Interview with Christina Henry and Giveaway - March 8, 2012

Please welcome Christina Henry to The Qwillery. Black Howl, the third novel in Christina's Black Wings series, was published on February 28th. You can read my 4 Qwill review of Black Howl here.

TQ:  What would you say is your most interesting writing quirk?

Christina:  I write in chronological order. I'm fundamentally incapable of writing scenes out of order.

TQ:  Are you a plotter or a pantser?

Christina:  A pantser. I have a rough idea of where things are going, but since I work chronologically sometimes the story changes as I write, and I usually just go with it to see what happens.

TQ:  What is the most challenging thing for you about writing?

Christina:  Since I work from home it's sometimes a challenge to separate "work time" from "off time", but I'm a better writer when I take a break.

TQ:  What inspired you to write the Black Wings series?

Christina:  I wanted to write a story about the Grim Reaper. I'd originally conceived it with a male protagonist (someone a lot like Gabriel, actually) but I heard Maddy's voice when I started writing. All my characters come first from their voice, so once I heard her speaking I realized it was her story, not Gabriel's.

TQ:  What sort of research did you do to create your world and mythology?

Christina:  Very little, actually. I didn't want to be too influenced by existing mythologies. I looked up some angelic names and some basic info on the hierarchy of the Grigori, and that was about it. I don't think I've actually researched anything at all since the first book.

TQ:  Describe Black Howl (Black Wings 3) in 140 characters or less.

Christina:  Ghosts, werewolves, and giant spiders, oh my!

TQ:  Without giving anything away, what is/are your favorite scene(s) in Black Howl?

Christina:  My favorite scene takes place in a warehouse on the north side of Chicago. Maddy decides to investigate a weird aura around the building, and of course she finds more than she bargains for.

TQ:  In Black Howl, who was the most difficult character to write and why? The easiest and why?

Christina:  Gabriel is always a bit of a challenge because he's so self-contained. Beezle's the easiest because he just says whatever comes into his head.

TQ:  Who is/are your favorite character or characters from the Black Wings series?

Christina:  I don't know if I really have a clear favorite. I like to write all the characters. I enjoy exploring the different aspects of their personalities. Every person gives me something a little different to work with.

TQ:  What's next?

Christina:  Next up for Maddy is BLACK LAMENT, to be released October 30th, and there will be at least two more books in the series after that.

TQ:  Thank you for joining us at The Qwillery

Christina:  Thank you so much for having me here!


About Black Wings

Black Howl
Black Wings 3
Ace, February 28, 2012
Mass Market Paperback and eBook, 288 pages

Something is wrong with the souls of Chicago's dead. Ghosts are walking the streets, and Agent of Death Madeline Black's exasperating boss wants her to figure out why. And while work is bad enough, Maddy has a plethora of personal problems too. Now that Gabriel has been assigned as her thrall, their relationship has hit an impasse. At least her sleazy ex-fiance Nathaniel is out of the picture--or so she thinks...

Amazon : Barnes and Noble : Books Depository : Books-A-Million : IndieBound

Black Night

Black Wings 2
Ace, July 26, 2011
Mass Market Paperback and eBook, 288 pages

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...

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.

Amazon : Barnes and Noble : Books Depository : Books-A-Million : IndieBound

Black Wings

Black Wings 1
Ace, November 30, 2010
Mass Market Papberback and eBook, 304 pages

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.

Amazon : Barnes and Noble : Books Depository : Books-A-Million : IndieBound

About Christina

CHRISTINA HENRY is a graduate of Columbia College Chicago and enjoys running long distances, reading anything she can get her hands on and watching movies with samurai, zombies and/or subtitles in her spare time. She lives in Chicago with her husband and son.

Christina's Links

Website 
Facebook




The Giveaway

THE RULES

What:  One commenter will win an eBook of Black Howl (Black Wings 3 or for US mailing addresses only a Mass Market Paperback copy of Black Howl from Ace!

How:  Leave a comment answering the following question:

Who is/are your favorite angel(s) or fallen angel(s) from novels, short stories, etc.?

Please remember - if you don't answer the question your entry will not be counted.

You may receive additional entries by:

1)   Being a Follower of The Qwillery.

2)   Mentioning the giveaway on Facebook and/or Twitter. Even if you mention the giveaway on both, you will get only one additional entry. You get only one additional entry even if you mention the giveaway on Facebook and/or Twitter multiple times.

3)   Mentioning the giveaway on your on blog or website. It must be your own blog or website; not a website that belongs to someone else or a site where giveaways, contests, etc. are posted.

There are a total of 4 entries you may receive: Comment (1 entry), Follower (+1 entry), Facebook and/or Twitter (+ 1 entry), and personal blog/website mention (+1 entry). This is subject to change again in the future for future giveaways.

Please leave links for Facebook, Twitter, or blog/website mentions. You MUST leave a way to contact you.

Who and When:  The eBook contest is open to all humans on the planet earth. For the Mass Market Paperback copy of Black Howl you must have a US mailing address. Contest ends at 11:59pm US Eastern Time on Thursday, March 15, 2012. Void where prohibited by law. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 years old or older to enter.

*Giveaway rules are subject to change.*