Meet romance author Crystal Green on her biography page.

WHEN THE SUN GOES DOWN

Harlequin Blaze
June, 2009

THE TEXAS BILLIONAIRE’S BRIDE

Silhouette Special Edition
July, 2009

A long time ago, in a land far, far away (Milwaukee , WI , St. Luke's Hospital), Chris Marie Green (also writing as Crystal Green) joined the world. While moving to Southern California, Kentucky , then back to California , she amused herself by writing poetry and short stories featuring the ultimate Alpha males--Superman and Indiana Jones. Later, after graduating with a B.A. in English from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo , Chris decided to become a professional writer.

While she wrote, Chris worked as an eighth-grade teacher, but resigned in 2002 to pursue writing full time. Her critique partners, Sheri WhiteFeather and Judy Duarte are instrumental in her endeavors. Without these talented authors, writing would be a lonely road.

Chris is pumped about her continuing Vampire Babylon series for Ace, which is best described as "noir fantasy-mysteries" featuring a fledgling vamp hunter. The first four books, NIGHT RISING, MIDNIGHT REIGN, BREAK OF DAWN (which compose the first trilogy), and A DROP OF RED (the first book in the second trilogy) have already been released. The fifth, THE PATH OF RAZORS, will be on shelves in August, 2009. A Vampire Babylon-related novella was released in an anthology entitled FIRST BLOOD. (Note: The Vampire Babylon series uses trilogy arcs to tell one basic story, much like the way JK Rowling used seven books that didn’t solve every plot thread book-by-book to tell Harry Potter’s story. While each individual novel 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 repeats this pattern.)

Chris is also writes Silhouette Special Editions ("home and hearth" tales of redemption and community) and Harlequin Blazes (steamy fantasies), and whenever she can, she travels, including backpacking trips in Europe and road trips in America . She also enjoys yoga, hiking, and way too much movie-watching.

For any press inquiries, please contact Chris’ agent Pamela Harty at http://www.knightagency.net/contact/.

Last updated
June 15, 2009

What's going on with Vampire Babylon and coming releases?

The first book, NIGHT RISING, was released as a trade paperback by Ace in February, 2007, and reissued in mass market format on January 27, 2009. The second trade book, MIDNIGHT REIGN, hit shelves in February, 2008, and will also be reissued in mass market format in July, 2009. The third book that closes out this initial trilogy, BREAK OF DAWN, came out in trade format September, 2008 (mass market paperback reissue will debut in February, 2010). Ace is reissuing each book in the first trilogy to introduce the second trilogy (books four through six, which will be released in trade format the month after the mass market reissues).

The Vampire Babylon series uses trilogy arcs to tell one basic story, much like the way JK Rowling used seven books that didn’t solve every plot thread book-by-book to tell Harry Potter’s story. While each individual novel 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 repeats this pattern.
Release dates for the second trilogy, which continues the adventures of Dawn and team, are as follows:

A DROP OF RED, Book Four, March, 2009
THE PATH OF RAZORS, Book Five, August 2009
DEEP IN THE WOODS, Book Six, March, 2010

You can check www.vampirebabylon.com and www.myspace.com/vampirebabylon for additional information.

How did the Ace Vampire Babylon (formerly Vampire Underground) series come about?

I wanted to write a longer vampire book, and I had an idea about a stuntwoman on the career skids who finds out that her estranged father has gone missing in L.A. During her search for him, she comes across a strange paranormal investigative agency and this eventually leads to an erotically charged vamp underground. My Berkley editor is calling it "noir fantasy-mystery," and that gets my motor revved, LOL. I love the "noir" part, especially.

What’s going on with your new series for Ace?

In late 2008, I sold a new dark fantasy series to Ace, and it’s been labeled a “post-apocalyptic urban fantasy.” I call it a paranormal SHANE meets MAD MAX. The working title for book one is called BLOODLANDS, and a release date hasn’t been set just yet. Keep checking my blog and newsletters for details!

When will the next Huntress book come out (Silhouette Bombshell)?

Tricky question. : ) Right now, I'm working on a different vampire series-my Vampire Babylons. Also, the Bombshell line closed in January, 2007, so there's no chance of a release there. I'll never say never about resurrecting the Camille Howard stories for the future though..

Did you write any more Bombshells?

Yes. I did a murder-mystery in October, 2006, called Baited, and it's about an Everywoman-a surfer who works as a fake "pearl diver" at a fictional San Diego water park. She doesn't have any huge action-woman skills, so she's a different sort of Bombshell heroine. She really has to dig deep inside to use her strengths in order to survive and outwit a murderer who's wreaking havoc on an island where her party has crashed. Unfortunately, her fellow survivors are the possibly disinherited heirs of the heroine's dying friend and mentor, so it all becomes very Agatha Christie meets Friday the Thirteenth (the first-and best-one, of course, because that movie was essentially a graphic whodunit.). But that's the end of any Bombshells since the line closed in January, 2007.

Will there be any more Kane's Crossing books (Silhouette Special Edition)?

I'm afraid not. The series is going to stay at five books because Silhouette wanted me to explore other story ideas that I will continue to write within that line.

Are you still writing for Special Edition and Blaze as Crystal Green?

Yes—I’ve got a release for each in 2009 scheduled: WHEN THE SUN GOES DOWN (which isn’t a vampire book) for Blaze in June and THE TEXAS BILLIONAIRE’S BRIDE in July for Special Edition.

Where do you get your ideas?

I usually get an idea for a character (sometimes from a movie, sometimes from a real- life situation), then decide what kind of "co-star" would give him or her the most trouble. That's where the plot develops-from their conflict.

I want to write a book. How should I go about it?

Just do it. Make writing a priority and don't make excuses for your lack of time. If you feel your pages are terrible (and you probably will), rework them. Nothing is written in stone. Then send out your material; if no one reads it, you won't get it published. Also, attend conferences and writers' meetings in order to network. Check into the RWA site at www.rwanational.com. They'll teach you the tricks of business and craft.

Do you recommend any books about writing?

Debra Dixon's Goal, Motivation, and Conflict contains excellent advice about setting up a character's core situation. The exercises will strengthen your plot as well as your characters. Also, Christopher Vogler's The Writer's Journey (based on Joseph Campbell's The Hero's Journey) is great. After getting down the idea, you'll be able to write a synopsis easily.

How did you get into writing professionally?

I've been writing since I could hold a crayon. In my early days, I loved being read to, loved hearing the flow of words. My favorite first book was Little Mommy. I memorized that sucker from opening to closing. I guess I enjoyed the sound of the rhyming narrative. I progressed from there, getting addicted to historical romance in middle school, writing my Superman and Indiana Jones stories. After high school, I started writing my own historical romance. It was awful, but a real good time. It broke every rule, I think, because I sent my heroine on this crazy 1853 New Orleans adventure and she was (eh-hem) interested in more than one hero. Very Jennifer Wilde. Anyway, that book is hidden away now, though it did prompt me to attend the San Diego State University Conference. That, in turn, led to my meeting Judy Duarte , then Sheri WhiteFeather, then joining Romance Writers of America® . The organization taught me the business of writing; I don't think I'd be a romance author without their support. Oddly enough, I write contemporary stories now, though I still love those historicals.

Do I need a critique group?

That's up to you. I've found that my group (Sheri WhiteFeather and Judy Duarte) is an invaluable support system. They've also helped me grow in this field. However, I've heard it said that critique groups can tear down a person's confidence if the members don't know how to critique constructively.

How do you define constructive criticism?

Always mention a positive to balance the negative. Phrase suggestions as suggestions, not demands. Use smiley faces or other psychological tricks to encourage your partners. Decide if your comments will help the manuscript in the big picture, or if they're based on personal biases. These are simple points, but easy to forget.

Who do you read for inspiration?

I've got strange reading habits. When I'm not in my "rough draft" writing phase of a book, I'm into at least four books at one time. I have a "purse book" to consume my time when I'm standing in lines or getting my car washed, etc. That one's usually written by a friend. The other three books vary: mainly a historical romance (love 'em!), a contemporary (to check out the market), then either a classic, or something that will teach me more about writing or new experiences. I follow authors like Stephen King because he really stretches the limits of language and descriptions. Larry McMurty writes quirky characters whose inner and spoken dialogues reveal a lot about them. And I like Donna Tartt's themes and how they tie into plot and characterization. Then there's Suzanne Brockmann, whose pacing is a roller coaster of action and emotion.

When I'm in the "rough draft" writing phase of one of my books, I like to read selections that help my research or inspire me creatively. I usually talk about how this works on my blog page.

Do you give the publishers ideas for your covers?

Yes. They ask for input. We fill out an Art Fact Sheet for Harlquin/Silhouette, sketching in character details such as hair/eye color, personality type, etc. We turn in magazine photos, too. However, it doesn't go beyond that. I have no connection with the cover models, photographers, etc. But they've always done a great job, and I appreciate it.

Are there any workshops that you give for conferences or local chapters?

I have a few ("I Saw the Bite," which covers writing for the paranormal market, and also "Baiting the Hook," which discusses effective opening hooks), but my favorite one is called "Pied-Piping the Muse." It's based on the Mozart Effect and on a method of story building that I used during creative writing time in the classroom. Basically, I utilize musical selections to lead the attendees through exercises that get them into a deep brainstorming zone. The feedback has been great so far, and I always love to see what the writers come up with. It's amazing.

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