Yesterday, Wednesday, October 31st, I did a quick author interview with Ripley's Believe it or Not Radio.  Part of it was to do with Can Vampires be Good Role Models for Children.  My answer was a resounding Yes!  If you've read the books, you will know that Gappy is just a normal kid who goes through all of life's experiences as other regular kids.  He deals with bullies, he's not very good at math, he's loyal and sticks by his friends through thick and thin, he works hard to solve problems and doesn't give up, he's compassionate and kind, etc.  Also, as commented on by the teacher of a fourth grade class that I visited to talk about my books and the joy of writing, Gappy also has to deal with being different.  Already shy and somewhat serious which makes him an appealing target for bullying by Billy Tompkins, now he has the huge, secret identity of becoming a vampire, to boot.  Imagine how hard that must be?  Kids can relate to Gappy and if they model his behavior, they can't go wrong - except for the part about hiding his secret identity, that is and the various evasions that that incurs.  However, he has to do that to protect the vampire race from discovery by regular humans - regs, so I think he's allowed.  Although the interview was taped yesterday, which is kind of appropriate, seeing as October 31st is Halloween - OOOOoooooh - the segment will air sometime in December.  I'll post the podcast when it comes out.  I also told Ripley's about the reeeeeally weeeeeird things that happened to me while I was writing Book Six of the Young Vampire Adventures: Gappy and the Witch's Curse.  I still can't believe that they happened.  They were really spooky.  See below blog entries for details.