Good afternoon! I'm having a book tour interview with steampunk and fantasy author, Karen J. Carlisle. She's a prolific writer and creator who's been a guest on my blog in the past. I'm certainly glad to feature more of her work. A Fey Tale: An Aunt Enid Mystery is her latest novel and you can find out more information through our Q&A session. Happy reading! Q: How long did it take you to write this sequel? A: Argh. Too long! Thanks to Covid. Unlike some authors, who thrived on lockdown and restrictions, I didn’t. I fell into a deep hole, writing-wise. I did manage two short stories for promised anthologies, did some cover art (I switch to sewing and art when the words refuse to play), and crocheted. A lot.. I started A Fey Tale in 2020, had over twelve months of downtime, then picked it up again mid-2021. So, a book that would usually take twelve months from start to publication, took two years! Apologies to my patient readers. (Book two is longer than the first, to make up for it!) Q: Aunt Enid is back. Would you mind giving some background information about your protagonist? A: (WARNING: There’s a minor spoiler if you haven’t read book one) *********** When we first meet Great Aunt Enid in book one, it’s in current-day Adelaide summer. She’s a seventy-something who ‘loves to cook, is a regular at bingo, and spends hours in her garden, talking to her army of garden gnomes and fussing over the color of her hydrangeas...’ She keeps beehives and talks to them regularly. She’s also a Protector, sworn to protect our world from the hordes of Darkness, and the many creatures and dangers from the Otherworlds. Book one hints at several things in her past. But something’s different… Book two picks up one of those threads and takes us back to 1920. Enid is *ahem* a bit younger. We also learn why she doesn’t drive, why she took up crochet, and a few more of her secrets. Q: You already wrote one book in this series, titled Aunt Enid: Protector Extraordinaire. Should we know anything in particular before reading the second book? A: The reader-experience will be different depending on which book you read first. Book one – you meet the characters and learn a few secrets about the Protectors. As mentioned above, Aunt Enid is not all she appears to be. If you read book two first, then the ‘reveal’ is lost for book one. You will also know the fate of certain characters which are revealed in A Fey Tale. Book two is a prequel. We meet two of Enid’s previous fellow Protectors (fate known in book one). It contains the ‘origin story’ of two characters in the first book, Aunt Enid: Protector Extraordinaire. If you’ve read book one, then you’ll be anticipating their fate. If not, it’s more of a ‘reveal’ in the first book. I added an epilogue to A Fey Tale for those who may not have read book one and know the future of a particular character. Q: It seems like A Fey Tale is a cozy mystery in a fantasy setting. Does that sound like a fair assessment? Not quite. It’s a cozy (well, a slightly darker Australian version) with magic and creatures of myth and legend, which happen to live elsewhere. The Aunt Enid Mysteries are set in ‘real world’ Adelaide. The fantasy elements leak into our world from the Otherworlds –the many alternative realities and worlds of myth and legend that touch ours at ‘Thin Places’. These Thin Places are breached by both accident and design. Think of Adelaide as Hell Mouth Ground Zero. Q: Your book includes a group called the Protectors. Who are these characters? A: At each ‘Hell Mouth,’ there are three Protectors - women who have the ability to control the Aether (my vaguely-scientific laws of magic). It’s the Protectors duty to protect the ‘civilians’ in our world from the dangers posed from the Otherworlds, so they remain unaware of the existence of magic, the Otherworlds, and their inhabitants. In each book, you learn more about them, so I can’t say too much. The ability is hereditary. How they are chosen is revealed in the book. Q: I know your book includes fairies and other magical creatures. What types of creatures should we expect to see in your story? A: There’s a troll under a bridge, Fae in the Adelaide Hills, and my favorite, The Shoemaker. No one really knows what he is. J The Houghton Howler is also mentioned. Each book features a different cryptid or magical creature. A thylacine is rumored to live in the local Hills, last ‘seen’ in 2016. It shows up in a few of my stories, as it’s *my* local cryptid. Q: A lot of your work features steampunk elements. Does A Fey Tale have any steampunk influences? A: ‘A Fey Tale’ isn’t steampunk… However, you could argue it’s vaguely ‘steampunk-adjacent,’ as it’s set in September 1920 when Sir Arthur Conan Doyle visited Adelaide as part of his lecture tour. As he wrote Sherlock Holmes (Aunt Enid’s favorite detective), there’s a very tenuous link. The Aunt Enid Mysteries are more cozy fantasy mysteries, set in modern day (and historical) Adelaide (South Australia)… Why both? I can’t tell you; it’s a spoiler. Q: Is this book humorous? Many cozies tend to be whimsical and witty. A: There is some humor in the book. I try to write at least one humorous ‘situational’ scene per book. Though Australian cozies (like English cozies) can be slightly darker than some American audiences are used to. Q: When and where can we buy your book? A: If you’re in Australia, you can buy the paperback direct from me (and get it signed!). https://karenjcarlisle.com/product/a-fey-tale/ Print and eBook copies are also available online. - https://books2read.com/A-Fey-Tale Q: Are you selling merchandise to accompany this sequel? A: Yes. I have a mug (direct from me if you’re in Australia) - and a t-shirt – both are available via Redbubble online – If you like music, you can download a digital copy of ‘Spanish Flu’, co-written with and performed by Littmus Steampunk Band. This was based on research I did (late 2019) for A Fey Tale – about quarantine in Adelaide. Who knew it’d be so prophetic? ********** Mug (direct from author): https://karenjcarlisle.com/product/aunt-enid-a-fey-tale-post-included/ ) Mug (Redbubble): https://www.redbubble.com/i/mug/A-Fey-Tale-by-katdb/42461566.9Q0AD T-shirt: https://www.redbubble.com/i/t-shirt/A-Fey-Tale-by-katdb/42461566.88ZX2 Spanish Flu/Music: https://karenjcarlisle.com/product/song-spanish-flu/ There’s a book blog tour special: get A Fey Tale at 50% RRP from Smashwords (https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/1119230 ) Use VOUCHER CODE: YH63W (Expires: January 13, 2022) Q: Prolific authors rarely stop at two books. Are you planning to write more entries in the series? A: Oh, yes. I already have notes for book three (and have seeded some hints in book two.). I have the creature-antagonist set and will explore another character’s background and fate. I have the cover planned. Just need to get a title. Q: What’s next for you? I’m excited, as I’ve just received acceptance for a short story pitch for an Australian anthology in one of my favorite milieus, due Feb. 2022. After that, I’m back to steampunk adventure. I’m compiling my notes for book two of The Department of Curiosities, ‘Against the Empire’. As it’s a longer book, and needs sensitivity reading, I’m hoping to have it out by the end of 2022, but will likely be mid 2023. If you want information and updates, follow my website, Patreon page, and/or newsletter. That's the end of my book tour interview with Karen J. Carlisle. She always brings something new, inventive, and entertaining to the market. I'm going to leave plenty of links, so you can support A Fey Tale and more of her work. Don't hesitate to pen your own creative tales. The pandemic is a great opportunity to take up writing as a hobby and possible side job. I'll give you updates about my plans for 2022 soon. This outbreak is keeping my plans grounded, so don't expect major traveling or events next year. I'm still erring on the side of caution. Thanks for visiting my blog again. I appreciate your support and please, be careful out there. Enjoy the rest of your weekend and I'll see you again next week. Happy holidays!
LINKS Website: www.karenjcarlisle.com Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/KarenJCarlisle Ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/karenjcarlisle Newsletter: https://karenjcarlisle.com/sign-up-email-list/ Books2Read: https://books2read.com/ap/nmAy7z/Karen-J-Carlisle Social Media Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/karenjcarlisle/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KarenJCarlisle Twitter: https://twitter.com/kjcarlisle Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/riverkat42/ A Fey Tale Merch Mug (direct from author): https://karenjcarlisle.com/product/aunt-enid-a-fey-tale-post-included/ ) Mug (Redbubble): https://www.redbubble.com/i/mug/A-Fey-Tale-by-katdb/42461566.9Q0AD T-shirt: https://www.redbubble.com/i/t-shirt/A-Fey-Tale-by-katdb/42461566.88ZX2 Spanish Flu/Music: https://karenjcarlisle.com/product/song-spanish-flu/ Shop: www.karenjcarlisle.com/shop Bio Karen J. Carlisle is a writer and illustrator of steampunk, Victorian mysteries, and fantasy. She was short-listed in Australian Literature Review’s 2013 Murder/Mystery Short Story Competition. She is currently writing the second book in her cosy fantasy mystery series, set in Adelaide. Her short stories have featured in the 2016 Adelaide Fringe exhibition, ‘A Trail of Tales,’ ‘Where’s Holmes?’ and ‘Deadsteam’ anthologies. Karen lives in Adelaide with her family and the ghost of her ancient Devon Rex cat. She’s always loved dark chocolate and rarely refuses a cup of tea. Book blog Hashtags: #A Fey Tale, # Aunt Enid Mysteries, #KarenJCarlisle
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