Thursday, January 23, 2014

Guest Blog: The Hellfire Club History Inspires a New Kind of Story by A.C. James + giveaway


The Hellfire Club History Inspires a New Kind of Story by A.C. James

I just wanted to say thanks to Katie for having me on I Smell Sheep. If you’ve been following me you already know that eating pepperoni late at night while reading Tiffany Reisz probably inspired the dream I had of Ian Somerhalder dressed in priestly garb doing things that were *cough* not so priestly, inspired me to write Cursed Ever After and Eternal Ever After.

But I wanted to share with you some fascinating tid-bits that inspired the Chicago sex club in Cursed Ever After and my new release Eternal Ever After.

For those of you not familiar with the history of the Hellfire Club, it was the name of several exclusive clubs for high society ranks in 18th century Britain and Ireland.

It provided a safe meeting place for people to participate in immoral acts. Basically, it was rumored to be a sex club and the first Hellfire Club was founded in London in 1719, by Philip, Duke of Wharton and a handful of his highfalutin friends.

The most notorious club that was associated with this name was established in England by Sir Francis Dashwood. The club met from around 1749 to around 1760. In its later years, the Hellfire was closely associated with Brooks's (est. 1764). Other clubs using the name "Hellfire Club" were set up throughout the 18th century. Most of them were set up in Ireland after Wharton's was dispelled.

Being the perverted Scotch-Irish lass that I am, I just had to incorporate the history—using it fictitiously. Especially after falling in love with their motto: Fais ce que tu voudras (Do what thou wilt), a philosophy of life associated with François Rabelais' fictional abbey at Thélème and later used by Aleister Crowley.

So do what thou wilt and I hope you enjoy 
Eternal Ever After
, a steamy paranormal romance!


Eternal Ever After (Ever After Series Book 1) 
A.C. James
Genre: Steamy Paranormal Romance
Publisher: Wandering Impulse Press
Date of Publication: 11/23/13
E-Book: 978-0-9911485-0-9
Print: 978-0-9911485-1-6
ASIN: B00GTT0UK6
Number of pages: 307
Word Count: 88K
Cover Artist: Ramona Lockwood
Amazon E-Book ~ Paperback
Buy the Paperback—Get the E-book FREE with Kindle Matchbook.
Book Trailer: 
http://youtu.be/VefnxkHGiXM 

His past holds a secret…

Arie Cush has a secret that he thought he’d left behind. When his past follows him to Chicago he must protect someone that reminds him of all the painful memories he’s tried so hard to forget. But when every touch from her sets his heart and body on fire—he finds it hard to maintain his aloof façade.

That becomes her nightmare.

Holly Ellis has secrets of her own. An encounter with the handsome stranger who frequents her coffee shop reveals a vampire with baggage. Even though it might be more than she bargained for, she can’t resist the one person who understands her. But her life is in danger and a supernatural threat could reveal the underground world of vampires to humankind in this Gothic Cinderella re-telling.

Inside Scoop: This story contains bondage, anal play, a M/F primary romance with mild F/F situations.

Warning: This book is fictitious. The bdsm portrayed in this story does not portray the lifestyle. Vampires will be vampires. They don’t exactly stop to discuss a scene, pain thresholds, and there is no aftercare involved. Trust is an intrinsic part of the lifestyle. Use due diligence and research before deciding to make fiction into reality.

Heat Level: This book is a steamy romance. It’s the development of a romantic relationship that contains more explicit language and sex. The sex is not an inherent part of the story, character growth, or relationship development, and if removed you still have an amazing plot.


Excerpt: 
“If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.”
–Holy Bible: King James Version

PREFACE 
I never guessed that I could die with a sea of faces surrounding me, all cheering for my death. A woman wearing a jacket dress made of brocade only laughed louder when blood splattered the low square neckline. Where is Arie? I scanned the crowded club but all I could see were pale faces, some half covered by masks.

My time had come and I prayed she would finish me off quickly. The warm trickle of blood ran down my neck and chest, saturating the corset bustier of my gown. It seemed like a shame to ruin such a pretty dress. Strangely, I felt relieved the bodice was black and not a light color that would show a stain.

The fear of dying or more accurately, the fear of not existing, scared me stiff. Perhaps if I had satisfied this existential anxiety with faith I wouldn’t jump from panic to ambivalence. I should be angry at everyone who simply watched. They must think the gruesome display is part of the entertainment for tonight. After the bloody burlesque show I could hardly blame them.

Holly, I gave you the chance to leave. The telepathic transference hardly seemed relevant at this point. I knew if I’d never gone to the Hellfire Club, I wouldn’t be facing death now. Still, if my death meant the killings would stop it seemed justifiable.

“No!” I could barely hear Arie scream above the cheering voices clamoring for attention. The constant drone defies my effort to form coherent thoughts. I looked up and could see him on the balcony. When I blinked he had disappeared into the throng. I could feel the blood continue to trickle down my neck as she drained me. Dizziness threatened to pull me under. The audience applauded her brutality. I crumpled at her feet, looking up at her smile as thin as paper.

Blood. So much blood. My blood.

I didn’t want this to be the story of my death but this part is only a fragment of a narrative as old as time. Its voices fill the shadows with whispers of legend. We are told that the damned cease to exist and those absolved from sin are given eternal life. The damned can never be saved. They walk the earth in an eternal hell. I fear it will be my curse if death doesn’t claim me instead.

Link to Blog Tour Dates & Other Appearances: http://www.acjames.com/events-4/



About the Author:
Web/Blog~Newsletter
Twitter ~ Facebook ~ Goodreads
A.C. James—author of erotic paranormal romance and erotica featuring bdsm. Author of Cursed Ever After, an anthology of four erotic paranormal short stories and prequel to the series. Its full length sequel, Eternal Ever After, tones it down to steamy romance. Wife, mother, and storyteller extraordinaire. She resides in northeast Pennsylvania drinking large vats of coffee while taming two toddlers by day and writing by night. Recovering video game beta tester and tech geek who grew-up going to cons and watching SmackDown. There's probably some cosplay pictures around somewhere of her dressed up as Bloodberry from Saber Marionette J. Just don't tell anyone.

 a Rafflecopter giveaway

No comments: