Having a story in A Clockwork Christmas has been sheer joy -- from the idea for "Wanted: One Scoundrel" which let me mis-use my history degree, through Angela James's super editing, to working with my antho sisters, JK Coi, PG Forte and Stacy Gail -- the whole experience has been fantastic. Yet, best of all is knowing people are reading and loving it.
Reading is one of life's pleasures. So knowing that my story has contributed to that delight is a bubbly, wonderful feeling.
To win a copy of A Clockwork Christmas, all you have to do is leave a comment -- and if you can't think what to say, why not mention a favourite book?
We Wish You a Steampunk Christmas
Changed forever after tragedy, a woman must draw strength from her husband’s love. A man learns that love isn’t always what you expect. A thief steals the heart of a vengeful professor. And an American inventor finds love Down Under. Enjoy Victorian Christmas with a clockwork twist in these four steampunk novellas.
Anthology includes:
Crime Wave in a Corset by Stacy Gail
This Winter Heart by PG Forte
Wanted: One Scoundrel by Jenny Schwartz
Far From Broken by JK Coi
Stories also available for purchase separately.
Woohoo, Jenny! ACC is finally out there - the wait is over!!! Must be a great feeling. :-)
ReplyDeleteCan you tell us what inspired your story, WANTED: ONE SCOUNDREL, in the anthology?
What a great steampunk cover:) It looks very inviting. Christmas, steampunk and love all rolled into one book - an enticing read. Well done. :)
ReplyDeleteKylie ... felt like I waited forever ... like waiting for Christmas ;)
ReplyDeleteThe inspiration for Wanted: One Scoundrel came from everywhere. Once Angela James put out an open call for steampunk novellas I just *knew* Australia would be the perfect setting. We have everything, including the wild west feel. In some ways it felt like my whole life was research-prep for writing Aussie steampunk. I have a history degree which included a lot of Australian social history and I even (years ago) did research towards an honours in West Australian colonial women--all very vague, but I read diaries and letters. The interest never waned. And reading all that history, I realised there were things that should have existed/happened in the past that didn't. "Wanted: One Scoundrel" lets me add them in, like with Bombaytown (West Aus's fictional answer to San Francisco's Chinatown). After all, we are close to India and used to export horses and sandalwood there -- still export sandalwood there. I have pictures of the sandalwood trade on my blog somewhere ... look what your innocent question started! I'll stop before I get really carried away with the history of it all.
Lilliana ... thank you! I love the cover. Frauke of Croco Designs is so talented.
I want this book! I really really want this book!
ReplyDeleteIn fact it is on my list of books I really want to buy... :)
Jenny, I have been watching with interest from the moment you said it was contracted to now and I have to say, I am in awe. So brilliant!
I hope it sells scads!
Awww Imogene, you make me feel shy ... but happy!
ReplyDeletePS I hope it sells scads, too :)
I've been admiring the covers (both the anthology and your novella as a stand alone) for months now. It's finally here. Congrats, Jenny. What could be better than a steampunk Christmas.
ReplyDeleteThis is such a cool looking book. I can't wait to read it!!!
ReplyDeleteEleni ... this is my first ever Steampunk Christmas ... and I think I like it! :) I like the covers, too :)
ReplyDeleteRiva ... thanks! I can't wait for you (the world!) to read it either ;)
"What she saw was an all out full throttle desire" A
ReplyDeleteline I just read from Crime Wave in a Corset. So far so great! Love this book! Can't wait to finish!
I would love to win this. I would especially like to win the print copy of this!
ReplyDeleteI have so many favorite books, I cannot just pick one. I love all of P.G. Forte's books!
Anon ... Crime Wave in a Corset is fabulous. I just wanted to kidnap the hero ... not sure he'd have agreed, and damn sure heroine wouldn't have let me have him!
ReplyDeleteKim B ... PG's amazing, isn't she? and I'm waiting, waiting, not (yet) ambushing the postman for complimentary paper copies to arrive. Want to see them!
I don't usually read Christmas stories (probably becasue they are usually contemporary) but this anthology is very tempting as I'm just getting into steampunk too.
ReplyDeleteShona, be tempted :)
ReplyDeleteand I'm a wicked reading-enabler!
Congratulations Jenny. I must say I have never read a steampunk story (have seen a few movies though) but I think you might have converted me. The cover is fantastic and the stories promise to be even better.
ReplyDeleteJenny,
ReplyDeleteI loved studying Australian history at school so hearing you talk about it and how it's woven its way into your writing is wonderful. I think our history is an untapped setting/market.
Thanks for the history lesson and insight into how your story came about. :-)
Thank you for the opportunity to win! :)I'm hoping this contest is open to the US!
ReplyDeleteCongrats on the book ;) Love steampunk. Fav all time has to be Meljean Brook's The Iron Duke. Fell in love with it. Even turned up to RWA cocktail party in steampink costume and will do it again in a heartbeat lol.
ReplyDeleteCongrats again.
Kelly Ethan
Thanks, Peta. What a lovely compliment to the covers and the stories :)
ReplyDeleteAs for steampunk in movies, I think the drama and visual appeal of it seduces movie producers ... and why wouldn't it? :) Though I still have doubts about that huge mechanical spider in Will Smith's Wild, Wild West. I'm such an arachnophobe.
Kylie ... good history teachers in high school make such an impact, instil that love of the past. And I absolutely agree that Australian history has so much potential ... Tez Miller once mentioned Eureka Stockade as a steampunk, and I think she was one hundred percent right. That would make a great story ... *looks hard at east coasters* This is your responsibility! signed, Sandgroper ;)
Randy, the contest is definitely open internationally. Postage from Australia is wickedly expensive, but a digital book? easy! So glad you entered :) Thanks for the comment.
Kelly, the Iron Duke was amazing. The world building. I read the prequel novella first, I think was called Burning Seas and it was Wow. But I wouldn't have the nerve to wear a full costume...envy...you must have looked fabulous! Steampunk has so much attitude :)
A misused history degree? LOL. What better way to use it? It was sheer brilliance.
ReplyDeleteMaria, thank you! Who knew mis-using a degree could be so much fun? :) I have a grad diploma in Legal Studies (public law), now could that possibly birth a story? constitutional and admin law...somehow, I don't think so :) Very dry (but I admit, I did kind of like admin law).
ReplyDeleteYour story and the book look awesome! I've read some steampunk and the fun, whimsical, unexpected things you see and experience are shockingly fun! I've got to check your book out!
ReplyDeleteAnd now that we're talking about misusing our education in our writing...hmm, I've got some ideas wandering through my head! I hope we all live long enough to get all of our story ideas on paper! LOL!
Congrats, Jenny!
Kitty ... I can't wait to see how you mis-use your degree. Just think, when you were studying for it did you ever think it could give rise to a *gasp, horror* fictional story? :)
ReplyDeleteI've been a very naughty reader and haven't yet read ANYTHING steampunk. Do you think this would be a good intro for me? :)
ReplyDeleteI write steampunk and I'm so excited when I see a new one in print! This one looks so great. I never thought about doing a steampunk Christmas tale.
ReplyDeleteAllison, have you see Steam Scholar's post on religion in Steampunk? He starts off discussing Sherlock Holmes (as who wouldn't? LOL) then diverges into Christmas and religion and the fact religion was a big part of nineteenth century life. ... inspiration for your steampunk Christmas story :)
ReplyDeletehttp://steampunkscholar.blogspot.com/2011/12/ill-be-holmes-for-christmas-or-sherlock.html
Oops! Forgot to mention here in the comments ... the winner of a digital copy of "A Clockwork Christmas" is Lilliana Rose!
ReplyDelete