Victoria Janssen's Blog, page 84

How To Rest Your Writer Brain

After I learned the novel I'd been working on had been cancelled, I went with friends to Longwood Gardens and spent a gorgeous, idyllic afternoon and evening there.

Steampunk Themes

What are some common themes of steampunk fiction? (If you have suggestions, please comment!)I'm thinking along these lines:Punk, to me, at base means rebellion against an establishment. Because steampunk is influenced by the culture of Victorian England, I also feel there needs to be some kind of commentary on colonialism and empires, and on class divides. Looking at these issues through a "

Wilfrid Wilson Gibson, "The Joke"

The JokeHe'd even have his joke While we were sitting tight, And so he needs must poke His silly head in sight To whisper some new jestChortling. But as he spoke A rifle cracked-- And now God knows when I shall hear the rest!--Wilfrid Wilson Gibson

Edward Thomas, "Gone, Gone Again"

Gone, Gone AgainGone, gone again, May, June, July, And August gone, Again gone by, Not memorable Save that I saw them go, As past the empty quays The rivers flow. And now again, In the harvest rain, The Blenheim oranges Fall grubby from the trees As when I was young And when the lost one was here And when the war began To turn young men to dung. Look at the old house, Outmoded, dignified, Dark

Be vewy quiet; I'm adding geeky detail!

There are various schools of thought about adding historical detail to fiction. Sometimes you want more detail, sometimes less; partly, that depends on the book's genre. For example, in a Tom Clancy novel such as The Hunt for Red October, there is a lot--a lot of detail about nuclear submarines. But if you're reading that book, it's likely that one of the reasons is because of all that lovely,

Steampunk Research Books

I've begun basic research on the history of the American West for a western steampunk novel. My book isn't going to be a historical, but I want it to be informed by history and in dialogue with history.I chose Frontiers: A Short History of the American West as my basic overview book.The Encyclopedia of North American Indians: Native American History, Culture, and Life From Paleo-Indians to the

RWA 2011 in NYC - things to think about

If you've never been to New York City before, and if you're debating whether or not to attend the 2011 RWA National Conference in New York City, here are some of my thoughts.Because the city is a major destination, it might be easier to find cheap flights; if you live in an area where it's possible, it's also very easy to take the train to Penn Station, which is close to the conference hotel.

Alas, No Steampunk.

I'm sorry to announce that the steampunk Western novel for Spice has been cancelled.I'm not sure if I will continue to work on that project for another possible publisher, or work on something else entirely, since I have a number of different projects clamoring for my attention.I'll post when I've decided.

Recent Steampunk

Today, some recent steampunk novels.Caveat - I have not yet read any of these books, but I've been collecting them for my To Be Read pile. Suggestions welcome if you have them! Please refrain from spoilers in the comments.The Native Star by M.K. Hobson. "The year is 1876. In the small Sierra Nevada settlement of Lost Pine, the town witch, Emily Edwards, is being run out of business by an

Selling the Unusual Setting

This post was originally written for The Naughty Girls Next Door. Since then, I learned from author Michelle Styles in a comment to that post that Harlequin Mills & Boon has been seeking out unusual historicals, publishing one a month - so there's a market right there! You can check out her comment in more detail here.Here's the original post:And now for something completely different.A