GtPGKogPYT4p61R1biicqBXsUzo" /> Google+ Character Confession: Jesse (Dying for a Living) by Kory M. Shrum + giveaway | I Smell Sheep

Wednesday, March 12, 2014

Character Confession: Jesse (Dying for a Living) by Kory M. Shrum + giveaway

Dying for a Living is one of my favorite UF reads this year. Today the heroine, Jesse, from the series is here to talk about her author Kory. She isn't very happy with her right now and I got to say she has good reason...

Ally: *sitting up very straight in her seat, Hollywood smile, hands clasped in her lap* Thank you so much, Sheep. Jesse and I are very pleased to be here today. My name is Alice Gallagher, but you can call me Ally. I work as Jesse’s personal assistant.

Jesse: *slouching, arms folded* Why are we here? No one ever asks me to talk about how I feel. Nothing like “Hey Jess, how do you feel about dying? How do you feel about the sore muscles, brain damage, homicidal maniacs, or the fact that there isn’t a street in Nashville that hasn’t had your meat splattered all over it?”
What do you really want?

Ally: *forcing a smile* They want to know about our work with Kory.

Jesse: Kory!


Ally: *raises a hand to stop her.* Why don’t you introduce yourself properly first? Then we can talk about Kory.

Jesse: *rolling her eyes* I’m Jesse, a death replacement agent for the Federal Bureau of Regenerative Deaths, FBRD. I have this cranky-ass handler that recruited me into this s*&^ show, Brinkley—I suppose that’s the first thing I could b*&^% about. Why couldn’t Kory give me a nicer boss? Isn’t it bad enough that my job involves bone-crushing, gut-spilling trauma, and whiny, neurotic clients? Do I really have to be lorded over by an a*&^%le too?

Ally: *just a tad red in the cheeks* It’s true that Brinkley can be—challenging. But I appreciate his thoroughness. And maybe, perhaps, you could watch your language, just for the interview.

Jesse: And that’s the second thing that pisses me off. Do you see how Kory censors me? If I want to say c*&K b*&ls, son of a m%^^#$K d#$%bag—she should let me! I’ve been through a lot. I need to express myself. What’s the point of writing me at all, if she won’t let me be myself? 

Ally: Maybe she is just worried it will make people uncomfortable. 

Jesse: That can’t be it! You’ve heard some of the s*&^ that comes out of her mouth!

Ally: *the red flush in her cheeks deepens* Well, I for one would like to express my gratitude. I’m happy to be alive. We’ve faced so many challenges, yet here we are. Aren’t you grateful, even a little bit? 

Jesse: *harrumphs* I’m only alive because she enjoys killing me. She brings me back just so she can do it again. It’s sadistic. She spends all this time googling death statistics, trying to find interesting ways to kill me. She googles how to kill me! And she laughs about it.

Ally: I think she just wants to be thorough, and accurate. I don’t mind that. I like things to make sense. And they do, it’s just that our lives are a little—complicated.

Jesse: *speaking as if she hasn’t heard Ally* She thinks no one knows, of course, when she sits alone in her little office, reading these gruesome reports and snickering into her lattes. But I know and it creeps me the f*&k out. Wouldn’t you be creeped out if someone was plotting to kill you and laughing about it? 

Ally: Maybe she just likes her job. You should try harder to like your job.

Jesse: And she knows what’s at stake for me. I mean death replacement agents have a tendency to go insane from all the oxygen deprived brain damage—so she knows she’s pushing me toward the edge every time she kills me. God forbid she treat me like the victim here, like the underprivileged minority with a neurological disorder! A little sensitivity is all I’m asking for. You know, instead of hallucinations, just give me low blood sugar or something.

Ally: We’ve talked about this. You know it isn’t about you. Not really.

Jesse: I know writing is supposed to be therapeutic and whatever —but why do I have to be the one involved? Gee-zus. She could torture anyone. Why does she have to kill me? Attack my friends? Display my sex life?

Ally: *her nostrils flaring.* Well, yes. I would rather not hear about you and Lane anymore. *To the audience, reapplying her smile.* But I think what Jess is trying to say is that we are really happy just to be alive. And though the odds are, admittedly, against us—we hope to stay alive for as long as possible.


Dying for a Living
by Kory M. Shrum

ebook, 400 pages
On the morning before her 67th death, it is business as usual for Jesse Sullivan: meet with the mortician, counsel soon-to-be-dead clients, and have coffee while reading the latest regeneration theory. Jesse dies for a living, literally. As a Necronite, she is one of the population’s rare 2% who can serve as a death replacement agent, dying so others don’t have to. Although each death is different, the result is the same: a life is saved, and Jesse resurrects days later with sore muscles, new scars, and another hole in her memory.

But when Jesse is murdered and becomes the sole suspect in a federal investigation, more than her freedom and sanity are at stake. She must catch the killer herself—or die trying
.

About the Author:
Kory M. Shrum lives in Michigan with her partner and a ferocious guard pug. When not writing, she can be found teaching, traveling, and wearing a gi. Her poetry has appeared in North American Review, Bateau and elsewhere. Her first urban fantasy novel Dying for a Living will be available March 4, 2014.

25 comments:

  1. I LOVED this book and this interview was awesome! I'm anti-government involvement for things like this. (I know, I talk about it as if it's real!) I'd totally do a blackmarket version, get the whole payment myself, have a good friend make sure to get my body, etc. But I wouldn't work for the govt!

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    1. It is so funny that you mention this because I totally had a rogue (think opportunistic Firefly ship captain) death-replacer who did replacements for enough money :) And a hilarious scene where he and Jesse crossed paths. Who knows, maybe the rogue will make a later appearance. :)

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  2. Oooooo, that's a tough one! For my friends & family, I would- no question. As to others, I'm not so sure...

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  3. A great big SQUEEE for this book and new author!!! It was a fantastic read, and I can't wait for more! If I were one of the 2%, there's no way I'd replace random strangers for a small commission. I like Tiffany's black market idea, and Gaelicark's friends and family, but there's no way I'd do what Jess does!

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  4. as long as it doesn't hurt... why not ;) Thanks for sharing!

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  5. Hmmm. I don't think I would necessarily want to but I am not so sure that you have much of a choice in matters like this...

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    1. 'Tis true. And Jesse would definitely agree with you ;)

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  6. That is a hard choice. I do not think I could do it for just anyone, but for those I loved, or to save someone that will have an important role in history for the goodness and welfare of mankind in the future, I might.

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  7. Great post. I don't think I would want to be the one dying.

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  8. Christopher BartlettMarch 13, 2014 at 8:31 AM

    I loved this post made me want to read the book and hope it becomes a long lasting series. I could see myself in this position with tales to write about it myself.

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    1. I just loved this story. It is going to be a hit. You hear that Kory?! You're gonna be a STAR!

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    2. *crosses fingers and bounces* I hope so.

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  9. Not if I had to feel the pain and suffer when I came back.

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    1. Only a little Anne. You'd sleep through the worst of it. ;)

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  10. I don't know. I would probably want to look at the benefits package. If I wouldn't have to die for any criminals or other vile critters, I would consider it.

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  11. Hmmmm...good question. I think I could do it if it wasn't family...hard to say.
    Wouldn't want violent death....
    Book sounds great Kory..can't wait to read it

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  12. Sounds fascinating (both the book and the Death Replacement job. I'd be willing to give both a try.

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    1. It is also a fast read because you are constantly being hooked with a new twist.

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  13. Such an intriguing sounding book. That's a tough question. I would as long as it wasn't to violent or painful, lol.

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  14. So glad I found a new author! Thanks for the addition to my TBR list & for the giveaway

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  15. Well if the comments show up double I apologize, appears that no one stepped in to save mine from google death today and they are going into the ether ;) I think I would be a dandy Necronite, especially if I could pick and choose those I was able to save LOL After all there are those who's time is up and that is only right, snigger baddies beware!

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