THE FANTASTICAL WORLDS OF H. LEIGHTON DICKSON
  • Home
  • Books
    • Ship of Spells
    • The Dragons of Solunas >
      • Dragon of Sand & Storm
      • Dragon of Ash & Stars
    • Cold Stone & Ivy/The Empire of Steam >
      • Cold Stone & Ivy: The Ghost Club
      • Cold Stone & Ivy 2: The Crown Prince
      • Cold Stone & Ivy 3: The Seventh House
    • The Rise of the Upper Kingdom >
      • To Journey in the Year of the Tiger
      • To Walk in the Way of Lions
      • Songs in the Year of the Cat
      • Snow in the Year of the Dragon
      • Swallowtail & Sword: The Scholar's Book of Story & Song
  • Shop
  • About the Author
  • Contact

Life, the Universe and Everything...

Number 4, in London!

9/27/2012

 
And yesterday, the fourth agent emailed for a partial. She lives in London, and since a big part of Cold Stone and Ivy takes place there, why not see if an agent overseas would be interested. My editor will get me the edited ms on Tues, so I'll mail off # 3 & 4 then.  Keeping my fingers crossed and praying a bit, too. A lot, actually...

Honestly, could I be the girl who gets everyone to love their queries, but not love their book? To be fair, none of those agents have rejected the partial yet, so I shouldn't suppose. And I've been having a ball getting "Tiger" up on Kindle and doing all the covers myself. "Tiger" is a two-parter, so I need to format "To Walk in the Way of Lions" now. I've just done a really cool cover for that one. Gotta luv photoshop. Gotta luv lions.

What's the Buzz?

9/17/2012

 
Today I just got my third request for a partial on "Cold Stone and Ivy". Big agents, all of them. I'm trying not to get too terribly excited. Every time I see a new message in my email, I say "It's bad news. It's bad news." I'm certain it will be. But this is an amazing ride. Focus and professionalism go a long way in this business. And remember, it IS a business. While writing is an art, publishing is a business. Agents are the mediators between two worlds and I think they have a tough go of it. I've had the privilege to chat with several who have changed my life for the better. That in itself is success. And I love my editor, Erica Orloff. She's so supportive but realistic at the same time. I need that. Believe me, I'll get that steampunk corset yet...

The Lure of a Steampunk Corset

9/5/2012

 
What is it about a Steampunk Corset that is so damnably appealing? Not just any old corset, mind, but a STEAMPUNK corset just does something to the intelligent woman. Ordinary corsets - long the stuff of Harlequin covers, Victoria's Secret campaigns and catalogues delivered in brown paper - are fine and dandy for the ultra feminine and frilly. But add a buckle of copper, a strap of brown leather or padding in oxblood paisley and you have something that looks not only sexy, but powerful, smart and edgy. What is the lure here?

Steampunk design itself is gorgeous, whether it be in a hat, a laptop, a pair of reticulating spectacles or a set of concept art. The low-key lighting and unsaturated colours, the Victorian detail and the gothic inspiration, but a corset? What is that saying about the nature of a steampunk woman?

I may be wrong, but I think it has to do with the heart of womanhood. Steampunk woman at their core are strong, independent and yet, still very much women. I grew up hating dresses or skirts, belittling my femininity and wishing I were a man. But I see my daughters - very strong, independent and saavy young women - and they are equally at home in jeans, sweats, breeches or skirts. They are well-rounded, powerful women and I envy that in them. I need to remember that sometimes a generation needs to turn culture on its head for the next to flourish, and at my age, I think we did that. There has never been a better time in all of history to be a woman. Perhaps my lack of female identity has given my daughters the freedom to embrace theirs, and while I may never in my life have the courage to actually wear a steampunk corset, I'm quite certain that my daughters will. They will be strong and they will look smashing.

Maybe, one day, I will do the same.

    H. Leighton Dickson

    Author. Zoologist. Imaginary Genius. Engineer of Fantastical Worlds. Master of None.

    Archives

    March 2024
    October 2020
    March 2017
    February 2017
    November 2016
    August 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    May 2015
    March 2015
    January 2015
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    September 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012

    Categories

    All
    Book Fair
    Books
    Indie Authors
    Local Book Markets
    Publishing
    Writing

    RSS Feed

The Fantastical Worlds of
H. LEIGHTON DICKSON

© COPYRIGHT 2015. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
  • Home
  • Books
    • Ship of Spells
    • The Dragons of Solunas >
      • Dragon of Sand & Storm
      • Dragon of Ash & Stars
    • Cold Stone & Ivy/The Empire of Steam >
      • Cold Stone & Ivy: The Ghost Club
      • Cold Stone & Ivy 2: The Crown Prince
      • Cold Stone & Ivy 3: The Seventh House
    • The Rise of the Upper Kingdom >
      • To Journey in the Year of the Tiger
      • To Walk in the Way of Lions
      • Songs in the Year of the Cat
      • Snow in the Year of the Dragon
      • Swallowtail & Sword: The Scholar's Book of Story & Song
  • Shop
  • About the Author
  • Contact