What is a good setting for a vampire family in the United States?

Question

I've been writing the outline for a story I am going to start writing soon. It's about vampires, and I already have everything set up. The character's, their personalities, and the plot, but I still haven't come up with a good setting. I was going to make it in Seattle, Washington because it's almost always raining there, a good place for vampires to be (since they can't go in the sun. ((Atleast in my story.)) ) But, I just recently finished reading the Twilight series by Stephanie Meyer...and her story takes place in Seattle...so I don't want it to look like I'm copying or anything...so, if anyone has any better ideas for a setting, let me know. It would be much appreciated. (:

Answer 1

I would go with one of the very old cities - which means East Coast. I believe St Augustine is the oldest (if you want to make your vampires Spanish), but Boston, New York or Philly probably get credit for the oldest English-speaking "big" cities. Sewers or subway tunnels should make an excellent hideout.

If you want them to be under cover during the day, how about choosing a coal mining town, like Scranton PA? It's ugly (at least, the section along the interstate used to be), dirty, and your vampires can work day shift in the mines if they want to remain undetected but mingle with the humans.

Another possibility is Edmonton, the most northern big city in the Americas http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edmonton . It would be pretty darn dark at least 3 months out of the year.

Here is a list ranking the least-sunny (on average) cities in the U.S. http://www.weathertoday.net/weatherfacts/percentsunny_city_asc.php

I hope this helps.

Jim, http://www.life-after-harry-potter.com

Answer 2

I think you would be better off in the deep south. The far northern states do have longer nights in the winter, but they also have longer days in the summer. That could be problematic for a vampire. I'd suggest New Orleans because it is very exotic, however, I don't know if that would work for you since the Vampire Chronicles took place there. On the other hand, there could be a lot more "prey" there since Katrina. That might be enough of a different spin to keep it from looking like you were ripping off Rice. If that still doesn't work for you, my next thought would be Miami...for many of the same reasons. The idea of vampires stalking the streets at the height of a hurricane has a lot of potential. Good luck.

Answer 3

I hope I'm not bursting your bubble(I think it's awesome you're writing a vampire story, me too!) but if i were you I wouldn't publish it for at least a couple years, and wouldn't associate it with Seattle, Alaska, or other Stephenie Meyer stuff. That said, it also might be a great time to publish a book on vampires because everyone loves them right now. If you aren't trying to publish it, then anywhere would be good, but probably either a place very secluded(the mountains, somewhere?) or somewhere very crowded(New York, San Francisco) because the vamps would be less noticeable. Hope I helped.

Answer 4

If you've got your heart set on vampires, for god's sake don't do it in New Orleans. Anne Rice did N.O., and Dusk Til Dawn did Mexico. Try to think of places that you don't see on TV or in books very often - have you ever read a vempire story set in Texas, or Dakota?

What about the north of Canada, where the sun is low and the nights are longer? Wouldn't vampires prefer Alaska, where nights can last weeks, and there is an abundance of fat, blood-filled wildlife to feed from?

Just a few ideas - remember that no-one will read your story if it isn't original. If it seems similar to even one thing you've already read/seen, change it!

Good luck!

Answer 5

well actually, the Twilight series takes place in Forks, Washington, which is pretty far away from Seattle. In Forks it's literally raining all the time.

Maybe in Alaska somewhere.

Answer 6

all the suburban gritty street places have been done before-vampire in brooklyn ring any bells-so dont be cliche. try Houston, Texas. Fattest city in America, right (no offence-am just going by the stats) so a bloodsucker should fare well there. only problem is the loads of sunlight-so i'd suggest giving him/her their own gimmicky outfit or other special attribute that protects him/her from sunlight. this is all if ur writing a book or creating something or the other. if not...still Houston,Texas. shed some new light on the genre (pun intended) and i wish you the best of luck-am currently writing something myself so...see you on the bestsellers list-hopefully.

Answer 7

You must consider that everyone has their version of what a vampire looks like nd what they should be like. In Twilight the vampires can go out in the sun but they sparkle(which is weird to me) but if they don't like the sun I'd suggest Alaska, Washington, NY.Remember its your story.

Answer 8

On a rocky Orgeon Coast. Or Maine. Somewhere unexpected. And you're right, they're going to like Seattle.

Answer 9

Let the vampire family live in Anchorage, Alaska. It's dark for months at a time! In the summer they would have to move to a cave or abandoned mine or something because it's daylight almost 24 hours straight.

Answer 10

Maybe you should try where you live where you know the best about the surrounding so the reader can actually see the feedings in a back alley on Avalon right behind the meat market. Wish you well.