Interview & Giveaway: Kelly Keaton, author of Darkness Becomes Her

Interview with Kelly Keaton, author of Darkness Becomes Her


Today I'm talking with debut author Kelly Keaton about her wonderful novel Darkness Becomes Her (God & Monsters #1). I loved this edgy debut and was so excited when the wonderful Ms. Keaton agreed to do an interview. Find out how Pascal got his name, who Ari's literary BFF would be and more below!


1) Can you tell us a little bit about how you came up with the concept of DARKNESS BECOMES HER? 


There were a lot of things that seemed to come together at the right time. I had a vision in my head of Ari, this hardened girl with white hair and this very gray, creepy world in which she traversed. I've been wanting to set a book in NOLA for more than a decade. I just never felt I had the right tale until Ari showed up. 


2) I loved Ari as our protagonist but if you could go back and re-write DARKNESS BECOMES HER in any other perspective for fun, who would you choose? 


Thank you! I think I'd chose to do it from Sebastian's point of view and Violet's -- that would be very interesting, I think. :-)


3) There is a lot of Greek mythology in DARKNESS BECOMES HER. How much of it was based on research and how much did you make up?


I didn't have to do too much research because I've been a mythology geek since I was a kid. I reread some of my favorite books on the subject just to get into the mood and then I twisted some of the myth to suit the story. I made up a small portion of the old curse Athena places on a certain someone -- that being the child and the curse continuing. Everything after the myths we all know - I had to make up, which is basically my ideas of what happened with the gods in the years between ancient Greece and when my story begins.

4) One of my favorite things about your novel was that Ari could take care of herself. She was so capable! If she had a best friend from another novel, who would it be and why?  


Hermione Granger! :D  They're both stubborn, proactive, and have kind hearts. I think they'd size each other up at first, maybe even clash, but then they'd end up respecting each other and being great friends.


5) Was there anything in the first draft that was cut that you loved? Was there anything added in the final copy that you like? 


There was nothing cut and I did add a few things, but they were all pretty minor, so nothing that sticks out. The sequel however is another story. I cut several chapters from that story, wrote three different endings, and added a lot of new scenes. That was a tough book to write, but I totally love how it turned out!  


6) When Ari goes to New 2, she's got a backpack with a few of her things in it. If you were going to New 2 and your backpack could only fit five things what would you bring? 


Money, my phone, my computer, clean under clothes, and my migraine meds! 


7) Ari is definitely a little rough around the edges and because of this, she swears a lot. Were you worried about losing an audience because of her word choice? 


I feel good about the final book, which is toned down quite a bit from the ARCs. But, yeah, she swears. The majority (not all) of her curses take place in her thoughts. We say a lot of things in our heads that we don't often say out loud. Ari does that, too. I like to write realistically, and I try to stay true to my characters and the world I've created. Ari has had a rough road. She hasn't had many good examples from adults. Ari and the kids of New 2 are orphans. Censoring themselves would be out of character for them. This is a rough and tough world, they have to protect themselves, put food on the table themselves, and when something bad happens I don't see them biting their tongue so as not to offend anyone.


One thing I've learned in this business is that no matter what you write or how you present it, you can't please everyone. And if I wrote trying to do that, I'd go mad. So I write what I see and hear in my mind, and try to stay true to my creative self. I hope that readers find my tales entertaining, engaging, and thought-provoking. And if not, that's okay too.   


8) My friend wants to know about Pascal. How did you name him and what's his story? 


I wanted a really Old World name for him, something that fit in well with the city and it's French influence. Pascal leapt out at me immediately.


9) Have you read anything you enjoyed lately? 


The Goddess of Legend by P.C. Cast


10) Can you tell us anything about the second installment of DARKNESS BECOMES HER? Are you working on any other projects? 


The sequel takes off right where DBH left off. You'll see a lot more Sebastian and Athena in this book! I am working on a new project when I have time. It's a single YA novel (not a series) and it's something I've been wanting to write for a long time. That's all I can say!  

Want more Darkness Becomes Her?:

• Find it on Goodreads
• Find it on Shelfari
• Find it on Amazon.com
• Check out Kelly Keaton's website

Win Darkness Becomes Her!


I loved this novel so much, I'm giving away (another) copy! So enter for your chance to win!


Rules:

• Must be a follower
• This is international (as long as the Book Depository ships to you)
• May only enter once
• Must be 13 years or older
• This giveaway ends May 22 at 12:00AM