Christine D'Abo: Twisting History

I love history. I love discovering not only about significant events and the people who impacted them, but the day to day lives of the people who lived there. When I first started out as a writer, I tried to turn my hand at historical romances. While I loved reading these stories, I quickly discovered that I wasn’t the right voice for writing them. My career took me in a different direction, but I never lost my love for historicals.

Fast forward to me picking up a copy of Meljean Book’s The Iron Duke and my introduction to the world of steampunk romance. This was the perfect blend of history and romance, mixed with paranormal and science fiction elements. I devoured the book, and many others that were out there. I realized that this was the perfect opportunity for me as a writer. I’d written a number of futuristic stories, honed my skills on contemporary romances and was ready to branch out and try something new.

When I was planning out my steampunk world, I wanted to do something a bit different from some of the other books I’d read. I wanted to take actual historical figures and twist them around to fit into my universe. I started in book one, GILDED HEARTS, by using Jack the Ripper. In book two, I wanted to go down a slightly different road. Using the rivalry between Tesla and Edison I thought would be the perfect backdrop for a steampunk story. My twist? I made Tesla a woman and the heroine of my book.

As an author, it’s fun to ask what if and play around with the possibilities. That’s what I did in this book. What if Tesla was a woman? What if the Hudson Bay Company wasn’t simply an outpost in Canada, but rather a haven for inventors and engineers? What if Edison’s competitive edge and business drive was pushed too far by tragedy? I had a lot of fun coming up with those answers.

Christine is giving away one copy of QUICKSILVER SOUL to a lucky winner!

QUICKSILVER SOUL, Book 2 of the Shadow Guild series

WHERE FEAR ENDS, LOVE BEGINS

Nicola Tesla has never needed a man to complete her life. A gifted engineer, she has always had her experiments to keep her company-or she did, before her vile boss stole them. Now she's working at the Archives in New London, where the memories of the dead are stored. But it isn't long before Nicola discovers she's being watched . . . by a most intriguing, sinfully sexy man.

Archivist Emmet Dennison should be busy extracting memories from the dead. Instead he's been asked to keep an eye on the brazen, strikingly beautiful Nicola Tesla. Soon Emmet and Nicola are shaken by an attraction neither of them wants. Yet when a nefarious man takes them hostage, Nicola and Emmet will need to rely on their attraction, and the growing bond between them, to stop a madman hellbent on destroying New London forever.