By Laura Mitchell
For author, filmmaker, and creative strategist Dar Dowling, storytelling has never been about following trends. Throughout her career, she has gravitated toward stories that explore identity, power, belonging, and the unexpected connections that shape our lives. Whether working behind the camera or behind the keyboard, Dowling has built a reputation for creating projects that blend imagination with emotional depth.
Her novel Sexy Bloody Mess, now available through Barnes & Noble, Apple Books, and other major booksellers, showcases the genre-blending storytelling that has become a hallmark of her creative work.
A dark urban fantasy packed with wicked humor, brutal action, supernatural intrigue, and a refreshingly queer heart, Sexy Bloody Mess plunges readers into a world where immortals walk unseen among humanity, ancient grudges span centuries, and death is rarely as permanent as it seems.
The story follows Connor Wallace, a former detective whose life is violently transformed when he is dragged into a hidden world of immortal power struggles, dangerous secrets, and supernatural politics. While Connor discovers that dying is far more complicated for him than it is for most people, survival comes with its own consequences. Caught between rival factions, shifting alliances, and forces older than recorded history, he quickly learns that trust is scarce, loyalty is fluid, and every favor carries a price.
While the novel delivers plenty of explosive confrontations, sharp dialogue, and unexpected twists, its greatest strength lies in its unforgettable characters. Rather than relying on familiar fantasy tropes, Dar Dowling creates a cast of flawed, charismatic immortals whose desires, ambitions, and complicated relationships are every bit as dangerous as the powers they possess.
Among the most compelling are Sheba, a powerful and unpredictable immortal who refuses to play by anyone else’s rules, and Lady Bidet, her longtime lover whose razor-sharp wit, fearless confidence, and appetite for chaos make her impossible to ignore. Together with Connor, they form a complicated bond that exists somewhere between family, friendship, romance, and survival. Their chemistry adds warmth, humor, and emotional depth to a story filled with supernatural conspiracies, ancient rivalries, and shifting loyalties.
Boldly queer, unapologetically funny, and overflowing with larger-than-life personalities, Sexy Bloody Mess is an urban fantasy where immortality is messy, love is complicated, and the line between hero and monster is never quite clear.
As the stakes rise and long-buried secrets come to light, readers will discover that in Sexy Bloody Mess, loyalties can change in an instant, immortality comes with a price, and the truth is often far more dangerous than the lies.
The result is a novel that blends dark fantasy with mystery, adventure, and moments of surprising humanity. While the story explores larger-than-life conflicts, it also asks deeply personal questions about loyalty, identity, redemption, and the choices people make when faced with impossible circumstances.
Dowling’s interest in exploring complex human experiences extends beyond fiction. As the director of the documentary Here I Am, which follows the journey of a transgender man converting to Judaism, she has demonstrated a consistent commitment to stories centered on authenticity, identity, and belonging. Her narrative film work reflects a similar fascination with characters navigating difficult choices and extraordinary circumstances. Among those projects is By Any Means, a revenge thriller centered on a lesbian mafia daughter seeking justice after the loss of the woman she loves.
In addition to her work as an author and filmmaker, Dowling serves as Executive Vice President of Atlas Elite Publishing Partners and is the founder of DarMa Creative Media. Through her publishing, branding, and creative consulting work, she helps authors, entrepreneurs, and thought leaders transform ideas into books, brands, films, and meaningful creative projects. Her experience working with both established and emerging voices has given her a unique perspective on storytelling, audience engagement, and the evolving creative landscape.
That combination of creator and strategist has allowed Dowling to approach storytelling from multiple angles. She understands both the creative process and the challenges involved in bringing original work to audiences in an increasingly competitive marketplace.
At the heart of her work is a belief that creativity is more than entertainment. It is a way of exploring possibilities, challenging assumptions, and helping people see themselves—and others—in new ways. Whether through fantasy, documentary filmmaking, or creative development, Dowling continues to create stories that encourage audiences to look beyond the surface.
With Sexy Bloody Mess now reaching readers through Barnes & Noble, Apple Books, and other online retailers, Dowling continues to expand her body of work while remaining committed to authentic storytelling. For fans of urban fantasy, supernatural suspense, and character-driven fiction, the novel offers an imaginative journey filled with mystery, action, humor, and heart.
As readers discover the world of Connor Wallace, Sheba, Lady Bidet, and the many unforgettable characters that inhabit Sexy Bloody Mess, they will find a story that blends supernatural adventure with questions of identity, loyalty, love, and redemption. Rather than fitting neatly into a single genre, the novel embraces the messy, unpredictable nature of both humanity and immortality.
Sexy Bloody Mess is available through Barnes & Noble, Apple Books, and other bookstores. Readers can learn more about Dar Dowling and her creative work by following her on Instagram.
