Q: Victorian Scoundrel is a steampunk romance. What's steampunk?
STEPH: A steampunk is set between 1830-1901 during the reign of Queen Victoria when steam was king. A more traditional setting is England, but you aren't limited to the setting. You can set the story during the American civil war if you want or in Brazil or Africa. It's basically an alternative universe that involves time traveling or paranormal creatures. You've got goggles, strange gadgets, and lots of soot. Think "Sherlock Holmes" with Robert Downey Jr. and you get the feel for a steampunk.
Q: Why write a steampunk?
STEPH: Gail Delaney, Editor-in-Chief, put out a call for some steampunk fiction. It was something I hadn't tried before so I decided to go for it.
Q: What inspired the plot?
STEPH: A lot of research. After researching the tone and feel of the steampunk genre, I decided I wanted something more traditionally Victorian. For me, nothing embodies the height of the Victorian age than the Great Exhibition in 1851. Now what would really make the Great Exhibition shine? A dirigible. From there I came up with the plot – Edmund wanting to give his great-grandfather, Prince Albert, a dirigible. A bit long winded, but I rarely get inspiration from dreams.
Q: How long did it take you to write?
STEPH: About 3 months including research.
Q: How did you come up with the title?
STEPH: Well, Edmund may be a prince, but he's very self-absorbed, or should I say, determined to give Prince Albert a dirigible. Then there's Grayson. I'll let you decide who the scoundrel is.
Q: How many books do you have planned for "The Windsor Diaries?"
STEPH: Right now, two. The sequel is "A Gentleman and a Rogue." There might be a third. –wink-
Q: What do you want readers to take away from reading the novel?
STEPH: I want them to be entertained and to feel like they were a fly on the wall in Alice's hotel room.
Q: Do you have an e-reader?
STEPH: I have a Kindle and I love the text to speech feature. I let it read to me in the car on the way to work.
Q: What's your favorite summer fruit?
STEPH: Watermelon.
Q: What are you reading now?
STEPH: Game of Thrones by George RR Martin.
BOOK TEASER ON YOU TUBE: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7IUYj2d7ZeY
AMAZON KINDLE BUY LINK: http://www.amazon.com/Windsor-Diaries-Book-One-ebook/dp/B0058UG9Q6/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1310085532&sr=8-1
ALL ROMANCE EBOOKS: http://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-thewindsordiariesbookonevictorianscoundrel-571272-141.html
BARNES & NOBLE NOOK BOOK BUY LINK: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-windsor-diaries-book-one-stephanie-burkhart/1104099940?ean=2940012813824&itm=1&usri=the%2bwindsor%2bdiaries
REVIEWS: 5 Stars, Readers Favorites, Molly E: I have never read a Steam Punk novel before, but because of her fantastic writing, her engaging plot line, and fun loving characters, it will NOT be the last. I highly recommend this with highest of 5 stars, and I can't wait until the second Windsor Diaries installment releases!
5 Stars, Tami Dee, Author of the Mists of Time Series: Stephanie Burkhart has a fresh, quick, quirky, inventive imagination and she gives the readers of Victorian Scoundrel a delightful mixture of all of the above!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Stephanie Burkhart is a 911 Operator for LAPD. Her favorite football team is the New England Patriots. She lives in California.
Posts
I always think i was born out of time. I love the victorian era. Without the usual plagues and so forth lol Great interview.
ReplyDeleteSteph, I talk with so much enthusiasm about your steampunk Victorian Scoundrel to my CP that she dided to buy it and learn how to write steampunk.
ReplyDeleteOOPS sorry about typos: I meant,
ReplyDeleteSteph, I talked with so much enthusiasm about your steampunk Victorian Scoundrel to my CP that she decided to buy it and learn how to write steampunk.
Congrats on those wonderful reviews. Victorian Scoundrel is on my buy list. And now I see there will be a sequel. Wonderful.
ReplyDeleteI wish you the very best.
Awesome blog post. Blessings for success, BJ
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on your reviews! Awesome! I have my copy loaded. I love text to speech feature on my Kindle and I listen to the books on my way to work. lol
ReplyDeleteDon't you just love the steampunk picture. It's going to be featured on one of my author days. Not sure when. lol But isn't it classic!
Margaret, I agree. I really enjoy the Victorian era. So much inovation occured during that time.
ReplyDeleteMona, how exciting for your CP. I'm excited for her. Steampunk is a lot of fun.
Sarah, I have a sequel planned. Alice & Edmund are up for more mischief. LOL!!
BJ, thank you for popping in. It's great to see you.
Karen, I love text to speech. We're sisters of the heart when it comes to the Kindle. hehe. I adore that steampunk picture. It really sets a good tone for the genre. Looking forward to hearing your thoughts on the Windors.
Smiles
Steph
Looks like a good read! I've never read steampunk so I'll be sure to check it out :)
ReplyDeleteYou were so creative and convincing, I did not know what gadget was real, and what you made up! It was a wonderful read. Oh, and as a side note, on DBP Time Travel page, VS is with my Viking Series. Hurray!
ReplyDeleteGreat interview!
ReplyDeleteIm looking forward to reading this book! :)
Tori, It was a lot of fun to write - very different from my more "traditional" paranormals. Alice & Ed are close to my heart.
ReplyDeleteTami, yay! You know I LOVE your Vikings. hehe.
Jane, thanks for popping in. I'd hope you enjoy the book.
Smiles
Steph