Vamplitude

Have you ever had an album touch you in such a way that it is on your mind 24/7? What would you do about it? The music of Rick Springfield has provided everything from comfort to enjoyment to inspiration for many fans worldwide. His 2004 release Shock/Denial/Anger/Acceptance was no exception.

What would you do? A new book by Kathleen Mendelin is a fictional tale that delves into the unknown. It was inspired by SDAA and the reader follows the lives of complex characters as they battle personal and real life demons. Vamplitude will be available online by Mid-February 2008, and will sell for a retail cost of $14.95 CDN. (online link to be announced once the book is on the site).

Here is a short Q&A with the author, Kathleen Mendelin:

How long after hearing SDAA did you know you were going to write a book?

When I first heard SDAA I thought to myself 'This is it', full of raw emotion that a middle aged person could related to. I played that CD over and over, at home, in my car, and wherever I walked with my mp3. At this time I also kept a journal. A few months into listening to the CD and writing in my journal it became apparent that everything I wrote about my in life stemmed from thinking about his lyrics, and how they related to my life. When I listened to that CD, I had my own visuals that went along with each song. I came upon writing the book because my fingers were getting cramped from writing, and I was running out of room in my journal. Writing that book was a serendipity experience.

What song had the strongest inspiration for the story?

Every Night I Wake Up Screaming, hands down! I had, (have) reached a stage in my life where I wanted to know the meaning of life. There had to be something more to it. I felt like I was trying to join a club but still searching for the secret password that would let me in. It was 9/11 that changed my life, and my views of the world. Add to that, natural disasters, horrible tales of human behavior on the news channels, and unexpected chaos in my personal life. I was afraid of what the next day would bring. In many ways I still am.

What other inspirations did you have?

I've always had this thing about vampires. When I was a kid my 'baby' teeth were really pointy and I was convinced I was half vampire. I found obscure joy in scarring my sisters at night when they were trying to fall asleep. I also had a fascination with aliens and comets, and the sky/solar system in general. This type of novel isn't for everyone. It can be very dark in places, and has some adult content.

What are some of your other favorite Vampire works?

Ann Rice and her Vampire Chronicles are a good read. There are a few good vampire movies out there as well. I also enjoy books that discuss the history of vampires, and their bloodlines.

Besides Rick Springfield and SDAA, what other "real life" people/things will we see traces of in the book?

Stanton Friedman is an acquaintance of mine and I have followed his work ever since I was old enough to start to read and understand 'big words'. He is a renowned nuclear physicist, UFO Researcher and the original civilian investigator of the 'Roswell Incident'. He recently appeared on Larry King and recently co-authored a book titled "Captured! The Betty and Barney Hill UFO experience". It is a book about the world's first documented alien abduction, a true story. Most of my references to the history of vampires and comets are based on fact. A lot of research was done in order to give this fictional novel a little more depth. The location in the book is a town called Exeter, which is the town I grew up in.

Is there any other Rick Springfield CD that you could be inspired to base a book on?

Hopefully his next one! Although I enjoy all of his music, SDAA was really the only one of his CDs that touched my psyche. I would almost consider it a concept album.

Who is your favorite character in the book?

This is a tough question. The primary character was inspired by Rick Springfield, so that has to account for some of my fondness for 'Kristoph'. I do like a character by the name of Travis. He marches to the beat of his own drum with little regard to whether his thoughts, actions, and quests will embarrass him. He and his small group of friends are the laughing stock of the scientific community, but it does not stop him from doing anything to find out what he wants to know.

Which character is most like yourself?

That would be Peter, the Priest. He finds himself struggling with so many things, perhaps the most important of all is his faith and his loyalty to his chosen profession. He's a tortured character who eventually starts to snap his crayons.

Will there be a sequel?

I've thought about it. I'd need the right inspiration to continue the story though. I have started a sequel, but I am not sure if it will remain tucked away on my hard drive or not. I suppose, because the book was heavily influenced by Rick and his music, I would need to hear his next release and see if the spirit moved me in the same way, in addition to knowing if anyone would want to see this story continue