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CHANNAHON, Ill. — Tiny amounts of pollen injected in a person time after time can eventually cure them of their allergies to that pollen.
But what will small amounts of blood sucked out of a person day after day for a long period of time do to a vampire? It will make him human again.
At least that’s the premise in the new vampire novel, “Bryony,” by Channahon author Denise Baran-Unland.
Unland will sign copies of her book from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. Friday, Oct. 14,at the Joliet Harwood Post, 705 Larkin St. The event, “Vampfest, Travel through Time with Bryony,” is a Big Brothers Big Sisters of Will and Grundy counties fundraiser and will feature classic rock music by local teen band Street Worthy, live piano music by composer/pianist James Onohan, characters from Bryony serving appetizers and dessert tidbits, interactive Bryony-themed vendors, a silent auction, a 50/50 split pot raffle and more.
Those wanting to dress in period clothing, either from the Victorian era or the 1970’s, are welcome to.
Freelance writer Unland is familiar with newspaper work and other non-fiction writing, but this is her first novel. She’s already completed the trilogy of “Bryony,” however, and is currently working on the fourth book, which will be a prequel.
A full-time writer, mother, wife and homeschooler, Unland finds time for her new hobby of writing vampire novels on the weekends and in the wee hours of morning when all is still quiet at home. Both writing and vampires have been passions of hers since she was a little girl.
“I read a lot of classical and early 20th century vampire stories, things with a supernatural twist,” she said of when she was in grade school and junior high. “And I wrote. I remember lying on the floor with a pen in my hand, writing. ... I just had all these ideas.”
By junior high, all her stories included a main character by the name of Melissa, also the main character in Bryony.
Other things began to take precedence in her life in high school and college, where she majored in journalism. She left college early to get married and begin a family, but she kept the dream of writing in the back of her mind.
She began forming the idea of “inoculating” a vampire with small doses of human blood when she was going through series of allergy shots herself and decided she would use the idea to write a short novella for one of her children for his birthday. It would be a weekend project at most, she told herself.
Several years and revisions later, “Bryony” was a three-volume book. The story deserved much more than a novella, she said.
The book begins with the death of a 17-year-old girl’s father. Set in the 1970’s, Melissa and her mother discover the father had owned an old mansion in Michigan. They move there and live in the guest quarters, but Melissa soon notices some strange goings-on.
A mysterious mist rises from the forest floor during a walk in the woods and chases her to a clearing, where it disappears. She also begins dreaming about Bryony, a beautiful woman in Victorian times who is married to a handsome composer and concert pianist. It’s that pianist who is a vampire.
She then begins to receive visits from him in the middle of the night, first in her dreams, then in reality. The bloodsucker has a proposal for her — you give me your blood each night, and I’ll let you travel back through time with me. She accepts.
The book is described as one of "obsession, danger and appetites." There is a twist of romance, as Melissa begins to fall in love with her vampire, but that emotion is a bit one-sided as the story unfolds.
"For him, it’s a business deal,” Unland said. “For her, she starts falling in love.”
Unland said she does not care for some of the modern vampire thrillers that portray the undead as misunderstood creatures. Her vampires are more of the classic breed.
“This is not a sad, mournful vampire,” she said of the main character. “He’s a real vampire. ... In the older books, there was always a definite line between good and evil. Monsters were not just misunderstood creatures. They were monsters.”
Unland said the book is not a horror novel, though, but a Gothic one, rather in the style of “Jane Eyre.”
Her book has evolved into much more than just the book, itself. There is a cookbook coming out of recipes for dishes Melissa had when she travels back into the 1890s, as well as several dishes consumed in the 1970s. They include everything from boiled calf’s head, pickled peaches, raised cake, jelly cake and squirrel, rabbit, and turtle dishes to lasagna, homemade pizza, and biscuits and gravy.
Interestingly, Unland found a composer who wrote several piano pieces to accompany the book. James Onohan, an Indiana police officer and off-time composer/pianist, will also attend the launch for the book and will play his pieces there.
There is also a candle line with five Bryony scents.
The cost for is $10, or $5 for children ages 6 through 12 and seniors. Dollars raised will go to Big Brothers-Big Sisters of Grundy and Will Counties.
More information about the fundraiser can be obtained by calling (815) 671-3570. Information about the Bryony series can be obtained at www.facebook.com/BryonySeries.
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VAMPFEST
WHAT: Launch for new vampire novel, "Bryony," and Big Brothers-Big Sisters of Will and Grundy Counties fundraiser, "Travel through Time with Bryony."
DETAILS: Channahon author Denise Baran-Unland will sell and sign copies of her book. Also classic rock music by local teen band Street Worthy and live piano music by composer/pianist James Onohan. Characters from the novel will serve appetizers and dessert tidbits, and there will be interactive Bryony-themed vendors, a silent auction, a 50/50 split pot raffle, and more.
WHEN: 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. Friday, Oct. 14
WHERE: The Joliet Harwood Post, 705 Larkin Street, Joliet
COST: $10, or $5 for children ages 6 – 12 and seniors.
INFORMATION: Call (815) 671-3570 or visit www.facebook.com/BryonySeries.