Tuesday, June 14, 2011
Iron Seduction - Not Your Usual Steampunk
It is my pleasure to welcome good friend and amazingly talented writer, JK Coi to the ship today. Her latest release - IRON SEDUCTION - from Ellora's Cave is not your typical Steampunk. In fact, it's not your typical story, period. I'll let JK explain.
When Terri asked me to blog about how in the heck I came up with the idea for Iron Seduction—what I like to call my Chinese Fake Zombie Steampunk—a few words came out of my mouth that I wouldn’t normally use (okay, so I've used them before. Maybe once. Or three times). Anyway, F**k. Was I supposed to keep track of that process?
I’m not sure how it all came about. This short little book has everything—a journey up the Great Wall of China, ancient clay warriors brought to life by an evil dispossessed empress, a female British Ambassador who falls for a Chinese mercenary…but to explain why I wrote it is difficult. And I hate when my brain hurts like that. It makes me start stuffing food into my face, and I need more snacks about as much as I need another genre to write in.
Steampunk has been my latest guilty pleasure—along with a foray into horror writing and another dip in the contemporary romance pool. Iron Seduction was the first Steampunk I attempted. Of course, I devoured a few stories from other fantastic authors to get my feet wet but when I sat down to start writing my own, it was this description that stuck in my head: Steampunk is Victorian elegance and aesthetics meets futuristic invention and exploration. But it doesn’t have to be Victorian—it can be any time period, real or imagined, which blends elements of science, history, fantasy and technology. It’s a spirit of high adventure bridging the past and future. It captures the imagination in ways that make the eyes go wide and the heart beat a little faster.
With this in mind, I knew I wanted my setting to be more exotic than an alternate reality London. I wanted to do something other than vampires and werewolves (not that I haven’t had great fun with those too), and I wanted my characters to have an adventure along the lines of Indiana Jones (without the spiders. Hate spiders). Also, I wanted the villain to be just a little bit crazy (okay, she’s batshit crazy with maniacal frosting on top).
Then I was looking at some pictures from a friend’s trip to China, and everything “clicked”. Doesn’t that sound nice and neat and all wrapped up in a pretty bow?
Of course it's not because then I actually had to write it. But that’s another story J
So who has been reading Steampunk? What have you read? What have you liked? What do you think really characterizes the genre? There's a book up for grabs so comment early and often!
Blurb:
British Military Ambassador Lady Jane helped free China from the tyrannical rule of the evil Empress Cixi. But now the Empress is fighting back with ancient, unnatural warriors under her command.
As Jane and compelling mercenary Jian Danzen struggle to the Great Wall to stop Cixi, all the excuses Jane has been using to keep the sexy Dance at arm’s length become less convincing. The overwhelming attraction she’s pushed aside for so long since their one night of passion threatens to consume them both.
The danger they face this night might mean Jane never leaves the Wall alive again. If so, she wants it to be a night without regret. But only one night, because even if they survive the Empress and the even greater foe waiting for them, Jane knows there can be no future for two people from such different worlds.
When Terri asked me to blog about how in the heck I came up with the idea for Iron Seduction—what I like to call my Chinese Fake Zombie Steampunk—a few words came out of my mouth that I wouldn’t normally use (okay, so I've used them before. Maybe once. Or three times). Anyway, F**k. Was I supposed to keep track of that process?I’m not sure how it all came about. This short little book has everything—a journey up the Great Wall of China, ancient clay warriors brought to life by an evil dispossessed empress, a female British Ambassador who falls for a Chinese mercenary…but to explain why I wrote it is difficult. And I hate when my brain hurts like that. It makes me start stuffing food into my face, and I need more snacks about as much as I need another genre to write in.
Steampunk has been my latest guilty pleasure—along with a foray into horror writing and another dip in the contemporary romance pool. Iron Seduction was the first Steampunk I attempted. Of course, I devoured a few stories from other fantastic authors to get my feet wet but when I sat down to start writing my own, it was this description that stuck in my head: Steampunk is Victorian elegance and aesthetics meets futuristic invention and exploration. But it doesn’t have to be Victorian—it can be any time period, real or imagined, which blends elements of science, history, fantasy and technology. It’s a spirit of high adventure bridging the past and future. It captures the imagination in ways that make the eyes go wide and the heart beat a little faster.
With this in mind, I knew I wanted my setting to be more exotic than an alternate reality London. I wanted to do something other than vampires and werewolves (not that I haven’t had great fun with those too), and I wanted my characters to have an adventure along the lines of Indiana Jones (without the spiders. Hate spiders). Also, I wanted the villain to be just a little bit crazy (okay, she’s batshit crazy with maniacal frosting on top).
Then I was looking at some pictures from a friend’s trip to China, and everything “clicked”. Doesn’t that sound nice and neat and all wrapped up in a pretty bow?
Of course it's not because then I actually had to write it. But that’s another story J
So who has been reading Steampunk? What have you read? What have you liked? What do you think really characterizes the genre? There's a book up for grabs so comment early and often!
Blurb:
British Military Ambassador Lady Jane helped free China from the tyrannical rule of the evil Empress Cixi. But now the Empress is fighting back with ancient, unnatural warriors under her command.As Jane and compelling mercenary Jian Danzen struggle to the Great Wall to stop Cixi, all the excuses Jane has been using to keep the sexy Dance at arm’s length become less convincing. The overwhelming attraction she’s pushed aside for so long since their one night of passion threatens to consume them both.
The danger they face this night might mean Jane never leaves the Wall alive again. If so, she wants it to be a night without regret. But only one night, because even if they survive the Empress and the even greater foe waiting for them, Jane knows there can be no future for two people from such different worlds.
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75 comments:
Ah, yer not stealing me day so I won't piss in yer rum.
Really.
Here, have some rum! ;-)
I read steampunk. Read Gail Carriger's books, uh...Cherie Priest, Scott Westerfield, China Mieville, Ciar Cullen, Robert C. Roman, and Ekaterina Sedia. And I'm writing a twisty little steampunk convention sexy short right now for Decadent. More on the convention side of steampunk stuff...oh, includes some Cthulhu descendents...
One of the best ways I heard steampunk described was from the Steampunk Scholar Neo-Victorian RetroFuture.
So, am I gonna see you at a steampunk convention sometime soon??? (Seattle, Oct 14-16 http://www.steamcon.org/index.php) and have you listened yet to Abney Park? (http://abneypark.com/)
Love the idea of Chinese steampunk!
Crumbs!
I'm way way out of my depth with this.
It all sounds like the stuff of nightmares to me.I like cozy cuddly dreams with seductive sirens and Goddesses and .... :lol:
Perhaps Chance and JK should collaborate on some new innovative steam punk fantasy, pushing the barriers even further way out. The prospect makes me shiver.
The Kraken confronting the evil empress on the Great Wall of China with a time travel portal to allow the hero to escape!?
No I can't cope .... unless Janga gives it a 5 star rating.
I wish you both well though with rocketing sales. :D
I haven't read any steampunk yet. I have wanted to pick up Gail Carriger and I wanted to read the Iron Duke. But as yet, they're all still in my TBR.
I've loved some steampunk movies, though. League of Extraordinary Gentlemen. Wild Wild West. I think the new Sherlock Holmes is technically steampunk, correct? I thought that movie was great but I have a little crush on Robert Downey Jr. Post rehab RD Jr.
This story sounds great, JK. Chinese fake zombies. What's not to love?
Welcome! This sounds like a very inventive story. I haven't really read any steampunk, since fantasy isn't my usual read, but this does sound intriguing.
And I do think steampunk is great in movies, since it has such fun and creative visuals. :) Which means your book should be made into a movie!
Chance, thank you for not pissing in my rum....um, I guess I shouldn't have spiked yours with kraken ink *whoops*
Good morning!
I like that..."not your usual steampunk"...
Is there anything about steampunk that is usual?
Well, I guess it does follow some rules, but the thing I like best about steampunk is that there are very few limitations!
I HAVE listened to Abney Park and I love them. I would also love to get out to a steampunk convention, but Seattle's a little far for me (and I have officially run out of vacation time at the day job this year *sigh*) -- who would have thought three weeks of camping and a trip to Vegas would be so demanding on my time?
Q--I'm sorry if I've officially gone too far :)
The one thing about anything I write though...the setting may change, the time period may change, the gadgets and creatures may change (and the um, heat levels)...but I like to think the characters will always have something to offer/teach/show the reader about struggle, pain, love, etc etc
Donna, my book should TOTALLY be made into a movie! I've already got a call into Spielberg and he said he'd get right back to me. Should be any minute now
:)
Marn, there are a ton of steampunk movies, including one that I really liked: Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow. Coming out this year is Cowboys and Aliens (can't wait!!)
Geez, I haven't even gotten my coffee yet and you all are running amok!
Q - This is a love story I think you'll like. I don't go for the Fantasy stuff and I've never read Steampunk (though I'd like to) and I loved this story. It's about two people from two different cultures fighting for their lives and their hearts. You should really give it a try. And it's a short story. You could read it in a couple hours or less. I promise you'll be smiling at the end.
:) Have I ever led you astray?!
JK - When I see "Steampunk" I do not think East Asia. LOL! I'm guessing many others don't either. But you won me over!
Sure, there are stone zombie types, but this story is packed with emotion. I really did want it to be longer.
I've always liked the Steampunk movies. After all, I grew up on Wild Wild West, I just didn't know that was Steampunk. LOVE the new Sherlock Holmes movie and looking forward to the next installment. And I didn't even catch on that Cowboys vs. Aliens was Steampunk. Sheesh, I'm slow these days.
Chinese fake zombies. I likey. Steampunk is not my usual brand of genre. I know of it. Lately, I've not read much of anything other than ninja/samurai/time travel manga. I'm on a throwing star and katana kick.
But I like this blend of cultures, zombies and Steampunk. Interesting, intriguing and ingenious!
Terri, I'm so glad that you liked it! I had so much fun writing it. I love branching out and trying new things
Sin, your ninja/samurai/time travel manga sounds like cool reading too! I'm excited by all the new and innovative stories available these days, especially when they're done well.
We should probably add no brains were eating in the making of this story. LOL! This proves you can write anything if you do it well enough. On the surface, this story has some elements I'd see in a blurb and pass on by, but you had me all the way.
No, no brains! Zombies ("real" ones) give me the heebie jeebies
Anyway, these aren’t real zombies. They’re fake zombies. I decided it would be way cooler to write about the real thing—ancient Chinese warriors carved from clay and stone (that just happen to come to life)—and since they’re not dead and rotting, they can’t really be zombies .
See! I think we needed to clear that up for Q. LOL!
That excerpt is fabulous! I am so glad I won that Sony reader so I can download it and read it right away! And I'm not a Steampunk girl usually--I haven't even read those steampunk YA novels that everyone is raving about City of Ashes, City of Bones, et al. HOWEVER I have been reading outside of my "element" lately and have been really enjoying the deep story arcs I've been experiencing. I think we should all definitely try new things--we may like it!
Did you hear that, Bo'sun? TRY THE DAMNED BRUSSELL SPROUTS, YOU MAY LIKE THEM! They're great roasted with bits of bacon.
And look at you with your little reader. Aren't they fun?!
When Hell freezes over.
I've heard raves about The Girl In The Steel Corset lately. I think that's another YA Steampunk. I may try that one for Kiddo and see if she'd like it. She loved the Sherlock movie.
I was tempted about the City of Ashes/Bones, etc books too. I just read the Hunger Games a couple weeks ago (and Catching Fire and Mockingjay) and that fulfilled my YA craving for now. I did see that Manda Collins added Hourglass to her Goodreads list and that looked interesting too.
I am going to pick up Iron Seduction, JK. It sounds really good.
I just realized J.K.'s new book in July is only available in Nook or Kindle editions--not Sony. WHAT? NOoooooooo!
I'm glad the steampunk short is available to me though!
I keep seeing this Hourglass book mentioned but haven't looked it up. I need to see what that is.
You'll be able to order direct from the Carina site and get any format you want. No worries. I've been very impressed with all the Carina titles I've read so far. Right now I'm reading Yours To Keep from Shannon Stacy and it's right up my alley.
But can I order J.K. Coi's books from Carina Press? No. I don't like being banned from books because I don't have the right "vehicle". And I would be equally annoyed if I had a Kindle and it banned me from certain publishers, etc.--or the library, as it does. I want freedom and equality! *LOL*
JK's next book, called Falling Hard, is being published by Carina. So yes, you can order her book right from their site.
So you're saying I should settle down, are you? Fine.
A little reassuring never hurts.
;)
You're quite right.
Oh, and Girl in the Steel Corset is on my list! I want that one!
LOL Hellion, I’m agree we should all try new things. I’d love to see Terri choke down those brussel sprouts! And my Carina Press book is available for PRE-ORDER for nook/kindle—but it will also be available everywhere else when the time comes! I’m getting excited about that one!!!
Seriously. Don't hold your breath on me eating any veggie of any kind.
What is Falling Hard about, JK?
Falling Hard is my "warring angels" book--if you thought zombies were bad-ass…
I have a serious crush on the hero, Gabriel
Oh, there's a blurb and excerpt on my website http://www.jkcoi.com/fallinghard.html
A rock star with the devil inside him caught in an angelic war and sexing up his guardian angel.
I believe we may have the hook of the year.
Now do you see why I was so upset that J.K.'s books were only available if you had a Nook or Kindle?
I'd have been upset too! I just knew there was no reason to panic is all.
I think the only steampunk I've read is The Iron Duke, which I found well-done and interesting in both content and style, but not the kind of thing that's likely to make me cut back on contemporaries, historicals, women's fiction, mysteries, general fiction that I regularly read.
I am fascinated by the Chinese element in your story, J. K., and relieved that the zombies are fake. I also think that short fiction is a smart way to tempt readers to try something new. It's a less risky investment of time and $$, and if the reader is hooked, she counts as a gain for your audience. I must buy an ereader!
OMG! JK, this has WIN all over it. I love the premise!
If this were a movie who would play the hero?
Janga - You could download this as a PDF and read it on your laptop in no time. Another reason the short length is good - no eye strain problems. It's worth the time.
I sometimes feel out of the loop because I read no paranormals and it seems everyone else does. But I could do little doses like this. And it helps that even with all the high concept, the love story really is the center of JK's book.
JK, we're okay...kraken ink is naturally in kraken rum. It's cool. I've have Abney Park rocking in the car the last few days, cranked up real loud... Perfect genre music!
I haven't heard of this "Girl in the Steel Corset" ... What can I say? Go to any of these conventions and there are a bazillion recommendations and it's hard to know what to do!
I love it, zombies that aren't really zombies. Think we need an alert level of non-zombie zombies?
Oh my, he could totally be Dance. Though I picture Dance a little more buff. Still, we could buff him up.
;)
Maria: Thanks! Check this guy out for asian hotness! He would totally work in the movie of Iron Seduction! :) Lee Byung-hun (he was in the GI Joe movie recently) http://star.koreandrama.org/wp-content/uploads/2006/06/LBH1.jpg
sorry I'm late - meetings all morning.
Have to admit, I haven't read any steampunk yet although The Iron Duke is on my TBR list.
I am a fan of steampunk movies, although that atrocity they put out as the Wild Wild West made my head and heart ache. As a fan of the original series the movie made me sad. Kevin Klien yes, Will Smith a big fat NO.
Having just visited China in December I am so interested in this story! I did a hike of the unrestored part of the Great Wall out in the middle of nowhere on top of a mountain range it was one of my top 5 life experiences ever. AMAZING!
Congrats on the release JK and on the sale to Carina Press!
Oh, he works for me. He REALLY works for me. *LOL*
Janga: that’s exactly why I like to write short little stories when I’m branching out to try something new. The short length is more likely to attract readers who just want to “try it out”—plus it’s easier for me to delve into something different if I know it’s not going to be a huge time commitment.
I did that with the werewolf short that’s going to be in the Agony/Ecstasy Anthology in December, the hunger-games-esque short that will be in another anthology late this year, and also with a steampunk novella that JUST sold (but I can’t reveal anything else about this one YET!!!)
Ya got to writes about this Chinese adventure one a these days, Scape!
Nice eye candy, JK...
*fans self
Iron Duke is Maljean Brooks, right? I'm going to have to go look that up now.
I knew Hellie would like him. LOL!
Scape - Your totally have to read this story. It'll be like returning to your vacation. With stone killer zombie warriors and laser guns, but still very similar.
Oh yeah...very similar *snort*
Wow, Terri...what have you heard?
Scape-I'm so jealous you've been to China, it's my #1 all-time if I could go anywhere in the world place...If there's a next time, make room in your luggage for me, 'kay?
I wasn't insinuating anything!
Please feel free to continue with the eye candy. :) That was lovely.
As for steampunk, I have most of the Cassandra Clare YA books and I have The Court of the Air by Stephen Hunt on my To Read pile, but that's about it so far. Which is strange, because I'm a big fantasy/sci-fi and Victorian/Victorian-era lit reader and you'd think this would be a natural genre for me. Perhaps I have a whole new world of books over which to obsess..
I do think that romance dovetails nicely with the capital-R Romance of the genre, and I'm very interested in checking out Iron Seduction. Sounds like my kind of book. :) Thanks for the introduction!
Get thee to the bookstore, AJ! But click the link for IRON SEDUCTION at the top first.
:)
I'm coming over here from Girl Genius, the ultimate steampunk online comic. (I got behind on my reading, so I had the fun of getting to read a couple weeks' worth of mad science goodness.)
I'm a big fan of China Mielville's Perdido Street Station and the two books that followed and my own W.I.P. probably owes more to that series than any other. I just finished reading Cherie Priest's Dreadnaught, which was fun, but I preferred Bonecrusher.
Stardust, one of my all-time favorite romantic movies, has loads of steampunk elements, including airships (with Robert De Niro's Captain Shakespeare). Howl's Moving Castle, book and movie, is steampunk. Actually, one of my favorite mangas--Full Metal Alchemist--is rather steampunk.
Steampunk set in China? Awesome!
I LOVED Stardust! I forgot all about that one. And it sounds like your bookshelves are the place to go for Steampunk, Pat. LOL! Love the title Full Metal Alchemist.
Oh, yes! Stardust was awesome, I loved Robert Deniro and Neil Gaiman wrote the novel to that one!
Really?? I didn't know that. His name keeps coming up everywhere I look this week. May have to actually read one of his books.
I keep forgetting to find Stardust and watch it.
*slaps self
I know, Bo'sun...netflicks.
Pat - I need to read the second Cherie Priest. China...I read a selection of shorts he wrote. That man is seriously twisted, in a good way! I have Perdido on my reader but haven't cracked it yet. I just know it's one of those I'll open and be unable to put down and I have things I have to get done!
Chance, what do you have to get done? Honestly. Besides nagging me on Facebook (which I enjoy way too much. I'm a glutton for punishment)
I don't push Netflix. I'm all about Redbox. $1 and I take it back the next day. Much better system for me. You have Redbox over there?
I love Howl's Moving Castle--movie, lots; book, more. I just never thought about it as steampunk. Maybe I've read more than I thought, just not in romance.
Ter, I have a couple of dozen books on my desktop Kindle, and I read eARCs from NetGalley on my computer regularly. It's just not my preferred method of reading. I just downloaded Iron Seduction.
Redbox is that thing at the grocery store, right? I'll look at it next time I shop.
JK! What do I have to get done!? Well, submit the third in the Kraken's Caribbean trilogy, work on my steampunk convention twist short, meet with a publicist tomorrow, blog...walk the dog...uh...catch up on everything on my DVR...
Go away! ;-) I'm busy! Really, really busy!
I'm with you, Janga. I have the Kindle desktop with one book on it. have yet to read it. Not a fan of that method either. But it's worth it for JK. LOL! And it's short!
You read your eARCs on the computer? You really do need an eReader. We need to start a Janga eReader fund.
Yep, the big red box (hence, Redbox) outside grocery stores and we have them at gas stations and 7/11's here. No commitment. $1 a night. I love it. Admit, it's more newer stuff so you probably won't find Stardust, but for more recent releases it's good.
OK If Bo'sun assures me that it's a love story with a HEA then I'll give it a try.
:lol: If it gives me nightmares though, I'll be back to haunt you!
I greatly enjoyed JKs immortals books. She certainly tells a good yarn, so when I overcome my initial reluctance I'm sure I will become a fan.
I certainly owe it to her to try the new direction :D
I also see that its available to me on Amazon kindle which is a huge plus.
Janga, In case you haven't noticed, you can download to your PC from amazon and use the free 'kindle for PC' reader.
I probably still have Stardust around my house (if I haven't already flung it at someone)--if I have it, I'll mail it to you. It'll be PirateBox, but you don't ever have to return it to me. You can just fling it in the ocean if you don't care for it. Which I would have, if I had an ocean.
Hellie is a hater.
Q - I had nightmares as a kid after watching Flash Gordon. I DO NOT watch or read things that scare me. You will not have nightmares, promise.
Q-no nightmares with this one but, uh...don't read Howling Sacrifices then, 'kay?
Oh and while I'm all about the steampunk elements and the not-zombies...it IS EC so yeah...just sayin'...there's going to be the sex.
Ah, Hellie...that would be nice! I'll keep me eyes peeled for a PirateBox.
(Anyone know what a PirateBox is?) ;-)
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