Today we have the fabulous Meljean Brook here to talk to us a little about the 2nd book in her Iron Seas Series, Heart of Steel. The Iron Seas Series is Brook’s steampunk romance series that features advanced technology with the Victorian era. It’s gritty and sexy and fun, and should be read by romance fans everywhere. Brook is also known for her long running series The Guardians, a favorite of PNR fans everywhere.
Meljean, thank you so much for being here today!!
Book Pushers: We have to know… why steampunk? What was it that influenced you to write in this genre?
Meljean: I love historical romances, but I can’t write a book without adding a bit of weird to it (I’ve tried; it was ugly.) I’ve always loved the bits of steampunk tech that have showed up in various places – from Brisco County, Jr. to Mark Twain – and I love the sense of adventure that I’ve always associated with it. So it’s been percolating in the back of my head for years, and when the chance came to pitch a new series, steampunk was at the top of the list of what I’d like to do. Luckily, my editor loved the idea, so I got the go-ahead.
Book Pushers: What can you tell us about Heart of Steel?
Meljean: There’s not much to tell that isn’t already on the back cover, because anything more would be spoileriffic. I will say, however, that it has a slightly different feel than The Iron Duke. All of the steampunky goodness is still there, but this is a faster-paced, less emotionally angsty story … primarily because Yasmeen and Archimedes aren’t really the angsty types. They are fun together, and hot, and I loved writing their romance – but it is a little different than The Iron Duke in tone.
Book Pushers: How many more books can we expect to see in the Iron Seas Series? Do you have a set ending point in mind for the series?
Meljean: I currently am contracted for five total books in the series, but I deliberately built a huge and open world so that I can visit it often, and without re-treading the same ground over and over. I don’t have a set ending point in mind for this series, simply because there is no overarching story taking place (unlike the Guardian series.) I’ll explore this world until I’m bored – which isn’t likely to happen – or until readers are.
Book Pushers: What can fans expect to see in upcoming books from the Iron Seas Series?
Meljean: I’ll be moving around and introducing different parts of the world. I love doing this, because every location has a different history behind it, and that history influences how the characters see the world. So it enables me to add new layers with every book—Mina sees the world differently from Yasmeen, for example, and my next heroine will have a different perspective from both of them.
The next book moves to Iceland, and readers can look forward to virgin cults, giant mechanical whales, and trolls (of the Iron Seas variety.)
Book Pushers: How many more books can we expect to see in The Guardians’ Series?
Meljean: Only one. I have Michael and Taylor’s book left to write, and then that will wrap up the series.
Book Pushers: *CRY* We don’t want the Guardian’s to end!! Do you have any other ideas or projects that you are currently working on?
Meljean: Ideas, but nothing that I’m currently working on. It’s just percolating, as the Iron Seas did for a while. Eventually I’ll have something more concrete to report, but not yet.
Book Pushers: Your back-list is almost an even divide of full length novels and shorter novellas. Do you find it easier to write one or the other? Which do you prefer and why?
Meljean: I don’t prefer one or the other, and I enjoy them in different ways. I love the focus of a novella – the plot is usually simple, the conflict directly related to the emotional conflict between the characters, and they serve as a sweet breather between the long and complex novels. But I also love the length and complexity of those novels – I love being able to tell this huge story, to bring all of those disparate threads together at the end and wrap it up.
Strangely, though, it’s not easier to write one or the other. Novellas take less time, of course, but the emotional and mental effort is similar. Reining myself in and keeping that tight focus is often difficult, too, because I constantly want to make the story bigger, bigger, bigger! I can’t, however.
Book Pushers: If you could have any steampunk invention in real life, what would you want and why?
Meljean: A clockwork butler who can also act as a masseuse.
Book Pushers: Who is your all-time favourite comic-book character? If you could see/read a crossover with the comic character and your favorite fictional character, would they be friends, enemies or frenemies?
Meljean: Oh, Wonder Woman, easily. I don’t have a favorite fictional character, though. For the sake of awesomeness, however, let’s just say Xena: Warrior Princess. I think they’d fight, maybe rip off each other’s clothes, and then become BFFs.
Actually, I think I have read that on fanfiction.net before.
Book Pushers: If you were asked to create a superhero costume for any person, who would you choose and what would it look like?
Meljean: Conan O’Brien. After seeing him in those jeggings (the image is seared into my brain) I haven’t been able to stop imagining them becoming spandex. So I would make them green, add a yellow spandex top and yellow outer-underwear (as all good superheroes wear) and a blue cape, and call him The Ginger Avenger.
Thanks again to Meljean for not only taking time out of her busy schedule to be here today, but also for offering to do a giveaway! Meljean is giving away TWO signed copies of The Iron Duke! Just leave a comment or question for Meljean to be entered to win. The giveaway ends November 9th and is open internationally. Good Luck!
I cannot wait to devour this book!!! I know it will be as phenomenal as The Iron Duke <3
hesperialovebooks(AT)gmail(DOT)com
im really excited about this book! hope i get a copy 😉
punkme15 at gmail dot com
I haven’t read anything with a steampunk theme before, it looks super great.
A clockwork butler? I like the sounds of that!
bookdevoteereviews(at)hotmail(dot)com
I’ve been wanting to read some Steampunk, sounds good! tWarner419@aol.com
Oh, I would so so love to win this book! The story in the anthology Wild & Steamy was really great 🙂
I really want to read this book! Meljean Brook is one of the best authors!
i cant WAIT to get my hands on heart of darkness!! love this series.. would love the chance to win book 1..
so there are titles for the first 4 books.. how many books do you have planned for this series?
Great interview. I love Meljean’s books. Thank you for the giveaway.
Thank you for the interview and for the chance to win new book! 😉
I am having a bit of trouble picturing Wonder Woman & Xena becoming BFF’s after ripping each others clothes off!
Love steampunk & love my romances, so excited to read this one!
I got a copy of Iron Duke so don’t enter me. Just wanted to give some love to the series. I can’t wait to read Heart of Steal. Iron Duke was my first steampunk and I loved it! Rhys is such a sexy alpha so I am sure Archimedes (love that name) will not disappoint!
Hi, Meljean–
I just finished reading Heart of Steel this morning and loved it! Congratulations on another great book~
Alexis
I’m fairly new to steampunk and I love it. The world you create with this series is great! Thank you for the chance to win a copy.
Oh wonderful interview! 😀 I love the sounds of this series and need to get started on it. I’ve read a few short stories in anthologies, on I think is from this world in Wild & Steamy. Very nice read. I love the steampunk mystery feel.
Please do add me for entering. 🙂 Thank you!
I’ve been meaning to read from the steampunk genre and Meljean’s steampunk books appeal to me the most.
Yay, Brisco County shout out! I can’t wait to read The Iron Seas! Meljean, you’ve created a fantastic world. 🙂
Thanks for this giveaway.
I can’t wait to read HEART OF STEEL.
Is “The Iron Duke” ever coming out in trade paperback? I don’t mind the price, really, but since trade paper is larger than most of the books I own, it’s a pain to store in on my bookshelves, so this format always goes down to the bottom of my “to buy” list.
Thank you for sharing with us, Meljean! I am very excited about this Icelandic setting for the next Iron Seas novel – and to meet new characters and read their stories. I love this series!
@Alaina:
man im an idiot and i got the title wrong.. i mixed heart of steel up with angels of darkness…
I am so looking forward to Heart of Steel! I absolutely adored The Iron Duke, and can’t wait to see what’s next in this series 🙂
jazzrizz(at)aol(dot)com
This series is amazing! I literally couldn’t put “Here there be monsters” or “The Iron Duke” down once I had them. I soooo can’t wait to read “Heart of Steel.”
I can’t wait for Yasmeen and Archimedes’ story. Will we see more of Mina and Rhys? I’m assuming so– or maybe that’s me wanting to know more of what they accomplish together. By the way, it was the best ending EVER in the Iron Duke. Sigh.
I’m so excited to see more in this series! I wasn’t interested in the steampunk genre at all until I read The Iron Duke. I’m looking forward to Heart of Steel & future books/short stories!
*fangirl squee* AHH! I just finished talking about how I am totally, unashamedly in love with Brook & her “Guardians” series & now this?!? Great interview & thank you very much for the giveaway! I’ll be reading this book whether I win or not. Rhys & Mina were swoonworthy in “The Iron Duke”.
Thank you for taking the time to talk to us! I really look forward to reading your book!
LOL! Very entertaining interview 🙂 Love the idea of a clockwork butler/masseuse! Would love to win Iron Duke as I’ve heard so many great things about it.
smaccall AT comcast.net
@Alaina: I don’t know yet how many — I have five total books and two novellas under contract, but if the series does well, I’ll write more. 🙂
@MD: The Iron Duke will be out in mass market (the smaller paperback format) in January 🙂
@Brenda Hyde: We will see more of Rhys and Mina! Not in HEART OF STEEL or RIVETED, but they are the main characters in an epilogue-novella coming out next year, “Mina Wentworth and the Invisible City.”
I can’t wait to read Heart of Steel! I LOVE Yasmeen – this is going to be fun!
Oh my god, the Ginger Avenger. I can actually SEE this in my mind and it’s killing me. 😀 Conan would make a very tall superhero.
I so want this book. I was so excited about The Iron Duke that I ended up buying two copies! So, I am going to send the extra copy (the unsigned one) to my niece so I need book two. Need It! Thanks for the giveaway.
jepebATverizonDOTnet
Loved Iron Duke, definitely looking forward to this new one. And I’ve gotta check out the other series too.
I am looking forward to reading Heart of Steel – it sounds very interesting. Thanks for the giveaway!
franalokas (at) yahoo (dot) com
I love your Guardian series. I saw the Iron Duke in the bookstore and kept praying that it would come out in mass production. I’m so happy to hear the good news. I can now afford to buy the book in January. I hope the other two steampunk books would also come out in mass production.
I love steampunk and I’m glad you’ve had a chance to write in this genre. I really enjoyed Here There be Monsters and I’m looking forward to starting the novels in this series.
Is it okay if the only comment I have is that I’m dying to get my dirty little mittens on Heart of Steel?
I have never read any steampunk books but I have read your other books.
I would love, love to read this! I hope the Guardian series doesn’t end.
I have heard and read great things about The Iron Duke – I would love to win these! Thanks for hosting! Great covers!
bevsharp@desch.org
I love your Guardians novels and hooope there’ll be one or two novellas or something set in the world one day. *sniffs* *puppy eyes*
I’m not a big Steampunk-fan, maybe because I only read two novels and both of them were average at best, but I’m about to start The Iron Duke. Especially since many German readers start reading the novel soon and I’d like to talk about it with them. : )
I’d love to win a copy of The Iron Duke to give to my best friend. : )
All my best,
Patricia
patricia [ät] bookexhibitionism [dot] de
i would like to discover this book. thanks for the opportunity ( and opening it to international readers)
isabelle(dot)frisch(at)gmail(dot)com
I’d love to try a steampunk book! Read so many great reviews about The Iron Duke!
Thank you for the giveaway!
I absolutely LOVE your books. I’m normally not into steampunk novels, but I make an exception for yours, because I love your writing so much that you can even make me enjoy steampunk 🙂
Great interview!! I LOVE steampunk but haven’t read much of it, and I would love to read this book! I, too, would love to have a clockwork butler who can also act as a masseuse!! How cool would that be?!! Thanks for the amazing giveaway:)
I love that you said… “…I can’t write a book without adding a bit of weird to it…” I think that’s what you makes you such a unique author. Granted I haven’t tried any of your books yet, but I’ve heard and seen nothing but good things… I’ll just have to start actually reading your books:) Thanks for the great giveaway & fab interview!
yadkny@hotmail.com
Love the comment about the clockwork butler! Count me in for the draw 🙂
Congrats on the new release! And I am so glad I am not the only one who cant get that image of Conan out of my head. Really there are some things that we dont have to see. Great superhero name though, although I doubt anyone who believe it.
Great interview and I would love to see Conan dressed up in Meljean’s costume design!