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)
Darynda is amazing also the interview!!
Darynda captivates you in her world and you can’t get out until the end!
Great interview! Love this series!
I read for the T-shirt sayings at the beginning of every chapter, as much as for the story itself!
I love these books and cannot wait to read about what’s going to happen next with Charley and Reyes. Darynda writes this series so well and I dread the day we get the last one. 🙁
Love this series! Can’t wait for book 8!
I cannot wait!!!!!!!!! Am counting down the days 🙂 *inserts excited emoji*
She has such an incredible imagination. I adore her so much. Much Love, Darynda!
I LOVE this series! It’s just been getting better and better. Nothing is guaranteed to put a smile on my like the one I get while reading Darynda’s books. I can’t wait for the next book!
I love Darynda. She is an excellent writer and a really nice person. I am a die hard Grimlet.
Charley and Reyes brings love, sex and action into a otherwise dull life. I have all of the series and waiting on pins and needles for the next edition.
Ooooo pick me! Pick me! I love this series!
I love all of her book and I can’t wait for the next one!
Love the books. Would love the ARC copy! Pick me!
This is my all time favorite book series that I read over and over, when someone ask’s me for a book recommendation this series is always my go to pic. Loved your interview both of you are sweet and talented ladies! Getting this book early would seriously not only make my day but entire year ( which just shows you how not great my new year has been so far lol ) *Fingers crossed*
I have all of the books in the series and have already pre-ordered #8!! I am spreading the love of Darynda’s books to everyone I can. 🙂
Love this series
I am addicted to this series! I have read all 7 books numerous times and I can’t wait for this one! Love this lady!
I love Darynda! Didn’t know she’d won so many awards! So glad her amazingness has been recognised multiple times!
Great interview! I love reading Darynda’s Charley series. Every time I read one of Charley’s stories, I can’t wait to read the next one. Darynda writes this series very well and I hate to see it end.
This series has been a bit of an obsession for me for quite some time, and I honestly suffer a book hangover EVERYtime I finish one! Love this series!!
Huge fan!! Can’t wait for book right.
When I first saw the book I had a feeling that it would be one of my favorite series… and I was right!! Every ending kills me because I have to wait for the next one… lol. Love ALL the characters!
YEAH!!!! More Charlie & Reyes!!! I would love an ARC of this book. I would also like to know where i can get a watch like the one on the cover of the book. ~
I love the humor Darynda uses for her books. She never fails to make me laugh.
I love this series! Getting an advanced copy would be amazing! I have all 7 copies in print plus 2 on my phone. Charley makes me feel less guilty about my love for God’s nectar or as mere mortals call it, coffee.She is such a badass I feel like I should be wearing a leather jacket while I read!
My favorite little detail is how Reyes removed the wall seperating the apartments, they live together but apart, I just get such a clear picture of those rooms with the headboards pressed against eachother. Thank you Darynda!
Love Charley and Reyes! I would love an arc.
I am hooked. My husband is hooked. We got friends hooked. And I am so looking forward to the 8th one. Keep them coming and we’ll keep reading.
This series is my crack. I love how awesome Darynda is to her fans,!
Oh my god I would love to win!!! This series is one of my favorites! Right up there with JR wards BDB series. Charley is my favorite heroine
This series has it all: coffee, humor, chemistry, mystery, adventure, characters you wish were your friends, the grim reaper, dogs, and coffee. Darynda is an amazing writer. I went as the grim reaper on vacation for Halloween two years ago in honor of Charley. I can’t get enough of Charley and Cookie! Although I am eager to read the next novel, I don’t want the arc. I want to savor the anticipation. Cheers!
Love Darynda’s books =)
If I could be any super natural creature that I wanted, I’d be Charley Davidson!
I love the Charley Davidson, series. Darynda Jones is a nice person who actually cares about her fans. It’s really nice that there is a series set in NM, seeing my own town mentioned in her book was really cool.
I would love to win a book. Thanks for the chance.
I love these books. I’m hooked, and pass the love along to family and friends. I
Love the series!
I would love grave 8!! I always pre order these books. My friends and I fight over who gets to read them first. Would be awesome to be the first to read it.
I can not wait for your book to come out!!! There are not many books I can get lost in when I need to check out of reality for awhile. I always find myself reading the grimm reaper series over again from one to seven.
I’m fully committed to the series! I love Charley and Reyes.
I LOVE Charley and Cookie. They have a heart of gold, a good laugh and are there for each other through everything. The stories are great, the humour is great, what’s there not to love! Oh and Reyes is good too! Can’t wait for book 8 hurry up!!!
I would love to read both of these books.
Oh my goodness, oh my goodness, oh my goodness! I want to win this soooo bad! An ARC?! That would be so cool! Thank you so much for the opportunity! Did I add enough exclamation points?! Lol
Oh my goodness, Oh my goodness, Oh my goodness! I would love to win this! An ARC?! That is soooooo awesome! Thank you so much for the opportunity! I think I would cry if I win. I never win giveaways. Only thing I’ve ever won are karaoke contests! Lol
Def a fave of mine. Can’t put them down!!! Keep making more please!
Charley is the queen of snark and I can’t get enough.
Hooked is not the right word for this series! Totally in love with the series, love the quotes at the beginning of each chapter!
I love your Charley, no matter what my mood she can make me laugh and walk away from reading happier!
I think Darynda Jones’ books are way better than any of Stephen King’s books I’ve read!! And to find out she has a story in Dark Screams, Volume 3 (which I hadn’t previously known about) gives me even more to be excited about! I can’t wait to read both books!
I would love to win her book because these are the only books I have ever literally laughed out loud to!!