Jo Denning is the author of the Saoirse
Reilly series. She has spent her career as a behavioral health therapist
supporting kids and teens who struggle with addiction. Jo began writing
supernatural crime thrillers as a way of processing the traumatic
things she has seen and heard. Her characters may be supernatural but
their stories, their fear, and their pain are real. So, too, are the
triumphs over impossible odds.
When she’s not writing, Jo enjoys baking, drawing, and watching trashy reality TV. She makes her home somewhere in the contiguous United States with her husband, one fluffy cat, and one barely domesticated cat.
Let’s Connect!
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What attracted you to the urban fantasy genre?
I’ve always loved fantasy and fairy tales. As I got older, I also developed an interest in mystery and darker, grittier stories. Urban fantasy is a good mix of both.
Do you write in any other genres?
Urban fantasy is such a broad genre and, for that reason, it describes my books well. The Saoirse Reilly series includes high fantasy and romance but it is still solidly an urban fantasy series.
What inspired you to write Hush Hush City?
I always knew Dead Blood City would have a sequel. I wanted to address some of the questions readers had about Reilly’s heritage and her burgeoning powers. Other inspirations included Norse myths of the undead, the overlap of Viking and Irish culture, and the long, troubled history between Ukraine and Russia. But my overarching inspiration for the book was imagining someone presented with a series of distinct choices and choosing wrong every single time. Where would they end up?
Can you give us your book blurb so others can find out what your book is about?
Cruel Prince meets Law & Order in Hush Hush City, the thrilling sequel to Dead Blood City and second installment in the Saoirse Reilly series!
Saoirse Reilly, police detective and wayward psychic, is still reeling from the events of Dead Blood City. Her lies are piling up but there's no time to deal. She and her loved ones are in danger once again. While investigating the murder of a Boston blueblood, Reilly is drawn into a supernatural power struggle centuries in the making.
Ancient monsters are prowling the streets and Domenico Alderisi, newly installed vrykolakas master, needs Reilly’s help securing his territory—which just so happens to be her hometown. Alderisi, once her enemy, may be the only one who can save the city. But he has his own agenda and a taste for Reilly's blood.
The only way for Reilly to protect all she holds dear may be to rely on her two-faced teacher, Dr. Emrys Somerled. The criminal psychologist and occult expert is something more than human. If anyone can take on monsters, it's him. And he'd like to get closer to Reilly than ever before. There’s just one problem. Somerled is keeping secrets, too, and there's nothing more dangerous. After all…
Stepping out of the silence is scary but secrets can kill.
Will Reilly escape the web of death and deception?
Find out in this urban fantasy meets gritty noir detective novel featuring imperfect heroes and slow burn dark romance with beautiful monsters who can’t be trusted.
How can readers discover more about you and your work?
Personal website: https://www.jodenning.com
TikTok: http://tiktok.com/@jodenningwrites
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jdenningwrites
Twitter: https://twitter.com/jo_denning
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/jdenningwrites
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/131869501-jo-denning
Where can readers buy your book?
You can read Dead Blood City, the first book in the Saoirse Reilly series, plus Shattered City, a collection of prequel-ish short stories, free by subscribing at https://www.jodenning.com
You can buy Hush Hush City, print or Kindle, on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Hush-City-Fantasy-Romance-Saoirse-ebook/dp/B0BW6V6YZC/ref=sr_1_1?crid=I9LB6HRI1VM5&keywords=hush+hush+city&qid=1684694614&s=books&sprefix=hush+hush+cit%2Cstripbooks%2C201&sr=1-1
Thank you very much for taking the time out of your busy schedule to take part in this interview. What’s next for you?
I’m hard at work on the third book in the Saoirse Reilly series, Black Sight City, so named because it will be the darkest installment yet.
