GtPGKogPYT4p61R1biicqBXsUzo" /> Google+ Sheep Interview: Christina Henry + Give away | I Smell Sheep

Wednesday, February 22, 2012

Sheep Interview: Christina Henry + Give away

Today we have author Christina Henry. The third book in her Black Wings series, Black Howl comes out February 28th! Stick around till the end and enter to win a copy of Black Howl.

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...


Hello! And welcome to the blog. Have a seat and don’t worry about all the duct tape…you know how some authors are…”let me go home…please stop feeding me moon pies” yadda, yadda, yadda *eye twitches*


Sharon: For our readers who are new to you, could you tell us a little about the series in general?
Christina: Madeline Black is an Agent of death, which means that she helps ferry the souls of the dead to the Door. Presumably there’s some kind of afterlife beyond the Door, but Maddy doesn’t know anything about it. As an Agent, she’s not allowed to know. The Agency is a giant bureaucracy, and Agents are pretty much cubicle workers. In the first book Maddy discovers that she’s the daughter of a fallen angel, and that she’s got more power than she ever knew. Of course, discovering her lineage brings a whole new set of problems.


Sharon: What about the romance? Is this going to be a slow boil type of thing?
Christina: I think a slow romance (with lots of surprises) is more interesting when you have time to do it. Since this is a longer series I have the time I need to develop the relationships and give them lots of angst.



Katie: I do love some Angels that walk on the bad side; how far into the evil zone will you take the characters you write about?
Christina: There is some serious evil in these books, and Maddy herself can stray into a gray zone even when she has the best intentions. I like characters that walk that edge of darkness.
Katie: Bad can be sooo good. I know you feel me on this one. *winks*



Sharon: I’ve read the first book Black Wings and loved it, especially the clever twist you put on the angel/Lucifer mythology. I know you hear this all the time, but Beezle, Maddie’s gargoyle side kick is a blast. Why a gargoyle and one with his disposition?
Christina: I wanted a character that would hang around the house all the time – basically, one that would be available when I needed him. A roommate or spouse can come and go, and a pet doesn’t talk (usually). So I came up with a character who would always be there - a home guardian. And I came up with his particular disposition because Maddy is serious, and her job is pretty dark. I needed a character who could lighten the tension.
Katie: If he needs any help with knock-knock jokes then I'm your gal!
Christina: Beezle’s more of a cutting-remark kind of humorist.


Sharon: Should readers start with the first book Black Wings or can they just jump right in with Black Howl?
Christina: I think that it’s always better to read the first book of any series. You can see the world being set up, and experience the evolution of the character as they go through each book. I think BLACK HOWL would probably be a little confusing to someone who hadn’t read the first two.


Katie: If you HAD to date one of your characters who would you choose and why?
Christina: Gabriel. He’s pretty much my ideal hero – strong, silent, tormented.
Sharon: And tasty, let’s not forget tasty ;)
Katie: What does he taste like? Spare no detail here Christina!
Christina: Katie, I am a little worried about you. Do we need to schedule some kind of intervention wherein we discuss the difference between fantasy and reality?
Sharon: but her world is so much more fun ;)



this is my favorite cover!!
Sharon: How many books do you see for your series?
Christina: Right now there will be at least six books. After that there may be more if it seems that there is more story to tell.


Sharon: that is one of the cool things about writing a story. It is very fluid and who knows where it will take you. Has the story already taken a turn you hadn’t planned up to this point?
Christina: I write chronologically, so very frequently I find things happening that I didn’t plan. I like to just go with it and see where the story takes me.


Katie: What’s something you do that people may think is weird or odd?
Christina: I run marathons. Believe me, everyone I know (except other marathon runners) thinks I’m crazy!


Sharon: Anything else you would like the readers to know? Upcoming appearances, signings…
Christina: I will be attending the RT Booklovers Convention this year in Chicago from April 11-15. I also will be signing copies of BLACK HOWL at the Barnes and Noble in Schaumburg on February 29th. If you live in the Chicagoland area I would love to see you there!


This is our famous Rapid Fire Round – they don’t hurt…most of the time…


Sharon: Brass or woodwinds?
Christina: Woodwinds.

Katie: Phish Food or Half Baked?
Christina: I demonstrate my lameness by admitting I don’t know what you’re talking about.


Sharon: *whispers- I didn’t know either*
Katie: WHAT?! This is Ben & Jerry's ice-cream flavors ladies! Geez.
Christina: I’m more of a Dairy Queen girl, myself.
Sharon: SONIC for me

Sharon: Coke or Pepsi?
Christina: Green tea. I don’t drink soda.
Sharon: well we sort of have a competition going, so which one has the prettier can?
Christina: I think Pepsi is more aesthetically appealing.
Sharon: SCORE!
Katie: I do not accept this as an answer. Let's just pretend this question was not asked!

Katie: Doritos or Fritos?
Christina: You’re killing me…again, I must admit I don’t eat either!
Katie: Fear not, I'll stock us up with junk food from the local 7-11.
Christina: Are we getting ready for the zombie apocalypse?
Sharon: Of course, it is the "in" thing to do

Sharon: Tic-Tac or gum?
Christina: Gum.

Sharon: Favorite flavor or brand?
Christina: Spearmint.

Katie: Bunny hop or Chicken dance?
Christina: I banned both of these dances from my wedding.

Sharon: Man on a Harley or man on a horse? (don’t go there Katie!)
Christina: Horse.


Katie: Kilt or Toga?
Christina: Kilt.
Katie: Ah yes, so true. So. True.

Sharon: y’all or yous guys
Christina: I’m originally from New York, yous guys!
Katie: That's hella cool. *winks*

Christina: Thanks so much, Sharon and Katie!


Be sure to find Christina online

CONTEST
Penguin is offering a paper copy to a winner (US only)
1. Leave a way to contact you
2. Tell me which of the 3 Black Wing covers is your favorite!
3. Do you follow the blog? If so you get double entries.
Contest ends: February 29th at midnight

39 comments:

  1. yes, i am so agree!! pepsi has much prettier can. but i still want to add root beer to the question (pretty please..)

    by the way, my fave is the second one. the gal wore a coat that i'd love to have :))

    ps, don't enter me, i'm international :-<

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Woot! Pepsi is da bomb! I think we did have one author say Root Beer once. we appreciate you commenting even though you can't enter! Sheep hugs for you!:)

      Delete
    2. yeah, i read that interview too and i'm still waiting for the time root beer entered in rapid fire question :D

      hugs you back!!!!

      Delete
  2. My favorite cover is "Black Night"
    contact: swtlduckie@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  3. Black Night is my favorite......

    I Love this series....When I worked at Borders I recommend a lot....

    mjdownfam@comcast.net

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Katie is reviewing Black Howl and there is a quite surprise in this one!

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  4. I had a feeling that one would be a favorite. I love the way the fence behind her looks like wings! Beautiful :) Team Pepsi! Team Kilt! thanks for sharing :)

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  5. Definitely Pepsi! Kilts - only if he's got the legs for it. Nothing worse then dumpy legs sticking out of a kilt.

    Favorite cover - Black Wings, it just jumps out at me.

    Yes I'm a GFC follower NoraA

    NoraAdrienne(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  6. I have not read any of these yet but would love to. I don't have a favorite yet. I do like Black Wings look though.
    I am a follower.
    debby236 at gmail dot com

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  7. Pepsi!
    I love the Black Night cover the best. It just looks so cool.
    I follow the blog. How could I not? It's awesome?

    Fu erase@dejazzd.com

    ReplyDelete
  8. My favorite is the black night cover.
    I am a gfc follower
    debbie
    twoofakind12@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  9. And error correct is awesome...
    Tjbedard@dejazzd.com. (I even double checked. It switched it when I signed into google)

    ReplyDelete
  10. I love the Black Night cover the best.
    miztik_rose@yahoo.com
    I'm a follower

    ReplyDelete
  11. Love the Black Wings cover!!! Looks ominous but beautiful!!! Shouldn't we all be preparing for the zombie apocolypse??
    iluvmik16@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  12. I think I like the Black Wings cover the best!
    joellaelbert@gmail.com
    I'm a follower

    ReplyDelete
  13. Oh, man. Coke ALL the way! Don't know if I can read the third book now that I know, lol!

    I love the second cover the best, I think!

    rwschwarz11ATgmailDOTcom

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  14. Great interview. My favorite cover is Black Night.
    GFC CrystalGB
    Crystal816[at]hotmail[dot]com

    ReplyDelete
  15. My favorite is your favorite also (Black Night). She looks so bad-ass with her black flowing coat and weapon...go girl!

    Pick a way and I follow you...LOL. Here's one: GFC~books4me

    books4me67 at ymail dot com

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  16. LOL... loved this interview! Can I say that I love all the books! My fav cover so far has been Black Wings.

    Thanks for the giveaway!

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  17. I love reading her books. I cannot wait until her next books is released. Great interview. My favorite book cover is black wing.

    vanessaduarte16@aol.com

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  18. Thanks for the entertainment ladies. The Black Howl cover gets my vote.

    addicted2heroines[at]yahoo[dot]com

    Old follower

    ReplyDelete
  19. Christina is such a fun person to interview. Thanks for sharing as well as the giveaway. I actually prefer the first cover that actually shows her wings.

    shelly.romano@comcast.net

    New follower

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  20. Love the interview! These books are new to me but they sound terrific. I like the cover of the first one, Black Wings, best. Definitely a follower!

    dani(at)daniharper(dot)com

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  21. I enjoyed the interview.
    I like the Black Night cover.
    I follow the blog.
    Thanks for the giveaway.

    bn100candg(at)hotmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  22. My favorite cover is Black Night. I follow the blog by email.
    natasha_donohoo_8@hotmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  23. 1. Barbed1951 at aol dot com
    2. I'd choose the cover of Black Wings as my favorite, and it's probably my favorite book (so far) as well.
    3. GFC follower - Barbara E.

    ReplyDelete
  24. 1. Leave a way to contact you.
    E-mail:
    bookandmoviedimensionblogger
    (at) yahoo (dot) com
    2. Tell me which of the 3 Black Wing covers is your favorite!
    Black Night
    3. Do you follow the blog? If so you get double entries.
    Yes. Through GFC- Cassandra Ruiz

    ReplyDelete
  25. I like Black Night
    pamblakekenlilly@yahoo.com
    Yes, I follow.
    GFC and facebook
    Pam Roberts

    ReplyDelete
  26. I like Black Wings the best. But they are all great.

    Im a follower

    bacchus76 at myself dot com

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  27. I love Black Wings they are all good covers but Black wings is my fave.
    Gonna have to ck this series out sounds awesome.
    And of course I follow GFC Anna Dase The Flock Rocks
    berrylicious_cutie(at)hotmail(.)com

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  28. I really enjoy this series too. I didn't realize it was going to be a longer series but that's alright. I just am a little impatient with the whole Maddie and Gabriel thing...need more smut...lol. I think the first books cover was the best. It's the one that caught my eye and had me starting this series. Thanks so much for the giveaway as always. Have a good weekend =)
    I follow as Tanyaw1224
    Tanyaw1224(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  29. I am so glad there will be (at least) 6 titles in this series! Yay! I love all the dark art for all 3 covers, but I guess the cover for the second book (Black Night) is my fav. I didn't know about this blog or I would have been following, so now I can! (Thanks Goodreads!) Thanks for the giveaway :D
    londonandlisa@gmail.com

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  30. I think Black Night is my favorite...but not by much. It's nice that the artist/author put some clothes on a cover model. So many have skanked out near naked ladies on them-which is weird when the characters they're supposed to be aren't described that way at all in the book.
    I'm a new follower.

    b(dot)cardone(at)hotmail(dot)com

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  31. Love the Black Night cover. I loved the interview although I like Coke better. I will say that I'm a DQ girl too, love those peanut buster parfaits.

    I haven't read any of the books yet but they are added to my TBR list.
    Thanks for the giveaway.

    s.atwood77@yahoo.com
    oh and I follow on GFC - Stephanie Atwood

    ReplyDelete
  32. I live the Black night cover the best and this was a great interview.
    Thanks for the interview
    scrtsbpal at yahoo dot com
    and I am a follower via GFC

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  33. I really like all the covers, but I think Black Night is probably my fave. Thank you for this awesome interview today. This is a new series for me and I so want to read it. I have had Black Night on my wishlist for a while and I am happy that I was able to tune on the interview and read a little of your journey.
    I am a sheeply follower :) baaaaa!
    dz59001[at]gmail[dot]com

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  34. Contest is over and the winner is londonandlisa! I have sent you an email. Thanks to everyone who entered. Stay tuned for more winning!

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  35. A fresh take on urban fantasy and a highly enjoyable read. Read it in one day and it was the perfect way to spend the day after Thanksgiving. The heroine is gutsy and funny, the love interest is hot and heavenly, the talking gargoyle is a curmudgeonly lovable sidekick; and we can all relate to her having an anal retentive boss that works your last nerve. The plot moves at a nice quick pace and the story is well developed with enough background information to explain the event but not overwhelm the current action. If you are tired of the same old vampire or shapeshifter stories rehashed over and over then this is the book for you. Maddy Black is an Agent of Death whose job is to escort souls to the after life (not a single vampire or shapeshifter in the book - yeah for originality!

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    Replies
    1. lol, good point about there being no vamps or shifters! I do love Beezle. Thanks for stopping by and giving your thoughts. I think everyone should give this series a look too :)

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