It's May Day! Or should I say "M'aidez"?

I had to explain to my kids that a pilot going down for a crash landing isn't talking about the first of May, but screaming "Help Me!" in French, which is all too appropriate as I struggle with the demons in my WIP with the help of willing crit partners who are armed, ready, and able to hold me up, dust me off & throw me back to the wolves on the page. Thank goodness for them!

Curse you, Red Baron! Thank goodness for Charles Schultz!

If you are fortunate enough to have critique partners, I hereby declare it to be Critique Partners Appreciation Day -- send a little something, even just an e-card will do, to tell them how much you appreciate all that they do for you because, frankly, without them we'd be lost in the mire of our own blackest imaginings, doomed to mutter to the voices in our heads in lonely corners wearing stylish white coats whose sleeves buckle up snug in the back. I seriously could never have survived my first years of attempting to become a writer without them and, now that I have things like "deadlines" and "contracts", I need their savvy little synapses more than ever.

Thank you, Crit Partners!!!

P.S. If you do not yet have a critique partner, get them. If you ask "Where can I get some?" I would join an organization like SCBWI, RWA, SFWA, Verla Kay Blueboards or any other relevant place where people like you can find other people like you and start working together to pull each other higher. Seriously, it's the very best thing you can do for yourself and your writing!

I have been very lax in sharing doses of steampunk lately. I'll admit, being brain-deep in mythic fantasy, I have to sometimes set aside the glamor of brass, cogs and gears for the other "glamour" of lily pads, inkwells, and straight razors (don't ask...more to come soon!) but everyone needs to stop for a breath of fresh air, a chance to recharge, and clear the mind of myopic cobwebs. And for me, that's snuggling down with a warm scone and a steamy cup of punk!

I know "steampunk" is all the rage and yet manages to still defy description. I can say a lot about what I think is steampunk-y, but it's a very subjective "I know it when I see/read it" sort of thing. But the one thing I can say that I like most about the genre is that it is so accessible; open to interpretation and cultural spin-offs, drama or humor or adventure or romance, even making room for paranormal tropes and magic--like the little black dress, steampunk goes with everything!

This popped to mind when I recently stumbled across a bunch of brilliant "steampunk sculptures" by an artist that struck me as having very French-like black humor, sporting brown leather and thick goggles and a touch of Burton-esque, child-like macabre. I have no other way to describe Belgian artist, Stephane Halleux's work, but it's close enough for grenades.

My favorites may have to be his "Beauty Machine" and his little bat-winged "Homme Volant":

Both awesome pieces, and many more, can be found on his Portfolio page at www.stephanehalleux.com.
Be warned: you may want to set aside time to gawk!

These reminded me of something from Nightmare Before Christmas meets The City of Lost Children sprinkled with a liberal smattering of Jean-Pierre Jeunet and Despicable Me. (And if that doesn't turn your brain over in butter, I don't know what will!) It was just the right thing for my palette cleanser, a blending of whimsy and eerie mecha that was impishly delightful. I've decided Inq would have one in her collection...if she had any place to put it! I could imagine epic stop-motion stories of adventure and excitement in a dark world on the edge of science and monsters. Inspired, I feel ready to tackle the rest of Book Two! Huzzah!

Go take a peek and come tell me what you think.

Enjoy!