This holiday season we welcome a special guest, Holly_Gonzalez, writer extraordinaire of Decopunk stories and owner of a particularly Christmassy name! I don't suppose you have a sister called Ivy...? Anyway, back to Decopunk:

Firstly, could you tell our readers what Decopunk means to you?

I'd be delighted, dahling! Funny you should ask, as I had a great-grandmother named Ivy...my own name is ironic as I wasn't born near Christmas, but in March. Silliness, yes, so on to the punking of Deco: For me, Decopunk is an anachronistic blend of the old and the new, of early twentieth century aesthetics with a modern vision. What sets it apart from its more gritty counterpart of Dieselpunk is a 'shinier' and usually more optimistic world view. A world where technology, science, and industrialism help build a brighter future for everyone.

The historical era attributed to Decopunk is usually accepted as being the 1920s to the early 1950s, and this was a time when society saw rapid and exciting developments in medicine, travel, education, quality of daily living, etc. People seemed to have a more hopeful view of technology and progress during these decades. As the middle class grew, it suddenly became possible for anybody to work hard and reach for the top, and this do-or-die attitude in pursuit of boundless opportunity is, to me at least, a signature quality of what Decopunk stands for. The 'everyday underdog' accomplishing great things despite crushing odds, while technology is shown as beneficial and even a savior of humanity rather than its downfall. I like to think of Decopunk as flashy, celebratory, over-the-top, larger than life extravagance—even bordering on hedonism and debauchery. There's so many different ways to examine the historical time period, its achievements as well as failings, and extrapolate new ideas through a modern scope.

I gather Decopunk has a rather close relationship with the Art Deco movement. What are your favourite Art Deco pieces and / or buildings?

I've got so many favorites. Artists that come to mind are Rene Lalique and his sculptures and jewelry--streamlined and elegant. A modern artist who captures amazing imagery is Robert Hoppe (Google his artwork for a glimmering eye-full of Deco bling!) The fashions of greats like Erte, Coco Chanel, and Schiaparelli are unique and irresistible. I'm also a big fan of Nell Brinkley, a Jazz age illustrator with a distinct style who helped define the look and attitude of the flapper gals in the 1920s.

I think where Art Deco really shines the most is through architecture. The Chrysler building in New York City has to be one of the most beautiful and iconic Deco skyscrapers ever. Other wonderful places that come to mind are the Hoover Dam in the American southwest, the Folies-Bergere theatre in Paris, France, and a real gem of a theatre here in my hometown of Spokane, Washington, USA, the astounding Martin Woldson Fox Theatre—this local beauty has a nautical theme throughout, which culminates in a blazing, geometric sunburst of gold adorning the pinnacle of the theatre itself. The first time I went to a concert there I was nearly floored. It's just too beautiful. I love it so much that I used it as an inspiration for a theater scene in my Decopunk saga, 'Beauty in the Bones'. I kind of overkilled on the setting description there, but trying to capture such a stunner in words is quite the challenge. In the end, I felt the extra attention to details evoked how magnificent a landmark theatre like the Fox really is.

What attracted you first to this rather unknown sub-genre?

I've always loved the time period and was initially drawn to Dieselpunk and Steampunk. While hunting around for a fresh new genre to write in for Nanowrimo back in 2014, I joined a fun Dieselpunk community and soon became excited about adapting the concept of retro-futurism in my writing. Dieselpunk, with its war machines and epic battle fronts, was inspiring on its own. However, me being a fool for shiny objects and glamour, it didn't take long before I was obsessed with the 'prettier' side of Diesel. I'd studied a little about Art Deco in my school art classes and was already a fan, but I didn't sink into full-on obsession until I started researching my new fictional series. From that point on, I've been a hopeless Deco-diva on a mission to rediscover the often overlooked aspirations of a century gone by.

I notice your stories have rather wonderful covers. Could you tell us a bit about them and the creator?

Currently, I design my own covers using basic software like GIMP and Canva. I usually take stock images or old Hollywood pics and mash them through filters and composites, but a few of my covers do feature my original artwork. I'd eventually like to have all original art on my covers, whether my own or commissioned art. I have a pretty clear image in my head of what I like to see on my covers and do my best to capture the story's mood and theme in each one as I put them together.

Of your own stories, which is your favourite and why?

A tough call between this and my 'Beauty in the Bones' series, but I'd have to say my fave is my short story 'The Envy of Angels', which is a Decopunk re-telling of Poe's famous poem 'Annabel Lee'. It was published originally as a part of a 'punked' Edgar Allan Poe anthology from Writerpunk Press. Since then, I've planned to continue it as a novel-length expansion/sequel--after I finish my current series, of course.

It was fun extrapolating a Decopunk vision of this rather morbid poem, which has always been one of my favorite works from Poe. I studied the original poem and tried to stick to it as literally as possible while I came up with the world and characters. One of the lines that struck me was about how the 'angels' envied the narrator and his lover, so they killed her with a chilling cloud and took her away. It opened a whole scenario in which the angels we're all told about really aren't so nice or praiseworthy. Overall, I strived for a unique spin on Decopunk mixed with a good helping of pulp science fiction, fantasy, film noir, and the essential tragedy and doom of classic Poe.

Are there any other Decopunk stories on Wattpad that you would recommend?

Dieselpunk gets a little more love on Wattpad, though I hope this changes in the future. I'm a fan-girl of multi-punk writer @WilliamJJackson for sure. His short story 'Frau Only Drives the Chrysalis' is a great example. For an urban fantasy twist on things, @LadyAmanita has some imaginative, action-packed stories about Art Deco skyscrapers that come alive and protect their city from danger.

What do you think lies in store for Decopunk in the future?

Well, since we're only a year away from what I'm sure will be the Roaring 2020s, I think Decopunk will gain a lot more attention and appreciation soon. Gatsby-epic parties are just the beginning. Maybe we can re-capture the self-expression and dreams of the Art Deco era without the specters of Prohibition, war, and economic depression this time around.