Here Be Monsters: a short story update.

A couple of weeks ago I spent eight hours of burrowing down the research hole to find details of a specific steamship (London to Adelaide, 1888) for a short story I’m writing for a steampunk/gothic anthology submission. I finally found a Trove article with everything I need, including weather on the trip…

Then realised the ship had electricity… And I’d planned for none. Dang!

Now needed to work out how to hobble the electrics. (It’s a long explanation, with spoilers.  So can’t say why.)

This much I’ve already shared on Instagram and social media… I’ve shared spoilers with my Patreons, in the exclusive Behind the Scenes Video Reward: January 2020 ).

Suffice to say… nefarious things are about to happen  on a steamship bound to Australia, from London. I’m writing it to submit for the upcoming Dreadpunk II anthology; my brief was to write a vampire story, so I decided it was time for a past character to meet their match.  mwah ha ha!

The electrics? If you’ve read my short story, Journal de le Lumiere (published as an extra in the Eye of the Beholder paperback), then you’ll have a hint at possible monsters to be found in this gothic steampunk story. In my alternate/steampunk world electricity is rare. The story is prefaced with:

‘Access to electrical technology is rare and dangerous. Research is illegal throughout the Empire and most of Europe… Buy why?’

This brings me to an upcoming series (in the same world as my existing two steampunk series), The Wizard of St Giles, in which Lumiere is set . The new short is also set in this dark underworld, not seen by the general public. It is secret. It is hidden. It is dangerous. Here be monsters.

And electricty is restricted, at least in (most of) the Empire of Great Britain.

So, I now have to weave the historical steamship’s electricity is into my short story’s plot. I’m still not sure if the I’ll remove the electricity altogether, or not.

Here Be Monsters: a short story update.

Patreon Reward, Behind the Scenes video, is delivered!

It’s time for some more Behind the Scenes for my #Patreon supporters. This month’s rewards included some poems, a heads up on the completion of a secret project, upcoming events to be confirmed, and videos of #authorsforfireys visit and library donation video.

I talked tea, discussed a new short story in progress and revealed it’s title. They also received an exclusive video of the story in progess and a few hints on other upcoming storylines.

If you’d like to receive a monthly Behind the Scenes video, then pledge to support me on the $3 tier level (or above) and become a Cog in the Machine!

#Patreon

Become a Patron!

Patreon Reward, Behind the Scenes video, is delivered!

Patron Video Reward Public Reveal: First Books in Dymocks!

This is the second short video public reveal, from one of last year’s Behind the Scenes #Patreon video rewards. You can tell I was excited to get my books on the shelf at Dymocks, Rundle Mall Adelaide. Don’t forget to tell your friends where to get them (while they’re on consignment).

Not all the videos will be revealed – many are just for Patreon supporters eyes only! As a Patron, you deserve something special for suporting me!

Want to get exclusive videos, photos, posts, and live chats?

Become a Patron!

Patron Video Reward Public Reveal: First Books in Dymocks!

Pirating Sucks!

Sharing this… Pirating books sucks. Even more devasting when I know the author and how hard she works.

Thanks for sharing, Renee April. I’ve just found a couple of mine on a share site. I was gutted. All that work. It’s hard enough as an Indie author. Where to go from here? A ‘cease and desist’? A lawyer?

Writing is my only source of income.

I feel for authors who have experienced the same – and for any artist in the same situation.

Pirating Sucks!

Patron Video Reward Public Reveal: Need More Tea!

Last year, I asked my upper tier supporters, how long should I wait before releasing parts of the Behind the Scenes Patreon reward videos for public viewing.

The concesus was about three months…

This short video, Need More Tea Kappys Road Trip, was part of the October, 2019 Behind the Scenes Patreon reward. It has now been released into the wild, on youTube – for public viewing.

Patron Video Reward Public Reveal: Need More Tea!

Impromptu Talk at State Library

My event calender is quickly filling up – and sometimes most unexpectedly.

Last month I attended a lecture on Victorian fashion and exhibition on The Great Race (1919 air race – the South Aussies won it!) by the State Library of South Australia with our local steampunk group. I’d rung the lecturer/librarian beforehand to warn her we were all coming in our steampunk attire. (She thought that was ‘cool’.)

Well, as librarians do, she did her research (on me). When we arrived, she asked me to do a short talk on steampunk at the end of the talk.

(photo: with permission from Veronica Gaunt)

When introducing me, she mentioned my books were in the library and she showed one of the photo sfrom a steampunk shoot we did in the library’s Mortlock wing in 2009, which I’d donated to their digital archive.

Librarians know everything!

Impromptu Talk at State Library

Author For Fireys 2020 - Winner's Loot

Congratulations to Kellie Kininmont, the winner of the Twitter #AuthorsForFireys auction, to raise money for fire fighters and those affected by the Australian bushfires in summer 2019-2020. Kellie nominated SERF – State Emergency Relief Fund – in South Australia for her nomination. This will go to helping those in the Adelaide Hills bush fires.

Author For Fireys 2020 - Winner's Loot

Spoken Word Poetry on PBAFM

Sometimes (not often) I write poetry. Usually after disasters. I was invited to record two poems for the audio-anthology, Well Versed 2: Anthology 2020.

This is the second Well Versed anthology audio book to celebrate  poets and their work. The anthology has spoken works from nearly seventy poets.

All poems recorded for the antholoy will be played on Words Out Loud show on PBA FM, from 18th February.

Spoken Word Poetry on PBAFM

The Departments of Curiosities Review

There’s a new review on both Amazon and Smashwords. Thank you to G Walden for taking the time to share this review:

“I was fortunate to have won this book in a contest, and I am so happy I did. Steampunk is not a genre I would normally choose, however,I found this book extremely well written and exciting. Even though there are many fantastic gadgets,I feel this story is more character driven with mystery, treachery, sabotage and spies set in Queen Victoria’s time. I enjoyed following Tillies’ adventure as she tries to prove her father was not a traitor to the crown. The writing is exciting, the characters engaging and there were a number of surprises. I have never read this author before, so it was wonderful to read a well crafted plot, great characters a totally entertaining book.”

– G Walden (Amazon)/ (Smashwords)

The Departments of Curiosities Review