GUEST AUTHOR: Nico Rosso “Night of Fire” (+ INT’L Giveaway – ends 26/07/12)
Nico Rosso was born and raised in a factory town. The major industry: Movies. Growing up with a creative family in Los Angeles, Nico was surrounded by the film business, and after college he returned home to work in that industry. From cleaning up gallons of milk after a special effect to pitching ideas to executives as a screenwriter, Nico was there.
But the movies had changed from the glowing pictures that once inspired him. He found there wasn’t as much space for his voice and turned to writing narrative fiction, and more specifically, romance (inspired by his wife, Zoë Archer). He created the sci-fi adventure world of the Limit War, taking readers into an intergalactic battle between planet-consuming aliens and the army that combats their spread. Turning his sights on home, Nico set off the apocalypse on the Burning Earth, where humans fight to survive against mutant Fire Eaters. In a joint effort with his wife, he is now working on a steampunk Western set in their shared world of the Ether Chronicles. And he’s finally bringing to life all the superheroes he doodled in high school with the Heroes Guild. Inspiration comes from travel, daydreams, research and random lightning bolts, so there’s no telling where the next adventure will start.
Hi, and thanks for having me on the blog today.
Let’s put the steam in steampunk. I don’t know how many of you are familiar with the genre (the readership is definitely growing) but it’s essentially Victorian sci-fi. Combining the materials of the late 19th Century with a modern sensibility, the technology can be anything from clockwork shoulder fired Gatling rifles to ether borne flying mechanical horses known as Sky Chargers.
My wife, Zoë Archer, and I came up with the Ether Chronicles series together, but are writing the books separately. Hers take place all over the globe. The first one, SKIES OF FIRE, is set in and above the Carpathian Mountains. My tales are steampunk Westerns. Both have plenty of steam, and I’m not just talking about technology.
So what makes steampunk so sexy? One of the first things that comes to mind is the clothes. Tall boots, utilitarian gear with belts and pouches. Goggles if the character is taking to the air. My heroine, Rosa Campos doesn’t wear a corset, but is still damn hot in her breeches and vest, complete with a sheriff’s star. The clothes speak to adventure, self confidence. And the vest complements her curves.
And the hero, Tom Knox, is a scout for the US Cavalry. But he doesn’t ride a horse, he flies a Sky Charger. His uniform is well fitted. Black cowboy hat. A stripe down the side of his leg. And a front placket on his shirt, complete with brass buttons along his chest. His broad shoulders are accentuated. Lean muscles in the trim uniform tell you he’s a man of action.
Another thing that makes steampunk so hot is that as the technology becomes more elaborate the stakes increase, giving the hero and heroine opportunities to prove themselves and prove their love for each other. Tom returns to town after a three year absence and things are pretty rocky between him and Rosa. To make matters worse, an evil mining company’s rolling fifty foot rock eating machine is headed toward town.
Facing odds like this really shows the mettle of the hero and heroine. Not just to the reader, but to each other. Seeing Tom go against the enemy, his four barreled pistol blazing, is bound to make Rosa’s old passion for him flare. And when he sees how tough and determined she is, not backing down even when the ether-charged bullets are flying, he knows he didn’t return to town for the home cooking.
GIVEAWAY!
I have one e-ARC of Night of Fire to give away.
To enter please answer the following questions: What aspect of steampunk do you find most sexy? And if you’re not a reader of the genre yet, what part of it piques your interest? Please leave your answer in the comment section of this blog post, then fill out the form below. (You must fill in the form otherwise you are NOT entered into the giveaway)
This giveaway is international and ends 26th July 2012
Oops! We could not locate your form.
**Please note: We are trying out a new entry system to our giveaways. If you have any problems or if you just want to give your feedback on this new entry system, please contact us. You can also have your say with this month’s Poll on the sidebar.
NICO ROSSO ONLINE
Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads
20 Comments
I think this series sounds great…. can’t wait to read it. I love steampunk….it’s such a fun way to combine creative inventions with sci fi edginess. It’s the edginess of steampunk I find sexy. A little bit dangerous, but also wicked fun.
Reply
I don’t currently read steampunk but from what I have read, i find the inventions and how they are used in everyday life very interesting!
Reply
As a writer, I love to read steampunk and see how the authors world build this unique and sexy genre. I can’t write it to save my life so I admire those who can and appreicate their talent!
Reply
For me, it’s the whole old-world-meets-new that’s so appealing. You can take the parts of the Victorian era that were so sexy (the clothes and the barely concealed repression) and put them in a world where different rules exist–especially the kind of rules that allow women to be badass fighters alongside their heroes.
Reply
I don’t find steampunk itself to be sexy, but the interactions of the characters. I just find it to be an interesting world.
Although the clothes… true… it’s the era where so much repression was going on combined with the unrepressed of steampunk. I suppose that is sexy.
Reply
The clothes. I LOVE the victorian style clothing, back when both men and women truely cared about their appearance (Not any of this jean past your butt showing off your boxers deal now a days). Also having some machinery and new things compared to the old era makes it a little more exciting.
Reply
Nico, hi! *waves* This book sounds FANTASTIC! It’s going on my TBR pile immediately!
And I have to agree – clothes (and yeah, the gadgets) make the steampunk!
Reply
The clothes. I love the Victorian clothes and how many female characters end up being cross dressers of the period, Annie Oakley get your gun types.
Reply
I think the sexiest thing about steampunk are women in victorian dresses/gowns weilding big ass guns
Reply
I love steampunk because they have that touch of the Victorian era plus these incredible and amazing new tech. Besides, steampunk outfits are badass c:
Reply
I think the clothes are pretty sexy and the awesome accessories are too. I love steampunk and the inventions are always fun to read about as well.
Reply
The corsets no doubt most of the clothing rocks it’s one of the best for cosplay which I’d love to take part in but hard to do it justice.
Reply
I love reading steampunk because you get that regency/romantic feeling but still mechanics and the mindset of today. =)
best wishes, Linda xo
Reply
Really good steampunk manages to capture the fact that during victorian times it was the dawn of a new age. Machinery was begining to be used more and more. Writers take what they know from the past and combine it with the now.
Plus I love the whole order of things, but then I love Downton abbey too! Lol
Reply
I am not a reader of this genre but I would definitely love to read books from this genre. The combination of technology, history and fantasy fascinates me.
Reply
Initially, I think the Victorian clothing gave the era a huge sexual overtone; It seems women’s upper bodies were tightly defined – physical features were exaggerated with tiny waists, bustles for the derriere and ample lace and designing for the breast, perfect for preying on the libido. Sometimes a plunging neckline would reveal cleavage in a most feminine way. Then the skirts hid all the’ naughty’ parts leaving the imagination to roam – a push-me-pull-you effect, I feel. Hair was often brought up to reveal a lady’s neck, making it perfect for kissing or biting, but wait – hands off; don’t you know we are prudish, I mean Victorian. Men, on the other hand had to ‘dress-up’ to be respected. To me that’s sexy right there. Yet the real kicker was that this was the age of discovery and invention. Anyone could try their hand at the madcap or marvelous. The electric fever of creativity must have permeated every corner of city life, much as New York feels today, and may have given country life a more meaningful spin than picking flowers and drinking tea on the lawn ever could. At the very least, conversation over tea was more stimulating than gossip. Yep, much sexier than jeans and T-shirt attire, talking about YouTube videos.
Reply
I have never read any books of this genre, but this book sounds so intense and sexy, love cowboy hats!!! also the characters sound like people you can get emotionally attached too and not be able to put down the book.
Reply
I have not had the pleasure of reading this genre but the Victorian era is so outwardly prim and proper but inwardly so sexily different.
Reply
Thanks for stopping by and leaving all these great insights, everyone! So far it seems like the clothes are a major factor in making steampunk sexy. Because my side of the Ether Chronicles are in the Wild West, I didn’t have the opportunity to play with the Victorian dichotomy of repression and eroticism. But if I ever get a chance to set one of these stories closer to a city, that would be a lot of fun to explore.
Reply
They’re creations are very innovative!
Reply