I can't believe that the First Grave on the Right Read Along is over after months of planning. A big thank you to all the bloggers who particpated in the month long event. I hope you had as much fun as I did. Most of all I hope that you are all big fans of Darynda Jones. I love her books. If you have not read one of her books, what are you waiting for? They are so fun! To cap off a great month I have the lovely Darynda Jones here today to answer questions that were submitted during the read along. Stay tuned at the end for the prize announcements! Here is Darynda Jones with her answers to your questions!
1. Can I have Reyes? ;D
Why certainly! Charley might have a problem with it though. :)
2. Does Darynda have her own Green Chili recipe (it's a southwestern thing and in the book... ) :) ?
Do you mean green chile stew? Charley makes it without actually measuring anything, but here is a pretty good recipe. The only difference is Charley uses WAAAAY more green chile than this recipe calls for. She often uses an entire 16 oz tub of Bueno green chile. But this will give you a basic idea.
NM Green Chile Stew
Ingredients:
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
2 pounds cubed beef stew meat (or chicken)
1 onion, chopped
1 (10 ounce) can diced tomatoes with green chile peppers
1 1/2 cups beef (or chicken) broth
1 (4 ounce) can chopped green chile peppers
1 tsp. garlic salt
salt to taste
ground black pepper to taste
2 large potatoes, peeled and cubed
Directions: In a large pot over medium heat, heat the oil and brown the stew meat (or cook the chicken fully) and the onions until onions are translucent; about 5 minutes.
Pour in the diced tomatoes with chiles, beef (or chicken) broth and chile peppers. Stir in the garlic salt. Salt and pepper to taste.
Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer for 1 hour. Add a little more beef broth or water if needed during simmering.
Stir in cubed potatoes to the mixture and simmer for an additional 30 minutes or until potatoes are tender.
This is a New Mexico favorite and is delightful made with either beef or chicken. Add a bit of Devil’s Dust to spice up this warm dish even more.
3. What inspired you to write Charley's character?
I was wracking my brain trying to come up with my next story. I knew I wanted to write paranormal and I knew I wanted it to feature a strong heroine, but what KIND of heroine? There are so many. I decided almost immediately that I wanted her to be fun and to not take life or anything in it too seriously. I wanted her to live in a paranormal world but I didn’t want her to think of it as this huge burden. (I can’t stand whiners. LOL) I wanted her to enjoy it and have fun with it and treat it as just an everyday thing even when it does turn dark and serious. I also knew I wanted her to be a little bit Buffy and a little bit Lorelei Gilmore from the Gilmore Girls. Just sassy with a comeback at every turn. (This is SO not like me. I am not witty in the least, unfortunately.) And giving her ADD just seemed like the right thing to do.
4. How did Reyes know when she will be born?
I just left that up to the fact that he is a supernatural entity and has access to certain kinds of information our there in the universe that we do not. In my mind, I envisioned him seeing her as she was sent to Earth and he knew it was her time.
5. Questions for Charley: Who was your first boyfriend? I somehow don't see you with a straight A student who's aiming to be the next president of the US :D
Wow, that’s so weird. You seem to know me so well. Hehehe. My first boyfriend was a kid named Charles. I was five. He was six. And since our names were almost identical, we knew were destined to be together forever. We were hitched for two weeks before he moved. I didn’t find out until much later that his parents had abandoned him and the state sent him to stay with a foster family down the street from us until a permanent home could be found. I think he was sent to live with an aunt. I never saw him again, but I’ve never forgotten him. The first time we met, he had a black eye, and I was in love. I seem drawn to the tortured ones.
6. Why can't you trust the man you love more?
I think I have trust issues in general. Growing up, every time I’ve trusted someone with who I am, what I am, it’s almost always backfired. Then again, the man I love IS the son of Satan. I don’t think my hesitation is unwarranted. :)
7. I love how witty and sarcastic Charley is, I would love to know if Darynda is that way too in real life or if Charley was based off of anyone she knows?
I can be a tad sarcastic, but I don't see myself as witty at all. I’ve never had that quick wit I’ve always longed for. I think people like that have some kind of supernatural power. My mind just doesn’t work like that. Odd that Charley’s does.
8. Also, this might be answered somewhere else already (like on her blog) but
I would like to know how many books there will be in the series?
The series is open-ended, so the sky’s the limit! LOL.
9. The breasts and ovaries names are Star Trek and Lost in Space throwbacks..why did you pick those particular names?
I am a huge science fiction fan and wanted to share a bit of my obsession with Charley.
10. What can fans expect from Darynda Jones in the future?
Besides more Charley books, I have a new YA series coming out starting in October. The first of the Darklight trilogy, Death and the Girl Next Door, drops October 2nd. It’s about a girl whose life is irrevocably changed when the Angel of Death starts high school in her small town.
11. Who was your real life inspiration for Reyes?
In reality, I just see that archetype as the ultimate alpha hero, though I will admit, the scene where Charley thinks back to when she first met him, when he was being abused by Earl Walker, I very much had in mind actor Jason Behr. I think he’s super pretty.
12. Will Reyes continue to be difficult or as the reader put it... a bastard?
Um, probably, yeah. Although in Fourth Grave Beneath My Feet, his actions are more justifiable and we begin to understand exactly what he is up against. Trying to keep Charley alive is a full-time job and he does what he has to to keep her that way.
13. Do you come up with the t-shirt and bumper sticker quotes?
Some are mine but most are actual bumper stickers and T-shirts. I only wish I were that funny all the time.

A huge thanks to Darynda for stopping by today and answering all your questions! I hope you are as eager as I am for more Darynda Jones Charley Davidson books and her new YA series! You can find out more about Darynda on her blog, website, Goodreads, Facebook, Twitter and be sure to check out her Grimlets Street Team.
A big thank you again to everyone for joining in the read along. I wish you could all receive prizes!
The winners are:

Third Prize: A copy of Second Grave on the Left: Heather@Bewitched Bookworms

Second Prize: A copy of Third Grave Dead Ahead: Jennifer@Some Like It Paranormal

First Place: A coveted copy of Fourth Grave Beneath My Feet: Amy@Book Goonie
Congratulations to all the winners! Be sure to preorder your copies of Fourth Grave Beneath My Feet out on October 30th and the first title in Darynda's new YA series: Death and the Girl Next Door available on October 2nd
Thank you to Darynda for all of her support for this read along. Please stay tuned for another guest appearance from Darynda here on Rainy Day Ramblings at the end of The Something Wicked Comes event that will be running throughout October. If you haven't signed up, yet there is still plenty of time. Click on the button for the details!
