Tour ~ Fourth Grave Beneath My Feet by The most awesomest author ever AKA Darynda Jones

I am so freaking excited about this tour. The most awesomest author ever has a new book coming October 30th!!! She has graciously given us an excerpt and left us pearls of wisdom with an interview! 

Sometimes being the grim reaper really is that. Grim. And since Charley’s last case went so awry, she has taken a couple months off to wallow in the wonders of self-pity. But when a woman shows up on her doorstep convinced someone is trying to kill her, Charley has to force herself to rise above. Or at least get dressed. She quickly realizes something is amiss when everyone the woman knows swears she’s insane. The more they refute the woman’s story, the more Charley believes it.

In the meantime, the sexy, sultry son of Satan, Reyes Farrow, has been cleared of all charges. He is out of prison and out of Charley’s life, as per her wishes and several perfectly timed death threats. But his absence has put a serious crimp in her sex life. While there are other things to consider, like the fact that the city of Albuquerque has been taken hostage by an arsonist, Charley is having a difficult time staying away. Especially when it looks like Reyes may be involved. Just when life was returning to normal, Charley is thrust back into the world of crime, punishment, and the devil in blue jeans. 

Excerpt

With renewed energy, I pulled back onto Academy— after hitting a

drive- through for a mocha latte— and had just started for home when

my phone rang.

“Yes?” I said, illegally talking on the phone while driving within the

city limits. Scoping for cops, I waited for Uncle Bob to stop talking to

whomever he was talking to and get back to me.

My uncle Bob, or Ubie as I most often referred to him, was a detective

for APD, and I helped him on cases from time to time. He knew I

could see the departed and used that to his advantage. Not that I could

blame him.

“Get that to her, then call the ME ay- sap.”

“Okay,” I said, “but I’m not sure what calling the medical examiner

ay- sap is going to accomplish. I’m pretty sure his name is George.”

“Oh, hey, Charley.”

“Hey, Uncle Bob. What’s up?”

“Are you driving?”

“No.”

“Have you heard anything?”

Our conversations often went like this. Uncle Bob with his random

questions. Me with my trying to come up with answers just as random.

Not that I had to try very hard. “I heard that Tiff any Gorham, a girl I

knew in grade school, still stuff s her bra. But that’s just a rumor.”

“About the case,” he said through clenched teeth. I could tell his teeth

were clenched because his words were suddenly forced. That meant he

was frustrated. Too bad I had no idea what he was talking about.

“I wasn’t aware that we had a case.”

“Oh, didn’t Cookie call you?”

“She called me a doody- head once.”

“About the case.” His teeth were totally clenched again.

“We have a case?”

But I’d lost him. He was talking to another officer. Or a detective. Or

a hooker, depending on his location and accessibility to cash. Though I

doubted he would tell a hooker to check the status of the DOA’s autopsy

report. Unless he was way kinkier than I’d ever given him credit for.

I found his calling me only to talk to other people very challenging.

“I’ll call you right back,” he said. No idea to whom.

The call disconnected as I sat at a light, wondering what guacamole

would look like if avocados were orange.

I finally shifted my attention to the dead kid in my backseat. He had

shoulder- length blond hair and bright blue eyes and looked somewhere

between fifteen and seventeen.

“You come here often?” I asked him, but my phone rang before he

could say anything. That was okay. He had a vacant stare, so I doubted

he would have answered me anyway.

“Sorry about that,” Uncle Bob said. “Do you want to discuss the

case?”

“We have a case?” I said again, perking up.

“How are you?”

He asked me that every time he called now. “Peachy. Am I the case? If

so, I can solve this puppy in about three seconds. I’m heading down San

Mateo toward Central in a cherry red Jeep Wrangler with a questionable

exhaust system.”

“Charley.”

“Hurry, before I get away!”

Interview

 Hello Darynda. Thanks so much for doing this interview. I have such a girl crush on you. But don’t worry, I’m not crazy or anything. I’ve been tested.

 Whew! I was worried! LOL. I was tested for crazy once too. I barely escaped when they brought out the straightjacket. Thank goodness because it would NOT have gone with my shoes.

But really? A girl crush? Awww, right back atcha!

 I have been following this tour and it seems you have been asked every question imaginable.  So these will be quite random.

 Random is fun!

  Can you tell us one thing about yourself that we don’t know?
Oh, wow, well not many people know that I am a middle child, which explains completely why I am so well adjusted while my two siblings tilt a tad south of kilter and the other two tilt a tad north.

 How do you come up with the great snarky lines for Charley?
 At first I kind of had to think about it. I would see an opportunity for snark and think up something to put there. Now, her snarkiness just comes to me. I think I channel her. I actually have to hold her back at times. That girl is crazy on whole wheat.

 If this series were to be made into a movie, who would you want to play Charley and Reyes?
Oddly enough, I can actually see several actresses playing Charley for some reason. Examples include Jessica Alba and Olivia Wilde. But Reyes is way harder. When I wrote First Grave, I envisioned actor Jason Behr while writing the high school scene when Charley first saw Reyes. I think Jason could handle the whole show and then some. His acting skills are top notch and that boy is just hot.

YUMMY!

If not Jason, I just really think it would have to be someone exotic looking, dark and sultry. I don’t know who this guy is, but if he can act, he totally has my vote.

*growl* Well, isn't he just sex on a stick!

  Now, I really need some news on my man Swopes. I’ve heard he is going through some things after what happened in Third Grave.  What can you tell us?
 Things in 4th get a little tenser for him, because he now understands a LOT more than just what Charley is. He’s had a taste of things he never imagined possible, seen things he’s never believed in, and he’s trying to figure out how to handle both them and Charley at the same time.

 So, what’s the deal with Mr. Wong? Will he ever talk or move from that corner?
 Mr. Wong has a destiny I’ve only recently discovered, and it may be a while before it is revealed. Let’s just say, he isn’t hanging out in Charley’s corner for the view. There is something coming. Something big that will shake the foundations of humanity. He is a part of that. He is waiting. Quite patiently.

 *gasp* 

  How do you find the time to write four books a year and make them awesome?

First, thank you! I’m so glad you think so. And admittedly I am forever behind on my deadlines. There is so much more to writing than writing. I knew that going in. I just never imagined how true it was. So I often find myself writing down to the wire, staying up until 4 in the morning just to get up three hours later and start all over again, writing frantically toward that deadline. Thankfully, I have an amazing assistant who keeps me in line, an awesome agent who has my back when things don’t go quite as planned, and an incredible editor who tells me when things aren’t anywhere near awesome. LOL. It takes more than one person to get me through the day anymore.

If I give you my address, can Reyes come over for a play date?  Providing Charley is ok with it, of course, or she is out of town.
 Haha! I think Charley would be fine with it. She’s a giver. I’ll send Reyes right over. I think he’d enjoy being interviewed by you.

Ok, we'll call it interviewing! 

Do you have a favorite quote from Fourth Grave Beneath My Feet?

 I started the book off with a T-shirt quote sent to me by the incomparable Jacquelyn Frank who writes the Nightwalker series. (Excuse me while I drool a moment. Okay, I’m back.) The quote goes something like this:

Only two things in life are certain. Guess which one I am.

That is a great quote!

I know this series is open ended, thank God, but do you already know how you will end it when the time comes?
I do! I’m actually kind of excited about it, even though I don’t want it to end
any time soon. I have an ending and a spin-off already started. It will be great
(I hope.) But again, that shouldn’t happen for a long while. I have many more
adventures to send our girl Charley on. She’s got to earn her keep in my head
somehow.

Hmm....intriguing

 Is there ever a question you wished someone would ask?

You know, people come up with the most amazing questions, I can never think of a single one.

Who is your all time favorite Grimlet? *cough* Heather *cough*

It’s odd that you ask, because there is this one named Heather who is just the bomb-diggety. I tell you, that girl has it going on.

Now that you mention it, I've heard that too!

Ok, ok, you don’t have to answer that last one. I don’t want everyone else getting jealous. We’ll just keep it between us. *Wink*

Oh, you’re right. I shouldn’t have said anything. Heather is NOT my favorite. She is just ONE of my favorites. Honestly, the Grimlets are amazing!!!! I love them so much and never dreamed I’d have a street team with such professional mannerisms and know-how. They floor me.

Anything you would like to add?

I had a taco salad for dinner. That’s about it.

And another nugget of wisdom from the great DJ!

Thanks so much for dropping by today. I can hardly wait til October 30^th! Ok, enough fooling around get back to work on Death, Doom and Detention. I need more Cameron and Jared. I love the scenes with those two!

LOL, thank you again! I love it when they don’t see eye-to-eye. Their “issues” are fun.

And thanks for having me!!! 

New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author Darynda Jones has won numerous awards for her work including a prestigious Golden Heart®, a RITA®, and a Daphne du Maurier. As a born storyteller, she grew up spinning tales of dashing damsels and heroes in distress for any unfortunate soul who happened by, annoying man and beast alike. Darynda lives in the Land of Enchantment, also known as New Mexico, with her husband and two beautiful sons, the Mighty, Mighty Jones Boys.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

a Rafflecopter giveaway