Author Chat with Alexis Henderson (When I Was Death), Plus Giveaway~ US ONLY!

Today we are very excited to share an interview with author Alexis Henderson!

Read on to learn more about the author, the book, and a giveaway!

Meet the Author: Alexis Henderson

Alexis Henderson is a speculative fiction writer with a penchant for dark fantasy, witchcraft, and cosmic horror. Her adult books include The Year of the Witching, House of Hunger, and An Academy for Liars. Growing up in one of America’s most haunted cities, Savannah, Georgia, instilled in her a life-long love of ghost stories. When she doesn’t have her nose buried in a book, you can find her painting or watching horror movies with her feline familiar. When I Was Death is her first novel for young adults.

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About the Book: When I Was Death 

A group of girls does Death incarnate’s bidding in this haunting speculative young adult novel by the author of The Year of the Witching.

Roslyn isn’t herself anymore. It’s been a year since her sister, Adeline, died under mysterious circumstances, and Roslyn is still tormented by her absence. So when the elusive caravan of girls that Adeline spent her last summer with rolls back into town, Roslyn joins them to finally figure out what happened to her sister.

Strange, beautiful, and intriguing, the girls are closed off from the world. And as it turns out, they’re brought together by a force more sinister than Roslyn’s nightmares could’ve conjured up: Death himself.

Death has spared the girls from untimely endings, and to pay for their lives, the girls travel the country reaping souls on his behalf. Now Roslyn must decide if finding closure is worth the price of striking the same deal.

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~Author Chat~

YABC:  What inspired you to write this book?

When I Was Death was very much a vessel for my grief. It gave me a place to explore all of my complicated feelings surrounding loss, girlhood, and the pain of growing up. Large parts of the story were inspired by the loss of my mom, a few years ago. Other parts of the story are sort of a love letter to the teenage version of me and all of the friendships and bonds that helped shape me into the person I am today.

YABC: Do you have a playlist you listened to while writing?

I do! I create playlists for every book I write. They help me stay connected to the story even when I’m not actively working on the story. There was a lot of alt-J, Florence + the Machine, Kelsey Lu, and boygenius on the playlist for When I Was Death.

YABC: Do you have an unusual office supply that helps you in your writing routine?

My cat Elijah (he’s an orange tabby) is very important to my overall creative process. When I’m working in my office, he jumps up on the desk, purrs, and headbutts me. It’s very encouraging, especially when I’m having a difficult day, creatively.

YABC: If you could collaborate with any other writer in history, who would it be?

I feel extremely presumptuous even typing this but…Octavia Butler. She’s such a legend, I’m a huge fan, and I look up to her so much. I feel like she really paved the way for black female authors writing in the SFF space. I’m immensely grateful to her.

YABC:      What would you say is your superpower?

Probably my imagination. I have an easily distractable goldfish brain, which can be frustrating sometimes. But that also means that I’m always excited to start something new—be it a chapter, another round of edits, or a brand-new book entirely.

YABC:   How do you cope with criticism from editors or the public?

 I’m lucky in that I’ve had wonderful editorial experiences with my editors, who have been extremely supportive of my work. I know that we’re both working toward the same goal: to make the book the best version of itself. When it comes to criticism from the public, I try to remember that it’s an honor to be read at all. There are so many forms of entertainment that compete for our time and attention—so if someone takes the time to read my work and respond to it, even with criticism I try to remember that, in itself, is a privilege.

YABC: What new release book are you looking forward to in 2025?

I’m really looking forward to Dreamland by Olivie Blake, Reliquary by Hannah Whitten, Paint Me Like Your Dead Girls by Cynthia Murphy, and A Dark and Wild Wood by Sara Nicole Lemon.

YABC:   What’s up next for you?

At the moment, I’m working on my latest adult horror novel—The Godfrey Home for Demonic Children. It hasn’t been formally announced yet, so I can’t say too much. But I can tell you it’s just as dark (and diabolical) as my previous horror projects, and I’ve had tons of fun writing it.

Title:  When I Was Death 

Author: Alexis Henderson

Release Date: March 3, 2026

Publisher: G.P. Putnam’s Sons BFYR

ISBN-13: 9780593859476

Genre:  Young Adult

Age Range:  12+

~ Giveaway Details ~

Three (3) winners will receive a copy of When I Was Death (Alexis Henderson) ~US Only!