My New Steampunk Project

Posted on August 25, 2010 by Victoria Janssen

It’s been an eventful couple of weeks for me.

For the last few months I’ve been working on a sequel to my World War One werewolf novel, but my next published novel for Spice will be a different project instead: a steampunk Western. The tentative release date is spring/summer 2012.

I don’t have a title yet, but I do have characters! The men include a Native American scientist who’s also a bit of a diplomat/spy; a down-on-his-luck younger son of a British aristocrat, who was thrown out of Cambridge for his scientific experiments; and a charming gambler/con man who happens to be an extraordinary mechanic. The women are an airship pilot who bears a bit of resemblance to Han Solo in personality, and an east coast bluestocking engineer who’s fleeing marriage.

I’ve already begun collecting research materials. This won’t be a historical; rather, it’s an alternate universe with a few ties to “real” history and a whole variety of extrapolations. I’m really excited to work out the details!

About Victoria Janssen

Victoria Janssen [she, her] currently writes cozy space opera for Kalikoi. The novella series A Place of Refuge begins with Finding Refuge: Telepathic warrior Talia Avi, genius engineer Miki Boudreaux, and augmented soldier Faigin Balfour fought the fascist Federated Colonies for ten years, following the charismatic dissenter Jon Churchill. Then Jon disappeared, Talia was thought dead, and Miki and Faigin struggled to take Jon’s place and stay alive. When the FC is unexpectedly upended, Talia is reunited with her friends and they are given sanctuary on the enigmatic planet Refuge. The trio of former guerillas strive to recover from lifetimes of trauma, build new lives on a planet with endless horizons, and forge tender new connections with each other.
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31 Responses to My New Steampunk Project

  1. Jeannie Lin says:
    August 25, 2010 at 1:21 pm

    CONGRATS!!! It sounds like you sold this on proposal? I can see why. It sounds like a killer idea. Can't wait to see what you come up with!

  2. demery bader-saye says:
    August 25, 2010 at 1:23 pm

    Congratulations!!

    So excited for you :)

  3. Victoria Janssen says:
    August 25, 2010 at 1:24 pm

    Thanks to both of you!

  4. Crystal Jordan says:
    August 25, 2010 at 1:28 pm

    Woohoo! HUGE congrats!

  5. Victoria Janssen says:
    August 25, 2010 at 1:50 pm

    Thanks!

  6. Emily Ryan-Davis says:
    August 25, 2010 at 1:53 pm

    PLEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEASE let me be a beta reader! PLEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEASE!

    Congratulations – I think I've gone over the edge from I <3 Victoria to I Want to Have Victoria's Babies! Woohoo! Why is 2012 so far away?!

  7. Kimberly says:
    August 25, 2010 at 1:55 pm

    Wonderful news. Congratulations!

  8. Victoria Janssen says:
    August 25, 2010 at 2:04 pm

    Thanks, Kimberly! Emily, it's still only a gleam in my eye…but I will keep you in mind.

  9. Virginia says:
    August 25, 2010 at 3:11 pm

    Congrats! Wishing you the best of luck!

  10. Victoria Janssen says:
    August 25, 2010 at 3:27 pm

    Thanks!

  11. natlyn says:
    August 25, 2010 at 3:40 pm

    This sounds great! ::claps hands in anticipation::

  12. Kate Pearce says:
    August 25, 2010 at 3:44 pm

    That sounds awesome!!! Big congrats!!

  13. RG Alexander says:
    August 25, 2010 at 3:56 pm

    Congratulations!

  14. Victoria Janssen says:
    August 25, 2010 at 4:03 pm

    Thanks!

  15. Leslie Dicken says:
    August 25, 2010 at 5:15 pm

    Looking forward to reading it! I just completed a steampunk historical and it's making the rounds with agents. It's fascinating to see how authors are using this "steampunk" theme in their own unique ways!

  16. Stephanie Dray says:
    August 25, 2010 at 5:17 pm

    So fantastic!!

  17. Victoria Janssen says:
    August 25, 2010 at 5:21 pm

    Thanks, Stephanie! And good luck, Leslie!

  18. Mara says:
    August 25, 2010 at 6:07 pm

    Sounds like something that would make a good movie as well as book. Hope you have fun writing it. Congrats!

  19. Crista says:
    August 25, 2010 at 6:17 pm

    Woo-hoo!! That sounds awesome! I can't wait to read it! Congrats, Victoria!

  20. Victoria Janssen says:
    August 25, 2010 at 6:42 pm

    Mara wrote, Sounds like something that would make a good movie. From your mind to someone important's ears?

    Thanks, Crista!

  21. Janet Mullany says:
    August 25, 2010 at 7:49 pm

    congrats, sounds like lots of fun for you and eventually for us!

  22. Victoria Janssen says:
    August 25, 2010 at 7:53 pm

    Thanks, Janet!

  23. Shelley Munro says:
    August 25, 2010 at 8:07 pm

    Congratulations. That sounds like a fun project to both write and read.

  24. Mima says:
    August 26, 2010 at 12:36 am

    Brilliant. love the characters, and their mix. Congrats.

  25. Karalynn Lee says:
    August 26, 2010 at 2:09 am

    What an awesome list of characters.

    (I confess to a deep hankering for The Moonlight Mistress's sequel, though.)

  26. Victoria Janssen says:
    August 26, 2010 at 12:37 pm

    Thanks! Karalynn, there still might be a sequel to The Moonlight Mistress – not sure when, though.

  27. Nadia Lee says:
    August 26, 2010 at 2:15 pm

    Congrats!

  28. Victoria Janssen says:
    August 26, 2010 at 3:50 pm

    Thanks, Nadia!

  29. Natasha Moore says:
    August 26, 2010 at 11:53 pm

    Congrats!! As soon as I saw "steampunk Western" I thought of the old Wild, Wild West TV shows. Hurry up and write it! :)

  30. Savanna Kougar says:
    August 27, 2010 at 6:26 am

    What a fabulous concept and a great character lineup. Like Natasha, I thought of the Wild, Wild West. Enjoy the author ride.

  31. Victoria Janssen says:
    August 27, 2010 at 12:19 pm

    I love "Wild Wild West." Especially Artemus.

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