Photo Friday: Write Like the Wind.

original post: http://karenjcarlisle.com/2017/06/30/photo-friday-write-like-the-wind/

This week has been all about writing. I'm gradually catching up on those three lost months (and am no longer coughing up lungs). My inspiration music has been Write Like the Wind (Music and lyrics by Greg "Storm" DiCostanzo and Paul Sabourin). Tomorrow Camp NaNoWriMo starts. You can follow my progress on my NaNo page.

And more research:

I surfaced on the weekend for one of our regular D&D games and a trip to Burnside Library to register a table for LibCon17 where they had a mini Japanese Culture expo. I wish I'd been able to stay for a tea ceremony. To wrap up the weekend, I attended another writing course (a masterclass on Point of View). Tomorrow I end the week as I started, with another writing course, this one on dialogue.
These courses give me a good kick in the writing butt. I highly recommend them.

   

During my travels I was reminded of the gorgeous city I live in.

Photos ©2017 Karen Carlisle. All rights reserved.

A New Look At The Department of Curiosities

original post: http://karenjcarlisle.com/2017/06/25/a-new-look-at-the-department-of-curiosities/

While the writing muse had been vacationing with my nemesis, the Black Dog, I got to pottering with artwork for my next series, The Department of Curiosities. (My art muse more immune.) I've finally found the perfect font for the cover - something that says steampunk adventure.

Here is the new Department banner and logo. You'll find it on my webpage and Facebook pages.

The Department of Curiosities is the second series set in Karen J Carlisle’s alternate steampunk world.  DOC is a steampunk tale of adventure, a heroine, mad scientists, traitors and secrets.
All for the good of the Empire.

This series is a lighter set adventures, set in the early 1880s.

Look out for the new bookmarks and book cover reveal...

The first book in The Department of Curiosities is scheduled for release in 2018.

Artwork  ©2015/2017 Karen J Carlisle. Al rights reserved.
Steampunk font was created by Marta van Eck. You can see her work at fontspace.com.

Photo Friday: The Great Tea Hunt

original post: http://karenjcarlisle.com/2017/06/23/photo-friday-the-great-tea-hunt/

For weeks our tea reserves have been dwindling. And the closest tea shops, with our preferred blends, was in the city: Kappy's and T2. We try to keep the city jaunts minimal, to reduce our carbon footprint, so we've been waiting until we had appointments in the vicinity.

Finally, the tea ran out!  We had no choice. It was time for a road trip - and some photo opportunities:
On the way: lone leaves and colour-cordinated vehicles.

 

Then to Kappy's on Compton Street, for Prince of Wales and Roman's blend (of Assam and Darjeeling)... but there are so many choices.

I love their couch...

Next, off on a walk to T2 on Rundle Street for some Green Rose tea (and some interesting architecture. This time I concentrated on orginal tiling and paving...)

And then... glorious colour!

I got excited when I saw this - the new octopus print! Unfortunately it isn't available in a single tea cup set. Sigh. Perhaps next time?

Photos ©2017 Karen Carlisle

Photo Friday: Talking Steampunk

original post: http://karenjcarlisle.com/2017/06/16/photo-friday-talking-steampunk/

Last weekend I had the pleasure of doing another talk for the local Aus Sci Fi and Fantasy club. Last time I showcased steampunk fashion; this time I spoke about the origins and culture of steampunk.

After wrangling the dreaded technology we were off!

   
  
Attendees donned their steampunk finery with Veronica winning best costume (an eBook copy of With a Twist of the Nib).

   

Anthony brought along his awesome gadgets, made from opshop and garage finds.

   

Thanks to the Aus Sci Fi committee for asking me back to talk steampunk (and for the lamingtons and tea.)

You can find a video of my talk on my youTube channel.

Photos ©2017 Karen Carlisle, Anthony Fagan, Christopher Lennon

Difficult Decisions

original post: http://karenjcarlisle.com/2017/06/11/difficult-decisions/

I like to have my event schedule sorted out early in the year. This allows for me to schedule my writing around conventions and festivals so I can set a book launch date with plenty of time to allow to finish, edit, format and printing.

This is what this year looked like:

• March/Apr- Oz Comic Con Adelaide
• August 5-6 - steampunk panel and write your own Discworld story workshop at Nullus Anxietas
• August 19-20 - Salisbury Writing Festival
• August 27th - ACG Ball
• September (mid) - Steampunk Festival
• September (late) - Steampunk Pirate Ball
• November - Supanova

Though I had lost a couple of months due to ill health, I was still on target for a September launch date, when I hope to launch it at the Steampunk Festival (who were kind enough to host the book launches of both Doctor Jack and Eye of the Beholder) .

I recently got my email for the Steampunk Festival and tendered my application and  started preparing for Salisbury Writing Festival registration...

But, wait...

I grabbed for printouts for Steampunk Festival and flipped through them. Dang! The Steampunk festival has changed dates.  The original Steampunk Festival was held in May, then twice in September, which is why I tentatively scheduled it in for the same time this year.  Big mistake!  It is now scheduled for 19-20 August - the same weekend as the Salisbury Writers Festival.

Decision time!

I enjoy Salisbury Writers' Festival. I've got a lot out of it in the past six years. I meet fellow writers, hear from publishers and agents in panels, on the  state of writing and publishing in Australia. Members of my writing group enter the short story competition. This year I may have convinced some of my fellow writing group to attend the actual festival.

But will I?

The Steampunk Festival is one of my favourite event - costume-wise, meeting readers and fellow steampunks. It is a photographic smorgasbord. This is my tribe.  They understand me.

Sales-wise it is my biggest event of the year. I have launched both my books at the Steampunk Festival and hope to again this year. This means I have lost a month of writing time and now have to finish my book earlier to get it out in time for August.

<insert expletives here>

But I've made my decision. It wasn't hard in the end; I go where my readers are. I'll just have to pull up my socks and write faster. I've got a closer deadline now. No time for napping.

Photos ©2016 Karen Carlisle. All rights reserved.

Photo Friday: It's Covered.

original post: http://karenjcarlisle.com/2017/06/09/photo-friday-its-covered/

I took a trip down memory lane this week: #Whoviansau (ABC2) did a shout out for Doctor Who art. I delved into my fanzine collection and found these covers I had done for Blacklight (Gallifrey Doctor Who Appreciation Society fanzine), circa 1994.

Breathing in all that dust was not a good idea. Hello sinus infection and bronchitis. Ugh. On a more positive note, I found a replacement dress dummy at Salvos (a fraction of the cost of a new one).

 

I am soldiering on with my writing (more on that in Sunday's post). I have a deadline looming and I can't disappoint you, Dear Reader.

This week I've been wrangling convoluted timelines... Thank goodness for whiteboards.

And here's a sneak preview of one of the elements planned for the cover of The Illusionist & Other Tales: Journal #3.

Photos ©2017 Karen Carlisle. All rights reserved.

Time Warp

original post: http://karenjcarlisle.com/2017/06/04/12098/

Last night the house was full of teenagers (for daughter's significant teenage birthday). They watched movies, played Band Hero, sang and danced. Notes filtered down the hall.

What was that? Bohemian Rhapsody?I strained to listen... Wake Me Up Before You Go Go. The Final Countdown. Video Killed the Radio Star.

Thirty years - and I could still remember every word. Gad, I felt old.

A chorus of squeals rolled into the room: "Tainted Love!" I raised an eyebrow.

Wait.
I wondered down the hall and peeked into the lounge room full of teens singing away.

What?  Was I stuck in a time warp? I grew up with these songs. I remember when they first hit the charts. I spent hours making tape mixes to play while I did homework.

But why should I be surprised. The eighties had some great music. It was a fun time (before the stock market crash) - high school, university. No mortgage worries. No global warming. My whole life in front of me, to follow my dreams.

The teens laughed and danced and had a ball. I'm glad they'd discovered eighties pop. I'm glad they can experience the same carefree joy I did at that age. They have their whole life to come, to follow their dreams. Global warming, or not.

Let's hope they learn from our mistakes and one day catch a glimpse their children bopping away to retro pop, and are reminded of how grand life can be.

Photo Friday: Updates, Surprises and Fortuitous Finds.

original post: http://karenjcarlisle.com/2017/06/02/photo-friday-updates-surprises-and-fortuitous-finds/

A few weeks ago I had a fall and damaged my spectacles. Since then, my anxiety levels had been escalating; just contemplating returning to an optometrist was bringing on palpitations. (It had been three years since I had  new specs and my vision had changed - due to avoidance. ) But I defied the Black Dog and collected my new pair yesterday. (Thank you to my Dearheart for providing emotional support.) Huzzah. I can read comfortabley (and breathe) again.

  

On a happier note: This was delivered this week. We'd found a discrepancy in a pack of pretzels (nothing horrendous, just some cooked dough that had bypassed the production line).  Thank you Smiths for a lovely surprise.

This week's opshop treasures include some Nerf guns and a 'fart blaster' - all destined for steampunking up for future costume projects - and a book on Early Settlers' Household Lore, with hints and recipes from 19th century Australian sources (perfect to add to my research pile for an upcoming writing project.)

 

I have a new photo app now I have my phone back in one piece - so I've been tinkering.

And lastly, I've been making some new signs for future events.