Aloha to Bec McMaster and KISS OF STEEL

On this day in 1580, Sir Frances Drake sailed the Golden Hind home to Plymouth, England, finishing his circumnavigation of the Earth.   His route , however, did not offer him the opportunity to see Australia's beauty as he sailed through Indonesia from the Pacific to Indian Oceans.   Today's guest, Bec McMaster, will give us a glimpse of Australia's beauty as we celebrate her new paranormal steampunk novel, KISS OF STEEL.

Grampians Mountains (Wikipedia)

Kim:  Aloha to my fellow Pacific Rimmer! Tell us about Victoria - what are your favorite sight, sound, and smell? 

Bec:  Hi! And thanks for having me! I live in a small country town in Victoria, Australia, near the Grampians mountain range. On the weekends and during Summer my boyfriend and I will often go for a drive out to Halls gap – which is the main tourist town – and either go for a bushwalk to the top of the Pinnacles or stroll around the town eating homemade ice cream from one of the shops. You have to be careful with the local kangaroos however, as they’re a cheeky mob and are prone to stealing any carelessly-held waffle cone. As to my favourite smell? I think that ice cream shop can be smelt for miles. 

Wikipedia

Kim:  Love your reference to “all the movies in their heads” in your bio on your website (at this link).   How did you make the leap from reading romance to writing romance?

Bec:  I can never remember a time when I haven’t written – although the quality of the stories has definitely improved over time. My first major love was fantasy, and it wasn’t until I read my first romance novel at sixteen that I realized what was missing from a lot of the fantasy I read – or why I loved certain romance-centric fantasy novels. Of course, it was just a step then from writing epic fantasy to writing romance. As to the ‘movies in my head’ quote – that’s honestly how I see it when I write. 

Manchu Pichu (Wikipedia)

Kim:  I also read that you’re “Addicted to travel.” Where would you like to visit next? If you had no restrictions, where would you set your next romance novel?

Bec:  My mum has a milestone birthday coming up next year and wants to trek Machu Pichu for it. She and I have always wanted to do most of the great walks in the world, so it will hopefully be our first together. Last year she did the Kokoda trek in Papua New Guinea to raise money for breast cancer, which is a very tough trek and somewhat close to home for many Australians as it’s where one of our most famous battles was fought. I’m so proud of her for that one so Machu Pichu would be great to do together.

If I had no restrictions about where to set a novel? Tough choice – or too many choices! Maybe Egypt? I love the era when Europeans were ‘discovering’ all of the Egyptians temples and treasures. Plus there is so much myth to play with in regards to Egypt. 

The Giza Pyramids (Wikipedia)

Kim:  Tell us about your London Steampunk Series and Book 1, KISS OF STEEL!

Bec:  The London Steampunk series is set in the Victorian era time-wise, although it’s a very different Victorian London to what actually existed. In my steam-fuelled world, a virus came out of the far-east and changed the face of the London aristocracy. Men infect themselves at fifteen with the craving virus which changes them into blue bloods – faster, stronger and invulnerable to disease, although with one large side effect. The craving for blood.

In this dark world, my heroine Honoria is on the run from a powerful blue blood Duke who would kill to get his hands on her secrets. Forced to flee to the rookeries, the only one she can turn to for protection is Blade, the self-proclaimed Devil of Whitechapel and a rogue blue blood. Honoria could be Blade’s perfect revenge against the duke, or the very salvation he never dared dream of. 

Whitechapel in 1905 (Wikipedia)

Kim:  What's next for Bec McMaster?

Bec:  Heart of Iron, featuring Blade’s verwulfen lieutenant Will and Honoria’s sister Lena, is due out in May 2013. Considered little more than a slave-without-a-collar to the ruling blue bloods, Will is forced to enter their world when he finds a coded letter on Lena – the same code he found on a pair of humans who burned down the blue blood’s draining factories. Determined to make a difference in her world, Lena is only just realizing how much trouble she has gotten herself into when Will forces his protection on her. Years ago he rejected her after a single heart-stopping kiss and the last thing Lena wants is Will following her around. She may not get a choice however, when a dangerous plot sweeps the pair of them up, involving an attack on the Queen herself. 

Wikipedia

Mahalo, Bec, for joining us at SOS Aloha!  Sourcebooks is giving away a print copy of KISS OF STEEL to one randomly selected commenter.

KISS OF STEEL BY BEC MCMASTER – IN STORES SEPTEMBER 2012

A brilliantly creative debut where vampires, werewolves, and clockwork creatures roam the mist–shrouded streets of London...

When Nowhere is Safe

Most people avoid the dreaded Whitecapel district. For Honoria Todd, it's the last safe haven. But at what price?

Blade is known as the master of the rookeries—no one dares cross him. It's been said he faced down the Echelon's army single–handedly, that ever since being infected by the blood–craving he's been quicker, stronger, and almost immortal.

When Honoria shows up at his door, his tenuous control comes close to snapping. She's so...innocent. He doesn't see her backbone of steel—or that she could be the very salvation he's been seeking.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Award-winning author Bec McMaster lives in a small town in Australia and grew up with her nose in a book. A member of RWA, she writes sexy, dark paranormals and steampunk romance. When not writing, reading, or poring over travel brochures, she loves spending time with her very own hero or daydreaming about new worlds. For more information, please visit www.becmcmaster.com or follow her on Twitter, @BecMcMaster. 

To enter the giveaway,

1.  Leave a comment about an exotic place you would like to visit - Manchu Pichu?   Papua New Guinea?  Pearl Harbor?

2.  Sourcebooks' giveaway is open to US readers ... I'll giveaway a Hawaiian "steampunk" souvenir to one international reader.

3.  Comments are open through Saturday, September 29, 10 pm in Hawaii.  I'll post the winner on Sunday, September 30.

Mahalo,

Kim in Hawaii

We have steam in Hawaii ... I am not punking you!