Vampire Fest: Thanks so much for joining us, Gail. Please tell us about SOULLESS and your main character, Alexia Tarabotti.
Gail Carriger: It's delightful to be here, thanks for hosting me. SOULLESS is Jane Austen does urban fantasy meets PG Wodehouse does steampunk, in an everything-but-the-kitchen-sink mash-up of genres. Alexia Tarabotti is a soulless spinster with strict ideas on propriety, who ends up embroiled in a supernatural mystery and fending off Queen Victoria's grumpy werewolf investigator over the issue of lisping vampires.
VF: At your website, http://gailcarriger.com, you explain, "There are two main kinds of steampunk. The first, which shall be called here, traditional steampunk, envisions a future as the Victorians imagined it. The writings of H.G. Wells and Jules Verne are good examples. The second, industrial steampunk, sees a far future world that harkens back to Victorian culture, for example a bustle dress made of kevlar."
How would you describe your use of steampunk in Soulless?
GC: I'm far more of the first variety, which is to say that Soulless is alternate history depicting in a different kind of Victorian future/past. I took a look at various points in history, re-explained a number of its odder mysteries (like the British Empire) via the presence of immortals, made said immortals tinker with the technology, and had the timeline diverge as a result.
VF: Were you a fan of steampunk before writing Soulless…or did the story come before you stumbled upon the genre?
GC: Oh, I was a fan of the aesthetic. I adore the look of steampunk, probably stemming from an unhealthy BBC costume drama addiction. Then I slowly became interested in the writings of Jules Verne and H.G. Wells, stumbled onto Phillip Pullman, and was hooked.
VF: The same question goes for vampires: were you a vampire and werewolf fan before embarking upon your own tales of creatures of the night?
GC: Not as such. I came at vampires via the appeal of the modern aesthetic (I do own my own pair of very nice fangs) combined with a literary interest in 1800's gothic fiction (unwisely nurtured in high school by a succession of deluded teachers): The Castle of Otranto, The Vampyre, The Monk, Fall of the House of Usher, and, of course, spoofs like Northanger Abby. I suppose you could say I found my bloody path the old-fashioned way.
VF: Any favorite vampires from lit, film, or TV?
GC: I don't think he really counts, but I love Dorian Gray. I have a real soft spot for Mina Murray in The League of Extraordinary Gentleman graphic novel series and I adore the character of Drusilla on Buffy. Not to sneak in werewolves, but I was turned to the furry side by Klause's brilliant YA novel Blood and Chocolate.
VF: Humor also plays a role in the novel. In a publishing world that likes to file books in neatly categorized labels, was it difficult selling a steampunk/paranormal/fantasy/comedy-of-errors novel?
GC: I really really thought Soulless would never sell because it was too many sub-genres and the marketing department for any given publishing house would give it the royal heave-ho. Fortunately for me, Soulless seemed to charm people despite themselves and I had a couple of different publishers interested rather quickly. I've still not recovered from the shock.
VF: How long have you been writing fiction?
GC: I believe I wrote a cerebral and undoubtedly allegorical novel about calico cats and flying carpets. It took me a couple of days and was, my mother claims, a masterpiece of modern literature. I was eight. That would be my first major fictional attempt, fortunately things have improved since then ~ although probably not as much as I should hope. If you read carefully you may spot the fact that Soulless still contains the very brief appearance of a calico.
VF: Your website indicates a fondness for steampunk-related fashion and historical millinery, and Alexia Tarabotti dons a highly fashionable outfit on the cover of Soulless. What can you tell us about creating the steampunk "look" and your own clothing designs.
GC: Most of the time for public appearances I prefer rockabilly vintage dress, basically because I am on a one-woman quest to bring fashion back to the SF/F world. For everyday, I tend to twist normal wear in a steampunk direction ~ preferring steamy or industrial jewelry, knickerbockers and boots instead of jeans, Victorian-influenced blouses and vests, and military-style leather jackets. At steampunk events I have a number of Victorian dresses and corsets, one of which is decorated with brass spoons ~ why not?
VF: Where can readers learn more about you and Soulless?
GC: The best place to start is on my web page at http://www.gailcarriger.com, but you can also friend me on facebook, twitter, blogspot, or livejournal, all under gailcarriger.
VF: Thanks so much for joining us, Gail--and for introducing us to your highly fascinating fictional world.
GC: It was a pleasure, thank you for inviting me.
