(From the Blog Archives: Originally published on my now-defunct blog about 10 years ago.) When I tell friends I’m writing steampunk, some of them smile, and others say, “What?” The ones who smile are wondering how a bottle-cap with glued-on gears and watch parts they saw at the flea market has anything to do with literature.  The conversation usually goes something like this: Me: It’s Victorian-era science fiction. You know, like Jules Verne or H. G. Wells. Them: Oh! Wow.  (puzzlement, scratches head) Me: Yep. It’s fun to mix up the genres. I throw some magic in there too for good measure. Them: Why is it called steampunk? Me: Short…