Book Tour: Elven Blood by Debra Dunbar Interview & Giveaway

 

BLURB: 

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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INTERVIEW:

 1.     Where did you get the idea for the novel?

I was reading a lot of fairy tales and thinking about redemption, and also pondering how my young children grow from self-focused, rather amoral infants into children with caring hearts.  If children can learn empathy, maybe anyone can.  Maybe even a demon can.

If a demon lived among humans for a long time, if she had to keep her demonic nature in check to avoid detection, would she learn to be good?  The entire Imp series, ELVEN BLOOD included, came from that initial question.

2.     Your title. Who came up with it? Did you ever change your title?

ELVEN BLOOD and the second book in the series, SATAN’S SWORD, were pretty much the working titles, but the first book in the series, A DEMON BOUND, was originally . . . wait for it . . . wait. . . A Cockroach Bound.

It makes sense once you’ve read any of the books in the series.  The angel calls Sam a cockroach – that’s the only name he calls her by.  She’s a demon, an imp, nothing but a lowly cockroach in his eyes.  As the series progresses, he sees her as a whole lot more, but by then the name is a strange term of endearment. 

Cockroach didn’t work for the title though.  There’s such a negative, visceral reaction to them, that I was really worried it would put people off.  I changed it a few months prior to publication to A DEMON BOUND.

3.     Why did you pick this genre? What do you like about it?

I’ve always loved fantasy.  At five, I made up stories about a magical elf garden hidden in the woods near our house, dragons who buried treasure in the neighbor’s garbage-burning pit, and mermaids in the far end of the lake.  I never lost my childhood imagination and love bringing it to life in my novels.  The combination of our every day, recognizable world and a fantasy one is what I love best about urban and contemporary fantasy. 

4.     Since becoming a writer, what’s the most exciting thing to ever happen to you?

Holding that first paperback in my hands and knowing that those were my words in there, my story.  It was an amazing feeling.

5.     What book are you currently reading or what was the last book you read?

I just finished The Curse Merchant by J. P. Sloan (Dark Fantasy/Paranormal Thriller) and When She Was Wicked by Anne Barton (Regency Romance).  It’s spring and my thoughts have turned to love, so I’m queuing up a lot of romances on my Kindle

6.     What is your writing process?

There’s a lot of thinking in my head that goes on before I even sit down to write.  On a jog or on the treadmill I think about characters, plot, and dialogue. I usually put together a very brief outline, then just sit down and write.

I’m a real pantser.  I jump all over the novel writing scenes out of order.  My first draft is terrifying, and it usually takes me 2 revisions to get everything where it needs to be.  After that, it’s another 3-4 solid edits before I’m ready even consider publishing. 

I’m sure that horrifies the more organized writers, but it’s just the way my crazy brain works!

7.     At a book signing, do you just sign your name or do you write a note? How do you come up with stuff to say? 

I like to write little notes.  Sometimes I’ll put in something about where they bought the book and when, or something from a conversation we had as they purchased the books.  People aren’t lined up down the block waiting for me to sign, so I usually have time to connect with every reader.  I really enjoy that.

8. What is something people would be surprised to know about you?

I do several of those crazy mud runs every year. 

I used to run marathons back before all the kids came along. I just don’t have time to devote to that kind of training program now, so I transitioned to smaller races and just casual jogging. The mud runs are a real obsession though.  There’s something about finishing a race, soaked and filthy with scraped knees that brings out the kid in me. 

9.     How do you react to a bad review?

I’m half afraid to admit this, but I haven’t had a bad review to date.  I’m sure it’s just a matter of time, because every person has different tastes in what they want in a good novel.  I’ll probably bawl my eyes out, eat a half gallon of ice cream, then try to find something constructive in the review I can use to grow and improve as a writer.

10.  How did you celebrate the sale of your first book?

That day I saw my book live up on Amazon I could hardly believe it.  I didn’t have a big party, no special dinner.  I just stared at the computer screen and basked in the glow of my happiness. Wow.  Me, an author!

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

GIVEAWAY:

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.

The more you comment, the better your chances of winning. The tour dates can be found here:

http://goddessfishpromotions.blogspot.com/2013/03/virtual-book-tour-elven-blood-by-debra.html