My dear Gentle Reader, This is not a topic I get asked about much anymore but just in case I’m hit with a number of the Very Curious after reading a Parasolverse book, I am going to address a delicate subject here and now… Anglicization or should I say? Anglicisation Right, so you may or […]
Mar62015
Anglicization: In Which We Revisit the Ladybird Problem
Feb192015
Imprudence Cover Art Reveal
I know, Prudence hasn’t even hit stores yet but I am still delighted to give you all a sneak peek at the cover for the second in the series, Imprudence! The inevitable questions… When is Imprudence due to release? I have no idea, likely 2016 sometime. How many books in the Custard Protocol series? I […]
Apr162013
Trade Versus Mass Market, Oh the Humanity! Gail Carriger Talks About the Range of Books Sizes
I asked a question over Twitter and Facebook, Gentle Reader. It sparked a fascinating, and strangely epic discussion. Here’s the question: Talk to me about trade paperbacks! Why do people prefer them over mass market? Why do you? But first… Trade Paperbacks! Why? What? Huh? Let me quickly explain that in the US trade-size paperback […]
Aug152012
Victorian Household Medicine
A Household Medicine Cabinet 1870s 1. Powdered ipecacuanah [induce vomiting] 2. Purgative powder 3. Sulphate of quinine [malaria treatment] 4. Chlorodyne [chloroform and morphine tincture] 5. Carbolic acid [antiseptic] 6. Castor Oil 7. Eno’s fruit salts 8. One bottle each of M’Kesson and Robbin’s compound podophyllin and aloes and myrrh pills [for warts and verrucas, […]
Jun152012
Intellectual Salon: The Land Leviathan in Steampunk (Special Extras)
Guest blogger the Doctor of Phlogiston is back. He’s my resident steampunk philosopher. This little posting is a tilt at the one windmill that I forgot last time I visited here – that ol’ steampunk favourite, the Land Leviathan. This staple of steampunk has been hanging about ever since they first turned up in HG […]
Oct32011
New Series Announced! The Parasol Protectorate Abroad: Prudence & Imprudence
It’s official, Gentle Reader! The announcement has been made. In addition to writing the new YA series, The Finishing School, and shepherding the Soulless manga into existence, I will be writing a new adult series for Orbit called the Parasol Protectorate Abroad the Custard Protocol. If you’ve finished Heartless you know who that series will […]
Apr292011
In Which Your Intrepid Author Takes A Balloon Ride In The Interests Of Research
Details for Writers of the Floating Persuasion So as you may have guessed (ore read), Gentle Reader, from the time frame, my characters don’t float by dirigible they float by balloon instead. So I decided for my birthday I’d recruit five friends and go up in a balloon to see what it was really like. […]