Meg LaTorre is a sci-fi/fantasy author, YouTube darling, and founder of iWriterly. She is also the creator of the free query critique platform, Query Hack, co-host of the Publishable show, and blogger for websites: Writer’s Digest, Savvy Authors, Writers Helping Writers, and so forth. Formerly, she worked at a literary agency, and she has a background in magazine publishing, medical and technical writing, as well as journalism. For more information about Meg, subscribe to her YouTube channel or follow her on social media. You’ll find all her links on the show notes page.

Today we’ll be talking about her latest book, The Cyborg Tinkerer.

In this episode Meg and I discuss:

• How having a rebellious nature allowed her to write the kind of Steampunk novel she wanted to read.
• What aesthetic elements of the novel help portray issues of “otherness” and discrimination which are integral parts of the narrative.
• Why she chose the indie publishing route and how other authors can learn from her experience.

Plus, their #1 tip for writers.

About the Author

Meg LaTorre is a science fiction and fantasy author, YouTube darling and founder of iWriterly, creator of the free query critique platform, Query Hack, co-host of the Publishable show, and blogger (Writer’s Digest, Savvy Authors, Writers Helping Writers, et al.). Formerly, she worked at a literary agency, and she has a background in magazine publishing, medical/technical writing, and journalism. 

To learn more about Meg, subscribe to her YouTube channel, follow her on Twitter and Instagram, sign up for her monthly newsletter, support iWriterly on Patreon, or visit www.iWriterly.com.

The Cyborg Tinkerer

In a deadly circus competition, even hearts are on the line. Gwendolyn Grimm intended to seduce men and women across the galaxy while working as a ship tinkerer on the finest vessels in the Crescent Star System. Alas, terminal illness is a buzzkill. When a life-saving opportunity struts into her life dressed in a pinstripe suit, she is made an offer she can’t refuse: become a cyborg and work as a tinkerer for Cirque du Borge, the once renowned cyborg circus.

The problem is, a new law has banned the creation of new cyborgs and becoming one means execution if caught. Thus, no one cares to see the wonders of man and machine anymore.

Ticket sales continue to fall as the circus announces a competition to determine which acts will perform for the emperor on his home planet—an opportunity with the potential to save the circus from bankruptcy. But the competition has deadly consequences. Losing acts have their cyborg implants forcibly removed, and those who survive the extraction are banished from the circus.

As the tinkerer, Gwendolyn is forced to perform the revolting task of removing the cyborg implants from the losing performers. When she falls for both the man running the competition and a woman competing in it, she must decide who to protect. But can she risk having to harvest the people she loves the most? The Cyborg Tinkerer, comes out November 17, 2020.

If you decide to check out the book, we hope you’ll do so via this Amazon affiliate link, where if you choose to purchase via the link DIY MFA gets a referral fee at no cost to you. As always, thank you for supporting DIY MFA!

Link to Episode 331

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Until next week, keep writing and keep being awesome!

The post Episode 331: Writing and Indie Publishing a Steampunk Novel – Interview with Meg LaTorre appeared first on DIY MFA.

Many people have defined steampunk as a world where governments turned to steam power, rather than petroleum.  The stories that emerge from this idea usually take place in Victorian England, but I often prefer those who take steampunk to new planes, such as fantasy lands or early America.  If you are interested in knowing the more nitty-gritty of “steampunk,” this page is a great resource.

Some people I have spoken with are die-hard Victorian Steampunk fans.  It is Victorian England or nothing for them.  That mindset is fine by me, but I truly enjoy a more eclectic palate.  Some of the books I’m going to mention do involve Victorian England, but not all.  Be warned!

Five Books for the Steampunk Lover

Corsets & Clockwork  

Edited by: Trisha Telep

This book came up first when, all those years ago, I searched for steampunk novels.  I was delighted to discover one of my favorite authors, Maria V. Snyder, had contributed a story to it.  This anthology contains thirteen short stories by different, established authors.  Of those authors, I only knew of Maria beforehand, but judging by the writing styles, the thought the others would be worth checking out as well.  I found the short stories perfect for reading during my lunch breaks, as they were quick and entertaining.  This anthology also inspired me to compile my own collection of steampunk short stories – GEARS OF BRASS, which is available via Curiosity Quills Press.

Steampunk! 

Edited By: Gavin J. Grant and Kelly Link

I was intrigued to find other steampunk anthologies and STEAMPUNK! is now my favorite (after GEARS OF BRASS, of course).  These stories truly embrace that backbone of the steampunk genre.  For anyone looking for an introduction to steampunk, this is the book for you.  What I love about anthologies is the chance to find a new favorite author, as they provide such a delectable sampling, and this one did not disappoint.  There were also stories by some authors I already knew, so it was fun reading something new by them.

Leviathan

By: Scott Westerfield

Illustrated By: Keith Thompson

This book was all around fun to read.  Not only did it contain steampunk elements, but those elements were accompanied by artwork – I’m a sucker for illustrations.  LEVIATHAN takes place in an alternate history surrounding World War I.  Another great aspect is that this is only book one in the series, so you can make your love of the characters a dirty pleasure.  I have encouraged many of my friends to read LEVIATHAN and not one has disliked it yet.

Boneshaker

By: Cherie Priest

I discovered this book in my local Barnes & Noble, the only bookstore in my area for miles!  There was a special “steampuk” section – yes, I swooned – so I snatched up a copy of BONESHAKER.  (Sadly, there were only a few books in this section.  Hopefully my steampunk novels will be added someday.)  This one in particular is also an alternate history, this time regarding the Civil War.  There are chilling family secrets; I couldn’t stop reading, which was bad because I started it at work during lunch.  I didn’t get a strong sense of steampunk, but aspects of it were in there, and the novel is also part of an addictive series. I just love it when I stumble upon a treasure trove of characters that I can keep revisiting for many books to come.

The Golden Compass

By: Phillip Pullman

I remember friends reading THE GOLDEN COMPASS back in high school, but for some reason I never got around to it.  Once I became obsessed with steampunk, I decided to dive into it.  I can see why so many people love it.  The characters are engaging, but more than that, you feel a part of the world.  This is a great example of a steampunk novel in a fantasy setting.

What are your favorite steampunk books? Leave a comment or tweet us using the hashtag #5OnFri

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Jordan Elizabeth graduated from SUNY Oneonta with a degree in elementary education, which meant she studied a lot of children’s literature.  Her real love focuses more on young adult than middle grade, and she is the author of ESCAPE FROM WITCHWOOD HOLLOW, a young adult fantasy.  Her other works include the steampunk series Treasure Chronicles – the first installment, TREASURE DARKLY, was released February 16, 2015 – and the anthology GEARS OF BRASS.  Her novels are available from Curiosity Quills Press and she is represented by the Belcastro Agency.  Learn more about Jordan at JordanElizabethMierek.com.

The post #5OnFri: Five Fabulous Steampunk Books appeared first on DIY MFA.

Science Fiction

This genre includes several subsets for the purposes of cover design: “hard” and “soft” science, space opera, steampunk and dystopian.

In a hard science fiction the entire plot revolves around technical scientific details, rather than people (though obviously people, or aliens, are present). The cover promises the reader that the technical details of science are paramount. Covers for this type of story will reflect that with scenes featuring stars, planets, or alien looking environments or people. They often include throw-back headline fonts. Deep space colors (black, dark blues, dark orange or red) will be prominent. Titles are large, in your face, often outlined. Older covers featured drawn artwork, but these days photography is more prominent (probably for practical reasons as space photos were hard to come by in the olden days). Author names read clear and easily from a distance. The intended audience is male. unk, and dystopian being the main ones.

In “soft” science fiction, including space opera, the people (even if they’re aliens) and relationships take precedence over the science. “Soft” science fiction covers often have a lot in common with urban fantasy, in that a person (often female, not necessarily human) may be featured on the cover, but mixed with futuristic looking backgrounds rather than misty magical ones. Titles usually feature more classic, timeless fonts. Like urban fantasy, the author name is usually larger.

Dystopian stories fit here as well, and since they feature a cataclysmic decline in society in some way, often set in the future, the cover will reflect that. But the basic elements will still fit the speculative fiction rules. Maybe the buildings are crumbling, or the planet is exploding, but in general the overall tone is similar.

Steampunk is a new sub-genre, and unique in the combination of history and science fiction. The addition of these types of stories is why many prefer the term “speculative fiction” these days, rather than science fiction. Generally speaking, steampunk features steam powered machinery, in settings inspired by 19th Century civilizations. Gears and clockworks feature prominently in these stories, and on the covers. No other genre looks like this – a combination of Victorian era clothing and gears.  Colors are rich earth tones, dark blues, smokey grays, and sepia tones, all of which tells the reader this story is set in historical times. The gears and clockwork point to the science element. Whether the story is romantic at the core or mystery/thriller, the story is best served with a cover that reflects steampunk gears over anything else. The intended audience depends on the core story, and rules for other genres would apply here. Romance? A girl or couple on the cover. Mystery? A shadowy figure or shady background, etc. With gears.

Mystery

Mystery covers tend to split into two main subcategories: hard-core, or cozy. Cozy mysteries, for example Murder She Wrote, feature crime solving, but not a lot of blood or gore. Often with a dose of humor. Cozies sometimes feature artwork, rather than photography. They usually look fun, like a cartoon. Title fonts are whimsical, even the author name is fun. The promise here is a read that will NOT give you nightmares.

In contrast, a hard core mystery cover veers toward scenery, shadowy figures, dark colors. Maybe a dead body or a hint of blood, but more likely just a brooding scene. The promise? You’re going to find a dead body or two or three, and it might be decapitated, and for sure there’s going to be blood. And the mystery will involve things that are more intense or higher stakes. Titles are often more subdued. Author name is quite prominent and easily read, a focal point. More important than the artwork OR the title.

The intended audience is a bit murky with these covers. While cozy mysteries in general aim for a female audience, hard core mysteries  attempt to attract male and female readers equally, which is one reason for shadows and scenes rather than depicting the lead character.

Thriller

Thrillers are more intense than mysteries, and the cover should reflect that. Like all main genres, there are sub sets to consider. Legal, psychological, political – all will feature a slightly different background. All of them, however, generally feature photography over artwork,

and a sense of urgency. Usually if a person is pictured at all, they’re in shadow. Is it modern? A truck running down a shadow figure on the road will tell us that. Is it a historical thriller? Then I’d expect some old fashioned looking buildings or street signs or something to place me in the time period, along with blood or a dead body. Even the type helps sell the urgency by being large and in your face, maybe broken, disjointed, or some other font that screams high stakes and lots of action. The intended audience is slightly more male than female.

Horror

Take mystery and thriller covers and make them darker, with spooky looking fonts, and you have a horror. Horror is, after all, those things, intensified. There might be a ghost or other supernatural creature, but it’ll look mean. As with mysteries and thrillers any people shown will be shadowy rather than full faced, because what’s spookier than a shadowy figure chasing you down the highway? The promise? You’ll definitely have nightmares. Especially if it’s a psychological horror. That blood? It might just be yours . . .

Photography is featured prominently unless the story is historical in nature. The intended audience is a bit tricky and will depend on the story. If a couple is facing horror together, or romance is involved, then romance genre rules would apply, though with the addition of darker tones. If it’s more of a thriller, then the mystery/thriller rules would apply . . . again, with darker colors.

My next post will take a look at Literary and Women’s Lit, Humor, Children’s Lit, Young Adult, the conundrum of New Adult, and Non Fiction. If I haven’t specifically mentioned a genre you’re interested in, please leave a note in the comments and I’ll try to include it.

Until then, happy designing!

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Melinda VanLone serves as DIY MFA’s official shutterbug. Melinda earned an MA in publishing from Syracuse University, which she applied toward years as a graphic artist/designer, a skill she uses today at www.bookcovercorner.com.

In addition to book cover design and photography, Melinda writes urban fantasy and blogs on her website melindavan.com. As an air force brat, she’s lived briefly in places all across the country, but currently resides in Rockville, MD with her wonderfully supportive husband and furbaby. When she’s not playing with imaginary friends in her fantasy worlds you can find her playing World of Warcraft, wandering through the streets with her camera, or hovered over coffee in Starbucks.

The post The Amateur’s Guide to a Professional Book Package: Part Four appeared first on DIY MFA.