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)
I’m reading book #7 right now and I am drinking all the coffee that Charley can’t have because of her “bun” in the oven!
I love this series and I’m in withdrawal. I’m a huge Buffy the Vampire Slayer fan, TV series not movie, and Charley reminds me of her. Strong, confident, loyal and able to bring the weirdest group of people together. She is so funny and I want say the crazy things she does, with no filter. I would love for this series to come to life too. Looking forward to the next book and finding out the name of Reyes and Charley’s baby. Maybe Buffy or Athena, goddess of war 🙂
Love this series!!! Awesome interview….. I need my Charlie-Reyes fix….would love to win an ARC. 🙂
This is seriously one of the best series out there and it just keeps getting better!!! Charlie is incredible..I wish I had her sense of humor :).
I met Darynda a couple of years ago, in Atlanta, at a RWA literacy event. She was so funny and friendly….. and she introduced me to her YA series. I knew Reyes was hot, but who knew Death was cute?!?
Love her books and her sense of humor! Can’t wait till the 8th book is finally released!
Love this series.. Would love to win..
Stop this contest immediately as the prize belongs to me. No need to keep searching on reading other comments because, frankly, it would just be a waste of your time which we all know is quite precious. This may blow your mind but I can read so there really isn’t a better candidate for this prize. You may want to reply, telling me that “others can read too” but that is irrelevant…
I’m a fan. I can’t wait until May. Pick me. Pretty please?
I just started reading your books last week and I’m hooked and already getting others in my book club hooked. You are a genius of wit! Will you please Skype into our book club meeting?
I’ve got # 6 on the way from e-bay. Every time I get one of her books, I only read one chapter a day so they last longer. Because as soon as I finish I need the next one. Love the since of humor.
I absolutely love your books!! I can’t wait to read the new one!!
you are one of the top authors me and my friends have taken great pleasure in reading. Each of the books in both death and the girl he loves and Davidson series are both refreshing and fun!!! No two books are the same, I look forward to each book because while hints are given its never too much I never go… Well I guess there is no point in reading that one I already know what’s gonna happen! Thank you Darynda Jones, you’r an amazing writer!😃
What do you call Death with a cup of coffee? Charlie Davidson.
Chuck Norris has nightmares of Charlie Davidson.
Any comment at all? In that case, discovering Darynda Jones was a really happy accident and I’m so glad they were out of stock on the book I went to B&N for. Although I did eventually wind up purchasing the one I originally went to the store for, it was the first book in the Charlie Davidson series that went with me to the beach that weekend. I’ve purchased every one since this. If you let me have the ARC, I promise to still buy anyway! 🙂
Love the Charley Davidson books. Cannot wait till May!
I love, love, love Darynda and Charlie but Reyes…… lol. Yes and More Please.
Darynda, you are my #1 favorite writer of all time!!! I LOVE LOVE your books!!
i just adore Charley that I named my daughter after her!!!
i love this series would love the next book looking forward to it
i happened upon the first book and have loved them all since i spend alot of time reading as i am disabled so it helps hope i get this book would be nice fingers crossed
I’m so in love w this series! I would be soooo happy to get an ARC 😉 but if not I will continue rereading and waiting impatiently!
I LOVE LOVE LOVE Charley and this series! It’s in my top 3 series ever! Absolutely cannot wait for this book!! Would love to win an ARC 😘
One of the few series I have on my Nook AND in hardcover first editions — even First Grave! These are what I relax with after a tough day. Thank you, Darynda, for Charley and Reyes!
Hi everyone
I’d love to receive the arc of the 8th especially because in Italy this serie is so behind. I’m so addict , that I read all the other books in English.
Darynda is one of my favorite authors and I need always more Darynda’s drug 😉
Hi Lilu
This is such a GREAT series, and what a treat to see Darynda interviewed, thank you, both!
Julie
Oops, forgot to add that I’m sharing this exact topic at my place tonight.
Darynda Jones is the best! Would absolutely ADORE an ARC of Eighth Grave!
Darynda Jones is one of my favorite authors! Just finished Seventh Grave and No Body & would LOVE LOVE an ARC of the eighth installment.
These books are phenomenal! I have read the series over and over! Getting the eighth book for an early read would be amazing!
My mom introduced me to Darynda’s books. They soon became two of my favorite series. I became so impatient that I couldn’t wait for my mom to read them on release day and bought all of them for myself. I can’t wait for #8.
Love this series.
What started out as “the blurb on the back sounds good” has turned into “I HOPE THIS NEVER ENDS”. Love the series and all the characters, especially like Cookie. Can’t wait to read the next one, and see what’s in store for Charley, Reyes, and the rest of the gang .
I absolutely love these books. Definitely my current favorite series.
I can’t wait! I have read all the books already and am waiting on pins and needles for the next one! I am about to re-read them all again.
I love this series. Have gobbled up 1-7 and anxiously waiting for 8
Omg ty!
A friend introduced me to Darynda Jones and boy did I think her. I love reading her work and look forward to reading more. I would truly love a ARC of her new book and if Darynda would like I would give her my comments about it too. Thank you for sharing your gift with all of us, keep up the good work!
I can’t wait for the next book!!! I love this series!!!
Wow I love her work!!! I’m so ready for book 8!!! My poor reyes!!! I need more!!! I need book 8 right now!!!! Please!!! Pretty please!!!!
I found the series based on a recommendation from J.R. Ward. Love. Love. Love the Grave series, Thank you Darynda for bringing her to life. Keep them coming.
Eighth Grave comes out on my birthday! Being able to taunt my co-works because I already know what happens would be the best gift. 😉
I’d love to enter! I love these books so much that I named my brand new car Charley.
When Life hands you lemons…hey, free lemons! LOL…you expect it to end, make lemonade…but that is what is so great about Charley…she is so fresh and different. Quirky and funny! Love this series and would love to win and ARC of Eighth Grave After Dark. 🙂
I Love The Grave books. I can’t wait for #8! Would be awesome to get it early! Wish they would make these books into a tv series (have to be cable) or movies as long as Darynda is at the very least a consultant!
Charlie & Coffee-my two favorite things. Coincidence they both are addictive & start with C? I think not.
Can’t wait for the Eighth!!! Love this series!
Darynda is one of my favorite authors! I have read all of her books. Thank you for the contest!!
Would love to read Eighth Grave early. This is one of my favorite series and Darynda Jones never fails to deliver!
I love this series!
Darynda Jones has easily become one of my new favorite authors recently. After stumbling on her first book featuring Charley Davidson just a few days ago, I haven’t been able to book the books down since. This series is humorous, emotional and so captivating it is hard to not binge read once you’ve started. Thank you Darynda for creating such a loveable character and enjoyable book series.