I usually try to avoid vampire things (unless it's Whedon or Kripke stuff) as I just don't have interest in those creatures. Whedon helped me understand the love for them better, but he didn't influence me.

Also, I don't understand why female leads have to have like a half a dozen men falling all over them
*feels a tad guilty* That seems to be the running minor-theme in all but one of my novels. The reasons for it are different each time. Re: my trilogy, it just happens to be a consequence of being the daughter of the most difficult man to find. Just about everyone in the higher classes is interested in her (& her brother) for one reason or another. But they're not exactly panting; at least 2 of the 4 are plotting. ;)