My guest today is author Darynda Jones. The first book in her new Charley Davidson series, First Grave on the Right, hits bookshelves on February 1, 2011. Please join me in welcoming Darynda here today to Dark Faerie Tales. You can read the first chapter of the book here. I found this book highly entertaining, enjoyable and just all around fun. You can expect my review of the book in the next couple of days.
One lucky commenter will have a chance to win an autographed copy of First Grave on the Right. Darynda will stop by to answer any questions and view your responses to her question. As always, details are listed at the end of the post.
Welcome Darynda!
It’s Not Easy Being Grim
by Darynda Jones
So, what if the grim reaper were just misunderstood? You know, a being not made of death and darkness and creepy skeletal remains? And what if she—yes, she—were really a bright, shiny beacon of light that lured those departed who were left on Earth toward her so they could cross to the other side? Of course, in the process she would attract all kinds of trouble, everything from demons who try to kill her to ghosts who try to kill her to, well, humans who try to kill her.
That is Charlotte “Charley” Davidson, the heroine of First Grave on the Right, in a nutshell. And while she’d like to believe she’s a complete badass, she’s really more of an accident-prone, slightly schizophrenic girl from Albuquerque who takes the complications of ADD to a whole new level. Not to mention the fact that she’s the only grim reaper this side of forever.
Okay, but why the grim reaper, you might ask. That one is simple. As an aspiring author, I wanted to get noticed. I wanted something different that would pique the interest of agents and editors alike. Fortunately for me, Charley did just that. First, she won the 2009 RWA Golden Heart for Best Paranormal Romance, then she landed me an amazing agent. Not long after that, she secured a three-book deal for the rights to her story with St. Martin’s Press. Her journey has been an incredible one and the fun is just beginning.
In First Grave on the Right, Charley Davidson uses her reaper abilities to help her succeed as a private investigator. It’s a natural progression from her childhood. Since she was five, she’s been helping her detective father solve crimes. In First Grave, three lawyers from the same law firm are murdered, and they come to Charley to find their killer. At the same time, she’s dealing with a being she calls the Big Bad. He’s more powerful, and definitely sexier, than any specter she’s ever come across. With the help of some living and some not-so-living associates, Charley sets out to solve the highest profile case of the year and discovers that dodging bullets isn’t nearly as dangerous as falling in love.
***
Here’s a quick excerpt:
In too much pain to stretch, I let a lengthy yawn overtake me instead, winced at the soreness shooting through my jaw, then looked back at Dead Guy. He was blurry. Not because he was dead, but because it was 4:34 a.m. And I’d recently had my ass kicked.
“Hi,” he said nervously. He had a wrinkled suit, round- rimmed glasses, and mussed hair that made him look part young-wizard-we- all- know-and-love and part mad scientist. He also had two bullet holes on the side of his head with blood streaking down his right temple and cheek. None of these details were a problem. The problem resided in the fact that he was in my bedroom. In the wee hours of dawn. Standing over me like a dead Peeping Tom.
I eyed him with my infamous death stare, second only to my infamous fluster stare, and got a response immediately.
“Sorry, sorry,” he said, stumbling over his words, “didn’t mean to frighten you.”
Did I look frightened? Clearly my death stare needed work.
Ignoring him, I inched out of bed. I had on a Scorpions hockey jersey I’d snatched off a goalie and a pair of plaid boxers-same team, different position. Chihuahuas, tequila, and strip poker. A night that is forever etched at the top of my Things I’ll Never Do Again list.
With teeth clenched in agony, I dragged all 470 throbbing pounds toward the kitchen and, more importantly, the coffeepot. Caffeine would chisel the pounds off, and I’d be back to my normal weight in no time.
Because my apartment was roughly the size of a Cheez-It, it didn’t take me long to feel my way to the kitchen in the dark. Dead Guy followed me. They always follow me. I could only pray this one would keep his mouth shut long enough for the caffeine to kick in, but alas, no such luck.
I’d barely pressed the on button when he started in.
“Um, yeah,” he said from the doorway, “it’s just that I was murdered yesterday, and I was told you were the one to see.”
***
I’d like to thank Angela and everyone at Dark Faerie Tales, one of my favorite blogs on planet Earth, for having me. This is such an honor. My question to all of their readers goes a little like this: Is there a paranormal entity/creature that you have not seen in print that you’d like immortalized between the covers of a fiction novel? (Okay, that is a purely selfish question. Research, research, research.)
Thank you again!
Author Bio:
Winner of the 2009 Golden Heart® for Best Paranormal Romance for her manuscript FIRST GRAVE ON THE RIGHT, Darynda was born spinning tales of dashing damsels and heroes in distress for any unfortunate soul who happened by, annoying man and beast alike. After the Golden Heart final, she pimped herself as best she could, landed an amazing agent and sold to St. Martin’s Press in a three-book deal. Darynda lives in the Land of Enchantment, also known as New Mexico, with her husband of more than 25 years and two beautiful sons, aka the Mighty, Mighty Jones Boys.
You can visit Darynda around the web here: Website | Blog | Twitter | Facebook
GIVEAWAY GUIDELINES:
One lucky commenter will have a chance to win an autographed copy of First Grave on the Right.
To enter, leave a comment below answering the following question:
Is there a paranormal entity/creature that you have not seen in print that you’d like immortalized between the covers of a fiction novel?
1. +1 entry for answering the question (required).
2. +2 entries for becoming a follower of this blog and Dark Faerie Tales on Twitter.
3. +3 entries for tweeting about this contest, blogging about it, linking via your sidebar etc…(please tell me where!).
4. Giveaway is open to U.S. and Canada residents only.
5. Please include your email address in your comment.
6. Giveaway ends Friday, February 11th at 11:59 PM EST.
7. The winner will be picked with the help of Random.org.
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I can see why publishers were into Darynda’s book. It sounds great and very different from what I’ve read…woman grim reaper…awesome. Please count me in for this contest.
So I changed it. Then he rejected me. LOL. C’est La Vie. 
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