On Finding Small Moments of Joy 💖⚙️📚
Open for new book details, cat pics, and event news! 🎁
Hello,
I hope you’re taking moments to find joy and take care of yourself. I’ve been splitting my time between revisions, calling my reps, and recovering from a couple bouts of health issues last month. Now that I’m on the mend, I’ve been making a conscious effort to make time for self-care. For me, that looks like a mix of reading, playing videogames, resting, coloring, and getting back to using my walking pad. (I usually read on a mounted Kindle when I’m walking to distract me from thinking about how I’m not actually going anywhere. I love hikes and going on walks outside, but staying in place can be harder on me.)
I’m also making sure I don’t isolate. While having some time to myself is important, spending time with my loved ones, like going to see the Dog Man movie with my family, was so much fun! (My boys are HUGE Dav Pilkey fans. They loved it!)
When meeting in person isn’t always feasible, I’m thankful for online events, too. I had a wonderful time learning how to make scones and catching up with the BrassGears Adventurers Society! Even though everything I said in last week’s newsletter is still true about me being more of a cook than a baker, my scones turned out well.
I’ve been thinking a lot about how each of my characters have little moments that bring them joy during their hardships, too. Rosie had her logbook that was *definitely not* a diary to sketch out her designs when she was stuck on tedious shifts. Belle had her contraband stash of books that she kept hidden from the Ringmaster.
Sabeline, my newest heroine, uses music, engineering, and alchemy to find a measure of peace in her reality, but unlike my other heroines, her time is truly limited. Due to the nature of her curse, she only has two one-hour windows a day in which she’s awake. From the moment she rises from her coffin until she has to return, the clock is ticking.
A large part of her story revolves around learning how to live again, both literally and figuratively. She has help on her journey from her loyal automaton, Mercy, and her new tutor, Oliver. (My feral heroine also helps Oliver find his courage along the way.) You can read more about Sabeline’s tale in The Clockwork Coffin, out July 1st, 2025.
I’ll be doing a sneak preview of the first chapter of The Clockwork Coffin at the Chicago Steampunk Expo, along speaking on panels Inventions of the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair and What if? Exploring Alternate History in Media. I can’t wait to return to the Expo!
This year, the Chicago Steampunk Expo is from May 30th to June 1st, 2025. If you’re attending or looking for a way to get involved, here are a few opportunities:
Afternoon Tea Parties tickets are live, including limited spots with special guest Scott Westerfeld
Volunteer and help out at the convention in exchange for badges
New this year: application for buskers
Speaking of things I’m looking forward to, I’m also excited for Temporal Textual Talks (steampunk book club) this month! We’re reading "Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky" by Kwame Mbalia. Book club meets virtually on February 16th at 6:30 pm Central time. You don’t have to finish the book to participate (but do expect spoilers.) For more info, check out the event page here.
Happy reading!
Kelsey
