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Kalayna Price | Can Death Be A Hero?
October 16, 2010
The first time I encountered Death, I hurled my mother's medical chart at
him. As far as impressions went, I blew it, but I was five at the time, so he
eventually forgave me. Some days I wished he hadn't—particularly when we
crossed paths on the job.
When you think of Death personified, what image do you see? Many probably
conjure images of skeletons in black robes carrying long, deadly scythes and
intent on reaping souls. At one point, that might have been my first image as
well. Not so much anymore. Now when I picture a personified Death, the image in
my mind is of a much more relaxed figure in a black tee-shirt and faded jeans.
He leans against a wall, arms crossed over a wide chest and his dark hair
falling around his face as he watches with a smirk. Not a traditional image,
that’s for sure, but that’s what he looked like when he first walked into a
scene and became a leading character in my newest book, GRAVE WITCH.
Angel of Death, Soul Collector, Grim Reaper—whatever you called him,
most people saw him only once.
A popular question has been why I decided to cast Death in my story, and how I
decided to make him a romantic interest? When I first started playing with the
idea for GRAVE
WITCH, I knew the main character, Alex, would be able to question the dead.
Alex raises shades, which are the memories of the deceased given solid form by
magic, for both private clients and occasionally for the police. Shades have no
will and no emotion. They are a collection of memories. But in Alex’s world
there are also ghosts, which do have will and emotion. Ghosts are lost souls,
but they are rare. While world building, it became clear that I would have to know what exactly
happened to a character’s soul after they died and why some people could or
would be left to wander and become ghosts. I decided I wanted Grim Reapers in
the story, a type of Chiron to move the souls from their living, mortal
existence to what awaited them next. Considering I had a character who could
speak to various types of dead, it made since that she’d be able to see a grim
reaper, and it was even probable that they would have met at some point. I met his gaze, pleading, warning—I didn't care which—him to
leave my client alone. He flashed a row of perfectly straight teeth, which
didn't tell me anything.
Once I got a feel for Death’s character and I started to envision scenes between
him and Alex, I realized they had very dynamic chemistry. They have a history
and they flirt, but he’s Death and that’s not something Alex can ever really
forget. The fact that she’s known him most of her life but knows very little
about him doesn’t help. There’s always a bit of tension there, because when
Death appears, Alex never knows in those first moments if he’s dropping in for a
cup of coffee or for a soul.
The scenes with both Alex and Death were a lot of fun to write and turned out to
be some of my favorite in the book. I hope that readers enjoy this twist on
Death, and that after they read the book, they also forget the skull-headed
version of Death in favor of a hazel-eyed reaper.
Comments
36 comments posted.
Re: Kalayna Price | Can Death Be A Hero?
Because of all the deaths I've had in my family lately, I could use a less melodromatic slant. Your book certainly foots the bill!! I loved the interaction between your main characters, and I'm sure I'm going to enjoy your book!! I thought the cover was quite fetching, too, if you pardon the pun. Congratulations!!
(Peggy Roberson 10:10am October 16, 2010)
Death is more of a concept to me rather than a character although at times, the dead do talk "from the grave" or from the underground they fell into.
(Alyson Widen 10:53am October 16, 2010)
I do think of the skeleton in the black robes when I think of the grim reaper so this is a pretty unique sounding story.
(Maureen Emmons 11:27am October 16, 2010)
I think death can be a character but I'l not sure about a hero. I'll have to thinh about that one. But WOW your book sounds GREAT.
(Vickie Hightower 11:45am October 16, 2010)
I like to think of death like the character in the tv program about angels...the one with the traveling angels..Death was an angle sent to cross over the souls to the next segment of existance. He was not evil, he was not stealing souls or hurting the dying. He comes at our end time to escort us to the next plane of existance. I love a book that can take something we used to view as scary and make
give him human characteristics and maybe even allow him to be a hero.
I love the premise of your book and can't wait to read it. I look forward to more of your work as well.
(Kimberley Coover 12:03pm October 16, 2010)
I have never thought of Death as a hero but under certain circumstances maybe it could be. Your book sounds interesting.
(Cheryl Lynne 12:22pm October 16, 2010)
Most definately, like when my daddy was suffering so bad with his cancer. us four kids got down on our knees in a circle and prayed the lord to take him he was sufferin so. And before we got around his bed again he looked at us sayin loved us and smiled and he was gone. I closed his eyes our prayers were answered. It was what was needed. It still hurts even 20+ yrs later.
(JaneAnn Railey-Clear 1:51pm October 16, 2010)
Your book sounds great. Such a unique approach.
(G S Moch 2:16pm October 16, 2010)
Never really saw death as a being... your book sounds really interesting... would love to read about Death & Alex!
(Colleen Conklin 2:41pm October 16, 2010)
Oh, you should read Terry Pratchett's Discworld series. Death is in some of them...very funny and very good!!!!
Valerie
in Germany
(Valerie Bongards 2:46pm October 16, 2010)
This is a book that sound interesting. I'll bet you had fun writing it. Would love to read it.
(Maude Allen 6:12pm October 16, 2010)
Sounds like a good read!
(Deborah Lary 6:18pm October 16, 2010)
Death a romantick interest?? You have me intrigued. This book sounds really good and I think I need to add it to my must read asap list.
(Jolene Allcock 7:24pm October 16, 2010)
Death can absolutely be a hero. Love the concept.
(Mary Preston 7:30pm October 16, 2010)
I use to love watching the show "Dead Like Me," so I'm sure I would like your new book. Sounds interesting.
(Ginger Hinson 11:47pm October 16, 2010)
Very interesting approach. The Grim
Reaper was my first thought, but then
I remembered TOUCHED BY AN ANGEL
and their angel of death was a pretty
nice looking guy. Kindly and benign
and not the smirky type. He wouldn't
work well in you books, a bit too
chaste.
(Patricia Barraclough 12:23pm October 17, 2010)
grave witch sounds great
(Debbi Shaw 11:31am October 17, 2010)
I always think of Grim from the Grim adventures of Billy and Mandy.
(Pam Howell 11:41am October 17, 2010)
I do like the sound of this, I have read a couple of books where the hero is the reaper and it always lifts the book from the norm.
Dawn UK
(Dawn Murphy 12:45pm October 17, 2010)
This is a must read book for me. When death comes to me it isn't a shape, it is a smell. Not unpleasant, but very familiar. So I always know when death is around the corner. Grave Witch is another dimension into that world around us.
(S W 3:09pm October 17, 2010)
Love your book cover. Your book sounds very interesting.
(Sue Brandes 5:37pm October 17, 2010)
Book sounds very interesting, thanks for giving me a chance to read it.
(Linda Hall 7:01pm October 17, 2010)
Congrats on your new release! Sounds interesting. I'm always willing to give a new genre/book/author a try.
(MaryAnne Banks 8:54pm October 17, 2010)
the book sound good and hopeyou have many more
(Desiree Reilly 9:41pm October 17, 2010)
Holloween and the "Grave Witch" what a great combination.
(Sheila True 9:42pm October 17, 2010)
I haven't read many paranormal romances, but you had me with the first paragraph! After reading the blog it sounds very interesting, and a great twist on what we normaly think of as death or the grim reaper. I am going to have to read this!
(Missy Potts 10:09pm October 17, 2010)
You certainly have put an intriguing image of Death in my mind. I think I rather like him compared to the traditional one.
(G. Bisbjerg 10:27pm October 17, 2010)
I am intrigued by your unique twist on death in your story. Sounds like a really good read.
(Cherie Japp 12:24pm October 18, 2010)
Your book sounds very very interesting. I love the idea that Death does not have the traditional image. It definitely leaves you imagining what other surprises you might have in store for us. :)
(Jennifer Boyett 12:42pm October 18, 2010)
Wow, this does sound like a great book and I would love to win. Thanks for the opportunity to enter.
(Brenda Hill 2:03am October 18, 2010)
I've never tought of death in person, more like a eternal sleep. But the way you bring it, is a new twist to it. I like it!
(Annemiek de Vries 4:10am October 18, 2010)
Death comes in so many different ways.
Blessings,
Marjorie
(Marjorie Carmony 6:17am October 18, 2010)
I like the idea of Death from 'Charmed'. A neutral spirit that takes spirits on. Neither good nor evil.
(Barbara Hanson 9:01am October 18, 2010)
WOOT WOOT This ia a must read for me. Love the cover and the intro. I find the romance and the spirit world very electric ...You have me intrigued. Keep the spirits rolling..LOL Give us more of your sizzling reads. Thanks
(Shirley Sego 10:12am October 18, 2010)
I can't wait to read this book it sounds so good something different very unique.
(Jane Thompson 5:44pm October 18, 2010)
I have also been fascinated with Death. Little is known about him except that he is there when it's time for him/her to escort the dearly departed to the next dimensions.
Who's to say that Death can't be a female?
(Kai Wong 11:26pm October 18, 2010)
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