I spent last weekend at Nimmitabel’s Steampunk @ Altitude festival, and the weekend before that at IronFest in Lithgow, so it’s been a wild steam-powered ride for the last couple of weeks. But a few old pics related to HEART OF BRASS just came to my attention, so I’m posting them here before they returnContinue reading “Bits and Bobs from “Brass””
Category Archives: Steampunk
Guest Post: What doesn’t kill me. . .
Hello and welcome to Karen J Carlisle! Karen J Carlisle is a writer and illustrator of steampunk, Victorian mysteries and fantasy. She was short-listed in Australian Literature Review’s 2013 Murder/Mystery Short Story Competition. Her first novella, Doctor Jack & Other Tales, was published in 2015 and her short stories have featured in the 2016 AdelaideContinue reading “Guest Post: What doesn’t kill me. . .”
What is an escape room?
An escape room is a team game that involves exploring a room and solving the puzzles you find there in order to get out. In practice, that means being put into a room with a team and figuring out how to open and/or unlock various things. In Canberra, it is illegal to actually lock theContinue reading “What is an escape room?”
Madam Alchemist
This weekend is CanCon, and I have a stall there, with the tabletop version of my escape room (now called “Madam Alchemist” since it takes place in a mad scientist’s secret laboratory). I ran five play-tests during the day yesterday, and all of them went off without a hitch. I also had people approaching meContinue reading “Madam Alchemist”
Dogs, Goths, Kilts, Pirates, and Octopuses
Last weekend was the weekend of the annual Goulburn Waterworks Steampunk & Victoriana Fair. It’s always an absolute blast. The standard of garb at Goulburn is always amazing: corsets, top hats, pocket watches, waistcoats, bustles, crinolines, and epic boots galore! I thought I’d do a super quick blog on some of the side effects ofContinue reading “Dogs, Goths, Kilts, Pirates, and Octopuses”
99 cents
IRON LIGHTS is on Amazon now, which probably means it’s almost everywhere! So to celebrate, Book 1: HEART OF BRASS is having a 99c promo. I’m posting it here for those of you on an RSS feed. https://www.amazon.com.au/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_2?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=felicity+banks And here’s Zipper, but sideways.
“Iron Lights” Book Launch
Book launches are like holidays*: You look forward to them like crazy, and then when they’re over you’re deeply relieved. Win-win? The first and third books of my steampunk trilogy were launched at the Canberra Writers Festival (2016 & 2018; the middle book was launched at Conflux 2017). In 2016 the venue was the NationalContinue reading ““Iron Lights” Book Launch”
Say what??
This weekend is the Canberra Writers Festival, and I have not one but TWO book launches. Saturday is the official launch of MURDER IN THE MAIL: A BLOODY BIRTHDAY (complete with a week-long art installation) at The Front cafe & gallery (Lyneham shops, 3:30-5pm). It’s not officially connected to the Canberra Writers Festival at all,Continue reading “Say what??”
Cover Reveal: Iron Lights
Here she is, in all her end-of-trilogy glory: And with her sisters: Wow. I can’t wait to have all three on a table. Speaking of tables, this weekend is GammaCon Canberra, for all your nerdy needs! You can find out more here, or just show up at Exhibition Park between 9am and 5pm this weekendContinue reading “Cover Reveal: Iron Lights”
TrailerFest 2018
Today I decided that my 2-3 (I honestly don’t know) YouTube accounts needed tidying up, so I started a fresh new channel (because that simplifies things, right?) using the MagicintheMailStories@gmail.com email account. As you may have guessed, I love doing my own book trailers. It’s so much fun! The channel is here (don’t click on that;Continue reading “TrailerFest 2018”
Magic in the Mail
The (first?) “Murder in the Mail” Kickstarter was successful, raising thousands of dollars. You can read more about that story here. As you can probably guess from the title, this led to further shenanigans. There are currently TWO “Magic in the Mail” stories in development: Magic in the Mail: Feuding Fae This is a taleContinue reading “Magic in the Mail”
My Six Selves (on facebook)
And I’m on twitter, too 😛
Nimmitabel Steampunk Fair
You may not have heard of this, on account of 2018 being the first year it’s running. The tiny town of Nimmitabel (pop 320) is about to host its first Steampunk Fair. 5-6 May. 1.5 hours south-ish from Canberra. OF COURSE I will be there. (Assuming this weekend’s Supanova Melbourne doesn’t kill me first.)
Antipodean Queen 3: Iron Lights
That’s right! The title has changed. This is the final book in my magical steampunk trilogy. The first book is HEART OF BRASS and the second is SILVER AND STONE. You can buy IRON LIGHTS here or a full Steam & Sorcery pack here (it includes all three novels, and the full version of Magic inContinue reading “Antipodean Queen 3: Iron Lights”
My 2017: No wonder I need a lie down
What an epic year. I spent over 15 years of my life writing novels that nobody would touch, and now that it’s started to rain it’s pouring (which is a wonderful thing). I spent vast amounts of time on the Tin Man Games “Choices That Matter” app (Google Play and iOS). It’s a story hub forContinue reading “My 2017: No wonder I need a lie down”
Murder in the Mail
I wrote a guest post here about how I fell in love with steampunk. And it’s part of a series by a bunch of steampunky types. I’m working on a new story called “Murder in the Mail: A Bloody Birthday” which will be released by Publisher Obscura, Odyssey’s imprint for “beautiful and unusual novelty andContinue reading “Murder in the Mail”
Whatever & Ever Amen
My “Big Idea” post is now live on John Scalzi’s blog. I talked about Australia, and what it means to me to set my steampunk tales in my own beautiful, deadly, complicated country. At Conflux, and then again today at the Goulburn Waterworks Steampunk & Victoriana Fair, I was talking to a lot of peopleContinue reading “Whatever & Ever Amen”
Goulburn Waterworks Steampunk & Victoriana Fair
…is awesome. I’ll be there in a few hours. Ditto Tara Moss. And Gallery Serpentine (excellent corseteers). And dancers. And makers. And lots of people in simply glorious steampunk attire. Also the waterworks steam engine, which featured in my first book trailer. The event page is here, and the regular page (still for the fair)Continue reading “Goulburn Waterworks Steampunk & Victoriana Fair”
List of all my Interactive Fiction
I make most of my writing income from interactive fiction. (As soon as I say “writing income” out loud, my fellow authors want to know more.) Most people who find me via my blog know me as a novelist, so I’ll pitch this entry as if you’re hearing about modern IF (interactive fiction) for theContinue reading “List of all my Interactive Fiction”
Antipodean Queen 2: SILVER AND STONE
SILVER AND STONE is the middle book of my Australian steampunk fantasy trilogy, which began with HEART OF BRASS and will end in 2018 with IRON LIGHTS. You can buy SILVER AND STONE here (I’ll even sign it for you), or the full STEAM & SORCERY pack here (all three novels plus the full versionContinue reading “Antipodean Queen 2: SILVER AND STONE”