I picked up Unbound one day and fell completely into Lori Devoti’s world. I highly recommend that experience! And how she’s got an exciting new urban fantasy series, beginning with Amazon Ink.
She graciously agreed to do an interview with Silk and Shadows and will give a commenter one her books! You get to choose.
Tell us about your recent books
My most recent book wasn’t a romance. It was my first urban fantasy novel, Amazon Ink. Like my romances though it has shapeshifters, magic and some majorly alpha males. They have to be to be paired with my Amazons.
In Amazon Ink Mel Saka, an Amazon who left her tribe a decade earlier, has had some unpleasant early morning discoveries–dead Amazon teens on her doorstep. Mel doesn’t want to be drawn back into tribe life, but she also doesn’t want girls to continue to die. She has to make some tough choices balancing her old life and her new–which includes a teen daughter of her own, a difficult mother and grandmother, a tattoo business, and two sexy men.
My most recent romance was Dark Crusade, the 4th book in my Unbound series for Nocturne. The hero in it is a garm, wolf-shapeshifter, and the heroine is a witch. They are both trapped in an “inbetween” land where the ruling group is hunting witches.
Kerr Vik thinks he’s happy in Gunngar working for the ruling group of elves until he discovers the witch he’s been called to sniff out is Heather Moore, a woman from his past. Suddenly the witch hunt going on in the land is all too personal. Kerr is faced with a decision–save Heather and give up everything he ever thought he wanted or turn her over to the elves who he know will kill her.
You write about hellhounds – what other supernatural creatures appear in your stories?
In my Unbound series I have garm (wolf-shapeshifters), hellhounds, witches, elves, dark elves, giants, dwarfs, dragons…and other beings from Norse mythology. I also had a vampire story in last year’s Holiday with a Vampire II from Nocturne. Right now what I’m working on in romance have mainly werewolves as heros.
What made you choose the hounds for your men? Describe their society a bit for us
The world in my Unbound series is based on Norse mythology. The hellhounds are shapeshifters who in the past were used by the gods and other beings to hunt down people in the Wild Hunt. The hellhounds are all very alpha and fairly solitary. If put together in a pack situation, one true alpha does emerge however. The garm, wolf shape-shifters, are my world’s protectors. They run the portals that lead to other worlds.
I’m still developing my werewolf society. I have a Nocturne Bite coming out in January 2010, and probably a full length Nocturne with a werewolf in the summer of 2010. I definitely have a Nocturne release at that time. I’m just not sure if it will be the werewolf book or my last book in the Unbound series–a dragon book. (I have a February Nocturne too. That one is a hellhound story.)
What should potential heroines know in advance about your heroes? What makes a good hero?
My heroes are alphas but not asses. They are strong, but respect heroines that are strong also. Personally, I’ve always been a sucker for an alpha hero, but not when they cross the line. Strong doesn’t mean bully.
Who was the best villain you’ve written?
I really like the villain in my dragon book–which will be out either summer 2010 or early in 2011. He’s a bit unusual–a blood-drinking dwarf. My most popular villain though would have to be Lusse, an immortal witch from the first book in my Unbound series (also titled Unbound). She was completely over the top evil.
What are you working on now?
Right now I’m finishing up the werewolf book I mentioned earlier. There’s a bit of a twist to it, but I don’t think I’m supposed to mention it yet–so I’ll just say it isn’t only about werewolves. I have a hero who chose to become a werewolf because of some the special skills being one gave him–for a very particular job.
If your favourite hero arrived at your door to take you on a date, what would the PG13 part of the evening be like?
I love writing my heros and I could telll you what someone else’s evening with them might be like, but I can’t quite put myself into the equation. And honestly, my heroes aren’t really the “dating” type. 
I just can’t imagine them showing up on someone’s door with a box of chocolates or a bouquet of roses…they’re more the type to storm into the middle of someone else’s date with the heroine and drag her out of the restaurant.
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Good morning,
by CCarol L. October 29th, 2009 at 4:23 amI have to say Lori is a new to me Author. I’m so glad I came on this morning because I’d love to read about her Hell hounds. And I do love wolves. I’m glad to meet you here Lori and look forward to reading your books. Thank you, I enjoyed your post.
Carol L.
Lucky4750@aol.com
Hi
by RKCharron October 29th, 2009 at 7:16 amThank you for the great interview with Lori.
A blood drinking dwarf?!
All the best,
RKCharron
xoxo
Great interview…I can’t wait to get a copy Unbound
by Caitlin Usignol October 29th, 2009 at 7:47 amWelcome to Silk and Shadows, Lori!!
by Sharon Ashwood October 29th, 2009 at 9:03 amEnjoyed the interview, now I have some new series to read!
by Teresa W. October 29th, 2009 at 9:05 amHi Lori! What is your favorite creature of those you’ve written about?
Deidre
by Deidre October 29th, 2009 at 9:52 amOoh, the cover for Amazon Queen is sooo pretty! When is that book coming out? I have yet to read Amazon Ink! I’d better get on that….
by Ley October 29th, 2009 at 10:48 amHi, everybody! Thanks for the welcome!
by Lori Devoti October 29th, 2009 at 10:50 amSo far as my favorite creature, I really did enjoy coming up with the personalities for my hellhounds, but I enjoy doing new to me creatures too. My dragon has a kind of smart ass characteristic to him, and then the Amazons–all strong women–were, of course, great to write.
Thanks, Ley. I’m really pleased with the Amazon Queen cover. She has visible muscles and everything!
by Lori Devoti October 29th, 2009 at 11:09 amMy editor and I got to see a number of photos and that is the one both of us liked the best for the cover.
Lori
Great interview! This Unbound series sounds very interesting, I love everything about Norse mythology! I’ll look for your books.
by Eva S October 29th, 2009 at 11:24 amHeh heh, that would make a great tagline or something. Alphas not asses.
Can’t wait for Amazon Queen!
by Jacqueline L. October 29th, 2009 at 12:30 pmHi, Lori!
I have Amazon Ink on my TBR pile and I can’t wait to read it! I love UF and your new series sounds awesome!
by Wendy October 29th, 2009 at 1:09 pmBy the way – the cover for Amazon Queen is So awesome!! Love it.
by Wendy October 29th, 2009 at 1:10 pmLori, Great interview!! I had no idea you had a new series out.. Got to check it out..It sounds great.
by Martha Lawson October 29th, 2009 at 1:30 pmHappy Halloween
I picked up Amazon Ink when it came out and enjoyed it very much. And, like Wendy, I think the cover for Amazon Queen is grrrreat!
by Zita October 29th, 2009 at 2:11 pmI love the variety of paranormals that you write about – from werewolves, dragons, witches, and Amazons to blood drinking dwarves. I think it’s fun to have lots of different characters to stir things up. I haven’t read Amazon Ink yet, but I’m looking forward to picking it up.
by Barbara Elness October 29th, 2009 at 5:53 pmA dragon…oooh, you’ve got me hooked. I’m having trouble imagining the blood drinking dwarf, but you can make anything come alive, Lori!
by Annette McCleave October 29th, 2009 at 5:59 pmWell, the blood-drinking dwarf IS a bad guy, if that makes it any easier.
Oh, and he uses a chalice…no fangs for him. 
by Lori Devoti October 29th, 2009 at 6:20 pmGreat interview your books sound great.and I love werewolfs I have to check out your books.
by stacey smith October 29th, 2009 at 6:54 pmsasluvbooks@yahoo.com
Great interview. Love hearing how alpha her heroes are. I’d love to read Amazon Ink
by Abigail [All Things Urban Fantasy] October 29th, 2009 at 9:05 pmYour Unbound series looks very interesting. I like the world your building in it and the strong characteristics of your alphas, definitely sounds like my kinda reads. Great interview, thanks!
by Donna [Fantasy Dreamer's Ramblings] October 29th, 2009 at 10:48 pmLori,
Your heroes sound like my kind of heroes!
Your books sound great, and the perfect thing to add to my upcoming holiday read-fest!
Kim
by Kim Lenox October 31st, 2009 at 3:30 pmGreat interview! This is the first I have heard of the series and it sounds really good. I love the covers!
throuthehaze at gmail dot com
by Raelena October 31st, 2009 at 5:00 pmlove loris books!
by tami October 31st, 2009 at 5:19 pmi would love to read either , well BOTH this books
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by Escapist Newsletter (Vol 3 Issue 11) | Literary Escapism November 4th, 2009 at 2:57 pm[...] Lori Devoti, author of Amazon Queen, at Silk and Shadows [...]
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