Can you help me name an airship?
The Locksmith’s Secret has a steampunk thread in it. It’s the story that Prunella Smith, the central character, is writing. The story ends with Nell, the character in the steampunk story, hanging from a rope trailing from an airship. It’s the beginning of a story called ‘The Rise of the Aether Mages’ and I’m writing the next installment now. Part one, from The Locksmith’s Secret, will be available separately for free, but not until part 2 is ready to roll. So in part 2 of the story, Nell takes her family’s airship, and along with Richard, Beth, her brother John and a couple of others, chases after Lord Burnett. And this is where I’d love some help. Can anyone think of a name for the steampunk airship they’ll be flying in? Double word names are good for steampunk. If I pick your suggestion, I will, of course, mention you in…
Steampunk Murder Mystery: Cafe Scene
Every week in Friday Free Web Fiction I post a first draft scene from my work in progress (WIP), or a short story, or an excerpt from one of my books. Today’s offering is from my Prunella Smith WIP, The Lock Smith’s Secret. This is from the steampunk thread, the story within the story, which is turning into a murder mystery. Nell opened the door and stepped into the cafe. Beth followed her into the dim interior, and they stood scanning the room for Richard. They spotted him at one of the tables at the far end. Gregory, a friend he’d known since school sat beside him. They chuckled together over some shared tit bit. ‘He’s very handsome, you know,’ Beth said as they walked across the café. ‘Richard, that is.’ ‘And you look gorgeous; the perfect lady,’ Nell replied, glancing at Beth’s pink waist corset over a sweet cream dress with tiny roses embroidered on…
Come look at my new website and its new lean clean theme
I have a new look. Please come and see what you think. I’ve gone for a zen-like simplicity and a nice way to display my books. There’s also a big link on the front page that will open up my mask site as well – and you can buy my ebooks directly from me. I’ll get back to the normal blog schedule on Wednesday, and I’m thinking to write some posts on steampunk as well as I do my research. I love the look and might do some posts on practical steampunk. I’d love to share some of the awesome steampunk images that are around, but I’m reticent to do it here because I may unknowingly offend some copyright. You can, however, take a look at my Pinterest board. https://www.pinterest.com/tahlianewland/steampunk-gypsy-and-goth/ and here’s a screen shot to show you the kind of things you’ll find there.
Free web fiction: A Building Without Doors.
Every week in Friday Free Web Fiction I post a first draft scene from my work in progress (WIP), or a short story, or an excerpt from one of my books. Today’s offering is from my Prunella Smith WIP, Past Worlds, The Lock Smith’s Secret. Once again I’m in the ephemeral city that floats in outer space. Through the luminous outlines of the buildings, I see planets floating, suns sparkling and constellations swirling in the darkness. I walk down a corridor in a transparent building with no doors, looking upwards at my goal—a room high above me. Someone is up there, working at a desk in a pool of light—a beacon in this otherwise empty city. I’m pretty sure they’re making keys and think they might know where the doors are. I stop and look around me at the doorless walls. How did I even get inside? With a shrug, I walk on. The corridor seems…
Friday Free Web Fiction: More from Steampunk Nell
Every week in Friday Free Web Fiction I post a first draft scene from my work in progress (WIP), or a short story, or an excerpt from one of my books. Today’s offering is from my Prunella Smith WIP, Past Worlds, The Lock Smith’s Secret. Last week I introduced you to Nell, this week I have the second edition in her story. Enjoy this free steampunk story Nell twisted the knob, rolled the paper into her typewriter and stared at the blank white sheet. A string of expletives that would’ve made her mother blush rolled through her mind. She blamed the stable hand—if not for him she’d never have known such words existed. But that wasn’t what Bert wanted her to write, was it? Anyone could swear—except her mother. She’d have to take a more sophisticated approach if she were to show Lord Burnett he was wrong about her. She lifted her hands above the keyboard,…
Free Steampunk Web Fiction: Introducing Nell
Every week in Friday Free Web Fiction I post a first draft scene from my work in progress (WIP), or a short story, or an excerpt from one of my books. Today’s offering is from my Prunella Smith WIP, The Lock Smith’s Secret. One strand of this book is a steampunk novel that Ella is writing. The protagonist in it is Nell. Nell leaned back in her chair and twisted her mouth into several different positions before settling on a grin with her lips pressed together and a knowing shake of her head. The solution was simple, Bert could publish a short piece to counteract the smear on her name Lord Burnett had written in his latest column in the Burnett Weekly. Her boss would do that for her, wouldn’t he? She stood and smoothed her hands down her leather corset. Like all modern-thinking women, she wore something more practical than the huge skirts favoured by the older…