(This is a mirror site of my webpage karenjcarlisle.com)

Sunday, September 30, 2018

Sept-October Patreon Post is Live


Here’s what my supporters get:Sept – October Rewards and Bonuses:


All Patreon supporters (Aether Tech ($1 tier)+:



  • discussion post about Aunt Enid relaunch and

  • reschedule of ‘The Department of Curiosities’ publication date.


Cogs in the Machine ($3 tier)+:



  • Maker Video Diaries of custom-made props and final gnome army rallying for upcoming book trailer.

  • sneak peek at new Aunt Enid promo/social media quote cards


Conspirators ($5 tier)+ get



  • access to a free digital download of the new song, The Gadgeteer.

  • Live Chat (via Discord) Sat 13th October @ 11.30 am – 1.30 pm (Adelaide, South Australia time) Ask me questions or just chat.


New Adventurer Extraordinaire ($10 tier)+ get:



  • eBook copy of Aunt Enid:Protector Extraordinaire.


If you love steampunk stories and music (or want to hear something new), want to get exclusives and sneak peek videos and photos, and background info or just want to chat/ask questions, then sign up to support me!



Become a Patron!










Sept-October Patreon Post is Live

Monday, September 24, 2018

First Review of Deadsteam

I’m excited! Deadsteam has its first review posted on Goodreads – and my short, The Case of the Murderous Migraine, got mentioned as a favourite!

What a reading delight!! …This dreadpunk (steampunk horror) anthology is a perfect way to get in the Halloween mood. These story’s are reminiscent of classic penny dreadfuls and gothic horror. 

I especially loved the tales where vampires were the focus. Like Anthony in Red by Jen Ponce and The Case of the Murderous Migraine by Karen J. Carlisle. I haven’t read gothic vampire tales in a while and forgot how much I enjoy those tales. ”

–  Bedelya (clockwork.bookdragon) Moreno-Roth’s Reviews

You can read the full review here on Goodreads.



Buy you copy from

Book Depository, Amazon, Amazon.com.au,

Smashwords or Kobo

Also available in hardcover.









First Review of Deadsteam

Monday, September 17, 2018

Reader Beware: 'Deadsteam' is Coming.



Do you like the more dread end of steampunk? Gaslamp? A touch of horror? Then this anthology is right up your dark, fog-drenched cobblestone alley!


“Reader beware: to open this tome is to invite dread into your heart. Every page you turn will bring you closer to something wicked. And when the dead begin to rise from the steaming pits of hell, only then will you discover that it is already too late. Your life is forfeit.”


‘Deadsteam’ features an introduction by Leanna Renee Hieber, author of the Eterna Files and Strangely Beautiful saga. DeadSteam plays host to the scintillating writing of David Lee Summers (Owl Dance, The Brazen Shark), Jen Ponce (The Bazaar, Demon’s Cradle), Wendy Nikel (The Continuum), Karen J Carlisle (The Adventures of Viola Stewart), Jonah Buck (Carrion Safari), and more…


With seventeen chilling tales of dreadpunk, gaslamp, and dark steampunk, DeadSteam will leave you tearing at the pages, desperate for more. For within these pages, the dead rise from their graves to haunt the London Underground, witches whisper their incantations to the wind, a sisterhood of bitten necks hunts fog-drenched alleyways lit only by gaslight, and only one thing is certain: that dread will follow you until you turn that final page.And that sinking feeling in the pit of your chest? That fear that something is following you, watching you, hunting you? It is not for nothing. Look over your shoulder, dear reader. Watch behind you. Listen to the whispers in the darkness.But know this…it is all inevitable.

(Will be available in paperback, eBook and hardcover).






The official release date isOctober 1st, 2018.



Until then… check out the book trailer.



You can also view it here on Vimeo.




Find out more about the authors, with interviews on the Deadsteam Blog.  

Deadsteam features my gaslamp story, The Case of the Murderous Migraine. You can read my interview on September 28th. 




Find out more about Deadsteam at: http://deadsteam.wordpress.com/

and

Pre-order you copy at:

https://deadsteam.wordpress.com/pre-order/



Reader Beware: 'Deadsteam' is Coming.

Thursday, September 13, 2018

Patreon Update

I just shared a maker video with my #Patreon supporters just now.



Become a Patron!










Patreon Update

R U OK?

Today is R U OK? Day.

A national day of action to remind everyone that any day is the day to ask, “Are you ok?”

It’s as simple as:

1. Ask

2.Listen

3. Encourage action

4. Check in

For more information https://www.ruok.org.au/











R U OK?

Wednesday, September 12, 2018

Adelaide Steampunk Festival 2018 - Author Talk

I’m doing an author talk at this weekend’s Adelaide Steampunk Festival 2018 at the National Railways Museum, Saturday morning at 11.30am on the Speaker Stage (inside main door to the left).




I’ll be talking steampunk, creating steampunk worlds, writing and there may even be a short reading from my current work-in-progress…



I’ll be in Artist Alley with my books, mugs, badges, octoscarves. Come say hello.




Adelaide Steampunk Festival 2018 - Author Talk

Sunday, September 9, 2018

Adelaide Steampunk Festival- Parasol Duelling.

If you are coming to Adelaide Steampunk Festival 2018 on Sunday 16th September


Join me and the parasol duelling team at 10.30am, on the Speaker Stage, for the Parasol Duelling Demo!



Learn the basics so you’ll be ready for next year’s informal competitions.










Adelaide Steampunk Festival- Parasol Duelling.

Guest Blog: Steampunk Maker Shane Bevin's 'The Final Flight of the Feisty Barnacle'.

Today I’m chatting with Shane Bevin, who will be sharing his works with us at the upcoming Adelaide Steampunk Festival, 2018.


Karen: Hello, Shane. Firstly, please tell us a bit about yourself.


Shane: I was born in the year that men first walked on the moon, I spent most of my school lunch money on Time Pilot, Moon Patrol and Xevious…the dawn of the video game era.


My first computer was a ZX81…1 KB of ram (although I had the 16KB expansion pack), a 3.5 MHz processor and any colour on screen you liked (as long as it was black or white). As an art tool, it was somewhat…er…limited, but it slowly took over my life.


I am a techy kinda guy, with a techy kinda brain, but I do consider myself an artist as well.


Most of my artistic time is spent off the computer and as a sculptor/model maker at heart I love to stick bits of junk together to make something cool…or weird…or weirdly cool.


I am now a full time Lecturer in Digital Media at Flinders University and my day to day job involves…well…making stuff work and teaching others to let their creative brain loose.


K: The Adelaide Steampunk Festival will be showcasing your steawmpunk VR world this year. How did you get involved in the Steampunk Festival?


S: I first became involved in the Steampunk Festival as an exhibitor in the SALA exhibition of Steampunk Works at the Railway Museum. Last year my partner Marina and I had a stall where we sold a variety of goods.


K: What was your introduction to steampunk?



S: I have always been interested in the works of Poe, Lovecraft and Wells and in the middle of a googling session for Cthulhu images I found myself in a collection of steampunk images. I went down the rabbit hole and never came out.


My introduction was the art and aesthetic of steampunk and this is still the aspect of the movement that interests me most.


K: What does steampunk mean to you?


S: To me, steampunk is an aesthetic. I love the worldbuilding that goes along with the movement and I enjoy immersing myself in the alternate universe. For me though, it is the art side that drives my work. I like the adhoc and cobbled together nature of the aesthetic…the mix of scifi, fantasy and horror…the gadgets and gizmos…the new and old crossing paths.



K: Do you have a favourite steampunk movie, book, music?


S: Most of my time is spent immersed in the art of steampunk and even though I don’t necessarily seek out movies, books and music, I do enjoy when the steampunk aesthetic weaves its way into other areas of my life. One of my other loves is cyberpunk and it is fun to play the two movements off each other. I did love John Carter of Mars, Steamboy and the hints of steampunk that come through in the work of Myazaki and Studio Ghibli.



K: You’re currently creating a VR steampunk world to share with the attendees at the Festival. I’d love to hear more. How did you get into creating VR worlds?


S: I encountered virtual reality for the first time in the 80s and 90s. As a fan of cyberpunk and video games the idea of immersing myself in a virtual world was a dream come true. The implementation of the hardware back in those days was problematic, but the re-emergence of  virtual reality with the technology of today has rekindled my passion.



K: Did you study and where did you study?


S: I originally studied to be a teacher but also studied Digital Media and both areas came together over the years. I am now a lecturer in digital media at Flinders University/CDW Studios in the Visual Effects and Entertainment Design Degree.


K: Is this your job, or your hobby?


S: It is absolutely both. Digital Media and art are a lifestyle choice rather than a job and I am lucky to be able bring all of my skills together as a teacher, artist and designer.


K; Do you create the narrative for your world first, or jump into designing the gadgets and inhabitants first?


S; I tend to create a narrative first and then start on the elements of the piece. Steampunk allows for the audience to bring some prior knowledge to the piece, so the worldbuilding already has a bit of a headstart. The design is informed by the narrative.


K: How long does it take to design a complete element/object in your world?


This is a variable that is difficult to define as some elements take longer than others. In this case there is a mix of 3D modelling, image manipulation, animation, physical sculpture and painting. This overall piece has been a few months of evenings and weekends to bring together.



K: What is your favourite design element, and will we get to see it at the Adelaide Steampunk Festival?


S: My favourite design element is “weathering”, the idea of bring age and narrative to a design. I love to try and bring story to a piece, the feeling of age brought to an artwork created in the present.



K; What can we expect from your Steampunk VR experience at this year’s festival?


S; The VR experience I am presenting is a slice of a bigger piece of worldbuilding. Pop on the VR headset and you are transported to the deck of the Feisty Barnacle, an airship in the midst of a battle. My conceit is the idea that this is the final battle of The Aesthetic Wars, a battle between the forces of Deco, Gothic, Modernist, Nouveau and Steampunk. For the viewer it should feel like you are there on the deck…you are the captain…you get to see the battle first hand.


And now for a small taste of what to expect at Adelaide Steampunk Festival next week; here’s the teaser trailer for The Final Flight of the Feisty Barnacle.



K: Where can we find more of your work?



Thanks for sharing with us, Shane. I’m in awe of people who can create digital artwork. I have a love-hate relationship with computers and couldn’t program my way out of a soggy tea bag. I’m looking forward to immersing myself in your amazing world.


You can experience Shane’s steampunk VR world next weekend at the Adelaide Steampunk Festival – National Railways Museum, Port Adelaide.



All images and videos supplied by and ©Shane Bevin,

except Steampunk Festival banner.



Guest Blog: Steampunk Maker Shane Bevin's 'The Final Flight of the Feisty Barnacle'.

Friday, September 7, 2018

Steampunk Makers of the Antipodes


THE UNORTHODOX SOCIETY FOR THE ELUCIDATION OF RETRO-FUTURISM is a website dedicated to elucidating us on all things steampunk in the Antipodes…



They have started up a list of steampunk makers in Australia. My guest post/interview is now live: http://theunorthodoxsociety.stigandr.com/2018/09/meet-your-maker-karen-j-carlisle.html





If you’re in Adelaide this month, come say hello at the Adelaide Steampunk Festival and meet other steampunk makers as well.



Steampunk Makers of the Antipodes

Thursday, September 6, 2018

New youTube Video - ACG Costume Dinner 2018

I made a little video of the recent Australian Costumers Guild Dinner…


There’s usually a Ball. This time it was a dinner.

Every year the Australian Costumers Guild holds a costume event.

There were steampunks, explorers, super heroes, Empire officers, Popye, magicians, wizards and tomb raiders… um… sorry, archeologists…

And we had a ball.



you can follow my costume antics on my FB Costume page: Purple Files/Florence Files – Costume and Art










New youTube Video - ACG Costume Dinner 2018

Wednesday, September 5, 2018

Cover Reveal: The Department of Curiosities

Yes, it’s finally official.   Only a small tweak and it’s done. This is the cover of book one in The Department of Curiosities series. Thanks to my supporters for your feedback.


‘The Department of Curiosities’, is the first book in my new steampunk series. New characters. New villians (and some old ones). New adventures.  It all begins in 1883…


You can find out more about the cover photo shoot HERE.


So, here it is… Drum roll please!


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Current expected release: late 2018/early 2019


Cover design and photography ©2018 Karen Carlisle.



Cover Reveal: The Department of Curiosities

Sunday, September 2, 2018

LIPTEMBER - raising money for mental health awareness



It’s Liptember.


Liptember started in 2010 to raise awareness for women’s mental health issues. While mental health impacts all genders, it’s important to acknowledge the different life experiences, triggers and issues -such as postnatal depression and menopause.

Women experience PTSD at a higher rate than men. And 1 in 3 will experience anxiety. (Beyond Blue  has more information on stats).


As many of my readers know, I experience anxiety and have been diagnosed with PTSD. This month I’m wearing Liptember lippy in support of my fellows with anxiety and PTSD, and those with other mental health issues.



I’m hoping to raise at least $300 this month.







 










LIPTEMBER - raising money for mental health awareness