with Vlad the Impaler such as: Snagov Monastery; Sighisoara, Dracula’s Castle in Borgo Pass, and the legendary Bran Castle.

Europe Travel Tours

Day 1: Bucharest – Curtea de Arges – Cozia -Sibiu,

Day 2: Sibiu – Medias – Biertan – Sighisoara

Day 3: Sighisoara – Brasov – Bran – Sinaia

Day 4: Sinaia – Slanic – Bucureste

The tour includes:

3 Nights accommodation with  3 breakfasts, transportation in modern private car or minibus with AC and the services of an English-speaking  guide.

As we reported in the article “RVN Zeitgeist” Alaska will be the setting for a spectacular and dark themed cruise for Vampyre afficianados…

Picture - http://vampsatsea.com/

In the meantime, while you are making plans for the year perhaps you might like to chill out with one of the vanguard of Vampyre themed entertainment. Vampyre radio has been growing steadily and is taking it’s place in the mainstream of community consciousness. Try one of these tasty treats if you like your radio with a little more… bite!

Bite ME Vampire Radio

Join Contesa Liza Zboril at

The Voice of the Dragon

on Blogtalk Radio

Sample the dark delights of

The Vampire Metrou

also on Blogtalk Radio

Undoubtedly, for anyone who’s in and around the community, and are able to attend, the Endless Night functions are going to be the top attractions of 2012.           

Endless Night; New Orleans Vampire Ball 2012 “Cthulhu Apocalypse”

Saturday, October 27th 2012 at the House of Blues New Orleans

Endless Night; New York Vampire Ball “Anti-Valentines 2012″

Saturday, March 10, 2012 at 10:00 PM - Sunday, March 11, 2012 at 4:00 AM (ET)

New York, NY

and I think we can safely say, without fear of contradiction, that this one is going to be THE biggest community event of the year…!

All the information for these, and other associated events, can be found at the Endless Night website.

Now, we do realise that times have been difficult of late and perhaps you can’t make it to any of these events or locations, fear not, there’s always something around for you to do… we’re talking about “Vampire Meetup Groups” of course. It’s a great way to connect with like minded people in your area and a way to make new friends in the community.

Perhaps you are in London, England? Well then, contact the The London Vampire Meetup Group

They say, of themselves,“Greetings all. We are a gathering of darkened souls who bear an interest in all things vampiric, from those who have a love for the literature and the movies to those who prefer to delve deeper. Whatever level your interest, you are most welcome.”

Chicago, Illinois?

The Chicago Vampire Meetup Group

“The meetup is primarily geared towards building a community for vampires both psychic and sang. We welcome those who are supportive of vampires and those who may be interested in vampire lore, and the vampire in popular culture. The meetup is open to vampires and their supporters 18 and older.”

Portland, Oregon?

The Portland Vampire Meetup

“Meet other vampires near you! Come to a local Vampire Meetup to mingle with the awakened and share sanguine tales and dark greetings with your fellow kindred.

Warm Welcome to new members!! Many of us have been looking for people just like you.”

Brisbane, Australia perhaps?

The Gathering – Brisbane Australia Vampires Meetup

“This is a 18+ Brisbane based Vampire Meetup and hopefully more cities with meetups in the future. This group is for all those who are real vampires within the Brisbane, Queensland and Interstate area. The group is for Sanguinarians, (blood vamps) Psi (energy vamps) blood fetishists, donors and those interested in vampirism.”

Maybe you’ll find yourself in Alaska?

Æternox HLV

“Æternox HLV is a local meetup organized to bring the “ethereal” community of Alaska together.”

The meetup groups are growing and spreading, everywhere and if there isn’t one handy to you, why not start one? Check out Vampires Meetup.com and see just how many there are around you, whether you’re in Melbourne, Australia ~ Vancouver, BC, Canada ~ Belfast, Ireland ~ Manchester, U.K. ~ Athens, Greece or Fort Lauderdale, Florida, U.S.A. there are others just like you looking to meet.

Naturally, with any meet-up event; especially if it is your first time, take sensible precautions. Take a friend or friends along, arrange regular contacts with someone who knows where you’re going. Go to reputable, public and well patronised places. The REAL vampire community take pride in the standard of their get togethers and it can be a fun, informative and eye-opening experience.

Whatever you get up to this year, have fun, be safe and if you have something going on in your locale that you think would be of interest to the community at large drop us a line and let us know, we’ll help spread the word.

~ Tim

RVN Staff

NB: Real Vampire News receives no reward, sponsorship or endorsement from the presentation of this information. It is presented as a community service in entertainment and education only. We do not wholly, or partly, endorse any item featured in this article. This information is presented “As Is” ~ Please refer to our T.O.S. for further information.

Pic. credit ~ signsofthelastdays.com

In the Chinese community last year was the Year of the Rabbit, this year it is the Year of the Dragon, to the world’s financial institutions and governors last year was, and looks set to continue to be, the Year of the Euro-crisis but what was last year for the Vampire Community and, more importantly, what is this year going to be?

I do not look at the internet news services any longer in the mornings ~ I don’t need to read about murders, child molesters, rape, robbery, mutilations and other acts of man’s inhumanity toward man; for the same reason I no longer watch news broadcasts on television and I don’t read newspapers because one has to wade through pages of sewage to find something barely intelligent and readable. For many of the same reasons I no longer participate in the online, or offline, vampire community other than writing in the hope that my words might just help one person, somewhere, sometime to navigate a difficult situation and come out of it better off than they were before.

The majority of the news and features throughout 2011 were, undoubtedly, born of negative circumstances and while they may not directly be attributable to the real vampire community they certainly reflect on the whole as one. Even as the research was proceeding for the December article “RVN Zeitgeist” it was becoming painfully apparent that the bad news far outweighs the good when it comes to the OVC/VC and this is something that, if there is to be any change in how modern real vampires are perceived, must change. There’s an old business adage here that says, “If you lose a dollar you have to get three to recoup it,” ~ that would seem to fit the situation quite nicely ~ “For every bad news you need three good news’ to recover.”

So, the question becomes how do we get the good news or, rather, how do we make “good news”?

For a start, as individuals, we have to stop focusing our own attention on negative issues, issues that attract only negative responses from the people that read them, we need to stop focusing on people who are negative and the negativity they bring into the “public” (OVC/VC) forum; the people who have nothing positive to contribute to conversations or discussions, the argumentative and the downright egotistical, self-appointed and so-called “leaders” that tout the negativity under the guise of “community education”. If we constantly focus and reflect on negativity then we reap the same in spades.

In his webblog “Change Your Thoughts”, author and Personal Development expert Steven Aitchison details eight destructive thinking patterns and how to change them. The most consistently apparent in the OVC are, the ‘Unsubstantiated conclusive’ , the ‘Negative psychic’ the ‘Emotion based’ and the ‘They’re all wrong’ thinking patterns ~ four out of eight of what are, according to Aitchison, the most destructive thought patterns are on show constantly. This certainly indicates a need for re-evaluating the way we think about the community and the way we interact with it.

In taking a look around at some of the discussions of recent times we find examples such as:

“Mental impairments aren’t uncommon to the vampire community but their proliferation seems to be increasing along with blanket acceptance by some who proclaim that any objection to permitting the expression(s) of said individuals is tantamount to oppression, bullying, or even fascism.” LINK

and,

“The purpose of this question is to examine scenarios involving members of the vampire community in good standing (well known and respected members and/or leaders) not disclosing information about crimes they have committed outside the immediate purview of the vampire community.  Let’s discuss the possible consequences from association with these individuals” LINK

It is also interesting to note that questions 35 – 41 of the VEWRs community survey dealt with specifics regarding mental illness and current treatments (a trend continued in the subsequent AVEWRs survey) and, presumably, the results gave some indication as to percentages of the community respondents who are affected by debilitating mental disorders, disorders that often manifest in repeatedly negative thought patterns. Even though the questions posed in recent discussion topics have, no doubt, some merit they are also drawing attention to the negative again. Perhaps a case might also be made that some article/interview presentations also contribute, items such as,  “Interview With A Psychic Predator“ or “When does enough become enough?” which cover tendencies to over-react and over-act in an aggressive and hostile manner toward other VC/OVC members or members of the public and which elicited comments such as; “This person has NO moral compass.” and “I would feel more sympathy if she chose victims that deserved to be preyed on as opposed to just anyone.”

While there is no doubt that warnings are well shared in order to inform, advise and caution members of the OVC and interested public readers it also means, however, that the negative connotations afforded to the vampire community are still very much in evidence. It would take a huge and concerted effort by the members of the VC/OVC to turn the tide of negative publicity and press and that change, or shift, would have to come from within as long as the public perceptions are ruled by the ugly real-world headlines that tell of vampire “killers” and crimes.

One new initiative that could very well lead the way in doing this is the new webblog of Elzie Roze at Wordpress.com where the focus is to be to, “provide some insight into the actual activities and efforts of those within the community and to shed light on the positive contributions they make as individuals and groups.”

We at RVN fully support this new initiative and we would urge all our readers to get behind the effort because in order to be a positive force the tide of negativity, as I said earlier, must be turned.

Now the cynical amongst the community may well say it’s some sort of “pipe dream”, they may point out that it doesn’t matter how much you look for positive the fact remains that the VC/OVC is a microcosm of any human society with all its faults and problems. While that may be true it doesn’t mean we have to advertise the fact, all the time, in discussions in the public domain. Perhaps this change of focus is something that can only be achieved by a limited base, as we were told in November last year;

“…active participants at any given time in the online community I’d place such number somewhere between 3,000 to 8,000 with the important caveat that perhaps only twenty percent of these individuals are actual real sanguinarian or psychic (pranic) vampires.” LINK

If this is the case then it is arguably the responsibility of the “20%” to take up the cause and we might well be tempted to ask, “why aren’t they doing their job?”, however, then they face not only having to change the perceptions of those outside the community but also of the 80% who aren’t really considered bona fide “community” members at all. That would be an extremely tough job.

It is also becoming apparent that the vampire community faces an uphill battle to be recognized by other “alternative” communities that have already fought the battle for acceptance. As Octarine Valur detailed in her excellent article at SA Vampyre News, “And now Ex-vampyres?”, the pagan community in Sth. Africa is not in favour of recognizing, in its own right, the vampire community and one can only wonder whether the constant aura of negativity that seems to surround the community has as much to do with this as ethical considerations.

Overall perhaps the all-pervading “negatives” are part of the reason for the decline in participation in the OVC, people who are asked, or expected, to stay in negatively influencing situations for too long will, eventually, get tired and they will leave for their own peace of mind, perhaps a peace of mind that being a member of a community that they always identified with can no longer give them. It is, and will be through 2012, an absolute necessity to change the thought patterns that govern the interactions in the OVC otherwise we will see further, significant and irretrievable declines in quality, communication and relevance of the community as a whole.

© TB & RVN 2012

NB: The views and opinions expressed in this article may not necessarily reflect the views of the owner of RVN or his other staff. All quotes used are used under the “Fair use for education” provisions of relevant legislation. Please refer to our website TOS for further information.

Честита Нова Година, Godt Nytår, Joyeux Nouvel An, Glückliches neues Jahr,

Selamat Tahun Baru, Buon anno, Среќна Нова Година, Szczęśliwego Nowego Roku,

Šťastný Nový Rok, Feliz año Nuevo, Yeni Yılınız Kutlu Olsun, Chúc mừng năm mới,

Happy New Year

from John and The Team

To all our readers, in over 130 countries, worldwide we trust you had a wonderful Christmas and we would like to welcome you back to…

We are looking forward to continuing to build on the strengths we achieved in 2011 and this year we will be continuing our endeavours to bring you the best articles, editorials and interactive commentary from around the real vampire world.

In addition to bringing you website reviews we will also be featuring our new series “Chatting with Vampires” where members of the real vampire community give us the benefit of their views and perspectives on issues facing, and influencing, the VC/OVC today.

We will also be bringing you a number of “one-on-one” collaborations with invited members of the OVC/VC.

Could your website benefit from being featured on RVN?

Why not send us the details of your Vampire, or Vampire related website or community board and take advantage of our “Websight Spotlight” project. What better way to get to hundreds of viewers per day?

Send us your ideas…

Always on the lookout to improve our presentation, commentary and reporting for our readership we would like to get your ideas on how we can improve RVN for you, our audience. We’d like to read your comments about what you would like to see included, or see more of because, after all, our strength is in the strength of our readership.

Why not become an RVN “Guest Contributor”? **

We would like to receive written articles and commentary on the subject of the real living vampire community, community news, events or discussions for inclusion at RVN.

No commitment, no obligation, we want to hear from members of the community and those interested in the lifestyle, about what they think. Why not send us your thoughts for publication on the RVN site?

Q&A

Have a question that you would like to ask about vampires or the vampire community? Send it in and we’ll do our best to answer it for you. If we can’t answer it we’ll almost certainly know someone who can.

Please contact us via the comments box below or by email to the following:

RVN ~ Real vampire news for everyone

** Please note: 

RVN reserves the right to approve or decline to post any submission at the sole discretion

of the owner. Messages that fall outside the acceptable ToS of RVN or Wordpress.com will not

be accepted. RVN reserves the right to refuse publication of any comment, opinion or view where

it is believed that such material represents slanderous, libelous or defamatory content or intent.