#Deadsteam

[eseneca]

DeadSteam II now available!

[This is a legacy post mirroring the content of the original source.]

Happy Halloween! Perhaps you would like to indulge the spirit of the season with some fresh horror?

The return of the delightful fusion of steampunk and horror, dreadpunk, with an extra dose of dread, is now available in ebook format! Find my story "Cecilia" therein on page 72. Please enjoy! And if you have not yet checked out the first DeadSteam, my short story "Harvesters" is also featured there as well.

[karen-carlisle-off-the-artboard]

Project Announcement - - September 17th Release

https://karenjcarlisle.com/2023/08/17/project-announcement-cover-reveal-september-17th-release/

(WARNING SOME MINOR SPOILERS IF YOU HAVEN’T READ ‘DOCTOR JACK‘)

Okay, it’s time to spill the tea on my next publishing project.

Three years ago, I wrote a sequel of sorts to my first book Doctor Jack & Other Tales – specifically Doctor Jack. The story was first written for the Deadsteam II anthology published by Grim and Grimmer Books in 2021.

The story is now out of the anthology’s exclusive print contract, so I’ve decided to add it to my ‘Year of Short(er) Stories‘ and will be the last I will publish this year.

Blood Ties is a novellette, which is set directly after Jack/James’ final scenein Doctor Jack, when he boards a boat at the London docks (the last scene in his point of view), on a ship on it’s way to South Australia.

Blood Ties is the first in the James Findlay Journals series, and follows his continuing story, and will be published in both eBook and paperback formats. Originally, it was only scheduled for eBook release. (After Ingram Spark removed the set up fee, it’s now feasible to publish it as paperback.) It has a darker, gaslamp feel, more in keeping with the original Doctor Jack story.

Release date: 17th September, 2023, with the official launch at Adelaide Steampunk Aetherfest (tbc). Preorder available from 1st September direct from author via my website shop, and available to purchase at Adelaide Steampunk Aetherfest.

Book cover reveal coming soon.

[shanannigansthebibliophile]

Publication Day!!! Book Release Blitz: DeadSteam II by Various Authors, Edited by Bryce Raffle @bryceraffle @RRBookTours1 #RRBookTours

It’s release day for DeadSteam II, the terrifying follow up to anthology DeadSteam: A Chilling Collection of Dreadpunk Tales of the Dark and Supernatural. This collection would be perfect to curl up with tomorrow evening, though you may want to leave a light on! DeadSteam II: More Dreadpunk Tales of the Dark and Supernatural Publication Date: October 30th (Today ) Genre: Anthology/ Dreadpunk/…

[thehorrortree]

Taking Submissions: DeadSteam II

Taking Submissions: DeadSteam II

Deadline: August 16th, 2021 Payment: $25 plus a contributor’s copy. Theme: gaslamp and dreadpunk stories, which embrace the Victorian gothic Submissions are now open for the DeadSteam II anthology, the second Grimmer & Grimmer Books anthology. DeadSteam II is a collection of more gaslamp and dreadpunk stories, which embrace the Victorian gothic. In this edition, we’re really focusing on driving…

[eseneca]

DeadSteam Release Date

[This is a legacy post mirrored from its original source.]

Some updates to share.

First, the release date! October 1st. Pre-orders can be placed on the website now, and for those who use GoodReads, added to your shelf. The anthology will be available both in paperback and hardcover for those who prefer it (I'm partial to hardbacks myself).

And for something else to spread about, here is the brand new book trailer! Please watch and share!

Find my story “Harvesters” within. Amazon link.

[eseneca]

Works

"Harvesters" -- DeadSteam, 2018, Grimmer & Grimmer Press

"Light in the Dark" -- Aether & Ichor, 2019, Issue #2; reprinted in Issue #50 of Sirens Call eZine, 2020

"It Lives in the Mineshaft" -- The Monsters We Forgot vol. 2, 2019, Soteira Press

"A Specific Sort of Shared Madness" -- What Monsters Do For Love vol. 2, 2020, Soteira Press

"Haunt Me Like A Memory" -- A Monster Told Me Bedtime Stories, 2020, Soteira Press

"The Parade" -- Halloween Horror vol. 2, DBND Publishing, October 2020

"Glut" -- Slashertorte, Sliced Up Press, December 2020

"Waiting" -- Through Other Eyes, All Worlds Wayfarer, December 2020

"Cecilia" -- DeadSteam II, Grimmer & Grimmer Press, October 2021

"The Shadow Beneath The Water" -- Sherlock Holmes & The Occult Detectives IV, Belanger Books, May 2022

"Ashen Queen" -- Kingdoms of Wrath & Ice, Tourmaline & Quartz Publishing, November 2022

"Blood of the Sea" -- The Deeps Issue #1, June 2023

"The Case of the Arkham Doctor" -- Sherlock Holmes: Adventures in the Realms of H.P. Lovecraft: Volume 2, Belanger Books, October 2023

“The Compound” — Astral: Alien Fiction, Issue #1, March 2024  

Coming Soon:

"Sapphire Eyes" -- Deep In The Woods, Jester's Grin Press, TBA

“Regarding the Coffin From the River” -- Too Bad, You Died, Infested Publishing, TBA

[karen-carlisle-off-the-artboard]

Deadsteam II

https://karenjcarlisle.com/2021/10/31/deadsteam-ii/

There’s a new anthology out today, just in time for Halloween. Deadsteam II is the second dreadpunk/steampunk anthology by Grimmer & Grimmer Books, with thirteen more dark stories.

I was asked to join the ranks of fellow returning authors, James Dorr, Bryce Raffle, Ross Smeltzer, C.C. Adams, E. Seneca, and Rob Francis, and David Lee Summers, as well as welcoming new authors to the fold. This time, I have a longer short story; , following Doctor Jack/ James Findlay (The Adventures of Viola Stewart) after he boarded that ship to Australia. (Haven’t read it, check it out here: eBook/ Paperback

Just when you thought the nightmare was over, what was dead comes crawling back from the beyond. We warned you not to open that fateful tome. But you just couldn’t resist, could you? Back with more chilling tales of the dark and supernatural, the anthology of dreadpunk, gaslamp, and dark steampunk returns to haunt you with mummies, witches, vampires, gorgons, ghosts. The second installment in the DeadSteam series from Grimmer & Grimmer Books, DeadSteam II promises an even darker, grimmer gothic than the first offering. DeadSteam II includes stories by DeadSteam alumni David Lee Summers (Owl Dance, The Brazen Shark), Karen J Carlisle (The Adventures of Viola Stewart), Bryce Raffle, Ross Smeltzer, C.C. Adams, E. Seneca, and Rob Francis, while also introducing newcomers to the DeadSteam series. If you should sense someone lurking down by the river, some thing creeping through the forest, a sound from the attic, a strange pattern in the wallpaper that shouldn’t be there, a cold gust of wind on your neck…don’t look back. Just run. Run as far as you can But know this…we’re still here.

Where to buy your copy:

Kobo / Amazon/ and other online stores. You can find the first Deadsteam anthology here.

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[karen-carlisle-off-the-artboard]

When things don't quite go to plan - but turn out alright anyway

https://karenjcarlisle.com/2020/10/14/when-things-dont-quite-go-to-plan-but-turn-out-alright-anyway/

Well, this is interesting.

  Last time I published an eBook, via Smashwords and Draft 2 Digital (and listed it on Goodreads and my website bookshop), the entire process took about 3-7 days to sort itself out. With this in mind, and now my Patreon Adventurer Extraordinaire and above tiers have got their patron reward copy of the eBook, I started the process for Another Twist of the Nib.

  I began with Draft 2 Digital, as there have been issues on Amazon’s end for three of my eBooks. I was quite happy to have them chug away and expected not to get any results until the weekend while I sorted the rest…

Well, knock my socks off! The Draft 2 Digital publication went through without a hitch (I thought Amazon would block the process as there was a small ‘freely available’ excerpt of the final short, The Case of the Murderous Migraine, online for it’s first publication in Deadsteam, 2018). I emailed the very helpful Tara, at D2D, to warn her of the  (<5%)  excerpt. She made a note of it. (I am extremely pleased with D2D’s customer service, btw.)

well… This time it all went through without a hitch. It went through (thanks to Tara’s note to the Amazon vetters/reviewers). Squee.

Thus began the process of adding Another Twist of the Nib to my Amazon author page. It took a day to be visible to add to the page via Amazon’s author central. Next, there’s usually there’s a 2-7 day wait for it to process and become visible on my author page on Amazon’s website. Blow me over with a feather; it popped up within three hours!

In the meantime, I uploaded to Smashwords (to distribute to Kobo, Apple Books, B&N etc) This can usually be done in half a day (though it takes longer to be approved for Apple Books). Today it was a tad quicker.  I then assigned an ISBN and it was all go, go, go!

I popped over to Books 2 Read to check out my links listing…  Again, it seemed to be a much faster process this time round (not waiting for Amazon make a huge difference). So you can check out the links listing HERE already!

I’ve now made the eBook listing public in my website page, with both the Smashwords direct and the link listing link, and added the eBook to my Goodreads listing.

A process that took me over a week previously, has taken just 24 hours this time. To say I’m surprised is definitely an understatement.

So, a good surprise. Definitely less stress this time round. (am wondering what I haven’t noticed has gone wrong). But also a tad annoying, as I’d hoped my patrons to have their reward copy at least a week before it was online. My apologies to you all.

Here is the complete list of links:

Smashwords https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/1047365

Amazon https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08KSGXL1N/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i3

Book 2 Read – all online stores listing: https://books2read.com/Another-Twist-of-the-Nib

Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/55586030-another-twist-of-the-nib

my webpage shop: https://karenjcarlisle.com/product/another-twist-of-the-nib/

When you read the eBook, feel free to leave an honest review on Smashwords, Amazon and/or Goodreads if you wish. Every little bit helps.

This post was published via Patron on 7th October.

[karen-carlisle-off-the-artboard]

New Year: 2020 Plans (so far)

https://karenjcarlisle.com/2020/01/13/new-year-2020-plans-so-far/

Happy new year!

The new year has brought mixed feelings down here in Australia. Bushfires are still burning. Friends have been evacuated, here in South Australia, Victoria and NSW. We wait to hear if they have a home to return to. I don’t think there’s anyone in Australia not either affected directly or knows someone devastated by this firestorm. We’re safe (ish) on our side of the Adelaide Hills. If you wish to help the relief effort, please donate to

Red Cross or

Salvation Army (Salvos) Australia who will ensure people get what they need.

For wildlife: donate to Wires Wildlife Rescue. Please be wary of scammers (unfortunately there have been many recently).

To help those in the South Australian bushfires:

SERF (State Emergency Relief Fund): https://dhs.sa.gov.au/services/disaster-recovery/accordion-11

KI Mayoral Relief and Recovery Bushfire Fund: https://www.kangarooisland.sa.gov.au/notice-board/latest-news/ki-mayoral-relief-and-recovery-bushfire-fund

Christmas was also dampened as we knew the Adelaide family who died in the New Zealand volcano eruption. So it’s been a tough emotional month, culminating in a hospital visit (I managed to avoid them last year). Anxiety and smoke are an unfortunate combination.

All is okay. I have a referral for further tests.

Upside? I wrote a short story and a poem (which I don’t do very often) in one day. The short story has been submitted to the Furious Fiction competition. Hey, if I win, that’s the airfare for Brisbane Supanova paid for. The poem was shared with my Patreon supporters and my newsletter subscribers last week. The words were cathartic. It seems I only write poems after distasters.

This is not how I wanted to herald the new year.

As I write this, it’s a much cooler day. Finally, some respite for the firefighters. We all hope the fires can be controlled before the next predicted heatwave (third this month!).

I’ve taken to the time to gather my thoughts and channel them in a more positive direction. I’ve spent a few days eating chocolate, reading a book, looking at kitten pictures, designing book covers and writing. (It was still too hot to garden.)

Another positive: I did get asked to be on the Words Out Loud panel for their Christmas Eve radio show on PBA FM. You can hear it here on SoundCloud (and it’s linked on my Interviews and In the Media pages on my webpage).

I’ve been thinking about New Year resolutions. So many are made. So many are broken. My only resolution this year is to stay healthy, write and be kind. The first part is out of my control, but I’ll try my best. For the second, I have many plans. (I just wish I could write faster):

A Fey Tale is a work-in-progress. When the first draft is done, there’s rewrites, edits and beta reading. The plan is have it ready for publication in the first half of this year. The cover for A Fey Tale is done (Cover reveal to come). The blurb is done:

A deal with fairies… to solve a mystery… and prevent a war.

Fairies and magic: It’s all real!

Enid Turner is invited to a picnic in honour of the creator of the world’s most famous detective, currently on a lecture tour in Adelaide, where they are caught in a web of treachery and betrayal from the Otherworlds.

It’s up to Aunt Enid and the Protectors, with a little help from the self-appointed Fairy Hunter, to solve the mystery, return the kidnapped heir and save the humans from Otherworldly retribution. It’s now a race to save the Earth from becoming a battleground for a magical war.

Artwork: I have five pieces of internal inked artwork to finish for A Fey Tale.

Against the Empire (book two in The Department of Curiosities series): After A Fey Tale is published, I’m diving into more reserach, with a small road trip to experience one of the local settings first-hand (get the smells and bells as a friend calls it). Humbug Scrub is only a short drive away, but I have to wait until the area is re-opened after the bushfires (and hope the wildlife sanctuary and history info has survived). I then need to organise a meeting with local historians and Elders, chase up photos and history of a few Adelaide buildings.

I’ve got version one of the Against the Empire cover.

I’ll need to do a new photoshoot and book trailer – for both Against the Empire and A Fey Tale .

Anthology short stories:

Mrs Hudson has found a new mystery to investigate. This time she enlists Mary Watson. This is for submission to the next Where’s Holmes? anthology.

I’ll delve into the darker side, with another short to submit to the Deadsteam II anthololgy. Wish me luck!

As usual, I’ve had a few new story inspirations over the holidays (this is both squee! and argh at the same time), so there’s at least one more short story/novella (I’m not sure how long it will be) to add to my growing list. I think that’s twenty-two now. At least.

Next on my list is an interview on world building by Phoebe Darqueling‘s blog . It’ll be posted on Thursday 16th January at 11:30 AM East Coast time (US). That’s Friday, here in Australia. I’ll be revealing some information about my third steampunk series, The Wizard of St Giles, which I will be working on after The Department of Curiosities is finished. I also give a few hints on background story shenanigans, and where all three steampunk series sits in my alternate history world.

Until then, be brave and be kind.

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Patreon supporters were given a sneak peek of this post on 8th January.

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[karen-carlisle-off-the-artboard]

Don't hit yourself on the way out, 2018!

https://karenjcarlisle.com/2018/12/31/dont-hit-yourself-on-the-way-out-2018/

It’s been a… complicated 2018. 

There was  the good:

Aunt Enid was fun to write. It reminded me of many, many wonderful childhood memories

and I finally got hold of my great aunt’s lemon butter recipe!

I attended Melbourne Supanova for the first time…  Road trip! with three fellow authors, Matt, Kylie and Katie.

Just broke even for both Melbourne and Adelaide Supanova. (yeah!) 

I wrote my first song for an Aussie steampunk band, The Littmus Steampunk Band – The Gadgeteer – which was released on their CD, Left Foot Forward.

Had a short story published in the anthology, Deadsteam.

Our offspring graduated from high school. Huzzah! and is contemplating an art career. (buy her stuff, it’s fantastic!)

I got some fantastic book reviews

Met Gillian from Sydney steampunk band, Sideshow Annie, and met Pete and Kat from Unorthodox  Society for the Elucidation of Retro-Futurism

had social media posts liked by Tara Moss (my hero), Gail Carriger (another hero) and some other fave actors.

my Patreon page went live this year and I got my first Patreon supporters

I finished 95 projects this year (I was aiming for 99)

crocheted several items and learned new stitches

I completed 2.5 book trailers, and got to work with garden gnomes and met lovely staff at the Largs Pier Hotel.

did five author talks/workshops this year, including a parasol duelling demo.

attended some fun steampunk events with friends.

booked our holiday for next year. First one since 2008.

The bad:

officially diagnosed with PTSD, and high functioning anxiety, so could work on new techniques to help and not waste my time doing general therapies which have done nothing in the past five years. So, in the end, this was really a good thing.

still haven’t found that magic bullet to stop anxiety attacks.

too many panic attacks.

No gardening done this year due to 3 months of chronic bronchitis.

I’ve forgotten to keep my ‘thankful jar’ up-to-date and, as a result, have forgotten too many great little things that cheered me us this year.

discovered I’m allergic to another antibiotic.

Stephen Hawking died this year.

Quentin Kenihan died. (friend of my Dearheart’s)

and the ugly:

the fight with my insurance company continued. This has dragged me down, making it hard to see any light at the end of the tunnel… It’s been four years! Just last month the situation came to a head and – thank God – was resolved before I had to end up in court or appear on shady tv current affairs shows. So, that was good in the end, as well. I’m hoping I can start healing. Finally.

Personally, I’ll be glad to see the back of this year.

Good riddence, 2018! and…

Hello, 2019. Happy New Year everyone. Let’s make it a good one!

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