Have you ever thought vampires were actually living among you, and not just on-screen? According to a new book, these creatures are real and in places where you live and do your daily activities.

"American Vampires: Their True Bloody History From New York to California" reveals where the real vampires reside in the U.S., and they are not Bella and Edward or your favorite "The Vampire Diaries" characters.

Written by Bob Curran, the book was published by Career Press, Inc. The 256-page non-fiction book is described:

"Just sit back and relax as Dr. Bob Curran takes you to places that only your mind can create with his words and stories. He will delight the imagination."
--Tom Danheiser, producer, Coast to Coast AM

Vampires are much more complex creatures than Buffy The Vampire Slayer, Twilight, True Blood, or scores of other movies and television shows would have you believe. Even in America.

American vampire lore has its roots in the beliefs and fears of the diverse peoples and nationalities that make up our country, and reflects the rich tapestry of their varied perspectives. The vampires that lurk in the American darkness come in a variety of shapes and sizes and can produce some surprising results. Vampires in North Carolina are vastly different from those in South Carolina, and even more different from those in New York State. Moreover, not all of them are human in form, and they can't necessarily be warded off by the sight of a crucifix or a bulb of garlic.

Dr. Bob Curran visits the Louisiana bayous, the back streets of New York City, the hills of Tennessee, the Sierras of California, the deserts of Arizona, and many more locations in a bid to track down the vampire creatures that lurk there. Join him if you dare! This is not Hollywood's version of the vampire--these entities are real!

Curran has written other books similar, including "The World's Creepiest Places," "Vampires," "Forgotten Realms," and "Werewolves." So this means he knows what he's talking about (in some shape or form) even if you don't believe.

Some places covered in the story are Tennessee, North Carolina, New York, and California.

BlogCritics.org said that according to Curran, vampires come in all shapes and sizes, from a melon-head child to a well in the ground. Some vampires drink blood while others sap energy from the body. Not all vampires are wealthy, like the Count Dracula. Many are poor and working class.

In the popular vampires we know on-screen, none of them are poor. Take for example "Twilight." The Cullen clan was never ever poor. They were always super rich, which is why Bella felt out of place because she didn't have all that money like the Cullens.

Curran said that after a period in the cold earth, they arise and raise havoc for the living, which include their families and friends. In parts of the world, vampirism has been linked to witchcraft, according to Blogcritics.

He also reveals how to kill vampires (if you ever see one). It's similar to what we see on-screen: which is to drive a stake through the heart and then burning the corpse. We see this in "Twilight" and in "The Vampire Diaries."

"Sometimes, invading the coffin yields a lifeless corpse with dried blood protruding from the mouth. In addition, gases build up in the body after death. The body has a bloated appearance oftentimes," BlogCritics said.

Also in the book, Curran talks about specific incidents of haunting throughout the book. The Hampton Plantation, which resides in Georgetown County, S.C., is said to have hauntings of John Henry Routledge's ghost, who comes to the property now and then to check on his home. He committed suicide after thinking of having a life without love, according to GTownTimes.com.

"American Vampires: Their True Bloody History From New York to California" will be released on Oct. 22, just in time for Halloween.

Do you believe in vampires? Sound off below!