This is it. The deadline was extended a week, but this is your final opportunity to be part of the Ghosts, Gears, and Grimoires Steampunk horror anthology. We have some really great reads for you, but there is still room for a few more. If you've been hesitating or procrastinating, this is the time to put pen to paper! (And I am in the same boat...)
So far, I am really pleased with the Table of Contents. I'll be revealing it soon. ;)
Mocha Memoirs is beginning to have quite a nice collection of Steampunk:
Heliodor by Shannon Wendtland
Avast Ye, Airships edited by Rie Sheridan Rose
"The Head Above the Gate" in RieTales...
But we can always use more, and that is where you come in. Get me a story by Friday! I want to see what YOU have to add to the genre. :)
Showing posts with label steampunk stories. Show all posts
Showing posts with label steampunk stories. Show all posts
Monday, April 4, 2016
Monday, March 21, 2016
NEW RELEASE: Heliodor by Shannon Wendtland
Happy springtime! We have a brand new steampunk adventure coming on March 22nd from Shannon Wendtland. So to celebrate, we thought we'd give you a little taste with an excerpt!
 |
| AVAILABLE 3/22/16!! |
The captain placed a kid-gloved hand over Malfric’s. “Walk a bit with me while I fill you in.”
Malfric got to his feet, leaving the barrel-stool behind and
looped his left hand through the crook of the captain’s arm. As the captain led
him towards the bow of the ship, Malfric tasted currant jam and warm biscuits
on the salty sea air. His favorite.
He stopped the
captain before he could take another step.
“There’s no point in buttering me up, Finch. Just give me the details. If I agree, we can proceed straight to the
repast you have set up in your quarters.
Otherwise, just hand me your purse and we’ll call it even.”
Finch muttered beneath his breath. “Your infernal nose ruins everything. Fine then, have it your way. A job has come up ― not our usual fare, but
the bounty was too good to resist. So I
booked it. But I need a voyeur to get it
done. Naturally, I thought of you.”
Naturally. “What’s the catch?”
“No catch.” Shifting
floorboards belied the captain’s response.
Malfric frowned. “You
wouldn’t have laid out my favorite tea if it were an easy job with no
strings. In fact, you wouldn’t have sent
for me at all...any novice voyeur would have done.”
A snicker came from
his right. Ah, Quantex had followed
them.
The captain’s arm tensed beneath Malfric’s hand. Though he said nothing, Malfric detected the
shift and rustle of his silk coat as he turned to glare at his first mate.
“There’s an artifact.
We were not the only ones hired to find it,” Finch said with a
disgruntled sigh. “The other crew has a
day’s head start.” His voice softened to a conspiratorial whisper, “but we have
an advantage they do not.”
Oh? “And what, pray
tell, is that?”
A sharp intake of breath, a faint whistle through his nose,
and the captain answered. “A body.”
*********************************************
I don't know about you guys, but I can't wait to curl up in the garden with this action-packed novella!
Tuesday, March 15, 2016
COVER REVEAL: Heliodor by Shannon Wendtland
Happy Springtime! We here at MMP are so excited to announce that this month we've got a new release blooming! It's a novella by a brand new author that I know you're going to be itching to read more of. Her new novella, Heliodor is releasing on March 22, 2016. Check out this blurb!
Malfric sees through the eyes of the dead – literally reliving their last moments as if they were his own. This ability is highly sought and highly priced, which is why the unscrupulous Captain Finch hires him to find the murderer of a nobleman and the whereabouts of a valuable artifact.
Quantex, the able-bodied first mate of Captain Finch, quickly becomes Malfric’s foil as he demonstrates uncommon intelligence during the investigation. Together the two uncover several clues that lead them to the killer, the artifact, and the frayed end of a mysterious plot that begins to unravel the moment Malfric takes it in hand and gives it a good yank.
Sounds pretty amazing huh? I love a good adventure story! So without further ado......
Check back here for more about Shannon, excerpts from the book, and MORE!
Malfric sees through the eyes of the dead – literally reliving their last moments as if they were his own. This ability is highly sought and highly priced, which is why the unscrupulous Captain Finch hires him to find the murderer of a nobleman and the whereabouts of a valuable artifact.
Quantex, the able-bodied first mate of Captain Finch, quickly becomes Malfric’s foil as he demonstrates uncommon intelligence during the investigation. Together the two uncover several clues that lead them to the killer, the artifact, and the frayed end of a mysterious plot that begins to unravel the moment Malfric takes it in hand and gives it a good yank.
Sounds pretty amazing huh? I love a good adventure story! So without further ado......
 |
| AVAILABLE MARCH 22!!! |
Check back here for more about Shannon, excerpts from the book, and MORE!
Monday, March 7, 2016
We Haven't Finished Yet...
...there is still time for you to be a part of Ghosts, Gears, and Grimoires! Submissions have been a bit slow, which is odd, because Steampunk and Horror are made for each other. The Victorians had a fine sense of the macabre. After all, remember, the practice of Post-Mortem Photography began with the Victorians.
They believed quite strongly in the supernatural. Spiritualism as we know it, with mediums contacting the dead, also had its roots in the Victorian Era, providing a lucrative living for many.
Remember, there were no radios, no televisions, and no movies to distract people. Books and shared tales were the most common forms of entertainment. Fairy tales and ghost stories were passed from generation to generation.
These are just a few suggestions for inspirational material. I've got a couple of ideas just writing this post!
If you need a refresher on the guidelines, look here. And for a little more detail on the information above, as well as further links, check out these posts:
http://mochamemoirspress.blogspot.com/2016/02/spooky-victorian-sensibilities.html
http://theconnmannchronicles.com/2016/02/22/moving-on/
Now, go write me stories -- deadline is the 31st!
They believed quite strongly in the supernatural. Spiritualism as we know it, with mediums contacting the dead, also had its roots in the Victorian Era, providing a lucrative living for many.
Remember, there were no radios, no televisions, and no movies to distract people. Books and shared tales were the most common forms of entertainment. Fairy tales and ghost stories were passed from generation to generation.
These are just a few suggestions for inspirational material. I've got a couple of ideas just writing this post!
If you need a refresher on the guidelines, look here. And for a little more detail on the information above, as well as further links, check out these posts:
http://mochamemoirspress.blogspot.com/2016/02/spooky-victorian-sensibilities.html
http://theconnmannchronicles.com/2016/02/22/moving-on/
Now, go write me stories -- deadline is the 31st!
Monday, February 1, 2016
Spooky Victorian Sensibilities
When you think of Steampunk, it harkens back to the era of Victoria. The streets were dark, lit by sputtering gas lights. There was a dreariness to the London air enhanced by the coal dust and damp which created the infamous "pea-soup" fogs.
So...is it any wonder that the era also abounded with mediums and spiritualists? Ghosts were very real to the denizens of Victorian England. Remember, this was the heyday of the post-mortem memorial photo. The science of photography was not something everyone carried around in a smartphone. Photographs were fairly expensive, and time-consuming. Sometimes the photo of a dead child was the only representation of them that a family would have.
The desire not to lose all connection to their loved ones kept many a spiritualist well-fed and dressed.
Steampunk seems an ideal genre to marry with this era of mysticism. Imagine a steam-powered magic lantern device that could project the image of a deceased loved one -- and how that loved one might be angered if the medium tried to cheat those left behind.
Or perhaps a safety-coffin goes horribly awry. The "deceased" could be relying on rescue -- literally being "saved by the bell," and instead finds themselves buried alive with no hope of escape.
A couple of free story ideas for you. Now someone go and write me more submissions for Ghosts, Gears, and Grimoires! The pickings have been thin so far. If you've forgotten the guidelines, check them out here.
So...is it any wonder that the era also abounded with mediums and spiritualists? Ghosts were very real to the denizens of Victorian England. Remember, this was the heyday of the post-mortem memorial photo. The science of photography was not something everyone carried around in a smartphone. Photographs were fairly expensive, and time-consuming. Sometimes the photo of a dead child was the only representation of them that a family would have.
The desire not to lose all connection to their loved ones kept many a spiritualist well-fed and dressed.
Steampunk seems an ideal genre to marry with this era of mysticism. Imagine a steam-powered magic lantern device that could project the image of a deceased loved one -- and how that loved one might be angered if the medium tried to cheat those left behind.
Or perhaps a safety-coffin goes horribly awry. The "deceased" could be relying on rescue -- literally being "saved by the bell," and instead finds themselves buried alive with no hope of escape.
A couple of free story ideas for you. Now someone go and write me more submissions for Ghosts, Gears, and Grimoires! The pickings have been thin so far. If you've forgotten the guidelines, check them out here.
Monday, January 4, 2016
Attention all Steampunkers! -- Announcing a New Submission Call!
Attention all Steampunkers!
Ghosts, Gears, and
Grimoires
Mocha Memoirs Press is pleased
to announce a new anthology,
Ghosts, Gears, and
Grimoires is
currently open for submissions.
Submission Guidelines:
What We Want: Ghosts, Gears, and Grimoires will be a
horror-themed Steampunk anthology of short stories, released as an
ebook and as a paperback. We are looking for Steampunk featuring the
supernatural—as well as a beautifully crafted, original story.
Read
our general submission guidelines at
http://mochamemoirspress.com/about/
for more information.
What
We Don’t Want: Any stories that contain rape, bestiality,
and/or the abuse of minors. Violence and sex are acceptable but make
them integral to the plot.
Submissions:
Submit your work to mmpsteampunk@gmail.com with Ghosts, Gears,
and Grimoires Sub: Your Story Title_Your Last Name in the subject
line. (for example: Ghosts, Gears, and Grimoires Sub: Something Amiss
Midship_Poe)
Attach
your story as a DOC or DOCX file. Submissions sent in the body
of the email will not be read.
We
prefer to see submissions using something approaching Standard
Manuscript Format, which can be found here:
http://www.shunn.net/format/story.html
The
only exception is that italics MUST appear as they will be used; no
underlining.
Include
a brief cover letter in the body of your email stating your name, pen
name (if using one), story title with word count, address, website or
blog, and any professional publication credits you think might
interest us.
The anthology will be edited by Rie Sheridan Rose.
We
will accept works of 1,500-6,000 words. Please query first
if you wish to submit outside of these guidelines.
No
simultaneous submissions, please. Don’t submit a story to us and to
another market at the same time.
Multiple
submissions are acceptable. If sending more than one story, please
send them in separate emails.
We’re
not accepting reprints for this anthology. We will pay a flat $10
per story via Paypal only.
Payment
will be made within 45 days of publication. We are seeking Worldwide
English Language rights for 12 months in print and digital formats.
Authors
from outside of the United States are welcome, but submissions must
be in English. Please be aware that at this time, we have a largely
American readership. Feel free to help us expand that base.
Submission
Deadline and Publication Schedule:
We
will remain open for submissions from January 4-April 1, with an
expectation that the anthology will be published by November 1, 2016.
Thursday, February 26, 2015
New Release...Avast, Ye Airships! #Steampunk #AwesomeSauce
Mocha Memoirs Press is excited to present...
AVAST, YE AIRSHIPS! a new anthology featuring 18 stories filled with action, adventure, and steampunk goodness.
In a daring history that never was, pirates roam the skies instead of the seas. Fantastical airships sail the clouds on both sides of the law. Within these pages, you will find stories of pirates and their prey with a few more pragmatic airships thrown in.
With stories ranging from Victorian skies to an alien invasion, there is something for everyone in these eighteen tales of derring-do!
Available now
via
Avast, Ye Airships!
Beneath the Brass by Stephen Blake
Maiden Voyage by Jeffrey Cook & Katherine Perkins
Colonel Gurthwait and the Black Hydra by Robert McGough
Captain Wexford’s Dilemma by Ogarita
Her Majesty’s Service by Lauren Marrero
A Wind Will Rise by Andrew Knighton
Hooked by Rie Sheridan Rose
Go Green by Ross Baxter
Lost Sky by Amy Braun
Miss Warlyss Meets the Black Buzzard by Diana Parparita
Plunder in the Valley by Libby A. Smith
The Clockwork Dragon by Steve Cook
Adventures of a Would-Be Gentleman of the Skies by Jim Reader
A Clouded Affair by Steven Southard
The Climbers by D Chang
The Steampunk Garden by Wynelda Ann Deaver
Lotus of Albion by Steve Ruskin
And a Bottle of Rum… by K.C. Shaw
Monday, January 5, 2015
Airships Preparing For Take Off!
After months of preparation, the final boarding call has been sounded. The contacts have started, the crew is being finalized, and the Airships will soon be climbing into the skies.
We had over forty submissions (thirteen of them in the last two days!). They came from as far away as Romania, and as close as my downtown.
We had really great pirates, really bad pirates, and a few airships with no pirates.
There was a submission with cat pirates and a submission with squirrel-like aliens.
I had the pleasure of accepting a writer's first sale.
We had stories set on other worlds, and stories where the airship was almost a world unto itself.
It was difficult indeed to narrow things down. But I think you will be pleased with the results. I know I am.
It's time to bring the last provisions aboard. I'm assigning the crew to their quarters, and then we head to the skies! We will be heading your way the end of next month, so prepare a berth for us.
And chocolate..,all pirates love chocolate!
We had over forty submissions (thirteen of them in the last two days!). They came from as far away as Romania, and as close as my downtown.
We had really great pirates, really bad pirates, and a few airships with no pirates.
There was a submission with cat pirates and a submission with squirrel-like aliens.
I had the pleasure of accepting a writer's first sale.
We had stories set on other worlds, and stories where the airship was almost a world unto itself.
It was difficult indeed to narrow things down. But I think you will be pleased with the results. I know I am.
It's time to bring the last provisions aboard. I'm assigning the crew to their quarters, and then we head to the skies! We will be heading your way the end of next month, so prepare a berth for us.
And chocolate..,all pirates love chocolate!
Monday, July 30, 2012
Why I love Steampunk
=============================================================
(reblogged from The State of Black Science Fiction 2012)
I love fantasy. I know fantasy/SF is pretty popular these days, but I fell in love long before the genre became the “flyest kid at the school.” There’s just something wonderful about escaping into a world (whether through reading or writing) that’s so different from everyday mundane reality― a reality of responsibilities and bills― into a dimension where you still have the same crap to deal with. . . but now you can became a creature with preternatural strength. How cool is that? It gives you a decided edge over everyday reality, or at the very least makes it more interesting.
I wrote my first novel, Immortal, with these thoughts in mind. The beginning of Immortal was the story of a young woman, Karla, living on the planet Tundra. Karla has ordinary, everyday struggles. But she has a little―no a big―edge. Immortal weaves a tale of portals. Time travel. Werewolves. Daemons. By the time Immortal III is thrown into the mix, vampires have joined the plot. Tell me, what’s not to love? Fantasy also lends itself incredibly well to “what if?” scenarios. As in: what if there was no racism? What if there was no poverty? What if folks came together and decided to change the world. . .?
For those of you who haven’t guessed it yet, I also like to mix genres. In fact, that’s the other thing I love so much about fantasy; it blends so easily with other genres, like horror and science fiction. But if fantasy is my first love, I’d have to say steampunk is my second.
From the outrageous clothing. . . bustles, corsets and knickers, to the outrageous machinery. . . airships, steam-trains, muskets. This is a genre I just can’t stay away from. Steampunk is a glorious mixture of other fantasy/SF genres. And the settings and plots reflect this― plots set in the post-civil war. Victorian England. Post-Apocalyptic America. Or a futuristic world, as in my steampunk story: The Switch. Steampunk, like any other fantasy subgenre is also anybody’s game when it comes to “what if?” plots, settings and costumes. Which of course is why I’m so head over heels in love with it.
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