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
Love Darynda , you had me hooked at First Grave and each time a book comes out you have me wanting more. My daughters have heard me giggling as I read the books. I have already played around with who should star in the movie version of the different characters. I would so love to win the next book. Pick me so I can still escape with Charlie and the Gang.
Nothing makes me happier than reading a book by Darynda! Her series was the first that propelled me into the PNR genre, and I’ve been hooked every since. I’ve told so many of my friends about Charley and Reyes and have gotten them all hooked as well.
But let’s be real here. Seriously, Darynda? How do you expect me to find a husband when the only perfect man that exists in this world is….fictional? My unrealistic expectations have skyrocketed thanks to you. *Sigh*
Still love you anyway!
I can’t wait for Book 8!!!!
I just love her and her work.every chapter draws you in closer and closer.never a dull moment. Kudos💯
I love Charley, who reminds me of someone I’d really like to know. And Mrs Jones has become my new favorite author. Surpassing my all time favorite Anne McCaffrey. That is quite a feat. Mrs McCaffrey (rest her soul) has always been the author I recommended most. Now, I recommend Mrs Jones. And not just to the women. My boyfriend loves her books too!
Love this series! I got a few coworkers into it as well. Can’t wait to read more.
Love the series! Waiting on book 8! Would love to get it ASAP as I’m running out of excuses to clean my house, cook for my family and basically organize my life!!
I ABSOFUCKINGLUTELY ADORE YOU!!! You are amazing and I am IN LOVE with Charley Davidson, she is like me made over, I don’t think I’ve ever met another character that more resembled me or that was any more freaking awesome! I am a HUGE fan, keep writing girl, I totally love you!!!
I LOVE this series. I have read every book and cannot wait until the next instalment comes out.
My sister and I share an audible account. Your first book “First Grave o the Right” was on there. I listened to it not knowing what it was about. From the first chapter to the last I was laughing and rooting for Charlie. It only took me 24 hours to listen to it. I immediately after called my sister and was telling her how good it was. She told me hadn’t listened yet. She started that night. Then she kept texting me sayings from it with “LOL’s”. She listened to it in 24 hours also. Now, we are both Charlie Davidson junkies….almost as much as she is for mocha lattes. We are looking forward to the new book! Thank you for such a fun series! I hope you write many more.
I love everything Darynda writes! Can’t wait for Eight!
I love this series and would be so excited to win an arc!!
My cousin loves this series and I’ve purchased 1-6, so far. I hope to start them soon, because she’s constantly telling me they are amazing! It just kills me to start a series and have to wait on a book. If I win the ARC, I promise to start reading them right away!
Loved this interview and shared it with a friend. Also I’m commenting to enter to win an ARC of The 8th Grave After Dark. Thanks!
I would so much love to read book number 8 sooner rather than later! I love the series and look forward to each installment. Thank you for this opportunity to win an ARC.
Darynda is an awesome writer and person! I love this series and thanks so much for the chance at this giveaway!
And Love Darynda because is the best author that I read. I buy the Eighth grave in amazon from Months ago. Really love the serie and I discovery the past july and can’t stop of reading all the booKs. All read in 2 weeks. And now I can’t imagine my life without the books. I just hope that we will have for so many years. And I can’t believe that exist another person more fan than me. I buyall books in all versions. Spanish and english. In paperback and hardcover. Please I want the arc. Darynda I love you so much. Reyes is the best character for me. Is kind, smart, lovely, sexy and of course love a Charley in a special way. is diferent to all the Character that I read.
And love the serie more than nothing because we have seven books of the same story and still get me exciting and waiting for more. I really hope it will be for so many years.
Love Charley! I keep recomending it to all my friends! Can’t wait for the next one. Please pick me!
I LOVE LOVE LOVE your book! Just the other day I recommend this series to two of my friends who were looking for a new series to read. I just can get enough of Charley, keep them coming! 🙂
Fell in love with Darynda Jones from her first book in the series, hope there are many many more to come in the future.
This is a whole new world for me, but after seeing the interview, I’m going to jump in and would love to explore this series. Thank you for the chance to enter the giveaway.
She’s my idol (Darynda and Charley both, actually)! Can’t wait for the release!
I would love an arc TIA
I love author interviews. 😉 Especially with the lovely Darynda Jones. Thanks for the giveaway as well.
what a wonderful interview! Can’t believe the eighth book in the series is almost here! I’m dying to read it.
(Or maybe I just miss Charley’s personality. And everything else. ) Can’t wait!
What a fabulous opportunity. Would be thrilled to read this book early.
Love DJ she is kone of the authors that makes me laugh(out LOUD) every book.
I love love love these books!
I am grateful every day that Darynda has shared her world of Charlie and Reyes with us. I get lost in their world every time I flip a page. Her snarkiness is what makes her unique and down to earth. I consider her my best friend. When I lost my dad this past summer entering Charlie’s world is the only thing that would put a smile on my face. I feel as if I’m on her adventures with her solving the problems that jump out at her. Also having to do without coffee that was a killer lol. No morning is safe without some just ask my son lol I will bite his head off. Thank you and it would be an honour if you would gift me with an advance copy. Either way I am looking forward to when it is released to find out if she survives without her caffeine lol and to see what will unfold next. Bless you and once again it’s a privilege to be able to be share in your creativity and watch Charlie’s and Reyes life’s adventures unfolds and to see watch new twists and turns may come up.
Loved hearing Darynda in person, and am really looking forward to 8th Grave – ARC or not!
I have loved this series since the first book came out at Borders Books where I worked. I would love an ARC!!!
And of course I recomend this serie to all my friends. All read and can’t enough. Please I need the next book.
I haven’t read her books yet but I would love to get an arc for my best friend who loves her books. I have her on my tbr list.
LOVE the video…this was so much fun to watch
I love Charley and Reyes!!
I love this series I can’t wait to read #8 book!! Yay!!!
Absolutely love these books and excited for the new one
Love the series and would love an arc!!!
I love the Charley series and I live Darynda Jones. She is hands down the best writer of the times. I have read this book series so many times I have lost count
I LOVE all of your books. I have gotten so many people to read them because once you pick them up you can’t put them down! I would love to have the next book! Your the best Darynda!
I’m do excited about the new book.i really can’t wait
I love Charley she makes me wonder how she survives her mishaps. I pre order as soon as I can so I can read what happens next. I have all 7 books and just chomping at the bit to read number 8. Keep them coming love this series. Thanks for writing them.
i love this series! Charley is who I’d like to be (minus the psychotic family members). I love her spunk and quick wit!
Her books are just wonderful!!! Very hard to put down, then really sad when you’ve finished! And be saying I look i.e. to say..You’re so broke, you can’t even pay attention..
Love this series! Great interview
I can’t wait for this to come out, but I will if I don’t win! Love this series!!
I neeeeeeeeeed this book early. For the release of Seventh Grave I took a day off work and booked the kids into care so I could read it. But the release date was based on the Northern Hemisphere. So as an Aussie I had no book (but still a day off so Hurrah!). I had to wait until midnight, pulled an all-nighter reading it. So, gimme!!!
She’s so hilarious. I love her and her books. I fell in love with Charley since I read her first line in First Grave on the Right. And I miss Reyes, so bad.
I adore Darynda so much. Never have I anticipated the release of any book but hers! Keep them coming! Love you!
I really love Darynda’s books. Glad you do too.