Greetings readers, bloggers, geeks, and authors and welcome to The ToiBox of Words. I’m your host Toi Thomas, author of Legend of the Boy, In the Window, and Other Short Stories, and today I have a treat to share. A while back, I had the pleasure to interview a wonderful author named, Phoebe Darqueling. A good time was truly had by all, and here’s how it went down.
Be sure to stick around at the end to learn how you can get a FREE copy of The Steampunk Handbook.
Toi: Hi there, Phoebe! Good to have you here at the ToiBox Blog. I’m very excited to learn more about you and your work.
Phoebe: Glad to be here, Toi. I’m ready to share.
Toi: So tell me, who is Phoebe Darqueling?
Phoebe: I’m a globe-trotting vagabond who currently hangs my hat in Freiburg, Germany. I write curriculum for a creativity competition for kids. I work with authors and academics as an editor. I love Steampunk and write/blog my obsession on SteampunkJournal.org and give talks at conventions. I was part of a collaborative novel called Army of Brass and I’ve published some short stories. My first solo novel, Riftmaker, came out 2/14 from Our Write Side, followed by No Rest for the Wicked 3/28 from Black Rose Writing. And yes, releasing 2 novels in 6 weeks is it’s own brand of insanity…
Toi: Well before we dive into your special message today, let’s get to know you, the person inside the author.
Toi: What makes you geek out?
Phoebe: I’m a HUGE fan of space operas and futuristic settings. The Expanse, Altered Carbon, Star Trek (except for Discovery, not a big fan of that one…), Star Wars, Firefly, Dark Matter… I love them all. I am sure I will get around to writing my own someday.
Toi: What was your favorite book or story, pre-teen years?
Phoebe: A Wrinkle in Time and The Giver both had a big impact on me as a kid. My mom also read Jurassic Park to me and my brothers on a road trip. Much of it went over my head, but I think that helped spark my interest in science and science fiction.
Toi: Now that we know a little more about you, the person, let’s learn about you, the author, and dive into your special message.
Toi: So whacha got for me today?
Phoebe: Riftmaker is the story of a boy and his dog, only their roles get reverse because they travel through a rift in space and time that spits them out in different bodies. The world on “the other side” never discovered fossil fuels, so they land in a steam and clockwork powered city. They are separated, and Buddy the dog, now in a human body, has to find his boy. There’s lots of strange creatures that only exist in that world, but just like in our world, people are the real monsters…
Toi Thomas: So who’s starring in this 2-dimensional script read of Riftmaker?
Phoebe: Buddy’s mind is expanding throughout the story as he becomes more human, but his unique point of view can sometimes lead to accidental wisdom, and the change gave him quasi-magical powers. He meets Adelaide the first night, then accidentally throws her life into chaos when he reveals a secret she’s kept her whole life. The secret effects her best friend Jeremy the most, and as with many an angsty teen, he doesn’t handle the situation very well. Unlike the rest of the cast, Olivia has lived a privileged and sheltered life, but she yearns for independence and adventure.
Toi: What’s so special about this story that’s going to reel in the readers?
Phoebe: There are lots of books about shapeshifters, but it’s always humans to become something else. Riftmaker offers a different twist on this trope by having an animal who becomes human. It’s also urban fantasy that doesn’t have the usual suspects involved. So anyone looking for a fresh take on fantasy in an urban setting will be in for a treat.
Toi: Past, present, future, is there a rhyme or reason to your writing?
Phoebe: Riftmaker poured out of my brain completely organically. I only knew about Buddy and Adelaide when I started, then the world was populated by the people they met and who they needed in their lives to tell their stories. In my more recent series, Mistress of None, I am using real history as my backdrop, so I am a lot more detail oriented. The world of 1871 USA is all accurate in No Rest for the Wicked and my WIP, which is Book 2 in that series. On the other hand, ghosts are real, so it’s got supernatural elements, but I use historically accurate “science” (AKA crackpottery) to explain it.
Toi Thomas: What author(s) has most influenced your writing? Why or how?
Phoebe: I’d say when it comes to using a fantasy scenario to address social issues, Terry Pratchett definitely influenced me for Riftmaker. In No Rest for the Wicked, I think all of the Joss Whedon shows I’ve watched played a role because there’s comedy folded into the drama. Now, I can’t imagine writing something that doesn’t have some banter in there.
Toi: Now this is where the questions get a little kooky; are you ready?
Phoebe: Cool beans.
Toi: If you could only watch one movie for the rest of your life, what would it be?
Phoebe: That’s a tough one, but I think I’d have to say The Fifth Element. I already rewatch it regularly, so it’s not much of a stretch to imagine only watching it forever. It’s a great story by a great cast, and the soundtrack and cinematography are both fantastic.
Toi: When the soundtrack of your life is playing in your head, what songs express your glee and what songs bring out your rage?
Phoebe: I sing to myself pretty regularly, so in a way, I do have a soundtrack. I did a lot of musical theater in my teens and early 20s, so I sing show tunes and songs that I used to audition. In terms of music I listen to, most doesn’t have words. I LOVE Lindsey Stirling, Beats Antique, & Caravan Palace, which all mix old and new styles and world music.
Toi Thomas: What’s the most fun experience you’ve ever had, to date?
Phoebe: It’s a little cliché, but I think I’d have to say my wedding. We had days of events leading up the ceremony, like my husband’s family came out to our lake cabin to mingle with my family, and we a dance lesson for the wedding party on my parent’s driveway with hors d’oeuvres and wine. Everyone got along so well and we laughed together so much, that I was completely relaxed and able to have a wonderful time at the reception. There were so many memorable moments that week, it’s impossible to choose just one.
Toi: Last question of the day; here we go.
Toi: Not that you can see into the future, but in your opinion, what does the future hold?
Phoebe: I’m in a strange position that makes actually planning things nearly impossible. Chances are good that I’ll be in Germany for a while, but it all depends on my husband’s job prospects. As an academic, he has to go wherever the jobs happen to be at the time he’s looking, so I have to be pretty flexible. Which is why being a writer is so perfect!
Toi: Thank you so much, Phoebe, for spending time with me today.
Phoebe: Thanks for having me, Toi. It was fun. Before you go, be sure to get a FREE copy of The Steampunk Handbook by signing up for my author newsletter.
Okay readers, bloggers, geeks, and authors, that’s all for today. Be sure to follow this blog to see who will be visiting next time. For more from Phoebe Darqueling, check out these great links:
Website: PhoebeDarqueling.com
GoodReads: Phoebe Darqueling
Facebook: Phoebe Darqueling
Twitter: @GearTurns
Instagram: @phoebedarqueling
Purchase links for Riftmaker: Books2Read | Amazon
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