Well I was lucky enough to be able to ask Mrs. Darynda Jones some questions. Tomorrow Fifth Grave Past the Light releases. I was also privileged enough to get an Advanced Readers Copy. I will tell you this much. SPOILER! This is the BEST one yet! Fell in love with REYES all over again. Check out my review at the bottom of the interview. ENJOY!
What would you do if you found ….oh let’s say ….
A young dead girl under your bed….scratching?
Bwahahaha!!! I’d run. No questions asked. It wouldn’t matter
if I had been sleeping naked, either. I’d be out the door and down the street
before I realized I’d forgotten something.
Did you ever think there would be 5 or more
books?
That was my dream the moment I came up with the character of
Charley Davidson. But did I know that it would come to fruition? No way. I am
thrilled beyond measure and hope there will be many, many more to come.
Was this always the path for Charley and Reyes?
Or has it evolved?
Yes, though it has evolved faster than I’d originally
envisioned. I actually feared putting them together-together, if you know what
I mean. Like in a committed relationship. Then I looked around at some of the
most talented, best selling authors out there. Suddenly, all the cool kids were
doing it and I couldn't wait to join in. Also I got death threats.
That being said, their relationship has taken a slight turn
since my original vision, but that won’t happen until book six.
If Charley can do what Reyes can do, then can
Reyes do what Charley can do?
Nope. :)
Can people pass through Reyes?
Not intentionally, but he is a portal to hell, so one would
think they could. Sadly, no one wants to go to hell, so that theory has never
been tested.
We found out in book 4 that Charley is part of a
bigger picture. When will we learn more about these light beings?
She is definitely part of a bigger picture, but not because
of her heritage or the race of beings she comes from. However, I do plan on
bringing them into the picture at some point. Can you imagine her meeting her
celestial parents? They are royalty, you know.
If Reyes was created by Satan then who is his
mother?
He was exactly that: Created. Much like the stars in the
heavens, he was made from the melding of molecules and the eternal fires of
sin, where atoms bonded and formed the perfect being that we know as Reyes
Alexander Farrow. He is the son of what we think of as evil, but he was made
from light, much like our own sun. He is an immaculate balance of this light
and the darkness from which he was formed and, unfortunately for his father, he
can choose which path to take.
Was Garrett sent to hell or did he do something
in his past to already take him there.
He was most definitely sent, and sent for a reason. He was
not slated for a trip to the basement, but as fate would have it, his temporarily
state of death-ness let someone (ahem) take advantage of the situation.
Needless to say, Garrett is a bit miffed.
Did you have a hard time turning Charley into a
killer? Does that affect her path to light?
I knew she would kill eventually and that it would bother
her, but it does not affect her path to light. She has the power and the
authority to take lives, especially those who do not deserve the one they’ve
been given. It is not what she was made to do, but she can if she deems the act
necessary.
You dealt with PTSD in book 4. Charley copes with
buying frivolous items from the home shopping channel. What is the nuttiest
thing you’ve ever bought from TV?
Ha! Let’s just say I have my fair share of items that begin
with Ronco.
Charley Davidson may not look like your everyday, run-of-the-mill grim reaper, but she has vowed to reap grimness wherever she goes despite this unfortunate fact. Sadly, she gets sidetracked when the sexy, sultry son of Satan, Reyes Farrow, moves in next door. As he is the main suspect in her arson case, she is determined to stay away from him until she can find out the truth. According to her therapist, however, she lacks conviction.
When dead women start appearing in her apartment - lost, confused and terrified beyond reason - Charley has no choice but to ask for Reyes's help, especially when it becomes apparent that her own sister Gemma is the serial killer's next target. With his ability to observe incorporeally, surely he can find out who's responsible. And even if he can't, he is the one man alive who could protect Gemma no matter who or what came at her. But he wants something in return: Charley. All of her - body and soul. And to keep her sister safe, it is a price she is willing to pay
MY REVIEW
Honestly, my mind is a puddle of mud right now. This is the best book yet, and I don't say that lightly. I'll not go over and try to rewrite the blurb and try to fancy it up with my own words. I will say it is pact full of more suspense and definitely MORE dead people with mysteries to be solved. I love Reyes even more now than I had in the past (if that was even possible) OMG, this man/being is sexier then the hell he was forged from. The writing is superbly Darynda. Wit, sas, sex;it's all back and in large doses. I love you Darynda. You write one of the best stories out there. I can't wait for 6th. Oh, and thanks for making me leave a light ON!
Links To Author:
Links To Purchase Books:
NYTimes and USA Today Bestselling Author Darynda
Jones has won numerous awards for her work, including a prestigious Golden
Heart®, a Rebecca, two Hold Medallions, a RITA ®, and a Daphne du
Maurier, and she has received stellar reviews from dozens of publications
including starred reviews from Publisher’s Weekly, Booklist, and the Library
Journal. As a born storyteller, Darynda grew up spinning tales of dashing
damsels and heroes in distress for any unfortunate soul who happened by,
annoying man and beast alike, and she is ever so grateful for the opportunity
to carry on that tradition. She currently has two series with St. Martin’s
Press: The Charley Davidson Series and the Darklight Trilogy. She lives in the
Land of Enchantment, also known as New Mexico, with her husband of almost 30
years and two beautiful sons, the Mighty, Mighty Jones Boys. She can be found
at www.daryndajones.com
GIVEAWAY
Autographed copy of 5th Grave