Author Description

*"Heart of the Deep Cave": in the depths of Lechuguilla, in New Mexico, a young woman scientist enters a newly-discovered room filled with all the wonders of the earth -- but also a sad shock: a handsome young man lies in the sand, appearing dead...*"The Call of Destiny": in 1192, a wounded English Crusader enters the secluded town of Vasaria in Eastern Europe. There he falls in love with the beautiful herbalist who heals him. He vows to repay his debt to the town by slaying the Lord of the looming Dark Tower, who thirsts for blood. When the loyal knight does not return, his betrothed faces a heart-rending decision...*"A Vampire in Auschwitz": in 1944, a young woman raised in an Orthodox Jewish community has decided to increase her chances of surviving the Nazi occupation in a most unholy way: by becoming an estrie. Now in a death-camp, she struggles to maintain her conscience....*"Moonlight Meeting": in medieval Vasaria, the lovers continue their quest to remain together despite the scheming of an evil spirit, and the harsh decrees announced by an angel....*"Away from the Light": in 21st-century Tucson, Arizona, a happily married mother of three suffers a needle-prick from a mysterious patient, then a car accident. After a near-death experience, she discovers that she has undergone a terrifying transformation, to which some people never adjust. Forced to steal blood from sleepers, and longing for true death, she searches for the secret -- if there is one -- to make her existence fulfilling once again....Fans of sympathetic vampires will enjoy this interestingly varied collection of tales. They offer innovative approaches to the "rules" of vampirism and emotionally vivid portrayals of characters struggling to accept their undead condition, to develop successful relationships in the world of mortals, and to find meaning in their dark existence.-- Margaret Carter, author of Dark Changeling, Passion in the Blood, and Different Blood: the Vampire as Alien.