Rogues Angels Present: Elven Blood

Please welcome Debra Dunbar  author of Eleven Blood.

 Debra will be awarding an e-book copy of A DEMON BOUND (book 1 in the Imp Series) to a randomly drawn commenter at every stop, and a grand prize of a Kindle Fire with an ELVEN BLOOD book cover skin to one randomly drawn commenter during the tour (US ONLY). E-book copies of A Demon Bound and Satan’s Sword, and a basket of awesome swag will be awarded to a randomly drawn host.

If you comment,  you can win.

Elven Blood

by Debra Dunbar

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    1.     What or who inspired you to start writing?

I’ve been a storyteller for as long as I can remember, and a writer since I could hold a pencil, but I took a different route post-college and found myself climbing the corporate ladder.  When I found myself at a “certain age”, I longed to do something creative, and returning to writing was a natural choice.  My family always enjoyed my earlier work, and was my biggest cheerleader as I wrote my first novel- especially my brother, who has written several indie comic books.

   2.   What elements are necessary components for this genre.

For urban fantasy, a contemporary, urban setting with supernatural elements is the textbook definition, but the genre has shifted and contemporary fantasy set in a more rural area can be included.  I’ve also seen futuristic, somewhat dystopian fantasy novels included. 

The first in my Imp series, A DEMON BOUND mostly takes place in smaller towns and rural areas around Maryland and southern Pennsylvania.  SATAN’S SWORD (the second in the series) has bits in Baltimore and Atlantic City as well as Frederick, Maryland, so it’s more urban – although I wouldn’t exactly call Frederick a metropolis!  ELVEN BLOOD has portions that jump dimensions to take place in Hel (where the demons and elves live).  So I’m probably bending this a bit with mine too! 

   3.   How did you come up with your idea for your novel?

There were a couple of themes in ELVEN BLOOD that came together: 

How far would a woman go if she were desperate to have a child?  Would she break all cultural taboos, especially if it meant she’d have to hide the baby away to keep it safe?  Would she go through with it once pregnant, or not?  I’ve watched friends go through the heartbreak of infertility, and their journey really inspired this theme.

Sam is an imp.  She’s changed from the demon she used to be, but very reluctantly.  What situation(s) would push her to the brink, make her either cross the line to become someone who can experience empathy or retreat into the amorality of a demon?  I’ve always wondered if morality were a learned process.  Little babies are so self-absorbed, but I see their steps toward caring, loving and putting others’ needs before their own.  Can a demon do the same if she had the same loving support a baby did.

4  4.    What expertise did you bring to your writing?

My undergrad degree was I English Lit, and I specialized in Medieval and Folklore studies.  Out of college, I supplemented my income by freelance writing- mostly op ed pieces for local city papers.  None of that necessarily makes a great writer, though.  I’m an enthusiastic learner, and always take advantage of every opportunity to grow.

    5.    What would you want your readers to know about you that might not be in

your bio?

Hmm, well I don’t want them to know about that dreadful piece of fanfiction I wrote in college, or that I once won a bellydance contest, or that a friend once smuggled half a dozen steamed crabs out of a buffet in my huge purse.

Maybe that I’ve run five marathons and countless half marathons and other races, and that I once qualified for the Boston Marathon.  I’ve slowed down and put on a few pounds since the kids, but I still love to do local races- especially those crazy mud runs.

    6.    As far as your writing goes, what are your future plans?

There are three more novels to go in the IMP series, plus at least two stand-alone spin-off novels.  I have a paranormal thriller in the works for the end of the year, and a romance.  Beyond that, another paranormal thriller, and a YA fantasy.  I also have a short story erotic romance series that will see 4 more stories.  That ought to last me a while!

    7.    If you could be one of the characters from this book, who would it be and

why?

I’ve always had a longing to be Sam, but I’d wind up in jail.  Leethu, the succubus, would be fun, but I’d get bored with all the sex.  (Shhh - don’t tell my husband!)  Probably Candy.  Like me she enjoys a good run, although she does most of hers on four legs.  She’s a snappy dresser, and is always immaculately groomed (which I’m not).  Ever since I was a little girl I’ve always wanted to be a dog, and a werewolf is probably as close as I can get.  Yes, Candy it is!                 

    8.    When did you first decide to submit your work? Please tell us what or who

encouraged you to take this big step?

I took a class on publishing at a local college and got myself all geared up to go the traditional route.  I’d worked on my query, my synopsis, polished my first five pages.  I joined an online group with forums and studied what agents rep’d whom and who was accepting slush pile submissions.  Throughout the process, something kept bothering me.  I sent out four queries (which were suicidally lame) and had a long hard talk with myself.  What did I really want to achieve with my books? 

I yanked the queries and self-published, and have never looked back.  Yes, it’s a hard road, especially for someone starting as a new author with very little internet presence.  Still, I love the business end of publishing, and I really enjoy the control over my own destiny. 

9  9.    What is the best and worst advice you ever received? (regarding writing or

publishing)

I’ve had people tell me to never use an adverb, to always use dialogue tags, to never use dialogue tags, to give detailed descriptions of every setting, to avoid giving detailed descriptions of every setting.  I like the old Ben Franklin philosophy of “everything in moderation”.  I think it’s important to listen to every bit of advice, but learn to separate the wheat from the chaff.  And at the end of the day, trust your own style and voice to show you the way.

1 10.  How do you maintain your creativity?

Getting outside really blows out the cobwebs- whether it’s a run, a horseback ride, playing with the kids at the park, or digging in my garden.  I also find reading is a big boost to my creativity.  It’s so inspiring to read the fruits of others’ imagination.  It really fires me up to create something of my very own.

111.  Who is your favorite character in the book. Can you tell us why?

In ELVEN BLOOD it’s Feille, the elven High Lord of Wythyn.  He’s such an arrogant jerk that I can’t help but love him.  He’s a very minor character in the book, but I just know he’s going to have to make another appearance in a later novel.

112.  Anything else you might want to add?

I love humor.  Even though ELVEN BLOOD is fast paced, with lots of action and some rather thoughtful themes, it’s funny.  Sam is an imp, and I really enjoy letting her sense of humor come through the pages.  She’s one of those characters that can laugh at herself – I hope you laugh too!

Sam may be the Iblis, but she is also an imp with a price on her head.  The powerful demon Haagenti won’t rest until she’s dragged back to Hel for “punishment”.  Sam knows she can’t face Haagenti and win, so when an Elf Lord offers to eliminate the demon in return for her help, Sam accepts.  It’s a simple job – find and retrieve a half-breed monster dead or alive.  But finding this demon/elf hybrid isn’t proving easy and time is running out.

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It was after lunchtime when Gregory arrived for our meeting.  So much for “early”.

He usually appeared in my house, unannounced, but this time he strode in the front door holding a head by the hair.  He plopped it down on my dining room table and waved a hand, causing a depressing amount of paperwork to cover the table surface.  I ignored the paperwork and focused my attention on the more interesting item.

“Is this a present?” I asked in delight. 

I picked up the head and sat it like a hat on top of my own head, modeling it with a flourish. 

“How did you know?  I’ve always wanted one of these.  And it fits perfectly.”

The angel was not amused.  “We’ve got a lot to review today, and as often as you get sidetracked, we’re liable to be at it for a week.  Put the head down and focus.”

Why the fuck did he bring a head if he didn’t want me to mess with it?

“Should I put it in a vase?  Display it as a centerpiece on the table?  How can you expect me to focus on stupid, boring paperwork when I’ve got this amazing, decomposing flesh tempting me with its beauty?”

“Fine.  We’ll address this matter first, and then I’ll get rid of the thing so it won’t continue to distract you.”

He took the head from my hands and stuck it back on the table.  It made an entertaining squelch sound.

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AUTHOR Bio and Links:

Debra Dunbar lives on a farm in the northeast United States with her husband, three boys, and a Noah’s ark of four legged family members.  Her urban fantasy novels feature supernatural elements in local settings. In addition to A DEMON BOUND, SATAN’S SWORD, and ELVEN BLOOD, she has also published a short story erotica series titled NAUGHTY MOM.  Connect with her on Twitter @debra_dunbar on Facebook at debradunbarauthor, and on her website at http://debradunbar.com .

A DEMON BOUND:  http://amzn.to/MK6nxD

SATAN’S SWORD:  http://amzn.to/Tsi1Wr