Abby James - Living and the Dead Should Never Mix

Posted on 14th of June, 2019 by Naomi Bolton

Abby James is an incurable romantic and a great adventurer. Her list of loves is long. At the top is writing great romances, alongside reading great romances. She hates the mundane, so finds herself creating fantasy worlds and heroes that are larger than life and far from normal. As our Author of the Day, James tells us all about her humorous urban fantasy, Death Sucks.

Please give us a short introduction to what Death Sucks is about

Death Sucks is a humorous Urban fantasy paranormal romance about a woman who wakes to discover she has no memory of her past or even who she is. But soon discovers she is in charge of a motley bunch of reapers and is tasked with the difficult job of keeping death on track. No falling in love. That’s the one rule she must abide by, an impossible feat when she meets the man of her dreams.

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What inspired you to write about someone who was made an angel of Death?

I liked the idea of someone being able to straddle the divide between the living and the dead. It was also a play on the title angel of death. Most times that is taken as death or the feared mythical being that takes people’s lives. I liked the idea that the angel of death was actually an employee of death and was the one responsible for all the soul sorting.

Tell us more about your heroine, what makes her tick?

Bounty is desperate to know the truth about her past since Death took her memories. Everywhere she turns there is hints to a mysterious past that may have a big impact on the future. Like every woman she craves love, more so since it is now denied her and is gutted to learn she went to her grave never having experienced loved.

Why did you decide to write the book in first person?

I love first person narration. I always feel it gives an intimacy to the characters and the story.

What drew you to urban fantasy?

I started reading urban fantasy about a year ago and enjoyed the genre straight away. I love the fact pace, action and humor, which are essential to a good urban fantasy story. I also love to play with the idea of another world existing right under our noses.

Do you have any interesting writing habits? What is an average writing day like for you?

I used to be able to write anywhere, and made a point of spending some of my writing time in a café somewhere enjoying a hot chocolate. Of late that has all changed for me and I don’t know why, but I find my distraction level has skyrocketed. Unfortunately that means I need the quiet of my home if I want to get the words done. Sometimes I’m forced to write late at night when everyone in the house has gone to bed just so I can fine the quiet. My cat loves to pester me. if I ever leave me chair to get something, he commandeers the spot straight away. I swear he lays in wait someone hidden, watching and waiting for me to leave.

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What advice would you give to your younger self?

Begin sooner and just keep going. Write, write write and don’t stop. Push a side any doubts and write some more.

What do you enjoy most about your work?

I love writing. That is the biggest perk. I get to create stories, develop characters and mesh it altogether. Being able to work in my pyjamas and bed hair is a definite perk.

Why did you make Death a person in this book?

I loved the idea that he was just an ordinary guy and someone that craved a good coffee.

Are there any books or writers that have influenced your work?

I think every book I’ve ever read influences all my work. It’s the reason I write. Maybe they don’t influence a particular story, but my passion for books and reading and discovering new worlds or lives beyond my own is what started me on this crazy fun filled adventure.

Which of your characters has been the most challenging to write for?

The guys can be the biggest challenge. I don’t know what goes through a guy’s head really. But I like to write a story where the guy sounds authentic enough. The challenge though is he also has to be appealing to the female reader, which means male characters usually end up saying and thinking things that I’m sure most males would never say or think, but it’s what us woman want them to say or think.

Talk to us about your writing routine; what’s a typical writing day for you?

I clear the house of kids. On my way home I stop off at the coffee van at the end of our street and get a takeaway while having a short chat to the locals that gather there every morning. I then come home and start writing. I have to do the writing in the morning because for some reason my writing brain goes to sleep once 12 noon hits. It can kick back in at night, but the afternoon is useless for writing. I will spend that time doing other writing related tasks, eg editing or preparing marketing. I make sure I get an hour in the afternoon before the house fills again to go for a walk with the dog and listen to one of my many favorite podcasts.

What are you working on right now?

I’m doing a fantasy romance as well as planning for another urban fantasy series. My brain squirrels around a lot on ideas and I have to stop and jot everything down or my brain won’t stop pestering me.