Today at the front porch, in honor of Maureen O. Beitia, we're having a steampunk party!
Welcome Maureen!
The table is set with a damask tablecloth with a lace top. I'm using delicate china with a floral design. To start I'm serving finger sandwiches with roast beef, and smoked salmon. I'll serve Orange Pekoe, and Earl Grey teas, with scones topped with Marzipan. There's brandy under the table for anyone who wants a little kick.
Let the party begin!
Maureen needs help choosing some additional steampunk outfits. Do you have any suggestions?
Maureen looks cool as an airship mechanic
Maureen brought along two friends.
Greetings!
What do you have planned for this weekend,
Maureen?
I have an exciting weekend ahead of me! Ever heard of steampunk? That wonderful new genre (actually not all that old) which features a mix of historical and technical elements. The spirit of invention! Or as it was put to me neo-Victorian retro-future! Yes!
Steampunk! It’s just so interesting! I’ve written a book with some mild steampunk elements, mixed with pirates and it was a fun thing to do. (I really need to nag my agent about querying Decadent about this book, called The Chameleon Goggles!) I also love to costume. In November of 2010 I was at SteamCon II in Seattle and had such a blast! Dressing up was cool, taking pictures of everyone in costume was so so cool, the panels were fabulous. There were many on writing and several romance authors spoke. This was exciting because months before I’d been at the Nova Albion SteamCon in Oakland and heard literal groans when the idea of romance in the genre was mentioned. Tomorrow, I’m attending the second Nova Albion SteamCon, now moved to San Jose, and really looking forward to it! The theme is Wild Wild East, it’s gonna be a blast!
So, I have to really figure out what I’m going to wear! Seattle was the Wild Wild West and so I went with a bit of the Victorian school marm, high wasted long skirt, short boots, fitted shirt and a nice straw hat with scarf. (I actually found all these clothes in my closet. There is something to be said for dressing with an odd flare. No one tell Stacy and Clinton, okay? I don’t relish having to explain my closet to the What Not To Wear dynamic duo.)
What to wear to the Nova Albion SteamCon Convention. I don’t really have an Eastern style costume to wear. I have this really cool full length black and red Asian style dress, but I have no way to steampunk it up. I’ll wear something more casual steampunk on Friday and maybe something will catch my eye that will do the trick, then I can wear the dress on Saturday…
I do enjoy this genre and want to see myself attending one as a featured author one of these days. To that goal I am going to Nova Albion with particular things in mind.
I want to be part of SteamCon III, in October. The theme is 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea and I want to promote The Kraken’s Mirror to the roof! And if The Chameleon Goggles flies, I want to promote that one, too, since it features the albino kraken from the first book. I will be talking to the people selling the tickets for SteamConIII at the San Jose Convention, and asking who I contact to be considered for a panel, and part of the program.
I mean, it takes a certain amount of chutzpah to announce that I am so interesting, they should include me as a featured author and put me on panels because I have so much to say… I mean, some of these people are real scholars. I can be confident, but I may need a few glasses of wine before I’m up for it. But I am determined! Wish me luck!
Good Luck! We know you'll do a great job!
Coming Friday
Available from Decadent Publishing
http://www.maureenobetita.com/
The Kraken's Mirror - available now, Decadent Publishing
http://believinginsecondchances.typepad.com/ (every Sunday)
http://www.castlesandguns.com/ (every other Tuesday)
http//romancewritersrevenge.com/ (every Friday as 2nd Chance
