Moments you never dreamed of...

Alberta Children & Young Adult 

Book of the Year! 

Congratulations to all the nominees and winners!

A full list is available at the 

Book Publishers of Alberta Association 

The thrilling moment of the announcement:

Photo thanks to Kristin Morrell, who sent it to me right after the announcement

Award Season is upon us!

Some news from Award Season!

First there's this:

Maddie is back on the BPAA Shortlist for her New York City Adventure! You'll find in Gilded Gauge oodles of parasol dueling, spies, intrigue, bumbling detectives, and of course Tweetle-D up to his usual antics while dodging the big-city predatory birds who want to find out if he's edible.

(For more on the Books Publishing in Alberta Awards, check out their online home)

 And then there's THIS! A second nomination for the Prix Aurora!

Claps for fellow writers Gerald Brandt, Julie Czerneda, Fonda Lee, and Elizabeth Whitton, most of whom I know from that lively summer lit-fest, When Words Collide, held each August in Calgary (and usually sold out by June).

(It's not too late to join the CSFFA and vote for your favourite authors and artists in all categories. For the full shortlist go to https://prixaurorawards.ca/home/nominee-list-page/ )

Launch Party for MADDIE HATTER AND THE GILDED GAUGE

It was May 10th, 2017, and dusk was creeping over Calgary when MADDIE HATTER AND THE GILDED GAUGE leapt from the printed page to party and parasol duel at Owls Nest Books.

 And from there to the #1 slot on the Calgary Herald Bestseller List for Fiction! 

Same as MADDIE HATTER AND THE DEADLY DIAMOND did 18 months ago!

Yay, Maddie! 

Friends and family in the packed store ate, drank, and made merry to the lively tunes of Calgary folk duo Hazel Gray. Their song, PAPER-THIN KINGDOMS, is a book-lover's classic!.



 We raised $100 for charity, to be split between CALGARY READS and GIRLS NOT BRIDES.

 Some characters from the book showed up:

Countess Olga, wearing the Dragon Draper Necklace which is our prize for the entire summer's charity fundraising.

Emmy Gat Ain't No Flat!

Cat Cheshire - Look at that GRIN!

Muffet, the littlest Urchin, and one smart cookie!

Tyche Books represented by Editor-in-Chief Margaret Curelas and substantive editor Adria Laycraft.

Fabulous food and wine was provided by Tyche Books and Owls Nest Books.

Some lucky folks took home a Steampunk Statue of Liberty Chocolate Bar.

The Urchins were never far from the food!

The March Pair (Rabbit and Hare) with Muffet and the snacks

These kids go nowhere without their crazy scooter.

In the white and black, the first World Parasol Dueling Champion, mentally preparing to face down Countess Olga, the World Street Dueling Champ!

 

Amanda and her daughter drove 5 hours to be there on the night.

 I told a tall tale or two of parasol duels by daylight and darkness.

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Emmy Gat and Cat Cheshire set to duel. Those far at the back of the store couldn't see the duelists well, but they were closer to the refreshments.

 

 

With great support from Steampunks of SASS and Madame Saffron Hemlock's Parasol Dueling League, and the warmest of welcomes from Owls Nest's Mike Hare, Judith Duthie and Sarah Johnson, MADDIE HATTER AND THE GILDED GAUGE got off to a great start!  Thanks, all of you!


Available at Owls Nest Books in Calgary or through any of the links below:  Amazon.com: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06XJ9YT31 
Amazon.CA: https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B06XJ9YT31 
Amazon.UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B06XJ9YT31 
Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/ca/en/ebook/maddie-hatter-and-the-gilded-gauge 
Nook & iBooks: https://www.books2read.com/u/bxgDJv
For up-to-the-minute news about Maddie and my other writings, find me on Facebook or Twitter 

It's Time to Find The Gilded Gauge!

Book trailer by Kevin Jepson of 4k Consulting, with his photos and stock photos. Music by Two Steps From Hell (Toys Come Alive). 

 MADDIE HATTER  and the GILDED GAUGE 

May 2017 from Tyche Books 

Amazon.com   Amazon.ca   Amazon.uk  Kobo  Other formats

A mysterious message from a midnight duelist sends fashion reporter and aspiring investigator Maddie Hatter to New York City's finest parasol dueling academy, where she foils a daring daylight kidnapping, saves the girl, and embarks on her most perilous adventure yet!

From the Back Cover:

"A mysterious message from a midnight duelist sends fashion reporter Maddie Hatter to New York’s finest parasol dueling academy, where she foils a daring daylight kidnapping.

The grateful rescuee, only daughter of an American Steamlord, offers Maddie a job as her bodyguard. Soon both young ladies are up to their lace gloves in industrial intrigue and irrepressible street urchins. Maddie’s clockwork bird faces danger too: hungry owls, curious inventors, even a clockwork foe that hides sneaky tricks behind its jewel-green eyes.

From the mansions of Park Avenue to the Statue of Liberty, Maddie hunts a fearless spy and confronts an unexpected power from her past."

 Amazon.com: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06XJ9YT31 
Amazon.CA: https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B06XJ9YT31 
Amazon.UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B06XJ9YT31 
Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/ca/en/ebook/maddie-hatter-and-the-gilded-gauge 
Nook & iBooks: https://www.books2read.com/u/bxgDJv

For up-to-the-minute news about Maddie and my other writings, find me on Facebook or Twitter 

Teaser Time: MADDIE HATTER AND THE GILDED GAUGE

 Maddie's back in action!

A mysterious message from a midnight duelist sends fashion reporter Maddie Hatter to New York’s finest parasol dueling academy, where she foils a daring daylight kidnapping and embarks on her most dangerous adventure yet!

 MADDIE HATTER  And The GILDED GAUGE 

May 2017 from Tyche Books

Pre-order here:
Amazon.com: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06XJ9YT31

Amazon.CA: https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B06XJ9YT31

Amazon.UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B06XJ9YT31

Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/ca/en/ebook/maddie-hatter-and-the-gilded-gauge

Nook & iBooks: https://www.books2read.com/u/bxgDJv

* Enter to Win  *

an Advance Copy

by SHARING or TWEETING
any or all

teaser covers 

with #MaddieARC

Maddie's first published adventure, MADDIE HATTER AND THE DEADLY DIAMOND (Tyche Books 2015) was a finalist for the Prix Aurora Award and the Books Publishing in Alberta Award, and won the e-Festival of Words Award.  

For up-to-the-minute news about Maddie and my other writings, find me on Facebook or Twitter 

World Parasol Dueling Championships

The Third Annual World Championships were held Saturday, September 10, 2016 at Lougheed House in Calgary, AB.
 

Photo credit to Lougheed House

A few preliminary dueling photos below, thanks primarily to Peter Justine and Barb Sand. As for how it's done, think of Rock-Paper-Scissors with beautiful gowns, pretty parasols, and plenty of attitude.

 Judges: Baroness Fawkes and Madame Saffron Hemlock

Photo by Peter Justine

Photo by Peter Justine

 Dueling: it's a family affair! Past World Flirtation Champion with her daughter (now World Junior Champion) and sons, one of whom is an official apprentice to the Doctors (referees).

The Apprentice receiving his badge of office. Photo by Peter Justine

Out-Snubbed by a past World-Champion. Photo credit by Barb Sand

Dodging a Snub. Photo credit by Barb Sand

Madame Creller is an intent spectator. Behind her Captain Cynthia prepares mentally for her next bout.Photo credit by Barb Sand

Photo credit by Barb Sand

World's most intent competitor stands ready to slay an opponent

Dueling Daughter and Mother (2015 Flirtation Champion) Photo credit by Barb Sand

Sarafina, the 2015 World and Dueling Champion, faces down a foe. Photo credit by Barb Sand

Snubs cancel each other out. Photo by Peter Justine

Photo credit to Lougheed House

A lovely tea was served to us in the gardens by 
The Victorian Society of Alberta.

L-R: 2015 World Champion Sarafina Kain, Street Dueling pioneer Monica Willard, 2015 Compulsory Figures Champion Cindy Bedford, Regional Bronze Raven Hawthorne, Past World Champion Karen Siemens, 2015 Flirtation Champion Josanna Justine, Regional Junior Briona Justine, Cali Brewer.Photo by Peter Justine

From left: Monica, Creator of Street Dueling; Cali, newly-sashed 2016 Dueling Champion; Raven (seated), newly-sashed Flirtation Champion; Karen, newly-sashed World Champion; Josanna (seated), newly-sashed Compulsory Figures Champion; Cindy, newly-sashed (and first Official) Street Dueling Champion.

A delightful day with cooperative weather, minimal equipment malfunctions, and prize bags contributed to by the following artisans and businesses: Audra Balion Art & Design, Attic Raiders, Zoltangal Emporium, Ricardo dos Reis of Old West Leather, Jayne Barnard, Kevin Jepson, Cindy Bedford.

Our thanks go to Lougheed House for welcoming us to their lovely gardens for this event.

A video montage of the day's most beautiful moments

The Doctors' official report of the proceedings, with many photos from spectators.
 
For more complete coverage see Madame Saffron Hemlock's Parasol Dueling Academy for Steampunk Ladies or search 

#parasolduelYYC
#parasolduelingyyc
#parasolduelling
#discoveryyc
#discovercalgary
#victoriansocietycalgary  

 Find me on Facebook

2016 World Parasol Dueling Championships - next weekend!

In addition to the standard set of competitions - Compulsory Figures, Flirtation Trials, and Dueling Eliminations - there will be a tea table hosted by the Victorian Society of Alberta. Spectator activities before and after the combats include croquet, lawn bowling, and table games.

To see who may be competing and get a better sense of what the Gracious Combat is all about, check out Madame Saffron Hemlock's Parasol Dueling League for Steampunk Ladies

When Words Collide: a run-down of my weekend

What a busy and wonderful weekend! So many friends came to Calgary for When Words Collide (August 12-14, 2016) that it was a constant social whirl. Many thanks go to the ever-inventive Convention Committee, who make presenters' tasks simpler and keep the program moving through three challenging days. They won another Aurora for their efforts, and well deserved it is, too.

My scheduled duties began with another presentation of that popular 50-minute workshop I do with EC Bell on how to give great public readings. As usual, no photos survive, which is probably a good thing as I spend a significant part of that time waving my arms and contorting my face to demonstrate ways to warm up the chest, neck, face, and voice. EC Bell (Eileen) has the more dignified role, imparting information on bookstore etiquette and other essential matters of organization.

My second job was a panel, "Around the World in 80 Murders." Our crime writers' tribute to the Steampunk theme of ‪#‎WWC2016‬, featured Mystery Guest of Honour Ian Hamilton along with Calgary writers Sharon Wildwind, Gary Renfrew, and me. We didn't quite make it to 80 places in the world where we've committed (fictional) crimes, but came close. Thanks to Constantine K for the pinning and Susan Lawson for the photo.
 
Kevin collected my first-time-nominee pin for me at this charming Aurora ceremony in the Atrium (I was in the 80 Murders panel), and re-pinned me later that evening in the Tyche/SASS party surrounded by my friends.  Here he is receiving the pin from the delightful Julie Czerneda (who also MC'd the Prix Aurora Awards the following evening). 

 What an exciting honour for my first SFF book!

Congratulations to all the other first-time nominees, whose names are immortalized on the Prix Aurora site, and thanks to Ron Friedman for the photo of Kevin with Julie.

 After meals with friends, and several parties, and some sleep, I attended the launch social for Enigma Front: Burnt. 

My post-climate apocalypse story, "When the Tide Burns," is in excellent company with the varied SF and fantasy tales by a troop of talented authors from the Imaginative Fiction Writers Association.

Fifty Shades of Murder:

Between Dwayne Clayden, Mahrie Glab, Axel Howerton, and me, we spanned all four quadrants of crime fiction, from the cosiest character-driven tea party to the most blood-and-brains-splattered plot-driven grit. This was another audience-participation panel, with some debate about which quadrant which author's works landed.  (photo credit to AJ Proc)



Saturday evening saw the Steampunks descend on the Delta Calgary South for the Prix Aurora banquet. Almost every table in the hall featured guests in hats, spats, goggles, and other fantastical apparel. Seated next to me is fellow author Laini Giles (photo credit to Constantine K). 

 
A fun demonstration of Parasol Dueling accompanied the dessert. Two duelists and two Doctors (referees) from Madame Saffron Hemlock's Parasol Dueling Academy showed the ropes and elucidated the variants of this gracious Steampunk sport. The World Championships will be held in Calgary on September 10th, 2016.

Speaking of dessert, kudos to the kitchen staff of the hotel for their lovely array of gluten-free desserts. I gleefully indulged and can testify to their wonderful flavours and textures. This is Margaret's (my editor) much more restrained plate, to give you an idea what all was on offer.

And then the Auroras were presented, to much cheering. You all know how award ceremonies go, and the winners have already been announced (but if you missed it go here ) so I won't report in detail on that. Cliff Samuels kept the show moving with his usual exemplary efficiency, and the presenters illuminated many tidbits of SFF history.

After the mass autograph signing that followed the awards, there was more social whirl, more catching up with friends. Eventually, more sleep. 

Which brings us to Sunday.

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 My first afternoon panel was "Gaslight, Clockworks, & Steam" featuring editors Jeff R. Campbell and Charles Prepolec along with authors H. Leighton Dickson, Marty Chan (not shown) and me. Someone in the audience had just asked us a question none of us had anticipated, and the astute photographer (related to Charles) caught our unfiltered reactions. 

Apart from this moment, it was a lively discussion that covered everything from dinosaurs to colonialism, mentioned the movies and television shows all the panelists had watched faithfully during our formative years, and touched on the classic literature of Jules Verne, H.G. Wells, Arthur Conan Doyle and others, that is at the root of modern works of gaslight, clockwork, and steampunk literature.
  
My final panel at When Words Collide was a fascinating discussion on finding your way past (and through) disability to creativity. I learned a lot from the audience and from my fellow panelists: Valerie King (moderator), Aviva Bel'Harold, Catherine Saykaly-Stevens, and Adam Dreece. (photo credit to AJ Proc)

A great many panels, presentations, and workshops went on before, during and after my three days, given by experts in many fields and genres:  music and poetry through mystery, fantasy, and romance; making audiobooks; writing better hooks, and the mechanics of self-publishing. It's truly a one-stop shop for both writers and readers.

That was the end of my wonderful weekend, although many convention members hung on well into the evening. I'm already looking forward to next year. 

 The convention was sold out well in advance, and doubtless will be again in 2017. Don't wait to get your pass. See When Words Collide for prices and purchasing options.