steampunk

Wishhobbler

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Somewhere in the damp, twisting alleyways of the Songwynd slums there lives a hideous freak of nature. Driven by poverty, Spin and her family move to the Songwynds in search of work. There they share a tiny, rat-infested flat with a wishhobbler. An enormous toffee and custard guzzling fleabag, the wishhobbler’s viciousness has caused fear and mayhem among the slum dwellers. Unable to hit back at the wishhobbler, her victims instead pick on Spin and her family. Friendless, haunted by thugs and bullies, and struggling to cope with a rare illness, Spin isn’t having much fun. When the wishhobbler disrupts the carefully laid plans of the mysterious Television Racers, Spin finds herself at the centre of a deadly confrontation. And then things take a turn for the worse … By turns comic and terrifying, this fully illustrated novel is a must for anyone who’s ever been bored, bullied or lived with a monster. Originally published in 2001, this is a brand new and expanded edition of a much loved novel. The original 24 stunning pen and ink drawings have now been joined by nearly 30 brand new illustrations. This is a dark urban fairy tale of a young girl struggling with her identity and defying her destiny. Abandoned by her mother at an early age, Spin has been adopted by Sir Fistache mal Arthreign. The knight’s habit of collecting waifs and strays has thrown together a family of rowdy headbangers. A dysfunctional family with a dangerous secret at its heart. Expelled from countless towns and villages, they hope to make a fresh start in the Songwynd slums. But bringing along their pet wishhobbler wrecks any chance of this. An outsider wherever she goes, Spin longs for something to be a part of. Forced into work to feed and clothe her adoptive family, she finds a way of using her new job to enter the carefully guarded world of the Television Racers. Not the first mistake she’s ever made, but it could well be the last …

Meet Francis O’Dowd

Francis O’Dowd is a Scottish writer and illustrator whose pen and ink drawings perfectly complement his Pythonesque storytelling: the whimsical & surreal against the grittiness of everyday life. For many years he was the chairperson of a youth music charity. He has recorded several albums of music including full length soundtracks for his novels Wishhobbler and Hopesgrave Easily. His YouTube channel features book trailers, music videos and readings. Francis lives in Scotland with his wife, their daughter and two sons, several dogs and Guinea pigs, and has a time machine parked in the back garden. He was once asked for his autograph by Tom Baker, who used to be terribly famous.
Website : https://linktr.ee/jjlurker

The Stormforged

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Altrameda has served as a lab assistant and friend to the Tinkerer, her kind-hearted but perplexing inventor, for many years. But when she wakes up to discover she has been abandoned in a basement for more than two decades, she wants an explanation.

With the help of an old friend, Altrameda tracks down the Tinkerer and learns she is from a race of self-aware machines who were nearly wiped out by humans centuries ago: the Stormforged. Emboldened, Altrameda ventures to the Falkirk capital city of New Canton with others of her kind to reintegrate into human society. Their peaceful approach is fraught with complication, however, as not every Stormforged is interested in forgiving the humans for all but eradicating their people. In addition, the royal family has experienced a power upset that the Tinkerer might be directly responsible for.

Events heat up when Jonas, former student of the Tinkerer and current advisor to the royal family, interferes with the reconciliation attempts of the Stormforged. He believes he is to save humanity from an inevitable mechanical threat, and Altrameda must make a choice – to save humanity, or her people.The Stormforged is a genre-blending fantasy, science fiction tale about a sentient robot and her curious presence in a technologically stunted world. A machine grapples with a world she does not fit into; not in the past, nor the present. The Stormforged explores self-awareness, self-identity, dishonest relationships, acceptance of one’s past, and what it means to be human.

Meet S. M. Grey

S. M. Grey grew up in Tucson, Arizona where Altrameda began as a D&D character. Altrameda’s author moved to Adelaide, South Australia in 2017. There, she spends much of her free time gaming, cross-stitching, and daydreaming about robots.

As a writer, she has a handful of short horror stories published in the Possessions anthologies by Paul Loh, as well as a few nonfiction pieces published during her time at the University of Arizona. She won 2nd place in the 2017 Australian Scribes Writers “Short Takes” contest. The Stormforged is her first novel.

Reach out to her at: [email protected]

    The Spirit Hollows

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    An inventor and an assistant undertaker against all the spirits in the Hollows.

    Quinn dreams of leaving his dreary job at his mother’s funeral home for a life of adventure. His half-sister Zora plans to prove what a brilliant scientist she is–and settle a secret grudge. Together, they set out to fight the spirits that have roamed the Hollows ever since the Great Wakening.

    As Zora and Quinn hunt by night in the graveyards and forests of what was once Old Appalachia, they clash with one another and compete against a mysterious rival. But when a shadowy cult and an ancient, otherworldly enemy start trying to murder them, the young spirit-hunters must scramble to uncover the hidden past of the Hollows and dig up long-buried family skeletons.

    If Zora and Quinn fail, they’ll find worse things waiting for them in the dark.

    A spooky steampunk Young Adult novel for fans of Stranger Things, Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children, and Cherie Priest.

    Meet P. R. Brewer

    P. R. Brewer grew up on a fish farm in Rowan County, Kentucky, a short hike away from Cave Run Lake and a winding drive away from Clack Mountain (the site of sinister rituals, according to local legend). He currently lives in Delaware with his wife Barbara and their two children. In his day job as a professor, he teaches and writes about science and the media. His nonfiction work has appeared in National Geographic, Skeptical Inquirer, and various arcane journals. He spends his free time watching scary movies and playing D&D.

    The Ghost’s Legacy

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    The Ghost’s Legacy ~

    The old world has died.

    In the frozen wastes of a new ice age, a boy must become a man. Having forgotten who he is, this youth must accept his destiny to lead, fight, and die if necessary for what he believes . . . or a magic from a lost era will destroy them all.
    As a tyrannical empire rises, he and his childhood companions must band together as warriors to battle against savage creatures, an army of zealots, and an evil they are only just beginning to understand . . .

    Heirs of BjornsGaard ~

    A thousand years ago, on the Day of Cataclysm, the world changed. Mountains rose from plains, continents fell into oceans, colossal tempests obliterated civilizations, and jotun, creatures of legend and superstition, rose up. The New Ice Age began, blanketing the world in snow and an army of draugr, dead warriors, walked the earth destroying every remnant of the old age.

    From the ashes, the Church and the Clan BjornsGaard united humanity behind their banners, rallying knights and heroes to face this new world. Under their leadership, mankind overthrew the draugr and retook control of its destiny.

    In the centuries since, the Church grew into an empire, controlling most of the continent. Though its origins were noble, the Church State grew based on greed, racism, and slavery. Only two militant orders of knights, the Hospitalars and the Tau, allied with the islands of the BjornsGaard Commonwealth stood against the Church States expanding pogroms. But during the intervening years, the Kings of BjornsGaard had grown corrupt and weak. In one night, the entire family was assassinated, opening the way for the Church to expand spreading its suppression and holocaust.

    But in BjornsGaard’s farthest northern island, hope is dawning. In the Hospitalar’s Northern Compound five orphans, physically and intellectually gifted and trained by the Hospitalar knights to fight, to heal, and to reason, grow up together. With a bond tighter than normal siblings and forged stronger by pain and loss, these five will grow to challenge the Church State and accept their destiny as leaders in this new age.

    *Disclaimer*
    Heirs of BjornsGaard is a clean fantasy adventure series, meaning that there is no sexual content, nudity, or language. However, it does contain some violence and mature subject matter that may not be suitable for younger readers. Discretion is advised.

    Meet RJ Redmond

    About the Author
    R.J. Redmond told his third-grade teacher that when he grew up, he wanted to live in a cabin on the water and write stories. Throughout his life, this dream has remained the same. Mr. Redmond holds a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science from Washington State University and a Juris Doctorate from the Gonzaga School of Law.
    A. Elaine Dunlap-Redmond is Mr. Redmond’s business manager, agent, and partner in all things. They live together on the Puget Sound in Washington State.
    For more information on this book and others, visit Votes4Sasquatch.com.

    Fierce Heart

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    Essie would do anything for her kingdom…even marry an elf prince she just met that morning.

    The human kingdom of Escarland and the elven kingdom of Tarenhiel have existed in an uneasy peace after their last wars ended with both kings dead. As tensions rise once again, desperate diplomacy might be the only way to avert war. If only negotiations between elves and humans were that simple.

    When a diplomatic meeting goes horribly wrong, Essie, a human princess, finds herself married to the elf prince and warrior Laesornysh. Fitting in to the serene, quiet elf culture might be a little difficult for this talkative princess, but she’s determined to make it work.

    With impending war and tenuous alliances, it will be up to Essie to unite her two peoples. And maybe get her hands on elven conditioner while she’s at it.

    The Game Called Revolution

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    Taking place during a French Revolution that is familiar yet very different, this steam-powered story depicts the adventures of the Ordre de la Tradition, a group of elite knights and other exceptionally talented individuals, led by the cool and confident Jeanne de Fleur, who answer only to His Majesty, King Louis XVI. On July 14, 1789 (Infini Calendar), the Ordre is called to the Bastille to investigate a mysterious message that has appeared in the cell which formerly belonged to the diabolical Marquis de Sade. While they are there, the prison suddenly comes under attack by an angry mob. They soon discover that this is not an isolated incident; the Palace at Versailles is also besieged around the same time. Why is this happening? Will the Ordre be able to save the monarchy from assassination? How is the Jacobin Club involved in this? What strange powers does the Count of Saint-Germaine possess? What is the secret of Jeanne’s left eye? Is that sadistic Austrian woman friend or foe? All is revealed within. This is the 3rd edition.