ONCE A VAMPIRE: Labor Day Update

Reposted from the Once a Vampire campaign page:

Happy Labor Day! Wyatt here, with a proof-of-life post to thank everyone for their contributions so far to John Amplas' book project (in collaboration with me and Jimmy Angelina), Once a Vampire. Your support of John's book means everything to us. 

Got to spend some time with John on a recent trip to Pittsburgh. While there I conducted further interviews with him, as well as documenting a joint conversation between John and actor/broadcaster John Hall, one of his dearest friends going back to their time together in the Pittsburgh theatre scene. Listening to them recount stories and shared history, it seemed anything John (A.) may have forgotten, John (H.) remembers, and is ready to remind him! What a pleasure to be in the company of two lifelong pals who have been through so much together across the decades. I can only hope the book does their friendship justice. 

Meanwhile John (Amplas!) has been putting me in touch with other friends and colleagues who have contributed to his story and played a role in his life, and I expect to be conducting more interviews soon. While the book is very much John's story in John's voice, our plan for chapters that deal specifically with his film and theatre projects is to present them in an oral history format, with John's voice joined by the voices of his collaborators to deliver a fuller, more rounded perspective. We're all very excited about it. 

More soon. But for now, from me, from Jimmy, and from John, thank you. Please continue to spread the word.

Visit—and donate to, and share—the Once a Vampire campaign page HERE.

Get the whole story on the campaign HERE.

Support Your Local Vampire: Crowdfunding John Amplas' Autobiography, ONCE A VAMPIRE

We are very pleased and proud to announce that New Texture's Wyatt Doyle and Jimmy Angelina are collaborating with actor John Amplas (Martin, Day of the Dead) on his autobiography, Once a Vampire.

We are accepting support via GoFundMe to help defray the costs of work on the project. 

Donate here: https://www.gofundme.com/f/once-a-vampire

Here's the pitch:

"For some of us, he's James Dean."

Actor John Amplas is celebrated for his unforgettable performance in the title role of George Romero's 1977 film Martin, as well as his appearances in Creepshow, Knightriders, Dawn of the Dead and Day of the Dead. But his own story is every bit as dramatic, unusual, and moving as the parts he's played.

John has enlisted writer Wyatt Doyle and illustrator Jimmy Angelina to help tell his story and bring it into print.

This is an entirely independent project, with no big money behind it. (No small money, either!) It's three guys—John, Wyatt, and Jimmy—creating something from scratch with no outside assistance...except yours.

If you want to read this book, John is asking for your help in making it a reality. Help us get it done! John and Wyatt have already recorded over 20 hours of interviews that will make up the core of the book. Jimmy Angelina has already completed multiple illustrations for the project. But we're at the point where things are starting to cost money, and that's where you come in. Initial expenses include transcription for those interviews and proofreading fees, and soon, marketing/promotional expenses. It all adds up quickly.

This is very much a NO AI project. We support human-generated transcriptions and employ human proofreaders.

Want to help John tell his story? Pitch in with a donation!

This book is happening. We're all fully committed to the project. But with your support, it can happen faster and more easily.

This adventure is only just beginning. Join us.

At GoFundMe's insistence, I must include the statement that no raffles, sweepstakes, giveaways, or promotions are offered in exchange for any donations made.

Who is Wyatt Doyle?

Wyatt Doyle is the writer and artist behind New Texture, a fiercely independent arts collective turned publisher and music label with over 50 releases since 2009. In addition to editing and designing the book for John, he has decades of experience navigating the worlds of book printing and distribution. His books have been acclaimed by numerous critics, including The Washington Post's Pulitzer-Prize-winning Michael Dirda.

His own work includes fiction (Stop Requested, illustrated by Stanley J. Zappa), visual art (The Last Coloring Book, The Last Coloring Book on the Left, and Be Italian with Jimmy Angelina) and photography (Jorge Amaya Doesn't Live Anymore, Dollar Halloween and others).

Through New Texture, he has collaborated with and published authors and artists as diverse as Lawrence Block, Gil Cohen, Byron Coley, John Doe, JD Doyle, Jon E Edwards, Harlan Ellison, Bruce Jay Friedman, Josh Alan Friedman, George Gross, Mort Künstler, Sydney Leff, Lydia Lunch, Eva Lynd, Todd Pierce, Samson Pollen, Robert Silverberg, Georgina Spelvin, and many others. He edits and designs most New Texture releases. You can browse some of the books he's worked on and published on Amazon, HERE.

Who is Jimmy Angelina?

Jimmy Angelina swapped studying filmmaking at Columbia College, in Chicago, for studying visual art at Bennington College, in Vermont—where he graduated with a BA in Drawing/Sculpture. His illustrations have appeared in various publications and on theatre posters. He's taken part in group and solo shows in New York City, San Francisco, Vermont and Louisville, KY. 

Latterly, he joined the New Texture publishing collective—where he has collaborated, along with co-author Wyatt Doyle, on three volumes of cult-movie-classic-movie-pop-culture artifact-satire: The Last Coloring Book, The Last Coloring Book on the Left and Be Italian. He provided illustrations for the feature film Rolling Stone: Life and Death of Brian Jones, directed by Danny Garcia. He's also released a (self-titled) CD with New Texture. He is available for freelance work and commissions. He likes books. He likes movies. He likes music. He likes dogs. His work can be seen on his website, www.jimmyangelina.com

Artwork © 2026 Jimmy Angelina, all rights reserved

Again, donate here: https://www.gofundme.com/f/once-a-vampire