Interview with Patricia Eimer

This week we are talking with Patricia Eimer, author of THE CLOCKWORK BRIDE, which is part of A Riveting Affair, published by Entangled Publishing.

Airship Ambassador: Hi Patricia, thanks for making the time to join us for this interview.

Patrcia Eimer: Thanks for having me here and letting me blather on about Clockwork Bride

AA: Would you share some of the story details with us??

PE: Clockwork Bride is about Aida and Julian—a pair of scientists who are separated by social class as well as culture in a steampunk version of Victorian England. Aida is an Irish Clockwork Engineer and Julian is a member of the English aristocracy whose father is the head of the Luddite (anti-technology) Party in Britain’s Parliament. These two crazy kids meet up and in an act of defiance decide to get married on an airship on Christmas Eve—then have to learn to live with the consequences of marrying not just someone you barely know but also someone who’s life is completely different from your own.

AA: What was the motivation for creating THE CLOCKWORK BRIDE?

PE: I’ve always adored steampunk because it has such strong female characters and I loved the idea of two scientists as star crossed lovers because it was just such an irony.

AA: How did elements of your own life make their way into THE CLOCKWORK BRIDE?

PE: My husband and I are both actually scientists (I’m a trained economist and he’s a physicist) so I think a lot of the absent minded scientist sort of traits bled over into Clockwork Bride. When I was writing Julian I’d look over at my husband and steal characteristics from him as personality quirks for Julian.

AA: When I get my young nieces and nephews to read THE CLOCKWORK BRIDE, what would you like for them to take away from the story and the characters that they could apply to their own lives?

PE: Well there are sex scenes in it so maybe don’t let them read it if they’re too young but if they do read it—I hope they take away that you can do anything you want with your life, no matter where you come from or who society says you’re supposed to be. Oh, and there’s nothing wrong with the princess being the one to slay the dragon and save the prince instead of vice versa.

AA: People continue to hear about THE CLOCKWORK BRIDE every day. How are those new readers finding you – conventions, website, word of mouth, etc?

PE: Because Clockwork Bride is such a new release most of the readers have been finding me through my website www.patriciaeimer.com or through word of mouth—which I’ve been really grateful for.

AA: Every writer I’ve talked with has a different journey to seeing their works in print. What was your publishing experience like?

PE: My publishing experience was ridiculously blessed. Seriously, it was like winning the lottery. I was working in corporate America, about to burn out, when a friend of mine suggested I try National Novel Writer’s Month (NANOWRIMO) just for fun. So I signed up and sketched out a basic idea for my first novel—Luck of the Devil—at like 2 am on October 31 then started writing the next day.

After November was over I shipped it off to her and she told me it was good and sent me the link to Editpalooza at SavvyAuthors. I figured why not? I’d had fun writing it I might as well see what it could be with some polish. So I took a month long editing class with Liz Pelletier from SavvyAuthors (before Entangled Publishing started) and then I put Luck under my bed and went on about my boring days. Then Liz emailed me and asked me to submit Luck of the Devil for Entangled’s introductory release and Entangled Publishing bought it as a three book series.

Pretty soon after, I quit my job, started writing full time and before the year was out I had a contract for a three book series based on Luck of the Devil, a three book YA/MG series (The Chronicles of Nerissette coming in August 2013) contract and a contract for Clockwork Bride and I haven’t looked back since. Like I said, a complete and total fairytale beginning for what has turned into my dream career.

AA: If you weren’t a writer, what else would you be doing now?

PE: I’d probably be back at my old job—figuring out the most efficient way to run a factory line and firing people who had become redundant. (And people wonder why I was close to a nervous breakdown)

AA: Do you participate in a writer’s group to compare notes, have constructive critique reviews, and brainstorm new ideas?

PE: That’s my favorite way of killing time! And thankfully Entangled has such a lively, wonderful group of writers that it really is a big sorority full of great people who will let you bounce ideas and when needed kick you in the butt and tell you to quit wasting time and get back to work.

AA: Writer’s block happens to everyone and can be rather frustrating. What is your solution to overcoming it?

PE: Honestly? The first thing I tend to do is go for a run by myself, solitary exercise that’s repetitive seems to get my brain going. If that doesn’t work though I pull out the big guns and start cleaning out closets and scrubbing toilets. Pretty quickly my brain comes up with a way out of block just so I can get out of housework.

AA: Looking beyond steampunk, writing and working, what other interests fill your time?

PE: I love to run and cook (which is why I cultivated the love of running). I also fence but most of my time is spent chasing my kids and dogs around.

Thanks for joining us, Patricia!

The Clockwork Bride is part of A Riveting Affair Get your copy today!

Interview with Steam Patriots

Following the launch of the Kickstarter fundraiser a few days ago, we are talking with Scott Wakefield and Rory Boyle, authors of Steam Patriots.

 

Airship Ambassador: Hi Scott and Rory, thanks joining us for this interview.

Scott Wakefield:  Our pleasure!

 

AA: Aside from the Kickstarter description and the press release, what is Steam Patriots about, in your own words?

SW: Steam Patriots is a speculative fiction story about the adventures of Felix Ward, set in a steampunk version of the American Revolution

RB: It’s a faux historical journey through the American Revolution focused on Felix Ward and a few of the Founding Fathers in a steampunk environment.

 

AA: What was the motivation for creating Steam Patriots?

SW: We love steampunk, and all of its incarnations, and we thought it would be fun to back the traditionally accepted timeline up a few years, and create an “origins” story of sorts. And the American Revolution has so many wonderful stories and people, we couldn’t resist combining the two.

RB: We thought it would be a nifty change of pace to take steampunk out of the usual context of Victorian England and make it predate that period a bit. Give it an American twist and beginning.

 

AA: Working with real history can provide a wide playing field to work with. What kind of back story is there for Steam Patriots which didn’t make it into the final book?

SW: The whole idea of Franklin developing the steam engine will just be a fact of our new timeline. It may be alluded to, or perhaps be part of a preface – we’re not sure, since the books aren’t in their final stages.

 

AA: The press release talks about a series of five stories in this series. Are there any plans for side stories or spinoffs?

SW: We certainly hope so. Noble Beast is planning for five novellas, but there really is no limit to where this can go. While we’re researching and writing, we have to stop ourselves sometimes, because we keep discovering SO MANY amazing and intriguing stories.

RB: We’ve teased the idea of continuing into the Barbary Wars. But we’ll see where this initial series takes us.

AA: My young nieces and nephews are now recipients of steampunk books. When I send them Steam Patriots, what themes and ideas might they glean from the story and the characters that they could apply to their own lives?

SW: There’s always the overarching classic theme of freedom and self-reliance. But on the personal, micro-level, we want people to know that no one is perfect, and every one of us has room for growth.

RB: I’d want them to put the book down and understand how great men and women hundreds of years ago did the impossible and individuals can have huge impacts on the face of history.

 

AA: In doing the world building for Steam Patriots, what kind of research, and then balance, went into it?

SW: TONS of research, which honestly has made me ashamed of what I don’t know about American history. We are trying to follow actual American history, with steam tweaks. We’ve taken some liberties, but we want to stay true to the great things our Founding Fathers and Revolutionary War Veterans did to free our country.

RB: Ugh, definitely what Scott said. We logged more hours in front of our laptops and at the library than we can remember.

 

AA: Once the world was created, what story elements did you include so readers could feel Steam Patriots come alive?

SW: The reasons for the Revolution weren’t cut and dry – ie., England is bad; The Colonies are good. And many people struggled with their allegiances, their families, and whether they were willing or able to fight. We want those feelings to come across. We also want the tension and action of the battles to jump off the pages.

RB: I don’t think our readers will have a hard time feeling what they’re reading; if they’re reading it then they’re probably already fans of steampunk and/or history. They probably already have a preconceived notion of what they want to feel.

 

AA: What are some of the initial feedback you are getting from the idea of Steam Patriots?

SW: What I hear most often, is that people who aren’t too interested in history or even books, are saying to us, wow, I think I’d really enjoy your story, and it might get me into learning more about the Revolution.

 

AA: Now that the Kickstarter is launched and people hear about Steam Patriots, how else can those new readers find you and follow along progress?

SW: Facebook and Twitter are the easiest methods right now. And it’s great to have someone who has been in the steampunk world for a while mention us, or say, Hey, check these guys out.

 

AA: What kind of attention has Steam Patriots generated?

SW: We’ve caught the attention of museums, re-enactors, historical societies, and many people in those spheres. We’re so thrilled about that. Our goal is to tell a great story and get people excited about history, and if someone can use Steam Patriots to do that, then we couldn’t be happier.

RB: I was surprised at how much attention we drew so fast. The steampunk sphere is a very close knit group and very inviting. It seems like everyone wants more steampunk and more variations of it, so we’re more than happy to oblige. Attention has been drawn a lot to Patrick Arrasmith’s artwork for the book; his style is perfectly matched with ours.

 

AA: With the various interviews I’ve done and other conversations with steampunk authors, it’s clear that there is not just one path to seeing their works in print. What was your publishing experience like?

SW: Ours was very atypical. I came across the Steampunk Holmes Kickstarter project and thought what they were doing was exactly the vision we had for Steam Patriots. We had the idea, and Noble Beast had the bigger picture, and the know-how and means to make it happen. We made contact with Noble Beast, pitched the basic idea, and they liked it. After reading the manuscript, Noble Beast thought it was a great idea, and we decided to take the short manuscript we’d written, and give more back story, and then flesh out the details of the war.

 

AA: That’s a great way to make and take advantage of an opportunity. Having the idea and a manuscript enabled you to be ready to walk through the door when it opened. Once you did, what lessons did you learn about having an editor, their feedback, and your writing?

SW: Editors comments can’t be taken personally, which I have a hard time with. But they, of course, have the best intentions for the book. Our first go-round with the beginning of the story didn’t really fly, and it’s taken a lot to wrap my brain around a different tack.

RB: I underestimated the amount of great feedback we would be getting, and how much it helps move the story along. And listen to your PR person!

AA: If you weren’t authors, what else would you be doing now?

SW: I’m still in the military, so that would most likely continue to be the option. Time will tell how these books play out, and career decisions will need to be made.

RB: I’d definitely keep my day job.

 

AA: With so much going on in your day, what do you do to keep a balance between writing and the rest of your life?

SW: My wife is a wonderful encouragement, and wants me to be a successful author, so she is very accommodating with my schedule and eccentricities. I have needed to say no to lots of gatherings and hobbies. My hope is that the end result will be a lifestyle that allows me to write, rather than having to make the time for it.

RB: I actually write a LOT. Mostly for my own peace of mind, or for artistic purposes. I engage in a lot of outdoor activities, and I find homebrewing to be very enjoyable.

 

AA: Those sounds like good activities to give you variety. Is there time to talk with other writers for critiquing and brainstorming?

SW: My critique circle is very small, and I try to not beat the book to death. It’s fun to chat on Twitter, and get some input about what people love and hate in the steampunk world.

RB: We’ve added in our two cents at a few steampunk authors forums and chats.

 

AA: How long have you been writing, and what kind of changes have you seen over time?

SW: I’ve been writing things down, with the goal of getting published for almost 20 years. I look back on old notes and stories and laugh at how bad they are. But I don’t throw anything away, because I’ll see something that I’d forgotten about, and think – however poorly it’s written – it’s still not a bad idea.

RB: I think the more I write the easier it becomes. Words start to flow a little better when I revisit similar but older ideas.

 

AA: Writer’s block happens to everyone and can be rather frustrating. What is your solution to overcoming it?

SW: Skip ahead. I find that I get tired of a scene or chapter. Often my mind is moving on to the next battle or exciting moment, and I can’t focus on tying up the loose ends of this scene. In my drafts I have a lot of areas where I write “BREAK”. I’ll come back to it later. I learned this during a NaNoWriMo attempt – I just need to keep the momentum; when a complete story is down on paper, it’s an amazing thing that liberates your mind. I also step back for a few minutes and play my banjo or take a walk.

RB: I usually write a purposefully bad ending to the scene, maybe out of context or humorous so that when I come back to it, it’s so ridiculous it shocks my brain back into story mode.

 

AA: Where are you both based? Does location matter for resources, access, publicity, etc.

SW: I’m in Ketchikan, Alaska right now, which limits my access to big-city type of events and publicity. The four-hour time difference does make it difficult to collaborate.

RB: I’m in Buffalo, New York. I know that my day starting 4 hours before Scott’s doesn’t bode well for him when I have ideas first thing in the morning.

 

AA: Both of you have day jobs and writing is your ‘other’ job. How does that work out for you and how has it helped/hindered in your daily writing?

SW: I often wish I could quit today, and be a full-time writer, but I know that would be foolish. Having a steady income eliminates the debilitating fear of going broke. It does, though, make finding time to write very difficult.

RB: It affords me a great mental release at the end of the day. I can switch gears from Coast Guard work to writing and then back again the next day. It’s a good balance.

 

AA: Do people outside the regular reading and steampunk communities recognize you for Steam Patriots? What kind of reactions have you received?

SW: We seem to be drawing in a good deal of people who may have otherwise passed up a steampunk story. Rory and I are pretty low-key conservative guys, and we tend to be attracted to the technology and gadgets more than the “punk” side of it. But that’s what is great about steampunk – everyone brings something new to the world. It’s a world of endless imagination and creation and fun.

 

AA: Looking beyond steampunk, writing and working, what other interests fill your time?

SW: My family is number one for me, and we’re having a great time in Alaska – kayaking, boating, hiking, camping, and everything else. I also love to travel, play the banjo (clawhammer style), and we lived on a boat for 18 months.

RB: I like hiking, fishing, rock climbing, traveling to places I haven’t been before. I’ll try almost anything once.

 

AA: It’s a good thing to be active and moving like that. How do those activities influence your work?

SW: Felix and his dad are musicians, and we’re trying to weave a bit of the wonderful colonial musical history into the book.

RB: I can identify more with the characters when I’m in someplace new and I don’t know where anything is. In our story our characters find themselves in many new and unfamiliar places.

 

AA: Thanks so much for chatting with us, and best of luck on the Kickstarter and upcoming publication. Any final thoughts to share with our readers

SW: Let us know what you think; we love the relationships we’re building, and can’t wait to let you be a part of these great stories.

 

The Kickstarter fundraiser runs until December 16, 2012, and the team can be followed on their web page, Facebook, Google+, and Twitter.

Interview with Theresa Meyers – part 3

Welcome back for the conclusion of our interview with Theresa Meyers, author of steampunk novels The Hunter and The Slayer, as well as the Sons of Midnight vampire romance series, among other books.

Part one is here.

Part two is here.

 

 

AA: Welcome back, Theresa. Let’s talk for a moment about writing gamma characters instead of writing alpha or beta characters. How would you describe why that is a better fit for you and your stories?

TM: They’re a blend of the two and I think they make the best romance heroes. Alphas are too into themselves and their own ideas of the world to really care about the heroine until it’s almost too late. Betas wait for her to make the first move, even though they might be passionate about her. Gammas have enough self-confidence to be bold, but have that emotional core that allows them to love her, say so, and want an answer back. Now. For example, Tom Hanks and Hugh Grant often play Beta heroes, Bruce Willis and Steven Segal play Alphas, and Adrian Paul, Tom Selleck, Taylor Lautner, Harrison Ford and Mel Gibson often play Gamma roles. (Han Solo is the perfect example of a Gamma hero.)

 

AA: How have you and your work grown and changed over time?

TM: I think my description has grown more complex, creating a more sensory experience for readers. I want them not to just see or hear what my characters are experiencing, but to feel and smell, taste and sense at a gut level what’s happening. I also think my plotting has developed to a greater degree allowing me to make my pacing within the story very tight and action-oriented.

AA: Writer’s block happens to everyone and can be rather frustrating. What is your solution to overcoming it?

TM: Sometimes it’s to do something very mundane, like clean the horse’s pasture. Other times it’s to resort to pen on paper. (I hate writing long-hand and prefer to type, but something about making your hand do the work of creating the words often jiggles things loose.) I often find having a playlist of music that’s unique to each story and a specific scent of candle that I burn only when writing on that book can be shortcuts to getting back on track.

 

AA: How is the great Pacific Northwest for writing? Does location matter for resources, access, publicity, etc

TM: I think the Pacific Northwest is a hotbed of creative talent for a good reason. The rain. Seriously, though, there’s something about confluence of nature, serenity, abutted next to the leading edge of technology and those gloomy days that makes us sit and think more. These days location isn’t as big a deal as it once was in terms of a writer getting noticed. The Internet has removed that barrier, as has social media. Ten years ago if you wanted to do a radio interview you either had to do it in person or over the phone. Now you can reach millions on a podcast on the Internet radio.

 

AA: Most of the authors I’ve talked with have some type of day job and that writing is their other job. Your day job is your own public relations company. How did you make the great circle from writing to PR and back and forth now? How has it helped/hindered begin a published writer?

TM: I’ve actually moved away from the day job completely and am writing full time now. Well, more than full-time. I’m on back-to-back-to-back deadlines on books through 2013 at the moment with seven stories currently contracted for three different publishers. I began writing my first novel at age 17, so I was writing far before I started a professional career in public relations. At the time I didn’t believe I could write full time and make much at it but I knew I loved writing so I went into journalism for a time, working at a daily paper. I quickly found it wasn’t the environment I’d hoped for and switch my degree track to mass communications, which involved broadcasting and public relations. I figured it didn’t matter what industry I went into, they would need good writers. Turns out I was right! I ended up working in public relations, corporate, agency and then on my own for a time. But it wasn’t until a critique partner asked for help promoting her books that my fiction writing background and my pr experience merged. And it spawned an entire agency in a matter of months allowing me to promote several New York Times bestsellers and work with some of the largest publishers in New York. I believe that ten years gave me an incredible insight into the traditional publishing world, and what it truly means to be a bestselling author. I learned that national book tours are incredibly grueling and that the green room at most big television network talk shows aren’t really painted green at all. I learned the importance of defining your author brand from the beginning and knowing who your readers are and the value of being good entertainment.

AA: As a publicist, what are three quick items that authors should keep in mind or do in general?

TM: There were several basics I always used with my clients. First was the Rule of Three: If you don’t have three good reasons for spending money on something in your promotions, advertising or marketing plan, then don’t spend the money. The second was know your message points. No matter where the interview goes, know how to get back to those message points. The third was nothing is ever off the record. When you are in public YOU are your author brand. Think about what you want people to remember about you and be that, no matter what you are like when you are home writing away.

 

AA: Do people outside the regular reading, steampunk, and convention communities recognize you for your work? What kind of reactions have you received?

TM: I’ve had lots of recognition in the publishing industry for my work in public relations, especially once I got two of my clients selected as some of the total seven picks made by the Kelly Ripa Book Club for LIVE! But people are just now discovering me as a writer as well and the books are doing well with some of the largest industry reviewers, so it’s a good start!

 

AA: When you are at conventions or on a book tour, who would you really like to stand in your autograph line to meet you? In addition to Jensen Ackles from Supernatural, that is.

TM: LOL. Are you sure we couldn’t just stop there for a bit? Realistically, I’d love to see people who love the stories I write. OK, well it would be cool to meet J.K. Rowling and James Rollins in person, but I’ve already met so many amazing bestselling authors and well-known people via my pr work that it kind of puts a twist on my reality. I’ve met with Dean Koontz, with Jackie Collins and Nora Roberts. I’ve talked with Nicholas Sparks. I’ve sat in Kelly Ripa’s dressing room and snapped pictures.

 

AA: Looking beyond steampunk, writing and working, you have some interesting hobbies like scuba diving, horse riding, cooking and gardening. Are there other interests which fill your time?

TM: I love to sew and design clothes. In fact I sew my own costumes for steampunk events. I also enjoy painting, collect teapots and teddy bears and love to have tea with my non-writer mommy friends once a week.

 

AA: How long have you been scuba diving, and were have you been? Any pictures to share?

TM: I became a certified scuba diver at age 19 primarily so I could scuba dive with my husband on our honeymoon. Since then we’ve done diving in Grand Cayman, Hawaii and off the west Coast including Monterey and some spots on the Oregon coast. I think the worst time I had was during one of my certification dives when we were in a murky lake with about 2 feet visibility and the plastic mouth-piece detached from my regulator. One minute I had air, the next I sucked in a big mouth-full of water and you couldn’t tell where you were in the water because it was so muddy. I ended up budding breathing with the instructor all the way back the surface, but it scared me a bit. Best time I’ve ever had diving was in Monterey in the kelp forests playing with some harbor seals. It truly is like being in an underwater forest. Absolutely beautiful.

AA: With your gardening and cooking, what kind of meals are you preparing with fresh foods that you grew yourself? Any favorite recipes?

TM: We’ve eaten a lot of zucchini and tomatoes this year! But we also have blueberry, raspberry and blackberry bushes, apple and cherry trees, and a yard filled with fresh herbs. Right now I’m making a lot of cobblers, blueberry coffeecake, applesauce, apple pies and using herbs out of the yard for stuffings, savory sauces and teas.

 

AA: You’ve traveled to Italy to meet extended family and experience the culture firsthand. Where else have you traveled, what still on your list, and will those places show up in upcoming books?

TM: I love to travel. I’ve been several places, but there are so many more I’d love to see. I’d like to go back to Italy again and see more of it. The most I really got to see of Rome before heading south to Sicily was the train station! I’d love to go to Australia and New Zealand, because they have an allure all their own. I’ve been to London before, but with my fascination with steampunk, I’d love to go back again. I’d also love to see the rest of Europe because I have all my family roots there. History absolutely fascinates me as does amazing natural settings. And there’s also much of the United States I’d still like to see because it’s so vast and different from state to state. I’ve done a lot on both coasts, but kind of missed out on most of the middle!

 

 

AA: It has been a real pleasure chatting with you. Are there any final thoughts to share with our readers?

TM: Buy the books! LOL. Wait, that’s probably not what you meant, now is it? OK, on a more serious note, one of the things I love most about steampunk is the sense that anything is possible—the great unknown. I have a quote on the back of my business cards that I put there because I want to keep it in mind: “Whatever you can do or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, power and magic in it.” ~ Goethea  I think we’re all capable of greatness if we dig deep enough and accept what we must to achieve it. That’s part of why the maker culture, and in particular steampunk, are finding an ever growing appreciation in the mainstream. It means something; it has power, genius and magic in it. What’s in fiction today, become the reality of our tomorrow. Just look at depth of surveillance of our activities in 1984, the communicators from Star Trek or the ability to fly to the moon from Jules Verne and you see how our future was there, the dream waiting to be turned into reality. Imagination is powerful stuff!

 

Thank you, Theresa, for joining us for this conversation, it was very enjoyable and informative to hear more about your books and your writing process.

 

Keep up to date with Theresa on her website, and click here to get your copies of The Hunter and The Slayer.