How did you first get interested in Gothic books?

[Bellatrix]

I am also a fan of the original Dark Shadows. I was 12 years old when it went off the air.

I was about to turn 6 when it was canceled, and no of course I don't count that as having been "an original fan." A neighbor boy, Danny, and I watched episodes of it at his house; not sure if his mother was a fan or we simply came across it. After waking up night after night screaming from nightmares, my mother made a phone call and discovered what Danny and I were watching. DS watching was nixed for me, lol. I did recall the crashing waves, the grandfather clock, the eerie intro music from childhood. Have 21 DVDs, began purchasing them in 2004.

My favorite DS heart-throb is Jerry Lacy. He played the Trasks of course, and Tony Peterson. He's also a native Iowan, like myself (but that's not why he captured my heart).

I bought a few of the paperbacks by Marilyn Ross

I recently read his novel Satan's Rock. It was terrific. Have 3 or 4 other Ross titles as well; non-DS and not yet read.

I still have the entire set of the Dark Shadows paperbacks as well as some original paperback editions of Victoria Holt and Barbara Michaels with their terrific Harry Bennett illustrations. About ten years ago I acquired an old fashioned wire book rack in which they are proudly displayed.

Cool!