It’s been a couple of years since we pinned down Jim Newport to talk about his then new novel THE VAMPIRE OF SIAM which, to be the very soul of brevity itself, is a nail- biting tale about a man called Martin who uncovers a serial killer in the City of Angels.

And really getting to the bottom of that wonderful book - now being prepared to become a Hollywood-produced movie – it is an exotic tale of lust, greed and the supernatural and follows the strange path that a powerful friendship takes as it unravels, and Martin learns a lesson in the preciousness of life's every moment – from a vampire.

So that’s a ‘must read’ as it is set in Bangkok and certainly one of the best locally produced novels in my thirty years here.

But more than a year after he became embroiled in that seductive web of blood-letting, sexual excess, and mind-altering time shifting with a 175 year-old vampire, the ‘hero’ Martin Larue and the vampire return to their adopted home of Bangkok changed ‘men’. Thus begins the latest Jim Newport book – RAMONNE – the follow up Newport fans have been waiting for with baited breath.

But let the author tell you more. After all he as a way with words.

“Ramonne is a sequel to The Vampire of Siam which was launched in Christmas 2003 and is the story of a rebirth for both Martin, an expat living in Thailand, and the vampire Ramonne who has been living here for more than 140 years. The new book sees Ramonne literally reborn and Martin also reborn as a changed man after spending a year as a monk. Martin was transformed by that experience while Ramonne simply wants to know about his past. So once again their destinies became entwined and the latest story continues the strange relationship of Martin and Ramonne…the vampire.

The success of Jim first book has prompted at least one producer to move for the film rights which is hardly suprising as his books are very cinematic. He has just made a movie deal with Nu Image, a movie company in USA, and right now they are looking for actors. The movie will be made here in Bangkok next year.

“Actually, my background is in movies and television as a production designer. My job has me focused on the visuals of the films I do, which really means I choose what country and city to shoot in, what to build and design, what colors and shapes to select. I make sure everything is just right.

Many times I have been on film knowing I wasn’t working with a good script and thinking that I could write a better script than this  On my second trip to Thailand, I had the opportunity to travel to Phuket and found a house there without television or telephone where I realized I finally could start to write. I think the first thing is to find the place to write - then find the story. That’s really how I  became a writer.”

Now he has been living in Thailand for 15 years and alternates his time between Phuket/Bangkok and Los Angeles.

Jim is not deserting his first profession just yet though and I recall his words the last time we spoke: “I love my work but I always wanted to write a fine movie and a great novel or two. This book is the fourth I have completed and the second to be published. And although I was kinda railroaded into writing about vampires and stuff, I love the characters now and I am delighted I managed to set it in Thailand, a place I know and love. And let’s face it, a vampire story set in Bangkok, the modern-day equivalent of the writhing megalopolis of sin and darkness in “Bladerunner” – how perfect a setting could I get?”

And good news for those who enjoy Jim’s first two books – they are one and two  in a trilogy, with the third book likely to come hard on the heels of this latest classic. All are distributed Asia-wide by Asia Books.

“The third book is already finished and I think it is the best of all. Ramonne goes in search of his past and finds a journal taking him back to 1860 in Cambodia where he confronts a 2,000-year old vampire living there. Martin is also involved in Cambodia managing an orphanage. They always remain connected and the intrigue continues. I’d like to see all of my three books in the store by Christmas!”

Me too!

 

RELAX Newspaper Bangkok Thailand Sept 1-7, 2005