BLACK SPRING BLOG TOUR (Interview + Giveaway!)

Hey all! I have here today Christina Henry with the release of Black Spring! It was a truly remarkable read that brings an end to the Black Wings series! It's not one to be missed!

A former Agent of death, Madeline Black now has everything to live for, most importantly, her unborn child. But Chicago has become ground zero in a struggle between ancient creatures, and only Maddy can stop the carnage…

The mayor of Chicago has announced a plan to round up the city’s supernatural beings and put them in camps. With her due date looming, Maddy’s best move would be to lay low for a while. But not everyone is willing to respect her privacy. Hounded by tentacled monsters, a rogue shapeshifter, and a tenacious blogger, Maddy turns to her most powerful ally, her uncle Daharan, only to find him missing.

Just when it seems like things can’t get any worse, Maddy gets an invitation in the mail—to Lucifer’s wedding. Turns out everyone has been invited, friends and enemies alike. And with that kind of guest list, it’s highly unlikely there will be a happily ever after.

Where do you get inspiration for Beezle's humor?

Beezle is a lot like me. He’s actually more like me than Maddy is. Beezle and I share many traits. We both believe that cinnamon rolls are a valid food group and that JAWS is one of the greatest movies ever made. We both would much rather parse the relative quality of snacks in the pantry than exercise. However, unlike Beezle I am not an adorably round gargoyle but not so-adorably-round 40 year old, so I force myself to leave the candy and go for a run. Beezle is really the expression of my id – all the things I’d like to say sometimes but are too rude to actually say, all the horrible habits I’d like to have but instead I exercise and eat oatmeal.

Does Maddy ever drive you crazy sometimes? Does she want to do things other than you have planned?

I’m not much of a planner when I write. In real life I plan my day down to the second but when I write I just like to see how the story unspools. Because I work this way Maddy doesn’t frustrate me with her behavior. I see what she’s doing and just try to let the story spring organically from her actions. I like to let the characters drive the plot instead of the other way around.

How hard was it for you to go about getting published? Any advice for struggling aspired writers?

The best advice I can give to aspiring writers is to 1) write every day, and 2) to expect criticism and rejection.

Write every day because no one is going to write your book for you. If you really love writing and want to make it your living you have to be a self-starter. Don’t ever say, “I don’t have to time to write the ten pages I wanted to write, so I won’t write anything. “Write one page. Write one paragraph. Just write something. Show yourself that you are committed to your book and to your dream.

I wrote BLACK WINGS during the one hour every day when my two year old son took a nap. I had a very narrow window but as soon as I put him down I would run out and write as much as I could. When he was a little older and not napping anymore I would take him to the park and let him play while I sat on a park bench and wrote in a notebook.

You should expect criticism and rejection. That is just part of the process. It can take a long time to get your book accepted by an agent, and even longer to be accepted by a publisher. If you don’t learn to let those rejections roll off you then you won’t make it. You have to believe in your work and be your own best cheerleader.

When I wrote BLACK WINGS I was sure that the book was sellable. I just believed it. It took about 8 months but it sold. The book just had to find the right person at the right time who also believed in it.

Even after your book is accepted by a publisher there will be criticism. Your editor will critique your book - in the service of making it better, of course, but you have to be open to that criticism. And once your book is published then people will review it, and not everyone will like what you wrote. So believe in your book and know that criticism is part of the process.

Thanks so much for answering these questions Christina! Be sure to check out my review of Black Spring here!

CHRISTINA HENRY is the author of the BLACK WINGS series (Ace/Roc) featuring Madeline Black, an Agent of Death, and her popcorn-loving gargoyle sidekick Beezle: BLACK WINGS, BLACK NIGHT, BLACK HOWL, BLACK LAMENT, BLACK CITY, BLACK HEART and BLACK SPRING. She is also the author of the forthcoming dark fantasy ALICE (summer 2015).

Christina was born in New York and now lives on the North Side of Chicago with her husband and son. She sees no conflict in rooting for both the Yankees and the Cubs.

She also enjoys running long distances, eating large quantities of cinnamon rolls, reading anything she can get her hands on and watching movies with zombies, samurai and/or subtitles. 

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BONUS GIVEAWAY! 

There's also a giveaway to receive a copy of Black Spring!! This one is open to US only, no PO Boxes. To enter, just leave a comment on this post and please leave your EMAIL ADDRESS! To receive an EXTRA BONUS POINT leave a comment on my review found here. And in your comment here, mention that you commented on my review, I'll be checking and will be sure to add a point in your name. 

This contest will run for the length of the tour and will end on October 31, 2014 at 11:59 PM (CST)


Thanks everyone!