Q+A with Drusilla "DJ" Jaco (Elysian Fields: Sentinels of New Orleans)

Please welcome today's special guest, Drusilla Jaco from the Sentinels of New Orleans urban fantasy series by Suzanne Johnson!

Drusilla Jaco took a break from chasing down pretes (preternaturals) who’ve crossed the borders from the Beyond into modern New Orleans to chat about how her life has changed in the three years since she became a Sentinel.

What’s the hardest part of your job? Has it gotten any easier?

Well, since Hurricane Katrina tore down the borders between New Orleans and the Beyond, all the rules have changed. The physical part of the job has gotten easier…except, wait. Let me rethink that. I have been drowned, shot, burned, had my hair yanked out by the roots…Hell no, it hasn’t gotten easier.

Sounds kind of hazardous? You’re one of only a few female wizards to ever hold the job of sentinel.

Not really. I mean, most days I’m just trying to stay alive—or out of the wizards’ Elders’ doghouse. Although after recent events, I’m pretty far down on their list of priorities. I mean, do you know what the First Elder did?

Uh, I don’t think you can talk about that yet. It’s not until the next book.

Oh. Well, okay. Let’s just say the Elders have much bigger wizards to fry than me.

What are you most afraid of? It used to be zombies—is that still true?

I’m still most afraid of losing someone else I care about. But I’ve changed my mind about zombies. Not that I LIKE zombies, but you have to like a prete who can just be set on fire or blown up with a grenade. You know, they’re all mindless and shambling and stuff. Now elves. Elves, I fear. Maybe fear is the wrong word. Loathe. That’s the word. Fear and Loathing in New Orleans.

What about elves scares you? Aren’t they nice, peaceful, beautiful creatures?

*Stares at me in disgust.* Hey, I like Tolkien as well as the next wizard on the block, and Gandalf—the wizard, not the dog—was cool. But, seriously, he had elves wrong.

Would you say elves are evil?

No, it would be easier if they were evil. They just have their own ways, and happen to think their ways are the right ways. And the only ways. And that everyone else is stupid.

Sort of sounds like wizards?

I have the staff with me. I’m not above zapping someone with it. Ask my neighbor Quince Randolph.

What’s ahead for you and Quince Randolph? Admit it, you think he’s hot.

So is a coat made of leopard fur, but I can think of all kinds of reasons not to have one. But just in case those rumors are getting started: I do not like Quince Randolph. I do not trust Quince Randolph farther than I can throw him, and he’d be too heavy to try—and besides that throwing him would require touching him, and I don’t plan to do that either. Not happening. So just put that out of your mind.

What about Alex?

*Narrows eyes* What about him? What kind of question is that?

What about Jean Lafitte? The pirate has proven to be a valuable ally, wouldn’t you say?

(Sighs.) Yes, you just don’t even want to know how much I owe that man .. pirate .. privateer … whatever. God only knows what he’ll want in payback.

It’s been said you have too many men in your life, so what about Jake?

Jake and I tried but it wasn’t meant to happen, and it’s better for both of us that it didn’t. That’s over. I still care about him. I still feel responsible for what’s happened to him; well, Alex and me both. I’ll always help him if I can. But friends is it.

And Rene?

(Laughs.) I love that guy. He’s the only person I know who’s more impulsive than me. We’re too much alike to be more than friends. Besides, why in the world would I get mixed up with a guy who spends all his free time in the water? I can’t even swim.  He’s a good backup guy, though, and I think Alex is gonna offer him a job with the DDT prete squad. Don’t know if he’ll take it or not.

Last question: what’s your take on the vampires and the local vampire Regent, Etienne?

I think Etienne Boulard better watch his fangs. I know a certain French pirate who wants to have a few words with him. It won’t be pretty. … I hope I get to watch. But now, I gotta go and have a word with the Greater Mississippi River Nymphs. Their escort and massage service still has a few satyrs on staff, and I’m sorry, but those creepy little horns are freaking people out. And the cloven hooves (shakes head). You don’t even want to know.

Thank you DJ for joining us here today at From the Shadows!  Read on to learn more about Elysian Fields, the newest release in the Sentinels of New Orleans series.

Elysian Fields (Sentinels of New Orleans #3) by Suzanne Johnson.

An undead serial killer comes for DJ in this thrilling third installment of Suzanne Johnson’s Sentinels of New Orleans series

The mer feud has been settled, but life in South Louisiana still has more twists and turns than the muddy Mississippi.

New Orleanians are under attack from a copycat killer mimicking the crimes of a 1918 serial murderer known as the Axeman of New Orleans. Thanks to a tip from the undead pirate Jean Lafitte, DJ Jaco knows the attacks aren’t random—an unknown necromancer has resurrected the original Axeman of New Orleans, and his ultimate target is a certain blonde wizard. Namely, DJ.

Combatting an undead serial killer as troubles pile up around her isn’t easy. Jake Warin’s loup-garou nature is spiraling downward, enigmatic neighbor Quince Randolph is acting weirder than ever, the Elders are insisting on lessons in elven magic from the world’s most annoying wizard, and former partner Alex Warin just turned up on DJ’s to-do list. Not to mention big maneuvers are afoot in the halls of preternatural power.

Suddenly, moving to the Beyond as Jean Lafitte’s pirate wench could be DJ’s best option.

Release Date:  August 13, 2013.

Genre:  Urban Fantasy

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Books in this series:  Royal Street, River Road, and Elysian Fields.

Book Review:  Don't miss our 5-Shadows review of Elysian Fields coming September 6, 2013.  I absolutely LOVED it.

To learn more about this series check out Suzanne Johnson's website and don't miss this fun interview with Suzanne from our archives.