Author Archives: Victoria Janssen

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.

Edward Thomas, "A Private"

Posted on September 18, 2010 by Victoria Janssen

A Private This ploughman dead in battle slept out of doors Many’s a frozen night, and merrily Answered staid drinkers, good bedmen, and all bores: ‘At Mrs Greenland’s Hawthorn Bush,’ said he, ‘I slept.’ None knew which bush. Above the … Continue reading →

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Novelists, Inc. Guest Post – The Art of Letting Go

Posted on September 17, 2010 by Victoria Janssen

I’m a guest poster today at the Novelists, Inc. Blog on “The Art of Letting Go.” Please drop by and check it out! And a Public Service Message: “Call for Manuscripts – Journal of American Culture Special Issue: Love and … Continue reading →

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Writing the Senses

Posted on September 16, 2010 by Victoria Janssen

Have you ever done one of those writing exercises to make you think more about using all your senses in your writing?I’ve at least tried some, but I get bored pretty quickly with exercises, so instead I steal the ideas … Continue reading →

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The Nerd Heroine – Louisa Edwards Guest Post

Posted on September 15, 2010 by Victoria Janssen

Please welcome my guest, Louisa Edwards! # When I sat down to write Just One Taste, I had only one thought in mind: I want to write about a nerd. And not a nerdy hero, either–I wanted my heroine to … Continue reading →

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How To Rest Your Writer Brain

Posted on September 14, 2010 by Victoria Janssen

After I learned the novel I’d been working on had been cancelled, I went with friends to Longwood Gardens and spent a gorgeous, idyllic afternoon and evening there.

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Steampunk Themes

Posted on September 13, 2010 by Victoria Janssen

What are some common themes of steampunk fiction? (If you have suggestions, please comment!) I’m thinking along these lines:Punk, to me, at base means rebellion against an establishment. Because steampunk is influenced by the culture of Victorian England, I also … Continue reading →

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Wilfrid Wilson Gibson, "The Joke"

Posted on September 12, 2010 by Victoria Janssen

The Joke He’d even have his joke While we were sitting tight, And so he needs must poke His silly head in sight To whisper some new jestChortling. But as he spoke A rifle cracked– And now God knows when … Continue reading →

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Edward Thomas, "Gone, Gone Again"

Posted on September 11, 2010 by Victoria Janssen

Gone, Gone Again Gone, gone again, May, June, July, And August gone, Again gone by, Not memorable Save that I saw them go, As past the empty quays The rivers flow. And now again, In the harvest rain, The Blenheim … Continue reading →

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Be vewy quiet; I’m adding geeky detail!

Posted on September 10, 2010 by Victoria Janssen

There are various schools of thought about adding historical detail to fiction. Sometimes you want more detail, sometimes less; partly, that depends on the book’s genre. For example, in a Tom Clancy novel such as The Hunt for Red October, … Continue reading →

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Steampunk Research Books

Posted on September 9, 2010 by Victoria Janssen

I’ve begun basic research on the history of the American West for a western steampunk novel. My book isn’t going to be a historical, but I want it to be informed by history and in dialogue with history.I chose Frontiers: … Continue reading →

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