Once upon a time I thought it would be hysterically funny if vampires really existed and had “day jobs” as programmers. What better cover identity for creatures who work all hours of the night, never see the sun, and are known for various personality quirks and eccentricities? A creature of the night would blend right in.

So Romney and Valentine entered the scene. Their original short story, “Night”, never sold. Possibly because I peddled it to the SFF mags and the plot centered around a vampire falling in love with a bass guitarist so it struck them as too romancy. (Or maybe it was just lame.) But I still loved the idea. Eventually I decided to scrap the original but recycle the concept as two longer stories, one for each vampire, this time as romances.

Since I had Romney lurking in my files and I’d sold The Gripping Beast to Samhain, when it came time to propose Samhain themed stories for the Beginnings anthology, I pulled “Night” out and worked up a short proposal. It sold. Then I had the fun of taking the core idea from the orignal story, significantly expanded and altered, and making something entirely new from it. I think maybe 1K of the original wound up in Night Music.

Night Music takes place a few months after The Gripping Beast in The Sirens’ timeline. Night Rhythm picks up where Night Music leaves off, with Valentine and Lisa reunited. The stories are intended to stand alone or be read in any order.

Playlist for Night Music:

  • Behind the Wall of Sleep, Smithereens
  • A Little Night Music, Mozart
  • Possum Kingdom, The Toadies

Playlist for Night Rhythm:

  • Kiss From A Rose, Seal
  • Making Believe, Social Distortion

Fun fact: Lisa Atkins, heroine of Night Rhythm, first appears in Miss Lonely Hearts which takes place before The Gripping Beast in The Sirens’ timeline.

The stories turned out more emotionally charged and complex than I expected from my orignal hilarious idea, but I’m pleased with the end result. I’ve enjoyed bringing the vampires into a new “life” and I hope readers enjoy them, too.