The Carpathian Mountains!
By N. J. Walters
The Carpathian Mountains of Transylvania. Just the mere mention of them sends a shiver down the spine. It conjures up images of darkness and the supernatural. Of wild wolves and vampires. And of that most famous inhabitant of the area—Dracula.
We’ve all seen the movies and read the books, but the fact remains that Vlad Dracula was a real person, a fierce man who fought back the invading Turks by the force of his will, cold calculation, and sheer brutality. It was the way things were back in those dark days. Might was right and only the strong survived. We might see Dracula as a monster, but the people of his country viewed him as a hero.
Then along came a man called Bram Stoker. He took the legends of the man, the superstitions of the land, and created a monster, the likes of which the world had never seen. Immortal, powerful, but needing blood to survive. Dracula was terrifying and compelling at the same time. And the unwitting Jonathan Harker and the innocent Mina were caught in his web.
Fascinating and totally compelling.
Modern movies and books have taken the monster and turned him into a seductive hero, one who captivates women. He is a loner, a devil, a businessman, a rock star. The modern vampire can be anything he chooses. He can embrace his fate or he can rail against it. Personally, I prefer a vampire who embraces who and what he is. Being immortal, he’s lived long and seen more than we can imagine. That gives him a jaded, world-weary view of things. Powerful, he takes what he wants, but is always mindful of the fact that his secret must never be uncovered.
That got me thinking one day—always a dangerous prospect to be sure—about what it would be like if there was a descendant of the fictional Jonathan Harker. And what if that person had to travel to Transylvania on business, just as Jonathan had.
Enter Johanna Harker, investment consultant, sent by her company to tend to their most lucrative, but very secretive, client, Cristofor Dalakis. Of course, there is more to Cristofor than meets the eye. He is a vampire and he longs for Johanna.
Their turbulent romance is set against the backdrop of the Carpathian Mountains. Dalakis Castle is an ancient fortress in the shadow of the mountain range. The atmosphere is as dark and brooding as Cristofor himself.
The next three books in the Dalakis Passion vampire series took me away from the Carpathian Mountains, but I had to go back. The mountains are almost like another character in the book, always there, always watching. Thus, Endless Chase was born. This is probably the final story in this saga so I brought it full circle, returning to Dalakis Castle and the majestic mountains.
This time I traveled around the surrounding area and found a charming gothic-style, stone church set deep in the hills. Beyond, there is a small town, largely dependent on the largess of the inhabitants of Dalakis Castle. The wild meadows beckon with their enchanting flowers and the wolves roam free. And when Chase Deveraux journeys to Dalakis Castle to visit his family, he has no idea of the life-changing events which wait for him. The entire family is threatened, from within and without.
The book is done, but the mountains remain. Who knows, maybe some day I’ll travel back there again. The Carpathian Mountains are in my blood and I’m sure there are many more secrets to be unearthed there.
About the Author
N.J. has always been a voracious reader, and now she spends her days writing novels of her own. Vampires, dragons, time-travelers, seductive handymen, and next-door neighbors with smoldering good looks—all vie for her attention. It’s a tough life, but someone’s got to live it.
http://www.njwalters.com
http://www.njwalters.blogspot.com
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/awakeningdesires/ (newsletter group)
