 Issue #40 - June 2009 |
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News
Two releases this month. One in print and one in ebook...
Upcoming Appearances: I'll be at Lori Foster's Get Together in Ohio June 5-7. Hope to see some of you there! New Sale! I have sold a novella to Kensington Brava for inclusion in an anthology to be released in January 2010. Sharing the anthology with me is Zoe Archer. Both stories center around zombies and will be debut stories for both of us with Kensington. Great Reviews Phantom Desires: "Bianca D’ Arc is stupendously talented at introducing characters and giving just enough titillating information to draw the reader back...This book should not be missed." - 5 cups from Delane at Coffee Time Romance & More In a review for Jaci's Experiment, Fallen Angel reviewer Heather called me a "a wonderfully skilled storyteller". Thanks, Heather! I like that! Excerpt Inferno goes on sale June 30th. Here's a sneak peek at another scene from the story. (Last month's newsletter also had a sneak peek of an earlier scene.) Enjoy! (c) 2009 Bianca D'Arc. All Rights Reserved. "So what brings you here tonight?" Dante asked, turning back to her after ordering wine for them. "Just on the prowl." "Ah," he nodded knowingly, "something your kind enjoys, from what I hear." "How do you know what we enjoy?" She tried her best not to sound suspicious, but feared some of her wariness showed through. He leaned back as the bartender returned with their wine. "Contrary to popular thought, I actually do have some friends among the weretribes." He kept his voice low so that only she could hear him. Her hearing was better than any mortal's and he definitely knew the scope of her abilities in that area at least, proving his shocking words might hold some truth. "It thought your kind didn't like weres." He sipped his wine before answering. "It's not that we don't like you. It's more that we don't like how resistant you are to our power. Bad blood in the past has made all the various supernaturals distrust each other over the centuries. Yet I have a feeling that will soon come to an end." She was shocked. "Why?" He shrugged. "You're a loner so you probably haven't heard. There are certain bad elements returning after many generations. I was around the last time we fought them, and we all worked together. Seems to me, we might have to do so again." Shock held her immobile. "What are you talking about?" He shook his head in the negative. "Not here. No matter how good your hearing, there may be others listening as well. If you really want to know, I'll tell you in private." "I want to know." This was her chance. Even if he was leading her into some kind of weird vamp trap, she needed to get close to him. That was her mission and she wouldn't shrink from it. She was also curious about his hinted knowledge. She really was a lone wolf. She hadn't had interaction with her own kind in a long time. If there was something going on in the supernatural world, she didn't trust her contacts in the Altor Custodis to tell her. They were too damned secretive and their policy of non-interference went way too far, in her opinion. She'd like to know what Dante thought he knew. "All right then. Later." He drained his glass of wine and set it on the bar. "For now, will you dance with me?" She noted the sudden change from house music to a slower tempo that allowed couples to move close. His influence again? She had little doubt such was the case. Lowering her half-finished drink to the bar, she took his hand and felt an immediate awareness of him shoot through her skin. It tingled where they touched, sparking with magical energy. It didn't hurt. It felt more like tiny bubbles popping against her skin. Almost tickling and definitely happy. It was a strange, unexpected sensation. It was as if their bodies recognized each other. He took her in his arms, and it was as if they'd been made to fit together. Their bodies moved in rhythm to the slower music, his strength countering hers in a way she'd never experienced. As a werewolf, Megan was stronger than most human males. As a lone wolf, she'd never really consorted with her kind. She'd never been this close to a vampire before and taken all together, she'd never felt so feminine or sheltered in any man's embrace. She closed her eyes, enjoying the feel of his strong body against her. For just a moment, she let thoughts of her mission and the debt of honor owed by her family fade from her mind. She let herself revel in the feel of him and the way his strength complimented her own. And he was one hell of a dancer. She never danced much, but as a wolf-shifter, she had a certain amount of natural agility. She followed his lead with pleasure, liking the way he commanded her movements with a sureness she was unused to encountering in the human males she'd dated from time to time. "You're very good," she whispered, trying to suppress the growl of pleasure that wanted to issue from her throat. Dante laughed low, his breath whispering past her ear in a way that made her shiver. "So I've been told." "I meant you're a good dancer." She pulled back to meet his gaze, grinning in what she hoped was an inviting way. Banter was good. He was responding well to her flirting. So far, her mission was on track. "Once upon a time a man's status in life was judged on such things as how well he danced." That comment took her aback. This man-this vampire-had lived for centuries. He must have seen and done a lot of things she could only dream of in those many years. "You're an old one then?" She had to play coy. He couldn't know that she already knew his background-at least as much as the Altor Custodis file about him contained. "Old enough to remember when the waltz was considered a scandalous dance. And now look at us." He chuckled as his gaze roved down her body to where they brushed together intimately, only the fabric of their clothing separating them. "All in all, I think things have changed for the better. Still, there was something charming about those days." "It must have been beautiful." She'd read her share of Jane Austin and dreamed of beautiful ball gowns twirling around the floor of some grand ballroom to the strains of a string quartet. It was a far cry from the pounding bass of this club's sound system and the whirling neon lights. "I see you're a romantic at heart, young Megan." She shrugged, noting the way his gaze fell to the upper swells of her breasts, visible in her low-cut blouse. Things were progressing according to plan. He seemed attracted. Of course, for all she knew, he was leading her on for his own amusement. She had no basis to judge her progress when it came to vampires, having never dealt directly with any before. "I think I'm like most women. We all yearn for romance at some point in our lives." "Ah, but shifter women yearn for their one true love. Their mate. Do they not?" "I've heard that your kind do the same. Is it true that most of you search for centuries until you find that special One?" Dante's eyes grew dark as he held her gaze. "It is true, though most are unaware of our plight. How do you know about it?" "My mother knew one of your kind in her day. Pretty much all I know about your kind comes from her." She'd almost blown it. At least her excuse was mostly true. Her mother had had dealings with a vampire once upon a time and had told Megan about it. It was also true Megan's meager knowledge had been duly supplemented by her keeper at the Altor Custodis. * To read more, look for Inferno on June 30th! * Contest Winner The winner of last month's drawing is rhondaw1965. Congratulations! Please email BiancaDArc at gmail.com within 30 days to claim your prize.
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Coming June 30th  Paranormal Tales    Brotherhood of Blood    Dragon Knights      Resonance Mates    Jit'Suku Chronicles   Gone Country  |
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