*Contest is closed*
Day 7 brings us to an Interview w/ O.M. Grey!
Thank you so much for joining me for my Giveaway-A-Day Countdown to My 25th Birthday Bash! It's so great to have you here!
Thank you, Amanda! I hope you have a wonderful birthday!
Can you tell me a little about yourself?
I'm a rather private person, and I don't much like having my picture taken. I like to play dress up, though. Especially in bustles & corsets. Great fun, that.
How long have you been writing?
Since I could hold a crayon. My first story was all in pictures. I folded it up into a little book and presented it to my mother. I was five. She still has it, bless her.
Who are your favorite authors?
The original Steampunk crew, of course: Mary Shelley, Jules Verne, & H. G. Wells
Contemporary, I just adore the work of Gail Carriger, Leanna Renee Hieber, and Nick Valentino, in the Steampunk/Victorian genre. Great Science Fiction: D. B. Grady, and, of course, my internet tutor and fellow Blue Moose authors Christine and Ethan Rose's Rowan of the Wood series.
What got you interested in Steampunk?
I guess I've always been interested in it, but I just wasn't hip enough to know what to call it. It wasn't until I read the delightful SOULLESS by Gail Carriger that the term, aesthetic, and genre really all came together for me. Then I knew I had found a home for my story.
Can you tell us about Avalon Revisited?
Arthur has made his existence as a vampire bearable for over three hundred years by immersing himself in blood and debauchery. Aboard an airship gala, he meets Avalon, an aspiring vampire slayer who sparks fire into Arthur’s shriveled heart. Together they try to solve the mystery of several horrendous murders on the dark streets of London. Cultures clash and pressures rise in this sexy Steampunk Romance.
What was your favorite scene to write?
All of it was rather fun. I just let my imagination go, and my characters guided me along. If I had to choose one favorite, it would have to be the "chartreuse" scene. It's quite amusing.
Do you have a favorite character? If so, why?
My antihero protagonist Arthur Tudor is definitely my favorite. He is quite naughty and mischievous. Dark and sexy. He had a rough time, which has made him indifferent and rather cynical, but meeting Avalon reminds him of love and tenderness. It's fun to watch him change.
What are you working on now?
I'm mostly working on promotion at the moment. Getting a book seen is quite the challenge! Especially for a first time author. There might be more of Arthur & Avalon in the future, though.
What is your best birthday memory?
My last one, actually. It was my 40th, so a rather big one. My husband surprised me with tickets to Disneyland! I had never been there before, and it was lovely. Truly magical.
Do you have any upcoming appearances?
My latest schedule can be seen on my website under "Sightings."
Where else can we find you? (websites, blog, facebook, twitter, etc.)
http://omgrey.wordpress.com - website & blog
Thank you so much for joining us today! It's been such fun having you!
Guess what everyone, the fun isn't over! O.M. will be stopping by today to answer your questions and is giving away a signed copy of Avalon Revisited!
This giveaway is open to US & Canadian residents only. It runs until May 31st. For any other questions see the rules. To see the other contests still going on check the schedule.
To enter ask O.M. a question or leave a comment AND fill out this form.
After today (May 7th), you can answer the question, what is it about steampunk that interests you?
*Contest is closed*
31 comments:
What inspired you to write Avalon Revisited?
I don't believe I've read any Steampunk, so it's a new genre for me. I am very interested in reading some though. Your book sounds very intriguing.
Can't enter as am non-US. But re-posted your contest at: http://contests-freebies.blogspot.com/2010/05/win-avalon-revisited-at-not-really.html
Twitted: http://twitter.com/cherrymischivus/status/13533283135
Goodluck to everybody participating!!
id have to say i read my first steam punk book the other day called Steamed and iw as pleasently suprised ur book sounds great if ur characters could be turne din toa movie who ould play them
Are you planning to write anther series?
Thanks everyone for stopping by so early!
Tori - the inspiration came from a love of English History (especially the colorful TUDOR family), my love of vampires, and the utter coolness of Steampunk. It was this aesthetic/subgenre that really pulled it all together for me.
Linda - Now is a good time to start!
Cherry - Bummer! You can still enter to win a pair of Steampunk goggles over on my blog. That's open internationally!
Thanks for reposting!
SiNn - I haven't yet read Steamed, but I've heard great things about it. If the characters can be turned into a movie... hmmm. Perhaps Arthur could be played by Rupert Grint. Young. Hot. Red-haired. Definitely.
If Alan Cumming was 20 years younger, he'd be absolutely perfect for the role.
As for Avalon, she could be played by Helena Bonham Carter or Cate Blanchett. Kate Winslet or Keira Knightley would do well, too! Although Keira is quite young for Avalon yet.
Elizabeth - There is always something else brewing in this demented mind.
I'm really excited about the attention that's slowly moving toward steampunk (or at least my attention has been drawn to steampunk so I've noticed that other people are also looking that way, too). : )
What is your favorite part of steampunk? The clothing? The flying airships (okay, this isn't a necessity, but it's my favorite part so I'm including it!)? The fun twist on an older time period?
Thanks for the giveaway!
ambience.of.rain {at} gmail.com
Wow, I'm late to the party! Thanks for the early turnout! O.M. Grey Thanks so much for being here to answer questions today, and for doing this interview and giveaway!!
Loving the questions so far, and thanks for spreading the word Cherry!
Christa - My favorite part of Steampunk is pretty much all of it. I do really love the aesthetic as a whole. The clothes are great fun, and I hope to be sporting lots of fun Steampunk Couture in the coming year at conventions and the like.
The gadgets are wonderful, of course - dirigibles and cogs and steamy steam! Oh my!
The other thing I love is the politeness of Victorian society, and it seems some of that is coming along with Steampunk, so that's a very good thing.
Amanda - My absolute pleasure! Happy Birthday!
Great interview & giveaway,
I'm not in the US so can't enter, but I just wanted to welcome O.M.Grey and say I can't wait to read Avalon Revisited!
Happy Birthday Amanda :-)
Thanks
Jennifer
I love steampunk and I'm enjoying how lots of authors are taking the genre and running with it, coming up with unique and wonderful stories. I enjoyed Gail Carriger's Soulless and Changeless, as well as Katie MacAlister's Steamed and I'm looking forward to reading more. Your Avalon Revisited sounds like one I need to pick up.
Hey O.M. If You Were Stuck On A Desert Island What Three Must Have Items Would You Have With You?
I have SOULLESS in my TBR pile. It will be my first steampunk read. Avalon Revisited sounds great.
marlenebreakfield(at)yahoo(dot)com
Barbara E. : You most definitely need to pick it up, too!
Skyla: Tea. Scones. Chocolate.
mbreakfield: Soulless is awesome! If you like it, and I know you will, give mine a try. It's darker, grittier, and certainly steamier.
@Miss Bohemia- LOL Thank you for the birthday wishes, yet again! :)
Thanks for all the tweets today everyone!
My question on the form was: What is steampunk?
I think I know, but I am not sure and I am relatively certain I have not read any.
The books do sound intriguing and there are vampires, so I will need to read them ;)
Steampunk (in a nutshell) is a subgenre of Science Fiction that's set in Victioan times or a Victorian-like society (like if it's in another dimension or bother planet), where all the technology is powered by steam or clockwork.
ooo, Amanda Leigh thanks for featuring this book and OM Grey - i'm adding her to my steampink week. squeee!
and, happy pre-birthday!
question to OM: What is your favorite steampunk mode of transportation?
@vvb32- I'm glad you found your way here. I was going to track you down soon if you didn't. Thanks for the pre-birthday wishes! :) Can't wait for Steampink week!!
i enjoy steampunk because it has two things i enjoy reading about which is the Victorian era and sci-fi :)
My first steampunnk was soulless and i loved it.
van
Littopandaxpress(at)yahoo(dot)com
vvb32 - le dirigible, bien sur!
They're way cool... and just so much fun to say!
Dirigible.
Dirigible.
Dirigible.
-_Q
Gorgeous pic at the top! I absolutely love Steampunk :)
O.M. my friend and cohort - THANKS for giving me and the Strangely Beautiful series a shout-out and for such generous support! What a delightful interview! (I mentioned you the other day in one of mine as I was answering questions as well!) Blessings and every best wish for Avalon!
@van_pham- I'm with you on what you said. With sci-fi and the victorian era, how could it be bad!!
@O.M.- LOL I'm glad I'm not the only one that just enjoys saying dirigible. :)
@throughthehaze- :) I love her picture too!
@Leanna Renee Hieber- Thanks so much for stopping by! I've been hearing such wonderful things about your series, and can't wait to read it for myself!
I think Steampunk is an interesting new concept in fiction. Victorian times have always been interesting but added the SciFi elements makes it sound even better.
When I heard about this book, I knew I'd have to read it sometime. Steampunk and Arthur Tudor sounds like a great combination. I'm a huge English history fan. I always thought it was so unfair that Arthur died young and mainly forgotten, while Henry ended up getting all the press.
As for what interests me in Steampunk, I think it's that if it is well done, it gives authors a chance to come up with all sorts of strange inventions and then fully realize them in the course of the story. It's science fiction, yet not because it is set in a recognizable time in our past.
@donnas- I agree that Victorian times have always been an era that fascinate people, so throw in sci-fi and really how can you lose!
@JenM- Yeah, some steampunk stories can draw you in so much that you feel like they really happened and have enough actually history in them to back it up. It makes for a thrilling read.
I've never read any Steampunk, but it sounds very interesting.
I love the mix of old and new. Also,creating something that has a completely different use is really what I like about steampunk. I have noticed it is also influencing cake decorating and knitting.
twoofakind12@yahoo.com
I HAVE to get at least one Steampunk novel - so much cool buzz around the genre and since I'm already a fan of historical fiction, I'm pretty certain that I'll become a great fan of this!
jewell330 at aim dot com
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