With the first installment of the Aether Chronicles, Innocent Darkness, nominated for a Prism Award, many are anticipating the next chapters with bated breath. Here, author Suzanne Lazear reveals the intrigue behind her second steampunk odyssey, and what it took to get it out into the world.
Magnolia Braddock has returned from the Otherworld to Los Angeles with dangerous secrets that she is desperate to keep from her family. Abandoned by her true love, Steven, heartbroken Noli takes refuge on an air pirate ship piloted by her brother, Jeff. The Vixen’s Revenge, with its dark wood and clockwork gears, is a haven for misfits. As the newly acquired engineer, Noli fits right in with the crew.
But secrets abound aboard the ship, hidden beneath its polished exterior. A mysterious man has hired the crew to steal magical artifacts from museums scattered throughout the mortal world and Noli finds herself drawn once more into the affairs of the Otherworld. Determined to keep her brother and fellow crewmates out of Otherworld dealings, Noli decides to take matters into her own hands but she and the crew aren’t prepared for the deadly consequences.
YOUNG ADULT: If you could surmise your relationship to writing in three words only, what would they be and why?
Suzanne Lazear: It’s like breathing.
YA: Tell us a little bit about your latest work. What does CHARMED VENGEANCE bring to The AETHER CHRONICLES series?
SL: The Aether Chronicles series is what I call “Fairytale Steampunk.” CHARMED VENGEANCE is book 2 and continues to follow the adventures of Noli, V, Kevighn, and James. This book takes place mostly in the mortal realm on an airship, so there are lots of steampunk elements and action. Also, we finally meet Noli’s brother Jeff, the air pirate. There are explosions. No cake was harmed in the writing of this book.
YA: Take us through a typical writing day for you.
SL: I have a day job, so in the morning I’ll do some social media—blog posts, facebook, twitter and such, and in the evenings after my daughter goes to bed I work on my task for the day, which is usually either drafting or editing. Having limited time, but still having deadlines, keeps me focused and on task. It’s amazing how much you can get done when you know you have very limited time.
YA: Can you describe the path to getting this work published? What were the challenges? What was easy about it?
SL: I wrote INNOCENT DARKNESS (book 1) in 2009, back before a lot of people knew what steampunk was. Pitching a steampunk fairytale was a challenge because it’s such an odd mash-up. I was very lucky and not long after I began shopping it, the series found a home with Flux in 2010. It came out in 2012. (Yes, publishing can take a very long time.) It was very difficult to be patient. I wrote book 2 in 2011 and I’m excited for it to be released in August.
YA: What were your specific influences for this installment? Other literature, film, TV?
SL: This series was heavily influenced by Michael Swanwick’s The Iron Dragon’s Daughter, as well as Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland. There are also heavy doses of faery lore, classic fairytale elements, and literary references (all things I love.) Some elements from the TV show Firefly snuck into book 2, because that’s one of my favorite TV shows.
YA: If you hadn’t become an author, what path would your career have perhaps taken?
SL: Well, there was a point in time where I’d wanted to go into politics. I actually have a master’s degree in Public Policy.
YA: What advice would you give other aspiring writers, aside from the stock ‘never give up’?
SL: Finish the book! You can’t be published if you don’t have a complete story.
YA: What other authors, YA or otherwise, do you idolize? Or, what YA books are on a pedestal for you?
SL: Ann M. Martin was a huge influence on me, she also gave me some terrific writing advice when I was a kid, it really stuck with me. (Keep writing. Join a writer’s group if you can.) My all-time favorite book is Little Women, which I think has some great YA moments.