Cheney fiction author writes what he knows

By BECKY THOMAS

Staff Reporter

It may be the oldest rule in the writer's handbook: “Write what you know.”

Much of Lee Pierce's first book, “The Vampire Congress,” was derived from his life.

The main character was inspired by and named after his wife. The story is set in Spokane and Cheney, using commonly known landmarks like the Davenport Hotel and St. John's Episcopal Cathedral as central locations.

As much as the details come from his life, Pierce has also created a complex fictional underworld in which vampires and werewolves fight for power and protection.

“The Vampire Congress: Book One of the Samhain Chronicles,” is Pierce's first published work. It was published, appropriately, Oct. 31 by Spokane publisher Gray Dog Press, which is also fitting for a book about werewolves.

Pierce, who is a reference archivist at the Eastern Regional Branch of the state archives in Cheney, said he finished the book last summer and, determined to get it published, he began sending it to publishers and book agents on the East coast.

“I got about 30 rejection letters,” he said. “That's kind of hard on the ego, to get rejection after rejection. But you just have to keep doing it.”

Last September, Pierce came home with bad news.

“I'd been informed that I was going to be laid off. And that same day my wife had been on the bus and brought home a newspaper,” he recalled. “There was a full page spread on Gray Dog Press…It felt like serendipity.”

In the end, Pierce kept his job and Gray Dog accepted his manuscript, beginning a months long process of editing and market research. The book was released Oct. 31 at the Tree of Knowledge bookstore in Cheney.

“The Vampire Congress” is the first of what Pierce foresees as a three- or four-part series. It follows Mickey Johnson, a young police officer who finds out about a secret world of vampires and werewolves living among humans. The novel features an extremist group of vampires that is seeking power as Johnson and a group of werewolves try to foil their plan.

Pierce said the book is aimed at adults due to some mature and violent scenes. He said he's trying to avoid comparisons to the popular teen series “Twilight.”

“It's an adult book,” he said. “It's not intended for young teenagers.”

Pierce said the book has gotten a strong reception locally, with about 100 books sold so far.

Since Samhain is a Celtic word for the late October harvest festival, Pierce hopes to release the next two books on the next two Halloweens.

Pierce said he's been working steadily on the as yet unnamed book two and several friends who have already finished “The Vampire Congress” are asking about it.

“That's a lovely cattle prod to keep you writing,” Pierce said. “You know people are waiting on it.”

The book is available at Tree of Knowledge and several area Hasting's stores, or through http://www.graydogpress.com.

Becky Thomas can be reached at [email protected].