*walks into the room and jumps finding Charley is already here and she doesn’t look happy*
Kelly: *waves* Oh, Hey Charley you are early.
Charley: Yeah, I had a little too much coffee this morning.
Kelly: Thank you for stopping by to talk to me.
Charley: No problem. Got any coffee?
Kelly: So I bet you are wondering why you are here?
Charley: Is it to try out your new coffeemaker?
Kelly: Well as you know Darynda was on my blog a few weeks back and we got to talking about you, your life story and of course Reyes. So I figured I would give you equal air time.
Charley: *cringe* Reyes is a little angry with me at the moment. I kind of bound his incorporeal self to his corporeal self, but I had a really good reason.
Kelly: Everyone wants to know more about Reyes, but I would like to know more about you. What makes Charley tick?
Charley: Besides coffee? Well, I’m very fond of green chile stew, guacamole burgers, the son of Satan. Things like that. Oh, and solving murders. Few things are more satisfying.
Kelly: Tell me how you feel about Darynda telling your stories?
Charley: First of all, she never tells the story quite right. I mean, I like coffee, but I don’t drink it 24/7. More like 22/7. And I do ponder things other than Reyes. Lots of things. Like yesterday I was pretending to dust the office, slaving over that duster thingy, wiping my brow every so often and sighing until Cookie, my best friend-slash-receptionist, took pity on me and finished the dusting herself. That kind of acting takes preparation. A concentrated effort. I only thought of Reyes three times throughout that whole ordeal.
Kelly: Is there things that you really wished she would leave out or add more of? I heard something about a night with the chess club in high school.
Charley: Ah, yes, the night that will forever live in infamy. But you’re right. That kind of stuff really doesn’t need to be mentioned. Fortunately, there was this night with a fighter attack squadron from the Air Force base that did not make it into any of her books. Least not that I know of. I’ve only read the first one. Or, well, the first few chapters of the first one. And just for the record, I’m not THAT much of a smartass.
Kelly: If you were not the Grim Reaper (which I think is pretty kick ass) what would you do for a living?
Charley: I have a nice crack. I could’ve been a plumber. And I really like tattoos on men. I would love to have done something with tattoos. And men. Mostly men.
Kelly: What is the best part of your job as a Reaper?
Charley: Helping people cross. I get to see bits and pieces of their lives, who they loved, what their favorite color was. It’s a great honor.
Kelly: Okay I have to ask Reyes… What is it about him that makes you go weak in the knees?
Charley: It’s one thing to see Reyes, to witness such utter perfection, but it’s another beast entirely to be touched by him, to hear his voice, smooth like fine whiskey and just as intoxicating. He is breathtaking, yes, but he is also the most powerful being I’ve ever met. To know this as he runs his fingertips over my skin is like being caught in a silken snare. On one hand, it’s intimidating. On another, I never want to leave it.
Kelly: So I know some people have not had a chance to read your stories yet. What would you tell them about you books to make them read them? I mean besides heavy breathing on the phone and possible death threats?
Charley: I would just say that if they want to know more about me, about what I do as the grim reaper, there’s no better avenue. You could come to Albuquerque and follow me around, but that’s stalking and I’d probably have my Uncle Bob arrest you. No offense. Darynda does a pretty good job getting the facts down. She needs to brush up on grammar and such, but that should come with time. And she makes a mean mocha latte.
Kelly: Charley, I have to say I was a little intimidated to have you here today. Being the Grim Reaper and all, but you are a wonderful girl. And is it wrong of me to say that I was *pinches fingers together* kinda hoping Reyes would pop in. Thank you for taking time away from your life for a few minutes to talk with me.
Charley: You are very welcome. Thank you for having me. Sadly, if Reyes had popped in incorporeally, you wouldn’t have been able to see him, but you would have known it when he brushed across your skin. There are few things on earth that hot.
Kelly: Charley, what do you say we giveaway and audio version of Second Grave on the Left to one lucky commenter?
Charley: I think that’s a great idea! I love the way Lorelei King narrates the audiobooks. She makes me sound good. Kinda sexy. Kinda schizophrenic. Or maybe that’s just me projecting.
Kelly: Do you think we should ask them to answer a question as part of the rules? Got any suggestions?
Charley: I would love to ask your readers if they were surprised to learn that the grim reaper is a chick. I know I was.
Kelly: Again thanks for stopping by Charley… Maybe next time I can get you, Reyes & Darynda to sit down and talk… *rubs hands together* that would be really fun.
Charley: That would be fantastic, but trying to wrangle Reyes in for any length of time can be tricky. We’ll need rope. And possibly a Taser.
Thank you again for having me! Darynda speaks very highly of you, Kelly Sue!
Kelly: Ahhhh Thanks Charley, I am very fond of Darynda too, & you!!! Oh and I can get a hold of a Taser and some very thick ropes!!!
GIVEAWAY TIME!!!!
Macmillian Audio has giving me one audio book of Second Grave on the Left to giveaway.
Answer Charley’s Questions: Were you surprised that the Grim Reaper was a girl?
Leave your email address (no email, no entry)
Be a follower of my blog.
Giveaway will run until Sept 10th
Winner announced Sept 12th
Honestly I wasn't surprised that the Grim Reaper was a girl, She's not the scary version you would normally think of. She's the light (literally)
bmassey9@gmail.com
Pleasantly surprised 🙂 judieb4@comcast.net
Had suspicions… 😉 sebrina_cassity@yahoo.com
i was surprised
meandi09@Yahoo.com
Not surprised. I said to myself "Why not? We are good at everything else" LOL
flaca797@hotmail.com
Freakin love Charley!! I wasn't too surprised the grim reaper was a chick, we can do it all 🙂
natashahouse13ATyahooDOTcom
LOL, terrific answers everyone! 🙂
No, I wasn't really surprised that the grim reaper was female (she just broke the stereotype.) As I got to know Charley I really liked the idea of a female Grim Reaper. She is so witty and original that her job just adds to the complexity that is her. (Though I imagine she could make even the most mundane jobs interesting.)
crissygreenawalt@yahoo.com
Frankly, I was less surprised about her being a woman than I was about her being an unrepentent smartass! Great books, Darynda!
jeanne
I haven't read this book yet (*frowns*) so I don't know if I would have been surprised or not.
June M.
manning_j2004 at yahoo dot com
I was more surprised to see the grim reaper have ADHD tendencies. No man has the patience to do what the grim reaper has to do. So of course its a woman! And to make it 10x better…..its charley!! T.Gregory1982@gmail.com!
I was very surprised. I always envisioned an old man in a black suit. looking like he just smelled something really groose. I'm soooooo very glad I was wrong.
hgamergirl(at)gmail(dot)com
I was at the beginning because always is a guy but then I stopped to think I realized that it was just that, something different and way cool. I liked it! *grin*
I was totally surprised! Even more so, I was surprised I liked her so much 🙂 Charley's sarcastic-ness (hmm made up word) made me laugh out loud! And everyone I made read the first (who were hell bent on getting the second book the day it came out!) thought I loved Charley because she reminded me of me. Well I'm not quite as bright 🙂
paulatau@gmail.com
Thank you guys so much for stopping by and good luck with the contest! Woot! I love the audiobooks. So fun!
NOT having read the book yet – I am totally surprised. Woops!!
marypres(AT)gmail(DOT)com
I haven't read the book yet, however I wouldn't have been surprised because in paranormal books I'm used to expecting the unexpected.
Cambonified [at] yahoo [dot] com
I wasn't surprised the Grim Reaper is a chick—it is awesome! My nickname has been 'Mistress Death' for years (the whole whips, roses and scythes thing) but this was the first time I've come across an author giving us a female Reaper as cool as Charley.
windphyre(at)gmail(dot)com
I wouldn't be surprised. Have you ever seen the old series "Dead Like Me"? Great show and they had male and female reapers.
beckerjo at verizon dot net