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.
Excerpt:
I heaved the decapitated demon head through the gate to Hel and turned to look at the guardian. The way her shoulders slumped and she kicked at the floor, gave me the impression she was not happy to be supervising.
“Third one this week,” I told her, as if she didn’t know.
I had a bounty on my head, but the demons Haagenti was sending after me were the dregs of the hierarchy, desperate beings looking to get lucky and boost their fame by taking me down. Idiots. I kept killing them and tossing their heads through the gate that connected the realm of the humans with Hel. I wasn’t sure if the powerful demon, Haagenti, was more pissed at the fact that I’d shielded my foster brother, Dar, from his wrath this fall, or that I’d kept the Iblis sword instead of turning it over to him.
Not that I really wanted the thing. I was stuck with it, and all the paperwork and responsibility that seemed to come with holding the empty title of leader of the demons. Iblis. Ha-Satan. The Devil. No one had held that title since our split with the angels two and a half million years ago. Why had this sword, this artifact that came with the title, chosen me? I was nothing but an imp. I wasn’t qualified to be the Iblis.
Debra, thanks so much for stopping by. So, why don’t you tell us a little about yourself?
I’m that quirky, middle-aged woman who does mud runs, likes to put pink and purple streaks in her hair and writes fantasy. My 16yo son is starting to drive (I’m in denial!), and I have two more sons age 6 and 4 that run me ragged. Hubby has a small brewery on our 125 acre farm, and I have a corporate job that gets in the way of my writing but pays the bills.
How did you get started writing?
I’ve always been a writer – ever since I could hold a pen in my hand. Life took a detour though after college, and most of my writing wound up being non-fiction, work-related stuff, or op-ed pieces for the city paper. I’d been flitting from hobby to hobby, trying to find a creative outlet to balance the corporate half, and I re-discovered my love of writing fiction- fantasy in particular. I love creating my novels – better even than knitting or baking (and that’s saying a lot!)
So why did you decide to write about demons and elves?
All the books in the Imp series have demons and angels in them since they are the movers and shakers in the world I’ve built. I’ve always been fascinated by demons. We all have an urge to do something bad or naughty now and then, and it’s interesting to see how we redirect, squash, or act on those urges.
Elves have always fascinated me too. They’re not as violently passionate as vampires or werewolves. They’ve got a sort of aloof, intellectual and spiritual appeal about them. Like the angels, they’re very organized and regimented in their culture – I like to throw a big monkey wrench into those kinds of societies, and Sam (the imp in the series) is just the monkey wrench I need!
Now I'm curious, what exactly is an Iblis?
“Iblis” is from Islam and has been equated with the Christian Satan. I chose it mainly because it’s a less familiar term than “Satan” and less likely to cause a visceral negative reaction in some of my readers. I wanted the title to reflect more of the Satan of early history – the adversary, the one who tests.
In the Imp series world, the title “Iblis” signifies the leader of the demons. At one time it carried some weight, but the demons no longer recognize the title. It’s pretty meaningless right now except that it comes with a sword as the symbol of office, and a seat on the angelic Ruling Council. Paperwork, boring meetings, and a weapon to lug around – no wonder nobody wants the job!
What’s the one genre you haven’t written in yet that you’d like to?
I’m working on a paranormal thriller right now, which is something new for me. I’d like to write a sweet romance. I know, not anywhere close to what I’ve done so far, is it? I’ve got a rough plot outline for one that I hope to get to early next year.
Are there any genres you won’t read or write in? Why?
I haven’t found anything yet that’s a “no”. I love the challenge of trying something new, and will probably try at least a short story in every genre by the time I’m through. I think the most difficult for me will be sci-fi. I had to do a lot of world building for the Imp series, but nowhere near the level I’d need to do for a sci-fi! It’s a bit daunting.
So, what are you working on right now? Got any releases planned, or still writing?
I’ve got two short stories for my Naughty Mom erotic/romance series ready for edit. They should be out early summer. I’m currently writing book 4 for the Imp series, and my paranormal thriller. Those should be out in the fall, closely followed by book 5 in the Imp series before the end of the year. I’ve got a few other projects in the hopper, but the day-job and family responsibilities will probably delay them into next year.
Thanks so much for taking the time to stop by!
Thank you for having me!
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. So the more you comment, the better your chances of winning.
April 29: You Gotta Read Reviews
April 30: Welcome to My World of Dreams
May 2: Straight from the Library
May 3: Out of the Lockbox
May 6: Books and Other Spells
May 7: Dawn's Reading Nook Blog
May 8: Writers and Authors
May 9: My Reading Obsession
May 10: Long and Short Reviews
May 13: Bunny's Review
May 14: Rogue's Angels
May 16: The Dan O'Brien Project
May 17: It's Raining Books
May 20: Farm Girl Books
May 21: Sharing Links and Wisdom
May 22: Fantasy Powered by Love
May 23: Deal Sharing Aunt
May 24: Racing To Read
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 .
Thank you for hosting
ReplyDeleteI bet any sweet romance you write would be...well...sweet :) Thanks for sharing the interview!
ReplyDeleteandralynn7 AT gmail DOT com
Thanks for stopping by! Not sure if I'll ever write that sweet romance lurking in my head - maybe someday.
ReplyDeleteI never heard the term iblis before. Fascinating. This sounds like a really good story.
ReplyDelete