AAD Featured Author Interview: Bianca D'Arc

Welcome Authors After Dark 2014 featured author Bianca D’Arc!

Is this your first year attending AAD?
I was actually there at the very beginning when Stella first came up with this idea. I helped in the initial stages of the very first AAD con and was all set to go and have a blast, but then tragedy struck my family when my mother was diagnosed with cancer. I pulled out a couple of months before the big day and dropped out of the writing scene for a couple of years. Stella was a complete doll about all of it and I think my first actual attendance at AAD was in Philadelphia, which was awesome.

So where will attendees be able to find you at AAD? Do you hang out in the bar? The lobby? Or are you the one who throws parties in their room?
I’m pretty much all over. I go to the events, love being on panels, and this year, I’m actually one of five sponsors of the luncheon on Thursday, so don’t miss it! :)

If you were to suggest one of your books to the AAD attendees, which book would it be?
I would probably suggest my recent release, KING’S THRONE, because it’s designed to be read as a standalone and does a good job of introducing readers to the ongoing world of my paranormal creatures. At this point, several years in, a few of my paranormal series (Tales of the Were, Brotherhood of Blood, String of Fate, and the related mini-series Redstone Clan, et al) are all converging. Everything will come to a head later this year with the release of the follow-up to KING’S THRONE, titled JACOB’S LADDER and then the final Redstone Clan book - MATT. It’s a good time to dive right in and get acquainted with the world of shifters, vampires, mages and even a few fey!

Tell us about the party you’re hosting at AAD!
The lunch on Thursday will be sponsored by myself, Becca Jameson, Delilah Devlin, Sasha White and Opal Carew. We are bringing free books (of course), as well as some dynamite swag that we’ll be giving away in little mini shopping bags as guests arrive. Don’t miss it!

If an adoring fan wanted to buy you a drink at the bar, what’s your poison?
Usually just a Coke, or if I’m feeling frisky, we can add a dash of Captain Morgan to that! ;-)

Where can readers find you?
Website - http://biancadarc.com/
Blog - http://www.darcsidetales.com/
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/BiancaDArcAuthor
Twitter - https://twitter.com/biancadarc

Greetings from Bianca D'Arc

Who could have guessed when we decided to band together to do a group blog all those years ago that it would become not only a blog, but a convention, and that our own Stella would step up and become Con Director Extrordinaire? Certainly not me. But I'm so proud to be part of this group and to have been here from the beginning.

That said, I think some of you may realize by now that I can't attend this year's con in NOLA. A lot about my life has changed pretty drastically in the last two to three years and for personal reasons, I just can't make it to New Orleans this year. But I really hope you all have a wonderful time! Judging by the extravaganza last year in Phillie, I'm certain you will!

So now I feel obligated to give myself a little plug (that's part of what blogging is for after all, isn't it?) and mention my first (and second) self-publishing ventures.

By now you might've heard about KING OF SWORDS, a novella that had been previously released in a somewhat limited fashion (as part of an anthology) by Phaze Books. Well, it's out now - on its own - and it has a sequel!

KING OF CUPS is the second book in what will be a four-part series of novellas based on the kings of the tarot and playing card decks. What most people don't realize today is that each of the tarot suits (swords, cups, staves and pentacles) corresponds to a suit in the deck of playing cards we all know and love. Also, each of the kings represents a real king from history.  I've used their names and suits for the heroes and titles of each of my books. And to tie it all together, in each story, one of the characters reads cards to tell fortunes. ;-)

Here are the blurbs, in case you want to know more:

King Of Swords - Arcana, Book 1

David is a newly retired special ops soldier, looking to find his way in the unfamiliar civilian world. His first step is to visit an old friend, the owner of a bar called The Rabbit Hole on a distant space station. While there, he meets an intriguing woman who holds the keys to his future.

Adele has a special ability, handed down through her mother's line. Adele can sometimes see the future. She doesn't know exactly why she's been drawn to the space station where her aunt deals cards in a bar that caters to station workers and ex-military. She only knows that she needs to be there. When she meets David, sparks of desire fly between them and she begins to suspect that he is part of the reason she traveled halfway across the galaxy.

Pirates gas the inhabitants of the station while Adele and David are safe inside a transport tube and it's up to them to repell the invaders. But what good can one retired soldier and a civilian do against a ship full of alien pirates? Both will discover there's more to each other than meets the eye as they do their best to overcome the alien threat and retake the station.

Buy now from: Amazon, B&N, Smashwords

King Of Cups - Arcana, Book 2

Alexander is the proprietor of a working class bar called The Rabbit Hole. One of its best features, in his opinion is the petite woman who deals cards and sometimes foresees the future.

Della is an undercover operative working for the same intelligence service as Alexander, though he's only just come to realize it. She follows her visions of the future, with her employers' encouragement, to put her in the right places at the right times to do good for the human race. Lately, the right place has been in Alex's bar and the right time is quickly approaching. It'll be a turning point, both for her personally and for the warring races of humanity and jit'suku.

When the heir to the jit'suku empire is attacked, Della and Alex race to save him. Taken aboard the alien ship, Della and Alex must deal with a series of unforeseen events which put their lives and millions of humans and jit'suku in dire jeopardy. Can they find solutions for not only their people, but for themselves and the forbidden love they discover between them?

Buy now from: Amazon, B&N, Smashwords

Both of these books are now available in ebook formats from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, ARe, Smashwords (for all other formats), and several other ebook retailers. Enjoy!

Bianca D'Arc
Come over to The D'Arc Side... www.biancadarc.com

D'Arc Side Doings...

My turn to blog again! Yay! The past month has been a busy one. I had a new novella come out a few weeks ago, the first in a new series of very hot space opera romance called KING OF SWORDS. It's available now on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and in a few other places including Smashwords, which has a choice of formats. Within the next week or so, book 2 in the novella series will be released. It's called KING OF CUPS and picks up where the first book left off.

I've also been writing a bit. Working on a new Dragon Knights book for release sometime next summer. We're planning a re-release of all the Dragon Knights books, with new covers. The first two books in the series might also be lengthened a bit and re-edited. When they were first released in print form, they were short enough to be packaged together in a single print volume, but that's proven very confusing for readers. The re-release will hopefully alleviate some of that confusion and I might finally get the really sexy covers I've been hoping for! LOL.

I'm also in the middle of edits for two paranormal stories right now. The first is a novella called THE PURRFECT STRANGER that will be released by ARe sometime around Valentine's Day. The hero is a werecougar - a cousin of Matt Redstone, a popular character from earlier in my Tales of the Were series. The heroine is a failed witch. It's a very light paranormal with a few amusing bits and a whole lot of love. I hope it will bring you some smiles on Valentine's Day. ;)

The second thing I'm working on is my April release from Samhain, titled BROTHERHOOD OF BLOOD: WOLF HILLS. It's a paranormal novel focusing on the last of the study group friends featured in the other Brotherhood stories. We're just starting the editing process now and I expect to start seeing cover art soon. I'll post it on my site as soon as it's finalized.

Other than that, I'm working on a little surprise for my blog over the 12 Days of Christmas - which technically BEGIN on December 25th. With a little luck, I'll get it together in time and we can have some fun over on my blog during the festive season between Christmas and New Year. Come on over and check it out! :)

Bianca D'Arc
Come over to The D'Arc Side... www.biancadarc.com

New Sci Fi Erotic Romance from Bianca D'Arc

It's been a while since I checked in here. I'm not really sure if this is supposed to be a blog just for the AAD convention or if we're still supposed to blog about other stuff when our day rolls around. Whatever! ;-) I got a notice to blog, so here I am! :)

I've been busy since AAD, working on new projects and celebrating a couple of new and upcoming releases. Finally! I know it's been a while since there's been new material from me. I'm glad to finally end the long dry spell.

Just lately, I've had a couple of romances in futuristic space-faring settings. First, a new novel that starts a brand new trilogy from Samhain Publishing, called HIDDEN TALENT. It released in ebook on October 25th and will be in print sometime next year. The second book in the series is titled TALENT FOR TROUBLE and the third will be called SHY TALENT. I anticipate those being released next year, but don't have exact dates yet.

HIDDEN TALENT is based on the premise that in the future, humans have developed and utilized certain kinds of psychic Talents. In some parts of the galaxy, gifted people share their strengths on a Council of those with Talent who rule over a group of planets. In other parts, people with Talent are hunted for their power. Jeri, the heroine of this story is on the run from one such place and she crosses paths with a StarLord, Micah, who is on a covert mission for the Council. He recognizes her abilities and takes her with him aboard his starship.

What happens then is an education for the shy woman who grew up very repressed by Council standards. Aboard the good ship Circe, pleasure is shared freely in pairs or multiples as a way to enhance and recharge Talent. Micah teaches her all about her abilities and how to harness them. He never bargained on falling in love with her, but there it is. They race to help an agricultural world under attack and together, they learn that they are more powerful than either one is alone.

KING OF SWORDS will be rereleased shortly in ebook formats. It is the first story in the Arcana series of novellas that ties into my Jit'suku Chronicles. Other books in the series include the Sons of Amber: Ezekiel & Michael. This story had been previously released as part of an anthology called FORTUNE'S FOOL, a couple of years ago from Phaze. That anthology is out of print now, so I'm reissuing this story in preparation for releasing the other stories in the series.

KING OF SWORDS is set in the Jit'suku universe, a few hundred years before the Sons of Amber stories. I anticipate having a number of related books set in this world, creating a generational saga that follows the consequences of human tinkering with soldiers' DNA, making them Enhanced, better than they were before and more dangerous to both races.

This particular story introduces a little bar on a space station called The Rabbit Hole, where information is passed back and forth to a network of spies working for the good of humanity. When aliens attack and try to subdue the station, it's up to a couple of retired soldiers turned spies and a clairvoyant civilian woman to repell the invaders. She teams up with one Enhanced soldier in particular. Together can they retake the station and find a love that will last for all time?

The second Arcana story is called KING OF CUPS and will be out in December. It follows the proprietor of The Rabbit Hole and his clairvoyant card dealer on an adventure into Jit'suku space. Few who have gone there have ever returned. They find themselves on an adventure of epic proportions simply by tryinig to help someone out of a jam. Trapped aboard an alien spaceship, they can no longer deny the attraction that has raged between them for months. Can they overcome their differences and find a solution to an intergalactic problem at the same time?

That takes me to the end of the year, but I have a lot more planned for 2012, so stay tuned! :)

News From Bianca D'Arc

Not sure what's going on with this blog... Admittedly, it's morphed into something the founding members (of which I am one) never anticipated, but are very happy about. Stella's found her groove, so to speak, and taken the AAD conference farther than any of us could have imagined. Still, I'm not 100% sure if this blog is supposed to be soely for the purpose of con news or if we're still supposed to talk about other stuff here on our appointed day.

Nevertheless... I received a reminder that I was supposed to blog, and therefore, I shall. I haven't been very vigilant about blogging or even answering email for the past several months, but I'm trying to change my ways and get back to the responsible blogger and correspondent I once was. Bear with me while I try...

This month, I have a new book! (Haven't been able to say THAT in a while.) I know it's been a long wait, but I'll have a brand new novel out on October 25th from Samhain. It's called HIDDEN TALENT and it's a very hot futuristic that lives up to its warnings! :)

After that, I'll have a novella out in early November called KING OF SWORDS and it's sequel, KING OF CUPS, out in early December. I'm also getting things lined up for next year, including a new paranormal novella that will release sometime around Valentine's Day or slightly before. That story features one of the Redstone cousins, a werecougar who will really make you purr. ;-)

I've got a few more tricks up my sleeve for early 2012, including a new paranormal novel from Samhain called BROTHERHOOD OF BLOOD: WOLF HILLS, which will be out in April. Will keep you posted on all of this, of course, but for now...

Here's the blurb for HIDDEN TALENT:

While on an undercover mission to gather intelligence on the neighboring collective, Micah receives the shock of his life. A shy, reclusive horse tamer who possesses a level of raw psi Talent that nearly matches his own. Along with her pure, wild Talent, her beautiful spirit and innocence rouse him to take her on a voyage of discovery to the stars -- and the limits of her own, untapped passion.

All her life, Jeri has hidden her Talent, enduring the stigma of being "odd". Once aboard the Circe, Micah and his cousin Darak, a rogue of the first order, guide her through a world where those with Talents are revered, not hunted. Where pleasure hones and strengthens psi power to undreamed-of heights. Where love is a real possibility, not a distant dream.

When a defenseless planet is besieged by the collective's armada, the Circe races to the rescue -- only to discover a missing piece of Jeri's past on the wrong side of the battle. And that combining her formidable new powers with Micah's may win the day, but cost her everything...

I'm just so glad to finally have some new material coming out. It's been a while, I know, but it takes time to get things in the "pipeline" for publication. Finally, it looks like we're moving again -- in ebooks at least. As with most Samhain titles, HIDDEN TALENT won't be in print for about 10 months or so and the novellas are ebook-only for the foreseeable future.

For more information, as always, visit my website: http://www.biancadarc.com/, or look for me on facebook or the other places I hang out. ;-) I'll be posting more news as it becomes available.

Bianca D'Arc Book News

Lots of news since I last posted here... First, the last of my military romances with zombie bad guys from Brava is coming out on July 26th. It's called DEAD ALERT and right now, for some odd reason, the print book is actually cheaper than the ebook on Amazon. Not sure why, but if you're interested in print, it's a good time to buy. LOL ;-) Here's a little bit about it:

For Emily Parkington, the thrill of flying charter planes for Praxis Air has lately been tinged with dread. Mysterious cargo flights and a high number of fatal crashes lead Emily to suspect something sinister behind the scenes. And if her new colleague is involved, Emily won’t hesitate to turn him in, in spite of Sam Archer’s sexy charm and irresistibly easy confidence.

Enemy or potential ally? Sam can’t be sure of anything where Emily is concerned, except how much he wants her. Immune to the zombie virus created through military research, Sam is working undercover to find out if Praxis is trafficking forbidden technology. It was a potentially deadly assignment even before he found himself distracted by a woman he scarcely knows. And when a “controlled” experiment goes horribly wrong, there will be no limit to the danger they both face…or how far he’s willing to go to save her…

There's more news... I have a new erotic SF trilogy starting on October 25th at Samhain Publishing. The first book is called HIDDEN TALENT and it follows the adventures of the psi Talented crew of the spy merchant ship, Circe. I'll give you a hint - pleasure shared among those with psi Talent increases and renews their power. ;-)

I'm also in the process of signing a contract for my next werewolf book that ties in with the BROTHERHOOD OF BLOOD novellas. It'll be called BROTHERHOOD OF BLOOD: WOLF HILLS. It's the story of the last of the college friends, Sally, and Jason, the werewolf Alpha we first meet in the novella PHANTOM DESIRES. A lot of people have been waiting for this book, so I'm glad to finally get it in the pipeline to get it out there for your consumption!

A few other things are happening behind the scenes that I can't quite talk about yet, but suffice to say there's a lot in store for readers of The D'Arc Side! :D Hope to see you all at the AAD conference in a few weeks. I'm certain it'll be a blast!

Bianca
Come over to The D'Arc Side... www.biancadarc.com

New Paranormal from Bianca D'Arc

My turn to blog again already? Wow. Okay... well... lots going on, as usual. Since last we spoke, I had a new release: A DARKER SHADE OF DEAD. It's the second novel in my military paranormal romance series from Kensington Brava that started with ONCE BITTEN, TWICE DEAD. There will be one more in this series, releasing sometime next year, called DEAD ALERT. I'm working on the edits for that right now and it's a heck of an adventure! (If I do say so myself.) ;-)

A DARKER SHADE OF DEAD has been getting great reviews and I'm really pleased with reader response to it. It's a little bit of a different sort of book. It's hot romance with a studly Special Forces hero and his brainy heroine going after zombie bad guys and mad scientists. Lots of adventure. Lots of fun. Not too scary, I don't think. This isn't horror, so even though you hear the word "zombie" please don't think it's full of blood and gore. It's a romance, people! LOL!

Publishers Weekly said: "Zombie fighters find love in the light, sexy sequel to April 2010's Once Bitten, Twice Dead....plenty of zombie action and steamy romance..." And Coffee Time Romance called it "...a strangely sultry and action packed read...tantalizing and mysterious." Cool, huh?

Oh, and while I'm thinking about it, I'd like to thank you all for nominating my website in the Bookie Awards. I really appreciate the nod. I put in a lot of time on my website (although I need to do some updating right now) and it's nice to know the effort is appreciated. *mwah!*

I'll be working on updates to my site as time allows. I'm also finishing edits on my last zombie book for Brava and polishing up proposals for new series. I have lots of writing to do and will be working on new books in all my series for Samhain. It'll just take a little while to get them in the pipeline for release. Hopefully next year I'll have a lot of new material coming out. I'll keep you all posted as I find out the particulars. Meanwhile, I've got a lot of work to do! :)

Bianca D'Arc
Come over to The D'Arc Side... www.biancadarc.com

Two New Releases!

I have two new books out this month... First, a novel of the dragonish kind from Samhain Publishing, which means it's hot, hot, HOT! Here's the blurb:

Their love will span the ages…and two very different worlds.

Caught in a magical storm and deposited on modern-day Earth, twin dragon princes Darius and Connor are looking for a way home. Instead they find something most unexpected—-their mate. The one woman who holds both their hearts in the palm of her healing hand-—along with secrets about her origins that link their shared destinies.

When Josie patches up the injured man on her doorstep, her snowcat instincts tell her he’s much more than a man. And so is his brother. She also knows her dragon lovers cannot fly free on Earth. The only way to return them to their rightful place is to face the failures of her past, and leave the safety of her Oregon cabin to seek her estranged grandfather’s counsel. There she learns the painful truth: returning Darius and Connor to where they belong could mean giving up everything. Even her only chance for true love.

But fate has other plans for the trio. Magic swirls all around them. Whether it is for good or ill, only time will tell...

Warning: This book contains red hot twin action ménage a trois, a wild cat woman and two hunky dragon studs in black leather.

The second new release is an anthology featuring a new zombie novella by me and two other paranormal tales - one by Erin McCarthy and one by Jennifer Lyon - just in time for the spooky time of year! Here's a little bit about it:

Meet three men without boundaries, hell-bent on satisfying their deepest desires - and those of the women who drive them wild...

The Howling by Erin McCarthy

When Liv Lugaru's boyfriend Sebastian disappears, she finds comfort in his brother's arms. But Sebastian is much closer than Liv realizes... and he'll stop at nothing to protect her from the feral danger that comes alive only when she sleeps...

Smoke On The Water by Bianca D'Arc

In the misty fog of a lakefront village, zombies are roaming wild - and zombie hunter John Petit must stop the carnage. John is also fighting a different kind of battle: a forbidden passion for his new partner, Donna. With her help, killing zombies is a walk in the park, but keeping his desire in check is making him sweat...

Redeeming The Wizard by Jennifer Lyon

Gage Remington was once a powerful wizard; now he's a recluse who keeps the world at bay. But when Mira Tate arrives at Gage's door, she stirs in him an attraction he can't deny. Soon, Gage will risk everything to keep Mira close - even the secret that may be his ruin...

Both books are available now wherever books are sold!

WARRIOR'S HEART by Bianca D'Arc Releases Today!

It's not often that my turn to blog here cooincides with one of my book releases, so today's blog will be all about the new story... and maybe a few other things too. ;-)

First, WARRIOR'S HEART releases today in ebook from Samhain Publishing. WARRIOR'S HEART is a new version of an old story by the same name that was published in 2006 by a very small publisher that has since gone out of business. So if you weren't able to get the old version, here's your chance! This new version has been spiffed up quite a bit and I'm still very proud of this tale, which was always planned to be the first in a series, but with the publisher problems it got stalled. I'm glad to say the train is back on the rails now and hopefully more of these stories will be coming soon. Now a little bit about the story...

It's a paranormal featuring a military hero. Here's the blurb:

He’s home to claim the girl he never forgot…but more than war memories have changed him.

Gifts of the Ancients, Book 1

Hal’s best-friend status with Casey’s brother always meant that the one woman he wants is strictly off limits. But now that he’s back from a harrowing mission in the ancient Iraqi city of Babylon, all bets are off. The strangely mystical experience left him and his Special Forces team with a new appreciation for life—and strange new abilities they are only beginning to understand.

Casey never thought she’d have a shot with the strong, silent Green Beret. Something about him has changed, though, and old feelings have risen up, demanding an answer. And her answer is an unequivocal yes. Now, to break the news to her brother and hope it doesn’t come to blows.

Her brother’s reaction becomes the least of her worries when Hal singlehandedly stops a car from running her down, then falls into her arms, weak from some kind of strange reaction. Whatever went down in Iraq has changed Hal and made him a target of foreign agents who’ve found his one vulnerability…Casey.

Warning: This title contains dirty talk, sweaty carpentry sex and a sexy Special Forces super hero.

Get your copy today at MyBookstoreAndMore.com

I should also mention the print book that released earlier this month. GRADY'S AWAKENING is now available in print! Here's a little bit about that book:


An alien warrior discovers what it is to love…and to share.

Resonance Mates, Book 4

Alien super soldier Grady Prime’s missions routinely lead him in unexpected directions, but his latest assignment—to kill a rogue warrior—is far beyond routine. This time he meets a woman who embroils him in an adventure of the highest order. Love.

Gina has lived among aliens so long, she’s lost her fear of them. She is undeniably attracted to Grady, even though their respective duties force them apart. Then, on a mission to a far-flung outpost, an encounter with a man from her past leaves her torn between her flaming desire for Grady, and her still-simmering love for an old flame.

Jim and his group of human dissidents live in secret, away from alien patrols. He has responsibilities, and covert operations to manage. But when Gina re-enters his life, only one thing matters—being with her.

Brought together by chance, the three form an alliance that pushes the boundaries of desire and make unexpected connections that could save the human race from alien conquerors…

Warning: This book contains red hot alien loving, ménage a trois, super sexy alien soldiers, wicked fast martial arts masters, explicit language, explicit sex and explicit love. Always love.

New in Print & Other News

INFERNO is now in print! Here's a little bit about it...

A forbidden union forged in love-and tempered in hellfire.

One last task and Megan will be free of the debt of honor owed by her family. Spying on Dante, a powerful vampire with questionable friends, sounds simple enough. But her mission is complicated by the fact she's got something every vampire wants-tangy, powerful, werewolf blood.

It's easy to capture his attention. The hard part will be getting out with her heart -- and soul -- intact. Not to mention her life, thanks to a crazed bomber.

Dante isn't the kind to forgive or forget easily, especially the grudge he holds against werewolves. Still, he is instantly drawn to the injured lone wolf in his care. When he and his friend Duncan treat her wounds, they discover something that marks her as much more than she seems.

The mark is a neon sign warning to be careful, but Dante can't help himself. He wants her and nothing will stand in his way. Not her species. Not his. Not the strange woman who keeps trying to kill him.

Not even the magical poison in Megan's blood...

Buy in Print from Amazon - Buy in Print from B&N

INFERNO is more on the erotic side, with multiple-partner scenes and very hot paranormal action. My zombie series rides the knife edge of erotic a little more and seems to be winning readers over. Yes, it's true, zombies make excellent bad guys! Look out for my most recent zombie/military paranormal romance novel, ONCE BITTEN, TWICE DEAD in a bookstore near you!

Hard Times & Good Reviews

My turn to blog again... Lately things have been rough for me. I'm writing on deadline and am way behind because of some challenging personal issues I've been facing. As some of you know, my beloved mother died about a month and a half ago. the wound is still raw and I doubt it will ever heal completely. Until it happened to me, I never really understood what grief was all about. I wish I was still so naive.

I'm working on catching up with my writing schedule but it's slow going. The good news is that my new military paranormal zombie romance series has been getting great reviews and seems to be doing well. That's a huge relief to me. I really wasn't sure if romance readers could get past the whole decomposing zombie thing to enjoy the romance part. ;-)

RT Book Reviews Magazine said about HALF PAST DEAD: "These zombie stories stand out in a genre dominated by vampires....D'Arc delivers a creepy and pulse-pounding story of danger."

And they had this to say about ONCE BITTEN, TWICE DEAD: "D'Arc deftly blends horror, romance and action for a thrilling, sexy tale."

ONCE BITTEN, TWICE DEAD comes out officially on March 1st, but it looks like it'll beging shipping from Amazon on February 23rd. :)

I've been really fortunate with some great reviews of late, including this last one from RT about my latest print compilation, BROTHERHOOD OF BLOOD: "These vampire tales can stand alone, yet cleverly intertwine the lives of the characters...Each one entertains with drama, tender romance and erotic sex scenes."

I have a lot of print titles coming out this year and little energy to keep up with all the promotion I should probably be doing, unfortunately. With any luck, things will start to settle down soon. I have a feeling my depression and new appreciation for the realities of suffering will be affecting my writing. It'll be interesting to see how I might grow as a writer as a result of this devestating experience.

It's one of the few potentially good things that might come out of this experience. I've been trying to find the silver lining to all of this and it's really, really hard. Meanwhile, I just keep trying to live one day at a time. Thanks to all of you who've taken time to write to me. Your support through this awful time means more than I can say.

Life, Death & New Books

I've been having a rough time lately. Some of you might know that my Mom was diagnosed with cancer in October '09. She died two days before Christmas and I've been in a fog ever since. My Mom and I were closer than most mothers and daughters. We went to graduate school together and even worked together from time to time. She traveled everywhere with me and vice versa. We had a lot of fun and I never expected her to leave me this soon. It came as a total shock.

Now I'm trying to figure out how to carry on. My life didn't just stop. I have contractul obligations to fulfill and books that are coming out whether I have the time or energy to promote them or not. So let me take a stab at telling you what's been going on in my writing life the past few weeks...

HALF PAST DEAD came out at the beginning of the month and seems to be doing well, though it's too early to really know for sure. If you haven't gotten your copy yet, please look for it in your local bookstore. The 2-author anthology contains the first in my military-paranormal (zombie) stories, called SIMON SAYS. The first novel in the series will be out in March and is called ONCE BITTEN, TWICE DEAD.

On the ebook front, CAT'S CRADLE just came out and will be in print at the end of this year. It's the first in a planned trilogy of big cat shifter stories and you can get it at most ebook sales sites right now or at MBAM.

Here's to a better 2010 for us all.

Mixing Things Up...

Dragons are perhaps my favorite characters to write. Why? They're playful, smart, strong and sort of mysterious. At least my dragons are. Then there are the dragon shapeshifters. My dragon princes are half human/half dragon. They've got all the cunning and power of the dragon and Alpha maleness to the Nth degree. Hubba hubba. ;-)

As it happens, I have a new dragon book coming out in ebook formats on the 17th. It's called DRAGON STORM and it's not only a fantastical visit to my dragon world, but it's also a dimension-travel tale that brings twin dragon princes to our modern world where they meet their destined mate (yes, it's a very naughty menage!) and bring her back to their medieval-ish world. Yes, I'm really mixing it up in this book! It will be in print from Samhain Publishing sometime next year.

But I've got something even more daring coming at the end of next month. Zombies. Yep, I said zombies! Not a word you'd normally associate with romance, but like I said, I really like to mix things up. ;-) I'll post more about it next time, but keep an eye out for a duology called HALF PAST DEAD from Kensington Brava. It's my first-ever release from a big "NY" publisher and it contains the novella that will launch a series of military paranormal romances I'm calling Guardians of the Dark.

The first novel in the series will release in March, titled ONCE BITTEN, TWICE DEAD. The heroes in the series are all special ops military dudes and their task is to fight the zombies alongside some cool women who come into their lives. The heroine of the first novella is a Navy doctor. The heroine of the first novel is a county cop. There will be at least three more of these stories - one more novella that will release later in 2010 and two more novels.

Zombies may not sound sexy, but believe me, the men who fight them are super hot. *fanning self* When I was asked to write about zombies, my first thought was "Huh?" But then I thought about it a bit and I realized it was the next logical step for the paranormal genre. It pushes the boundaries, which is something I'm used to doing and it was definitely a challenge. Hopefully you'll like the mix of menacing zombies and heroic protagonists who are tasked with saving us all. I wouldn't call these books "horror" but they definitely have some suspenseful moments here and there, in between a whole lotta romance.

I can't wait to hear what you all think of not only the zombies, but my latest dragon adventure. Have I gone too far mixing things up yet? LOL.

Life & New Covers

Gonna keep this short and sweet. My mom is ill and will be having surgery toward the end of the month so any good vibes, thoughts and prayers would be greatly appreciated! The docs aren't really sure at this point what's wrong with her but they seem to be trying to rule out cancer, so as you might guess, the whole family is distraught. My parents are staying with me for the duration because my house is near a very fine hospital, thank goodness.

Needless to say, I'm not getting much new writing done at all. At this point, I'm treading water, just trying to meet my editing/proofing deadlines and such. Once my emotions begin to settle down, perhaps I'll be able to write again. Wish me luck. ;-)

And now for some happy stuff... I've got some new covers! It's for my next dragon book, titled DRAGON STORM, which will be out in ebook formats on November 17th from Samhain.

I also have the most awesome cover EVER, from Kensington Brava for my first big-time, NY-published novel, ONCE BITTEN, TWICE DEAD, which will be officially released in March 2010, but is already available for pre-order from Amazon (and a few other places). How cool is that cover? I LOVE it!!! :) Thank you, cover gods!!!

I've also spent a little time working on my website the past few days. (It's mindless work that I can do while I sit with my Mom.) I've updated most of the splash pages (the individual indexes to each sub-section of the site) and added new buttons for all sorts of online booksellers on my homepage side bar. It might be getting a little too complicated at this point, so if you have any troubles loading it, please let me know. It's hard to find the right balance between too much and not enough. ;-) Until next time...

New Books from Bianca D'Arc

I've got two new releases this month! First, GRADY'S AWAKENING will be debuting on August 18th from Samhain Publishing.

It's the story of Grady Prime, an alien super soldier who is beginning to learn what it means to be human. The story brings him together with Gina, a martial arts champion and spy, and her other true mate, Jim, the leader of a ragtag band of human survivors. Together, the three of them figure out how to live and love in the post-apocalyptic world where only the strong survive. You can read an excerpt online by clicking here.

Then I have another menage story coming out later this month. It's a short story that will hopefully be the start of a new series. It's called TAG TEAM and it will be released by Total-E-Bound on August 24th.

TAG TEAM is the first of my Gemini Project stories. The Gemini Project is an experiment to produce psychically enhanced warriors, who are able to share their thoughts in teams of two. They are invaluable as special operators, but what happens when they fall in love?

Check them out if you get a chance! I'm also happy to show off the cover for my first Kensington Brava release, a 2-author anthology called HALF PAST DEAD, coming in January 2010. Isn't the cover awesome?

My story in the anthology is called SIMON SAYS and it features a military hero battling a medical experiment run amok. Zombies are attacking people in the woods near a military base and it's up to Simon and his ex-girlfriend, a Navy doctor, to stop the killing and bring the situation under control. Of course, they didn't count on falling in love along the way...

I'm busy writing my first full-length zombie novel right now. It should be out in March 2010 from Kensington Brava. More news on that as it becomes available. In the meantime, I hope you enjoy the new books this month! And don't forget to check out the contest we're holding for an ebook reader. Details are on my blog.

Bianca Makes the Big Time

Well, in the publishing industry, getting a "New York" contract is a big deal. I got the contract, but somehow it didn't feel real until I saw the first cover for my upcoming Kensington Brava release, HALF PAST DEAD. The book is an anthology containing two stories - my military paranormal called SIMON SAYS and an historical paranormal by Zoe Archer. Both stories features zombies in some way. Here's the blurb from the back of this gorgeous cover:


Special Forces soldier Simon Blackwell ended his affair with Mariana Daniels three years ago, but he hasn’t stopped protecting her. Mariana has no knowledge of the dark, deadly creatures that lurk in the forest surrounding her clinic, or of the mysterious powers that make Simon the only one who can defeat them. But soon he’ll have no choice but to reveal the truth, and urge her to trust in an explosive passion that never faded….


The book is slated to be out on December 29th of this year. Now I can't wait to see what they come up with for my first solo novel with Brava, ONCE BITTEN, TWICE DEAD, scheduled for release in March 2010.


In other paranormal news, INFERNO is now out in ebook. It's a cross-over vamp/were story with a little fey magic thrown in. There are some very naughty bits in this love story that follows the path of Dante d'Angleterre, a vampire we first meet in another of my paranormal books, LORDS OF THE WERE. In that book, Dante starts out as a bad guy with questionable motivation. We learn more about what makes him tick in INFERNO and are introduced to the werewolf girl who's been sent to spy on him.


It's a real action/adventure kind of tale complete with a vampire ball, selkie shifters who are also Navy SEALs (get it? LOL) and a whole lot of very hot lovin' - some scenes with multiple partners. Hey, what can I say? This is one of the more wicked Bianca D'Arc books. LOL!


If you're interested in any or all of the above, check INFERNO out from Samhain Publishing at MyBookstoreAndMore.

Mountains, Windmills & Rain

I've been traveling since the beginning of June from one end of the country to the other. I absolutely LOVE road trips, though I don't often get a chance to do things like this anymore. I've seen all kinds of mountains and vegetation, from scrub and tumbleweeds to giant pine trees. At the left is a picture I took out the window of my vehicle as we drove along, somewhere in Wyoming, I believe. One thing that was new was the sheer number of windmills in the midwest and mountains. They're everywhere! I like it.

I also got to see oversized trucks carrying one propeller blade at a time to where they're building even more giant windmills. One thing that really impressed me is the sheer size of these windmills. From a distance they really don't look as big as they are. When you consider that just one propeller blade is WAAAAAY longer than a normal 18-wheeler truck bed, and then realize there are three of these stupendously long blades on each windmill... well, these things are gi-normous!

Driving is fun but I'll be glad when this trip winds down. I've got books to write and two new releases - one in print and one in ebook - this month. So check out JACI'S EXPERIMENT in print this week in a bookstore near you, and my latest paranormal, INFERNO, in ebook on June 30th.

Oh, and I forgot to mention the rain! We had fun racing in between the raindrops in the midwest. One thing this suburbanite can't get over is the fact that you can SEE weather coming miles and miles away. It's really amazing stuff! I'm observing a lot that will probably show up in a book of mine at some point. LOL. Fun stuff! And it proves a point I made in my recent Samhellion newsletter article - writers never really go on vacation. We're always observing and learning, filing away experiences to use in our work! :)

Signings, News & New Releases!

I'm gearing up to spend tomorrow, Saturday, May 16th, with two of my favorite AAD peeps - Jacki and Stella - at a signing at the Middletown, NY Borders. Cat Johnson, Tilly Greene, Allie Boniface and Philippa Grey-Gerou will also be there, so it's sure to be a fun time! Come down and see us if you're in the area. We'll be there from 2-6pm.

I also have some news. Looks like I'll be writing for Kensington! I've been offered a spot in an upcoming anthology. The book will feature two stories - one by me and one by the lovely and talented Zoe Archer. The kicker? Both of the stories features zombies! Yes, you heard that right. Zombie romance stories.

In my case, my hero is not a zombie. He's the spec ops warrior they call in to hunt the zombies. ;-) So my story is set in the contemporary world. Zoe's is an historical zombie romance. Cool, huh? The anthology will be coming out from Kensington's Brava line in January 2010. When I know more, I'll be sure to pass it on.

In the meantime, I'd like to mention my new releases. First, in print, we have Jaci's Experiment. It's part of my futuristic menage Resonance Mates series and it seems to be available now on Amazon. (Though technically, it wasn't supposed to be out until June. Oh, well.) Here's a little bit about it:

Love... the grandest experiment of all.

As a young Alvian lab tech, Jaci knows her place in the orderly, emotionless society her race has established on the planet Earth. While preparing a batch of experimental skin patches, she is accidentally exposed to a gene-altering agent. In a matter of days, she's assaulted with raw, primitive, forbidden emotions she has no clue how to handle. If her superiors find out, she's a dead woman. Her only hope is to seek help from the human test subjects held captive in pens below the city.

Before the aliens came, cousins Mike and Dave used their psychic abilities to their advantage in business dealings. Now they use them to stay alive, keeping a sharp telepathic eye out for ways to help themselves and others improve their lot.or escape. Their friendship with Jaci has always been more than simply captives and caretaker. Now that her DNA has changed, their shared resonance is the stuff of legend. Inevitably, Jaci's emotions expose her to deadly Alvian justice. Suddenly she's in the race of her life, seeking the only safety she's ever known... in the arms of her human Resonance Mates.

Next, I'd like to share a little about my upcoming ebook title, Inferno. This book will be available in print in 2010, but you can read the ebook version on June 30th. It's the long-awaited sequel to Lords of the Were and tells the vampire Dante's story.

Don't you just love that cover? It's another Anne Cain masterpiece! The story is mostly a menage, though it ends up as a devoted m/f couple at the conclusion, so be forewarned. It picks up where Lords of the Were ended, following Dante and the fey knight Duncan's progress. They've gone to New York to enjoy some nightlife and then a lone wolf bitch enters their sphere.

She's been sent to spy on Dante, but even more foul attempts to kill him are afoot. When hellfire and magefire start flying in their direction, the three must work together to stave off evil from entering this realm.

The book will be out in eformats from Samhain Publishing on June 30th. For more information as it becomes available and to read the full blurb, visit my website at www.biancadarc.com.

Until next time,
Bianca

RT, New Releases & New Sales

RT is next week and for those of you who plan to be there, be sure to look for all of the Authors After Dark. We've got a little shindig planned for Club RT and goody bags galore! I'm also moderating the Demons Unplugged panel with a bunch of the AAD sisterhood and we'll have special goodies to give away at that as well.

For those of you who aren't going to RT, you can be part of the event in a way... I plan to collect some goodies at the conference and make up little prize packages that I'll give away on my blog after I get home. So remember to take a look the last week in April for your chance to win.

Other than convention plans, I've have a few news items to report. First, FireDrake is now in pint! Here's a taste:

Drake faces his estranged family and the dragon he left behind. He finds more than even he bargains for when a young prince is kidnapped and it's up to Drake, his childhood friend and rival, Mace, a warrior woman named Krysta, and two young dragons to track him down. Saving the prince will restore Drake's family honor, but it could also bond him with the dragoness, her mate, and the lovely Jinn warrior woman who loves them all. Dare he take the chance?

Second, Phantom Desires was just released in ebook formats. It's the third in my vampire novella series and all three of the stories, One & Only, Rare Vintage and Phantom Desires, will go into a single print volume sometime early next year. Here's the tagline for Phantom Desires:

This time, the creature under the basement is real. And dead sexy.

Cool, huh? ;-) Yet, it sums up the book really, really well! LOL!

Now for new sales - I just signed the contract for Grady's Awakening, book 4 in my Resonance Mates series. It'll be out in ebook later this summer and in print next year. I also got a verbal okay on a new series of military/psychic/menage (m/f/m) stories I'm calling the Gemini Project. More news on that as it becomes available.

For now, I'm looking forward to getting the cover art for my next release, Inferno. The sequel to Lords of the Were will release in ebook on June 30th (next year in print). Here's the blurb for it:

A forbidden union forged in love-and tempered in hellfire.

One last task and Megan will be free of the debt of honor owed by her family. Spying on Dante, a powerful vampire with questionable friends, sounds simple enough. But her mission is complicated by the fact she's got something every vampire wants-tangy, powerful, werewolf blood.

It's easy to capture his attention. The hard part will be getting out with her heart -- and soul -- intact. Not to mention her life, thanks to a crazed bomber.

Dante isn't the kind to forgive or forget easily, especially the grudge he holds against werewolves. Still, he is instantly drawn to the injured lone wolf in his care. When he and his friend Duncan treat her wounds, they discover something that marks her as much more than she seems.

The mark is a neon sign warning to be careful, but Dante can't help himself. He wants her and nothing will stand in his way. Not her species. Not his. Not the strange woman who keeps trying to kill him.

Not even the magical poison in Megan's blood...

Until next time,
Bianca
Come over to The D'Arc Side... http://www.biancadarc.com/

FireDrake in Print This Month

Okay - I'm changing this blog from what I had up first because it was too damned depressing. Sorry. I will try to be upbeat now.

Life is good.

Just keep saying that.

I suppose life is good for me this month considering FireDrake will be out in print at the end of the month. It's already hit some of the genre best seller lists on Amazon, which is amazing to me. So here's a little info about the book...

A knight most unexpected…

Fifteen years ago, Drake left everything behind for a life in the shadows. While it broke his heart to leave his grieving dragon behind, serving Draconia as head of a network of spies suited him better. Far better than never quite measuring up to Mace, the “perfect” knight his father wished he could have been.

Mace has always done his duty, and done it well. Drake, his childhood friend and rival, was the charmer who effortlessly stole every woman who caught Mace’s eye. Some things never change—not one day back in town, and Drake’s already putting the moves on Krysta, the woman Mace has been courting.

And now the three of them have taken on the dangerous task of rescuing a kidnapped prince.
With each day that passes on their perilous journey, Krysta sinks deeper into the complicated relationship between the two men and their meddling, matchmaking dragons. Mace is clearly the safer choice for a mate; yet Drake tantalizes her with that unpredictable gleam in his eye. When the three of them come together, any sense of torn loyalty burns away in nights of fiery passion.
The safety of the stolen prince hanging in the balance, Krysta accepts the challenge to unite two strong men—and their dragons—into a real family.

If the fire within doesn’t burn them all to cinders first.

Warning: This title contains explicit sex, graphic language, ménage a trois, and hot dragon mating flights.

Pre-Order FireDrake from Amazon