Darynda Jones has a secret. On paper, her alter ego Charley Davidson is snarky, sex-mad, able to kick paranormal foes 
in their paranormal behinds. In real life, Darynda is probably one of the sweetest people you’ve ever met. She has a humble, self-deprecating humor, she’ll tell you all her writing secrets as if they don’t amount to much, and she’s more likely to talk about her kids than her books.
Is it no wonder I love this gal?
You’ll love her even more because Darynda is giving one reader who leaves a comment below, here or at KissAndThrill.com, an ARC — yes that’s right — an ADVANCE READER’s COPY of her book number 8!
Eighth Grave After Dark isn’t out until May, and though you might have to wait a bit to get the ARC, you’ll be in the know with reviewers across the country who get the book months in advance! So leave us your best bit of snark, or tell us why you love Darynda, or why you want to read her book, and we’ll let you know who won next week.
Here are some things you might not know about her:
*Awards: Darynda has won 11 awards, including the Daphne du Maurier, the RITA, the Bookie Award (three times!), 2 HOLT Medallions, the Golden Heart, the GOTCHA, The PASIC, and the Rebeca (LERA).
*Genre: Darynda has written in a ton of genres, even though they’re not all published, including historical!
*Education: She’s a Summa cum Laude graduate and has a BA in Sign Language Interpreting.
*Eighth Grave After Dark will be out on May 19th and Darynda will also be in an anthology, Dark Screams, Volume 3 which will be out on May 12th. Steven King was in Volume 1 and there will be a collector’s edition available, too, with all 25 authors signatures. Our gal is now in the same league as Steven King — but we all knew that already, right?
I sat down with Darynda to discuss her Grim Reaper Charley Davidson series that launched with the mega-best seller First Grave on the Right. She also speaks about how she writes humor and bubbles snark on the page and gives up secrets about her newest series.
Enjoy!
(If the video doesn’t play properly, please update your Adobe.)
Darynda’s latest books are Sixth Grave on the Edge, and Seventh Grave and No Body, I know you’ll love them!
Don’t forget to leave your comment below or at KissAndThrill.com to be eligible for the drawing for an Advance Reader’s Copy of Eighth Grave After Dark! A comment left on both websites will be counted twice, and if you follow either blog, you qualify for up to two more entries! So commenting in both places and following both blogs gives you four chances to win. (If you already follow, you’re already entered one time.)
( UPDATE: The contest is now closed)
Categories: Author Interview
Awesome interview. Darynda is a treasure.
She certainly is, Angelina. Thanks for stopping by.
Love these books! They just keep getting better and better. I am currently rereading all of them, and am on Third grave dead ahead. ♥
Love Darynda and her books. I have the first 5 and still have to get the rest, Getting # 8 would be great!
Daryna Jones books are like an addictive drug or a smooth piece of chocolate. Can’t put down her books. Keep them coming!
I am addicted….read all seven in the series…cannot wait for book #8!!!!!
I stumbled upon Darynda’s books when I was looking for ghost stories a couple of months ago. Loved the books. Read all in a week and blogged about them for The Book Breeze. Awesome series.
I love this series. Smart, sexy and so darn funny that it leaves me a in a good mood all day. Great interview.
Love her books!.!!!!! want more!!!!!!
I absolutely love all of Darynda Jones books!! I wish I were funny n snarky but I’m not, which is all the more reason I love her books!! I am very fortunate to have marries a wonderful n immensely funny man so I laugh often!
I love this story line I can’t wait until the next book come out . I hope there going to be a lot more book in this series. I would love to read the this book. p.s. are you starting any new series ?
Loved the interview. Give us more!
Just discovered Darynda’s books. I’m binge reading them..on #4!! Can’t get enough of Charley & what’s his name :))
Love the books! They always make me laugh 🙂
I just got 5th 6th and 7th order and received. I would love to read the 8th right on there tail.
Love this series of books! Charley is awesome!
Darynda I am in love with your books!….as a teacher that commutes between my prek school and special ed tutoring sessions at various locations I spend hours in my car listening to audio books….especially yours! Please don’t make me wait for number 8…I need to see what happens with beep…love Lara
Must find out what happens to beep
It’s hard to type with my fingers crossed! Isn’t that what you do when you really, really want something, LOL!?! Uh-oh, or, are we supposed to stop doing that when we become adults, LOL??? Right now, I’m going to go with it because it just might help me win, LOL! Gosh, I wish I could think of something funny or cute (or both) to say but I can’t think of anything, like that, right now:) So, I’ll just say that I desire to win GRAVE #8 because I love the series! Also, cheers to Darynda. She shows so much love to her fans! That makes her not only an awesome writer but she’s a KIND, sensitive person, too!
I had NO idea how hooked I’d be when I began first grave!!! Now, I’m listening to other audiobooks only to fill my time until #8 drops! CAN’T WAIT!!!!!!!!!
Great interview, Darynda sounds very down to earth (no pun intended) 🙂
She’s an absolute doll! So glad you could join us.
one of my very favorite Authors
Darynda has been a favorite author of mine for years. She’s so talented and I can’t wait for her next novel to come out in May.
I haven’t read her yet, but after listening to this interview I’m going to 🙂
Best series ever!
Great interview. I love this series!!!!!! Charley and I share a love of coffee.
Love her books! Can’t wait for more!
Love this series and author! Thanks for an interview well done. 🙂
Can’t wait for this one!!
Love this series!
A lovely woman and one of my all time favorite series.
would love to read arc
i love my Darynda!! She is one of the most down to earth people I’ve met. I tell her all the time I’ve got her back & I will, forever!! She’s my rock star 😉
we love our Darynda! Looking forward to 8th grave!!!
I love love love this series, one of the best authors of our generation. I cannot get enough!
Darynda has a mind like no other! Her books are amazing and fun!
I love Charley, the series is amazing. The quips at the start of every chapter really crack me up. So can’t wait for Eight Grave!!!
Great interview!! I love my D! She’s one of the sweetest people I’ve ever had the good fortune of meeting! ♡ (and her books are pretty good too) 😉
I have read all the “grave” series published to date. Have really enjoyed them!
Read all 7 books in 7 days. To be honest I picked up the first for its cover only, and then I fell in love! Darynda is amazing and her writing keeps me coming back for more. Can’t wait to get my hands on #8!
I so want to get an early copy of eighth grave!!! I love this series and have already re-read it three times ( the entire series) since finishing seven trying to last til eight. LOL
Take pity on me and let me read the next one early!
Love this series and this ARC contest! Can’t wait to read book #8 either in May or before!!! 🙂
The quotes before every chapter are my absolute favorite…things I’ve always wished I could say or wear in a t-shirt 🙂
Love Darynda’s snarki-ness!! It’s one of the best things about the books…among the many FAB things about the books!!
love her top three snark-isms.
OMG, is awesome 🙂
And thanks for the chance 🙂
Best series I’ve read!
loved it! 🙂
I love Darynda because I love escaping into her books and characters. i’m not very snarky though..lol
I’m a huge fan, from book one! Would love an ARC! 😊 💝
I bought my wife 6 and 7 for Christmas so she will be ready for 8. It also be nice to have a book signing in Amarillo again
oh just watching the video its great 🙂 can’t wait for the next book
Darynda Jones is amazing!
Please please please!!! I’ve missed my book boyfriend Reyes Alexander Farrow and am dying to read this book!
Wow.. I really love this series.
love Love LOVE Darynda and Charley. I was so pleased to find them both!
Nice interview
Darynda is one of my favorites authors, Charley is so hilarious and lovely and I love her taste for Mexican food
Great interview! Absolutely love this series!
Awesome! Cannot wait for Eighth Grave After Dark. I’m supposed to be online looking for a job, lol, COMPLETE squirrel moment!!!
Excellent interview! I love Darynda and I am a huge fan of her books!
I love everything Darynda writes, and her sense of sarcasm and humour match my own! I would be more than honored to get an ARC of her next book!! Pretty please pick me! (and that’s a Canadian ‘please’, so it’s extra polite) 😉
I love Darynda Jones books! I so want to read Eight Grave After Dark.
Great interview! I have learned so much from these books like if I am in a fight with clowns to always go for the juggler! : )
Love this!
I was hooked from the first. I found First Grave by chance. Gobbled it up, then went crazy finding the rest of them (I was late to discovering Darynda Jones!). What I absolutely love about this, also, is the series takes place in Albuquerque and that is where I lived for 6 years (went to HS there), so when she mentions certain areas, it just kinda gives me a thrill to think, “Hey! I know where she is talking about!” 🙂 LOVE this series. Got my friend hooked on it, too.
i love this series. Action packed, fun and steamy. Darynda writes gold
Darynda is not only a great writer, she is a wonderful person, which this interview highlights. Truly humble is a rare quality.
I absolutely love the Charley Davidson series! Darynda has created an awesome series that you can submerge yourself into . The story leave syou wanting more! 😉
The only series that makes me laugh, cry and freak out within a few sentences.
Darynda has always been my go to author! I can read everything she writes over and over
Great interview! =)
Love the series! My brain is not that talented to create a world like Charley’s, but I love to visit it!