Book Blog Tour Stop#6: Interview by Stephanie Kato

Original post: http://karenjcarlisle.com/2017/09/30/book-blog-tour-stop6-interview-by-stephanie-kato/

Today we’re visiting the west coast of the States for an interview on writing and steampunk by Stephanie Kato – writer of steampunk and post-apocalyptic stories and sci-fi blogger.
Follow the link to read the interview on her BLOG: Looking Toward the Future - http://www.stephaniekatoauthor.com/blog/steampunk-interview-karen-j-carlisle

Please feel free to comment at Stephanie’s blog, Looking to the Future or on my webpage -http://karenjcarlisle.com/2017/09/30/book-blog-tour-stop6-interview-by-stephanie-kato/

Competition #5:
Once you’ve read today’s interview on Stephanie’s blog (the answer’s there), don’t forget to come back and answer the quiz question my webpage for a chance to win a free copy of 'From the Depths'.

Book Blog Tour Stop#5: Book Review & ‘From the Depths’ Excerpt

Originally published at http://karenjcarlisle.com/2017/09/29/book-blog-tour-stop5-book-review-from-the-depths-excerpt/ You can comment there.

Next we’re off to sunny to Queensland for a book review by Lynne Lumsden Green on Cogpunk Steamscribe. Lynne is a professional writer of both fiction stories and nonfiction articles. She also spends time online as Steampunk Sunday on Facebook and as Cogpunk Steamscribe on WordPress. (Chocolate and flowers most gratefully received as tribute.

Follow the link to read her review of ‘Doctor Jack’, and an excerpt from ‘From the Depths’ on her BLOG: Cogpunk SteamScribe - https://cogpunksteamscribe.wordpress.com/2017/09/29/karen-carlisle-steampunk-goddess/
Please feel free to comment at Cogpunk Steamscribe, or original post.

Competition #4: Once you’ve read today’s review at Cogpunk Steamscribe (the answer’s there), don’t forget to answer the quizz question on my webpage.
http://karenjcarlisle.com/2017/09/29/book-blog-tour-stop5-book-review-from-the-depths-excerpt/
One winner will be randomly selected from entries with the correct answers and announced in tomorrow morning’s intro post.
Prize: ebook copy of 'Tomorrow, When I Die.'

Book Blog Tour Stop#4: Book Reviews

orginal post: http://karenjcarlisle.com/2017/09/28/book-blog-tour-stop4-book-reviews/ 

Today we’re flying across the other side of the world to the UK for a morning cuppa with Penny Blake - storyteller and writer of mythpunk and steampunk - on The Adventures of Smith and Skarry. Messrs Smith and Skarry chat about my latest eBooks in the series.

Follow the link to read my guest post on her blog: The Adventures of Smith and Skarry

Please feel free to comment at The Adventures of Smith and Skarry, or on my webpage post: http://karenjcarlisle.com/2017/09/28/book-blog-tour-stop4-book-reviews/

Your chance to win a free eBook:
Once you've read Penny's post at The Adventures of Smith and Skarry (the answer's there), don't forget to answer the quiz question - the competition is running on my webpage  http://karenjcarlisle.com/2017/09/28/book-blog-tour-stop4-book-reviews/ )

Book Blog Tour Stop#3: The Illusioneer

orignal post: http://karenjcarlisle.com/2017/09/27/book-blog-tour-stop3-the-illusioneer/

And now for a quick stopover back in Adelaide before heading out for the next leg of the book blog tour - and a bit about my books for those who are reading about me for the first time. I'm currently finishing off the third book in my Victorian steampunk mystery series - The Adventures of Viola Stewart.  You'll find out more about the characters on Friday (Australian Central Standard Time) in my final stopover in this tour.

The Illusioneer & Other Tales: The Adventures of Viola Stewart Journal #3 (paperback collection of all three stories) is the final set of Viola's adventures in this series and is currently scheduled for publication late October. There are three novella-length stories:

• 'From the Depths' - Viola needs a holiday. But even at the beach, things are afoot.
• 'Tomorrow, When I Die' - A knock on the door could change everything. It's just a matter of time.
• 'The Illusioneer' - Seeing is believing. Or is it?

 

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'From the Depths' and 'Tomorrow, When I Die' are currently available as eBooks. Find out where to buy your copy.

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You can read an excerpt of the upcoming The Illusioneer on my webpage: http://karenjcarlisle.com/2017/09/27/book-blog-tour-stop3-the-illusioneer/

There's no competition today - but there are freebies:

Want more information on publishing dates, upcoming events, sneak peeks?

Sign up for Tea & Tidings monthly newsletter.

and receive your free eBook of the short story collection:

With a Twist of the Nib.

http://karenjcarlisle.com/sign-up-email-list/

Book Blog Tour Stop#2: Interview by CW Hawes – Books

original post: http://karenjcarlisle.com/2017/09/26/book-blog-tour-stop2-interview-by-cw-hawes-books/

Next we're off to Minneapolis to visit CW Hawes, poet and writer of Mystery, Alternative History, Post-Apocalyptic, Macabre. You'll learn a little bit more about me in his interview on reading and books. (And some of them weren't easy to answer!)

Follow the link to read the interview on his BLOG: 

Please feel free to comment at his blog, here or at the FB event page.

Book Blog Tour Stop#1: Suz's Space

Original post: http://karenjcarlisle.com/2017/09/25/book-blog-tour-stop1-suzs-space/

We’re starting our tour in Melbourne, Australia, and visiting Suz’s Space. Suzie Eisfelder is an Aussie book blogger and fellow Pratchett fan. One of my earliest guest blogs was for Suz’s Space – a vignette from the point of view of a beat-up VW. Thanks for letting me do a return visit, Suzie. This time my post is about writing research.

Follow the link to read my guest post on her blog: Down the Rabbit Hole: A Cautionary Tale.

Please feel free to comment at Suz's Space, my webpage or at the FB event page.

Photo Friday: Week 3 #Tea September

original post: http://karenjcarlisle.com/2017/09/22/photo-friday/

This week's #tea September photos:

Day 15: My new favourite tea set. I got the teapot as an anniversary present.

Day 16: Anzac bikkies made by my friend, Cheryl. Oh they are yummy!

Day 17: Tim Tam Slam...

Day 18: Some eye candy...

Day 19: My first non-generic tea ball. This started off my collection.

Day 20: Guess where Viola is right now?

Day 21: Another opshop find. The tea was a present.

Photos ©2017 Karen Carlisle. All rights reserved.

The Illusioneer & Other Tales: Book Blog Tour

original post: http://karenjcarlisle.com/2017/09/19/the-illusioneer-other-tales-book-blog-tour/

This is my first Book Blog Tour.

The tour celebrates the upcoming publication of the paperback compilation - The Illusioneer & Other Tales:

The Adventures of Viola Stewart Journal #3.

You can follow the blog tour on my webpage, twitter or on the FB event page: The Illusioneer & Other Tales: Book Blog Tour

Watch out for these posts: (Australian Central Time)

Monday 25th Sept: I'm doing a guest blog post, Down the Rabbit Hole: A Cautionary Tale (Researching Viola Stewart’s Adventures), on book blogger Suzie Eisfelder's blog: Suz’s Space

Wed 27th Sept: Poet and author Christopher Hawes will be interviewing me for his blog.

Thurs 28th Sept: Penny Blake is doing a book review on her blog, The Curious Adventures of Messrs Smith and Skarry.

Thursday 28th Sept: Book review by steampunk author and enthusiast, Lynne Lumsden Greene, on Cogpunk Steamscribe 

Sat 30th Sept: Interview by Stephanie Kato on her blog.

Sunday 1st Oct: I'll be doing a guest blog post on steampunk author, David Lee Summers' blog

Thanks to fellow authors, book bloggers and steampunks for taking part.

I'll also be hanging around, so if you have questions or comments, please post away. I'll do my best.

Something Personal

original post: http://karenjcarlisle.com/2017/09/17/something-personal/

This week has had its ups and downs. Anxiety has a way of skewing one's view of the world. Sometimes I just need reminding of the wonderful friends and family I have. Thank you all.

Something Personal.

Sometimes the black dog howls. Its lies overwhelm me,
doubt and anxiety take hold.
Self confidence leaks away.
Does anyone know I exist?
I am alone.

I sit in chaos, claustrophobic clutter.
The world constricts me,
consumes me.
Does anyone care?

A blank page stares back, mocking me,
accusing me of failure,
pathetic, useless, unwanted.
Am I fooling myself?

A tinkle of the door bell, a knock rouses me.
An unexpected, smiling face,
Words of friendship, a gift.
A stranger asks how I'm faring,
Am I still writing?
They want to know more.

A house full of well-wishers, of friends and family
Of smiles and hugs, unconditional.
Conversation, music
and most of all,
Love.

• Art/Photography:  I've designed the final poster for the Viola Stewart series... It arrived this week. Look for this at events.
• Costume:  I've been helping our daughter make patterns for her current costume project.
  
• Writing/Reading: Another scene rewritten, another edited. Then a hiccup - pinched nerve in my arm(but kept going. Taking a break today, to celebrate the anniversary of my arrival into this world.
  PS. I suck at poetry. Apologies.
  

Other little Green Men:  I have such cool friends. I'm working my way through a mountain of goat's cheese, dark chocolate and board games. I have  a new tea to taste and the most gorgeous purple orchid brightening up the kitchen.
Huzzah

Words and photography ©2017 Karen Carlisle. All rights reserved.

A Look Back in Time.

original post:  http://karenjcarlisle.com/2017/09/03/a-look-back-in-time/

Several things have tugged on my mind this week- anniversaries of the passing of friends and people I admired, finding old scraps of writing and a birthday looming. So I started to look back this week, and ponder things that were.

My first blog post on this webpage was on 1st July, 2013. I'd done costume blogs and re-enactment blogs before but this time I planned to share by writing, other passions, and share my journey as a writer. My purview was (and is still) encapsulated in my tagline:

Imagineer. Writer. Artist. Gardener. Chocoholic and tea lover

Way back then, I would regularly share updates on my various passions  (starting in November, 2013):

• Art/Photography: pictures I've taken or drawn.
• Costume: things I'd made or planned to make (though I don't get as much time to make any significant dent in my costume wishlist these days.
• Writing/Reading: This is a main focus of my blog these days. Since having to quit my job in 2014, I now write full time. I've posted updates on current works in progress, about my forays into NaNoWriMo, flash fiction, research articles and the occasional poem.
• Other little Green Men: - This quote was from the final episode of one of a favourite TV series, Star Cops (UK): Little Green Men and Other Martians. Here I listed things like D&D games, gardening adventures and updates, and insights into my personal battle with anxiety (which resulted in quitting my previous job).

Today I thought I'd revisit that format:

Art/Photography: For the past few years I've been sharing daily pictures of my growing collection of tea cup (and mugs) and teapots during September. These are posted on Twitter and Facebook at either 10.00am or 6.00 pm (Adelaide time). You can see them in my twitter feed (to the right of this blog post). Here's today photo:

Costume: I've just finished up my steampunk Wicked Witch of the West (here's the post if you missed it last week). I've been going over my unfinished costume projects. There are a few. I really need to finish some of them - like Queen Victoria (from Pirates Misfits) or Missy's purple outfit (from Doctor Who). Maybe for Supanova in November?

Writing/Reading: I have a massive pile of books to read. It keeps getting larger. I've promised myself: I will start reading them after The Illusioneer & Other Tales is published (late this month, early October). In the meantime, I write. And write. And rewrite.

Other little Green Men: My garden is getting some attention finally (after recovering from major surgery, extreme summer heat and three months of recurring bronchitis) I have started the long road back to a weed-free (is there ever?) edible garden.  I'm spending ten to fifteen minutes weeding each day and enjoying the winter flowering. The fresh air, sun and endorphins are also good at keeping the black dog at bay.

Photos ©2017 Karen Carlisle. All rights reserved.