Wollstonecraft: (Book 1) The Case of the Missing Moonstone

Wollstonecraft by Jordan Stratford illustrated by Kelly Murphy

2.5 years in the making, and we FINALLY have a book –Yay!

Book 1: The Case of the Missing Moonstone had it's North America release on January 6, 2015 and has already been featured on Reading Rainbow.

From Amazon:

History, mystery, and science collide in a new series for middle-grade readers, perfect for fans of The Mysterious Benedict Society and Lemony Snicket!

Jordan Stratford imagines an alternate 1826, where Ada Lovelace (the world’s first computer programmer) and Mary Shelley (author of Frankenstein) meet as girls and form a secret detective agency!

Lady Ada Byron, age eleven, is a genius. Isolated, awkward and a bit rude—but a genius. Mary Godwin, age fourteen, is a romantic. Adventurous, astute, and kind, Mary is to become Ada’s first true friend. And together, the girls conspire to form the Wollstonecraft Detective Agency—a secret constabulary for the apprehension of clever criminals. Their first case involves a stolen heirloom, a false confession, and an array of fishy suspects. But it’s no match for the deductive powers and bold hearts of Ada and Mary.

Mystery fans will love this tween girl riff on Sherlock Holmes and John Watson. History buffs will be delighted to see all the real figures who play a role in this story and appreciate the extensive backmatter that helps separate truth from fiction. Parents and educators hoping to promote the STEM fields for girls will be thrilled to have a series where two girls use math, science, and creative analytical thinking to solve crimes. But most especially--emerging readers will love this series filled with humor, action, intrigue and wonderful artwork from Kelly Murphy.

Reviews:

“Smart and witty… Skilled b&w illustrations and comical narration and dialogue will charm readers thoroughly.” – Publishers Weekly

“...enjoyable plot...resourceful heroines and fun writing...”– Wall Street Journal

“A good fit for Common Core curricula and a fun overall read, this is a winner.”—School Library Journal

★★★★★ —various reviewers on Amazon

The UK Edition is set to launch on January 29th, here is a sneak peak of the cover...

Wollstonecraft (UK edition) by Jordan Stratford illustrated by Kelly Murphy

James Lopez: Hullabaloo Steampunk Animation Project (2)

We first featured this great project back in October of 2012 and now you can head on over and support this crowd funding campaign to finish it.

Kickstarter: Vault of Adepts

Laudanum Studios: Penny Dreadful meets Arkham Horror in this pen and paper RPG of secret societies in 1900 London. Occult schemes in the age of absinthe.

©Aly Fell

A New Century. A New Age.

VAULT OF ADEPTS is a pen and paper Role Playing Game of secret societies set in 1900 London. These occult Lodges attracted the elite of London society – poets and politicians, actors and heiresses, alchemists and aristocrats scheming against a backdrop of cut glass, in the age of absinthe.

©Aly Fell

You play one of these eccentric characters, choose a faction and an agenda – do you want to proceed through the mystic Grades to achieve enlightenment? To take over? To destroy from within? – and speed from location to location to secure ancient knowledge, spread rumours, and foil your opponent’s efforts.

A séance gone horribly wrong. A gentleman approached after a Mason’s meeting with an inquiry if he’d be interested in something more… unconventional. A book dealer looking over an incoming tome, and knowing more than he lets on. Somewhere in London, between Scotland Yard and the Blind Beggar, is the key to someone’s lifelong obsession. Seek it out. But will you use it, sell it, or destroy it?

Throw the best parties, summon demons, and keep it out of the papers!

©Aly Fell

Watch the gorgeous Kickstarter Video below. The game will also feature many illustrations from Aly Fell  who did the artwork for the Steampunk Tarot and Mechanicals. Direct link to campaign.

Penny Dreadful

Penny Dreadful! Oh my such promise for a new show that has all of the things.

ABOUT THE SERIES (Excerpt from Showcase Website)

Some of literature's most terrifying characters, including Dr. Frankenstein, Dorian Gray, and iconic figures from the novel Dracula are lurking in the darkest corners of  Victorian London. PENNY DREADFUL is a frightening psychological thriller that weaves together these classic horror origin stories into a new adult drama.

May the 4th Be With You, Steampunk Star Wars

A quick google image search for Steampunk Star Wars brings Bjorn Hurri to the top of the list. Check out his website for a really great collection of character illustrations.

Then I saw this Otis Frampton Steampunk Bobba Fett con commission from Wizard World on Twitter and decided to make a post. May the 4th Be With You!

Edwardian Ball 2014: The Curious Sofa

Edwardian Ball 2014 Poster

Another year, another Edwardian Ball come and gone.  While I still haven't been able to attend, I can happily look forward to the wonderful annual video that Mark Day produces of the event.

Here it is in all its glory, this year's dazzling eye candy for your enjoyment.

20 DC Steampunk Comic Covers.

Superman/Wonder Woman #5 variant by Dan Panosian, image via CBR

Batman and Two-Face #28 variant by Matteo Scalera, Image via CBR

All 20 DC Steampunk Comics Covers over on Nerdist. Some of them are silly, but I like the two above the best (actually I like Batgirl the best, but I couldn't find a larger enough image for the blog.) Also, I'm assuming that the names attached to the images are based on the comics themselves and not the image because come on, even I know that's not Two-Face --it's Robin!

The World of Steam: The Clockwork Heart (Episode 1)

Episode 1 (Pilot): Hieronymous Smythe has lost his wife, and tries to rebuild his shattered heart... from clockwork. But unfortunately he has not considered if you can do something, whether or not you should...

©The World of Steam

Professor Elemental: Welcome to a Brave New World

The always awesome Professor Elemental was recently featured on Phineas and Ferb.

Cherie Priest: Fiddlehead

Fiddlehead by Cherie Priest

Book Description:

Young ex-slave Gideon Bardsley is a brilliant inventor, but the job is less glamorous than one might think, especially since the assassination attempts started. Worse yet, they're trying to destroy his greatest achievement: a calculating engine called Fiddlehead, which provides undeniable proof of something awful enough to destroy the world. Both man and machine are at risk from forces conspiring to keep the Civil War going and the money flowing.

Bardsley has no choice but to ask his patron, former president Abraham Lincoln, for help.  Lincoln retired from leading the country after an attempt on his life, but is quite interested in Bardsley’s immense data-processing capacities, confident that if people have the facts, they'll see reason and urge the government to end the war. Lincoln must keep Bardsley safe until he can finish his research, so he calls on his old private security staff to protect Gideon and his data.

Maria “Belle” Boyd was a retired Confederate spy, until she got a life-changing job offer from the Pinkerton Detective Agency. Pinkerton respects her work, despite reservations about her lingering Southern loyalties. But it’s precisely those loyalties that let her go into Confederate territory to figure out who might be targeting Bardsley. Maria is a good detective, but with spies from both camps gunning for her, can even the notorious Belle Boyd hold the greedy warhawks at bay?

About the Author:

CHERIE PRIEST is the author of Four and Twenty Blackbirds; Boneshaker, the first book in the Clockwork Century series; and several other novels. She lives in Chattanooga, Tennessee.