I could not finish Van Helsing in time. If they extend the deadline, I will take it as a sign. It would have been good for my first editor to be Jeanne Cavelos, the person who made Lost Souls by Poppy Z. Brite possible. Also they were paying 8¢ per word plus royalties, which is way over a professional rate of 3¢ a word. Since all the working horror writers shy away from anything that has to do with vampires, because vampires are the "Star Trek" of horror (not a good thing), maybe there are not enough submissions to fill an anthology. Also add the flood of awful writers who want to write a vampire story, I am hopeful, maybe, maybe not. Let's wait and see.

You know someone is in the wrong side of the right track when they gush about a writer they have discovered and they want to recommend because they know you will like him.

Messenger conversation:

Metal Santa: You like Stephen King and Wes Craven don't you?
Lightshadow: Yes, more Stephen than Wes. Why?
Metal Santa: This guy is so cool. You will like him.
Lightshadow: Who?
Metal Santa: www.clivebarker.com
Lightshadow: Doh!