Hi everyone! I’m delighted to be here—what a cool place! Pull up a comfortable armchair here in the gondola of our airship, have a cup of tea (or a thimble of something stronger), and join me for a cozy chat among friends while we sail among the clouds!
In the fall of 2011 I made the decision to leave the day job and write full time, and have never looked back. Since 2002 I’d been working full time in marketing in Silicon Valley, while writing three books a year for publishers such as Harlequin, Warner, and Hachette. Needless to say, something had to give! The first book in my Magnificent Devices steampunk series, called Lady of Devices, had been turned down by ten publishers, so in a life-changing moment, I decided to take my friend Bella Andre’s advice and self publish it.
Before I knew it, I was getting reader letters saying how much people loved my spunky heroine, Lady Claire Trevelyan. Book two in the series hit #14 on the historical fantasy bestseller list. Book one hit #1 on the free list (it’s still free until January 30!) Two universities have added the series to their reading lists for their literature classes, and book clubs are reading the series now, too.
Who’d have believed it? I’m so grateful to readers who love a little adventure in their reading—steampunk with spirit, if you will.
What does steampunk mean to you?
For me, it’s the endless possibility of the worlds you can create in this subgenre. If you can imagine it, you can write it—and readers will go with you if they trust you to give them a good read.
What is your favorite thing about steampunk or writing about steampunk?
I just love the “maker” philosophy and the sense of wonder that the Victorians had about technology. For them, technology was about making life better, and they seemed to have no boundaries in their imagination of gadgets and gizmos to accomplish all kinds of things to that end. Whether they actually worked in the physical world or not, the point was that someone could think of it, and the only limit was their imagination. Writing a book is a little like that!
What is your favorite steampunk accessory?
I simply can’t manage without my temporal decay monitor. Or one of my many hats. Not to mention a bustle pad with a concealed pocket. A lady can never have too many pockets.
What turned you on to steampunk?
Back in the sixties my favorite show was The Wild Wild West. Every week, Artemus Gordon invented a cool new device, and of course, the train was packed full of them. Instead of playing house, we neighborhood kids would re-enact the episodes from the week, and since I was the oldest, I got to be James West. But I secretly wanted to be Artemus. In my book, brains outshone brawn any day. That outlook still pervades my Magnificent Devices series, where a lady of intellect can make a success of herself no matter what her economic status.
Do you have any upcoming steampunk stories you can tell us about?
Brilliant Devices, the fourth book in the series, will be released at the end of February. It will wrap up the adventures of Lady Claire, who will go on to do great things offstage during the next three standalones in the series. I’m planning seven in all.
Who is your favorite character of all from one of your steampunk stories?
I just adore the Mopsies—ten-year-old twin girls who have been living on the streets since they were very small. Maggie and Lizzie are smart, quick on the uptake, slightly cynical about human nature … and can fleece a toff in less time than it takes to smile at him. The Mopsies are the scouts and watchers of the gang of children that Lady Claire takes under her wing. And in watching her, they learn what it means to really be a lady—to trust in their own resources and make their own luck, while at the same time putting others first and helping those who are less fortunate. This ragtag group becomes a family over the course of the books … and it’s the Mopsies who feel that connection most deeply.
At Christmas I did something I’ve never done before—I wrote a short story featuring the girls, which I posted on my blog. Even in a few hundred words, those girls just walk right off the page and take over. I’m looking forward to giving them a book of their own, fast forwarding five years to the time when they are young ladies. Though it’s hard to be a young lady when you’ve grown up a pickpocket …
What’s the hardest thing about creating a steampunk universe?
In any genre, one of the things an author fears is being derivative—consciously or unconsciously repeating what has gone before. I’ve read widely in this genre so make a focused effort not to repeat what others have done while still enjoying the tropes that we readers love: airships, ray guns, goggles … and the subversive nature of it.
What’s the easiest thing about creating a steampunk universe?
I have the greatest fun imagining how something that we use now—say, a car—would function in a steampunk universe. In the Magnificent Devices universe, the combustion engine has been a failure, and in fact was the incident that changed Lady Claire’s life. So if cars run on steam, what do they look like? How are they steered? Do you have to throw wood under the hood to heat a boiler to create steam, or can you use another method? A person could spend a lot of time researching these things instead of writing, so it’s a fine line to walk. It’s a fun one, though!
What does steampunk allow you to do as a writer that no other genres can?
What I like best about it is that the morals and conventions of Victorian society provide a backdrop for the outlandish devices and the strong personalities that we enjoy in the genre. The tension between “stiff and strait-laced” and “wildly imaginative” gives you a play zone that is really interesting to me. And it’s how I can have a well-brought-up young lady learning to shoot a ray gun in one scene and teaching the Mopsies the proper way to pour tea in another.
How much research does it take and how much imagination?
All my books, no matter how imaginative, are underpinned by research. I went to London a couple of months ago and photographed locations in the books, such as Bedlam, Belgravia, and the Thames at low tide, so that I can use the details and the physical experience in the books. Google Earth can take you a long way, but there’s nothing like actually going to the Imperial War Museum, which was originally the Bedlam insane asylum, and walking that circular drive, seeing the wall at the back over which my characters escaped, and feeling the atmosphere of the place. For the Lady Lucy, an airship that figures prominently in the stories, I referred to a huge old book on Zeppelin airships with floor plans and cabin layouts. I spoke with an expert on steam engines to make sure that my trains operated properly. Yes, the “science” behind the Selwyn Kinetick Carbonator, a device in the books, is made up, but the steam that runs it is not. Writing steampunk is a fascinating balance between the world of reality and the world of imagination. I think that’s why I love it so much!
And now our ship is being secured to its mooring mast and I can hear the crew lowering the gangway.
Last thing—I’m giving away the first three books in the Magnificent Devices series in whichever format you prefer to read. Just leave a comment to be entered!
PRIZE UPDATE: Congratulations to Martha!
It’s been such a pleasure sailing with you—do come and visit me at www.shelleyadina.com!
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0 COMMENTS
Liz S
11 years agoI enjoyed your first book very much. Looking forward to reading the rest of the series.
Marilee
11 years agoI love this series! I have to to say it’s so intriguing with so many wonderful and unique elements. Thank you for sharing such a wonderful world with us!
Charise
11 years agoReally enjoyed this article, Shelley. So impressed with the diversity of your writing. (Hope I win!)
Valarie P
11 years agoI love these books, they are among my favorite steampunk reads. Keep writing them.
Brandi Boddie
11 years agoLove your books, Shelley! Can’t wait for the next release! Thanks for sharing your process of writing steampunk.
Amber Belldene
11 years agoShelley, it’s so much fun to hear about your writing process. Thanks for sharing!
Gloria Harchar
11 years agoHi Shelley! Your books sound marvelous!! And I love your book covers! Thanks for doing this interview so that I can learn more about you and your series. 😉
Shelley Adina
11 years agoI love my covers, too. The art is by the amazing Claudia at http://www.phatpuppyart.com . But be warned, if you go over there, you may not come out for the rest of the afternoon! lol
Peggy Hacker
11 years agoHave never read this type of story, sounds fiscinating, would love to have them!
Aleta Pardalis
11 years agoI love your Magnificent Devices books and can’t wait to read the 4th one.
Alice Gaines
11 years agoI loved The Wild, Wild West, too. What a creative show. Love your covers. It sounds like a fabulous series.
Rachell Nichole
11 years agoWhat a great post, Shelley.
I love this series. It was my first introduction to Steampunk, which has now become one of my favorite genres.
Also – I have all three books, so I don’t need to be entered in the contest. Just wanted to stop by and share the love. 🙂
I’ll have to go check out your short story about the Mopsies. They’re great characters.
Katie Vorreiter
11 years agoLove your robust story-world: the wit, the romance. Love that you took the self-publishing plunge, else we would be high and dry–steamless, in a word–without Lady Claire!
Keep ’em coming!
~Katie
Susan Mitchell
11 years agoShelley, I sent print versions of your first two books to my brother and his two daughters for Christmas. Upon the clerk’s advice, I ended up repacking them in a cheaper flat-rate box. She noticed the gorgeous covers and wanted to talk about them, so I got to tell her how wonderful the books are! Your steampunk is great!
Meg
11 years agoI was a fan of your writing LONG AGO and knew you’d shoot to the top in that airship!! CONGRATS on such a wonderful series. I LOVE IT!! Looking forward to the Mopsies’ book and to the next adventure of Claire.
J.Ed
11 years agoThanks for sharing
Shelley Adina
11 years agoThanks for joining me on the voyage, everyone! You’re so kind 🙂
Ariella Moon
11 years agoSo happy for your success, Shelley. You’ve created a fantastic series for steampunk fans. Love your world-building!
MarthaE
11 years agoHa- I never thought about Wild, Wild West being Steampunk but of course it was! These books look like titles I would enjoy. Please include me in the chance to win. mesreadsATgmail.com
Annie Seaton
11 years agoShelley… congratulations on you success and having the courage and faith for going it alone. The reading world s a richer place because of your decision. I am looking forward to reading your series. Sounds fabulous!
Shelley Adina
11 years agoThanks, Annie! It was a scary decision, but it turned out to be an amazing adventure and put the joy back into writing. Now I play in both fields!
Renee
11 years agoSo glad I got this blog and found you. I cant wait to read more!
Laura/Readerwoman
11 years agoI have been enthusiastic about Steampunk for sometime now – and have even started being crafty with jewelry in a steampunk mode. I too loved Artie and WWW on TV… watch reruns even now! I have been reading on my Kindle, but since I am still very much a book lover, enjoying the sensile part of reading “real” books, I would love to have a set of the first three books. Thanks for the opportunity!
Ron Rosewood
11 years agoExcellent promotion Shelley,
The industry needs originality to break away from the “cookie cutter” novels that have dominated the scene for the past 60 years.
It appears you have achieved that here with your series.
Ron Rosewood
Rachel
11 years agoI dream of the day that my husband has received enough annual pay raises for me to be able to only take a select amount of cases and spend more time on my other passion, crafting. The Mopsies are my favorite characters too, because I am a child dependency and neglect attorney and they remind me so much of my kids I represent every day! Wise beyond their years for the life they’ve lived and resourceful beyond belief.
Michael Vannoy
11 years agoShelly,
I really enjoy your books. The Steampunk Lady at the top looks like your character.
Lady Clair!
Mike
Reggi
11 years agoHi Shelley,
Intriguing info, thanks for sharing!
Reggi
Susan Lyons Fox
11 years agoI just finished Lady of Devices, the very first steampunk novel I’ve ever read. The concept of the genre had intimidated me a little and I thought it would be all about gimicky tech stuff. Instead, I found a lovely character-driven story. Thanks for the great read, Shelley. I look forward to reading the rest of Lady Claire’s books.
Christina
11 years agoShelley,
Steampunk is not something I am very familiar with. I have read one book that was considered steampunk but never knew that was what it was considered lol. Your books sound intriguing and fascinating. I definitely think your stories are something I would enjoy reading. I hope you continue to have success doing what you love to do.
Lisa McManus Lange
11 years agoFabulous post/interview! Shamefully, I don’t even have the first one, but this post sure lures me in! Fantastic covers, btw……Thanks for this great interview! Lisa McManus Lange
Carol
11 years agoGood interview! You are a new author to me so I’ll start looking for your books. The descriptions sound intriguing.
Susan
11 years agoThank you for your information. You have me hooked. I want to dive it and read right now. Wishing you much success – you deserve it.
Lori
11 years agoGreat interview! I’m intrigued & want to read your first book Kobo style!
Shelley Adina
11 years agoYou sure can, right here: http://www.kobobooks.com/ebook/Lady-of-Devices/book-t0TvzFn8P0uMuUK238klOw/page1.html?s=dtIdO7hx6EW9KSqIQ13XQQ&r=1
Ros
11 years agoLady of Devices was my first introduction to Steampunk (although I used to watch Wild, Wild West, too), and just fell in love with Lady Claire and the entire world you’ve built. So glad to hear there’s more books coming!
Pat Amsden
11 years agoI read your book shortly after taking an on-line course on Steam-punk and was blown away. With wonderful characters you showed me what steam-punk could be.
Debbie
11 years agoWhat a great interview Shelley — on the ground research sounds like a very good idea and I agree that it gives an athenticity that’s hard to get with only Internet travel. And I love the names of your characters – would enjoy hearing more about your inspiration for finding names that work and are memorable.
Shelley Adina
11 years agoDebbie, what a good idea! And here I was looking for a topic for the next blog post 🙂
Heather K.
11 years agoGreat post! I love Steampunk but have never read your series. It looks fantastic and I’m definitely putting it on my TBR list. The covers are gorgeous as well! Thanks for the giveaway!:)
BarbRose
11 years agoI just love this series. Congratulations, enjoyed the interview very much. Glad I’m retired, no guilt about the nose in the book and who cares when the supper is ready (lol). Look foreward to the rest of the series as I do appreciate your authenticity and imagination. Good on ya. I’m one of your favorite fans!
bn100
11 years agoThat sounds like fun research.
bn100candg(at)hotmail(Dot)Com
Denise Z
11 years agoThank you so much for taking the time and effort to share with us today. Now my brain is busy trying to figure out how they got the steam under the hood LOL I recently picked up Lady of Devices on your free Kindle offer and thank you for your generosity. Looking forward to the read 🙂
dz59001[at]gmail[dot]com
Celia Lewis
11 years agoWell – this is a new genre to me – I had to come and try to figure out what on earth was involved in Steampunk! Sounds like fun and very intriguing, the way you describe it. I’m sure you’ll do well with your writing – and having fun while writing, even with all the research, seems like an ideal writer’s life! Cheers.
Jane George
11 years agoGreat interview, Shelley! I love this part:
“Whether they actually worked in the physical world or not, the point was that someone could think of it, and the only limit was their imagination. Writing a book is a little like that!”
Cristina
11 years agoJust starting to get into steampunk… These books sound wonderful!!
MK
11 years agoI’ve just downloaded your first book to check it out. Thanks so much for the giveaway opportunity!
Kris
11 years agoThis series sounds wonderful! There’s no limit to where you can go in this steampunk world and I look forward to the ride! Thanks! PS It was a great interview and an inspirational publication story!
Cathryn Cade
11 years agoShelley,
Glad to know steampunk is still doing well as a genre, and that you had the courage to self-pub your series. I downloaded the first one and can’t wait to read it.
best of luck,
Cathryn Cade
Pamela Aares
11 years agoGreat interview! Love the Mopsies!
Nancy
11 years agoWhat a wonderful site and a great interview. My daughters devour steampunk. I’ll send them to this site to read your post. The books sound like something they would love to read.
Lee McKenzie
11 years agoWonderful books with wonerful covers by a wonderful author! Your success with this series is so well deserved, Shelley!
Theresa Rogers
11 years agoI’ve dressed steampunk and now obviously I’m going to have to read steampunk. 😉 You’re books sound awesome! I’m dying to know how you managed a steam-powered car–I’m an American Heavy Metal kinda gal. 😀 Even if I don’t win, I want this series–how do I get them in paperback?
And that pic of you all steampunky is fabulous!
Shelley Adina
11 years agoLOL! I made the skirt and bustle using TrulyVictorian.com patterns, and then topped them with a Victorian blouse I found in a tiny mountain town in Austria. It all works!
If you don’t happen to win the drawing, the paperbacks are available on Amazon, or via CreateSpace, the printer. Either way, thank you!
Hannah Violette
11 years agoShelley, I love these books and your blogs and you continue to be an inspiration to me as I continue write…I hit the pages every morning and someday, something will arise! Best wishes as you continue the saga and I can’t wait to see what brilliant devices Claire has up her sleeve!
Rich Bullock
11 years agoSee, I could spend ALL my time researching the fun devices and never write a word! I heard yesterday that Steam Punk began with H.G. Wells and Jules Verne. Never thought of that.
JoAnn Ainsworth
11 years agoThoroughly enjoyed this post. What a terrific world you created.
Jasmine Haynes
11 years agoLove your covers Shelley! They’re fabulous. And the books themselves are even better! Congratulations on the upcoming release!
Alyssa
11 years agoI haven’t heard of your books before, but I love Steampunk. Steampunk is very intriguing to me and I would very much enjoy reading your books sometime. 🙂
Bill Tillman
11 years agoI really enjoyed Lady of Devices and gave it 5 stars.
Margaret Alexander
11 years agoShelley is such a great writer, I really enjoyed Lady of Devices. It was probably my first steampunk read and she painted a fantastic world. I agree that the hardest part of writing is creating something original, and she did a great job.
Barbara E.
11 years agoI really enjoyed the post and I’d like to let you know Shelly, that I adored Lady of Devices and I’m looking forward to reading the rest of the series.
Susan Mitchell
11 years agoAnd speaking of pickpockets, here’s an excellent article that could give a writer ideas: http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2013/01/07/130107fa_fact_green?currentPage=all
Shelley Adina
11 years agoSusan, this article is amazing. I’m going to print it out as research for the Mopsies’ book. Thank you!
Shelley Adina
11 years agoIt was lovely to talk with everyone and I’m so glad you stopped by! I threw all the names in my riding hat (though the veil kept getting caught in my goggles) and drew one. The winner is:
MARTHAE!
Congratulations!