LoveVampires - the website dedicated to vampire fiction.
With vampire book reviews, information and author interviews.

Gail Carriger Bibliography

The Parasol Protectorate series (in reading order)

• Soulless - reviewed by LoveVampires
• Changeless - reviewed by LoveVampires
• Blameless - reviewed by LoveVampires
• Heartless - reviewed by LoveVampires
• Timeless - reviewed by LoveVampires

LoveVampires Interview With Gail Carriger

Interview by Lotte

Gail Carriger on Gail Carriger – something not in your usual bio!

I find endless comedic enjoyment in the ridiculous: the Westminster Dog Show, rubber animals, string cheese, squid, that kind of thing. Also, I'm a mean lean pinball player.

Gail Carriger on The Parasol Protectorate series

Imagine Jane Austen took a fancy to dabbling in science and steam technology. Then imagine PG Wodehouse suddenly dropped vampires into the Drones Club. The Parasol Protectorate books are the resulting progeny. They feature a soulless spinster confronting Queen Victoria's grumpy werewolf investigator over the issue of lisping vampires.

The Steampunk elements in your books seem to increase with each novel. What's the appeal of Steampunk for you?

I came to steampunk first as an aesthetic movement. I'm a long-time fan of vintage clothing and Goth style; steampunk drew me in as a cheerful melding of the two. I also love seeing recycled technology used as jewellery, and other examples of how creative the maker community has become over the past few years.

Authors have very different relationships with their characters, for example, some authors say that their characters dictate the story and they have no control over what happens. What is your relationship with your characters?

Mostly, I rule them, but some will take over a scene if I'm not careful. Usually, if they do take over it's because they know something I don't, and I should let them.

How many books do you envisage writing in the Parasol Protectorate series?

Five for this particular main character.

What are you currently working on?

I just finished the initial draft of Book 4, Heartless. I'm rolling immediately into Book 5, Timeless.

In this series, only humans with excess soul can successfully survive the transformation to being supernatural. It's obviously impolite to ask, but I'm going to do so anyway - Do you think you have enough soul and would you prefer to be a vampire, werewolf or ghost in your world?

Yes. I'm pretty creative for all my practicality so I suspect I would, and I'd go for vampire all the way.

One of the delights of your books is the importance role played by good afternoon tea. Do you have a favourite place for afternoon tea and what's your favourite tea?

Usually tea is part of my incentive to keep myself working, so it's a break from writing. If it's a nice day I take it out on the porch, if it's rainy I have it on the couch. It's always Twinings English Breakfast Gold Label imported from England unless I've run out or am feeling experimental.

I read that you feel you stumbled upon authordom inadvertently. Looking back, what advice would you give to your younger self about making your way in the world?

Don't write a series until the first book sells. And, the only phrase you should utter to a publisher is, "That sounds good, let me get you in touch with my agent." Even if you don't have an agent.

Was Soulless the first novel you wrote or are there any unpublished novels lurking in a drawer somewhere?

There are 2.5 books of a YA fantasy series (unpublished and unpublishable), and a YA sci-fi book that my agent and I decided would be too much work to make sellable.

Which authors do you enjoy reading for pleasure?

Off the top of my head: Patricia Briggs, Tanya Huff, Tamora Pierce.

Who is your favourite fiction vampire character?

Mina Murray from the League of Extraordinary Gentlemen graphic novel.

Your bio in your books tells us you're apparently living in the Colonies with your harem of Armenian lovers. It sounds wonderful - tell us more and how do we get some?

The harem is no more, but I suggest a potty trained cat, a penchant for good Mediterranean food, and a love of bright clothing is a good place to start.

A big "thank-you" to Gail Carriger for taking part in the author interview. More information about Gail’s novels can be found on Gail Carriger’s website.
1st November 2010