Vampire Academy Movie Based on Series Written by WMU Grad

WMU has a close tie to Vampire Academy, a new film that will be released in the United States on Friday, Feb. 7. Vampire Academy, is a series of young adult fiction that includes Vampire Academy, Frostbite, Shadow Kiss, Blood Promise, and Spirit Bound. This New York Times and USA Today bestselling series was written by WMU alumna Richelle Mead '01. The series has won honors from the American Library Association and been translated into 30 languages. It follows the war between two races of vampires, living and undead, by focusing on Rose Hathaway, a 17-year old half-vampire training to be a bodyguard for living vampires. See the trailer.

Mead is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of urban fantasy books for both adults and teens. Originally from Michigan, Richelle now lives in Seattle, Wash. Before becoming a writer, she received an M.A. in Comparative Religion from Western Michigan University. Mead was recently selected the 2013 Alumni Achievement Award winner for the Department of Comparative Religion.