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Saturday 21 February 2015

Promo Tour: The Legend of Arturo King by L.B. Dunbar + author interview



Title: The Legend of Arturo King
Author: L.B. Dunbar
Release Date: January 27, 2015

Synopsis

My name is Arturo King, and I’m told I’m a legend in music. My band is called the Nights and we got our start at the underground Round Table in New York City. Raised by a foster father, I didn't know the extent of my inheritance until I was twenty-one, and it was all more than I bargained for. I wanted to play the guitar and rule the world with song, but I learned I have a mother from old money, a dead father who was once a real estate mogul, and a record company that needed some rebuilding. 


Mure Linn, my friend and mentor, has been by my side through it all, teaching me to play, strengthening my lyrics, and guiding me in the music industry. There was one area he couldn't guide me, though, and that was love. Guinevere DeGrance changed everything for me, I suppose, including the reason I’m here learning the legend of my life without remembering any of it.

The legendary rock star series begins...


*18+ due to sexual content*






Interview with L.B. Dunbar

Tell us a little about yourself and your background?
L.B. Dunbar- I’ve been accused of having an overactive imagination which at this point, I think comes in handy. I was always creating romantic stories in my head, but afraid to put them down on paper until a few years ago. Besides being an author, I’m also a mother of four amazing teenagers, and a teacher to middle schoolers.
Which writers inspire you?
L.B. Dunbar-  I’ve been most inspired by Jay Crownover, but before that is was Stephanie Meyer. It’s not only that she wrote Twilight ( I was a huge Twilighter), but also her story of being a  mother, coming up with a story and thinking if she just wrote it down that would be the end of it. Except for her it wasn’t, and I thought why not me? I also love Samantha Young, Sophie Jordan, and Mia Sheridan.
What are you working on at the minute?
L.B. Dunbar-  My current work in progress includes the Legendary Rock Star collection. I’ve finished book one, The Legend of Arturo King, which just released. As it’s a series, I’m working on editing book 2 and finishing book 3. Not to mention, I need to edit book 4 in the Sensations Collection and complete book 5.
Which actor/actress would you like to see playing the lead character from your most recent book?
L.B. Dunbar- I’ve always thought Chris Hemsworth would be the perfect Jess Carter. For Jacob Vincent, who is my most recent book boyfriend...hmmm...I’d have to think about it more.
When did you decide to become a writer?
L.B. Dunbar- I always knew I wanted to be a writer, but I officially began to write in 2009. I thought if I wrote the story of Sound Advice, that would be the end of it. It would leave my head and be over. But in 2013, I decided to revisit the story and through the amazing opportunities to self-publish, I decided to follow through to the end of the process. Write, and publish.
Do you write on a typewriter, computer, dictate or longhand?
L.B. Dunbar- Simple answer. Laptop. Except I’ve been known to pull over on the road and jot notes on the Notes app on my phone or get out of the shower to add notes on my Ipad.
Do you work to an outline or plot or do you prefer just see where an idea takes you?
L.B. Dunbar-  I’ve pretty much let the characters take me, but I tried to be more proactive in writing a very, very rough outline for the Legendary Rock Stars series. It continually changed though.
Do you read much and if so who are your favorite authors.
L.B. Dunbar-  I used to read more, but now not as much. I’ve recently read Samantha Young, Sophie Jordan and J. Lynn. I love Kate Roth, and I recently read her book, Natural Harmony. Loved it.
Do you think that giving books away free works and why?
L.B. Dunbar- I haven’t done it officially through the sales channels so I can’t say. I have however given away tons of books (through takeovers). I find when readers win a book they don’t always read it right away, but when they do, they typically read the rest of the series.
How do you relax?
L.B. Dunbar- Relax? Uhmmm...what’s that?
What is your favorite book and why?
L.B. Dunbar- My all time favorite is Pride and Prejudice. Yep, I’m a Jane Austen fan.
What is your favorite quote?
L.B. Dunbar-  She may be little, but she is fierce. I’m not only small in stature, but I’m a new indie author, but I am determined to be successful.
What is your favorite movie and why?
L.B. Dunbar- It’s been a long time since I’ve watched one, but I love P.S. I Love You and Leap Year.
Which famous person, living or dead would you like to meet and why?
L.B. Dunbar- Jane Austen. I want to know what her real story is.
 What advice would you give to aspiring writers?
L.B. Dunbar- Just do it. And get a good editor. Live the dream, though and don’t let anyone tell you you can’t.
Where can you see yourself in 5 years’ time?
L.B. Dunbar- Oh, I’ll still be teaching and a parent. Would I love to live off being an author? Absolutely, but I don’t want to get ahead of myself.
If you had a superpower, what would it be?
L.B. Dunbar- I’d love to be able to duplicate myself so the other person could do the dishes and laundry.
What secret talents do you have?
L.B. Dunbar- I can garden - like really big flower garden.
Where is one place you want to visit that you haven't been before?
L.B. Dunbar- I’ve always wanted to go to Africa, but I’d settle for Ireland.
What is something you want to accomplish before you die?
L.B. Dunbar- As I’ve already accomplished my bucket list, I need to come up with a new list, I’m thinking New York Times Bestseller would be nice.
What does your writing process look like?
L.B. Dunbar- Write like crazy. Then get interrupted.
What do you consider to be your best accomplishment?
L.B. Dunbar- My children.
Is there a certain type of scene that's harder for you to write than others? Love? Action? Racy?
L.B. Dunbar- Action and mystery. Very difficult for me. I’m not good at keeping a secret. 
Did you learn anything from writing your book and what was it?
L.B. Dunbar- Writing the book is easy. Promoting is hard. Really hard.
Name one entity that you feel supported you outside of family members.
L.B. Dunbar- It was pretty simply I needed one person to tell me she liked the story and I was moving forward. And that’s what happened. I had a friend’s mother read through the first edit and she said she loved it. That’s all I needed. It was onto my first review that I was set back, but kindly guided, to find another editor and re-work a few things (mainly third to first person).
Can you share a little of your current work with us?
L.B. Dunbar- I realized suddenly where she stood. She had paused before a door to the left of the bar. I knew this door. It was made to blend seamlessly into the wall, looking like heavy olden bricks, like the surrounding walls. Only the keypad to the right gave away any semblance of a passageway. A person needed a special access code to pass through that door into the hall behind. I watched her press her fingers deftly across the silver numbers and push the door gently inward into a darkened passage beyond without a single glance back over those sexy shoulders in my direction. I had to know who she was as the door closed cutting off my view of her. It was almost instantaneous that I knew I wanted her, but this whole scene could only mean two things were true: she was somehow connected to Leo DeGrance and she didn’t want me. And I believed them both. Almost.

Is there anything you find particularly challenging in your writing?

L.B. Dunbar-  Keeping the character real. I don’t want anything that sounds too extreme, like so-and-so would never do that.
What book are you reading now?
L.B. Dunbar- Bright Side by Kim Holden
What is your favorite theme/genre to write about?
L.B. Dunbar- Contemporary New Adult Romance - of course!!
While you were writing, did you ever feel as if you were one of the characters?
L.B. Dunbar- Often - I have to be in their head to feel them, as they are in mine!
Thank you very much for taking the time out of your busy schedule to take part in this interview.
L.B. Dunbar-  Thank you, and thank you for supporting indie authors.

About the Author 

I’d like to say I was always a writer. I’d also like to say that I wrote every day of my life since a child. That I took the teaching advice I give my former students because writing every day improves your writing. I’d like to say I have my ten-thousand hours that makes me a proficient writer. But I can’t say any of those things. I did dream of writing the “Great American Novel” until one day a friend said: Why does it have to be great? Why can’t it just be good and tell a story?

As a teenager, I wrote your typical love-angst poetry that did occasionally win me an award and honor me with addressing my senior high school class at our Baccalaureate Mass. I didn't keep a journal because I was too afraid my mom would find it in the mattress where I kept my copy of Judy Blume’s Forever that I wasn't allowed to read as a twelve year old.

I can say that books have been my life. I’m a reader. I loved to read the day I discovered “The Three Bears” as a first grader, and ever since then, the written word has been my friend. Books were an escape for me. An adventure to the unknown. A love affair I’d never know. I could be lost for hours in a book.

So why writing now? I had a story to tell. It haunted me from the moment I decided if I just wrote it down it would go away. But it didn't. Three years after writing the first draft, a sign (yes, I believe in them) told me to fix up that draft and work the process to have it published. That’s what I did. But one story let to another, and another, and another. Then a new idea came into my head and a new story line was created. 

I was accused (that’s the correct word) of having an overactive imagination as a child, as if that was a bad thing. I've also been accused of having the personality of a Jack Russell terrier, full of energy, unable to relax, and always one step ahead. What can I say other than I have stories to tell and I think you’ll like them. If you don’t, that’s okay. We all have our book boyfriends. We all have our favorites. Whatever you do, though, take time for yourself and read a book.



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