Morgan L. Busse's Blog, page 8

What is Steampunk?

What is steampunk? I’m asked this question a lot, especially as the release date draws near for Tainted, the first book in my own steampunk series.

In a nutshell, the genre steampunk is a fusion of our history (usually Victorian or western) and science fiction/fantasy. For example:

London set in an alternate universe where magic exists.
A western city with sophisticated technology that runs on steam.
A Goth English setting with a character who hunts monsters with high-tech weapons.

What I love about steampunk is the possibilities. Steampunk isn’t just science fiction or Victorian. It can have magic if you want. Or you can borrow from the time period of your choice without being confined to it or to the technology that existed. So if you want to invent some kind of steam powered cell phone, go for it!

The thing that sets steampunk apart from other genres (both visually and in story) is the feel. Steampunk has a feel of fantastical inventions, adventure, and science/discovery. Usually cogs, clocks, corsets, goggles, airships, and alchemy are associated with steampunk stories. But you don’t have to have any of those if you don’t want to. Have fun and create your own technology, weapons, and culture.

My own steampunk series borrows heavily from the Victorian era and science. I also had fun inventing things such as mechanical animals, an airship that runs on solar panels, a sniper rifle hidden within a walking cane, and a prosthetic arm that functions as an electric cannon.

But like any other genre, the story cannot stand on just the genre underpinnings. What connects the reader to the story is the story itself, with characters the reader can relate to. So while you’re having fun inventing your steampunk world, remember to tell a story, one that will grip your readers by the heart and mind.

How about you? Have you ever heard of steampunk before? What do you like about this sub-genre?

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What Happens When Your Soul Dies?

Kat Bloodmayne is one of the first women chosen to attend the Tower Academy of Sciences. But she carries a secret: she can twist the natural laws of life. She has no idea where this ability came from, only that every time she loses control and unleashes this power, it kills a part of her soul. If she doesn’t find a cure soon, her soul will die and she will become something else entirely.

After a devastating personal loss, Stephen Grey leaves the World City Police Force to become a bounty hunter. He believes in justice and will stop at nothing to ensure criminals are caught and locked up. However, when Kat Bloodmayne shows up in his office seeking his help, his world is turned upside down.

Together they search World City and beyond for a doctor who can cure Kat. But what they discover on the way goes beyond science and into the dark sphere of magic.

Book one of The Soul Chronicles series.

Order your copy of Tainted here: www.enclavepublishing.com

Moving Again

This week begins the crazy week of moving. Again. Yes, we are moving again. When I first found out we were going to have to move in a couple weeks, I cried. I thought we have to be the family with the worst luck in the world! (If you’ve known me for any length of time, you know we seem to move every 1-2 years for reasons usually outside our control). Even worse, I cannot seem to have a book release without moving.

So as I started to settle deep into my pity party, God gently nudged me and reminded me of something: yes, we’ve had to move a lot (like over 15 times over the last 15 years), and yeah, it sucks. But…He has provided a place for us to move to every single time. And not only has He provided a place for us to move to, each home has allowed us to keep our pets, which is hugely important to me. I would live in my van in order to keep my dogs :)

That’s a lot of homes that have taken a risk on us and allowed us to have our animals. If you’ve ever had to find a rental, it’s hard to find a place that allows pets. Especially 2 dogs and 2 cats. More than that, every house has had four bedrooms, which has been a blessing for a family of six. Within the amount we could spend on rent.

That’s amazing!

God changed my attitude that day. I no longer said woe is me, I have to move again. Instead, I watched as God—once again—provided us with a home that fit our family and animals.

It’s still not easy to move. You say good-bye to wonderful neighbors, familiar neighborhoods, and schools. And moving furniture is hard! But it will happen, and next week I will be exploring our new neighborhood while walking my dogs.

So if you think about me and my family, pray for us. And if you are in a similar circumstance of looking for a new home, remember, you’re not alone. God is with you and knows your needs, and He always provides.

*This time we are not moving to another city or state, just to a new rental for those of you worried we are leaving California ;)

 

More Book News

So I have more book news to share! I am holding a Goodreads giveaway for a chance to win a signed copy of Tainted. So what are you waiting for? Head on over now: www.goodreads.com

The second bit of news: after a lot of talk and much prayer, I am happy to announce that I am now represented by Steve Laube of the Steve Laube Agency. I wasn’t looking for an agent, but a great one came along anyway. Funny how God works that way!  www.stevelaube.com

Tainted Available for Pre-Order

It’s finally here! Tainted, the first book in my steampunk series, is now available for pre-order! For those of you who don’t know what steampunk is, Tainted is a mixture of Victorian historical and fantasy/science fiction. In Tainted, I ask what happens when a young woman has the ability to manipulate the laws of science, but every time she does, a piece of her soul dies.

So what are you waiting for? Here is the link: http://amzn.to/20GXuuV

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What Happens When Your Soul Dies?

Kat Bloodmayne is one of the first women chosen to attend the Tower Academy of Sciences. But she carries a secret: she can twist the natural laws of science. She has no idea where this ability came from, only that every time she loses control and unleashes this power, it kills a part of her soul. If she doesn’t find a cure soon, her soul will die and she will become something else entirely.

After a devastating personal loss, Stephen Grey leaves the World City Police Force to become a bounty hunter. He believes in justice and will stop at nothing to ensure criminals are caught and locked up. However, when Kat Bloodmayne shows up in his office seeking his help, his world is turned upside down.

Together they search World City and beyond for a doctor who can cure Kat. But what they discover on the way goes beyond science and into the dark sphere of magic.

Book one of The Soul Chronicles series.

How I met my Husband

I thought in lieu of Valentine’s Day I would share how I met my husband :).

Dan and I met on the battlefield…er…football field. We were both teenagers at the time. I had seen him around at youth group, but we ran in different circles. He was a senior, jock, and could bench-press over three hundred pounds (in other words, very large guy!). And I was a freshman: short, shy, and a book nerd.

That winter we both attended the same winter camp. When a spontaneous football game was announced, I was in. I love football and have a secret competitive side. We lined up with our teams. I was on one side, and Dan was on the other. The field was icy and the air brisk cold. The game was two-touch, but with all the ice, it was more like ice-skating meets football.

Halfway during the game, the football was thrown to Dan. The rest of his team had my team blocked. I was the only one who stood between him and the goal. My one thought as he came barreling toward me: he would not get past me.

I meant to two touch him, but instead slipped, grabbed him, and knocked him hard to the ground. Dan looked up at me, astonished. Then he laughed. I grinned back. I had stopped him from scoring.

I held out my hand to help him up off the ground. We spoke for the first time. He called me freight train after that. The years went by and we became good friends. If someone had told me that I would marry the guy I knocked down on that icy field, I would have laughed. Dan was funny and cute, but definitely not my type.

I’m glad God had other plans. Four years later, we went out on our first date, and a year and a half later, married. We still enjoy football, even get out and play it once in a while. And our children love to hear how mommy knocked daddy down when we first met.

That’s my story. Now it’s your turn. How did you meet your significant other?

The Gospel isn’t just for Non-Christians

Every few months the topic of Christianity and fiction crops up around my Facebook feed. The usual arguments ensue, but this time one commentator’s thoughts made me pause. In fact, I found myself awake later that night writing a protest inside my head. His view is a common one I find among Christians: the gospel is for non-Christians only. Once saved, Christians move on to bigger and better things. The gospel is milk and we need to consume meat. But what I’ve found in the Bible, the gospel is not something Christians move on from, it is central to our lives for the rest of our lives. We don’t move on from the gospel, we move deeper into it.

It is our life.

Almost every book in the Bible, and all of the New Testament talk about the gospel. Over and over again. Given that many of the books are geared toward Christians and their walk, I would say that means the gospel is not a single point in time but something that is the cornerstone of our faith.

“For I am not ashamed of this Good News about Christ. It is the power of God at work…” Romans 1:16, emphasis mine

“This Good News tells us how God makes us right in his sight. This is accomplished from start to finish by faith…” Romans 1:17, emphasis mine

“I want to know Christ and experience the mighty power that raised him from the dead. I want to suffer with him, sharing in his death, so that one way or another I will experience the resurrection from the dead!” Philippians 3:10-11

Even Jude wanted to share, but found he needed to write about something else more pressing: “Dear friends, I had been eagerly planning to write to you about the salvation we all share. But now I find that I must write about something else…” Jude verse 3

Note, he wasn’t writing to non-Christians, but to Christians.

So why does this keep me up at night? Why am I disturbed about this trend I continue to find among Christians? Here are my reasons:

-Because it lessens the power of the gospel. When a persons sees the gospel as an event, as a prayer prayed in the past, they no longer see need of it now in their lives. They forget the depravity of sin, and the cost for our forgiveness, and the deep, deep love of God. Instead, it becomes a distant memory.

-When a person no longer needs the gospel in their life, they no longer share it. Yes, they know that they are commanded to share the gospel, but the fire is not there, and so it is a tepid share at best. I know, I’ve been there.

-They don’t live out the tenets of the gospel everyday: we are forgiven, and so we forgive others. Grace given and grace received. The awe of a relationship with God. A thankful heart for all that we have. A hurt for the brokenness of our world.

Instead of a zealousness, I find moral Christians who are brittle and lukewarm inside. Perhaps that is why I write what I write. Every time I write about the deep complexity of a broken person finally finding God, the fire of the gospel is rekindled inside of me. And I want to kindle that fire in others. I want people who read my books to remember what it was like to be lost (and thus have a heart for those who are lost), to remember when God touched their heart, and how it felt to be transformed, to be brought back to life.

The gospel isn’t just for non-Christians. It is for Christians as well. It is our heartbeat, it is what changes us, and it constantly reminds us of the God we follow.

Cover Reveal for Tainted

Woot! I can finally reveal the cover for Tainted, the first book in my steampunk series. Tainted is set to release Spring 2016. If you don’t want to miss the pre-order, consider signing up for my newsletter :)

Thankfulness in Times of Darkness

It is hard to be thankful when your current circumstances seem dark and bleak. I know, I’ve been there. As I approached this Thanksgiving, I started reflecting back on the last few holidays my family went through.

5 years ago: we were unemployed.

4 years ago: we lost our house right before Thanksgiving.

3 years ago: we had just been informed by our landlord that she wished to sell the house we were in and we had until New Year’s to find a new place to live.

2 years ago: we were experiencing intense financial difficulties.

1 year ago: we were in the midst of changing ministries and preparing to move across the country.

Every year as Thanksgiving and Christmas rolled around, I felt anything but jovial. I wanted to pull the covers up over my head and let the holidays slip by. It was hard to be grateful when our lives were dark and difficult.

Yet it was during those very times I found small things to be thankful for, the things we usually pass over because life is going our way. Little things like beauty of a crisp, winter morning. The warmth of a fireplace. The wonderful aroma of something in the oven. The tenderness of a child’s hug. The joy in singing carols together. The gratitude of good health. The wonderment of unexpected gifts received. The goodness of God’s love.

I had to dig deep to find things to be thankful for, and what I found I always had. These things had always been a part of my life, but I never noticed until they were all I had.

This year is a quiet year for my family. There is nothing dark or looming in our lives (a first for us in a long time). But because of our past, I find my heart turning towards all I have to be grateful for. Every morning I wake up and I thank God for our home, for our church, for our family, for our health. And then I thank God for the little things too.

How about you? Are you having a hard time finding something to be thankful for this year? What is something little you can find, perhaps something you never saw before? Share in the comments below :)

The Sunken Realm

The Sunken Realm by Serena Chase continues where The Seahorse Legacy left off. For a quick recap, these two books are the second half to the Eyes of E’veria series and the story centers around Cazien (pirate, scoundrel, and heir to the Seahorse Legacy) and Eirelle (ex-knight). To read my reviews on the previous book in this series, click here: Eyes of E’veria

The Seahorse Legacy left off on a major cliffhanger. Cazien, in order to preserve the Seahorse Legacy, a legacy that gives him power over the sea and the ability to protect mankind, is threatened when a prophecy surfaces that states that he must marry the Oracle’s Daughter (Eirelle) or risk losing everything. Being a pirate and stubborn, he refuses to let a prophecy dictate his life. Unfortunately, his choice leads to Eirelle being captured and beaten almost to death before he realizes he needs to fulfill the words of his ancestors. So Cazien finds Eirelle and marries her.

Unfortunately for Eirelle, she never knew about the prophecy and in a medicinal and pain induced haze, she agrees to marry Cazien, only to wake up later and not remember the event.

This is where The Sunken Realm begins.

I’ve waited over a year to find out what happens next in this series and Serena does not disappoint. The love between pirate and ex-knight grows as they learn what it means to cherish each other and appreciate one another’s strength. Together, they are better than when apart. And together they must search for the hundreds of children who have been kidnapped along the seacoast before the children are used and disposed of.

Pirates, awesome arena fight scenes, intrigue, and true love. What more could you ask for? :)

I highly recommend this entire fantasy series to pre-teens and up. Here is a link where you can purchase the series: http://www.amazon.com

Enjoy!

Author Spotlight: Kristen Joy Wilks

Hey everyone! Today I am spotlighting a new author on the scene. I met Kristen a few years ago after we discovered mutual acquaintances. Kristen writes contemporary romance, a departure from the usual fantasy and science fiction fanfare found on my blog :) However, as an animal lover, her debut novel sounds like a nice read. And she is giving away an ebook copy of her book, Copenhagen Cozenage, so stay tuned to find out how you can enter!

Please join me in welcoming Kristen Joy Wilks!

Kristen Joy Wilks lives in the beautiful woods of the Cascade mountains with her camp director husband, three fierce sons, and a large and slobbery Newfoundland dog. She spent her misguided youth falling in love with Commander Spock via Star Trek reruns, being suspended upside down over a homemade pit filled with gardener snakes, and stampeding herds of elk while on horseback. Now most of her adventures consist of preventing her hubby from filling another wall of their dining room with board games, thwarting her 3 boys’ efforts to sneak their pet chickens onto their bunk beds whenever she turns her back to fold laundry, and trying not to trip over the throng of random teenagers that swarm her house to play all those board games. She can be found tucked under a tattered quilt in an overstuffed chair at 4:00am writing a wide variety of implausible tales or at www.kristenjoywilks.com.

Morgan Ravn arrives in Denmark seeking clues about her mysterious heritage. What she finds is a flirtatious stranger who regales her with a story about a jewel thief from 1958 and then abandons her with a large unruly dog.

Can Morgan locate the irresponsible pet owner before his monstrous canine drags her through every puddle in Copenhagen and sheds all over her last dress? And why are strangers dogging her every step, snapping photos? Is the shutter happy behavior a bizarre Danish custom or something more sinister?

Here is where you can find Copenhagen Cozenage online: http://www.amazon.com/Copenhagen-Cozenage-Passport

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So who would like to win an ebook copy of this book? Just leave a comment below with your email address and I will randomly draw a winner Wednesday, September 30th! Want to be even more creative? Leave your own funny dog story in the comments below. Enjoy!