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Albert Camus

Don't walk behind me; I may not lead. Don't walk in front of me; I may not follow. Just walk beside me and be my friend.

Wednesday, April 2, 2014

Interview and Giveaway: Dark Hope by H.D. Smith

Publication Date: March 3rd, 2014

Description:

Loving a demon isn’t the end of the world—losing him is.

Claire, the Devil’s assistant, knows very little about the world she was dropped into five years ago, when she inherited her mother’s unpaid debt to the Demon King. She certainly didn’t expect to be a contender for the Fallen Queen’s throne, a target for the Druid King’s mafia, or a suspect in the murder of Junior, the Devil’s oldest hell spawn.

In a last ditch effort to save her life and get out of her deal with the Devil, she sets out to solve Junior’s murder only to be taken prisoner by the four most dangerous immortal hell spawn alive.

Not to be out done, the Pagan Queen Mab, claims Claire for entering her realm uninvited. She has an old debt to settle with her brother the Devil. Taking Claire from him after losing her years ago is just icing on the cake.

Will Claire win her freedom, and save herself from the Devil? Or be trapped by Mab forever?

MB's INTERVIEW

From contemporary to (urban) fantasy/paranormal. How different it is to write them?
I sort of look at Urban Fantasy as contemporary with magic, at least it feels that way to me in the world I’ve created. I like the freedom of paranormal. Things can be possible because of magic that wouldn’t otherwise be an option. In book one, they have power and can manipulate their appearance, but I don’t have any “shifters” (although there may be a little of this in book two). And all of my beings are people sized, no little flying creatures or giant trolls that couldn’t possibly pass as human. To write contemporary now, would feel limiting.

You write also short stories. What do you like more to write and why: the short stories or the novel? What is the biggest challenge of each?
The short stories are my earlier attempts at writing a full length novel! I like the novel format best, it gives you room to move. I think if I tried to write a short story now it would wind up being too long. I may change my mind in the future, but novel length—and a book with series potential—is my preference.

Your Goodreads description says that the writing is your hobby next to the painting and screen printing. Did and how these other hobbies helped or influenced your writing style?
Actually the writing influences the other two. I like to design shirts for places in my books. I have a Wild Hare Bar & Grill (Dark Hope) design that I’ve put on many t-shirts and plastic cups, and I’ve used the fish from my Blue Lagoon Dinner (Keegan’s Point) design to screen print on a painting or two. My painting style is fun abstract craziness, which I like to overlay with screen printed elements. 

Apparently, demons are not all bad… how are yours, what make them different?
In my world there are three realms, and other than having magic (and a few similar physical characteristics) the people of the different realms are just like humans … some are bad and some are good. The Devil (Demon King) isn’t the villain of this story … he’s not warm and fuzzy either, but he isn’t our biggest threat (but don’t tell him that). 

How do you prefer a heroine to be and how is Claire: a damsel in distress or a kick ass girl?
I like strong smart heroines. I’m not sure I could write a story with a heroine that makes dumb mistakes. Claire finds herself in tough situations, but not because she is making stupid choices. Claire is definitely a kick ass girl, no damsels in distress here!

About the author:
HD Smith has been writing as a hobby for over ten years. DARK HOPE is her first traditionally published full length novel. She has previously self-published two middle grade novellas in ebook format. She is a software developer by day, working for an awesome cruise line in Celebration, FL.

HD grew up in South Carolina, but has called the Sunshine State home since 1997. She has Computer Science degrees from Clemson University (CS) and Florida Institute of Technology (MS). Her other hobbies include painting and screen printing. She enjoys creating t- shirts inspired by the places in her books. For more information, visit HD’s website at:


10 comments:

Donna Reynolds said...

Sounds like a good book Thank you for the giveaway.

Unknown said...

Thank you for the giveaway!

Unknown said...

I read Dark Hope and loved it. Claire is most definitely a kick-ass heroine. Perhaps even better, she is both smart and shrewd. I can't wait for the next book!

Unknown said...

Mie imi place interviul foarte mult.

Catalina Mihaela said...

This book looks like Georgina Kincakaid series by Richelle Mead but I think it have its own originality

Unknown said...

I love this cover and the color of her hair. I wish i could get my hair to be that red. The book itself also sounds like a great read.

From Head To Tale said...

Congrats to HD Smith on the release of Dark Hope!

I definitely prefer a kick-ass heroine. I wonder what Claire's business card looks like as the Devil’s assistant...

Thanks for hosting the giveaway. Fingers crossed to win.

collenga said...

Great interview! I also prefer the kick as girl! Thanks for sharing!

Unknown said...

sounds like a great book! Thanks for the giveaway.

rounder9834 @yahoo.com

Unknown said...

This sounds like such a great book. Love books featuring a strong heroine.