Saturday, June 16, 2012

The Allure of the Vampire's Bite

By J.D. Brown (Guest Blogger)


Vampires might not have always sparkled and they might not have always fallen in love with human women. But their bite has always been a metaphor for lust and sin.

No matter how the vampire changes over the years – and they have changed a lot; from Dracula and Nosferatu’s horrifying undead to J.R. Ward’s living minority in the Black Dagger Brotherhood – one aspect of vampirism always remains fixed; they drink blood.

Mentions of vampires or vampire-like creatures appear long before Christianity, but it was the Christian church that first made them popular. In the old folk-lore, those who did not convert to Christianity were doomed to walk the earth forever as a vampire after their initial death because only Christians ascended to heaven. Later it was said that unbaptized infants would become vampires after they eventually died, even if they were good righteous Christians during their adult life. Later still, it was said that sinners would become vampires after they passed.

Vampires were to blame for illness, death, bad dreams, but especially erotic dreams, lust, and rape. If a woman was to engage in sexual activities before marriage, have a baby out of wedlock, or commit adultery, she could try to save some of her reputation by claiming that a vampire took her against her will.

Let’s look at the use of the bite and blood. To many, biting during sexual acts is considered erotic. The vampire’s bite is almost always some place delicate; the neck, the wrist, the inner thigh. Yes those places would be ideal because the veins are closer to the surface there, but it’s no coincidence that those areas of the body are also full of nerve endings. If the vampire really just wanted to feed, why not go for anything, like the upper arm or a foot?

Blood can seem terrifying, often the symbol of death and destruction. But just like its red color suggests, it can also signify life, birth, unity, passion, fire.

In today’s media more than ever before, the vampire represents the young hormonal predatory male. And women everywhere are still tripping over themselves to get bitten.

It’s no secret that even the youth, strength, mysteriousness, and bad-boy attitude are all part of the allegory. Those are all things that women in general swoon over. It’s all part of the same package, so to speak.

My vampires in Dark Heirloom are no exception, though they do chose to spin things in their own way. The main difference? There are no whiny girls in my books. It’s all vampires on top of vampires (no pun intended *wink*) for the true paranormal fan.

About Dark Heirloom

Title: Dark Heirloom (An Ema Marx Novel #1)
Author: J.D. Brown
Genre: Urban Fantasy

Blurb: “You’re a vampire” is so not what Ema Marx wants to hear when she wakes from a two-day coma in a cryptic yet exquisite castle in northern Finland. Unfortunately, it explains a lot. Like why she’s able to see in the dark and walk through solid objects. What she doesn’t understand is why the other vampires expect her to have all the answers. It’s their fault she turned into one of them…right?

Jalmari’s hatred for his old-man intensifies when he’s ordered to bring that troublesome girl to their castle. He has a clan to run, there’s no time for babysitting newborn vampires no matter how they were converted to their culture. But when a two-thousand-year-old premonition threatens to take the crown and his life, Jalmari sees no other choice than to take out the catalyst. Ema Marx. Fortunately for Ema, she could also be the clan’s only savior.

The race to figure out her vampiric origins is on. And maybe she’ll get the hang of the blood-drinking gig along the way…

Praise for Dark Heirloom

J.D Brown does a wonderful job weaving of history, science and mythology together” – The Ebook Reviewers

I was impressed with the author’s fertile imagination and world building…it was simply extraordinary” – Aobibliosphere

This novel brings to life a new kind of vampire in the form of Ema Marx” – H.M. Prevost, author

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About the Author

J.D. Brown graduated from the International Academy of Design and Technology with a Bachelor Degree in Fine Arts. She currently lives in Wisconsin with her two Pomeranians. Growing up in the suburbs of Chicago, her writing is influenced by the multicultural urban society of her youth which she continues to visit each summer. J.D. loves paranormal characters; from vampires and werewolves, demons and angels, to witches and ghost. Her writings are often a combination of suspense and romance.

J.D.’s books are available in e-book formats from Muse It Up Publishing Inc. and major e-book retailers. She loves to hear from readers. You can reach her via email to DarkHeirloom@gmail.com or visit her website at http://authorjdbrown.com

Author’s Links:

2 comments:

Lisabet Sarai said...

Welcome to Beyond Romance, J.D.!

I personally think the allure of the vampire's bite has some D/s overtones. The notion of surrendering to someone who literally wants to consume you can be quite intoxicating.

Good luck with Dark Heirloom.

J. D. Brown said...

Lisabet, thank you for having me on your blog today. I agree, the thought of being totally consumed is intoxicating and thrilling. Women like that sort of extreme passion. :)

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