Steampunk Book Reviews:

Steampunk is Victorian Sc-fi, I’ve also heard it described as historical Sci-fi. As Steampunk was inspired by great writers like Jules Verne and H. G. Wells, literature is a big part of the culture. Here are reviews of the latest three Steampunk books I’ve read.





Empire of Ruins (The Hunchback Assignment, #3) by Arthur Slade - http://tinyurl.com/brdj9yw
This is a fun Steampunk read. A total adventure, great hooks, you'll read it fast. It's the third in the series but the first I've read. It does work as a stand alone but I probably will try to read the first two as well. There are two secret societies - one of good guys one of bad guys. They are all looking for something called the God's Face which is a legend about an ancient Egyptian temple in the Australian rainforest. I feel it's suitable for ages 10 on up. Adults will like it also. The bad guys are quite evil, in the good guys camp, I love the characters Modo and Octavia. Not that crazy about Mr. Socrates. Octavia is a former pick pocket and Modo has very special qualities, he' s the main character of this book.
It also a Steampunk novel set outside of the usual Victorian London setting. Though it's about an ancient Egyptian temple and relic, the book does not touch on the Egyptian culture, however it does include that of the aborigines. Modo is taken in and taken care of by a rain forest tribe, so it is a multicultural Steampunk book which is a big plus.

Dead Iron (Age of Steam #1) by Devon Monk - http://tinyurl.com/d2rc8zx
I just finished Dead Iron one of the Age of Steam series by Devon Monk. It's a western steampunk set in a small town in Oregon shortly after the Civil War. It’s mixed with the paranormal of evil fey, witches, and werewolves in a unique way with ties to Native American and Welsh legends. The paranormal is written in a realistic way (the author has a realistic voice) and directly connected with Steampunk machinery. It also includes a multicultural relationship, the witch of the story is married to black man and he and she and all the characters are well developed, real and strong. I feel this is one that should not be missed. I will think about these characters for a long time to come, I highly recommend it.

The Greyfriar (Vampire Empire #1) by Clay Griffith - http://tinyurl.com/cdbybs4
A tale of Steampunk and vampires with a strong, human heroine and the hero, well not to give away a spoiler, but he's not human. It a fast paced romance adventure with a lot of mysterious secrets. Interesting, well written, highly intriguing with strong fleshed out characters. Another plus is it's multicultural aspect, The heroine, Addele is princess of Equatoria, a remnant of the old tropical British Empire and also her mother is Persian. I highly recommend it.

Also check out these Steampunk reads:

As Timeless As Stone by Maeve Alpin - http://tinyurl.com/c9nco4s
Though society stands in their way, can love transcend time with the aid of robotics and ritual?
In peril for her life, the Priestess Seshat turns herself to stone in ancient Egypt. Centuries later, Ricard, a dashing nineteenth century Frenchman, repairs a broken statue and reads its incantation--unprepared for the gorgeous flesh and blood woman who steps forth.
Seshat is drawn to the brass robots Ricard creates and the glamour of the Victorian age, and most of all to Ricard himself. But the society of his day cannot accept a woman like her. How far will Ricard go to secure her happiness? Is their love strong enough to transcend time itself?

To Love A London Ghost by Maeve Alpin - http://tinyurl.com/c9qeg3x
Walk on the wild side of Victorian London with the ghost and the ghost hunter.
When Queen Victoria orders Sexton Dukenfield, premiere phantom hunter, to track down England’s missing ghost he stumbles into Ceridwen, a phantom warrior woman of an ancient Celtic tribe. Not only does he find her intriguing as a piece of the puzzle of the missing spirits, but he’s also haunted by her sultry sensuality. Though they both burn with desire, it’s difficult to quench their fiery passion since Ceridwen is so translucent. Every time Sexton touches her, his hands pass through her misty body. On a mission through the bustling narrow streets of London, to a dreary match factory, and even to the Otherworld and back, to stop a genius scientist and his phantasm debilitater machine, the ghost and the ghost hunter also seek the secret to freeing the boundaries of life and death.

Blogging Contest: Now, until 12/5/11 – leave a comment to win a free PDF EBook of the Steampunk/Romance novel, To Love A London Ghost - include your email so I can send your prize to you.
Check out my Steampunk/Romances at http://MaeveAlpin.com

Ghost In Victorian London - Steampunk Style

Engrossed in spiritualism and Gothic novels, many Victorians, haunted by ghost, held table rapping seances. They also told ghost stores in grand style by candle and gas light as a cold wind howled outside. Among the Victorian authors who crafted classic ghost stores were M. R. James, Sheridan Le Fanu, Violet Hunt, and Henry James. The most popular ghost story from the Victorian age is A Christmas Carol with the chain rattling Jacob Marley and the spirits of Christmas past, present, and future. Most people are familiar with Oscar Wilde’s The Canterville Ghost, if not the short story itself then one of the film versions it’s been made into that are usually shown on TV around Halloween, I always loved the one with Jodi Foster. Since ghost were such an important part of the Victorian era a steam machine that captures them seemed the perfect premise for a Steampunk/romance. Walk on the wild side of Victorian London with the ghost and the ghost hunter from my new Steampunk/Romance To Love A London Ghost.

Here is the Blurb:
When Queen Victoria orders Sexton Dukenfield, premiere phantom hunter, to track down England’s missing ghost he stumbles into Ceridwen, a phantom warrior woman of an ancient Celtic tribe. Not only does he find her intriguing as a piece of the puzzle of the missing spirits, but he’s also haunted by her sultry sensuality. Though they both burn with desire, it’s difficult to quench their fiery passion since Ceridwen is so translucent. Every time Sexton touches her, his hands pass through her misty body. On a mission through the bustling narrow streets of London, to a dreary match factory, and even to the Otherworld and back, to stop a genius scientist and his phantasm debilitater machine, the ghost and the ghost hunter seek the secret to freeing the boundaries of life and death.

Excerpt:
Sexton mimicked what he’d often seen others do, he bent his waist and went down on one knee. “Your Majesty.”

Queen Victoria nodded in acknowledgment, and as she glided forward, the hem of her skirt rustled on the floor of the small cigar-shaped airship.

“Nice rug. Persian, I’m sure. Gives a whole new meaning to a flying carpet.”

“We find it adequate.” The queen drew in a short breath. “We wanted to speak with you off the ground, so no one can eavesdrop at the door and overhear us.”
“It seems a bit drastic, but surely Your Majesty is wiser than a mere subject, such as myself.”

“Once we are in the air and out of earshot, we will tell you why you have been summoned.”

“I eagerly await your pleasure. Not that it should concern Your Majesty, but I was taken by your guards just as I was about to eat my dinner.”

“You were needed at that time, but would you care for tea?”

“No, I don’t drink anything made from water, I hear it’s quite addictive.”

“We always put a nip of Scotch in our tea.” The Queen picked up her cup and took a generous swallow.

“In that case, I will partake of a cup.” He poured the tea from the silver teapot into one of the dainty porcelain cups, tilted it to his dry lips, and tossed it down his throat. “The whiskey is a remarkable improvement.”

The Queen took a sip, and then set her cup on the gold-rimmed saucer. “We hear you have developed new scientific procedures for exorcising phantasms.”

“Those of the noble class say many things about me, but I did not know they referred to me as man of science. How complimentary.”

“Though we understand there may be some question as to how reliable you are.”

“What am I being accused of, Your Majesty?”

“We do not accuse, we are interested in your services. Do you really know how to deal with spiritual apparitions in ways others cannot? We are told you have more knowledge than the royal psychic.”

“I am no psychic, Your Majesty, I have built some equipment that serves me well on phantasm hunts.”

“They say you charge people to get rid of apparitions, but the specters remain. We are told you seek payment for work you do not provide.”

Sexton had invented equipment to detect an increase in energy, as well as a machine that detected changes in room temperature. Both phenomena indicated the possible presence of specters. This equipment helped him make a handsome living by ridding the gentry of their phantasms. He really wasn’t dishonest in his business dealings. What could he do when he found that a supposedly haunted house was in truth free of phantasms? He rid pasty-faced aristocrats of specters even when none existed. Hallucinations of the gently bred were not his problem, who was he to argue with the ghost-seeing gentry? If he didn’t make a living off of their unreasonable fears, someone else would.

“Often, Your Majesty, people say they have phantasms when it appears it’s other causes and not spirits at all. I cannot get rid of entities when there are none; still, I must be paid for my time and trouble, like any hardworking man. It is hardly my fault people are prone to see or hear things which truly are not there.”

“This may be true.” The Queen opened her fan, flapping it like a bird’s wing in front of her dour, hawk-nosed face. “We certainly believe in ghosts and have been trying to contact my Albert, but the spirits we are seeking have not responded to Mister Lee’s séances, or those of another famed paranormal expert who is new to me, John Brown.” Victoria paused and looked Sexton straight in the eyes. “Others may be very alarmed with what we have to say. It is why we would only talk to you and why we must meet in the sky. When the walls are in the clouds, people on the ground cannot listen at the doors.” With A flick of her wrist, she shut the fan. “Mister Dukenfield, the reason we called you here today is because there are reports that several of the kingdom’s most respected specters have gone missing.”

“Your majesty?” Sexton wondered if she’d put a bit too much whiskey in her tea.

“We need our ghosts. We have come to enjoy them. Theater Royal has lost the spirit in the tri-corner hat. His sightings during rehearsals always bode well. Now all the plays are failures. The Whelan estate is up in arms. Margaret Whelan, burned long ago for witchcraft, perhaps because she had great healing skills, is said to haunt her old home and none of the family has ever fallen ill since her death. She keeps them all well. Now her spirit is gone and all the Whelans are sick.” She lifted the dainty tea cup and took a sip of tea. “A Scottish clan has even approached me. They have held the family castle since the 16th century, and ever since a famous laird died in the 17th century, the clan has sought advice from his ghost, who remained there. Now with their ancestor gone, they are at a loss as to how to make important decisions for the family.” She set the teacup down with a soft clang. “Also, there is a spirit who, for over a hundred years, watched the shore and by his gestures warned fishermen and sailors of coming storms and was attributed with saving many lives. He’s gone, and that whole village fears many will be caught in sudden tempests at sea now and die. Specters are missing from my own castle. King George the third is absent from Windsor. It has been days since anyone has seen him puttering about, muttering, ‘What, what?’ We are told the staff is concerned at his sudden disappearance after all these years. It appears not seeing ghosts you often saw is more unsettling than seeing them. Mister Dukenfield, we charge you to find who has taken our specters and return these good British spirits to us.”

“It wasn’t me.” Sexton poured another cup of tea and scotch. “Why would anyone want to take the phantasms?”

“With the disappearance of King George the third, it has been put forth by my advisers, the Americans may be involved.” She took another gulp of tea. “It needs more whiskey.”

Sexton leaned back in the armchair. “If I recall, the Americans did not want George when he was alive. I believe they waged a war against him, which they won. Why would they want George now?"

“That is neither here nor there. We have called you to find out why the ghosts have vanished. The answer is in your hands now.”

To Love A London Ghost is available in paperback and eBook from Amazon and Barnes and Nobles online and in most eBook formats at most online bookstores. For more information please drop by my Website
http://maevealpin.com

Multicultural Steampunk by Maeve Alpin

As the hub of the industrial revolution, Victorian Britain and its culture will continue to be one of the strongest settings for Steampunk fiction. That said, it is not the only legitimate setting. After all, even Jules Verne’s most memorial character, Captain Nemo, mentioned more than western European aristocrats in 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea. "Do you think I'm unaware of the suffering people and oppressed races of this planet, the poor to be comforted, the victims to be avenged?" In our modern world most people share the Captain’s concerns and a trend toward multicultural Steampunk mirrors this.

One book that breaks out of the typical Steampunk mode is Cold Magic by Kate Elliot. The first book in her Spirit Walker trilogy focuses on Celtic and African Cultures. Another novel cultivating cultures other than those of Western Europe is The Burning Sky by Joseph Robert Lewis, the first book of the Halcyon Trilogy. This alternate history is set in exotic Morocco in the 16th century, a melting pot of the people of West Africa and the Mediterranean. It encompasses the Amazigh, Yoruba, Igbo, Mali, Spanish, and Persian cultures.

For Steampunk in an Irish setting try James White’s As Silent Stars Go By. In this alternative history, Ireland, the most powerful nation, launches a space flight to a new world, which includes their allies, the Redmen, the natives of north and South America. For more Steampunk exploration of ancient cultures, check out Maeve Alpin’s Steampunk/Romances. Though As Timeless As Stone is set in Paris, and the soon to be released As Timeless As Magic takes place in London, they both include an ancient Egyptian time traveler as a main character. Her brand new novel, To Love A London Ghost, coming October 7th features an unusual Steampunk heroine, a Celtic warrior ghost from the Iron Age, who died on the bank of the Thames fighting Julius Caesar.

Steampunk settings and ethnicities aren’t limited to Western Europe. After all, Steampunk is for everyone and the literature should emulate that. The popular trend toward Multicultural Steampunk is sure to grow.

VISIT MY WEBSITE

TO LOVE A LONDON GHOST

To Love A London Ghost, my second Steampunk/Romance book comes out October 7th. If you want a fun Steampunk read for Samhain or Halloween this is it.

Blurb:
When Queen Victoria orders Sexton Dukenfield, premiere phantom hunter, to track down England’s missing ghost he stumbles into Ceridwen, a phantom warrior woman of an ancient Celtic tribe. Not only does he find her intriguing as a piece of the puzzle of the missing spirits, but he’s also haunted by her sultry sensuality. Though they both burn with desire, it’s difficult to quench their fiery passion since Ceridwen is so translucent. Every time Sexton touches her, his hands pass through her misty body. On a mission through the bustling narrow streets of London, to a dreary match factory, and even to the Otherworld and back, to stop a genius scientist and his phantasm debilitater machine, the ghost and the ghost hunter also seek the secret to freeing the boundaries of life and death.

Excerpt:
Taken off guard, Sexton finally managed to catch his breath. “Do you see her?”
Katie bobbed her head, then raised her thin, trembling arm and pointed at the apparition. “Ghost.”
The specter spread her feet in a warrior stance with her back straight and her chin tilted up. “Keep your box and magic beam away from me.”
Even in these strange circumstances, Sexton couldn’t help but notice the ectoplasma outline of the lush bulge of her heavy breasts. He riveted his eyes on them, then his gaze roamed to her waist, which flared into curved hips and long, supple thighs.
“These?” He held up the device he clutched by the brass handle and grabbed the one strapped over his shoulder. “No magic, just boxes. They measure energy and heat, to tell me if phantasms are near. They can’t hurt you. Though I don’t need them now. I can see you, I know you’re near.” He turned his head toward the child peering at the specter from behind him.
“She really is a ghost,” Katie said.
“Indeed, and looking right at me.” Sexton looked back at the stunning spirit. He could tell her hair had been blonde and her eyes a sky blue. He felt warm being near her, rather than cold. Looking the phantasm in the eyes, he said, “I’m not going to hurt you and I was just going to ask you to not hurt me. I can help you go back to the light.”
“I’m not going to harm you, but I’m not going to the light or anywhere else until I free the others and bring vengeance on those men for capturing me.”
“Do you mean others are there, more phantasms are in the factory?” He nodded toward the building. “Captured by men, did you say?”
“Yes, about eight ghosts.”
Sexton took a deep breath. “Well, well, you are just the phantasm I was looking for.”

Click here for more of Maeve Alpin's Victoriana with an Ancient Twist

Email me - MaeveAlpin@gmail.com - with Steampunk goodie bag in the subject line if you want a Steampunk Goodie bag - include your snail mail and I'll get it off to you

What is Steampunk?

Sometimes I get What-is-Steampunk comments on facebook. The best short answer is Victorian Sci-fi, I also like it described as Historical/Sci-fi. There is Steampunk literature but it doesn’t stop there, it includes art, gadgets, music, and clothing. It took off from the fiction genre and rose to a subculture. A very fun, interesting, productive, and creative subculture. One of the beautiful things about Steampunk is it has no limits. It’s what you want to make it.

When creating your character, decide what you want to be, you don’t have to be an aristocratic Victorian or an airship pirate at all, they‘re steampunk cooks, chimney sweeps, as well as others. Here are photos of some exceptionally creative costumes. The costumes are inexpensive as you make them yourself or put your outfit together from Goodwill, thrift store, flea market, home depot, and even dumpster diving finds.

Steampunkers utilize their creative and artistic sides in their costuming and other areas whether it’s drawing, writing, leather craft, Jewelry design, music, acting, sculpting or other arts and craft endeavors. Whether airship members create art collaboratively or individually they often exhibit it together at Steampunk, Sci-fi, or Comic Cons. Hopefully that answers the what-is-Steampunk inquiries.

And for a further investigation of Steampunk, you can read my currently available As Timeless As Stone or my coming release, To Love A London Ghost. I’m having a blogging contest, post a comment with your Email to be entered into a drawing to win a PDF e/Book of my Steampunk/Romance As Timeless As Stone. Here’s a trailer for it. Please visit me at my website

Firefly, Brown Coat Redemption

Hi Everyone - the winner of the blog contest was Marie - she won a pdf eBook of As Timeless As Stone
Thank you all for commenting.










I'm extending the blog contest through today - May 31 as a reader on facebook let me know that google was acting up and she couldn't get in to comment yesterday.
Saturday, May 28th, at Comicpalooza, I saw a screening of the film Brown Coats Redemption. This labor of love with all proceeds going to charity is written and directed by Michael C. Doughtery. From a gal’s perspective Firefly is always fitting of the coolest of cool label for many reasons one of the highest on my list is due to the strong female characters, who in all their rolls even that of a companion showed the best of the female gender and a woman’s ability to do anything a man could do and often do it better, you don’t’ see that often in Sci-Fi series or films even in 2011. Well Brown Coat Redemption not only offers strong female characters, both the captain and the pilot are women and they fill those rolls well, but also the twist to the plot is feminine based, for that reason alone I would say get the DVD.

Another reason to watch it is all proceeds go to five great charities Equality Now, Kids Need to Read, Dyslexia Foundation, The All Wooten Jr. Heritage Center, and The Marine Corps – Law Enforcement Foundation. It also gives all of us our much needed firefly fix. Now, you can tell it’s made on a shoe string budget and it’s not the highest quality acting or writing, though some of it is quite good. For those charities and the people they benefit as well as the other reasons I mentioned, I appreciate the hard work from the crew and cast of this film and I’m glad they made it.

Timeline wise it's events that occur after those in the film Serenity. The Alliance is still twisting the truth and fighting the citizens who live on the fringe of the verse, who are fighting back for them and there’s. Per youtube you can meet the cast of Browncoats Redemption,and click here for more on the film “A new ship, a new crew, a new adventure. Charity has never been this exciting!”

And also at Comicpalooza I attended a Firefly question and answer session with the funny and charming Sean Maher, also known as Simon Tam, the doctor and River’s sister . He also is part of the cast of the new series starting soon, The Playboy Club. One of the questions asked was, other than Simon, who is your favorite Firefly character. His answer was Inara Serra. http://firefly.wikia.com/wiki/Inara_Serra There were a few calls for him to take his shirt off but he didn’t. When asked if he takes his shirt off in his new series, The Playboy Club, he answered, “You never know. “ Needless to say, this fall, I will be watching The Playboy Club and Sean Maher’s character, a husband to one of the bunny’s. It’s an NBC series about the opening of the first Playboy club in Chicago in 1963. Looking forward to it. http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif
http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif
I had to add a link to the "She Don't Like Firefly" video - it's hillarious
http://tinyurl.com/3b7od9b

If you like Sci-fi check out the trailer to my time traveling Steampunk/romance As Timeless As Stone because for my Blogging Contest Today I’m giving away an PDF eBook of As Timeless As Stone for the contest today. Just comment and I’ll draw a winner for the free eBook.

AS TIMELESS AS STONE
Though society stands in their way, can love
transcend time with the aid of robotics and ritual?

In peril for her life, the Priestess Seshat turns
herself to stone in ancient Egypt. Centuries later,
Ricard, a dashing 19th century Frenchman, repairs
a broken statue and reads its incantation
unprepared for the gorgeous flesh and blood woman
who steps forth.
Seshat is drawn to the brass robots Ricard creates
and the glamor of the Victorian age, and most of all
to Ricard himself. But the society of his day cannot
accept a woman like her. How far will Ricard go to
secure her happiness? Is their love strong enough to
transcend time itself?
Please visit my website

Lost Cities and Unexplored Lands by Maeve Alpin

The winners of my 05/16/11 Blog Contest are Pomma Wolf and Judy - they both won a pdf eBook of my Steampunk/romance AS TIMELESS AS STONE
Congratulations!

Many 19th century world explorers and their discoveries made a tremendous impact

on history. One of my favorite Egyptologist, Jean François Champollion, journeyed to Egypt, as one of the four members of the Franco-Tuscan Expedition, in 1827. Of course he is primarily known for deciphering the rosette stone and unlocking the knowledge and history of the ancients Egyptians. Jean Francois Champollion is also the first curator of the Egyptian collection at the Louvre. Another great Egyptologist of the day was the Italian strongman Giovani-Battista Belzoni, beginning in 1817, he used the hydraulic engine he invented to help excavate Egyptian tombs and temples.

Another famed archeologist of the day was the German adventurer, Heinrich Schliemann. Using a copy of Homer’s The Illiad as his guide, he excavated the ancient city of Troy in 1871, searching for Priam’s treasure. He discovered the remains of eleven cities built on top of each other and the relics he found included a cache of gold and silver, including earrings, necklaces, and even diadems that might have been worn by a queen.

Just the words - lost city- conjure up mystery and adventure and there were wonderful finds in the Regency, Victorian, and Edwardian periods. In 1812, the Swiss explorer, Johann Ludwig Burckhardt brought international attention to the lost city of Petra, made up of incredible stone structures carved into the actual rock of Mount Hor in Jordan. Shortly after that, in 1818, General Taylor discovered the sacred pillars, palaces, temples, and monasteries of Sanchi in India, dating back to the 3rd century BC, it’s the oldest Buddhist sanctuary in existence. Then, in 1911, explorer Hiram Bingham revealed the jungle enshrouded lost City of the Incas, an amazing pre-Columbian site, Machu Picchu, built on a mountain ridge, 7,970 feet above sea level.

Regarding unexplored lands, adventurous include David Livingstone, well known for his rescue by his fellow explorer Henry Stanley during an 1865 expedition to Africa in an attempt to find the source of the Nile. Not only was the famed Norwegian polar explorer, Roald Amundsen the first person to reach the South Pole but also thehttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif first person to fly over the North Pole and he did so in a dirigible in 1926.
There are so many more explorers than these mentioned, you are sure to find http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifinspiration from an adventurer of the Regency, Victorian, or Edwardian age. Adopting characters of world adventures provides unique costuming options. I’ve included photos I snapped of great examples that, speaking of adventure, were taken this year at Aetherfest and the Oklahoma Steampunk Expo.

For more on Jean François Champollion and ancient world adventure, please check out my Steampunk/Romance, As Timeless As Stone and visit my website.

I am having a Blogging Contest today. Leave a comment on this post with your email so I can reach you and I'll draw a winner for an eBook of my Steampunk/Erotica/Romance As Timeless As Stone.
Here's the trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gQEOp9l9ZFA

More Steamplus Tips

Carol is the Winner of my Blog Contest - she won an eBook of As Timeless As Stone



Whether your costume is a Steampunk version of a ghost, vampire, mechanic, a Victorian lady, an airship crew member or pirate , a world explorer or something all together different, you might benefit from some advice in regard to costuming issues plus sized men and women run into. I wanted to share helpful pointers I picked up from a Steamplus panel on how to or fix or avoid fashion don’ts. The first tip applies to both men and women, clothes should be fitted, garments that are too large are as bad as clothing that’s too small.

Next, regarding corsets and vest. For women’s corsets, plastic boning should be avoided as it can cause bulges, the steel boning is best. For men, the vest or waistcoat needs to be long such as one purchased from a big and tall store so the tummy will not extend bulge under the vest. Pants should be fastened at the waistline not beneath it and most men will find suspenders work best.

For both men and women, any historical or stemapunk costume should look complete, from head to toe, for example don’t wear tennis shoes with a period dress. Also, though accessories are key to a Steampunk look, don’t’ go overboard, keep to the less is more fashion philosophy.

For examples and ideas, I’ve included a few photos I snapped at the Oklahoma Steampunk Expo and Aetherfest. So have fun and enjoy your costume while you look your best like the steampunkers shown here.

Also I’m having a blogging contest, so please comment and include your email address so I can reach you if you win. The prize is a PDF eBook of my steampunk/romance As Timeless As Stone.

Please visit me at my website, or Facebook,

Steampunk Plus size Fashion

The Winner of my blog contest is Sarah - she won an eBook of As Timeless As Stone




At a spectacular steampunk festival in San Antonio last weekend, Aetherfest, I learned so much at a panel on costuming DOs and DON’Ts, specifically for plus size ladies and gentlemen, I had to share the great advice. I’m breaking it down into several post so the first is one is on steampunk fashion issues from head to neck, like a head shot.

Starting with hats, as cute as the tiny top hats are, they’re dispaportioned on a full figured woman, but there are two fabulous solutions. You can choose a full size Victorian hat instead or with your hair styled in a curly or fluffy hairdo, wear the tiny top hat the way you would a barrette. Both are a darling and becoming look for steampunk fashionistas.

Now moving from the head to the neck, we come to ties or necklaces. It is best for the larger steampunk gentlemen to avoid bow ties, with such a grandiose presence, a cravat or ascot will look best. As for plus size women, choose chunky pieces of jewelry or those extravagant in size, for the same reason, proportions. Adorn yourself with a big medallion, a cameo, or a large brooch. A full figured woman has the presence to pull off the more stunning and stupendous pieces of jewelry. http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif

Along with these helpful hints, here are some photos I snapped at Aetherfest and the Oklahoma Steampunk Expo to offer examples of steampunk fashion DOs.

Also I’m having a blogging contest, so please comment and include your email address so I can reach you if you win. The prize is a PDF eBook of my steampunk/romance As Timeless As Stone.
Here’s the trailer for it. And please visit my website

Egyptian Steampunk

Announcing the Blog Contest Winner:
The winner is Marian Allen. Congratulations Marian. I also wanted to give a big thanks to everyone who entered.

Thank you for commenting on my Maeve Alpin blog on Egyptian Steampunk. I have good news for you, you are the winner, you won the blogging contest. Congratulations. The pdf eBook of As Timeless As Stone is attached. If you have any trouble opening it, please let me know.


There was a strong Egyptian influence in the 19th century with the translation of the Rosetta stone, all the English and European Egyptologist and their rich discoveries, the Egyptian obelisk erected alongside the Thames, and the quaint mummy unwrapping parties. Egypt even influenced Victorian clothing, furniture and furnishings. In turn, there no question aspects of the Steampunk culture have been influenced by ancient Egypt. In the entertainment field Steampunk belly dancing is on the rise. Since the top Steampunk Band, Abney Park incorporated belly dancing into its live shows, many of these dancers have been inspired to go steampunk adding googles, corsets and pantaloons to their costumes.

In the area of interior design, Nethercraft offers an incredible collection of fabulous Egyptian walls http://www.nethercraft.com/prod_tomb.html. The Egyptian- Steampunk movement has even invaded fashion with Costume Designer, Iris Bainum-Houle’s collection, clearly influenced by both the garments of ancient Egypt and Victorian England. http://tinyurl.com/26dvuxo

For glasses, tea spoons, and t-shirts sporting Egyptian Steampunk, the Anubis-Absinthe products at http://www.sighco.com/Anubis-Absinthe-glass-and-spoon-set-p-292.html fit the bill.

Egyptian Steampunk has even found its way into weddings as in this online example of a couple who included Victoriana and hand painted scarab favors into their special day. View this special wedding at http://geraniumlake.com/2011/04/egyptian-steampunk-themed-wedding/ and at http://fritzphoto.com/blog/2011/03/steampunk-wedding-photography-lana-and-brian.htmlOne thing that stands out in Steampunk fiction is fresh, settings and alternate history so the Egyptian influence fits in so well. Some examples I recommend are The Anubis Gates by Tim Powers, a non-stop, breathtaking, time spanning, haunting adventure by one of the masters of Steampunk and The Osiris Ritual by George Mann a rich, riveting mystery which includes a Victorian mummy unwrapping party. As Timeless as Stone is another example of Egyptian Steampunk in fiction as its trailer illustrates at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gQEOp9l9ZFA. For children the Theodosia series of books have a wonderful Egyptian Steampunk flavor by R L. LaFevers. Theodosia Throckmorton lives in the early part of the 20th century in London, her father is the head curator at the museum of Legends and Antquites and her mother is an egyptologist. Theo as her family and friends call her has an unusal gift for for detecting and riding relics of ancient spells, evil curses, and black magic. For more on this fantastic series visit. http://www.theodosiathrockmorton.com.

I am working on a Steampunk Costume with Egyptian influence and many steampunk fans have gone the Egyptologist route, for example The Steampunk Emporium has a complete outfit available for an Egyptian Expeditionist at http://www.steamporium.com/store/steam_ladies_05.php
Whether you are game for belly dancing in a corset or rather you just want to quietly read a good Egyptian Steampunk book the mix of Egyptology and Steampunk go together quite well.

I'm having a blog contest - comment and include your email so I can reach you - the winner drawn from those who comment wins a pdf ebook download of As Timeless As Stone - here's a blurb on it to give you an idea of the book if you're not familiar.
Though society stands in their way, can love transcend time with the aid of robotics and ritual?
In peril for her life, the Priestess Seshat turns herself to stone in ancient Egypt. Centuries later, Ricard, a dashing 19th century Frenchman, repairs a broken statue and reads its incantation unprepared for the gorgeous flesh and blood woman who steps forth.
Seshat is drawn to the brass robots Ricard creates and the glamor of the Victorian age, and most of all to Ricard himself. But the society of his day cannot accept a woman like her. How far will Ricard go to secure her happiness? Is their love strong enough to
transcend time itself?

Happy B Day to Charles Dickens, Jules Verne, & Thomas Edison this week- Steampunk Style

The winner of the Blogging Contest from 02/10/11
is Abigail-Madison Chase
She won the Steampunk Ray Gun
Congratulations!

What a great week to read and write and think about Steampunk. February 7th, this Monday, was Charles Dickens Birthday, then Tuesday, February 8th was Jules Verne’s Birthday, and this Friday, February 11th is Thomas Edison’s Birthday and National Inventor’s Day in the U.S. To celebrate it all, I’m having a blogging contest today. Post a comment and include your email so I can contact you. From the comments, I’ll draw a winner for a papier-mâché, mock brass painted, Steampunk Ray gun. So please comment and feel free to post questions as well.

For anyone unfamiliar, Steampunk is a type of alternate history or you can say historical Sci-Fi based on the industrial age and the technological age occurring together. It's written in the spirit of H. G. Wells and Jules Verne. If you ever watched the Wild Wild West TV show or the movie - that's steampunk. For the most part it's set during the Victorian Age, sometimes in the American west. You can have magic and paranormal elements and most of the Steampunk/Romances coming out do, but you don't have to.

The latest cross genre of romance that’s all the rage is Steampunk. I find it an incredibly fun genre to write. Steampunk has also exploded into our culture with fashion, both clothes and jewelry. Also gadgetry, as many people love to build steampunk machines including cars. Steampunk music and movies are also hot right now. Simply Google, the word steampunk to glimpse the variety of items included in what has become for some people, a way of life. It’s a yummy genre and once you get a taste of it, you’ll be hooked

Here is the Blurb of my Steampunk/Romance, As Timeless As Stone:
In peril for her life, the Priestess Seshat turns herself to stone in ancient Egypt. Centuries later, Ricard, a dashing nineteenth century Frenchman, repairs a broken statue and reads its incantation--unprepared for the gorgeous flesh and blood woman who steps forth.

Seshat is drawn to the brass robots Ricard creates and the glamour of the Victorian age, and most of all to Ricard himself. But the society of his day cannot accept a woman like her. How far will Ricard go to secure her happiness? Is their love strong enough to transcend time itself?



Here is an excerpt:
A plump woman walked in and curtsied mechanically. “Bonsoir.” Tilting her head to one side she stole a slanted look at Seshat.

“Hello,” Seshat answered in Old Egyptian as she stepped up to the roaring blaze in the brick fireplace.

The middle-aged cook turned her head toward Ricard. “Monsieur Dubois, the woman is not dressed.”

“It is Egyptian attire, Charlotte. In her time...I mean in her land, it is appropriate.” He stared with longing at Seshat and at what he thought of as very fitting apparel. “It suits her well.”

His cook cleared her throat loudly and admonished him with her scowl.

He added, “But of course she will be fitted for proper clothes befitting a lady of her station in the morning.”

“As you say, Monsieur.” Charlotte’s brow furrowed as she scrutinized their guest.
Seshat examined the red wallpaper and the paintings in all shapes and sizes encased in gilded frames.

“She will be staying with us for a few weeks,” Ricard paused and mumbled under his breath, “or forever, if I have anything to say about it.”

“Will the lady be dining with us this evening?” Charlotte tugged on her white bib top apron, tied over a full, floor-length solid blue work dress.

“Indeed she will.” His thoughts weren’t on food, he hungered for Seshat. He inhaled the evocative blend of her musky, soft floral scent. As he imagined the taste of her sweet lips and the salty flavor of her skin, his sex grew hard and throbbed. Ricard’s face was hot with embarrassment, he had invited this fine lady, a priestess of ancient Egypt, into his home as a guest and he must restrain these lecherous thoughts.

“Very well, I shall have one of those creatures set another place at the table.” The plump cook returned to the kitchen.

Two small brass men with iron faces and steam pistons rotating on their sides, a large rotating flywheel in each of their shiny chests, and steam spraying from the open stove-pipe top-hats on their heads, sluggishly marched into the room. Each held trays of food. Seshat screamed and ran to the far corner of the dining room. With her back pressed against the wall, she yelled at them, “If you evil beast harm me I shall put a curse on you. May a donkey violate you, a hippopotamus crush you into little pieces, and a crocodile devour what’s left of you.”

“Not beast.” Ricard had to yell over the roar of the steam servants. “They serve a wonderful purpose. You see, as an educated man in the age of enlightenment, I know servants work long hours at dangerous labor and it is wrong for men of any station to be condemned to a life of drudgery. I built these mechanical men to do all distasteful and dangerous tasks, from cleaning, washing, waxing, chimney sweeping and lighting fires, to hauling and lifting. I have only one human servant, Charlotte, and all she does is cook, everything else is handled by my steam servants, even chopping onions and peeling garlic cloves.”

Seshat stepped out of the corner. Her eyes no longer glittered with fear and her body lost thestiffness, the tension, she’d had but a moment before, yet she still held her hands over her ears.

“Oui, they are quite loud.” Ricard smiled and managed to coax her into a chair at the dining table, or it might have been the aroma of Charlotte’s broiled partridges with hot sauce that impelled her to take a seat.

Here’s the book trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gQEOp9l9ZFA

Please post a comment to be entered into the drawing for the Steampunk papier-mâché ray gun. For more on As Timeless As Stone, please visit my website at
http://MaeveAlpin.com and http://www.facebook.com/MaeveAlpin