Five By Five: From fandom to first novel, C.L. Kelley explores the world of vampires in “Corpus”

By Max Bowen

As the old saying goes, write what you know.

C.L. Kelley is a longtime fan of vampires and in her debut book, “Corpus,” (Torrid Waters, Aug. 16) she puts her own mark on the genre. Here’s a look at what’s in store.

Nameless, powerful beings, lost in their hunger and forgotten pasts, roam the streets after sunset. But an awakening stirs within them, sharpening their minds and unearthing memories of a dark history and an even darker future.

This chilling foray into vampire fiction pits the hunter against the hunted in a world brimming with supernatural horror and action. The plot thickens with the presence of shapeshifters, adding layers of unpredictability to the already tense atmosphere. Even the seasoned monster hunters find themselves outmatched by these evolving adversaries. The once comforting break of dawn no longer signifies safety.

C.L. Shares what inspired the story, as well as how the vast world of vampires helped (or hindered) the writing process. She talks about some favorite scenes as well as the role of the monster hunters.

You’ve got a pretty complex story here. Did it change much from the initial concept?
The overall concept of the story stayed the same, but what changed was the scope. I don't think I understood how tricky it would be to juggle multiple POVs that were all alien minds whose motivations would be removed from normal humans. I also had to make sure I gave each of the vampire characters distinct personality traits within their inhumanity that would still be relatable, while still not making them too sympathetic. It also became a lot more action-oriented with each rewrite, which is not something I usually gravitate toward, but as someone who enjoys plenty of video games and action movies, was very fun to write.

What about the vampire theme made this your choice for a debut novel?
I've always been interested in vampires, and when I conceived the story, the world was fresh off the popularity of the “Twilight” franchise, and going back even further than that, “Interview with the Vampire.” I wanted to take vampires back to their roots as barely sapient grave things. The film “Near Dark” was a solid touchstone for me. Although my vampires are more explicitly supernatural, I liked how the film showed vampires as dirty drifters who fundamentally could not function in society or hide what they were for very long. And then I wanted to build them up from there, make them evolve into something greater and more dangerous.

Vampire fiction has had so many different stories over the years. Was that a help or a hindrance with your book?
It was a help in that I had a lot of rich inspiration to draw from, and it was a hindrance in that I didn't want to retread old ground or do something that someone else had already done better. I had read a LOT of vampire fiction over the years, and I had also watched a lot of films. I knew that it would be a fool's errand to try and create something that was completely free of those influences, but I wanted to say something that I felt at the very least had not been said before. I wanted to explore different corners of the “vampire's experience,” so to speak. What was it like to lose your identity? Your sense of community and bodily integrity? And how could you get those back in a way that wasn't the old way, but working with the new you?

Is there a favorite scene?
I have a few, and I'll try to word them in a way that won't give too much away. The introduction of the female vampire is a favorite, in that it operates almost like it's own self-contained mini-story. I like the first look we get at one of the vampires' lairs and how he collects his trophies. All the action sequences were a blast. I felt like a kid playing with my action figures again! I'm particularly proud of the climax, because that was tricky to write and it required a lot of work.

Who are the monster hunters in the book and what role will they play?
We quickly find out in our story that the monster hunters aren't the “good guys” but neither are they “bad guys” either. Just like the vampires, they operate within their own code of morality and what is considered a “good” outcome for their actions. With each rewrite, I expanded these characters more and more, giving them each their own quirks and powers, while still keeping them mysterious figures from the point of view of the vampires. Coming up with all the insidious ways they've worked to counteract different vampire abilities was enjoyable, especially as a long time superhero nerd who had plenty of “which power would beat who?” conversations.

It’s an unlikely love story with Maria Guglielmo’s new book

Author Maria Guglielmo was last on the show some years back for her debut book, “Summoned,” and since then, she’s been up to quite a bit, including debuting her new “Riftworld” series with “Witch City Rift” and “Rifted Hearts,” which drops on March 19.

Curtis and I talk with Maria about this new series and what went into building the world behind it. We do a deep dive into her main character, Remi Gatti, a con man who seems to find himself in over his head in both stories. 

We look at his power to manipulate sexual desire and the role this plays in the story, as well as the mystical realm that extends into Boston and Salem.

There’s a mysterious figure called The Matchmaker in both books and we talk about just who this person is and how they’re influencing the tale.

Citywide Comic Spotlight: Ryder

Creator: Austen Marie

Publisher: Tapas Media


If you asked me to choose my favorite webcomic of 2021 (please don’t, there’s too many options), “Ryder” would have to be among my picks. The titular character is a songwriter living the artist life in Los Angeles. When a mysterious woman leads her to a world of the supernatural, Ryder finds herself in a place that, for the first time, makes her feel like she’s finally home.

It was the art that first drew me in, but this series is far more than just amazing illustrations. The story of Ryder and her dreams of musical stardom is easily relatable, and there is much more to come. In the aforementioned supernatural world, she meets some unforgettable characters, including Landon Moon, a musician from (she thought) the human world that she’s a diehard fan of, along with Blithe, who’d also an artist with a complicated past.

The story touches on some serious topics, including relationships, mental health, and what it means to be truly happy. I really liked this aspect of the writing, and imagine some real-life elements have been woven into the story—it just seems the writer has a lot to say on these topics.

At the same time, there’s laughs aplenty, whether it’s Landon learning of the fan-fiction Ryder wrote about him or her conversations with Blithe as they discuss the rules of the supernatural world and explore a growing relationship. There’s a lot of depth here and the length of each episode means we get plenty of time to explore without feeling rushed.

But back to the art, which is absolutely stellar. The use of color is extraordinary, and really brings the story to vivid life, from the clothes to the buildings to the lighting. The scenes for the shows are very detailed and reminded me a lot of my time living in Boston. These scenes are among my favorite. I especially liked the varied outfits the characters wore, with each matching their personality.

The series appears to be taking a break. Whenever it comes back, you can bet I’ll be ready!

Jonathan Janz shares some classically-themed horror in “The Dismembered”

Who wants to hear from more horror writers? If your hand’s in the air, then kick back and enjoy hearing from author Jonathan Janz, who has a new book out on Nov. 11 through our friends at Cemetery Dance Publications. Here’s a look at the story:

In the spring of 1912, American writer Arthur Pearce is reeling from the wounds inflicted by a disastrous marriage. But his plans to travel abroad, write a new novel, and forget about his ex-wife are interrupted by a lovely young woman he encounters on a London-bound train. Her name is Sarah Coyle, and the tale she tells him chills his blood.

Sarah's younger sister has been entranced by Count Richard Dunning, who is rumored to dabble in bizarre religious rites and experimental medicine. Arthur agrees to help, but he has no idea of what awaits him at Altarbook, Sarah's ancestral mansion, or the remote English countryside, where Count Dunning and his followers are about to unleash an unholy supernatural power.

Jonathan and I head right into the story—we talk about Count Dunning and how he came to be, Sarah’s role, what leads Arthur to join her, and what inspired some of the settings.

Brian Keene has called Janz “One of the best writers in modern horror to come along in the last decade,” and we talk about what such praise means, as well as the influence that Keene has had on his work. Jonathan and I dive into his personality and how he sees himself after publishing more than a dozen books. Jonathan works as a high school writing and film teacher and we discuss how he works with young creatives.