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 Ruby Release: DEATH AND THE GIRL NEXT DOORPosted by Darynda Jones Oct 2 2012, 12:01 am in Ruby Release Hello Ruby Readers! I am interrupting this commercial break to announce the release of the first in the Darklight Trilogy, DEATH AND THE GIRL NEXT DOOR, a new young adult (YA) series from St. Martin’s Press. And I thought I might, you know, explain. A lot of people have been wondering what prompted me to branch out into YA. Actually, I wrote YA long before anything else, since way back when I was a young adult, in fact, and my love for the genre has never waned. When I started DGND years ago, I knew I wanted to work on another YA project and I wanted it to be paranormal, so I just asked myself, if I were still in high school, who would be the last person I’d expect to see in algebra? Somewhere on that list was the Angel of Death. But the fun part was figuring out WHY he was there. *insert evil laugh* So, this is what I came up with:
DEATH AND THE GIRL NEXT DOOR is about a girl whose life is irrevocably changed when the Angel of Death starts high school in her small town. What she doesn’t know is that he was sent for her. What he doesn’t know is that when the time comes, he won’t be able to take her. And that’s when their world gets turned upside down. For this series, I knew I needed a to-die-for hero, and I think I found one in Jared Kovach. Still, his transformation onto this plane has not been an easy one. After all, he walked through the dusts of our planet as it was being formed. He’s traveled to the farthest reaches of our universe, felt the pull of a thousand black holes. He’s witnessed the formation of a million suns, seen the blinding sparks as they burst into stars. And yet humans fascinate him more than anything else. Especially one in particular. And becoming one of them, walking the earth as though he belongs, has been the biggest challenge he’s ever faced. He’s fought demons, waged wars, taken the lives of thousands in the blink of an eye, but nothing prepared him for the reality of life on Earth. CHAPTER ONE EXCERPT:
Death and the Girl Next Door T R A I T O R
The small town of Riley’s Switch, New Mexico, had only one coffee house, so that’s where I sat with my two best friends, knowing beyond a shadow of a doubt that only two of us would make it out of there alive. Though I did tend to exaggerate.
The fresh scent of pine from the surrounding mountains, which mingled with the rich aroma of coffee, lingered forgotten. In its place was a tense silence. It thickened the air around us. Emotions soared and rage simmered as I glowered at the traitor sitting across from me, waiting for him to flinch, to cower under my scrutiny. I would make his life a living heck if it were the last thing I did. Mostly because I wasn’t allowed to use the word Hell, being the granddaughter of a pastor and all. Otherwise, Casey Niyol Blue- Spider, aka the Glitch, would be toast.
“I swear, Lorelei,” he said, caving at last as a telling bead of sweat trickled down his temple, “I didn’t take it.” He shifted nervously in his seat and scanned the Java Loft, most likely to see if anyone was paying attention to the unscrupulous activities going on right under their noses. Since we were the only patrons in the place, probably not. “And even if I did, and I’m not saying I did,” he added, jabbing an index finger toward me, “who the heck cares?”
I lowered my voice, controlled the tone and inflection of every word, every syllable, striving to make myself sound menacing. I took up a mere five feet of vertical air space, so menacing was not always easy for me to accomplish. Slipping into a cryptic grin, I said, “You realize the minute I touch your hand, I’ll know the truth.”
His gaze darted to the hand he’d wrapped around his whipped almond toffee cappuccino with nonfat milk, and he jerked it back out of my reach. His hand. Not the whipped almond toffee cappuccino with nonfat milk. 34 Responses to “Ruby Release: DEATH AND THE GIRL NEXT DOOR”Leave a Reply |
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Congratulations on the release of Death and the Girl Next Door, Darynda! Your YA series is going to win you a whole legion of new fans.
Hmm, the whipped almond toffee cappuccino sounds to die for too…
LOL, thank you so much, and I agree. I could use one right now. haha
I’m so, so excited for you Darynda! I’m with Vanessa. Your new YA series opens the door for a whole new set fans. Though I don’t think they’ll call themselves Grimlins. LOL
I love that cover, btw! It’s perfect!
Congrats to you, D. Here’s to many happy sales! *raises glass of mimosa*
Jenn!
Thank you so much, Jenn!!! I’ll see your mimosa and raise you a margarita! hehe
Yay! Today’s the day you venture into unknown territory – isn’t it exciting and terrifying at the same time? But that’s the stuff of life. That’s the mark of an adventurous writer. I can’t wait to read this one. Love YA and love your voice…and I can add (even though math was not my strong subject). So, yeah, I get another side of Darynda to love.
Enjoy today, sweet lady!
Terrifying is the perfect descriptor!!! LOL. Thank you so much, Sis.
Love the cover, Darynda! It’s so . . . high school. I know this book is going to be a great big success with the teenagers!
Thanks, Laurie! I do love this cover. Very high school…. haha. You’re too funny.
Congratulations Darynda. This sounds like another winner of a story idea, and the excerpt left me dying for more. (Well, maybe not literally….)
Best of luck with the new one.
LOL, thank you, Hope!!!! And I’m glad you didn’t mean that literally. What would we do without you?
Congratulations, Darynda! I love the excerpt and the premise! Can’t wait to read the whole thing!
Thanks, Sally!!!!
Yay! Happy release day, Darynda! I was so excited to be one of the lucky readers that won an advanced copy of this off Goodreads and I’m loving it! I have been so hooked on the YA genre lately that I’m neglecting everything else on my TBR pile.
I know a whole new set of fans are ready to fall in love with your books!
Yay! Thank you so much, Cyn! I do that too. I go through YA phases where that is all I’ll read for weeks at a time. Love it!
Dang, that cover dude on the right looks like Viggo Mortenson – minus twenty years or so. He makes me feel like a dirty old lady.
Happy release day, m’dear!
HAHAHA! I have been getting that a lot. He’s such a cutie! And it does feel strange to say things like, “sexy Jared Kovach…” when he is supposed to be 16. It just seems wrong! My children are older than him. LOL
I have no doubt this new writing path will be just as well trod by faithful readers as your more usual path. You have a gift, girlfriend. Gotta share. The world is waiting. Congrats!
Oh, thank you, Gwyn!!!
Wonderful, Darynda! I’m so excited to read your YA! I love YA (just sold one myself) and your hero does sound “to die” for : ) Hee! Hee!
Isn’t it fun to write?! It keeps me young.
It keeps me young too! LOL. Super congrats on your sale, love!!! Yay!
My 13 yr old finished The Perks of Being a Wallflower last night and I’m positive will be demanding this one tonight. As soon as I make her read this blog.
You are an amazing talent, woman. Congrats on all the success! This sounds amazing.
Aw, thank you so much, Terri! I have that one on my ereader as well. I want to read it before I see the movie, though the movie looks great!
Thanks again!
Congratulations, Darynda!! I love your character’s voice and the first paragraph hooked me even though I’m not normally a YA reader.
Thank you, Anne Marie! It’s so fun to write!
Yay,Congrats D!!
It is sooo exciting to see this new trilogy finally published! (I can’t wait to see how different this first book is from its original version a few years back!)
Crossing all crossables for this series to be the next NYT Bestseller! ;0)
XOXOX
T
Oh thank you, my love!!! It’s a bit different, especially the end. I think I added about two chapters. Not sure. Hope you like it!
Congrats, Darynda. And the excerpt hooked me right in…
Oh thank you, Sis!
Wow, Darynda! Fantastic beginning…like to die for…
Seriously, I love it.
4th Grave is already on my Kindle’s TBD list. Looks like I’ll have to add another Darynda Jones. Good luck with the new series-sounds like another winner!
Thank you so much, Kelley!!! Hope you like them both. <3
hee hee hee! I love this!!
There’s a hint of Charley Davidson irreverence and humor, but in more innocent form.
The concept is fabulous!! Here’s to you finding a whole new set of rabid fans!
From your lips to God’s ears, sis!!! Thanks so much!
Cheers for you. This is the beginning of another fabulous new series.
Thank you, gorgeous lady!!!