ExplorIng the Heart of BamptIllIa
LB Harpdog discusses his unique Bampire mythology, the emotional inspiration behind MIND NIGHT BLUE, and how his writing explores love, loss, and the complexities of human relationships.
In the realm of speculative fiction, few authors have managed to weave the threads of personal emotion and imaginative world-building as seamlessly as LB Harpdog. With a unique voice that captures the heart and a storytelling style that defies convention, Harpdog has carved out a niche that is both deeply personal and universally resonant. His creation of the Bampires and the world of Bamptillia is a testament to his inventive spirit, offering readers a fresh take on the vampire mythos that is as intriguing as it is original. Harpdog’s works are not just stories; they are emotional journeys that invite readers to explore the complexities of love, loss, and longing.
At the heart of Harpdog’s writing is a profound exploration of love, most notably in his deeply personal work, MIND NIGHT BLUE. This narrative serves as a poignant love letter to his ex-girlfriend, Palmyra, and is imbued with the raw emotions of a love that transcends time and circumstance. Through his stories, Harpdog invites readers to experience the depth of his feelings, using his unique creations to express what words alone cannot. His ability to blend the fantastical with the deeply personal is a hallmark of his work, making each story a reflection of his own heart and soul. As you delve into this interview, prepare to be captivated by the mind and heart of LB Harpdog, a storyteller whose passion for his craft is matched only by his passion for the one who inspired it all.
You’ve created an entirely new creature, the Bampires, and a unique world, Bamptillia. Can you tell us more about the inspiration behind these creations and how they differ from traditional vampires? What drew you to develop this new mythology?
This is a 6 book series. I was inspired because of a broken heart. I wanted to tell my ex-girlfriend how much I truly loved her and what I couldn’t say. Bampires helped me do it. Bampires originated from off world. They only survive by a virgins mind or body. But on Earth, they drink blood to endure Earth’s atmosphere. Because on Bamptillia, they don’t have any suns in their solar systems, only moons. So their eyes adapted with being an electric blue hue that allows them to see as if it were daylight to humans.
Virgins on Bamptillia are rare and used as a valuable source to prolong their lives. But they learned that Earth has an abundance of virgins. Plus the gravity on their home planet is very heavy. But on Earth, they are stronger, faster, and can fly because of the difference in gravity as well as the use of the mind that helps halfbreeds, Aka Vampires, to also fly and enter a person’smind when touching them and seeing their thoughts or controlling another person’s thoughts.
I developed the Bampire ideas because no one knew how the first Vampire, Dracula, was created and when. So I created Bamptillia and a backstory to go along with the Vampires origin. And as far as them being extremely sexual, I wrote this book to reassure my ex-girlfriend that I truly did love her. But the initial story was very depressing. So I added an erotic flavor to make it interesting. But I may have gone a bit overboard with the sex, because I was challenged to write a story with a sex scene in every chapter, . So I did. Then I incorporated the sex into the origin of Bampires.
This was supposed to be a one off book. But turned into a 6 book series. Because I wanted more depth to the characters and so did my beta readers.
MIND NIGHT BLUE is a deeply personal work for you, written as a way to express your feelings for your ex-girlfriend. How did channeling these emotions into a fictional story help you process your experience, and what do you hope readers take away from this story?
Palmyra and I had an untouched emotional affair. It was forbidden, because we had our own families. We never intended to date or fall in love. But I was planning to end my life and she was the only person who saw signs and talked me out of it by making her a few promises. Promises like: writing a story about our love, writing a song, traveling to Berlin (even if we were no longer speaking), me taking care of her financially (giving her 20,000 euros and creating the Bampire brand and giving it to her), and traveling…
I hope the readers take away that, true love is not selfish or breaks up families. That the ultimate sacrifice for me is giving the person you love what they need (Palmyra’s was her family) and not what they want (I knew she wanted me but was conflicted). That loving someone from a distance is ok no matter how much it hurts. Know when to let go.
The concept of MHSTY, My Heart Sings To Yours, is a beautiful and intimate expression. How does this concept of love and connection play a role in your stories, particularly within the complex relationships you explore in MIND NIGHT BLUE?
Online, those 5 letters was how we knew it was us talking. In the story, Palmyra knew LB still loved her when he said MHSTY. If he never used those words, then she knew he never loved her. No one except LB and Palmyra knew why those letters were so important and what they meant, not what they stood for.
MHSTY means: I loved her with all my heart and she loved me. It deeply meant we were soulmates and that our love was real no matter where life takes us, and it took us in different directions.
The Bampire society you’ve created is described as being driven by pleasures and desires, yet they crave something that humans have—true love. How do you explore the tension between carnal desires and the deeper need for emotional connection in your writing?
Bampires have sex to live a long time. Yes it does feel good, but they must do it to survive. So they can get bored with just the act alone. When they fall in love, sex takes second place to getting to know that person. When they fall in love, they gain abilities to help them accomplish that continued love.
So in the story, everyone is having sex. But Attacker has sex to try to win LB’s love. But LB didn’t want sex from Palmyra, just to be with her in the moment. Yes, he did desire to have sex with her, but he wanted to know the secrets Palmyra’s heart held and to know her flaws and all. So his time spent with her was less sex and more talking. But Attacker’s point was more sex and less talking and try to take what she wants.
You mentioned that your writing style is unique and aims to capture the reader’s heart. Can you elaborate on your approach to writing and how you ensure that your readers feel deeply connected to your characters and their emotions?
My writing style focuses on a subject that we deal with daily. Example: Cheating, death, and even feelings of regret and falling in love.
I tease them with a video book trailer. To get them interested in the story.
When they read, I place them in a scene and then unravel the story slowly. Then help them to understand the state of mind the characters are in. Then try to get the reader to think about how they would have handled that situation. Then I use very expressive words along with music from my Spotify playlist to really draw the reader in by having the lyrics speak to the reader along with the story being told.
To me, pain is the number one emotion that holds the most memories. Next comes pleasure, Then comes laughter. So I focus on telling a story with the first two emotions to suck in the readers with pain and hold them there with pleasurable scenes.
But I also show the view points of the characters at different times to show the reader why they acted a certain way.
So I try to capture:
MIND: marketing, videos, and direct offers for people to read it.
BODY: getting the reader angry, excited, or turned on.
HEART: Share the story of a broken creature who is put into a decision to choose between a promise, or his emotions. MHSTY is what connects the readers to a term of endearment when they see those 5 letters and is what I want people to wear and adopt as a sign of true love. I hope it makes them want a love like the one I experienced with Palmyra.
Your Time To Play series features short erotic stories that emphasize women’s desires. What inspired you to write this series, and how do you hope it resonates with readers, particularly in terms of addressing the stigma around women expressing their sexual desires?
Time to Play series was written for Palmyra when we were dating online. Since I couldn’t be there physically, I wanted to be there mentally. So I wrote those stories to share with her when she was in the mood to be with me. The 1s, and 2nd books were just short stories to put her in a frame of mind for desires since she didn’t feel sexy.
But the last book was one that I wrote specifically for her. This story took about 6 months to write. It is a choose your desire story. You can read it 4 times and get different endings. I wanted her to know that with me, I would have made our love life very interesting. I am not the kind of man that people can figure out. So my story to her had to reflect this.
As far as the stigma goes, women already have men that they love in their lives. So many times the sex is lacking imagination. So my hope is that this helps them to quinch that desire by reading my books and maybe sharing this with their partners and having a discussion about sex and how both parties can be happy.
But for single ladies, I want the last book to be as if I am the man in your life for one evening while you read it. I want you to enjoy reading it many times until you reach your sexual satisfaction. Because we all need someone in our lives, even if it just one night.
