Gail Carriger

The Official Option Announcement

Thu, 26 Jul 2012 17:59:29 GMT

Gentle Reader, I thought you might like to read the official announcement of the Parasol Protectorate deal. It appeared recently in the PW Lunch as follows . . .

Film
NYT bestselling author Gail Carriger's SOULLESS, a humorous Jane Austen-style steampunk fantasy about an avowed spinster who, being soulless, can negate supernatural ability and is thus shunned by London's society vampires until one rudely attacks her, upsetting the social balance and revealing a dark cult, to Parallel Films with screenwriter Ted Elliot (Pirates of The Caribbean and Shrek) attached, by Kristin Nelson at Nelson Literary Agency, Michael Cendejas of Lynn Pleshette Agency, and Wayne Alexander of ANLF.

And, one more time, what does this mean?

The announcement says SOULLESS in actually it's all 5 Parasol Protectorate Books that have been optioned for TV. Also, FYI, in legal speak "film" means TV, Movie, Mini Series, theater, any or all. My books were specifically not optioned for a movie.

What is an option? An option right to try to raise backing and interest from Talent (writer, director, actors) to try to put together the possibility of some kind of show. In this case a television or mini series.
Who got it? Parallel Films is a small but lovely independent film company out of Ireland has optioned the Parasol Protectorate series for one year with a possibility of re-upping for two. They are behind such projects as Breakfast on Pluto and Kingdom. Screen writer Ted Elliot is interested, but I think the announcement might have overstated his involvement.
When? Could be within the next two years, could be never. Unlikely to hit airways for some time. That's how options work.
Were? Should the project come together, the pitch would go out to both UK and US film stations, both network and cable. Yes, that would include the BBC but there is no guarantee they would pick it up.
Why? My suggested pitch was: True Blood meets Downton Abby ~ only funny. We shall see if they use it.
How? My books have two things working against them, which add up to the same end result. 1. They are set in the past in exotic locals. 2. They have fancy steampunk elements and lots of supernatural special effects. 3. Result = expensive.

So? Am I thrilled and very excited, yes indeed. But it's best to be only cautiously optimistic about such things.

Others discuss the option.

The Parasol Protectorate Facebook Group discusses casting.

And now I have a novel to write and edits incoming. Next week looks to be busy in that typeity-clackity staring-at-screens kind of way. An author's life is so much frantic on the inside, stationary on the outside. No wonder we have a well deserved reputation for going insane.

GAIL'S DAILY DOSE

Your Tisane of Smart . . .

Your Writerly Tinctures . . .
Fixing a Stalled Scene

PROJECT ROUND UP
Prudence ~ The Parasol Protectorate Abroad Book the First: Working rough draft. Release date Fall 2013. Gotta get these peeps floating.
Etiquette & Espionage ~ Finishing School Book the First: Release date Feb 5, 2013. Working promo schemes.Deportment & Deceit ~ The Finishing School Book the Second: Third draft handed in to editor, awaiting edits.
Manga ~ Soulless Vol. 2: (AKA Changeless) Reviewing chapter by chapter, each drops on YenPlus by subscription. Print release tentatively Dec. 2012.

BIG FAT SPOILER ALERT on the Parasol Protectorate series! Really, DON'T READ THE BLURB ON AMAZON if you haven't read the other books first!

The Omnibus hardback editions are limited run through the SciFi Bookclub only.

The manga editions, Vol. available in print, Vol. 2 by subscription to YenPlus.

Most short stories available in ebook form world wide!

The first Finishing School book ~ Out Feb. 5, 2013

Book News:

Quote of the Day:
"Not only did Isabel frequent Turkish baths and spend days on end in harems, but she had taken to smoking the narghileh, or water pipe. Her fondness for wearing man's dress when she went traveling with Richard, especially, was considered not just eccentric, but thoroughly reprehensible."
~ Famous ambassadress Isabel Burton or Brazil and Damascus in the 1860s, about whom a movie would be wonderful

Books Used to Research Timeless

Mon, 26 Mar 2012 16:45:40 GMT

Today I present to you, part of our occasional series of DVD extras . . . some of the books I used to research Timeless. A quick warning before we start, Gentle Reader, the books I used are kind of spoilers for the arc of this last Parasol Protectorate.

Ancient Egypt Lithographs by David Roberts, R.A.
Roberts visited Egypt for the first time in 1838 and sketched much of the area, including archaeological sites, while he was there. He continued to do so on several subsequent visits. I used his sketches as a jumping off point (all be in 40 years early) as to the look of Egypt during Victorian times. This book was also valuable when writing my Alessandro's short story, The Curious Case of the Werewolf that Wasn't, the Mummy the Was, and the Cat in the Jar (as yet unpublished).

Eyewitness Books, Desert by Dr. Miranda MacQuitty.
I use the eyewitness books a lot, they make for a good quick peek into the food and environment of a given time or place. They shouldn't be devalued because they are children's books but instead be viewed as great jumping off points. You can get them at any library, but I chose to buy mine.

Eyewitness Books, Boat by Eric Kentley.
I need more from this book on early transatlantic steamers but it at least gave me many of the terms and initial ideas I needed for Alexia and Conall's sea journey. I ended up doing a lot of research into the Titanic. Even though it was built years after Timeless the massive amount of online information gave me insight into passenger manifests and the arrangement and titles for ship's staff and officers on board any liner.

The Rape of the Nile by Brian M. Fagan.
I read this book while researching the dawn of archaeology for a class back in my PhD days, and liked it so much I went out and bought it to own. It has flaws. Fagan dwells over much on Belzoni (obviously as the result of his own PhD work, or personal passion) and does not cover the rest of early Nile excavation in as much detail as I would have likes. But what he does do is cover some of the changing attitudes and politics in Egypt at the time of Victorian occupation, sufficient to my needs, so that I became familiar with the political climate and personalities and travel requirements of the antiquities market in the late 1870s. I also use a brief bit of information from this book in Etiquette & Espionage.

Living In Ancient Egypt by Norman Bancroft Hunt.
Similar to the Eyewitness books but newer, this book was one of a series I was given to review by Horn several years ago. I hung onto it because like the Eyewitness books I thought it might provide a good stepping stone and quick guide to the time. It helps that I already know a lot about Ancient Egypt. (For years I was going to be an Egyptologist before I went into Materials Archeology instead. I worked at the Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum as a volunteer during and after my undergraduate work.)

Ancient Lives: Daily Life in Egypt of the Pharaohs by John Romer.
Possibly my favorite book about Ancient Egypt ever written. Despite its name this is more a chronicle of the excavations at the famous tomb builders village (Deir el-Medina) outside of Thebes. Decades old know, this still stands as one of the best and only excavations of artisan daily life, and one of the few within the Valley of the Kings.

Hatchepsut: The Female Pharaoh by Joyce Tyldesley.
An old publication from 1996 so we must admit that much additional information has been added over the years. However, this book provided the basics I needed for my fictional reconstruction of Matakara's character (and name, of course). I drew her personality, appearance, and a selection of drones from the information in this book.

I also had a copy of National Geographic's September 1998 special on the Valley of the Kings. Much of the information was outdated or popularized into uselessness but the photographs of the landscape and maps of the valley were invaluable.

Some Inspiration for Alexia in Egypt . . .

Phoebe Apperson Hearst

Sara Yorke Stevenson

Amelia Edwards

GAIL'S DAILY DOSE

Your Tisane of Smart . . .

Your Writerly Tinctures . . .

PROJECT ROUND UP
Deportment & Deceit ~ The Finishing School Book the Second: Done with word count but not book. I'm going over length, very unusual for me.
Etiquette & Espionage ~ The Finishing School Book the First: Release date Feb 2013.
Manga ~ Soulless Vol. 2: (AKA Changeless) Have seen cover sketch for cover and it is fabulous!
Timeless ~ Parasol Protectorate Book the Last. Out now!
Prudence ~ The Parasol Protectorate Abroad Book the First: Release date Fall 2013.

BIG FAT SPOILER ALERT! Really, DON'T READ THE BLURB ON AMAZON if you haven't read the other books first!

Book News:

I'm deeply honored to be able to say that I received FOUR Polidori awards for Excellence in 2011: Best Novel for Heartless, Best Audiobook for Heartless, Best Manga for Soulless, and Best Comic/Manga Adaptation of a Vampire Book/Series, also for Soulless!
Thanks for voting for me everyone!

Quote of the Day:
"Books are embalmed minds."
~ Bovee

Manga Art Drop: Alexia Tarabotti & Lord Conall Maccon!

Tue, 05 Jul 2011 21:42:52 GMT

And finally, we have the initial sketches for Alexia Tarabotti and Lord Conall Maccon for the up coming Manga!

"Mark my words, I will use something much, much stronger than smelling salts," came a growl in Miss Tarabotti's left ear. The voice was low, and tinged with a hint of Scotland. It would have caused Alexia to shiver and think primal monkey-thoughts about moons and running far and fast, if she'd had a soul. Instead it caused her to sigh in exasperation and sit up.
"And a good evening to you too, Lord Maccon. Lovely weather we are having for this time of year, is it not?"
~ from Soulless

"Stop humoring her, Randolph," barked Lord Maccon. The fourth Earl of Woolsey was much larger than Professor Lyall, and in possession of a near permanent frown. Or at least, he always seemed to be frowning when he was in the presence of Miss Alexia Tarabotti, ever since the hedgehog incident. (Which really, honestly, had not been her fault.) He also had unreasonably pretty tawny eyes, mahogany colored hair, and a particularly nice nose. The eyes were currently glaring at Alexia from a shockingly intimate distance.
~ from Soulless

"Why is it, Miss Tarabotti, every time I have to clean up a mess in a library you just happen to be in the middle of it?" the Earl demanded of her.
Alexia gave him a withering look and brushed down the front of her green taffeta gown, checking for bloodstains.
~ from Soulless

My manga artist's name is Rem. The Soulless manga is coming out via Yen Press. It launches officially at Comic Con in San Diego July 21 (I will NOT be there). It will be available serialized in Yen Plus, a monthly online anthology starting July 11, and as a full book sometime next spring!

Your moment of parasol . . .

Gail's Daily Dose
Your Infusion of Cute:

Your Tisane of Smart:
Tea biscuit throw pillows! I want the Tunnock's Caramel wafer one so much. Back in England one wet excavation day was spent calculating how many would fit into the sorting shed. I ate one of these every day during my march to the MS degree. Good times.

Your Writerly Tinctures:
Dan on putting your information into the cloud.

Timeless: Finished with last draft, awaiting copyedits.
Etiquette & Espionage: The Finishing School Book One: Third draft done and in to first reader. Yes!
Secret Project PPA: Only a twinkle in my little eye.

BIG FAT SPOILER ALERT! Really, DON'T READ THE BLURB ON AMAZON if you haven't read the other books first!

Book News:
She Loves Books is very concerned over Biffy's fate in Blameless.

Quote of the Day:
"If there's a book you really want to read but it hasn't been written yet, then you must write it."
~ Toni Morrison

Shoes! The Winnah! And Bodacious Boobage

Mon, 21 Mar 2011 17:52:02 GMT

Gentle Readers, thank you all for your help with the Terrible Shoe Decision of 2011. The clear winner, in a presidential-election-slim-majority-kind-of-way, was the stilettos. I have, thus, chosen to go with them.

In the end, in addition to all the reasons mentioned in the original post and the sway of public opinion, I had two other reasons for going with this shoe. One, despite its rich history, I really am just not a kitten heel girl. I have been wearing stilettos as long as I can remember and I can't break free. Two, there is a possibility that the kittens may turn up on super sale at the Rack sometime in the future. I could always get them then, at a much reduced price. This is less likely to occur with the stilettos.

In other news, I got to see the first chapter sketches for the manga of Soulless. I can't share the art with you yet, they are waiting to have the cover finished to make The Big Announcement, but I can tell you how excited I am about it. Now this is manga, I want you all to prepare yourselves for big eyes, youthful looks, and tiny noses. Yes, even Alexia. But I am a manga fan, so I just adore it. Alexia's disgruntled looks are particularly wonderful. And the fight sequences are deliciously rendered. But, let me tell you what I like the most, please?

Alexia has spill-over bodacious fantabulous boobage. I mean whole civilizations could occupy that valley of the dolls, neighboring city-states are planning initial foraging missions as we speak. Or to be more crass, girl has got epic rack! Now, I adore Donna, but I wrote me a main character with some meat on her for a reason. (And if you ever meet me in person, you'll meet the reason.) And if there is one thing manga artists do well, its the chest area. Marvelous, I tell you, marvelous. It brought to mind Greg Proops' recent Smartest Man in the World podcast where he lauds such wonders of the chesticaled world as Tura Satana and Jane Russell. I was, in fact, thinking of Jane Russell's body when I wrote Alexia's body descriptions.

Anyway, can you tell, I am excited? Well I am.

Your moment of parasol . . .

Gail's Daily Dose
Your Infusion of Cute:
Last month, I broke down and after months of hunting (my last little red bag died in Australia last August) I decided to purchase a new one online, the vintage shops just weren't providing. My new baby arrived in the mail recently and I love it. Just the right shape and color with a leopard interior and big enough to hold a paperback (realized recently that as an author, all my bags must be such).

I was down to the wire at the last between that one and this more luggage shaped red one with a tiny bow. I decided I like the shape of option one better, not to mention the fastening, a slightly bigger size, and a slightly truer red.

Pleased to then run across this Chanel ad, supporting my decision.

Of course during the process I also fell in love with this red bow tote and this carry on. Don't worry I didn't buy them.
Your Tisane of Smart:
Steampunk buttons and auctions to help raise money for Japan. I'll be contributing signed copies of my first 3 books to the auction.
Your Writerly Tinctures:
Victorian resource books for costuming and domestic life

Timeless: First draft out to first reader.
Secret Project F: It is ALIVE!
Secret Project PPA: Only a twinkle in my little eye.

BIG FAT SPOILER ALERT! Really, DON'T READ THE BLURB ON AMAZON if you haven't read the other books first!

The Agony Column interviews me in March of 2011. (direct MP3) On research and world building.

Quote of the Day:
"Your stuff starts out being just for you… but then it goes out. Once you know what the story is and get it right - as right as you can, anyway - it belongs to anyone who wants to read it. Or criticize it."
~ Stephen King

The Extraordinary Adventures of Adele Blanc-Sec, A Review

Mon, 07 Feb 2011 17:39:33 GMT

So you will never guess what I finally saw, Gentle Reader. Yes indeed, the Extraordinary Adventures of Adele Blanc-Sec!

There were fewer steampunk moments than I thought there would be, but it was still quite the fun little flick. Taking place in 1911, it is a comic-book-style romp repeat with character actors in a way only the Europeans are able to manage. There are particularly large ears, immense noses, and substantial mustaches. The mustaches seem almost to become characters themselves. There is even a Madame Lefoux in Paris moment or two. There is a bumbling investigator, idiot politicians, several conspiring academics, and a Allan Quatermain style big game hunter ~ wearing eye makeup (!). My favorite character, of course, was the mummy, bowler hatted and in pursuit of tea. I also loved the prime minister's Scottie.

One stand-out steampunk moment was the improvised breathalyzer. There was a brief glimpse of a parasol, although it is never, to my mind, wielded appropriately. The costumes were quite lovely and I was so inspired I nearly bought a large and completely nonsensical hat the very next day. There movie also featured, in no particular order ~ sheep camouflage, prison breaks, and pterodactyl pooh.

The plot was rather odd and convoluted, but in then end I very much enjoyed myself. It is sort of how Alexia might be had I crossed my brain with that of Chester Gould and perhaps a little Pink Panther.

Who knows if it will ever get a US release, like City Hunter, it might be destined to languish in obscurity. Still, if you have a chance, I recommend it.

Your moment of parasol . . .

Gail's Daily Dose
Your Infusion of Cute:
And the main actress, playing Adele, is very stylish off set too!

Your Tisane of Smart:
More on my favorite, the Mimic Octopus.
Your Writerly Tinctures:
The new Macmillan contract looks rough.

Caatje's thoughts. "This book is absolutely charming. The whole style is adapted to Victorian times where certain things went by certain rules and even though she is a lady, Alexia is also practical enough to know when to break them."
SPOILER ALERT!
Even bigger SPOILER ALERT! Really, DON'T READ THE BLURB ON AMAZON if you haven't read the other books first.

: Awaiting galleys. Available for preorder on Amazon.
Timeless: Clomp, clomp, comp.
Secret Project F: We're waiting. We're waiting.
CAKE in Space: Trunked.
Steampunk II: Steampunk Reloaded is out.
The Mammoth Book of Paranormal Romance 2 is out.

Quote of the Day:
"There are few hours in life more agreeable than the hour dedicated to the ceremony know as afternoon tea."
~ Henry James

The Very Beginnings of the Parasol Protectorate

Wed, 22 Sep 2010 15:31:19 GMT

But first: it's official! I'm more than delighted to announce I will be Guest of Honor at FenCon in Dallas Sept 23-25, 2011.

Today, I thought I might stretch back into time a little bit and blog about the Beginning.

Some time ago, three or four years now, Gentle Reader, and event occurred. Picture this, little Gail Carriger biding her time, humming softly to herself, in some unnamed hotel somewhere at some unnamed convention. She has just been to a panel on "Escaping the Slush Pile" and she is considering a new project.

She jots down some notes in a notebook. They read as follows...

"I was born without a soul."
Blah. Blah. Something about not being undead. Poke. Poke. No, decidedly alive. People make that mistake all the time, natural people, but the thing about the undead is they all have souls that couldn't die – too much soul, really.
Me, I've none at all. Born that way.
Preternatural (preter)
Supernatural (super)
Natural
"I" therefore is just a whole lot more representative in my case.
I have identity – a heart. I can love and feel, but I'm null.
Undead call me a soul sucker, werewolves = anti-change, ghosts = grounds.
? What supernatural creatures do I want in my universe?
Vampires
Werewolves
Ghosts
Remove Undead

There it is. The seed that became Soulless. I had entirely forgotten I wrote it in first person. After those notes there is a line break, probably signifying a week or so, then a switch in pen color and tidier handwriting, a surefire indication that the Author Beast has given the project consideration.

Then comes the heading "Some Additional Thoughts." Under that are world building notes, including some on Victorian government and earlier history detailing how the immortals integrated. Then there's some notes on Victorian romance novel structure, the beginnings of characters, including Alexia, Conall (who was Conall Goring, Lord Brindle), Ivy (who was Ivy Thistlewaight), Professor Lyall (who had no first name), and Lord Akeldama (who was Lord Ambrose, Earl of Serkan, although I have another side note that says Akeldama "field of blood" is more dramatic). After that, there's several pages of mini scenes in the sloppy handwriting of middle of the night, or just out of the shower, inspiration. (This is still how I write, sometimes jumping pages or even books ahead of myself to write a scene I see really vividly.) The first scene written is the one between Ivy and Alexia in the park, but after that most of the others are between Alexia and Conall or Conall and Lyall.

And that, as they say, was that.

Well, my dear Gentle Reader, I hope you enjoyed this brief glimpse into the creative process.

Some silliness from WorldCon.

Your moment of parasol . . .

Gail's Daily Dose
Your Infusion of Cute:
Tiny hats in Sydney.

Your Tisane of Smart:
And yet, strangely genius
Your Writerly Tinctures:
China groupies.

Beauty and Lace says, "What a refreshingly original story we find ourself immersed in here. Characters that are well formed and take on a life of their own within your imagination."
SPOILER ALERT! 3 for 1 review
Even bigger SPOILER ALERT! Really, DON'T READ THE BLURB ON AMAZON if you haven't read the other books first. In the Closet Bibliophile says, "Overall, I thought the book to be a wonderful piece of work and quite enchanting. There were so many wonderful scenes and the characters are always lovely. And, with killer ladybugs, quite a bit of tea, extremely well proportioned white wolves, swarming and Madame Lefoux in a mustache, I just do not know how I will pass the time until Heartless is released."

Heartless: Rough Draft done. First draft with first readers. Final draft due Nov 1.
Super Secret Project F: Under revision.
CAKE in Space: Trunked.
See table of contents here.
Short story turned in. The Mammoth Book of Paranormal Romance 2 available for preorder.

Quote of the Day:
"I write fiction because it's a way of making statements I can disown."
~ Tom Stoppard

Alexia Character Study

Wed, 14 Jul 2010 19:08:30 GMT

"Many a gentleman had likened his first meeting with her to downing a very strong cognac when one was expecting to imbibe fruit juice - that is to say, startling and apt to leave one with a distinct burning sensation." ~ Soulless
"She was the type of woman who, if thrown into a briar patch, would start to tidy it up by stripping off all the thorns." ~ Blameless

General Description: Black hair, slightly curly (usually worn up), tan skin tone (coffee colored), large dark brown eyes, nose on the large size (Roman-hook), generous mouth, tall, and very curvy.

Other things to note: arches eyebrow, talks a lot, very animated, gesticulates with her hands, mostly sarcastic or suspicious, not smiley.

Here is a collection of images that remind me of Alexia.

Ruffle Parasol Umbrella

English Women's Clothing in the Nineteenth Century

Brocade shoes

Cranford

Black Lace Parasol

Thousand Miles Up the Nile

Download a copy of Gail's .pdf character dossier used by the Soulless Paper Doll designer, all about Alexia and her dresses, backgrounds, and facial expressions.
A Very Alexia Christmas!
And lastly Alexia talks with (shockingly forward) newcomer Jane True.