Tomorrow Manners & Mutiny officially heads out into the world (yes, it shipped early in a few places). This is the last book in the Finishing School series. Amazon Barnes & Noble Kobo iBooks The Finishing School series was a lot of firsts for me. The first time I wrote YA. The first time I […]
Nov22015
Ending a Series: Tomorrow Manners & Mutiny Drops
Oct302015
Research into History of Women’s Education in England for Manners & Mutiny
The Final Finishing School Book, Manners & Mutiny, releases next Tuesday. Eeep! Also, I just learned that Imprudence is available for pre-order here in the US. (Possibly elsewhere, but I can’t check that.) Meanwhile, I had a wonderful time doing the Dork Forest with Jackie Kashian. Here’s a glimpse into some of the research I […]
Oct232015
Researching The Enigma Project & Victorian Spies for Manners & Mutiny
So when I was doing research for the Finishing School series, Gentle Reader, I did a bunch of research into the Enigma Project. It totally fascinated me (yes I’ve watched the various movies). Not a lot ended up making it into the books, but here is a peek at the vocabulary notes I took. My […]
Oct192015
Historical Questions for Victorian Ladies 1853
If you were a respectable young lady in the Victorian Era, Gentle Reader, here are a few conversation topics you might be expected to have words on. This is the kind of thing Lady Linette might instruct the girls of Mademoiselle Geraldine’s with, in order to adequately prepare them for societal integration. Historical Question […]
Oct122015
A Conflagration of Research: Victorians & Food, Etiquette, Photo Resources
Today my dear Gentle Reader, I have a collection of stuff (all the stuff!) I thought might be of interest. Have fun! Some stuff about the Victorians and Food! Two of my most favorite subjects rolled together like a pig in a blanket. “As, for the fashionable, dinner moved later, after-dinner tea was no longer […]
Jul102015
Alternate Historical Names for Clothing in the Victorian Era
1811 ~ Alternate Historical Names for Clothing Togs ~ Clothes Articles or Inexpressibles ~ Underthings, sometimes Breeches Farting crackers or Galligaskins ~ Breeches Buntlings ~ Petticoats Fallalls ~ Ornaments, chiefly woman’s, such as ribands, necklaces, etc. India wipe ~ A silk handkerchief Specked whiper ~ A coloured handkerchief Knuckle-dabd, or knuckle-confounders ~ Ruffles Brogue ~ […]
Jun152015
Announcing the Final Cover Art for Manners & Mutiny!
Here, at last Gentle Reader, is the finalized cover art for the last Finishing School book, Manners & Mutiny. When a dastardly Pickleman plot comes to fruition, only Sophronia can save her friends, her school, and all of London… but at what cost? Our proper young heroine puts her training and skills to the test […]
Sep82014
Sophronia’s Moors in the Finishing School Series
While I was in England I trotted down to Devon to visit my family and childhood stomping grounds but also to rove about Dartmoor. As you know, Gentle Reader, the Finishing School books partly take place in Dartmoor. (Or should I say: floating above it?) I thought you would like to see what the moor […]
Feb262014
Steampunk Names & 1811 Professions
I don’t mean to be cagey, Gentle Reader, but tomorrow I have fun times here on the blog. Yes indeed, exciting stuff. Meanwhile, I give you this little gem off the Finishing School Tumblr: And if you like, once you pick your name you can pick your profession… 1811 Slang Terms for Professions Author ~ […]
Oct292013
Gail Carriger’s Finishing School Music Video Lyrics & Story Behind the OTS!
For Curtsies & Conspiracies, the second Finishing School book I got a music video! To be clear this isn’t really a book trailer. Not as you imagine them anyway. It’s an original song about Mademoiselle Geraldine’s Finishing School with live action meets animation. Even if you aren’t into the books or don’t read YA, it’s […]
Sep122012
Dear Author, How Could You End the Series?
Today, Gentle Reader, I introduce a new occasional series of installments of questions I get constantly. How Could You End It? I’m delighted you liked the series but it is finished. I believe in leaving a party while I am still enjoying it, and, perhaps more importantly, while others are still enjoying my company. I’ve […]
Feb272012
Ending a Series Part 2: Emotions
There’s a sense of listlessness at the ending of a series, Gentle Reader. I’ve felt it for years as a voracious reader, now I feel it as an author for the first time. It’s a little like breaking up with a partner you still love plus losing friends through time and distance plus ending a […]