[ExistentialDisorder]

I don't mean to start what may seem to be a clich'e thread around here but I wanted to ask if anybody remembered the details behind how Rice's vampires came into existence. I no longer own my copies of the original vampire trilogy books, having lost or loaned them out over the years. I remember there seemed to be two stories behind it; one true, the other a myth based on the truth. And that there was something about some greek or egyptian gods. It's been so many years since I read them now that I can't be sure. Also, were the origins of the witches ever revealed? I never read the Mayfair series because the first book bored me.