Debra Dunbar Popular Books
Debra Dunbar Biography & Facts
Paul Laurence Dunbar (June 27, 1872 – February 9, 1906) was an American poet, novelist, and short story writer of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Born in Dayton, Ohio, to parents who had been enslaved in Kentucky before the American Civil War, Dunbar began writing stories and verse when he was a child. He published his first poems at the age of 16 in a Dayton newspaper, and served as president of his high school's literary society. Dunbar's popularity increased rapidly after his work was praised by William Dean Howells, a leading editor associated with Harper's Weekly. Dunbar became one of the first African-American writers to establish an international reputation. In addition to his poems, short stories, and novels, he also wrote the lyrics for the musical comedy In Dahomey (1903), the first all-African-American musical produced on Broadway in New York. The musical later toured in the United States and the United Kingdom. Suffering from tuberculosis, which then had no cure, Dunbar died in Dayton, Ohio, at the age of 33. Much of Dunbar's more popular work in his lifetime was written in the "Negro dialect" associated with the antebellum South, though he also used the Midwestern regional dialect of James Whitcomb Riley. Dunbar also wrote in conventional English in other poetry and novels and is considered the first important African American sonnet writer. Since the late 20th century, scholars have become more interested in these other works. Biography Early life Paul Laurence Dunbar was born at 311 Howard Street in Dayton, Ohio, on June 27, 1872, to parents who were enslaved in Kentucky before the American Civil War. After being emancipated, his mother Matilda moved to Dayton with other family members, including her two sons Robert and William from her first marriage. Dunbar's father Joshua escaped from slavery in Kentucky before the war ended. He traveled to Massachusetts and volunteered for the 55th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment, one of the first two black units to serve in the war. The senior Dunbar also served in the 5th Massachusetts Cavalry Regiment. Paul Dunbar was born six months after Joshua and Matilda's wedding on Christmas Eve, 1871. The marriage of Dunbar's parents was troubled, and Dunbar's mother left Joshua soon after having their second child, a daughter. Joshua died on August 16, 1885, when Paul was 13 years old. Dunbar wrote his first poem at the age of six and gave his first public recital at the age of nine. His mother assisted him in his schooling, having learned to read expressly for that purpose. She often read the Bible with him, and thought he might become a minister in the African Methodist Episcopal Church. It was the first independent black denomination in America, founded in Philadelphia in the early 19th century. Dunbar was the only African-American student during his years at Central High School in Dayton. Orville Wright was a classmate and friend. Well-accepted, he was elected as president of the school's literary society, and became the editor of the school newspaper and a debate club member. Writing career At the age of 16, Dunbar published the poems "Our Martyred Soldiers" and "On The River" in 1888 in Dayton's The Herald newspaper. In 1890 Dunbar wrote and edited The Tattler, Dayton's first weekly African-American newspaper. It was printed by the fledgling company of his high-school acquaintances, Wilbur and Orville Wright. The paper lasted six weeks. After completing his formal schooling in 1891, Dunbar took a job as an elevator operator, earning a salary of four dollars a week. He had hoped to study law, but was not able to because of his mother's limited finances. He was restricted at work because of racial discrimination. The next year, Dunbar asked the Wrights to publish his dialect poems in book form, but the brothers did not have a facility that could print books. They suggested he go to the United Brethren Publishing House which, in 1893, printed Dunbar's first collection of poetry, Oak and Ivy. Dunbar subsidized the printing of the book, and quickly earned back his investment in two weeks by selling copies personally, often to passengers on his elevator. The larger section of the book, the Oak section, consisted of traditional verse, whereas the smaller section, the Ivy, featured light poems written in dialect. The work attracted the attention of James Whitcomb Riley, the popular "Hoosier Poet". Both Riley and Dunbar wrote poems in both standard English and dialect. His literary gifts were recognized, and older men offered to help him financially. Attorney Charles A. Thatcher offered to pay for college, but Dunbar wanted to persist with writing, as he was encouraged by his sales of poetry. Thatcher helped promote Dunbar, arranging work to read his poetry in the larger city of Toledo at "libraries and literary gatherings." In addition, psychiatrist Henry A. Tobey took an interest and assisted Dunbar by helping distribute his first book in Toledo and sometimes offering him financial aid. Together, Thatcher and Tobey supported the publication of Dunbar's second verse collection, Majors and Minors (1896). Despite frequently publishing poems and occasionally giving public readings, Dunbar had difficulty supporting himself and his mother. Many of his efforts were unpaid and he was a reckless spender, leaving him in debt by the mid-1890s. On June 27, 1896, the novelist, editor, and critic William Dean Howells published a favorable review of Dunbar's second book, Majors and Minors in Harper's Weekly. Howells' influence brought national attention to the poet's writing. Though Howell praised the "honest thinking and true feeling" in Dunbar's traditional poems, he particularly praised the dialect poems. In this period, there was an appreciation for folk culture, and black dialect was believed to express one type of that. The new literary fame enabled Dunbar to publish his first two books as a collected volume, titled Lyrics of Lowly Life, which included an introduction by Howells. Dunbar maintained a lifelong friendship with the Wright brothers. Through his poetry, he met and became associated with black leaders Frederick Douglass and Booker T. Washington, and was close to his contemporary James D. Corrothers. Dunbar also became a friend of Brand Whitlock, a journalist in Toledo who went to work in Chicago. Whitlock joined the state government and had a political and diplomatic career. By the late 1890s, Dunbar started to explore the short story and novel forms; in the latter, he frequently featured white characters and society. Later work Dunbar was prolific during his relatively short career: he published a dozen books of poetry, four books of short stories, four novels, lyrics for a musical, and a play. His first collection of short stories, Folks From Dixie (1898), a sometimes "harsh examination of racial prejudice", had favorable reviews. This was not the case for his first novel, The Uncalled (1898), which cr.... Discover the Debra Dunbar popular books. Find the top 100 most popular Debra Dunbar books.
Best Seller Debra Dunbar Books of 2024
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Sins of the Flesh
Debra DunbarThe Hawaiian Islands in spring should be a romantic paradise, but along with rekindled passion Amber and Irix discover a magical spell gone horribly wrong.Two sex demons could set ...
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Demons of Desire
Debra DunbarAmber's succubus desires are driving her, as well as every man within a five mile radius, crazy – and, Irix, the sexy incubus sent to tutor her, isn't helping one bit. Determined t...
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California Demon
Debra DunbarIn New Hell, only the monsters survive.Eden Alvaro is a licensed Vulture, picking through the aftermath of violence in demonplagued LA, and fencing her finds to help support h...
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A Suburban Summoning
Debra DunbarHalloween is all fun and games until you're summoned into a closet.Forced to help two children rid their father of a murderous girlfriend to satisfy the terms of her summoning, Sam...
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Juneau to Kenai
Debra DunbarBrent fell in love when he and a group of humans were pulled through an interdimensional rift, but he's the Alpha of the Juneau Pack and she's a trauma surgeon from Seattle on vaca...
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The Naughty List
Debra DunbarSam and her angel Gregory are off on a preChristmas vacation to a sleepy little town in the Alps. Sam looks for a decent spa while Gregory soaks up the history of local martyrs. Wh...
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Angel of Chaos
Debra DunbarLeveling up bites.As if I don't have enough crap to do being the leader of Hel, I've been tricked into helping a pregnant woman who is fleeing an abusive relationship and carrying ...
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Route 666
Debra DunbarIn the chaos of New Hell, three demons have seized control, dividing the LA area between them. Eden and Bishop are fighting to keep the humans and shifters safe, but it's a war the...
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Exodus
Debra DunbarThe elves have a plan to save humanity…by enslaving them. And the angels are too busy to intervene. There's a war in heaven and a petition to have me removed from the Rul...
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Three Wishes
Debra DunbarDar helped his foster sister become the ruler of Hel, and helped her free the enslaved humans from the elves. It's about time he helped himself – to a fun week of mayhem in the Win...
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The Morning Star
Debra DunbarWhere's the support group for demon parents?Samael, the OG Satan who no one has seen in over two million years is supposedly roaming the world and killing angels. Just like all tho...
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Kingdom of Lies
Debra DunbarA gemstone might destroy the world before I get the chance to do it myself.Interdimensional rifts are opening, spilling supernatural creatures into the world of the humans. Locatin...
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Bare Bones
Debra DunbarSkinned bodies are turning up in broom closets and garages, but when these bodies are identified, the 'victims' are found to be very much alive. Was there a mistake at the morgue? ...
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With This Ring
Debra DunbarBring on the shots and the strippers!I'm the ruler of Hel as well as a demoncontrolled section of North America.I'm also in charge of elven labor relations, and a bachelorette part...
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The Devil Went Down to Glendale
Debra DunbarTo settle her debt with the tax demons, Eden promised them ten jobs, but she didn't think the demons would cash in on her vow so quickly.When she discovers her target is a powerful...
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Death and Divination
Debra DunbarOphelia Perkins faces death's reapers every dayshe never thought she'd fall in love with one of them.As an oracle, Ophelia divines the futureand sometimes there is no future for th...
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Royal Blood
Debra DunbarWinter weather can spell death for the homeless, but the bodies found on Baltimore's streets aren't homeless and they didn't die from the cold.Are rogue vampires making a move into...
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The Templar Series Books 1-3
Debra DunbarAll that stands between modern Baltimore and the monsters is the black sheep of the Templar Order in this three book set.Dead Rising – Book 1Guard the Temple.Safeguard Pilgrims on ...
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Down The Chimney
Debra DunbarRoped into being the Ruling Council's Christmas Ambassador, Sam finds herself more Santa than Satan at a slew of human social events, all while trying to score an impossibletoget g...
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Penance
Debra DunbarUriel has awoken into a nightmare, unable to remember who or what she is. She and eight other women are captives of human traffickers, to be prettiedup and sold to the highest bidd...
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Brimstone and Broomsticks
Debra DunbarA family of witches, a sexy stranger, a missing werewolf, and a whole town of paranormal suspects!Maintaining the town wards is the only witchmagic Cassandra Perkins performswell, ...
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Rogue
Debra DunbarSabrina had a hot sexy night with a bear shifter during her wolf pack's annual barbequethen never heard from him again. When her Alpha sends her to Ketchikan to track down a murder...
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Devils and the Dead
Debra DunbarThe new werewolf compound is haunted, and Babylon, the only Perkins sister with necromancer skills, is just the right witch for the job. Except this ghost is under a curse and brea...
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Queen of the Damned
Debra DunbarWar kinda sucks.The Fallen angels have awakened and are gathering their forces in preparation to launch an infernal attack on heaven. Well, the jokes on them, because there is no o...
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A Crown of Imp and Bone
Debra DunbarOnce more the fate of mankind rests on Satan's shoulders.A stupid misunderstanding has broken a tenthousandyear old contract between the fae and the angels, and humans are now...
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Dark Crossroads
Debra DunbarAfter three months of silence, Reynard shows up at Aria's door asking for her help in ousting a new mage who wants control of Haul Du. She sees no reason to help a man who was more...
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Stolen Souls
Debra DunbarNyalla is dogsitting for Satan. It's a sweet gig for a girl who, up until recently, had been a slave to the elves in Hel. The house is amazing, she's got the key to the...
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The Templar Series Books 4-6
Debra DunbarAll that stands between modern Baltimore and the monsters is the black sheep of the Templar Order in this three book set.Famine's Feast – Book 4An epidemic is overloading Baltimore...
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Far From Center
Debra DunbarThe archangel Gabriel has a score to settle. Rebellion has destroyed Aaru, and the angel that started it all is still on the loose. Gabriel will go to any lengths to make the rebel...
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Hell and Hexes
Debra DunbarTwo weeks ago Sylvie Perkins' luck ran out.She died. Was resurrected. Spent two long weeks recovering from the ordeal on her sister's couch. Now the luck witch is back home, trying...
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Dead Rising
Debra DunbarGuard the Temple.Safeguard Pilgrims on the Path.Record knowledgeboth holy and unholy.Those are the three mandates Templar Knights have followed since the twelfth century.But it's t...
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Northern Lights
Debra DunbarRaphael is an Angel of Order. . . sort of. His affinity for chaos makes him the perfect choice to investigate the trespass in Alaska of supernatural creatures not seen in eons. But...
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Ventura Hellway
Debra DunbarBeware the devils who promise miracles.When an old flame asks Eden to help find his younger brother, she initially refuses. Searching for Anton will put her smack in the middle of ...
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Fiends and Familiars
Debra DunbarHellhounds and squirrels and vultures, oh my!The hellhound on her lawn is just another stray animal in need of some loveat least that's what animalwhisperer witch Adrienne Perkins ...
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Sinners on Sunset
Debra DunbarThe tax demons want their pound of flesh. Or fiftytwo thousand dollars.Unable to pay what she owes, Eden is forced to fight a neverending stream of bounty hunters while she tries t...
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Minions and Magic
Debra DunbarGlenda's magic might be in healing, but she's more proud of her nonwitch talents. When it comes to crafting culinary delights, everyone inside and outside of Accident knows that Gl...
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Cornucopia
Debra DunbarAmber has made a deal with the devil.To protect her incubus boyfriend, Irix, from the angels, Amber has agreed to journey to Hel and assist the humans there with their failing agri...
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Imp Series Books 4-6
Debra DunbarWARNING: This series has laughout loud antics, an OCD werewolf, and a sexy angel. Get ready to binge read this bestselling antihero urban fantasy series!This Imp Series set include...
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Winter Fae
Debra DunbarAfter dropping off a pair of Denali Pack wolves Dustin sees an overturned truck in the wilderness with an injured human desperate for rescue. What he finds when he lands is a trap....
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Imp Series Books 7-9
Debra DunbarWARNING: This series has laughout loud antics, an OCD werewolf, and a sexy angel. Get ready to binge read this bestselling antihero urban fantasy series!This Imp Series set include...
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Imp Series Books 1-3
Debra DunbarWARNING: This series has laughout loud antics, an OCD werewolf, and a sexy angel. Get ready to binge read this bestselling antihero urban fantasy series!This Imp Series set include...
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Last Breath
Debra DunbarWhat do a dead cosplayer and a ritual murder have in common? Plenty.Solaria Ainsworth isn't a paladin, she's not even an ordained Templar Knight, but she can't resist poking her no...