Join Me In Wonderland? And... 💖⚙️📚
Happy birthday to Shakespeare and steampunk! 🎉
Hello and happy Book and a Rose Day! I’ve only recently learned about this tradition from Catalan celebrated on April 23rd, in which loved ones exchange books and roses. The holiday came up when I was double checking the dates for several other anniversaries and birthdays that happen today. I think this is a delightful idea, and it’s neat to see it becoming more internationally recognized.
Also on this day:
It’s Shakespeare’s birthday! While it might not be the exact day, scholars say that since he was baptized on April 26th, 1564, it’s a reasonable guess and this is the date that has stuck. April 23rd, 1616, was Shakespeare’s death date, which makes me wonder: coincidence, or poetic license?
In 1987, science fiction author K.W. Jeter used the word “steampunk” as a play on “cyberpunk” in a letter to Locus Magazine. This was the first time the word was recorded as way to refer to Victorian fantasies with steam-based technology. Of course, steampunk is actually much older than its name. Jeter had been writing steampunk books years before he sent the letter, and long before that Jules Verne and H.G. Wells published works that would influence steampunk for years to come. I would also make the argument that Margaret Cavendish’s The Blazing World should count as an influence. She was writing about airships in her 1616 book!
It’s my authorversary! On this day six years ago, I decided to go public with my writing goals. It would take another month or so for me to find the courage to hit publish on my early work. As I look over my current list of projects (both announced and secret), I can’t believe how much has changed since then. I’ve been blessed with so many amazing opportunities and met some truly wonderful people along the way. I can’t wait to see what’s next!
If you’re looking for books to celebrate steampunk’s name day (or Book and a Rose Day), here are a few suggestions to get started:
The Clockwork Boys by T. Kingfisher
The Parasol Protectorate series by Gail Carriger
Buffalo Solider by Maurice Broaddus
Andújar: The Robot Gentleman of San Juan by Carolina Cardona
Clockwork Lives by Kevin J. Anderson and Neil Peart
The Adventures of Viola Stewart series by Karen J. Carlisle
Forsaken Beauty and the Etherbeast by Kelsey Josephson
Monsters and Machines by Kelsey Josephson
It is also still National Library Week, and on Saturday, it’s National Independent Bookstore Day! In Central Iowa, several bookstores have banded together for a fun map and passport system again. I’m planning on stopping by at least one bookstore this weekend! If you’re looking for my books in print locally, Shelf Love DSM, Dog-Eared Books, and Beaverdale Books have all stocked Forsaken Beauty and the Etherbeast.
One final thing before I get into my convention news: the results about last week’s poll are in! Based on the votes, messages, and emails, Monstrous Women will be the first of my panels I upload to YouTube! It is also my LONGEST panel (if you went to DemiCon last year, you’ll remember that I had to cut things short because the discussion was so good!)
This means I’ll likely have to do my recording after DemiCon next week, but I’m hoping to also have recordings ready to go of my newer panels ready to go shortly after the event. (It entirely depends on the learning curve and how prep for DemiCon goes.)
Updated DemiCon Schedule & Food Truck News! 🎉
DemiCon announced this week that a a local food truck, Off The Griddle, will be available on Friday from 4 pm - 7 pm and again on Sunday from 11 am - 2 pm! Unfortunately, it won’t be there on Saturday, but there’s a few options around the hotel for food. (If you’d like to plan ahead, you can check out the menu here.)
The full schedule for DemiCon can be found here. I’ll have a table in the Dealer’s Room on Friday from 2 pm - 6 pm, Saturday 10 am - 6 pm, and Sunday 10 am - 2 pm.
When I’m not at my table, I’ll be in several panels and definitely attending the BrassGears room party on Saturday night at 9 pm! On Sunday, I’ll also be in the Brass Gears Adventures Radio show at noon (and in rehearsal beforehand.) I can’t wait to be in the radio show again! This time I get to play a beleaguered inventor with a hilariously named automaton. It’s going to be fun!
Here are my panels:
Ghost Riders and Gothic Shadows
Fri at 5:00 PM
Come explore how the mythic American West has shaped Gothic storytelling across literature and media. From the lone wanderer archetype to desolate frontier landscapes, we’ll trace how Western tropes ride straight into tales of monsters, curses, and creeping dread. Discover how figures like the cowboy in Dracula reveal surprising intersections between frontier mythos and Gothic tradition. Together, we’ll unpack how these blended genres illuminate cultural fears, moral tensions, and new creative possibilities for dark fantasy and speculative fiction.Weird West and Steampunk
Co-panelist Rachel Aukes
Sat at 10:00 AM
Learn about the influence of Westerns on steampunk literature and media! We’ll look at everything from tropes to costumes to gadgets. Discover how blending frontier mythos with retro‑futuristic tech creates some of the most imaginative worlds in speculative fiction. Together, we’ll examine how these genres intersect to reveal deeper cultural influences, narrative patterns, and create opportunities for storytelling across diverse backgrounds.Frontier Witches and Vengeful Spirits: Monstrous Women and the Western Imagination
Sat at 8:00 PM
Explore how Western folklore and frontier storytelling shaped some of the most enduring “monstrous women” in speculative fiction. From ghostly brides and desert sirens to outlaw witches and shapeshifting heroines, we’ll trace how these figures ride the line between fear and empowerment. Discover how Western tropes—isolated landscapes, lawless borders, and mythic justice—intersect with Gothic and fantasy traditions to redefine feminine monstrosity. Together, we’ll unpack how these archetypes reveal cultural anxieties, challenge expectations, and inspire bold new approaches to character and worldbuilding.Brass Gears Adventures Radio
Sun at 12 pmJoin the BrassGears Adventure Radio as they perform an original radio play by Susan Leabhart and Bradford Fleener. This year’s offering is Death on the Falcon: A Locked Airship Mystery.
DemiCon: Outpost 37
Des Moines’ 37th Annual Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Gaming Convention
Holiday Inn & Suites Des Moines–Northwest, Iowa
May 1–3, 2026
Off to Wonderland!
The Chicago Steampunk Expo is in just under eight weeks! Gail Carriger and Leanna Renee Hieber are both returning. I’ll be tabling and paneling again (more on the latter another time.) You can find the early schedule of panels, workshops, and contests here.
This year’s theme is all about Alice and the 1893 Exposition. I can’t wait to see all the fun cosplay and outfits, especially at the masquerade ball! This convention is one of the highlights of my year. Here are just a few of the events having at the Expo:
Steam & Sorcery (LARP) – “Adventures in Wonderland”
Panels and Workshops
For volunteer information and how to earn free passes while getting involved with the Expo, check out this page.
Chicago Steampunk Expo
The 1893 Exposition’s Adventures in Wonderland
Hyatt Regency Schaumburg
1800 E Golf Rd, Schaumburg, IL 60173
June 12th to 14th, 2026
2026 Convention Schedule
Here is the full list of my upcoming conventions (so far.) If you have the opportunity and it is feasible (and safe) for you to travel, I’d love to see you at any and all of these events! Tickets are available for all of these conventions:
DemiCon 37 May 1st-3rd
The Nebula Awards Conference June 3rd-7th (this one is for writers of all types of speculative fiction)
Chicago Steampunk Expo The 1893 Exposition’s Adventures in Wonderland June 12th-14th
Fables and Flames: Romantasy Gala November 6th-8th
TeslaCon 16: Oz November 12th-15th
Happy reading!
