Yesterday and today the conversation on one of my loops turned to Steampunk, a topic that's suddenly sweeping through the romance community and sparking lots of excitement among editors. There are already Steampunk books in the pipeline, but for many writers this remains a gray area. When you say Steampunk, most people, writers and readers alike, say "Huh?"

In fact, when my editor mentioned it to me a couple of months ago, I was slightly embarrassed to come back with the above response. I figured this was something I should already have heard about and shame on me for not knowing the next hot trend after vampires and werewolves. Well, it seems a lot of people who attended RWA National this month heard the term repeated at every turn, and still came home not really knowing what it meant.

My editor gave me the best visual when she said, "You might be too young to remember that old show from the 60's, The Wild Wild West." Bless her heart, I certainly DO remember the series, although I WAS quite young at the time, lol. For those of you who really are too young to have ever seen it on TV, Will Smith did a remake with Kenneth Branaugh playing the twisted evil bad guy. The main characters were old west spies who foiled villains using futuristic, James Bond type weapons and gadgets, but which were powered by the technology of the time, i.e.steam power. Kind of a Victorian era sci fi. Jules Verne might be considered one of the original Steampunk authors. Hey, before him there was Mary Shelley.

High tech, Victorian style

Originally, I saw this as a phenomenon that would only be applied to historical romance - since we are talking "steam" technology here - but apparently there are ways to translate this into a contemporary setting.

It's a fun, intriguing concept, and the possibilities are endless when you consider that with this kind of technology, the author's imagination can really run wild. I imagine such stories will be way more adventurous and "plotty" than a lot of the more traditional romance, with the main focus still on the relationship but allowing for a lot more external twists and turns. Personally, I like plot. I like for my characters to engage in more than lovemaking and romance-related angst. I like watching them learn to trust each other and work together when faced with external dilemmas, even though their internal conflicts are still keeping them apart. I like for them to experience fun and excitement and danger while they work their way through baffling mysteries.

I do see Steampunk as possibly the next craze in adventurous romance (hey erotica writers, can you imagine the sex toys??!! ), but I can't help but wonder if die-hard historical lovers will embrace the concept. I brought it up with a friend who is a rabid fan of English set historicals, a history buff and a true Anglophile. Her response was an emphatic no. She felt that too much focus on technology and gadgetry would distract from the things she loves most about historicals, one of which is being transported back to a simpler, more charming time in history. She doesn't want to be thrust into Frankenstein's lab.

Interesting. Of course, she's only one person. I'm fascinated to know how other readers feel. In doing the revisions on MOST EAGERLY YOURS, I realized that, wow! there are a couple of places that totally lend themselves to a bit of Steampunk, so I'll be adding a touch of that to the story. There is already alchemy, so what the heck?

So here's my question: do you think Steampunk is going to be a hot, lasting trend, or a flash in the pan? Maybe first I should ask if you're clear yet on what it means, or are you still scratching your head?  

Can you picture your hero wearing this?

I love historicals, and I'd stick only with straight historicals if that were the case. Steampunk fascinates me and I'd read it just because it's steampunk.

The problem with trends in writing is that they're like a soccer game. By the time everyone figures out where the ball is heading, and chasing after it, the ball changes direction. It will be interesting to see if this trend lasts, or dies out.

I do wonder if it's popular b/c it seems it would gravitate to younger readers of romance, just like manga does. Would dovetail with the rising popularity of YA.

Bonnie, I agree that publishers are hoping to attract younger readers with this. I also agree with your soccer game analogy, which is why it's so important to believe in what you're writing rather than follow a trend. With your Egyptian-set historials, you certainly proved that you're an author who can be successful while marching to her own drum!

I have never heard that term either. Guess I'm behind on the times.

Linda Henderson

Steampunk may be o.k. for some stories, but I would not want authors to lose plot to fit in the stuff. I too like what really was not a simpler time..unless you had servants to do all those things that had to be done before flush toilets, gas stoves, refrigeration, antibiotics, etc. Historicals are fun! A little steampunk may be fun, too.