Chris Marie Green Interview
Publication Date: February 1, 2008
Chris Marie Green (Crystal Green)
Chris Marie Green is author of the hot Vampire Babylon Series!
Visit Chris Marie Green’s Website
Crystal Green’s Website
Visit Chris Marie Green/Crystal Green’s Blog
Upcoming Title or Latest Release
Midnight Reign, Vampire Babylon, Book Two
Release Date: On Shelves Now!
Publisher: Ace Books
» Read an Excerpt
» Buy Today
» Other Titles by Crystal Green / Chris Marie Green
The Questions
Give us an update on yourself. What’s your latest news?
I’m currently working on book four of the Vampire Babylon series and will be working on book five in a few months. Right now, I’m contracted for six books in the series.
What’s your upcoming or latest book/story about?
Midnight Reign is the second in the Vampire Babylon series, and it carries on with the mystery and mythology arcs that were started in Night Rising. The action centers around a stuntwoman named Dawn Madison who finds out her estranged dad is missing, so she goes to his P.I. coworkers to see if they can help her. It turns out that this agency is “paranormally inclined,” and she’s gradually clued in to a vampire underground that’s working below the streets of L.A. And her connections to it turn out to be more personal than she ever imagined….
This series is structured a little differently than most, with trilogy arcs that tell one basic story. I liken it to the way JK Rowling told Harry Potter’s story, except she used seven books – six of which didn’t solve every plot thread by the last chapter. While each individual novel in Vampire Babylon focuses on a central mystery that’s solved by the end, the three books together build character and mythology arcs/mysteries until everything culminates in the third book. Each trilogy will repeat this pattern.
Break of Dawn, which comes out in September, rounds out this first trilogy, and the second trilogy starts with book four, A Drop of Red, in April, 2009.
How did you come up with the title?
Actually, my editor, Ginjer Buchanan, came up with these titles in this first trilogy. They reflect the “rising” of the vampires. So when you look at it that way, Night Rising speaks for itself. Midnight Reign tells you that the Underground is getting stronger and the vampire hunters are in for some trouble. The third book, Break of Dawn, is symbolic in a few ways: Dawn Madison is on the edge of going mad, but there’s a hint of hopeful victory for the hunters in there, too.
When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer, and what inspired you to start writing?
Even in grade school I knew I wanted to write. I created a lot of short stories, mainly featuring Superman and Indiana Jones, but I also wrote dark stuff that freaked out my parents. (Sorry, Mom and Dad!) I was a competitive essay writer in high school, and I think this trained me to write under pressure. I wrote a screenplay in college for a senior project while I worked on a gnarly epic historical romance that will always remain in a box in the garage. When I attended the San Diego Writers Conference and joined RWA (Romance Writers of America), that’s when I started selling books.
When did you write your first book?
That would be the gnarly epic historical, LOL. I was nineteen when I started it, and I was inspired by all the historical romances I devoured. Both my mom and dad read the sub-genre while I was growing up, so I loved it, too, and it was a natural thing for me to try and write one. That doesn’t mean I wrote it well, but I went for it anyway! And I did finish it, and that was an accomplishment.
As a child, what did you want to do when you grew up?
I went through an astronaut phase, but I was aiming to be a journalist. When I got older, it was all about archeology because of Indiana Jones, but then I majored in English and there you go.
What projects are you working on now?
I have to juggle a bit because of scheduling: I’m finishing up A Drop of Red, Vampire Babylon, Book Four (scheduled release date is April, 2009). Then I’ll polish a Blaze vampire book (hot sex!) for publication in October. After that, I’m writing a proposal for Blaze, and I’m excited because the story is going to take place in Tokyo. I wish I could take a research trip!
What do you like to do when you’re not writing?
Traveling. Love it. Most recently, I went to London to do research for Vampire Babylon, so I tend to have fun on the job. I love to walk, practice yoga, watch movies on DVD, and watch way too much TV, too. And eating is quite fun.
What does your family think of your writing?
They’re extremely supportive. I only regret that, when I’m on deadline, I go into a cave and I can’t spend as much time with them as I’d like. But I don’t have children, so I’m not neglecting anyone too badly. *grin*
How long does it take you to write a book?
The length of time varies. Vampire Babylon books are intense and time-consuming, so at the very least, I like to have three months for those. And since category books don’t have the Vampire Babylon page count, they don’t take as long – about two months. Generally, if I need to build a paranormal world or pay major attention to the details of a mystery, the book will take a longer time to write.
What is your work schedule like when you’re writing?
This varies from week to week, depending on deadlines and personal needs (like nieces’ and nephew’s birthdays. You know.). I’m a full-time writer, so I schedule my own hours, which is great. But I’m also my own boss, so there’s no sitting around the water cooler talking about last night’s episode of LOST.
Do you have an interesting writing quirk?
Not really – I don’t have superstitions or rituals. Only when it comes to football. *grin* Personally though, if you asked my friends, they’d probably say I have many, LOL. I think the ones that stand out most stem from my independence. If I’m at a beach party, for instance, and I’m done with socializing, I’ll go off to the side, lay out my blanket, and catch some sun and quiet. (Yes, I still get ribbed for doing that at my brother’s engagement party.)
Where do you get your information or ideas for your books?
All over the place! For Vampire Babylon, I had just finished writing another vampire story (The Huntress), so I had vamps on my mind. (SPOILER ahead for those who haven’t read Vampire Babylon….) Then I was watching some entertainment show on TV, and they were talking about a young actor, calling him “the new James Dean.” I was like, “What if the new James Dean were the old James Dean? Ooooo!” Stuff like that happens all the time – I guess you just have to be paying attention to the moments that set the ideas off.
What do you think makes a good story?
Fun and compelling characters. I don’t even necessarily have to like them – I’d just want to chat with them over a drink.
What was one of the most surprising things you’ve learned in creating your books?
That the characters sometimes talk to you. Seriously. There’s a character named Kiko in the Vampire Babylon series who just…appeared. He started talking and talking to me, and if you read the stories, you’ll see that reflected. He’s a talker, and I just love him.
Do you have a specific writing style?
Hmmm. Once, my critique partners Sheree WhiteFeather (AKA Sheri Whitefeather and Cherie Feather) and Judy Duarte classified my style as “nouveau baroque” or something, LOL. They say it’s “edgy,” too, and I think that means I like to write some gritty stuff.
Is there anything you find particularly challenging in your writing?
Balancing the personal with the professional. Time is my enemy.
How many books have you written? Do you have a favorite?
It’s hard to say how many I’ve written, because some are in that nebulous stage between “written” and “work in progress.” But I’ve sold thirty-five books since 1999. Some of those still need to be written though!
Are there any new authors that have grasped your interest?
This is terrible, but I’ve struggled to find reading time lately, so I only wish I could recommend a new author. But I can tell you that I’ve hooked into audio books. I listen while I walk, and I’m on a huge Tudor-era kick. I love Phillipa Gregory and Alison Weir in particular, so they’re new to me. *wink*
Who designs the covers of your books?
For Ace, Ginjer Buchanan asks if I have any ideas, and I send them on. Then they have a meeting where they brainstorm. They’ve come up with this progression for Dawn Madison on the covers of the first Vampire Babylon trilogy that I really love: you can see her getting to be more of a hunter. And the settings are so right-on moody. They’ve done excellent work!
Do you have anything specific that you want to say to your readers?
Thank you for reading my work! I really do appreciate it when someone picks up my book, and if you enjoy it, that’s an even bigger bonus. And if you write to me telling me that you enjoyed it, I value the time you took to do that. *grin*
Do you have any advice for other writers?
Just do it. Sit down, write your book, and learn the business. Go to conference where you can hear great workshops and meet industry professionals. And good luck!!!
Bookmark It!
Leave a Reply