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It’s Carina Press Week as Steampunkapalooza draws to an end. At Carina Press it’s also Steampunk week, where they’re promoting all their fab Steampunk books and authors and giving away a free Steampunk read. Carina Press is part of Harlequin and they’re as excited about Steampunk as we are here at Steamed.
This week (Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday), we’ll have a different Carina Press author on each day. Each day you comment, you’re entered to win a prize pack from Carina Press, which includes e-books from all four of the Carina press authors featured this week.
Today we welcome author Crista McHugh.
Crista McHugh grew up in small town Alabama, where she relied on story-telling as a natural way to pass the time and keep her two younger sisters entertained. She’s been a barista, bartender, sommelier, stagehand, actress, morgue attendant, and autopsy assistant. Currently lives in the Seattle area with her husband and daughter, maintaining an alter ego of mild-mannered physician by day while writing on nights and weekends. For the latest updates and answers to any burning questions, please check out her blog.
How Bruce Campbell Inspired My Steampunk Western
by Crista McHugh
I have a confession to make. I loved The Adventures of Brisco County, Jr when I was younger. Bruce Campbell played the title character, a lawyer turned bounty hunter with a perchance for great one-liners. I w
as so bummed when Fox cancelled it, but thankfully, I can still download episodes on You Tube when I need to get my fix.
The great thing about this show (besides Bruce) was that it combined westerns with touch of the paranormal. It was Cowboys & Aliens before Harrison Ford was ever cast for the film. So when I started plotting for NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) in 2008, I naturally thought it would be fun to write something like Brisco County. But instead of using Sci-Fi elements, I veered more toward Steampunk.
Like The Adventures of Brisco County Jr, the world of The Alchemy of Desire is part Wild West and part Wild, Wild West. It’s about two brothers on a quest to find the White Buffalo (not a golden orb) with a gang of bad guys (and their steam-powered inventions) hot on their tails and woman who has her own agenda for them. And there’s even a slightly roguish character that’s great with the one-liners.
You can buy The Alchemy of Desire from Carina Press, Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and other ebook retailers.
Where do you draw your Steampunk inspiration?
~Crista McHugh
In addition to being entered into our week-long drawing for a Carina Press Steampunk Prize Pack, one lucky commenter on today’s post with also win a $10 GC to Amazon or Barnes & Noble. Contest closes May 1st at 11:59 PM PST. For grand prize drawing, one entry per commenter per blog post during Carina Press Steampunk Week. Contest for grand prize closes May 8th at 11:59 PM PST.
STEAMED! 
How exciting!! a whole week of writers from Carina… 😀
very cool to hear that it started as a Nano story… 😀
I’ve just recently discovered the awesome that is Steampunk (better late than never, right?) and love that there are so many great-sounding books and shows out there. I’m going to have to check out both Crista’s book AND Brisco County, JR!
Thanks!
I *adored* Adventures of Brisco County, Jr. Of course, I’m also kind of a mega-fan of Bruce Campbell anyway (yes, I’ve seen all the Evil Dead movies and a number of his SyFy original movies too).
I draw my Steampunk inspiration from a number of sources, honestly, but my two primary ones are historical events and discussions I have with other people.
For example, the storyline of CALLARION AT NIGHT (my perpetually unfinished SP novel) combines certain portions of the historical Holocaust with certain portions of the atrocities committed by the Spanish Inquisition in the Middle Ages.
The storyline of PURITY DISTILLED came about because Theresa Meyers wondered on Twitter one day if Steampunk tech could determine whether someone was a virgin or not.
And the Steampunk Round Robin story came about because that’s what happens when highly creative people start talking ideas to each other.
So yeah … I guess you could say I draw inspiration from pretty much everywhere. Even for my SP stories and the tech.
~laugh~ I love Bruce too! He becomes his character so thoroughly 🙂
You’re story sounds like a grand adventure. I will have to check it out.
Can’t wait to see more from the Carina authors this week!
I think I remember the Brisco County TV show. I love to watch movies and TV shows, just to get a visual image in my head to start with when I write. From there I can embellish and modify things in my mind. Works for characters as well as weapons. 🙂
Raye, it was a crazy NaNo story at that – took me well over a year to clean it up and make it presentable. 🙂
Matthew, I adore Bruce’s stuff too. Huge fan! I need to find a way to incorporate a “boomstick” in my next novel. 😉 But having discussions with other fans of a genre really does get my gears turning.
Jenn, thank you! I just love Bruce — even his brief cameos in the Spiderman movies cracked me up.
Janel, I agree – I tend to take an image and try to re-work it. With things like costumes and other forms of art, it’s usually pretty easy to go from idea to finished product. Words are trickier because the same words evoke different images in each person. 🙂
I’ll check back later today and chat some more. Thanks for the comments so far!
I am sorry that FOX canceled your show. I think that many people have favorites that were canceled by FOX.
LOL! We’re huge Bruce Campbell fans! Saw him the other night in the Sam Axe movie, which was great! Wish he’d make more zombie movies, though!
Congratulations on the new release!
*hugs*
Paige
Mary, thank you! My husband claims he needs an alcohol shield in place when he watches Brisco, but I don’t think he gets half the jokes.
Joseph, agreed. FOX is great at cancelling good shows like Brisco and Firefly. Silly TV networks
Paige, OMG! Fan girl squee! I have to check out that movie. 🙂
What a great post! I haven’t read any Steampunk before, but your book sounds really intriguing, so I just might have to dip my toes in the Steampunk waters. 🙂
The only Bruce Cambpell movies I’ve seen are Evil Dead, Army of Darkness (hubby loves this one!) and Bubba Hotep.
I have an admission to make: I’m totally new to steampunk! I haven’t read any, and I haven’t written any! But I’m totally intrigued! Your story sounds great, Crista, and I wish you a happy release! 😉
Congrats on the release Christa! I saw Angela James a couple weeks again in Nashville, she was giving a talk on digital print & Carina Press.
I’m looking to add some more Steampunk to my library. BTW, I love Bruce Campbell too. He trips me out
Cynthia, I have to admit, The Alchemy of Desire is NOT hardcore Steampunk. It’s more Weird West – s western with paranormal/steampunk elements. The sequel I’m working on is a bit more urban steampunk, but I can’t get too far away from my paranormal roots.
Laura, thank you! Steampunk is still relatively new to most people, so you’re in good company. There’s been so many great authors featured this month on Steampunkapalooza, I’m sure you’ll a great jumping off point to explore. 🙂
LaTessa, I love hearing Angie speak – she is so enthusiastic about digital print! I can’t wait to see her at Emerald City this October. 🙂
Well I don’t write Steampunk–and I’m new to reading it–but anything inspired by Bruce Campbell gets an automatic high five in my book. I can’t wait to read this, Crista!
Skylar, thank you! Cager, the hero’s brother, was totally inspired by Brisco. 🙂
yay for carina!
ok, i must admit i love bruce in the evil dead series. didn’t know about the brisco series. it’s one for my netflix queue!
as for steampunk inspiration, i get mine from the various gadgetry that is being created lately. oh, the possibilities.
Being a few years older than you, I used to watch Wild Wild West. I first encountered His Chinliness in Army of Darkness, and have admired him since. Did you see Bubba Hotep?
We loved Brisco and hunted down Bruce’s other series (Jack of All Trades) not too long ago. You should check it out.
I forgot about Jack of All Trades! Must find that one again.
Yeah, Bruce Campbell and Brisco County are both pretty excellent. Glad to see that Brisco is still influencing quality weird westerns!
I was a big fan of The Adventures of Brisco County Jr, and Bruce Campbell (and still am). I really enjoy Steampunk in all it’s forms, but I think my favorites are the stories set in the West. I’m looking forward to checking out your story, The Alchemy of Desire.
vvb, I am amazed by some of the gadgets I’ve seen by Steampunk artists/machinists. When I was writing this book, I found some great spurs made out of gears that I loved. Of course, I’m still jonesing for that steampunk “laptop”
Amber, I’ve only seen parts of Bubba Hotep, usually when there was a party going on the background. I’ll have to add it to my Netflix queue and sit down to watch it soon.
Clothdragon, I’ve been meaning to watch Jack of All Trades. I heard it was even funnier than Brisco.
David, it’s all nostalgia. But it was a jumping off point, and it gave me an excuse to watch episodes of Brisco again. 🙂
Barbara, thank you! I agree — we need to see more Westerns (especially Weird Westerns). I hope you enjoy Alchemy!
Thank you to everyone who has commented so far! I glad I’m not the only Bruce Campbell fan out there. 🙂
Gah! *Wants to read The Twisted Tale of Stormy Gale very badly*
My steampunk inspiration comes from bigger cities. I love going to the old, rundown areas of those big cities and seeing stuff that seems to be remains of Victorian England with a steampunk flare. Sometimes I think they do the steampunk thing on purpose 😉 But everytime I see a steampunky lamppost or other similar object, I wonder what it would be like if it really were from that time. And that always sparks ideas 🙂
I haven’t read much steampunk, but I adore the steampunk movies (before they were called such) I’ve seen over the years, so I think it’s time I start exploring the literary version!
Crista, your storyline has intrigued me since I first began hearing about it. Super congrats on the release!
Noah, I agree — I can’t wait to get my hands on a copy of Stormy Gale. It looks great! And yes, if you live near an area with a Victorian District, that is awesome inspiration. Here in Seattle, we have Pioneer Square. Granted, I’m usually walking though it on my way to a ballgame, but it’s great to soak in some of those Victorian influences.
Jessi, thank you! Like I mentioned earlier, this blog (and Steampunkapalooza) is a wonderful way to discover what’s new and hot in Steampunk. And like you, I loved the “Steampunk” movies/TV shows before the movement became hot. I’m such a geek for history and science. 😉
Crista-
Great post. I love Brisco County and revisit the box set occasionally. The show was great for all of the reasons you mentioned – it mixed humor, the old west and scifi in an interesting way. Bruce Campbell has been the inspiration for a couple of my characters over the years.
Not to brag, but years ago I got to see Bruce do outdoor theater. He played the title role in “Shane”. It was awesome!
My inspiration for steam punk comes from researching historical events and then asking what could have happened if it just went a different way at a certain point. I guess that’s what everyone does, but I really enjoy doing the research that goes with it.
Thanks again for a great post.
I’ve loved weird westerns from the first time I saw Wild Wild West–the tv show, not the movie. 🙂 For me these are perfect combinations of history, steam and what if. Heavy on the what if!
Crista, I adore Bruce Campbell and love the Brisco series which I own on DVD. I also started a western steampunk during NaNo a couple of years ago. Haven’t worked on it much recently. I have the sample of The Alchemy of Desire on my Kindle. Can’t wait to read it.
Cathy
library999cat@gmail.com
Matt, I’m so jealous you got see Bruce live! Of course, seeing him a Western is that much cooler!! I like the idea of taking history and going, “what if?” That’s basically where I came up with the world-building in this book. 🙂
Lizzie, it sounds like you’re a Steampunk Western fan from way back!! Awesome!
Cathy, finish your Steampunk Western! They are so much fun to write! 🙂
Having grown up a Bruce Campbell fan (Evil Dead!!!!) since I was in diapers, the man continually amazes me that he can jump around in so many different genres (superhero, western, fantasy, action) and seem so…plausible in all of them! I can totally see Bruce knocking back a beer in Miami or being a gunslinger you know?
When I think of Steampunk I always think of Jules Verne, or rather the TV show “The Secret Adventures of Jules Verne”…I never actually read any of his books (not quite my thing), but watching him hop around Victoriana with Michael Praed vanquishing all manner of bad guys with weaponry and science far removed from the time in actual ability if not design…well it was my first taste of Steampunk and I was hooked from there on out.
Lexie C.
Lexie.Cenni@gmail.com
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