The epic 190,000-word story is set in a dark, faeriepunk version of the modern-day underground nightclub scene. With a bit of surreal embellishment to enrich the tale, this novel was inspired by the parties, the places, the people and the atmosphere encompassing the authors exposure to several years of the gothic/industrial counterculture.

Written in first-person, the tale is focused upon dreary chasms of the human condition and tells the journey of a young male vampire and his relationship with a teenage mortal girl, Helle. Thinking he is only a spirit that communicates with her in dreams and rituals, Helle slowly comes to discover that he is very real and will change everything in her life forever.

"... I must admit that I didn't think I'd like your book. When I first read the title, I though, "Oh, brother, this is going to be cheesy." I must relent my original thoughts (NEVER judge a book by it's cover), and heap praises onto you. I COULD NOT PUT THIS BOOK DOWN! I took "Gothic Rainbow" on vacation with me, and spent a lot of time each day in coffee shops reading. I was sad when I finished; I had come to know each character and felt close to them. I wanted more! ..."
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"... I loved this novel, though Chapter 23 did throw me for a loop. I liked the way you interweaved dreams and current life. Threw me for a moment, but then I caught on. I also see you are a bit of a Shakespeare fan yourself. Really know how to manipulate me, don't we? ..."
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"... I just finished reading "The Gothic Rainbow": all I can say is "Wow!" Man, I can't remember the last time I read a book that gave me the willies like that! ..."
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"... Your view and opinion of how a vampire should and would act is exactly what I envisioned-I've often thought that most of the books that I read were totally off on how one would feel and behave if one were a vampire. ... I felt as though I had gained some friends by the final page. And I also wished that I hadn't ended. I read your novel in 2 DAYS (much to the amazement of everyone), and completely absorbed every page ..."
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"... I remember how it was just getting cold when I received your book, and how it kept me company for two nights while I constantly sipped Cotton Club ginger ale in my bed and disconnected the phone because I wanted to see what happened uninterrupted ..."
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"... as for your writing style: One word: Eloquent! ... Your use of imagery, or words to create imagery is extraordinary. Very passionate. I can't imagine what you must have been feeling as you wrote this epic ..."
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"... Eric effectively blends elements from different genres and literary styles in a duet between mortals and Fey. Highly unique, believable characters, and a musical playlist to boot! I found the book compelling and charming (in a twisted way), and would gladly read the book again ..."
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"... The Gothic Rainbow by Eric Muss-Barnes is, frankly, one of the most absorbing novels that I have read in quite some time. ... I've found the book well worth my time, and I hope you will give it a shot. I do not believe you will be sorry. At the end, I think you will agree that Eric Muss-Barnes will be a name to watch. ..."
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"... it's quite a page-turner, with lots of shocking vampiric escapades. This book, on the whole, is extremely well-written with a wonderful poetic style. I'm glad I didn't let the slow start scare me off. ..."
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"... I'm utterly mystified that this book worked as well as it did for me. It's written for readers with a firm grasp of the Goth subculture (I don't qualify); it doesn't attempt to have a plot as such; and the vampires are hopelessly larger-than-life, with their expensive cars, outrageous acts of violence, and nonstop scorn for mortals. (In fact, the vampires consider themselves so godlike that pronouns referring to them are capitalized, a typographical idiosyncrasy that I found rather disconcerting.) Perhaps the book's appeal lies in the sheer honesty of the narrative. ... Self-serving but sincere, THE GOTHIC RAINBOW is definitely worth checking out ... I know that's a strange kind of thumbs-up, but THE GOTHIC RAINBOW is a strange kind of book. It's certainly not for everyone. ... It is a book of dreams and fantasies, power and pain, and bittersweet Goth-flavored wish fulfillment. ..."
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"... if you've ever listened to The Cure in the dark, danced to The Dead Milkmen, lost a loved one, hung out with skaters, hated your parents or hated preppies, or if anyone's ever called you a "freak," I think you'll find a little of yourself in this book. Its honest representation of this subculture - from the music to the fashion - is spun throughout the web of fantasy ..."
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The thing in the road is moving a little. It seems to be breathing. Just a little.

Why must certain things never be aware of ones name?

Part of him expects it to rear some ugly head he doesn't even know it has. Then drag him to some horrid fate.

He shouldn't be letting his shadow be cast upon that thing. His shadow swimming in blood-tinted light. No. He musn't let his shadow touch it. . . It will know him then. . . The man fidgets. Moving back two steps. For some reason, he is scared.

He feels like a boy again. A child afraid of cellar dark. A child afraid to look at the crack of his closet door as he falls asleep. . . Because it moves. Like breathing.

This time, most especially of all, a child afraid to look at the woods in the night.

He knows, there is no way he should ever turn around again. Never dare. . .

. . . They wait, he thinks. . .

Back in the car, the girl thinks she hears something in the woods. It is like a voice.

She doesn't want to turn around. If she looks through the front windshield, she'll see something terrible in those woods. Something too close.

Something old. Horribly, horribly old.

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Eric has worked as a martial arts film stand-in (for the stunt coordinator of The Crow), and as a freelance artist for the toy design division of American Greetings. He has crewed on Academy Award nominated features and written, directed and produced an award-nominated and critically-acclaimed short-film called, The Unseelie Court which is available on DVD. His writing has been published in magazines and anthologies while his artistic photography has been exhibited and sold in art galleries from Ohio to Hollywood.

Active beyond artistic endeavors, he has been an avid freestyle BMX enthusiast, snowboarder, mountain biker, hang glider pilot, horseback rider and bodyboarder. Once a member of the United States Hang Gliding Association and involved in the Society for Creative Anachronism, he is still a passionate motorcyclist (he doesn't even own a car - he prefers a bike) organizing regular grouprides in Southern California. He also remains a fairly diehard skateboarder, having produced the DVD entitled Learn To Ride A Skateboard with the top woman skater in the world; plus he finds the time to dance for hours on end at alternative and underground nightclubs, just like he did when writing The Gothic Rainbow.

And, yes, he still hopes to write the sequel to The Gothic Rainbow ... someday.