biancadarc.com Blog

When Old Ideas Turn Into New Books

* This blog was first seen on the Beyond the Veil blog yesterday.

The book I’m finalizing at the moment – Tales of the Were: Grif – started off as an idea way back in 2005 or so. I wrote a good portion of it – probably somewhere around 30,000 words or more - and then let it sit while I did other things.

Maybe I got “stuck”. Maybe I just got busy with dragons or aliens or whatever. I can’t really recall anymore. Suffice to say, the book sat. And sat. And SAT. Unloved. Unfinished. Unfortunate.

But always in the back of my mind, there were these characters and this situation. A werecougar Alpha who had just sustained terrible loss in his family, and his little sister, both seeking the solace of the mountains to try to heal. And a woman. A human who knew about shapeshifters, who had a debt of family honor to settle.

I wrote about them in other books. I used members of the werecougar family in other stories, all the while knowing there was this older brother out there and all this tragedy in the family’s past. I knew these people. I wanted so badly to finish their story, but after so much time had passed, I really wasn’t sure how to go about it.

Then, last Christmas, I started self-publishing some of my paranormal stories. The first was Tales of the Were: Rocky, a novella I had written for an anthology call years before. The story was ultimately turned down and my editor at the time wanted me to expand it into a novel. I never quite got around to it before that editor left and I had this great story sitting on my hard drive for years.

I finally polished it up and added to it. I turned it into the story I had really wanted to write originally, but was constrained by the terms of the anthology call to change. I gave Rocky new life and sent him out there, into the world, to see what people might think of my werebear creation.

The response was like nothing I ever expected.

I had figured on just self-publishing the story for my own enjoyment. And maybe for those few, die-hard fans who might like to know where Rocky – a character who had a bit of a cameo role in my book Lords of the Were - had come from and what had happened to him after we first meet him in Lords.

Rocky’s book led to a new character. A mysterious shifter named Slade. I was enchanted by him and wanted to know more about him. I sat down and wrote his story in January and February, then published it in March of this year as Tales of the Were: Slade. He was an entirely new character who had come from that “old” book about Rocky.

And then I started to realize how I might circle back around to Griffon Redstone – the werecougar Alpha I had started to write about so many years ago. I finally understood how and where his story fit in among the others I had been writing all this time. Not only that, but I realized where his brothers’ stories fit as well.

And now I’ve started work on a 5-book sub-series of werecougar tales revolving around the Redstone Clan of cougar shifters. The first story – the one I started work on all those years ago – will be out later this month and is called Tales of the Were: Grif (Redstone Clan #1). I know that’s a bit of a mouthful, but I’m not sure how else to clarify that this story fits firmly under the Tales of the Were series, but is part of its own little sub-series of 5 stories – one for each brother in the Redstone family.

The first book is, of course, about Grif, the eldest of the five brothers. It is the same story I began so long ago, but I finally know how to end it! There will be other books, later this year, for Mag and his vampire mate, Steve, Bobcat, and the ever-popular Matt, who was also featured in my book Sweeter Than Wine.

It’s been a long time coming, but I feel like I’m finally on the track to fulfilling the promise of that story I began writing so long ago. The old idea is new and the “new” ideas that helped me finally finish this story have made it blossom into something I never really expected. I hope you’ll enjoy the ride as much as I will!

Tales of the Were: Grif will be releasing in ebook in late May on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Smashwords. It will release in print in June. Look for it to arrive on iTunes, Kobo, and other fine ebook and print retail sites mid-June. For more information, please visit www.biancadarc.com.

Blurb for Tales of the Were: Grif

Just finalized the long version of the blurb for my upcoming book, Tales of the Were: Grif. The book will be out around May 27th. I know I saw a date of May 1st on Goodreads somewhere, but I have no idea where that came from, since I’d been at the RT Convention from April 30th-May 5th. I wouldn’t have scheduled anything to come out while I was away. Sorry for that mistake, though I’m still scratching my head over that one. Meanwhile, here’s the blurb…

Tales of the Were
Grif
Redstone Clan #1

Griffon Redstone is the eldest of five brothers and the leader of one of the most influential shifter Clans in North America. He seeks solace in the mountains, away from the horrific events of the past months, for both himself and his young sister. The deaths of their older sister and mother have hit them both very hard.

Lindsey Tate is human, but very aware of the werewolf Pack that lives near her grandfather’s old cabin. She’s come to right a wrong her grandfather committed against the Pack and salvage what’s left of her family’s honor – if the wolves will let her. Mostly, they seem intent on running her out of town on a rail.

But the golden haired stranger, Grif, comes to her rescue more than once. He stands up for her against the wolf Pack and then helps her fix the old generator at the cabin, making it habitable for her while she completes her task. He’s friendly and all too attractive, but she has a job to do, regardless of the cost to herself or her budding relationship with the local handyman.

When she performs the ceremony she expects will end in her death, the shifter deity has other ideas and turns the tables on them all. Grif’s dual nature is revealed and Lindsey learns there is much more going on than she thought.

Thrown together by fate, neither of them can deny the deep and true attraction between them. They come together, but in the end will an old enemy rip them apart?

Warning: Cats are frisky and they get up to all sorts of naughtiness, including a frenzy-induced multi-partner situation that might be a little intense for some readers. You have been warned.

For more information and links (when they become available), check out Grif’s page on my website.

Guest: Mari Carr & Lila Dubois – New Book!

The Trinity Masters series continues! What do you get when you put a virgin scientist, a billionaire and an FBI agent together in a bedroom? Read Primal Passion to find out!

Primal Passion

Trinity Masters, book 2

There is passion and power in three…

Deni Parker thinks she’s got it all figured out. At the cutting edge of science, she has little time for anything but work. Luckily she doesn’t have to bother with dating because she’s a member of the Trinity Masters – a secret society that has not only helped her career, but which will identify the two people she’ll spend the rest of her life with in an arranged menage marriage. When her invitation to the introduction ceremony is delivered – years ahead of what she expected – by the very intimidating, and far too handsome, Price Bennett, Deni’s more than a little unprepared.

Price didn’t join the Trinity Masters to play messenger. As CEO of a major security firm and heir to one of the largest fortunes in the world, he’s annoyed when the Grand Master orders him to transport the disorganized, virgin scientist to the ceremony to meet her partners. It’s only when they arrive that Price realizes he isn’t a messenger – he’s been matched with Deni.

FBI Agent Gunner Wells has been in love with Deni for years, but he’s resisted giving in to his attraction. When he arrives at his introduction ceremony, he’s delighted to discover Deni is not only a member of the secret society, but one of his partners… along with billionaire playboy, Price Bennett.

Their strong personalities clash – in the bedroom and out of it – but Price and Gunner have to put aside their overprotectiveness, and Deni must put aside her pride, when someone tries to stop her research – with deadly methods.

Primal Passion is available at Smashwords, Amazon, Barnes and Noble and ARe.

Back from RT

Well, I’m back home and had a wonderful time at the big RT Booklovers Convention, held this year in Kansas City, MO. Here’s a little recap of the highlights of my trip, day by day:

Tuesday – I arrived and settled in, then joined a group who were heading toward the restaurant where the Aussie dinner was being held. Someone decided to try to walk it, but apparently had the wrong directions. After a forced march up a giant hill, we all turned around and headed back. I realized we were right near the hotel and I took matters into my own hands and jumped in one of the many taxis lined up, just waiting to take someone somewhere. Good thing too! Some of that group STILL tried to walk it and ended up finding the restaurant about 30 minutes later. LOL!

Wednesday – The first official day of the convention. We did a great “Sexy Madlibs” panel designed for readers, where we took our blurbs and made them into madlibs. I LOVED some of the super creative words the attendees came up with. Hilarious!!! The EC disco dance party was that night and since quite a few of my friends write for EC, they dressed up in absolutely hilarious disco gear! Here’s a shot of Lila Dubois and her husband… Check out that fro, man!

Thursday – The highlight of the day was the Ebook Expo where we sat and “signed” for a couple of hours. As in past years, the whole ebook aspect of the event was a little confusing, but I had brought some things to sign and lots of swag to give out, so I had a great time. I actually created a special flyer just for this event that had every one of my book covers in thumbnail size, separated by series and listed in order. I might try to scan it and put it up somewhere since everyone seemed to find it very helpful. Will have to give that some more thought. Thursday night was also the formal dinner ball. It was a nice affair and after, we all hung out and chatted for a couple of hours, which is always the highlight of any convention for me – the talking and getting to know people you otherwise would only interact with online.

(This photo, which is from after the ball, has a mix of authors and readers. Mostly it’s the International Heat gang – Jess Dee, Valerie Tibbs, Lila Dubois, Rhian Cahill, Lexxie Couper and Mari Carr.)

Friday – This was my “business” day, more or less. I led a panel on contract clauses that was super fun and informative (if I do say so myself!). My friend, Caridad Pinero and Lindsey Faber from my main publisher, Samhain were on the panel, as well as Treva Harte from Loose ID, who I have enjoyed speaking with on several occasions. Since Caridad, Treva and I are lawyers, we were able to discuss the potentially problematic clauses, in general, and answer many questions from the attendees who all seemed very interested. I’m so glad we were able to get this panel together and many thanks to Caridad, Lindsey and Treva for doing it!

I also had dinner with my publisher and fellow authors, Delilah Devlin and Myla Jackson (aka Elle James) on Friday night, which was a big deal for me because she chose to go to a restaurant called “Lidia’s”. I didn’t realize until we got there that this was the Lidia’s of “Lidia’s Italy” fame. If you haven’t seen it, Lidia’s Italy is a cooking show that goes way beyond just the cooking and actually takes you on a tour of the region of Italy she is specializing in on that particular show. This was super special to me because my Mom and I used to watch that show on PBS and I even bought her some of the cookbooks as a gift the year before Mom passed away. It was something we shared and both enjoyed and the fact that of all the restaurants in all of Kansas City, we happened to end up in that one… well… I don’t believe in coincidences. I think that was Mom saying “hi”. A little wink from heaven, if you will. And the food was incredible!

Saturday – The big highlight of Saturday was the Giant Book Fair. It was in a larger hall this year, which I thought was a very good thing. In previous years, when we were more squished together, the readers had a heck of a time navigating the aisles. This year, they were able to walk mostly freely, I think, so there was a lot less frustration. I signed lots and lots of books, which is always fun and got to chat with a lot of folks. It was also Fan Day, which meant there was a party that evening. The instructions weren’t real clear to me on what that party was all about, but I was glad I’d sent a few dozen copies of Rocky and Slade ahead. I was able to give them out at the Fan Day party and I hope they got into the hands of fans who will enjoy them!

Now for the whiny bits – I guess I ain’t a young as I used to be and my back started to spasm on Friday morning. I have NEVER had spasms before and now I finally understand what all the fuss is about. Holy cow!!! But my kind friends got me some pain relievers and those Therma Care heat pads and I was able to soldier on – moving very gingerly. LOL. And now that I’m home… well… I’m sick as a DAWG. I caught the “con crud” and have a nasty cold. So I’m resting and drinking lots of juice. Hopefully I’ll be better in a couple of days.

All in all, what a great con!!! I was so happy to see everyone!!! And now I’m going back to bed.

How Many?

My friend, Mari Carr, sort of inspired me to try to figure out how many books I’ve had published. See, she’s celebrating her 50th story being released. Can you believe that? 50!

I don’t think I’m up to that kind of number, but I’m probably somewhere in the 20′s. Let’s do the math, in series order…

Dragon Knights

1. Maiden Flight (1st published in 2006 - reissued in 2012)

2. Border Lair (1st published in 2006 - reissued in 2012)

3. The Ice Dragon (1st published in 2006 - reissued in 2012)

4. Prince of Spies (1st published in 2007 - reissued in 2012)

5. Wings of Change (in print in the I Dream of Dragons anthology)

6. FireDrake (1st published in 2008 - reissued in 2012)

7. Dragon Storm (1st published in 2009 - reissued in 2012)

8. Keeper of the Flame

- The Dragon Healer (isn’t out yet, so I won’t count it)

- Master at Arms (isn’t out yet, so I won’t count it)

Brotherhood of Blood

9. One & Only (1st published in 2006 as a short story – expanded to novella and reissued in 2008)

10. Rare Vintage (1st published in 2006 – reissued in 2009)

11. Phantom Desires (1st published in 2007 – reissued in 2009)

12. Sweeter Than Wine

13. Forever Valentine (in print in the Caught By Cupid anthology)

14. Wolf Hills

- Wolf Quest (not out yet, so I won’t count it)

Tales of the Were

15. Lords of the Were

16. Inferno

17. The Purrfect Stranger

18. Rocky

19. Slade

20. Grif (not out yet, so I won’t count it)

Jit’Suku Chronicles: Arcana

21. King of Swords

22. King of Cups

23. King of Clubs

- King of Stars (not out yet, so I won’t count it)

24. End of the Line (in print in The Mammoth Book of Futuristic Romance)

Jit’Suku Chronicles: Sons of Amber

25. Ezekiel

26. Michael

Resonance Mates

27. Hara’s Legacy

28. Davin’s Quest

29. Jaci’s Experiment

30. Grady’s Awakening

- Harry’s Sacrifice (not out yet)

StarLords

31. Hidden Talent

- Talent for Trouble (not out yet)

- Shy Talent (not out yet)

String of Fate

32. Cat’s Cradle

- King’s Throne (not out yet)

- Jacob’s Ladder (not out yet)

Gemini Project

33. Tag Team

34. Perfect (currently out of print – will be reissued later this year)

Gift of the Ancients

35. Warrior’s Heart (1st published in 2007 – reissued in 2010)

Guardians of the Dark

36. Simon Says (in the Half Past Dead anthology)

37. Once Bitten, Twice Dead

38. Smoke on the Water (in The Beast Within anthology)

39. A Darker Shade of Dead

40. Dead Alert

Holy smokes! That’s 40! I seriously had no idea I had that many stories out. And if I’m counting correctly, I expect to have at least 5 more out this year – probably more than that. And several of the ones marked as “not out yet” are in the works for publication next year. So it looks like I’ll hit that 50 milestone within the next year or two. Wow!

Thanks for indulging me as I took the time to add things up! And as always, visit www.biancadarc.com for more info on any of these titles.

Excerpt – Tales of the Were: Slade

Here’s an excerpt from my most recent book… Enjoy!

The fate of all shifters rests on his broad shoulders, but all he can think of is her.

Slade is a mystery. A warrior and spy who serves two masters – those in the human world and the Lords of the Were. They’ve sent him to Nevada to track a brutal murderer before the existence of all shifters is revealed to a world not ready to know.

Kate is a priestess serving the Goddess and the large community of shifters that have gathered around the Redstone cougars. When their matriarch is murdered and the scene poluted by dark magics, she knows she must help the enigmatic man sent to track the killer.

Together, Slade and Kate find not one but two evil mages that they alone can neutralize. It’s a tricky situation because Slade finds it hard to keep his hands off his sexy new partner, the cougars are out for blood, and the killers have an even more sinister plan in mind.

Can Kate somehow keep her hands to herself when the most attractive man she’s ever met makes her want to throw caution to the wind? And can Slade do his job and save the situation when he’s finally found a woman who can make him purr?

Excerpt: Slade
Copyright 2013 Bianca D’Arc. All Rights Reserved.

PROLOGUE

Nevada

The Priestess raised her arms to the morning sun and gave thanks to the Lady she served for the good friends she’d found in this new shifter community. Kate had been on her own too long. It was good to find welcome among the odd collection of shifters of all species. They were quickly becoming close friends, even if she lacked the fur to run with them when the moon was full-or any other time they wanted to prowl the desert.

The day had dawned clear, the desert wind softly blowing tiny bits of sand around her feet as she performed her ritual, calling on the magic that was hers by gift of the Goddess she served. It was a cleansing ritual, meant to purify the land surrounding the small house she’d been given to live in by the Alpha. Griffon was a good Alpha, watching out for all his people-the cougars of his immediate Clan, as well as the large numbers of shifters that worked for him. He treated them all like family and made sure they had nice homes and good pay for the work they did.

Kate felt the energies rising at her call. The rhythm of the desert was new to her, but she liked it. Life was so much closer to the edge of survival here in the unforgiving wild lands, even if they were slowly being tamed by the human sprawl only a few miles away.

Regular people couldn’t really feel the magic all around them, and she could only guess at what the shifters could sense. What she wouldn’t give to know what they knew.

But that was not her path. She served the Light and helped the Lady’s followers wherever she could. That was her mission and her duty in the life she had forged for herself. It had been a long, strange path that had led her here, but she liked the life she was creating among the cougars and wolves, bears and raptors who had gathered around Griffon Redstone.

She felt the energy rise and welcome her to the neighborhood, as it were. The energy of the land and the shifters who lived there. The power of Mother Earth. Welcoming. Sacred. Alarmed?

Something shifted in the energy of the Earth. A sudden change from good to…evil? There was no evil inherent in the area. Kate had checked. Visiting evil then. Someone – or something – intent on doing something bad. Serving the dark. Not the Light.

She needed to…

A sudden crescendo of power caught her unaware. Kate doubled over in pain as her magical senses took a blow she was totally unprepared for. A pulse of evil power so intense, it almost blacked her out.

She’d let down her shields to touch the heart of Mother Earth and been caught off guard. She’d been foolish to think that nothing could harm her-or anyone – in a development full of shifters.

Something bad was out there. Something that had just killed.

Oh, dear Goddess.

Montana

“There’s been some trouble at the Redstone homestead,” Rafe announced as soon as Slade walked into the office the Lords shared. Rafe and his twin brother, Tim, were standing behind their desks, clearly agitated.

“What kind of trouble?” Slade asked, stopping to shut the door behind him. From the looks on their faces, he could already tell the news was not going to be good.

“Bad trouble,” Tim growled.

“Someone killed the matriarch of the Redstone Clan.” Rafe paused, his eyes narrowing to steely slits. “She was skinned.”

Slade said nothing but the growl that rose in his chest could not be denied. He was both sickened and angered at the thought of what had happened to that poor woman. It was desecration. Defilement at the most basic level.

The Redstone Clan was one of the most prominent bands of cougar shifters in North America. They also ran a huge construction company with nationwide reach that employed many, many shifters of all kinds. They treated their people well and had the highest standards of both services and protections for their employees. The shifters who worked for them were free to be themselves-to use their preternatural strength and skill without fear of betraying exactly what they were to the human world.

Redstone Construction was a place where shifters could be shifters. They could use their skills without fear of discovery, and were paid well-and treated well-for it. The Redstones were beloved in the community and it was abhorrent to think someone would treat the family-especially the dearly loved matriarch-in such a way.

Skinning a shifter was the highest insult. The most disgusting desecration. It was evil. Pure and simple.

“You want me to hunt the killer?” Slade asked, unable to control the gruffness of his voice. His inner cat wanted to rend and tear. To kill those who would treat a female so brutally.

“Yes,” Tim answered.

“As you can imagine, the Alpha is beside himself,” Rafe explained further. “He’s just lost his mother and the entire extended Clan depends on him. Redstone Construction covers more than just cats. It’s cross-species and far-reaching. Which may be why they were targeted. The Alpha is hunting already, but it’s clear from our telephone conversation with him that he’s not stable.”

“He’s out there with his brothers and not one of them is thinking clearly,” Tim added.

“They believe the killer is hiding in the city. Their current base is outside Las Vegas. The cougars’ tracking skills are good, but not that good. They’re more used to wilderness, not pavement. We need you to keep a lid on the situation. You’re a cat and for some reason nobody has seen fit to explain to us, the other felines respect you more than anyone else. Hell, it’s like they revere you or something.” Rafe ran a frustrated hand through his hair. “One day, you’ll have to explain that to us, but for now I think you’re the only one they’ll listen to.”

Tim picked up the thread of his twin’s words. “Go to them. Help them find the killer. Get justice for the matriarch. But most important of all, keep our secret. Don’t let those cougars get so out of control in their grief that they betray us all to the humans. You’re on the hunt, but you’re also on damage control. Those boys are just unstable enough to not care who sees them shapeshift or use their other natural abilities. They’re dangerous to us, to themselves, and to every single shifter who works for them right now.”

“If humans realize Redstone Construction is run by a Clan of cougar shifters, we have no doubt that everyone who works for them will come under suspicion,” Rafe added. “That puts a hell of a lot of our people at risk.”

“We’ll be stretched thin without you to oversee security here and the new bear cubs are of the highest importance. I hope you understand that we can’t spare any of your team. They know our setup best, and this could all be some kind of feint. But we’re sending for other resources,” Tim said with a bite in his voice. “The Spec Ops group in Wyoming is on call for you. And some of those seals in the Northeast have pledged to come running, if needed. That’s your call, Slade. Do your thing. Track the killer, or killers. Assess the situation.”

“And if you need reinforcements, our best warriors are at your disposal,” Rafe completed his twin’s thoughts. “Call them. They can be there in a matter of hours. And if you think it’s wise, feel free to pre-position them just in case. We’re covering the costs. This could be too important to leave to chance.”

Slade realized at that moment just how explosive his mission might be. The fate of not just the Redstone Clan, but of hundreds-possibly thousands-of shifters of all kinds was riding on his shoulders.

He knew he was up to the challenge. Slade hadn’t met an obstacle yet that he couldn’t climb over, barrel through or go around. A couple of grief-stricken cougars was something he could handle. Especially with the cavalry at his beck and call. He knew most of the shifter Special Operators Tim and Rafe had put on alert. Slade had worked with a lot of them over the years and knew they were the best of the best.

Would he need that kind of backup? Slade wasn’t sure yet. But it was good to know he could call upon his brothers-in-arms should the need arise.

Subtlety was Slade’s stock and trade, though. He usually preferred to handle his missions alone. He was a cat, after all, and liked to prowl solo. He enjoyed the hunt, the chase, and ultimately, the kill. Slade would take great pleasure in disemboweling the humans who had caused such grief among shifters and put so many lives on the line.

Justice would be served and Slade was just the cat to serve it up. Sliced. Diced. And very, very cold.

Buy the ebook now from: Amazon – Barnes & Noble – Smashwords – Kobo – and many other fine etailers

Buy Now in Print from: Amazon – Barnes & Noble

Tales of the Were

For the past few weeks, I’ve been doing two main things – writing my upcoming book, Tales of the Were: Grif and packing goodies for the big RT convention in about 3 weeks. I have to mail a ton of stuff ahead to be at the hotel when I arrive and that all requires me to be done with packing and sending on a somewhat tight schedule. Eek!

I thought today, maybe I’d give you all a little insight into Grif and the whole series…

The book, Grif, is named for the hero of the book, Griffon Redstone, CEO of Redstone Construction and Alpha of one of the most influential shifter Clans in the U.S. I’ve mentioned him in previous installments of this series and his brothers and cousins have appeared in other books – most notably, Matt Redstone, who is a favorite character from the novel Sweeter Than Wine, which is technically part of my Brotherhood of Blood series, though the two series do crossover a bit here and there.

Grif picks up immediately after the action of my most recent book, Tales of the Were: Slade. In Slade, they are tracking the killers of the Redstone matriarch. Grif and his whole family, including the youngest, a pre-teen girl named Belinda, are traumatized by the murder of their mother. In Grif’s book, he leaves the homestead in Nevada and takes little Belinda out into the wilds of Wyoming, to the family cabin, to help them both recover from the shocking loss of their mom.

Grif is trying to find some peace of mind in the mountains, but instead finds a human woman named Lindsey, being hassled by the local werewolf Pack. They’re trying to drive her off and Grif realizes almost immediately that he can’t let that happen. He needs to find out why the wolves are so dead set against her and help her overcome whatever conflict is between them, so he can keep her nearby. His inner cat demands Lindsey’s presence and Grif finds himself prowling near her home in his cougar form, watching over her safety both day and night.

The intrigue thickens when two of Grif’s brothers arrive in Wyoming with news that the feral shifter who killed their older sister a while back, is stalking them all. Grif fears for Belinda’s safety, but also for Lindsey – the woman he thinks is his mate.

Along the way there are some rather heated love scenes between Grif and Lindsey… and even a little naughty threesome action. There’s also a deep and abiding love between Grif and his new mate that cannot be denied. He’d do anything for her – including sacrifice himself so that she can remain safe.

I plan to release Grif’s book in late May, if all continues as planned. And part of the “master plan” is a sub-series of Tales of the Were stories that will start with Grif and end with the youngest Redstone brother, Matt. I’m going to call these 5 books, Redstone Clan books, though they are technically part of the overall Tales of the Were series. Yeah, I know it could get a little confusing, but I’m not sure how else to do it.

Grif will start the sub-series, followed by the intriguing story introduced in Tales of the Were: Slade, of Magnus Redstone and his mysterious vampire lover. We’re going to find out how Mag knows Miranda, the trapped vampire we meet at the end of Slade. So we’re going to mix it up a bit. Cougar shifters, werewolves, vampires… You get the picture.

The Redstone Clan sub-series will be released over the rest of 2013 and into 2014. It even has it’s own little graphic, that will appear on all the covers. Neat huh?

In the meantime, you can already get the stories that lead up to this sub-series. The Tales of the Were to this point, are as follows:

1. Lords of the Were

2. Inferno

2.5 The Purrfect Stranger (only available from AllRomanceEbooks.com at this time – it’s a short story)

3. Rocky

4. Slade

5. Grif (coming soon)

And there you have all the info on the Tales of the Were. I didn’t really mean to go on so long in this post, but it’s done now and I hope it answered some questions for some of you. I’ll be posting some excerpts in the coming days, just for fun. Stay tuned!

- Bianca

Come over to The D’Arc Side… www.biancadarc.com

All You Wanted to Know About What I’m Working on Now

I’ve taken up line dancing. Seriously. I’m now up to 2 nights a week, learning how to line dance and getting a heck of a lot of fun exercise in the process. I highly recommend it!

Other than that, I’ve been getting NEW books out – finally! It was a long dry spell for me that I think I can comfortably say is now over. Here’s a little bit of what’s been going on…

1) Tales of the Were: Slade is now available in both ebook and print.

2) Tales of the Were: Rocky is also in ebook and print, but Amazon had decided to put the print version on sale for about 36% off the cover price of $9.99. It’s currently at about $6.37, but I have no idea how long that will last.

3) The cover for Tales of the Were: Grif (Redstone Clan 1) has been finalized. Isn’t it gorgeous? Our own Valerie Tibbs has created another masterpiece for me!

Grif is the first in a sub-series of 5 stories – 1 for each of the Redstone brothers. Grif will be first, followed (probably) by: Mag, Steve, Bobcat and Matt. I plan to write and release these stories throughout the rest of 2013 and into 2014.

Grif’s story picks up where Slade leaves off, with Grif retreating to the wilderness with his traumatized younger sister, giving them both time to heal from loss and discover the peace of the forest. Grif also discovers a woman – the one woman meant to be his mate. But she’s done something to piss off the local wolf Pack and he has to stake his claim to guard her safety.

4) Dragon Knights: The Dragon Healer is scheduled for release on 7/2/13, but is available for pre-order from Amazon. This is a novella that will go into print alongside the very first Dragon Knights novel, Maiden Flight. It’s sort of a “companion piece” that goes back and tells the story of how the healer, Silla, was seduced into joining with two knights and living at the Border Lair. Here’s the blurb:

What’s better than a knight sweeping you off your feet? Two knights.

Silla is a healer riding circuit on the border, helping those in need. When she hears the pained cries of a dragon in distress, she comes to his aid, using most of her precious supplies to help the badly injured creature.

The dragon’s knight, Brodie, is fascinated by the woman – the miracle worker – who has come to help his friend. She is both beautiful and kind hearted and he quickly realizes she is his destined mate. And if she is Brodie’s mate, she is Geoff’s as well, for Brodie’s dragon was mated to Geoff’s dragon many years ago.

Geoff doesn’t believe in the tales of love at first sight among knights, but he knows that when either he or Brodie finds a wife, they will share her. Hearing about the dragon’s injury, Geoff and his dragon race to help, only to find the dragon on the mend and Brodie in bed with the most stunning woman Geoff has ever seen.

Love at first sight turns out to be real and it strikes them all as they come together and realize that no matter what the obstacles, they are meant to be together. Silla is the missing link that will join their lives and make them a true Lair family.

Warning: Knights like to get frisky and these two are no exception. Beware the passion, playfulness, a bit of bondage and a whole lot of three-way loving with a tiny bit of exhibitionism thrown in for good measure.

5) Dragon Knights: Master at Arms is scheduled for release on 8/20/13, and is finally available for pre-order from Amazon. This is also a “companion piece” – by which I mean a novella – that tells the story of the war along the border and how a noblewoman comes to be married to two dashing knights. Here’s the blurb for this one…

When Cara’s half-brother is gravely wounded, she rallies the defenders of their keep as best she can. She knows how to fight, but is smart enough to realize she cannot-and should not-lead men into battle. No, that is the job of the Master at Arms, a mysteriously attractive foreign fighter named Tristan.

But when deadly, venomous creatures called skiths attack, only dragons can save them. A flight of dragons arrives in the nick of time-among them an unpartnered dragon named Rath and his mate with her handsome knight partner, Sir Thorn. Until Rath finds a knight and both knights find their lady, the dragons cannot be together. But fate may have just stepped in to help both dragons and men.

Caught on the ground, Rath is in serious danger from a rogue skith when Tristan comes to his rescue. His courage impresses the dragon greatly. This is a man who could be a knight… if his loyalties can be won by dragonkind.

And all is not as it seems with Cara’s family and the half-brother who wants nothing more than to pack her off to a loveless marriage, sold to the highest bidder. It will take all the diplomacy and skill of both Thorn and Tristan to set things right… and win Lady Cara’s heart for themselves.

Warning: When two dragons really want something, it’s best not to stand in their way. And when their knights are focused on a single woman, nothing and no one will stop them from getting what they want. Beware! This trio gets up to all kinds of naughtiness in the pursuit of true love.

6) Arcana: King of Stars has a cover, but has been put off for a bit – until after the big RT con in May at least. Sorry about that. But – when it does come out, I’m toying with the idea of putting all four Arcana stories together into a “boxed set” of ebooks and, depending on length, into print as well.

7) As I just mentioned, RT is coming up and I’m under the gun to get things together for the big trip. I have to mail lots of boxes ahead and I’m scrambling to get things packed and ready. I also have NO IDEA what to wear! LOL! The con is from May 1-5, but I’ve done this event enough times now to know that it really takes up most of the month before in prep and then at least two weeks after in recovery.

So that’s the update. Now I have to go do some laundry so I have something to wear to line dancing lessons tonight! (Yes, this is the glamorous life of an author. LOL)

Rocky’s on Sale

Not sure how long this is going to last, but it appears that Amazon has put Tales of the Were: Rocky on sale! It’s currently priced at $6.37, which is 36% off cover price. I noticed yesterday, they had it at only 10% off. As I said, this could change again – I’m not sure what they’ve got in mind – so if you’re interested in getting the print version of this amazing book, grab it while it’s cheap!

Buy Rocky in PRINT – on sale! – from Amazon.

Guest: Lexxie Couper’s Latest

Lexxie’s back with the second book in the Principatus series, Dark Embrace!

Should she kill him? Seduce him? Or both?

A Principatus story.

As an ex-succubus granted her soul by the Highest of Powers, Inari Chayse has spent the twenty years since her “rebirth” channeling her voracious sexual energy into kicking the asses of all malevolent paranormal beings.

Torn between the sex demon she was and the demon assassin she has become, she has no intention of complicating her life further. But when the vampire who pleasures her dreams walks into her paranormal strip club – and takes complete, humiliating command of her body – complicated doesn’t even begin to cover it.

Fifty years ago, Ezryn Navarr abdicated his trueborn throne to spare his people a bloody destruction. He never expected to find himself in a Sydney strip club, buried in the deliciously sensual body of the very divine assassin he’s been commanded to kill. The bigger surprise? Inari awakens something he thought long dead. His humanity.

As their tormented desires intertwine with a centuries-old battle of blood and power, redemption seems as unobtainable as love. The backlash will rock the entire vampire race, leading to their salvation… or their deaths.

Product Warnings: Herein lie dark lusts, dark deeds, dark desires, no-holds-barred passion, an ass-kicking succubus and a vampire to make your blood burn…

Excerpt

The overlord flashed a wide smile, his pointed fangs glinting in the muted light from the many candles littering the ballroom. “You do us a great honor with your presence, Master Navarr.”

Ezryn suppressed the urge to snort, casting the room a disgusted glance. Candles? Dark Ones, what century did the fat fool think it was?

“Although,” the overlord continued, raising black eyebrows, “you are almost four hours late. We feared the Navarr master would not present himself to us before the sun rose.” He shot his new bride another quick look, as if eager to see her reaction to his royal disapproval.

Ezryn gave him a flat stare. “I had better things to do.”

The new bride gasped, pale skin bleaching white. She gaped at Ezryn, her eyes wide, candlelight turning her extended fangs a sick yellow.

The overlord snapped to his feet, jowls wobbling. “How dare you insult—”

“Give it a rest, Harry.” Ezryn cut him short. “Or I’ll pin you to the floor and drain you within a drop of empty like I used to.”

Haral Navarr, twin son of the first family, overlord of the vampire race, turned beet red—an interesting feat for someone deprived of sunlight for close to seven centuries. His mouth flapped in silent protest, his knuckles popping as he clenched his fists.

Ezryn shook his head, a sour taste coating the back of his tongue. “Do not fret, baby brother.” He ambled over to a long table overburdened with carafes of what could only be human blood, eyeing the ridiculously ostentatious ice sculpture of the overlord positioned amongst them. “I would not dream of harming the great leader of our people.” He pulled an apple from his inside jacket pocket and polished it on his sleeve, turning back to the royal couple. Very few of his kind could tolerate human food, his twin brother included. That Ezryn had no difficulty consuming it caused many a vampire to clench their jaw in envy—and trepidation.

Lifting the apple to his mouth, he parted his lips, letting Haral see his fangs before biting into the fruit’s flesh.

Haral narrowed his eyes, his face—so like Ezryn’s if not for the fat of indulgence—still red with anger. Or was it shame? “You will not call me ‘baby brother’, Ezryn. I ordered you to cease doing so over half a century ago.”

Ezryn bit into the apple again, enjoying the incensed impatience on his twin’s face as he chewed the mouthful without hurry. “And when did I start following your orders, Harry?”

The overlord’s wife gasped again, her lush breasts almost spilling over the top of her red latex corset. Ezryn gave her an indifferent glance before wiping at his lips with the back of his hand. “What are you doing here, Haral? I can’t imagine Australia was your first choice for a honeymoon, especially during the summer. The sun doesn’t set here until nine most nights.” He finished the apple, savoring its succulent sweetness before dropping the core into the closest carafe of blood. It broke the still, red surface with a satisfying plop, the sound like a gunshot in the cavernous room. “In fact,” he went on, arching an eyebrow, “I can’t see any reason for you to have left your compound at all.”

The overlord flared his nostrils, a pathetic attempt to look intimidating. “I wanted you to meet Chantise.” He flicked his bride a quick look. “And she wanted to meet you.”

Ezryn chuckled, the sound low and almost a growl. Of course she would. She would want to see for herself the fabled son groomed to be the ruler of the vampire race, destined to be the next leader of them all—before the oracle, the vampire race’s high priest, had changed everything. He gave his new sister-in-law a slow inspection and bent slightly at the waist. “Your ladyship.”

The woman’s gaze raked him from head to toe, her eyes aglow with the taint of a recent feed. She touched her tongue to the tip of her right fang, tracing her fingertips over the swell of her breasts. “Ezryn.”

Ezryn suppressed a disgusted grunt. The woman was well-suited to his brother—he could see the covetous hunger in her blood-drunk eyes, the smug conceit in the tilt of her chin. He turned back to Haral, eager to be done with the perverse family reunion. “What do you want, Harry? I thought I made it clear the last time we spoke that I never wanted to see you again. In fact, I moved to the other side of the world to make sure that’s exactly what would happen.”

The overlord straightened his spine, his eyes igniting with cold rage. The last time the two brothers had faced each other—over fifty years ago—the vampire lord had threatened to have Ezryn marked as a traitor to his kind. The last time they’d stood in the same room, Ezryn had come very, very close to destroying the vampire lord. Close enough for Harry to sweat blood. A lot of blood.

“I am your lord,” Haral snapped. The muscles in his face quivered and his yellow eyes dilated. “I can speak to you and call upon you whenever I wish.”

Ezryn barked out a harsh laugh, the sound like cracking ice. “I have no lord.”

Haral stamped his foot, his human face distorting into a demonic mask. “As the supreme ruler of our people, I hereby command you to a task.”

Ezryn narrowed his eyes. “Go to hell, Harry.”

“Not before you, Ezryn.”

With a low growl, Ezryn sprang forward, crossing the distance to Haral in a blurring leap. Clamping one hand around his twin brother’s neck, he yanked Haral’s feet off the floor. “You destroyed any right you had to command me, brother, when you invoked the power of the blood trial.”

Haral scratched at Ezryn’s hand, his eyes bulging. “And yet…” he rasped, “…the blood trial named me overlord. Not…” he bucked in Ezryn’s hold, “…you.”

Ezryn tightened his grip, the mention of the ancient ritual filling him with cold contempt. Since birth, he’d been groomed to take over from his father as the next leader of the vampire race. For six hundred and fifty years, he’d known little except that as the first son of the First Family, born but a mere five minutes before his twin, he was destined to be the next overlord. He’d been educated to lead a race on the verge of imploding. Too many of their number had grown disillusioned with the old ways, the violent use of humans as a food source, an equal number disgusted with the progressive notion humans weren’t just cattle. He’d been ready to restore harmony where only conflict existed. Ready to take his place as overlord. And then his father had been killed, staked by an emo demon-slayer wannabe with acne on his cheeks.

The day after the overlord’s death, the day before Ezryn was to ascend to the position of his birthright, Haral had invoked the blood trial, an ancient and barbaric ceremony designed to reveal the true overlord’s identity. And on the whispered words of the human virgin sacrificed for the trial—a young woman known as the oracle’s voice throughout the proceedings—the course of history had changed.

Ezryn stared into his brother’s eyes. “Just what do you want me to do…lord?”

Haral flashed his fangs, his Adam’s apple jerking under Ezryn’s palm. “My wife’s cousin was slain by a Principatus. I want you to destroy her.”

Ezryn clenched his jaw, a cold fist of disquiet in his chest. “A Principatus?”

What Haral commanded was insanity. To destroy a divine assassin in self-defense was one thing—the Powers would not retaliate against such a death. If a Principatus could not survive a fair fight with their foe, than the Powers seemed to wipe Their divine, righteous hands of Their failed assassin. But to destroy one in an act of revenge? That was to start a war beyond all comprehension. A war that would bring about the mass destruction of vampire and Principatus alike.

The Principatus were no easy kill. Once demons themselves, they were selected by the Highest of Powers for reasons unknown, granted a soul and reborn then and there as assassins of all things unholy and paranormal. Whether vampire, shifter or hell-spawn, if a being threatened the divine status quo, chances were the Powers would mark it for assassination and send a Principatus to carry out the kill. A Principatus’s rebirth gave them immeasurable powers and knowledge of their target. Few of those targeted escaped to brag of the battle. Still, the divine assassins could be beaten. If you were strong. And ready to face ultimate death yourself.

Releasing his hold on Haral’s throat, Ezryn took a step back, noting the feverish light in his brother’s eyes. There was more to this than Haral would have him believe. “Why do you want me to do this? Are you not capable of the task yourself?” He flicked his gaze over his twin’s soft, round body, remembering a time when it was almost a carbon copy of his own. “Are you having performance problems, Harry? Tsk, tsk. At your young age too.”

The overlord drew himself straighter, his incensed stare fixed on Ezryn. “I charged you with a task, Master Navarr. If you do not obey your lord, you will see yourself punished by our laws.”

“Punished? Laws?” Ezryn raised his eyebrows, struggling to control the growing fury seeping through his veins. His twin always had been a pompous pain in the ass. Now it seemed his position of power had finally gone to his empty head. “Any laws worthy of respect you perverted on ascension, Harry. As for punishment, remember who you’re talking to. Every vampire on earth knows who the true overlord is.”