Vampire Q&A: Kenesha Williams (Blood Debt)
“There’s a cost with each transaction, and I like stories that explore those costs.”
Author Kenesha Williams reveals her unique spin on vampires in BLOOD DEBT, names her favorite vampire movies and TV series, and explains what’s wrong with vampires that aren’t scary.
Updated April 1, 2021
Kenesha Williams is an author, screenwriter, and speaker. She’s also the founder and editor-in-chief of Black Girl Magic Lit Mag, which is a speculative fiction literary magazine.
Her novel Blood Debt is the first volume in The Daywalker Chronicles: 100 kills or 100 years. That’s the contract. That’s the deal. But this kill is personal.
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In this interview, Kenesha tells Monster Complex what makes her vampires unique, names her favorite vampire TV series, and explains what’s wrong with vampires that aren’t scary.
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What inspired your unique take on the vampire mythos for The Daywalker Chronicles?
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I started writing what became the Daywalker Chronicles for a submission call for Black vampire stories. I started thinking what would make a Black vampire different from vampires of other races and I thought to myself what if their melanin (the pigment that darkens skin color) was a natural sunscreen for those vampires and they could live in the daytime like humans, but with the powers of regular vampires. Then that lead me to think about the history of Black people in America and how would that coincide with the history of Black vampires. That’s where I came up with the restrictions imposed on daywalkers of having either a hundred years of servitude or one hundred kills as a hired assassin. Then I was off to the races, as they say!
No spoilers, but how does BLOOD DEBT set up the series?
BLOOD DEBT introduces us to a female Daywalker who has chosen to be an assassin. She is given her last assignment, and it’s a doozy, a Cardinal Vampire has been murdered and she has to find his killer and mete out justice to that killer. While looking for the killer she uncovers what she believes is the motive for the Cardinal Vampire’s death, a coverup of a conspiracy that he was going to expose to the rest of the vampire world.
That conspiracy and her attempt to uncover who the players are will be an overarching plot of the entire series.
What were your favorite vampire stories (books, movies, comics, TV, whatever) growing up?
Growing up, my favorite vampire movie was Interview with the Vampire. I loved everything about it. The story, the costumes, and the actors were amazing. I’ve also watched almost every modern day interpretation of Dracula that has been made. The movie Blade was also a favorite. And hands down True Blood is my favorite vampire television series of all time.
What are your biggest pet peeves in vampire stories?
I don’t like vampires that are too romantic, pretty, and that aren’t scary. Vampires are monsters! I want my monsters to be monsters. If they’re monsters with a pretty face and insane blood lust, I can roll with that. I like the idea of people/monsters not being what they appear to be.
What do YOU look for in a great vampire story?
I like blood, lust, and a peek at the human within the vampire. Those three things make a vampire story for me. Blood is a given, but also vampires are sexy monsters, so I like a little lust in my vampire stories, too. They are the only transactional monster that gives when they take (unless they’re taking a life), whether they’re giving the temporary high that comes with sucking their victim’s blood or if they’re giving immortality through the gift of vampirism.
However, there’s a cost with each transaction and I like stories that explore those costs. And unlike some monsters that are born, all vampires are made, so I like stories that explore the person who came before the vampire and what becoming a vampire cost them in terms of their sense of morality.
How can readers learn more about you and BLOOD DEBT?
You can learn more about me and BLOOD DEBT by going to my website—KeneshaWilliams.com
In the future, I hope we can do a full interview on Black Girl Magic Lit Mag (when I launch the podcast)—but right now, would you give our readers a quick description of Black Girl Magic Lit Mag and how they can support it?
Black Girl Magic Lit Mag is a literary magazine created to address the lack of diverse, non-majority voices and characters in speculative fiction, especially Black women’s voices. Black Girl Magic Lit Mag believes that by showcasing stories featuring Black female voices and characters we can create a reflection of ourselves in the literature that we love, in a world where our images are controlled, shaped, and distorted by those outside of our experiences.
You can support Black Girl Magic Lit Mag by purchasing on Amazon - https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01MUCPLYA/
Find Kenesha Williams Online
Blood Debt
The Daywalker Chronicles #1
Kenesha Williams
Write Ahead Publishing
Buy the book from Amazon (affiliate link)
100 kills or 100 years. That’s the contract. That’s the deal. But this kill is personal.
32 years ago a rogue vampire murdered my best friend in front of my eyes. I’ve spent the last three decades wracked with guilt over my friend’s death. Why was I spared and she not? But I wouldn’t wish this life of the undead on anyone.
Black vamps are natural daywalkers. For that reason, our numbers are controlled and we are contracted out as assassins or servants. And it still doesn’t guarantee our freedom.
A Master Vampire has been murdered and one of his progeny is suspected. My mission, to find the killer and eliminate them. The prime suspect, the vampire I thought was put down all those years ago.
If the price of my freedom is retribution, I’m ready to pay all debts in BLOOD.
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