The Great Parasolverse read along continues with Romancing the Inventor, the second novella I wrote and my first official queer romance.
May 5/20-5/26
Romancing the Inventor novella
released in November of 2016
Here are some fun blog posts and resources that tie to this story. Research I did, chattering and amusement on the subject of May/December, lesbian, and class conflict relationships. This was also my first opportunity to show Channing in a kinder light.
Parlormaid seeks scientist!
Lesbian Victorian romance featuring a maid bent on seducing an imprisoned cross-dressing inventor.
The Beginning from the Author’s Side
I struggled to even start this book for a long time. I just couldn’t climb into Genevieve’s head. It wasn’t until Imogene leapt into being that I realized that’s because this book was meant to be her story. This book needed to be told entirely from Imogene’s perspective. I needed a lower class character and I needed someone younger than Genevieve.
Why?
Perhaps because I’m too close to Genevieve? I identify with her too strongly, so I couldn’t get the right perspective to write her as a POV character. Anyway, I’ve never been able too, she has always lived from the perspective of other characters with this air of mystery. And clearly my creative brain needed her to stay that way.
Once I knew how I was going to write this story, I had to wait because I hadn’t had a “scene epiphany” yet.
Then, one night it came to me, the semi-confrontation between Imogene and Channing outside a pub in a small village. There it was, it happened, and Imogene was born.
Which brings me to note that yes, the inclusion and softening of Channing in this book is entirely intentional. Why is he nicer to to Imogene than to other women? Because she is gay and lower class. Channing isn’t threatened by her. This is an important insight into has character that will come into play in How to Marry a Werewolf.
Things Pertaining to this Book
- Blog posts specific to Romancing the Inventor
- The Pinterest story board for this book
- A Moment of Madame Lefoux Fashion Loves on Retro Rack
- Genevieve Lefoux character design board (Madame Lefoux appears in all my other series, although in the Finishing School books she is known as Vieve.)
- Imogene Hale character design board (she reappears in Reticence) and yes, the “Hale” is an ode of Gaskall’s North & South
- FYI: The Westminster Hive moved to Barking in Heartless
- I have a board full of Queer History including quite a bit on male impersonators and Toms of the Victorian Era
RTI is probably my most critically well regarded book, it is my most popular audiobook but probably the least digitally read, of my novellas. I have no idea why. Or what is going on but I think it has to do with this being a lesbian romance and there being an enduring desire for these stories but not a huge audience looking specifically for them.
Genevieve and Imogene by Ace Artemis Fan Artist
What Reviewers Said of This Book
Book Loving Nut says:
“Ladies and gentlemen, this is a story I didn’t know I wanted. Adult Genevieve Lefoux has never appealed to me the way her childhood self did. For the first time though, I felt myself finally falling in love with her during this novella.”
The Lesbian Review says :
“This is a fantastic and quick read. Fans of Carriger’s will be well-served in picking up this novel, and those who aren’t familiar with her work will find it a great way of introducing themselves to her steampunk universe. I was sold at the name Genevieve Lefoux, and I suspect many others will be also. It’s a wonderful story with two characters who are more than a match for each other. The combination is electric and sure to please.”
Artemis Fan Artist Final ask for @glitterthegaywitch, who was sitting across from me reading Romancing the Inventor on my kindle while I was drawing the previous asks a few nights ago. She wanted Madame Lefoux and Imogene
Jess of Jessticulates says of Romancing the Inventor:
“Honestly I was surprised, at first, at how much darker this novella was compared to other books I’ve read by Carriger…. These darker elements didn’t stop it from being a sweet novella, though. In fact I really appreciated that Carriger didn’t make this story a silly one; Genevieve does wear her heart on her sleeve and it’s been broken before, so it was satisfying to see her work through that instead of watching her fall head over heels in love with Imogene…”
“I realise this is more of a gush than a review, but basically I loved this novella and I was thrilled to have a story devoted to Genevieve getting some kind of happy ending at last. If you’ve read and enjoyed the Parasol Protectorate series then you should definitely give this novella a try…”
Hidden in Pages says :
“Overall I loved this book and thought it was well done. It does an excellent job of filling in Lefoux’s storyline in the time between the Parasole Protectorate and The Custard Protocol. It was a fun and easy read but very romance heavy. Recommended to fans of Genevieve Lefoux especially!”
The Lesbian Review also says:
“The sexual tension is delicious, and the payoff is sweet and wonderful, while not being terribly graphic. Fans of Carriger’s work will love this dive into a secondary character’s life, while first-time readers may very well find themselves picking up Carriger’s novels.”
Yours, finding the X,
Miss Gail
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OUT NOW!
The 5th Gender (A Tinkered Stars Mystery as G. L. Carriger).
Amazon | Elsewhere | Direct from Gail
Audio is coming.
Sci-fi queer romance meets cozy mystery in which a hot space station cop meets the most adorable purple alien ever (lavender, pulease!) from a race with 5 genders.
UPCOMING SCRIBBLES
- Reticence, The 4th and final Custard Protocol book. August 6, 2019
- Fan Service Omnibus, October 2019 to celebrate the 10th Anniversary of Soulless.
- Need to know what Gail is writing right now? That’s in the Chirrup.
GAIL’S DAILY DOSE
Your Moment of Parasol . . .
Le Moniteur de la Mode December, 1871
Your Infusion of Cute . . .
Your Tisane of Smart . . .
“Gentleman Jack” 9 Facts About Lesbian Legend Anne Lister to Know
Your Writerly Tinctures . . .
Are you and author who “hates marketing”? Read this: 9 Habits: Brag
Book News:
Just mistyped the word “woman” as “womance” which I think is my favorite genre.
~ Self on Twitter
Quote of the Day:
“In general, I try not to microwave sour cream.”
~ Borderlands Books Hillarious “Overhead in the store” April News
Your Moment of Gail
“I suspect it may be like the difference between a drinker and an alcoholic; the one merely reads books, the other needs books to make it through the day.”
(Interview with The Booklovers blog, September 2010)” ~ Gail Carriger
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