Second, I got a great review for FireDrake from Joyfully Reviewed. Vivian actually named FireDrake a RECOMMENDED READ!!! Thank you, Vivian! I’m thrilled and humbled.

Also, I made a new video for FireDrake using some of the images I’ve rendered (using my DAZ|Studio software) over the past few months. Since I don’t know how to imbed vids in this blog (it never works when I try), try this link. I’ll also be putting it up on my website next week sometime, so let me know if something doesn’t work quite right – I’m still kind of new at this video-making program.

Now I’m just waiting for the cover for Jaci’s Experiment to be approved so I can show it off to you all. I got a peek at it late last week and it’s spectacular! I can’t wait to see what you all think once it’s official and I can post it. Stay tuned… shouldn’t be long now!

I’ve come to find that the term might actually be a bit more sinister in nature than I believed. By naming them “fair,” perhaps our ancestors were employing a bit of wishful thinking. They hoped calling them “fair” would make them deal fairly with the human population. There are so many legends about changling babies and fey folk playing tricks on humanity, this explanation of the name bears some thought.

Still, I think I’d rather live in my little Polyanna world and believe the word “fair” refers to their coloring and/or countenance. In my books, at least, that’s the way I’m going to take it. You heard it here first - the latest Dragon Knights novel, FireDrake, features a new race of magical warriors known as the Fair Folk. They’re easy on the eyes and lethal - a fascinating combination. As to how they deal with humanity? Whether it’s “fair” or not, remains to be seen… ]]> http://biancadarc.com/blog/2008/06/01/fair-folk-2/feed/ http://biancadarc.com/blog/2008/05/17/creature-feature-royal-black-dragons/ http://biancadarc.com/blog/2008/05/17/creature-feature-royal-black-dragons/#comments Sat, 17 May 2008 11:01:33 +0000 Bianca D'Arc Dragon Knights Creatures & Legends http://biancadarc.com/blog/2008/05/17/creature-feature-royal-black-dragons/  

In the Dragon Knights series, there are many varieties and hues of dragon, but the only black dragons in existence are the Royal Blacks. They are the shapeshifters - beings of noble blood, born and sworn to protect both humanity and dragonkind.

They rule with an understanding born of the fact they are both human and dragon. The founder of their line, Draneth the Wise, intended it just that way, so the dragons and humans could live in harmony and work together to protect their land and people against the forces of evil.

In my Dragon Knights series, the time has come when this partnership will be tested utterly. The last of the wizards have returned to continue their war against each other, using humans and other creatures like the venemous skiths as pawns in their deadly game. King Roland, Prince Nico, and their brothers will lead both the dragons and people of their land into battle… and beyond.

I hope that answers at least some of the questions about the Royal Blacks. I’ll post more in another feature about wild northern Ice Dragons and the precious and rare Snow Dragons, so stay tuned…

Sometime last year I was tossing around ideas for the title of this book. I’d come up with a list of possibilities and mentioned a few on my Yahoo chat group. I liked “FireDrake,” but wasn’t sure exactly how it applied to the story I’d written so far. The book was about a third finished at that point and to be brutally honest, I wasn’t sure where it would go from there. I’d taken a little break from writing it to finish up some other projects and I wasn’t exactly stuck, but I wasn’t too eager to start work on it again because I wanted to let some ideas percolate in my mind.

Finding a title can be painstaking work. Or it can be easy. There is no middle ground. As I said, I liked FireDrake, but wasn’t completely sure. So when I mentioned it on my Yahoo chat group, I was paying close attention to the responses. They were mostly favorable for this title and I was pleased, but Jennifer said something in passing that really ignited my creative fires and gave the book that little extra something that made me eager to get back to writing it. After that, it flowed nicely to its final culmination in what I hope you’ll agree is a great addition to my Dragon Knights series.

So what did Jennifer say? I don’t remember her exact words, but it was something like “that title would really work if Drake could do something wtih fire.” Up ’til that point, Drake didn’t have much overt magical ability. That little comment started the seed growing that eventually became not just one but many firedrakes in the Dragon Knights world.

All thanks to Jennifer, though she probably had no idea what her words would ignite.

Thank you, Jennifer! And thanks to Drake - the fictional character that almost wrote himself. I hope you enjoy him as much as I did!

Here’s an excerpt - the entire Prologue - to whet your appetite and if you click the “more info” link it’ll take you to the Samhain website where you can either purchase the book or read the rest of Chapter One. Enjoy!

Click Here for More Info

Click Here to Buy Now

Prologue

Prince Nico, Spymaster of Draconia, and now King-Consort of the Jinn Brotherhood walked the battlements. The high towers of the Draconian royal castle were his home, and among his most favored places. His keen eyes searched the wide expanse, built so high in the clouds, until he found the creature he’d come to see.

She was a juvenile dragon, only about twenty-five winters old, in an absolutely stunning gold, pink and soft orange color. That’s what happened, Nico thought as he approached her, when a red and a golden dragon mated and were very, very lucky.

Jenet was one of the prettiest dragons Nico had ever seen, though she was often melancholy and refused to train with the knights and other dragons, since she had no knight. Nor would she choose a knight. She’d made her choice, she would reply when asked, and until the stubborn man died of old age without her, she would choose no other.

So Jenet served as a sort of royal babysitter, watching the younger princes when they flew as black dragons—something only a precious few males of the royal line, who could trace their lineage back to Draneth the Wise, could do. At the moment, Jenet was watching Nico’s younger brother Wil and the younger set of twins making lazy loops in the sky. They were playing tag, but the activity also served to heighten their fledgling flying skills.

Nico walked over and sat next to Jenet, his human legs dangling over the sides of the high parapet. He had no fear of falling, for if he did, he would simply transform into the dragon that shared his soul and soar away on tar-colored wings.

“How goes it today?” Nico had known Lady Jenet all his life, so there was little need for formality between them.

“Passing fair, my liege.”

“Please, Jen, just use my name. I’m sick to death of all this formality. It’s even worse now that my new wife has been crowned Queen of the Jinn. Thank heaven it’s mostly a ceremonial title.” Nico spoke mind to mind with the dragon, as only a few people could do.

A dragonish chuckle, complete with a smoky, cinnamon-scented cloud, answered him as Jenet moved her large golden head to study him. Her jewel-like eyes blinked once, fixing her gaze on him.

“You never coveted your brother’s throne, did you? Perhaps that’s the reason the Mother of All saw fit to grant you one of your own, King Nico.”

Nico groaned and clutched one hand to his chest in mock agony. “You wound me, mistress, to remind me of my woes.”

Jenet laughed outright at that, filling the air with smoky dragonish laughter. “To what do I owe the pleasure of your company this morn? As you can see, your little brothers are playing on the air currents above and all is secure.”

“I came to see you, actually. I have some news I thought you’d like to hear.”

The fire opal eyes blinked once as she regarded him. “And what is your news, Prince Tease?”

Nico chuckled, relishing the moment. His news could change her life and would definitely brighten her mood, if he knew Jenet at all. He drew out the moment as long as he could, heightening the anticipation, but in the end there was just no way to say it but straight out.

“Drake’s coming home.”

“Drake!” Jenet jumped to her feet faster than Nico would have credited. She was a nimble little thing for all that she was as large as any healthy juvenile dragon. She crouched on all fours, her wings outstretched and trembling in a show of excited eagerness. Her large head crowded him as he stood. “Is it true?”

Nico smiled at her soft, almost frightened tone. “It’s true. I had a special messenger from the Jinn arrive just this morning. Drake sent him ahead to make sure my brother Roland would stay put. Drake’s coming to personally deliver a message from the Doge of Helios.”

“Drake! Coming home!” Jenet rose up to stand on her hind legs and trumpeted her delight to the sky. Her magnificent pearl-like wings flapped happily, stirring up a joyful breeze as Nico watched, gratified and amused. It had been too long since Jenet had been this happy. It was good to see her so alive again.

And it was all because of Drake.

Drake had taken the eager light from her eyes when he’d left home fifteen years ago and she’d pined for him ever since. Now he was coming home, but for how long? Would he spurn her again? Or would he finally accept what was so obvious to everyone else who knew them?

Only time would tell.

   

HARA’S LEGACY - 2008 EPPIE Award Winner! - The first in a five book series set on a futuristic Earth where an alien race has decimated most of the planet and only special people with psychic abilities survive in the wild places. The O’Hara brothers will do anything to protect the empathic woman they grew up with. But in a post-apocalyptic world, can they adapt to share her love if it’s the only way to keep them all safe? It’s a serious game of cowboys and aliens when three psychically gifted brothers try to protect the one fragile, empathic woman who holds all their hearts against a menacing alien threat. BUY NOW from MBAM - BUY NOW from Amazon

I DREAM OF DRAGONS Vol. 1 - Wings of Change - One young woman could be the miracle that heals a dying dragon — and unites a family with her love. BUY NOW from MBAM - BUY NOW from Amazon ]]> http://biancadarc.com/blog/2008/03/25/three-new-print-releases/feed/ http://biancadarc.com/blog/2008/03/17/first-three-vamp-stories/ http://biancadarc.com/blog/2008/03/17/first-three-vamp-stories/#comments Mon, 17 Mar 2008 12:00:13 +0000 Bianca D'Arc Dragon Knights Paranormal Tales Awards Web http://biancadarc.com/blog/2008/03/17/first-three-vamp-stories/

I’m blogging today over at The Romance Studio Blog about my recebt CAPA win. Prince of Spies surprised the heck out of me by winning my very first CAPA. Many thanks to The Romance Studio!

WEBSITE UPDATE:

Since I get asked about those first three vamp stories A LOT - I just updated the paranormal index page on my website with an “Author’s Note” that attempts to explain what’s come before, what’s happening now, and what I hope will happen in the future with this series. I’ve also added a little chart that attempts to explain the internal chronology of the series, though they’ve been written so that each can be read on its own.

Check out the new content at: http://tales.biancadarc.com/

Ain’t that great? *sigh* It’s so dreamy compared to the other dragon books that came before. I love all of those covers, but this book marks a bit of a departure from the first “series” of Dragon Knights books, so it’s apprpriate that it have a different look to its cover. Scott Carpenter did the first series covers (Maiden Flight, Border Lair/Ladies of the Lair, The Ice Dragon, and Prince of Spies). Anne Cain did this cover and also the covers for Wings of Change/I Dream of Dragons. I love both their styles, but they’re quite different, as you can see.

So, what do you think?