An Interview with James Lloyd Dulin
We got the chance to sit down with James Lloyd Dulin—author of the dark fantasy Malitu trilogy—to talk about writing, basketball, life, and his upcoming series finale Only A Grave Will Do. James has three books out and Only A Grave Will Do releasing on June 24th, 2025.
[GDM] Hey James, thanks so much for doing this interview! To get things started, can you give a quick pitch of your series to the people reading this interview?
[JLD] A recluse warrior faces his past, risks warring factions, and delves back into the rebellion he abandoned to mentor a war orphan hell-bent on revenge. He will fight an empire to keep her from recreating his life of regrets.
If you enjoy Robin Hobb, Patrick Rothfuss, or Evan Winter, Malitu should be on your TBR.
[GDM] Only A Grave Will Do, the culmination of your series, comes out on June 24th. How are you feeling about everything?
[JLD] I’m still processing it all. I have been looking forward to jumping into new worlds and new stories. At the same time, I tear up reading the final chapters of Only a Grave Will Do, realizing that this will be the last time I write about these characters. This story has existed in my head for over 6 years. It is extremely satisfying to finish sharing it with the world, and sad to say goodbye to it.
[GDM] What are you currently reading?
[JLD] I am juggling a couple of books. I just finished listening to The Will of the Many, and I’m working my way through the Murderbot novellas. I usually have an audiobook and an ebook/physical book going at all times.
[GDM] In your interview with Rebecca Crunden, you stated that Hakeem is one of your favorite basketball players. What’s your ideal staring five?
[JLD] My favorite team ever was the 2004 Detroit Pistons because they were a bunch of amazing role players who came together as a team to win a championship without the star power of other teams. So I’m not throwing the best players out there in each role. I want a team I think will work well together.
Isiah Thomas (81-94, not current NBA), Reggie Miller, LeBron James, Tim Duncan, Hakeem Olajuwon. I think these guys would know how to move the ball around and work together.
[GDM] This is a bit of a darker question, but what’s the closest you’ve ever been to quitting?
[JLD] I’ve never been close to quitting writing. I come close to quitting or at least stepping back from publishing all the time. It’s hard when you aren’t meeting your personal metrics for success and you reflect on what you are giving up to keep everything going. I am investing time and money on publishing that could go to my family. I do my best to find balance, but there are always sacrifices—nights that I could spend relaxing with my wife. My hope is to look back on this and feel like I made the right decisions with my time. If I don’t make space for my creative pursuits, I cannot be the best version of myself. However, I can never let my creative needs take priority over the people I love.
There is never enough time. I will probably always wonder if I am making the right decisions.
Dark enough for Grimdark Magazine?
[GDM] Other than writing, what fills your time?
[JLD] Mostly, work and family. I have two young children who have enough energy to replace that damn bunny with the bass drum. We play basketball, color, and roughhouse until they fight sleep like it was their worst enemy on a daily basis.
I am fueled by anything that allows me to be creative. I love cooking, especially trying out new dishes. Although, age is really trying to steal my love for spicy food. Which is my way of saying, my time is filled with getting older, and it sucks.
[GDM] Have any movies impacted or inspired your writing?
[JLD] Pan’s Labyrinth is one of my favorite movies, and it has definitely had an impact. I want to find the flicker of imagination in the dark realities of the world. There is something so stirring about beauty surrounded by darkness.
I’m also a sucker for movies with redemptive father/son relationships. In a similar way to Pan’s Labyrinth, there is something that affects me about love pushing through pain and trauma. Warrior (2011) is my favorite example of that, and I would definitely say those relationships inspire the way I think about characters.
[GDM] What’s the best album to write to?
[JLD] Silence. Absolute silence.
I am drawn to lyrics. So writing to music is a good way to distract me. My mind latches onto the words. Occasionally, I will throw on some lofi instrumental music, but that is mostly when I’m editing.
[GDM] What’s next for James Lloyd Dulin?
[JLD] More stories. There will always be new stories. I have a rough idea of a spinoff series in the same world as Malitu, but I think I will come back to that later.
For now, I want to explore a new world. During the breaks when editors have had Only a Grave Will Do, I have been outlining a series loosely inspired by Arcane. And when I say loosely inspired, I mean vibes only. I loved the show, and it made me want to write something with a similar style. So I hope to start writing that soon.
[GDM] Thanks for doing this interview! Wanna leave a last message for the readers? Beg them to pick up your books or spit at them in bloody defiance?
[JLD] Does begging work? I’ll do it. Do I need to film it?
Seriously, for anyone who has read this far in the interview, thank you. Give Malitu a try. If it doesn’t do it for you, just buy the rest and read something else. Is that too much to ask?
Read Only a Grave Will Do by James Lloyd DulinThe post An Interview with James Lloyd Dulin appeared first on Grimdark Magazine.
