Karina Cooper

no thanks…by *Bisparulz

Picture this: You walk into a room where a discussion has been held for an hour or so. In it are a handful of white, middle- and older-aged men, all sitting around a table. They are bemoaning a woman’s choice to do with her body what she sees fit. The conversation is centered around “concern”—that her choices will damage her own image, that her choices will bring harm to herself, that her choices (bless her heart) are her own choices, naturally, but the poor thing will have to deal with her losing her business or her public face.

Sound familiar?

Surprise! It’s not Presidential Election Redux. This isn’t about a bunch of old, white dudes making policy on a woman’s right to choose. It’s so much closer than that. (more…)

This week is going to be a ridiculously awesome week. Not only am I looking at the onset of a really great mood (screw you, depression! right in the earhole!), but also because I’m headed to the great wintry Wisconsin for an amazing weekend.

TeslaCon is a weekend-long, interactive steampunk event that is totally out of this world. No, really! We’re headed to the moon on the HMS Silverstar, where we’ll be treated to the very best of service the Crown can give us. (more…)

Fa la la la la, la la, la la!

As we’re headed into the holiday season, now’s the perfect time to delve into a city that might just be grayer, colder dirtier and definitely more dangerous than yours. Victorian London is no easy mark—and Cherry St. Croix, reluctant Society miss and reckless collector extraordinaire, isn’t going to take her troubles lying down.

In Tarnished, the first in this sexy steampunk intrigue, we are introduced to our intrepid heroine by way of a collection gone sideways. Just when things look to be at their worst… they get even worse than that. Ouch. Gilded brings right back where we left her, a little worse for wear and twice as stubborn.

You’ll have plenty of time to curl up by the fire—or, if you’re feeling particularly Christmasy, next to the lit-up tree!—mulled wine in hand, and devour Tarnished. It’ll be a great excuse to drown out the bickering family! Or you can go for storytime, if there are no little ears present to twitch at every mention of bloody bells and damn. (To say nothing of an “exorcism by orgasm”—what?! You know you want to see it.)

Gilded won’t leave you hanging for long! Released December 26th, it’s the perfect after-Christmas release. (Heh heh, she said “release”.) Spend your post-holiday, pre-New Year week enmeshed in conspiracy, murder and, yes, a little bit of lovelorn angst. But I promise you—she won’t be angsting long. (Gasp! What does that even mean? You’ll have to read it and find out!)

So, what do you say? Are you going to have (or even gift someone) a very Cherry Christmas?

Tarnished: the St. Croix Chronicles #1

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Gilded: the St. Croix Chronicles #2

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One of the most awesome parts about going to a convention full of One’s People is the creative inspiration that stems from all that crazy energy circling around.

This year’s Steamcon IV did not disappoint in the creative department. From steampunk vampires to dancers to even this amazing steampunk Supergirl, the event was a wild and  spectacular affair of laughter, color, workshops and, yes, gears.

But the part I love most in any steampunk convention? The merchants.

I absolutely love steampunk merchandise. While it’s true that the steampunk community favors producers as a rule, I like to call myself a consumer who keeps those producers in business. I think it’s so much fun to browse merchant wares; I spent many hours going up and down and up and down the aisles, and if the event lasted for longer, I would have been back every single day. There are so many great ideas to be had from browsing wares, and I walked away with more than my fair share of new purchases… (more…)

I apologize for the bait and switch, delicious darlings, but as the content only casually sort of belongs to me in the same way that they began life inside my skull, I must send you to the source for the continuation of the saga.

You may read my piece here—Greasing the Gears: Scandalous Society Behaviors—and draw whatever further conclusions you would like.

As for me, I’ve simply decided that barring any further, drastic developments, I have said all that I need to say on the subject and I don’t feel the need to continually flog this desiccated corpse. My stance is firm and my beliefs are out there for anyone to see.

I simply hope that all, not just Ms. Kriete, remember my point.

We are the face we bring to the community, and we leave it forever changed by our actions. Malice begets malice, arrogance births more, and courtesy will forever mark the recipient of that kindness. Which would you rather be known for?

Those of you who know me also know that I don’t really frequent Goodreads. It’s not that I don’t like the place—I think it’s a wonderful tool for authors and fans alike! It’s more that in the sea of priorities I’ve had to make, I reluctantly place Goodreads lower on my list of “things to get done every day”, next to tweeting, the occasional facebook update, emails, social requirements such as making sure my family is fed and friends know I’m still alive, and my self-imposed goal of 20 pages per day. (more…)

It’s almost time, folks. July 7th is right around the corner! Have you gotten your tickets yet?

What All This Awesome Is

When: July 7th, 8pm
Where: The SPARK Museum of Electrical Invention, in Bellingham, WA
What: $20 tickets (children under 10 get in free!)

How Much Awesome?

This much awesome: not only will Abney Park be  playing for us, but our opening band will be Adrian H and the  Wounds. Just getting off tour with David J of Bauhaus and Love & Rockets fame, Adrian’s crew is an amazing group eager to share their dark cabaret style and gothic rock roots, all capped with Steampunk flair.

Why You Should Be Here

First? It’s Abney Park, and you totally want to be part of the Steampunk revolution! If that isn’t enough, there’s Adrian H and the Wounds, who are eager to enter the Steampunk community and rock our faces off.

Intermission will showcase a lights and tesla display by the technologically gifted folks at the SPARK Museum!

And when it’s all said and done? Captain Robert and I will be signing our respective books—The Wrath of Fate by Robert Brown, and Tarnished, the first in The St. Croix Chronicles by yours truly—after the show!

Bellingham—situated ideally between Seattle and Vancouver, BC—loves the Steampunk community. We’re home to the Bellingham Steampunk Society and some pretty fabulous Steampunk authors who will be reading earlier in the day at Village Books (including me!).

So what do you say? Will I see you there?