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Interview Christina Henry + Giveaway
Filed in Christina Henry , Giveaways , Interview Posted on November 22, 2010 @ 7:00 am
36 comments
We are very happ to welcome not only author Christina Henry here today, she also brought Madeline “Maddy” Black and Beezle the Gargoyle along. All three are here to celebrate the upcoming release of Black Wings (official release day is next Tuesday, that’s November 30th) and to tell us a bit about their lives. Be sure to stay tuned till the end of the post, there might or might not be a giveaway. 😉
BLI: Can you please tell us a bit about yourself?
Christina: Well, I like to run when I’m not writing. It helps me think and also allows me to eat dessert every day. I also love to read whatever I can get my hands on (although I don’t have as much time to read as I used to). And I like to watch Mythbusters on the Discovery Channel – they make science fun.
Maddy: I’m an Agent of Death, which is basically a suck job that you inherit from your parent or your closest blood relative when they die. My mom died when I was 14 and I’ve been doing this ever since. I escort souls after they’re dead to a place called the Door, where they get some kind of choice – don’t ask me what it is, I’m not allowed to know.
The rest of the time I try to keep my gargoyle, Beezle, from annoying me to death or eating all of the emergency chocolate.
BLI: Describe a typical day of writing? Are you a planner or pantser?
Christina: Definitely a pantser! I have a general idea of where I want each book to go but mostly I make it up as I go along. This can be good – because sometimes I surprise myself with something great for the story – or bad, because sometimes I write myself into a corner and end up having to toss a bunch of writing that’s not going anywhere.
BLI: Who of you two has the most influence about how the story will develop?
Christina: Well, I am the author here…
Maddy: But I’m the one telling the story.
Beezle: I think it’s pretty clear that I’m running everything.
Christina: That’s probably true.
Maddy: He’ll sit on us if we don’t listen to him.
Beezle: I heard that!
BLI: We noticed on your website that you seem to have a special love for zombies. How did that develop and what do you think is the appeal of zombies besides them eating brains?
Christina: I first started loving zombies after seeing George Romero’s “Night of the Living Dead”, which is just a masterpiece of filmmaking. It’s so masterful and so bleak, and he does amazing things with a limited budget.
I think there is something really powerful about the inexorability of zombies – they may be slow, they may be shambling, they may be rotting at the joints, but there are millions of them and one of them is going to get you eventually. It gives a storyteller so many opportunities to show human nature in all its beauty and ugliness.
BLI: What do you think is the difference between a reader and a real Book Lover?
Christina: The size of your TBR pile! A Book Lover always buys more than she has time to read. I definitely qualify!
Maddy: I don’t know. I never have time to read. I’m too busy being chased by monsters!
BLI: What does being an agent of death mean? How did you get that job and what is it like to do something scary like that?
Maddy: Being an Agent of Death means you’re responsible for the transition a soul makes from life to death. It’s not scary most of the time but it can be sad.
BLI: What does a normal day in your life look like?
Maddy: Get up in the morning, see how many soul pickups I have for that day, do the pickups, go to the Agency office and file paperwork about the pickups, have an argument with my supervisor J.B. about the inefficiency of my pickups (he doesn’t like it when souls choose to stay on Earth and become ghosts)…are you seeing a trend here? Mostly my life was pretty boring before Gabriel came into it.
BLI: What can we expect of Black Wings?
Christina: I think that you can expect a story that is dark but also funny. I really like the juxtaposition of horror and humor. It’s also a genesis story – I’m a comic book fan – so you will see Maddy develop into a strong heroine and come more fully into her powers.
BLI: Tina which 4 characteristics should a perfect heroine have in your opinion? Maddy are you recognizing yourself in this description?
Christina: Intelligence, vulnerability, humor and a great sidekick.
Maddy: I’m not sure about the great sidekick part…
Beezle: I can hear you, you know!
BLI: Maddy, what was your first impression when you met Gabriel?
Maddy: I was thinking I’d never seen a more beautiful human being! Of course, it turns out he’s not human at all, but beautiful still applies.
BLI: Christina, while Maddy isn’t paying attention could you tell us who your favorite character is? And why?
Christina: I think it has to be Beezle, because whenever he’s around he makes things easy for me. He has great dialogue and he always help lighten the mood.
BLI: Will there be more books in this series? What is next on your schedule?
Christina: There will be more books in the series – at least two more, right now. In the next book Maddy’s world opens up even more and you start to see some of the other magical creatures that inhabit it. Things start to get pretty interesting between Maddy and her various love interests, as well.
BLI: Now on to the mean questions. We apologize in advance:
If you would have to read only one author for the rest of your life: who’s books would that be?
Christina: I’d have to say Stephen King. He’s one of my favorite writers, he writes long books and he has a huge catalog, so I would definitely be kept busy!
BLI: Now can you tell us 3 reasons why people should read your story?
Christina: I think that the characters are interesting and complicated, and the world of the Agency and the Fallen is a lot of fun to read – it was definitely a lot of fun to write. Plus, Beezle! To read him is to love him
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~*~*Giveaway*~*~
Christina is offering a signed copy of Black Wings to 1 lucky commenter.
All you have to do is ask Christina a question
or leave a meaningful comment about the interview.
Please leave us a way to contact you
(email in blogger profile or twitter name-
no way to contact you – no entry).
This giveaway is open to US/Can only.
Giveaway ends on Saturday, December 4th and we will announce the winner on Sunday.
Good luck!
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I think Stephen King would be my pick too . He was my first "adult" novel and will forever have a place in my heart. Did you enjoy the Dark Tower series? I *loved that story.
Your book sounds like a wonderful read.
I did like the Dark Tower series up to "Wizard & Glass", which I thought was the best book of the series. But I didn't love the last three books.
I thought "Under the Dome" was incredible – have you read that yet?
Hi Christina 🙂
Thank you for the excellent interview here.
(I read "Under the Dome" & thought it was incredible also – except for the chapter beginning which followed 'the wind' & took me right out of the story. That tiny part still bugs me.)
My question for you is…
Are you on Twitter?
(I looked but could not find you)
All the best,
RKCharron
Hi RK – No, I am not on Twitter. I haven't gotten to the 21st-century yet 🙂
I do have a website, though – http://www.christinahenry.net
Christina, What three books currently sit atop your massive TBR pile? Thanks for visiting.
Hi LSUReader – the next three books in my pile are:
The Last Dickens by Matthew Pearl
Kraken by China Mieville
The Iron Duke by Meljean Brook
My husband got me hooked on Mythbusters – I love that it makes science accessible to everyone.
Is there any one factoid that you've come across in your research that really stands out in your mind?
jen(at)delux(dot)com
I'm not entering the giveaway because I've already had the chance to read Black Wings. Just wanted to say that I really enjoyed it! Fun book (and if you like Beezle in an interview, you'll love him in action).
I enjoyed the interview and I agree with the characteristics for a perfect heroine – intelligence, vulnerability, humor and a great sidekick. The sidekick is a key element, and if they add comic relief, all the better.
I'm looking forward to reading Black Wings even more after reading this post.
Barbed1951(at)aol(dot)com
This sounds like there is a great spin on the escorting to death process. Great look and sounding book. 🙂
Does Maddy get to meet Death himself in her job duties? And sounds like some amazing magical characters as well.
Thank you for the great interview!
MyWorldinwordsandpages@gmail.com
No entry for me, I already have the book and enjoyed it.
I like your summary of the perfect heroine and I think Maddy fits it well. Beezle, you are a great sidekick and I will share my popcorn with you anytime. My chocolate, however…
Great interview. Congrats on the release. It sounds really good.
I very well might have to go with Stephen King as well. I am just about finished with his latest and have to say he is a wonderful storyteller.
@Jen – There isn't one factoid that really stands out because (I'm embarrassed to say) I'm not a great researcher. I did a little research on Wikipedia of angelic names and the definitions of Grigori and nephilim for the book but after that there was a lot of winging it 🙂
@Melissa – Maddy (and the other Agents) are Death in "Black Wings" – they are the embodiment of what we might think of as the Grim Reaper. It seemed more fun to make death a gigantic bureaucracy!
@Donna – Are you talking about "Full Dark, No Stars"? I almost bought it the other day but restrained myself because I was hoping Santa would bring it to me. I was very good this year!
Christina – Thank you! I think I like the mischieviousness all the bureaucracy individuals could get into rather than just one person playing the Grim Reaper. 🙂 Definitely sounds like an amazing read. Thank you!
Oh wow, did I read that this is dark and funny! Perfect. Adding to my wish list right now!
robin [at] intensewhisper [dot] com
I love to have some humor to go along with all the drama.
Hmmm…I didn't realize that gargoyles liked chocolate. Is it milk chocolate or all kinds? I just want to make sure I keep mine in a safe place.
heatwave96(at)hotmail.com
Horror and Humor? Sounds like my type of book! 🙂 Looking forward to reading BW when it comes out.
van
Littopandaxpress(at)yahoo(dot)com
I am a follower and email subscriber. Please enter me in contest. I would love to read this book. Tore923@aol.com
Sounds like a really unique book! And I agree, Stephen King writes some awesome stories.
What do you like most about being an author?
Res498(AT)aol.com
@heatwave – You'd better hide your chocolate REALLY well, because Beezle has a chocolate detector. He actually likes pretty much any kind of junk food. He's kind of an overweight gargoyle.
@rachel – The best two things about being an author are 1) I get to play with my imaginary friends all day, 2) I get to work in my pajamas!
I liked the interview. It would be stephen king for me,too. He even influenced what I do now, study pandemics and influenza. I should have never read the stand at 12 years old.LOL.
I would love to read your book, it sounds really good.
debbie
twoofakind12@yahoo.com
Thanks for the interview!
I want to know more about Gabriel. What are 5 characteristics that describe him (not including beautiful/handsome)?
Thanks!!
gosia727(at)gmail(dot)com
Hi Christina,
What are some other authors that you like to read? Any series that you follow?
Please enter me into the contest =)
angeldream3(at)gmail(dot)com
I love Dark and funny, I'm sold 🙂 Thanks for this interview, I love being able to find new authors and new books. My TBR pile is massive, but I'm convinced maybe someday, when I'm really old, I'll get down to the bottom of the list. Nah, because I'll just keep adding to it 🙂 I would love to get my hands on this book. Thanks for the chance to win
june111@att.net
You love zombies? So does that mean there are lots of zombies in your book? 'Hmmm… must put this book on my wishlist and check it out for zombies.
(sullivanmcpig(at)gmail(dot)com)
I giggled when you said you love to watch mythbusters because my son always watches it and he stores all the information in his head….for future conversations. lol
Great interview. I think I'm going to start running so I can dessert every day too.
dorcontest at gmail dot com
I love it how the sidekick is a gargoyle, you don't see many of them in urban fantasy. What made you decide to have a gargoyle in your book?
spettolij AT gmail DOT com
This book sounds like a great read. Stephen King is so popular with most readers, it's kinda neat to see how one author shows up as a favorite of other authors.
juliecookies(at)gmail.com
I just finished reading the excerpt for Black Wings and cannot wait to get it! So far it sounds GREAT! I have to agree with your statement about the difference between a reader and a book lover. I have my main list of all books I want to read and my TBR ASAP list. When I read a title on my lists I enjoy updating the list. However, my list never seems to get shorter just longer and longer. ki396298@aol.com
Been seeing this book around a lot lately and starting to admit that I'm getting more than intrigued! The cover is really eye catching as well, another part of the allure!
Where did you get the idea for Maddy's character? Guiding people into death sounds really intriguing and isn't something we see from the heroine herself in some UF novels today.
jessbess2505[at]yahoo[dot]com
Ack! So many comments! The book sounds great and I love the interview.
I just had to read my boyfriend the answer to the difference between a reader and a book lover, we both got a real kick out of that.
I really can't wait to read this book, I absolutely wanted to read it the moment I saw the cover.
jlynettes @ hotmail . com
By your definition, I'm a book lover, because I have a TBR mountain. This is a new to me book, and it sounds wonderful. I'm adding it to my wishlist.
marlenebreakfield(at)yahoo(dot)com
I love the idea of transitioning souls from life to death. Really cool and I', excited to read it. Thanks for the great giveaway 🙂
mrsjohnson1982 at yahoo dot com
Just noticed the giveaway is US/can only, so don't enter me!!
sounds like a great read. I am adding this to my wish list. I agree Stephen King is a great writer. Do you have any plans to write something other than this series and if so can we have a hint.
scrtsbpal at yahoo dot com