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Bunika Vampire

@bunikanovel.com

2.1K followers 3K following 2.3K posts

Bluesky account for the Gothic vampire novel "Bunika" by S. B. L. Grant. Currently looking for agents & publishers 🖤 No AI writing. Art and photography by me. London / Bratislava. 🩸 www.bunikanovel.com 🩸 Email me: lysander.underearth [at] gmail dot com

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Bunika Vampire @bunikanovel.com · Feb 12

In 18th century Slovakia, a young widow turned to vampirism by a herbalist sect must part from her lesbian lover to reclaim her humanity 🇸🇰

THE HISTORIAN X A DOWRY OF BLOOD

🖤🦇🖤

Agent's guide included 📖

#questpit #A #HF #H #R #Q

#gothic #literary #vampire #writesky #folkhorror #LGBT 🏳️‍🌈

A visual with a dark blue background and dark grey border. To the left is an image of a empty glassless black chapel window looking from below with the text "The Black Cathedral Chapter XIV" beneath it. To the right is the text
"An agent's Guide to Bunika
A Gothic Novel by S. B. L. Grant
All art and photography original."

A visual with a light blue background and dark grey border. To the left is the text
"Introduction
BUNIKA is an adult Gothic horror novel set in 18th century Slovakia. It combines the period elements of Kostova’s THE HISTORIAN, the queer narrative of THE GILDA STORIES and the lavish literary style of A DOWRY OF BLOOD."
To the right is a photograph of an iron ouroboros on a black door with the text "Ouroboros Door Chapter II" beneath it.

A visual with a dark grey background and dark grey border. To the left is a map which says "Horné Uhorsko (Slovakia) 1712". To the right is the text
"Pitch
February 1712
After Marika is murdered at a witchcraft trial by a herbalist sect, she awakens as neochotný - “The Unwilling” - a half human/half vampire whose nature is in constant conflict.
Fleeing to Modra Castle she becomes smitten with its heiress Ruzena, but is informed that an elusive cult leader named Bunika has orchestrated her turning.
Marika must embark on a journey across Slovakia to confront Bunika, to be reborn into humanity and live peacefully with her lover.
She must unite her conflicting nature, become stronger than she knows, or remain eternally tormented by psychological strife."

A visual with a mid blue background and dark grey border. To the left is a photograph of a castle tower under a dark grey sky with the words "Hrad Červený Kameň, Slovakia (Basis for Modra Castle) Chapter III" beneath it. To the left are the words
"For those who enjoy:
Historical Gothic romance (86k words)
Remote European settings
Traditional vampire folklore
Gritty, uncompromising horror
Strong LGBT themes
Emotional erotica
Dilemmas of identity
Layered narrative and symbolism
Shocking outcomes
Moral relevance
Re-readability and discovery"

Bunika Vampire @bunikanovel.com · 9d

And your art captures it perfectly 🖤

Bunika Vampire @bunikanovel.com · 9d

Beautiful city. Wish I could have stayed longer - I was only there for one night but yes, highly highly Gothic! That whole region - Hungary, Slovakia, Austria is perfect definitive Gothicism 🖤

Bunika Vampire @bunikanovel.com · 9d

Yes you should be worried, since it suggests a breach of academic confidentiality. If I were you I would ask the colleague diplomatically about how it got there and/or tell your supervisor.

Bunika Vampire @bunikanovel.com · 10d

The system is fucked and there are too many who still believe that it's OK for it to be that way. But I think it's generational [and definitely institutional], and with time and the right people it will improve.

Bunika Vampire @bunikanovel.com · 10d

That artwork is stunning.

Bunika Vampire @bunikanovel.com · 11d

The ghosts just don't want you to see them 💅

Bunika Vampire @bunikanovel.com · 11d

I am leaving my specific discipline after this. I won't leave academia, but certainly my area. Many peers who I respect have moved on.

Why don't I help change it from the inside? I have other places of learning to go and see 🙏

Bunika Vampire @bunikanovel.com · 11d

That's a surprise, but also not!

Bunika Vampire @bunikanovel.com · 11d

Some supervisors are super quick to reply and some not, as you well know [as in months or never]. And the quality of feedback is so relative.

Basically the system is fucked, though there is hope. I will do my best to help change it for the better. This is about learning, not suffering.

Bunika Vampire @bunikanovel.com · 11d

We're in the running! Watch this space! 🥳 🇨🇳 💻

Bunika Vampire @bunikanovel.com · 11d

Much better now that you're back! You're such an important part of our gothy/academic/folkloric circle. You are very much valued, respected and appreciated, Nat! 🖤🦇🖤

Bunika Vampire @bunikanovel.com · 17d

Omfg I've been laughing about this for too long now 🥲

Bunika Vampire @bunikanovel.com · 17d

A subscription bed 💀💀💀

Bunika Vampire @bunikanovel.com · 17d

You'll enjoy this account:

x.com/internetofsh...

Internet of Shit (@internetofshit) / X

Internet of Shit (@internetofshit) / X

Bunika Vampire @bunikanovel.com · 17d

I've done both recently. If I could do it again I'd do self-build, even though it is messy, it's fun [mostly]! And of course you have more options in hardware + price.

Bunika Vampire @bunikanovel.com · 17d

Maybe it was some sort of mission creep. I notice these days you have to have an MS account to use Windows 11. I'm sure that wasn't always the way. Certainly not on Ubuntu/Debian! They don't even ask for an email address. Nothing [popcon notwithstanding].

Bunika Vampire @bunikanovel.com · 22d

Well, the draft versions they saw were a mess so I understand why, but I also knew I would be able to clean them up sufficiently in time.

Regarding being drained, I also felt the same and my experience was not a positive one overall, it was the complete opposite. All we really have to do is finish.

Bunika Vampire @bunikanovel.com · 23d

Bloodrayne, 1000%!

Bunika Vampire @bunikanovel.com · 23d

Never seen, it but my father, a film director, rates it highly. I might check it out!

Bunika Vampire @bunikanovel.com · 23d

My supervisor suggested I might want to extend, but after 8 years I think an extension would make me crack! Plus I don't think it would have been that productive since my pace is rapid once I engage properly.

Good luck on your work! You're getting there! When's the deadline?

Bunika Vampire @bunikanovel.com · 24d

Thank you Nic!! 🖤🦇🖤

Bunika Vampire @bunikanovel.com · 24d

Finally my PhD thesis is submitted! After 8 years of tribulation and hardship. To all those who have had similar experiences, and also to @nataljastgermain.bsky.social, utmost respect!

Soon I will get back to querying Bunika! But first, some decompression [and the viva]! Have a good night, all! 🍻 🖤

Bunika Vampire @bunikanovel.com · Aug 22

It's funny, when I went to Abu Dhabi it's a mandatory retina scan for each passenger. If you don't want to do it, then, well, you can't come in! So I just got on with it. Good point about social media, I didn't consider that aspect about police demanding data from that!

Bunika Vampire @bunikanovel.com · Aug 20

You are completely correct! Also, while the system itself [KWS] is secure, the OSA, section 100, seems to allow Ofcom to demand the same info from these companies, even naming individual users and their interests :(

The box may be strong, but I don't want to put my stuff there in the first place! 🖤

Bunika Vampire @bunikanovel.com · Aug 20

It seems an attempt to force one's hand. No DM access is crazy. It's not BlueSky's fault, as we all know, there's nothing that they can do. But this law really seems to be about nothing but surveillance and porn is an easy target!