Flip and Catch: Crowning the Phoenix..

Hello me little darlin’s! ‘Tis I, once more. The ‘sinner of all sinners’. I’m delighted, today, to have with me the woman who introduced me to – and got me hooked on – Steampunk. She also edited the book about me. She has a little announcement too, a cover reveal for her latest book. Say hello Allie.

What’s your name?

Sometimes I think it’s “Mommy, I’m hungry,” but Alison DeLuca is on the front of my books. I’m a big fan, Sin.

I sometimes think my name is ‘Move’ or ‘Shut Up’ – at least that’s what the orderlies keep saying to me. Saying that, it’d be a bit of a coincidence with all us residents being called that… Oh, and thanks for being a fan. Not sure what that says about you, though. Where are you from?

From all over the globe. I was born in Arizona and have lived in Mexico, Spain, Ireland, and England. So how did I end up in New Jersey I ask you? Yet here I am.

Not staying in one place? You’re not on the run, are you? Maybe we should change the first question to ‘What’s your REAL name!?’ Do you like living there? If not, where would your favourite place to live be? Is yes, where would you least like to live?

We have great friends and a lovely family close by, so I am very happy. Still, the place I dream of is upstate New York – I love snow and rain, and there is plenty of both there. Also, the scenery is amazing.

I also love Spain and would love to go back there for a year or so. The food, the people, the history – it’s incredible.

Honestly, all my homes have been wonderful.

I know someone who’s been to Spain twice this year. Majorca a while ago and Barcelona only last weekend. It must be a nice place to visit! I’d love to go to New York too. Maybe one day when I get out of here. Or if. As you’re a writer, is this your ‘day job’?

It is. It is actually my ‘day and night job.’ When I’m not writing, I’m thinking about it – I’m sure it is the same for your human, Sin.

I think it probably is, though we’ll use the term ‘human’ loosely. But, more importantly, how do you feel about bacon? A crazy person once said it was the food of the gods. OK, I admit that person was myself...

I’ve heard that adding bacon improves any food, except perhaps mint chocolate chip ice cream. And the jury’s still out on that one.

As for crispy bacon Tayto crisps – they are my absolute weakness.

I like your thinking. And you need to try Frazzles! What is your favourite film?

I loved The Shawshank Redemption and Avatar (the one with the blue people). Apollo 13 is amazing too. I think the key for me is a difficult struggle with friendship on the way – friendship is SO important.

Ain’t it though? Even amongst us crazies! Shawshank is one of my absolute favourite films too. I should, perhaps, take a leaf out of Tim Robbins’ book… Have you always wanted to be a writer, or is it something you found yourself doing one day?

I always wanted to be a writer, but until the advent of computers I couldn’t do it because I hated my handwriting so much, and typing is a pain. When my husband gave me his old Apple IIe, I never looked back.

LOL. Hooray for your husband then! Good man! Do you have so many ideas they dribble out of your nose if you don’t get them down, or do you have to hunt around the floor and the back of your sofa to find where your Muse is hiding?

When I’m on a good roll there’s a lot of dribbling. And when I’m not, a bout of reading – something like Flip and Catch or Darkness Rising – gets me back in the writer’s chair again. Also, when the characters capture me and the action gets going, the words disappear and I’m watching a movie in my head, transcribing as fast as I can to get it all down. And when that happens, it’s magical.

It certainly sounds it. And a couple of excellent pieces of literature mentioned there, yes indeed. If you were in an asylum, what would your particular delusion or psychosis be?

“Patient A exhibits disturbing bouts of daydreaming, as well as a lack of hold on reality. She allows the laundry to pile up and sometimes does not hear when you call her name several times, even when you shout in her ear.

Also, she dreams she is the Black Widow in her off moments.”

See, Patient A now. Do you put a load of names in a hat and pick one out, along with where that person might live next? Good way to cover up your tracks. And the Black Widow. Obviously some sort of covert agent in a previous incarnation. Luckily, being a writer, you only get to control the destiny of many lives and... oh... Erm... What genre(s) do you write?

I just completed a steampunk series, and what a sad day it was to say goodbye to that little world. I’m now moving on to another genre: can’t talk about it just yet, since I’m still developing the next MSS. I’ve found I can never talk about the work in progress or it just withers quietly on the vine.

I have to agree it’s sad to see the end of the wonderful Crown Phoenix series. I genuinely enjoyed it. What genres(s) do you read?

Everything. Literally – everything. Medical history, fantasy of course, thrillers, Japanese classics, poetry, Indie fiction, fanfiction (my new discovery, and some of it is amazing) and backs of cereal packets.

Wow. I try to get into other genres, but often find it difficult, so it was quite impressive that you managed to get your series under my skin. Saying that, you have Mana! Anywho. If these are the same, what attracts you to them. If they’re different, why do you think that is?

Reading in general is simply magic, like writing. When the author takes time to craft her book and develop the story and characters – or present facts in a fascinating way – then I move into that amazing headspace where the words disappear. It’s incredible. But as a writer, I also get to see a bit of how others use language to create that magic.

Well put. And if you’re a writer, you simply must read too. Bacon – just cooked or crispy?

Crispy please, with a side of toast and marmalade. Also a huge cup of tea, “strong enough to trot a rat across it” as my Irish grandmother would say.

Sounds perfect. Now you’re in the asylum with me, how do you aim to get out? Do you have an escape plan?

Nope. I like it here. I relate with the other inmates, and we do get the odd bit of bacon. Move over, Sin – you’ve got a new roomie.

You get the top bunk then. Only fair.

Alison DeLuca is the author of several steampunk and urban fantasy books. She was born in Arizona and has also lived in Pennsylvania, Illinois, Mexico, Ireland, and Spain.

Currently she wrestles words and laundry in New Jersey.

The South Sea Bubble

An Edwardian hospital hides many secrets:

A mysterious patient lurks in the cellar...

A secret passage leads to danger...

Coded messages reveal new riddles...

Visions of danger haunt the people of Grimstead Manor…

Lizzie and Miriam find horror, adventure, and romance surrounding the strange vessel known as The South Sea Bubble.

“Compulsive reading!”

“Addictive steampunk.”

Here, finally, is the stunning cover to Alison’s equally stunning series. It’s a fab book (I’ve read all of them) and the cover fits perfectly.