I'm thrilled to continue my November
Orbit Books spotlight with novelist
Gail Carriger, whose debut release,
Soulless, blends together vampires, parasols, werewolves, Jane Austen wit, and the world of steampunk fiction. Orbit Books has graciously offered two copies of
Soulless. If you'd like the chance to win one, simply respond in the comments section whether or not you're new to the world of steampunk. If you're already familiar with the genre, feel free to list a favorite book or movie. If you're new to it, hopefully you'll want to give it a try after reading Gail's interview. I'll draw a winning name on
Monday, November, 23, 2009. U.S. and Canadian entries only, please.
Catherine Karp: Thanks so much for joining me, Gail. Please tell us about Soulless and your main character, Alexia Tarabotti. 
Gail Carriger: It's delightful to be here, thanks for hosting me.
Soulless is Jane Austen does urban fantasy meets P.G. Wodehouse does steampunk, in an everything-but-the-kitchen-sink mash-up of genres. Alexia Tarabotti is a soulless spinster with strict ideas on propriety, who ends up embroiled in a supernatural mystery and fending off Queen Victoria's grumpy werewolf investigator over the issue of lisping vampires.
CK: At your website, GailCarriger.com, you explain, "There are two main kinds of steampunk. The first, which shall be called here, traditional steampunk, envisions a future as the Victorians imagined it. The writings of H.G. Wells and Jules Verne are good examples. The second, industrial steampunk, sees a far future world that harkens back to Victorian culture, for example a bustle dress made of kevlar." How would you describe your use of steampunk in Soulless? GC: I'm far more of the first variety, which is to say that
Soulless is alternate history depicting a different kind of Victorian future/past. I took a look at various points in history, re-explained a number of its odder mysteries (like the British Empire) via the presence of immortals, made said immortals tinker with the technology, and had the timeline diverge as a result.
CK: Were you a fan of steampunk before writing Soulless...or did the story come before you stumbled upon the genre? 
GC: Oh, I was a fan of the aesthetic. I adore the look of steampunk, probably stemming from an unhealthy BBC costume drama addiction. Then I slowly became interested in the writings of Jules Verne and H.G. Wells, stumbled onto Phillip Pullman, and was hooked.
CK: The same question goes for vampires: were you a vampire and werewolf fan before embarking upon your own tales of creatures of the night? GC: Not as such. I came at vampires via the appeal of the modern aesthetic (I do own my own pair of very nice fangs) combined with a literary interest in 1800s gothic fiction (unwisely nurtured in high school by a succession of deluded teachers):
The Castle of Otranto, The Vampyre, The Monk, Fall of the House of Usher, and, of course, spoofs like
Northanger Abby. I suppose you could say I found my bloody path the old-fashioned way.
CK: Any favorite vampires from lit, film, or TV? GC: I don't think he really counts, but I love Dorian Gray. I have a real soft spot for Mina Murray in
The League of Extraordinary Gentleman graphic novel series and I adore the character of Drusilla on Buffy. Not to sneak in werewolves, but I was turned to the furry side by Klause's brilliant YA novel
Blood and Chocolate.
CK: Humor also plays a role in the novel. In a publishing world that likes to file books in neatly categorized labels, was it difficult selling a steampunk/paranormal/fantasy/comedy-of-errors novel? GC: I really really thought
Soulless would never sell because it was too many sub-genres and the marketing department for any given publishing house would give it the royal heave-ho. Fortunately for me, Soulless seemed to charm people despite themselves and I had a couple of different publishers interested rather quickly. I've still not recovered from the shock.
CK: How long have you been writing fiction? GC: I believe I wrote a cerebral and undoubtedly allegorical novel about calico cats and flying carpets. It took me a couple of days and was, my mother claims, a masterpiece of modern literature. I was eight. That would be my first major fictional attempt, fortunately things have improved since then ~ although probably not as much as I should hope. If you read carefully you may spot the fact that Soulless still contains the very brief appearance of a calico.
CK: Your website indicates a fondness for steampunk-related fashion and historical millinery, and Alexia Tarabotti dons a highly fashionable outfit on the cover of Soulless. What can you tell us about creating the steampunk "look" and your own clothing designs. GC: Most of the time for public appearances I prefer rockabilly vintage dress, basically because I am on a one-woman quest to bring fashion back to the SF/F world. For everyday, I tend to twist normal wear in a steampunk direction ~ preferring steamy or industrial jewelry, knickerbockers and boots instead of jeans, Victorian-influenced blouses and vests, and military-style leather jackets. At steampunk events I have a number of Victorian dresses and corsets, one of which is decorated with brass spoons ~ why not?
CK: Where can readers learn more about you, Soulless, and your next installment of The Parasol Protectorate series, Changeless?
GC: The best place to start is on my web page at
http://www.gailcarriger.com but you can also friend me on facebook, twitter, blogspot, or livejournal, all under
gailcarriger.
CK: Thanks so much for joining me, Gail--and for introducing us to your highly fascinating fictional world.GC: It was a pleasure, thank you for inviting me.
If you'd like to read an online interview with Lord Akeldama (the main vampire in
Soulless), head to
booktionary.blogspot.com. And Orbit Books is currently offering a
Alexia paper-doll dress up game.
And don't forget to respond in the comments section for your chance to win a copy of
Soulless right here at Suburban Vampire!
I'm thrilled to continue my November Orbit Books spotlight with novelist Gail Carriger, whose debut release, Soulless, blends together vampires, parasols, werewolves, Jane Austen wit, and the world of steampunk fiction. Orbit Books has graciously offered two copies of Soulless. If you'd like the chance to win one, simply respond in the comments section whether or not you're new to the world of steampunk. If you're already familiar with the genre, feel free to list a favorite book or movie. If you're new to it, hopefully you'll want to give it a try after reading Gail's interview. I'll draw a winning name on Monday, November, 23, 2009. U.S. and Canadian entries only, please.
Gail Carriger: It's delightful to be here, thanks for hosting me. Soulless is Jane Austen does urban fantasy meets P.G. Wodehouse does steampunk, in an everything-but-the-kitchen-sink mash-up of genres. Alexia Tarabotti is a soulless spinster with strict ideas on propriety, who ends up embroiled in a supernatural mystery and fending off Queen Victoria's grumpy werewolf investigator over the issue of lisping vampires. 
GC: Oh, I was a fan of the aesthetic. I adore the look of steampunk, probably stemming from an unhealthy BBC costume drama addiction. Then I slowly became interested in the writings of Jules Verne and H.G. Wells, stumbled onto Phillip Pullman, and was hooked. 
CK: Humor also plays a role in the novel. In a publishing world that likes to file books in neatly categorized labels, was it difficult selling a steampunk/paranormal/fantasy/comedy-of-errors novel? 
CK: Your website indicates a fondness for steampunk-related fashion and historical millinery, and Alexia Tarabotti dons a highly fashionable outfit on the cover of Soulless. What can you tell us about creating the steampunk "look" and your own clothing designs. 
The winners of my contest for Nicole Peeler's Tempest Rising are kalynnick and Kris. Congratulations, winners! Please send your snail mail address to catkarp (at) gmail (dot) com.
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I'm working on an article about the chances of NEW MOON being a bigger box office hit than TWILIGHT, which inspired me to put something on Suburban Vampire that I haven't done in a while: a poll. My blog used to be known for its vampire polls, but I've faded them out due to time constraints and the fact that several such polls have popped up across the blogosphere. I'll be running my annual Best Vampire Entertainment of the Year poll starting December, but for now you can head over to my sidebar and give your input for the following question:
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