Fun Stuff & Author Interviews

Darynda Jones: Snarky Sayings and Grim (Reaper) Secrets

Darynda Jones has a secret. On paper, her alter ego Charley Davidson is snarky, sex-mad, able to kick paranormal foes DJONES001-2in 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)

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561 thoughts on “Darynda Jones: Snarky Sayings and Grim (Reaper) Secrets”

  2. How can you not love her books?? The first paragraph of the book and you are hooked, addicted, in love. It is so hard to put the book down once you start. My family think I am obsessed with here books. To have the new book would be a dream come true.

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  3. Thank you so much for posting your interview! I’m a huge fan of Darynda’s work and scoop each of her books up and read them as soon as released. She’s an amazing writer. I’ve never had the pleasure of seeing her in a candid interview before so it was great to watch your video interview and learn what a neat lady she is too! Great job!!

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  4. Great interview. Absolutely love the series. Always get it the day of release. I’m eagerly awaiting the eighth!

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  19. I absolutely love love love love this series! Pleeeeease let me have it!!! Also, keep this series going — it’s one of my favorites ever! <3

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  20. I would love to win an ARC of book 8 because I just LOVE this series, it is one of my all time favorites!

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  21. Absolutely the best series bar none. And I know that deep, deep down there has to be a little bit of Charley and Cookie in Ms. Jones. All the snark and attitude has to be real. If not then she is one helluva good writer to come across with her characters (either way she still is a good character writer)

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  22. I don’t just love the Grave Series I also admire and adore Darynda! She is such a nice person!!! I find myself texting some of Charley’s snarky comments to my friends in the middle of the night! That’s how I hook em’!

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  23. I love these books! I have them all on kindle, audio and one in print. I can’t wait for this book.

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  24. Squeeee, I ve read them all every book written by DJ , her YA and Charlie Davison. I admit to reading Charlie’s books more than once and again on audio BEST AUDIOBOOK S OUT THERE. I’d love to have an ARC, dream of of it even. 😀
    Thanks for the chance

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  25. I love Darynda Jones and the Charlie Davidson series! I would love to have this ARC to add to my collection!

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  27. The next book can’t come soon enough!! They say that your personality is built up from the people you spend the most time with- all I have to say is I’m on my second cup of coffee and I have been naming everything I own! Thank you for writing such a strong female character!!

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  32. Love the Charley Davidson series….read them all within a week. Can’t wait for eight grave to come out. Already have it preordered!

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  34. I love this series and count the days until each new book is released. I don’t want to wait for May. Charley Davidson rocks!!!

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  35. I am so freaking excited for book 8, it comes out the day before my birthday. Its going to be my birthday present to myself. 😉

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  37. I adore Darynda 💗 and this series she writes. On some levels, I wish they’d come out more often, to feed my Charlie-Reyes fix. But on the other hand, at least I get some things done between books. I can’t get anything else done when I get my hands on one if her new books in the series! I can’t put the darned thing down! Girlfriend!! You’ve got me SO addicted!!

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  38. I love this series! I preorder every one as soon as it is available and I can’t wait for book 8!

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  39. I have never enjoyed a series of books as I have the story of Charley Davidson. The character is funny, serious, thought provoking and takes me away from my life and places me in a different world. I look forward to every book Darynda Jones writes about Charley. I just hope that part of Charley’s loving character is due to Darynda’s character because that would make Darynda an awesome lady to know!

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  40. Love this series – it is like visiting with your best friend who will tell you like it is and make you laugh at the same time.

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  41. I work at a library nd recommend her series all the time! I cannot wait for the next one…seven was amazing!!

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  46. Darynda’s one of my favorite authors and this was a true pleasure to watch. Great interview, Diana!, Thanks soooo much for sharing the fun 🙂

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  47. I have read all of the books. Can’t wait for this next one! Guess I’ll have to. Unless I win this ARC. Lol

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  48. I just read this series for the first time a few of weeks ago and they quickly became one of my all time favorites. I could’t put them down. I can’t wait for the next installment and it would be so awesome to get an ARC!

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  49. I love Charlie! The whole series is fun, quirky and addicting. There is a slew of nurses in Virginia that have named their breasts due to your influence!

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  50. I picked up the 1st book from the library shelf because the title intrigued me. I quickly told my avid reader friends and the series became a fast favorite. I always anxiously await the next installment. I love the quotes at the beginning of each chapter and am often tempted to get a t-shirt with my favorites. I just can’t get enough!!! Please pick me!

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