I think Zander Vyne is going to join us--hey Zander, are you out there?--but I got a fascinating account of how she came to write "La Belle Mort" and the imagery that inspired her:


Zander Vyne

How I came to write La Belle Mort - Inspiration comes from so many places, and usually I recall exactly what inspired me but not in this case. All I know is that I read something, somewhere about a hangman visiting condemned women and giving them red ribbons for their hair. I don't know if this bit of info was stumbled upon doing research for some other project, or if it was from a poem. I just know something about the imagery of that harbinger of death giving those trailing red ribbons to women he was going to have to hang chilled me, and I kept coming back to the image until I figured out a way to incorporate it into a story. The theme and setting allowed me to explore some very dark themes like breath play.

Lure of the Gothic theme - I write a lot of Gothic, horror, erotica. I like to write what I enjoy reading and these have always been favorite genres. I enjoy darker themes, a bit of a scare, and not-so-happily-ever-af ter endings. I feel horror writing often explores head-on issues other genres ignore. Similar to good sex writing, horror and Gothic writing is difficult to nail. It's designed to provoke emotion and feelings beyond warm and fuzzy and safe. I like that and find it challenging and satisfying to write.

When I sent this story to Mitzi for consideration for Red Velvet, my own short story collection was being edited for publication by my publisher. I held this story back from my own anthology because I felt it was important it have the right audience. I'm glad I did. [A bit snipped to avoid a spoiler for those who haven't read it.] Mitzi isn't like most editors. She doesn't shy away from literary, different or shocking, and she felt the dark theme was just right for Red Velvet. I'm so glad she did, and am honored to be between the pages with so many other talented writers with equally unique works. less

More about Mitzi's story:


"My Southern Gothic story contribution, 'The Blood Moon Kiss', is inspired by the television series 'The Vampire Diaries.' In my tale, the actors involved in a hit TV show about modern-day vampires in Savannah, Georgia goes a step further, in that no one is quite what they seem, especially when it comes to the leading man - or rather leading vampire! Oh, he's a real hottie, all right, much like the actor whom I've patterned him on, Mr. Ian Somerhalder!" less