Getting Steampunk

Thanks to another writer I met at the 2009 RWA Nationals, I finally am catching on to what the steampunk genre is.  Victorian era with gadgets, YA writer Suzanne Lazear told me at the FF&P (Fantasy, Futuristic and Paranormal) party.  But the next time we talked, her examples hit home: The Golden Compass and League of Extraordinary Gentlemen.  Ah, that I can see — all the neat stuff designed to help when they need it, but in a funky antiquated way.  Same stuff I always imagined when reading Jules Verne or H.G. Wells.  And, I think, the time traveling steam train from the last scene of Back to the Future III fits.  And maybe the flying boat in Stardust?

I’m liking this idea.

If you want to learn more, go to the Steamed! blog where Suzanne and her lolita co-bloggers write about Steampunk, review new releases, feature the latest genre machinery, travel to cons and showcase the cool fashions.

Once there, keep your eyes alert for the 2012 date you’ll be able to pick up Suzanne’s YA Steampunk Fairytale from a bookstore, because she has sold Innocent Darkness, her fourth manuscript and first to be published. Go, Suzanne!

An article and a freebie ARC contest

One of my other writing goals this year was to write an article for my chapter’s, the Maryland Romance Writers, monthly newsletter, The Pulse. Today I drafted a “should your chapter include a YA category in your writing contest” piece entitled To Offer or Not To Offer. I’ll post when it comes out. I knew our category winners had entered multiple contests and two had sold, so I put out an email to catch up with them and ask about their contest experiences. It was fun to hear the news and all had valuable tips for contest coordinators and judges in the YA arena, which I received permission to include.

One gal, Lisa Desrocher, has had her YA book Personal Demons inserted into Macmillian’s fall list. It’ll be released September 14, 2010. She’s hosting a contest, with one prize option an ARC of the book.

He …heck, I’d love to read more than the 20 pages I read of her contest entry. I’m in on the contest. Click over to her blog and enter.

Cross-post

My Daphne finalist placing was noted in a post on Science Fiction Romance Brigade. The brigade members have a friendly running points contest going and one of the ways to earn points is by finalling and placing in contests – with your SFR manuscript, of course. When I sent in my win to grab a point, the officer on deck kindly posted.

The Daphne Finalists List

THE KISS OF DEATH CHAPTER’S 2010 DAPHNE DU MAURIER AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN
MYSTERY/SUSPENSE IS PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE ITS UNPUBLISHED CONTEST FINALISTS

FINALISTS: CATEGORY SERIES ROMANTIC SUSPENSE

Orchard County Killer by Deborah L. Kaufman

His Reluctant Witness by Christine Keach w/a Lexi Connor

Rescued by D’Ann Linscott-Dunham

Kira’s Keeper by Jan Schliesman

Blue Ridge Fear by Robin Weaver

FINALISTS: HISTORICAL ROMANTIC MYSTERY/SUSPENSE

A Lady’s Revenge by Tracey Smith w/a Tracey Devlyn

Her Secret Flyboy by Jeanne Dickson

Vengeance is Mine by Linda Friar

Deception by Jennifer Beane

Sweet Enemy by Heather Snow

FINALISTS: INSPIRATIONAL ROMANTIC MYSTERY/SUSPENSE

Illusion of Safety by Dianna Benson

The Shadow of Heaven by C.J. Eernisse Chase

Nightshade by Debra E. Marvin

Submerged by Dani Pettrey

The Peacock Throne by Lisa Karon Richardson

FINALISTS: PARANORMAL ROMANTIC MYSTERY/SUSPENSE

Last Wishes by Caroline Dunsheath

Last Chance by writing team Ann Fischer & Linda Baxter

Hearts of Darkness by Ciara Stewart

Lost Paladin by Tracy St. Hilaire

Passages by Laurel Wanrow

FINALISTS: SINGLE TITLE ROMANTIC MYSTERY/SUSPENSE

He Kills Me, He Kills Me Not by Lena Diaz

In For a Penny by Kathy Franklin

Misdirection by Linda Lovely

Safe in Enemy Arms by Joan Swan

From Baghdad with Love by Gail Zerrade

FINALISTS: MAINSTREAM MYSTERY SUSPENSE

Insight by Polly Iyer

Death Benefits by Arlene Kay

Nearly Departed in Deadwood by Wendy Kunkle-Munk w/a Ann Charles

Pineapples in Peril by Cheryl Linn Martin

Solstice of Death by Robin Weaver

The winners and placement of each unpublished subgenre will be announced on
July 29th in ORLANDO!!! at KOD’s Death by Chocolate. Congratulations to
the finalists, to the entrants, to the judges and to our hardworking
coordinators. Stay tuned for the Published side of the contest as we
announce later on in May.

So there it is folks. According to one of my chapter mates at MRW, the finalists are seated with with the final round judges at the party. KOD is providing finalists’ ribbons to wear on our conference name tags and asking for a picture to be used in a yet-un-named manner. What a nice set of ways to be recognized and treated; the contest and chapter organizers have done an excellent job. Thank you, Donnell Ann Bell, Daphne Coordinator, and all the volunteers working with the contest and award ceremony.

Passages finalled!

Woo-hoo! I’m doing the happy dance here.

Passages finalled in the unpublished division of The Daphne du Maurier Contest sponsored by RWA’s Mystery /Suspense chapter, Kiss of Death.

I’m thrilled. The Daphne was the first RWA contest I entered four years ago as a newbie romance writer. I entered both times in the Paranormal / Time Travel / Futuristic Mystery/Suspense category. Passages is a futuristic or science fiction romance mystery.

This was one of the limited word contests I posted about back in March – 5,000 words for the manuscript and 675 for the synopsis. Yes, I trimmed my 5 page synopsis to 2 pages for this contest, a worthy exercise by itself. I now am allowed to send up to 25 pages (mine was 18) to the final judges, who are … *drum roll* … Heather Osborn, editor with Tor Publishing and Paige Wheeler, agent with Folio Literary Management.

I’ll post the finalist list when available.