I am so thrilled to have the Bec McMaster, the debut author to the just released steampunk romance novel,
KISS OF STEEL, stop by for a quick interview!
KISS OF STEEL, stop by for a quick interview!
1. Can you please describe KISS OF STEEL in
five words or less?
BM: Action-packed, steamy, wildly romantic.
2. What inspired the steampunk elements in
KISS OF STEEL?
BM: I had this idea of creating an alternate
Victorian-era world, where the ruling aristocracy in London was comprised of
blue bloods – or blood-drinkers. The aristocratic Echelon is a corruption of
the ton, where the aim of every debutante is not to make a good marriage but a
thrall contract; as a blue blood’s thrall she provides blood in exchange for
being cared for and kept.
After the humans guillotined their blue blood
aristocracy in France, Britain’s elite sat up and took notice. Ruling London
with an iron fist, they were aware that humans outnumbered them and I began to
think about how a group of creature’s – stronger and faster but less numerous
than humans – could keep such power. As it was set during the time of the
Industrial Revolution an answer immediately sprang to mind; machines. An
automaton army that patrols the streets of London, in fact. And from there, of
course the only way to defeat such an army would be by humans creating weapons
of their own.… The world grew from there.
3. Which one of the characters was your
favorite to write about and why?
BM: My hero Blade was definitely my favorite
to write. Cocksure and so certain-of-himself – except when it came to Honoria -
he sprang into my head almost fully formed and never left! I could almost hear
that delicious cockney accent in my ear the whole time I wrote the book. My
heroine Honoria, on the other hand, wasn’t as easy to discover as Blade. Both
he and I spent hours trying to coax her out of her stubborn little secrets.
4. What can you tell us about the next book in
the LONDON STEAMPUNK SERIES: HEART OF IRON?
BM: Heart
of Iron features Honoria’s younger sister Lena, and Will, Blade’s verwulfen
lieutenant. When Will finds a coded letter on a pair of men who burn down the
Echelon’s draining factories, he knows war is on the horizon. Finding the same
code on Lena however, makes him realize that the flirtatious young woman who
drives him crazy is involved. He’ll do anything to protect her, even if it
throws him into the glittering, malicious world of the Echelon; a world that
sees him and his verwulfen kind as nothing but slaves-without-a-collar.
5. May you please share with us what you are
currently working on?
BM: Officially I’m tidying up Book Three of
the London Steampunk series, which features the elusive Master of the
Nighthawks (rogue blue bloods who work as thief-catchers and trackers) and a
masked revolutionary he’s been sent to destroy. In my spare time I’m dabbling
with a Sekrit Project you may hear more of in the coming months.
And for fun...
- Favorite book and/or author?
BM: The world’s toughest question.… The answer
changes too, depending on my mood and what I’ve read lately. Okay, if I had to
pick one author who always leaves a smile on my face its Ilona Andrews and for
my favorite book, Pawn in Frankincense
by Dorothy Dunnett. Gut-wrenching and an absolute work of art for what is not
said. However, that’s historical fiction. If we’re talking romance, I’d have to
go with Meljean Brook’s The Iron Duke. I love me some alpha male.
- Favorite fairytale and/or fairytale
character?
BM: Beauty
and the Beast. You can blame Disney. I used to love Hans Christian Anderson
as a child, as I adore how twisted some of those tales truly were, but then I
saw Belle’s library. As a teenager all I ever wanted was that library. And what
romance-addict can go past the redemption of the Beast?
- Favorite snack and/or drink to have while
writing?
BM: A cup of tea
and a Tim Tam (which is a type of chocolate biscuit).
KISS OF STEEL BY BEC MCMASTER was released on September 4th ,2012!
A brilliantly creative debut where vampires, werewolves, and clockwork
creatures roam the mist–shrouded streets of London...
Most people
avoid the dreaded Whitechapel district. For Honoria Todd, it's the last safe
haven.
But at what price?
But at what price?
Blade is known
as the master of the rookeries—no one dares cross him. It's been said he faced
down the Echelon's army single–handedly, that ever since being infected by the
blood–craving he's been quicker, stronger, and almost immortal.
When Honoria shows up at his door, his tenuous control comes close to
snapping. She's so...innocent. He doesn't see her backbone of steel—or that she
could be the very salvation he's been seeking.
ABOUT
THE AUTHOR - Bec McMaster
Award-winning author Bec McMaster lives in a small town in Australia and grew up with
her nose in a book. A member of RWA, she writes sexy, dark paranormals and
steampunk romance. When not writing, reading, or poring over travel brochures,
she loves spending time with her very own hero or daydreaming about new worlds.
Find Bec McMaster on:
Enter to win a copy of KISS OF STEEL by Bec McMaster!!!
Giveaway rules:
- Must be a U.S. or Canada resident, sorry!
- Prize being supplied by Sourcebook Casablanca.
- Prize being supplied by Sourcebook Casablanca.
The book is so eye catching and beautiful! I'm also a big fan of the Beauty and the Beast!
ReplyDeleteAhhh, Disney movies. Some of my favorite! I love Belle and Beast (especially at the end where he transforms and does the spin in the air thing - VERY cool), but I must admit to being an Ariel fan. Oh, to have a voice like that!! And Prince Eric. Well, enough said. A certain *other-worldly* prince is the image of him... :)
ReplyDeleteGood luck with the series and most of all, have FUN on your tour! Can't wait for the rest of the books to be out!
Will just might end up stealing my loyalty...
I absolutely loved Kiss of Steel and the world it introduced! I can't wait for Will's book!
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