The Story is About   +  script

Bree Despain

Books:

• The Dark Divine

Grace Divine, daughter of the local pastor, always knew something terrible happened the night Daniel Kalbi disappeared--the night she found her brother Jude collapsed on the porch, covered in his own blood--but she has no idea what a truly monstrous secret that night held.

The memories her family has tried to bury resurface when Daniel returns, three years later, and enrolls in Grace and Jude's high school. Despite promising Jude she'll stay away, Grace cannot deny her attraction to Daniel's shocking artistic abilities, his way of getting her to look at the world from new angles, and the strange, hungry glint in his eyes.

The closer Grace gets to Daniel, the more she jeopardizes her life, as her actions stir resentment in Jude and drive him to embrace the ancient evil Daniel unleashed that horrific night. Grace must discover the truth behind the boy's dark secret...and the cure that can save the ones she loves. But she may have to lay down the ultimate sacrifice to do it--her soul.

What is the most interesting comment you've received about The Dark Divine?

After my mom read TDD for the first time, she called me in tears to tell me how much she loved it . . . and then she said, “Wow. Your brain must be really disturbed.”

I took it as a compliment.

Was The Dark Divine the title initially? Is there a story behind the title?

The very original title for the manuscript was DANIEL DIVINE but when people started reading it they assumed that Grace and Daniel were brother and sister—which made the first chapter seem really strange. Before I started subbing the book to agents, I came up with several different possible titles and had my critique group vote on them. They loved THE DARK DIVINE the best—and I was glad because that was my favorite title too.

How did writing your debut, The Dark Divine, differ from writing the next novel, The Lost Saint?

The biggest difference is time. I wrote TDD on my own terms without any deadlines, and it took me 4 years. TLS will be written, edited, and published in less than year. I’ve had to learn to be very disciplined with my time (yeah right.)

Is there another genre you'd like to try? One that you plan to stay away from?

Um, I don’t think I’ll ever write adult erotica . . . But I do want to try my hand at humorous contemporary teen fiction like Meg Cabot. And I also want to write serious books along the line of Laurie Halse Anderson. I even have YA dystopian novel about a totalitarian society rolling around in my head. I mostly come up with YA ideas, but it I ever get a really great MG or adult idea, I wouldn’t be opposed to switching genres.

Describe your writing in three words.

Hmm, well I know what I want my writing to be, but that’s up to the reader to decide whether I’ve accomplished it: Engaging, meaningful, entertaining.

If you could travel back in time for one year, where would you go and what three things would you take with you?

Victorian Era Egypt during the golden age of archeological discovery, so I could participate in a dig. . . and get to go to fancy balls and wear huge awesome dresses. I’d bring a really great camera to capture every moment, tons of money so I could hob-nob with the high society crowd, and year’s supply of deodorant . . . for every person that I met.

As for the giveaway. I have three bottles of Dark Divine Purple Nail Polish! You can paint your nails to match the cover model!!

Official information:

• to enter, please fill out the form below
• entrants must be 13 years of age or older
• contest deadline is April 5, 2010
• contest open to US residents only
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