Although I may be familiar to many of you from my guest posts on Steampunkapalooza for the last two years, today marks my debut as a regular contributor. I recently had the delightful opportunity of meeting several of my fellow Lolitas at the Romantic Times Convention in Chicago, and I couldn’t be more excited about joining their number. For any gentle readers not acquainted with my name or work, my name is Cindy Spencer Pape (three words, no hyphens) and I write the Gaslight Chronicles from Carina Press, along with a variety of other, non-steampunkish, romances, though we won’t be talking about those here.
In the real world, I’m married to a wonderful man who indulges my love of dressing up in silly costumes
and can maintain his equanimity when I muse out loud about how to describe the sound of a cudgel striking a human head, how one would build a steam-powered ice maker, or what to call a secret order of vampyre hunters in Victorian London. Being something of a mad scientist himself, he actually encourages me. Furthermore I have two college-aged sons who remain remarkably unembarrassed by their mother’s occupation, which is really as much as one can hope for. As I write, two spoiled-rotten dogs lounge at my feet and an iguana who considers humans his personal servants is glaring at me from across the room. It appears his luncheon is a few moments late. Beyond that, I live a deceptively ordinary suburban life in southern Michigan, and survive by passing amongst the others unnoticed.
My Gaslight books are a willy-nilly mix of steampunk, gaslight fantasy, mystery and romance. As a child I was told that my too-vivid imagination would get me in trouble one day. Instead, it gives me the opportunity to have endless amounts of fun, writing fantastical stories about a world that might have been. One of my favorite plotting techniques is to take as many disparate ideas as I can, toss them in a mixing bowl, bake and see what comes out. Ultimately, those end up being madcap tales populated with oddball characters against a backdrop of fantasy, science and history.I’m certain I’ll be talking more about the series as time goes on.
You can find out more about me and my books by visiting my website. I also love to meet new friends on Facebook and Twitter. I’m charmed to meet each and every one of you, and hope that if anyone has any particular requests for future posts, you’ll let me know. Toodles!
I love the fact that you mix so much into your Steampunk adventures! Keep that mixing bowl handy because I’m sure I’m not the only one looking forward to more in your Gaslight Chronicles series:)
How fun, Cindy! Congrats on joining the ranks of the Lolitas!
Each new story added to the Gaslights Chronicles is a joy. Keep writing!!!
Welcome to STEAMED!
Thanks, Paris, Fedora, Anny and Theresa! Thanks so much. The next Gaslight book is coming June 4th–more about that on my next post!
I love ya keen look in ya goggles and finery ma’am!
And I love what you’re writing.Cindy, you seem to found your special niche and the results are beautiful.
XXOO Kat
Congrats, Cindy. Keep writing!
I wonder how many writers were accused of that too vivid imagination as kids? Mum reminds me I used to have an imaginary friend — didn’t everyone? I do remember the day I ran in to tell her there was a wolf in the yard. Ahem. I live in Australia and my family had beagles when I was little. Definitely no wolves. Still … maybe steampunk would be better for some wolves?
Lovely to see you here, Cindy. I enjoyed your intro
Really enjoyed your description of yourself, the household, the spoiled iguana especially….and just have to say your books are marvelous! Best wishes at STEAMED
Congrats on joining the ranks here, Cindy! Love your series
Thanks, Kat, Sarah, Jenny, Veronica & Seleste!