You can judge these books by their covers!

“Multi-genre author Teagan Ríordáin Geneviene presents her most mysterious, magical creation – the steampunk riverboat filled with enigmatic people and clockwork creatures.” 

The cover Teagan designed is every bit as charming as the unbridled whimsy behind it.

A Gift of Steampunk Gowns

When I told Teagan I was making the post an Art Gowns special feature because of the glorious steampunk gowns, she created 4 original gown designs for the post! 
I am so excited.

FIRST - ALL ABOARD THE DELTA PEARL

In the early days of following Teagan’s blog, I participated in Teagan’s ‘Three Things” that readers suggest that helped drive her blog serials.

Resa – I can only remember leech barometer (pedestrian name). Do you have a list of what I contributed?

Teagan – I kept a matrix of the random reader things. Yours were:  flat iron, Gibson Girl hairdo, Pince-nez, Tempest Prognosticator, brooch, crochet hook, rum, and jet (as in the gem or beads).

The Gibson Girl hairdo helped inspire the “look” of the character Eliza Needleman. Jet, I used to name the character of the apprentice librarian. Pince-nez exposed a bit of vanity for the secretly nearsighted chief porter, Garnet Redford when Eliza loaned him her pair to see something in the workings of her music box.

I’m honoured to say I was gifted ebook copies of “The Illustrated Delta Pearl”. Unfortunately you can’t buy one. This is a tad sad, as Teagan’s images are magnificent.

Resa – So Teagan, why can’t others buy the illustrated versions of The Delta Pearl and The Geostrophic Pearl?

Teagan – I had almost finished the illustrated version where I made a gigantic number of images — when Amazon made a change to their policy regarding internal book images which didn’t allow mine.  I didn’t want six months of work to go to waste.  So, I gifted illustrated copies to a handful of people.

I felt like a kid reading the books. I could hardly wait for the next chapter’s picture.

Resa – How long … months … weeks did the serial run on your blog?

Teagan – I started writing (and “finished”) The Delta Pearl in 2016.  However, I wasn’t satisfied with my work.  Feeling the story needed a “middle,” I put it on my blog as a serial, getting 3 random reader things from followers, which inspired new content.  To my delight, the story was warmly embraced.  It seemed the “end” was really just the middle of the story, and serial episodes went on from there.  The Delta Pearl was my longest running blog serial at about two years.

Resa – How long did it take to put The Delta Pearl & Geostrophic Pearl into book form?

Teagan – Hummm…  I had several stops and starts, mostly with deciding how I wanted to format it.  The serial episodes also had to be edited to adjust for “bookizing.”  After it was finished, I decided to illustrate it, and that took another six months.  Then of course, I had to start over again when Amazon changed their images policy.  All in all, it took a couple of years.

Resa – What made you decide to create a duology?

Teagan – Several things 1) I’ve gotten a lot of great feedback about writing shorter length books, like the light-horror 1920s series “A Medium’s Peril.” (By the way, I plan to have a new novelette in that series ready for Halloween.) 

2) The Delta Pearl was becoming a large manuscript when I started illustrating it, and my admittedly old computer was bogging down due to the manuscript size. 

3) I could feel a distinct transition point in The Delta Pearl story-line when I started to reveal more about the riverboat.  With those things in mind, I decided that it would be best as a duology (even though the manuscript became smaller when I had to remove the illustrations).

Resa – Your visions of Steampunk are vivid, exciting and appealing, It is a sub culture even today. I’ll bet those involved in today’s steampunk would go wild over your images.

Teagan – You are so kind, Resa. Thanks, that means a lot to me.  My take on steampunk is not really typical. It often has a dark, even sooty aesthetic, reflective of the coal-burning that created the steam-powered gizmos. The Delta Pearl is bright, whimsical, and opulent. I hope I managed to give the words the same feelings you got from the images, since they are not in the published version.

Resa – The words work beautifully!

Resa – What drew you into Steampunk?

Teagan – In steampunk and diesel-punk you’ll usually find odd contraptions, and misfit characters.  I have always loved both, so I couldn’t resist

Resa – Okay, Jaspe is a heart throb, and you did great with his character. I think most females would fall for him. He loves cats. I should be head over heels. 

Teagan – I think you might be right, Resa. LOL.  I kept Jaspe an enigma throughout the story.  I don’t want to fully define him even now, because that makes him more interesting, and it lets the individual reader have their way about precisely who or maybe even what the Dealer actually is.  Whatever the case, Jaspe has a loving and loyal soul. Giving him a cat helped anchor that idea.

Resa – However, I developed a crush on Victor. What do you say to that?

Teagan – LOL. Victor is flattered, Resa.   I was fond of so many of these characters.  Most of them had little flaws, and that made me feel like a parent to all of them.  Although, I have definitely had crushes on some of my characters!  Especially Tajín in “Dead of Winter.” (Fans self) Ha-ave mercy! 

Resa – Yes! “Ha-ave mercy! (Turns up air conditioning) I read 3 instalments, and I know who that is.

Glorious Steampunk Gowns by Teagan

It’s time to say good-bye. Think I’ll take the Steampunk Speedboat to shore.

About Teagan

Teagan Ríordáin Geneviene’s stories range from paranormal to high fantasy and urban fantasy, to whimsical versions of the various types of “punk,” to mysteries with historic settings… and anything else that strikes her fancy.

AND there is much more. To read ” Who is Teagan Ríordáin Geneviene” just click on the above image of Teagan and Onyx Owl!

To buy The Delta Pearl Duology on Amazon, click on the books above!

With Hallowe’en coming up, A Medium’s Peril could be just what you’re looking for!