#BIR2011: Dark Inside by Jeyn Roberts

Best I Read 2011 is officially in motion! All week long, I will be featuring 7 of my absolute favorite books of the year!

Kicking things off on my blog is Dark Inside by Jeyn Roberts and guys... this book seriously blew my away. It is so fundamentally dark, and really just... psychologically terrifying. This is one of those books I couldn't put down, and that just got into my head in a really weird way. I absolutely recommend it, and to celebrate, Jeyn has agreed to answer a few questions for me! So let's get right to it!



What was the hardest part about blending in human evil as a factor and motivator into the overall plot?

I didn’t find it hard at all. When I was a teenager and into zombie movies, my Mom once gave me a good piece of wisdom—it’s not the dead you need to fear, it’s the living. There’s a lot of truth in that statement. Don’t get me wrong, I think there’s a lot of beauty in the world, but I also think there’s a lot of darkness just beneath the surface. For me, bringing it out was just the beginning.

As the story progresses, it's easy to see how each of the four central characters are flawed in their own ways. Did you go into the book knowing their weak points, or did it develop as you went?

Some of them I knew ahead of time while others completely took me by surprise.

Which of the four central characters do you see yourself as being the most alike?

There’s a bit of me in every character but if I had to pick, I guess it would be Aries. I’m really the type who will constantly try and make sure everyone around me is happy before I consider my own feelings.

Of the world you've created, which aspect is the most terrifying for you?

I guess it would be the whole ‘run but can’t hide’ aspect. It’s one thing to be completely isolated; it’s another to be unable to go outside.

What was the very first scene you imagined for this book?

There were a couple. Some of the scenes are based on dreams I had as a teenager. But the very first scene that I pictured clearly in my mind was Nothing’s opening chapter. I had this thought about someone standing on the edge of a cliff and there was nothing but empty space around them. So when I started writing, the words “I’m standing on the edge of existence” came out of that.

If you were a demigod, what god/goddess would be your parent?

If we’re taking Norse mythology, I’d want to have Loki as a parent. Greek would be Hecate.

What kind of cupcake would you describe yourself as?

Probably one of the weird ones with bacon on it.


I admit, just reading this interview makes me want to reread the book. And now is YOUR chance to win a copy of the book!

To enter, just fill out THIS form! Contest is US Only (No PO Boxes) and ends November 18.

And for even more Best I Read awesomeness, check out the BIR blog today where Haven author Kristi Cook is being feature!