(Sept. 2010), which centers on erotic tales of VAMPIRES. What a treat! Cecilia is generously offering a copy of this book to one lucky reader.[see details at end of post]
by Cecilia Tan
I've edited a lot of anthologies of erotic fantasy in my career, including erotic fairy tales, erotic cyberpunk, erotic steampunk, and more. In all of those I invariably end up having to explain to numerous people what's erotic about the topic.
But that never happens when I say I'm editing an erotic vampire book. In fact, I can usually just say "vampire book" and people make the assumption it will be erotic. The vampire is a sexual figure and an erotic icon in our society and has been since long before Anne Rice put Lestat and Louis in a coffin together or Stephenie Meyer added high school dating angst to the mix.
The great Victorian vampire novels, like Bram Stoker's Dracula and Sheridan Le Fanu's Carmilla can be interpreted as being about fear of sex, especially fear of sexual power and female sexuality in the Victorian age. The allure of the vampire in those days was partly about fearing erotic surrender, and the transformation it could bring to a highly repressed society. A vampire's hunger or lust was a supernatural force that mere mortals could not resist. That meant, however, that succumbing to a vampire's seduction was not the fault of the victim. Guilt-free ravishment.
Thankfully, we're not so repressed now. What was terrifying and yet titillating to an earlier age is merely sensual and thrilling in ours. But in this era of erotica by women for women and the celebration of eroticism for all genders and sexes, the vampire is still a vehicle for our desires. When I put together the anthology BITES OF PASSION
(just released in trade paperback by Red Silk Editions), I wanted to look beyond the old formula of "vampire as sexual conqueror."Yes, the stories feature passion and lust that reach supernatural heights, but the vampire also represents immortality. What could be more romantic than undying love? Of course, immortality also means that it's more difficult to forget an ex. Vampires allow a writer to take all the usual emotions in the romance pallet and punch them up even more. In BITES OF PASSION
the settings range from the Western range to Victorian drawing rooms. There are detectives solving mysteries, and vampires waking for the first time from the long sleep. They've got love and lust and more to deal with.Because here's the ultimate secret about what makes the vampire one of the most compelling "monsters." Like the werewolf and the zombie, every vampire was once human. And being undead doesn't take away the pains or passions of the human heart; it magnifies them. That's why I like my erotic romance with a bite.
For more info:
Amazon link:
Cecilia Tan's blog
CONTEST
One lucky reader will win a copy of Bites of Passion
To enter simply comment on Cecilia's post OR ask her a question.
[Contest for paper copy of book is open to US/Canada residents only. International readers are eligible to win an ebook copy.
Contest ends November 2, 2010
Contest ends November 2, 2010
24 comments:
I love Vampires. Not only are they more sensual but, in many cases, represent the Romanticism that has been lost from earlier ages.
Its all about them in the feed. Its all about the woman in the sex.
That is a really good question, what do you do with an ex, if you are a vampire? I love anthologies. It is like taking little bites of stories.
twoofakind12@yahoo.com
Hi,Cecilia! Vampires, The Undead, Soul Suckers, Nosferatu & etc. have really become quite versatile. They have evolved! The story line and character development lies in the skill of the authors' hands and the creative depths of their minds. I still prefer the urbane, sophisticated, supremely confident and seductive “Old World” Vampires. With very little effort, their insidious charm will steal from you things that can never be restored, and at some point you will no longer care! However, today’s Urban Fantasy and Paranormal Romance Vampires have a deliciously dark charm all their own. While Vampires were always thought to be soulless, the very intensity of their nature suggests the possibility for eternal love. As for eternal life…be careful for what you wish : )
Vampires will never lose their eerily erotic allure. They can easily dispatch all challengers to the paranormal throne. Vampires are the most insidious evil, often appearing solicitous and charming. All the while, they are sensing the beat of your heart and savoring the thought of slaking their thirst with the red, red wine of your blood. I've no doubt Vampires will be around as long as humanity exists.
I love INTENSE. Who would want a Vampire who was not intense? Having said that, it's so much more attractive for that Vampire to have one soft spot--his love for a very special woman! The increasingly creative and expansive world of Vampire fiction is truly a paranormal feast! A savory-sweet, sensual smorgasbord--let's dine : ) "The Bite" is very sensual because the neck is an erogenous zone. Offering it up to be bitten is sexual surrender. When the fangs sink in, it's an erotic rush for the Vamp and his "soul provider".
US Resident, GFC Follower, Subscriber
gcwhiskas at aol dot com
I like the books cover.
sgiden at verizon.net
I agree, that what makes vampires so interesting as monsters are that they were once human so that contrast to looking human and being a monster is really fascinating.
juliecokies(at)gmail.com
What's not to love about hot, hunky, sexy vampires? Thanks Cecilia for all the stories.
salvagin@verizon.net
I love reading about vampires. I find them very interesting, intriquing and sexy. Have you wrote any other vampire books. Please enter me in contest. Tore923@aol.com
Vampires are just plain sexy. I have always loved them and some of my first actual paranormal/horror books were Anne Rice's Vampire series.
vampires are the ultimate in sexy to me...i've been reading vampire stories for ages! what a great anthology - please enter me in the contest!
k_sunshine1977 at yahoo dot com
OH, that is so interesting that this anthology also focuses on vampires as creatures of immortality and not just sexual predators (sort of) :P
Thanks for the chance to win this!
I'm only eligible for the ebook copy! :P
yvantis[at]hotmail[dot]com
I really want to read this book.Putting it on my TBR list. Love the cover.
elaing8(at)netscape(dot)net
Oh this sounds very wicked! Please count me in! It is definitely going on my list...~ Thank you!
alliwantandmorebooks@ gmail.com
Love the cover. Your book sounds really good. I love anthologies.
Sue Brandes
katsrus(at)gmail(dot)com
i likethe premise and honetsly that cover is aweosme vamps are awesoem in their own right so when authors make them sound even better in books twice a sgood
mortalsinn@yahoo.com
im a follower
Thanks for sharing Patricia and Cecilia. This sounds like a great anthology to add to my paranormal wishlist.
The settings sound quite interesting. It's good to see a variety listed.
Pam S
pams00 @ aol.com
I do agree about vampires being sensual! I definitely think that females feel very vulnerable around vampires!
barbs562 at gmail dot com
Hi Cecilia,
I love your name! My best friend at daycare was named Cecilia and 13 years ago I named my daughter Cecilia too.
Thanks for the giveaway!
Please enter me.
lucybeugelingramos@gmail.com
I love reading about vampires. This anthology really sounds good.
jellybelly82158 at gmail dot com
I've been interested in vampire lore, since I was little. What's not to love about sexy vampires?
marlenebreakfield(at)yahoo(dot)com
What a super giveaway. My question is...What is your most deepest passion?
dorcontest at gmail dot com
I'm always ready to read about vampires as vehicles for our desires--always about their eroticism.
Hi everyone! Sorry I haven't been commenting much -- I caught a cold and yesterday couldn't even muster myself to the computer after I got back from a job fair I had to work. So glad you all like the essay and vampires!
Ugh, I bet vampires can't get colds, can they? Actually, I seem to recall that in Anne Rice's TALE OF THE BODY THIEF Lestat gets a cold, which I just found ridiculous. I bet Anne had caught a cold and felt miserable so she inflicted it on her character. Poor Lestat.
@dor to answer your question about my deepest passion... hm. I have a lot of deep and abiding passions. One of them is for baseball and the New York Yankees. My deepest, though... and sorry if this is really mushy but... is probably for my partner of 19 years, corwin. Our 19th anniversary is coming up in a few weeks and I can hardly believe it!
Hi, Cecilia.
What is your opinion on book trailers? Do you think they help in book sales?
I look forward in reading your works.
Thanks,
Tracey D
booklover0226 at gmail dot com
Hi Tracey!
I think book trailers work for some books, but they aren't going to work for every book. And given how expensive they can be to produce in order to look decent and not hopelessly cheesy, an author should consider carefully whether a book trailer should be part of their marketing strategy.
With non-fiction books I think it's more of a no-brainer, because you can produce a piece that may have information or documentary aspects to it. But with fiction? It's very hit or miss. I haven't seen a book trailer yet that made me want to buy a book I wasn't already interested in buying, and I've seen plenty that made me go... ewwww. So I think it's really a "your mileage may vary" kind of thing. The same money and energy could be possibly better spent promoting the book through something like ads on Project Wonderful, and doing blog tours.
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