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Monday, February 8, 2016

Romancing the Dark in the City of Light


by Ann Jacobus



This past Friday, February 5, 2016, Marcy and I posted our answers to Ann’s debut novel Romancing the Dark in the City of Light. Today, you get to read Ann’s favorite's. 

Great answers, Ann! We can’t wait for our readers to read the novel. And hopefully to give us a few of their favorites, too. 

And we are super excited!! Ann has offered to give away her book to one lucky reader! Please either leave your email address in the comments section below or tag @MarcyCollieron Twitter with #Romancing the Dark in the City of Light.

1) What is your favorite line or paragraph from the novel as it relates to the main character's development and/or growth?

“I’ve learned to expect nothing from life,” Summer says, with a toss of her head and a little more vehemence than she intended.

“Hmm,” Moony says. “But what does life expect from you?”

This is at a point in the story when depressed main character Summer is only beginning to struggle with suicidality (the term for feeling suicidal). Her friend Moony has struggled for much of his life with staying alive, recovering, and regaining as much physical and mental ability as possible after a serious accident.


2) What is your favorite chapter ending or cliffhanger?

Kurt is Summer’s hot but mysterious and creepy friend who encourages all her worst choices. After alienating her friend Moony and wandering the city alone and despondent for hours, she calls Kurt to meet her for a drink since alcohol is her go-to for coping (at 18, she’s legal in Paris).

Kurt narrows his dark eyes. “It’s esthetically pleasing as advertised, but a cold and heartless city, don’t you think?”

She runs her finger around the rim of her glass. “Now that you mention it, yeah.”

“I do have a treat for you tonight. An unusual outing. I think you’ll get a kick out of it.”

“Let’s see. How could you possibly top the sewers? The city morgue?”

“No. Much more lively.”

“Nascar racing?”

“No, more intimate than that.” He’s laughing.

“Nude mud wrestling?” She’s feeling downright loose and light. Sexy and funny. Thin and beautiful. Healthy and alluring.

“Ha. Drink up. Let’s go.”

“But you just got here.” She drains her glass.

He smiles. “Waste not, want not. It’s time.”


3) Who is your favorite secondary character and why?

No question, my character Munir Al Shukr was my favorite character to write. His nickname is Moony. His father is Kuwaiti and his mother is American, although he has grown up in Paris—a third-culture kid who is comfortable just about anywhere but isn’t quite sure where he belongs. He is also partially physically disabled from a serious childhood car accident that he wasn’t expected to survive. He is kind-hearted and befriends my difficult-to-like protagonist, then patiently if sometimes gruffly puts up with her because he sees beyond her bluster. In fact, he falls for her. He is spiritual because he fully understands the value and fragility of life. He’s stoic as he’s battling a number of physical problems related to past surgeries and the accident. Too perfect, you say? No, he harbors some secrets.


4) What is your favorite line or paragraph of description?

“Everybody’s fragile, given the wrong circumstances.”

And conversely, “Humans are capable of incredible things. Full recoveries against the odds.”

When it comes to mental health, if you pile enough difficulties on just about anyone, they will break. But thankfully our wills to survive and thrive are (usually) strong and difficult to override.


5) What is your favorite line of dialogue?

“The River Seine. Spectacular,” Kurt says, gazing down from the bridge. “Flowing like time. Cold. Patient. Romantic.” He squeezes Summer’s hand. “Easy to slip into.”


Congratulations to Ann on her debut novel, Romancing the Dark in the City of Light!

To read more about Ann Jacobus and her debut novel Romancing the Dark in the City of Light, please go to:


4 comments:

  1. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  2. Thanks for participating, Ann. Your answers were great, and so was the novel!

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  3. Five Favorite Things is great fun! Thank you for having me!

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