Poppy Z. Brite... How to describe such an author to you? She has been called "Southern Gothic" by more than one person, but she is so much more than that. She creates images and characters within her books which come to life so clearly and so beautifully. Her New Orleans comes out as a wonderous place as she takes her characters through its shadier sides. Her creations are beautiful and unique in the horror world... All of them taking on a life of their own, and making you love or hate them, or both...

She has not been a prolific author, as of yet, but the books she HAS written have all been excellent... They are "Lost Souls", "Drawing Blood", "Exquisitie Corpse", and "Wormwood". Lost Souls is a vampire book, but an interesting and almost frightening view of the lives of a dying race and its newest children, and the impact they have on the mortals they encounter. Drawing Blood is extremely hard to describe. It is about two people who, through various events, come together in a small town in North Carolina, and what becomes of them. Exquisite Corpse is about the art of killing, and those who are the artists. Wormwood is a collection of short stories written by Poppy. She has also compiled a book of vampiric erotica called "Love In Vein". I highly recommend all of these books.

Her books may not be as influential or as well known as those of Anne Rice or other authors of the day, but they are written as well, if not better, and they create just as effective a world. I highly recommend you read them...


Poppy On the Web

The Altar of Poppy Z. Brite:
Poppy's Purple Prose:
Poppy Z. Brite - Official:
Poppy Z. Brite Image Gallery: