We have with us today the talented author of the Madeline Black series, Christina Henry!! First off, Chris, please tell us about you.And thank you!! To Christina for taking the time out of her busy schedule to answer the nosey questions from a reader!
I’m a thirtysomething (OK, almost fortysomething) mom of one boy and I’ve been happily married for twelve years.
When I’m not writing or helping my son build robots out of Legos I like to run long distances, bake sweet things (this is one of the many reasons that I run), and read as much as I can. I really enjoy watching movies where people get eaten by monsters – The Host, Jaws, Alien, and Night of the Living Dead are some of my favorites.
Where do you get your inspiration from? How do you come up with these ideas?
I’m more of an aural person than a visual person, so I usually hear the character’s voice before I see them. That’s happened with every character in the BLACK WINGS world so far.
When I’m writing a book I have a general idea of what has to happen at the beginning and at the end, but I don’t plan out the middle. I just kind of go along and let things happen organically.
Have you always wanted to be a writer? When and how did you start writing? Will you tell us a little about your journey to being a published author.
I’ve wanted to be a writer since I was 12 years old and I read J.R.R. Tolkien’s THE LORD OF THE RINGS series. I was so enthralled with the world that he created.
I wrote BLACK WINGS in the fall of 2008, and then spent six months trying to find an agent. It’s really, really difficult to get an agent in the current climate. There are way more writers than there are agents to go around.
After six months without any success I decided to submit the book directly to Ace/Roc. Most of my favorite writers (Jim Butcher, Charlaine Harris) are with them, and I’d always wanted to be published by Ace anyway. One week after I submitted the query and first ten pages an editor asked to read the whole book, and a week after that I was offered a contract for three books. It was pretty amazing.
As I understand it, Black Wings is your debut novel. How did it feel and how did you react? What did you do when you finally got to be a published author?
It took a few days to sink in, that’s for sure. I don’t think I really felt like an author until I walked into my local bookstore and saw BLACK WINGS on the shelf. I still like to go into bookstores and check the SF/Fantasy section for my book :)
Please tell us the aspect in being a writer that you like most.
Working in my pajamas when I’m at home, and working in the bagel shop when I actually feel like getting dressed.
Please tell us the aspect about being a writer that you like least.
Really, there’s no downside to this. I get to make up stories for a living!
Was there any significant changes in your life since being a published author? Did you like it? Did you hate it? Or just put up with it?
No, my life hasn’t really changed that much. I wish I could say that my life has been super-exciting since the books came out but unfortunately I still have to do the laundry.
How many books are planned for the Madeline Black series? Or nothing is quite definite yet?
There are definitely going to be at least six books. If it seems like there is more story to tell after that then there will be more.
Are you working on any current projects right now?
I’m working on the rewrites for BLACK HOWL, the third book in the BLACK WINGS series, which will be released in February 2012. I’ve also started writing book 4 in the series.
Thanks so much for having me here today, Cherry!
Black Wings by Christina HenryBook 1 of the Madeline Black series
Genre: urban fantasy
About Black Wings:
Escorting souls into the afterlife leaves Maddy little time for socializing-until devilishly handsome Gabriel Angeloscuro agrees to rent the empty apartment in her building. But when demons start appearing on Maddy’s front lawn, she realizes there’s more to her new tenant than meets the eye.Source: Info in the About Black Wings was taken from the author's website at http://www.christinahenry.net/?page_id=43 on 10/01/2011.
Black Night by Christina Henry
Book 2 of the Madeline Black series
Genre: urban fantasy
About Black Night:
Book 2 of the Madeline Black series
Genre: urban fantasy
About Black Night:
Madeline Black is an Agent of death, meaning she escorts the souls of people who have died to the afterlife. Of course, not everyone is happy to see her...Source: Info in the About Black Night was taken from GoodReads at http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9986897-black-night on 27/06/2011.
If obstinate dead people were all that Maddy had to worry about, life would be much easier. But the best-laid plans of Agents and fallen angels often go awry. Deaths are occurring contrary to the natural order, Maddy's being stalked by foes inside and outside of her family, and her two loves-her bodyguard, Gabriel, and her doughnut-loving gargoyle, Beezle-have disappeared. But because Maddy is Lucifer's granddaughter, things are expected of her, things like delicate diplomatic missions to other realms.
I liked that it was Tolkien that made you want to write :D
ReplyDeleteThat was great :)
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