Rod Duncan's Blog - Posts Tagged "gas-lit-empire"
An Excerpt from the Next Novel
If you’ve glanced at any of the reviews of The Custodian of Marvels, you’ll know that the Gas-Lit Empire hasn’t fallen by the end of it. That means there’s more to come. But the story has definitely moved on to a new stage.
The novel I’m working on is the opening of a new trilogy. It will feature Elizabeth Barnabus, whose story so far has been driven by personal concerns. But now she's becoming tangled with the International Patent Office and the...
The complete article can be found at: https://www.facebook.com/gaslitempire...
The novel I’m working on is the opening of a new trilogy. It will feature Elizabeth Barnabus, whose story so far has been driven by personal concerns. But now she's becoming tangled with the International Patent Office and the...
The complete article can be found at: https://www.facebook.com/gaslitempire...
End of the Series?
The Custodian of Marvels has been described as ‘the climactic volume’ of a trilogy. But will it really be the final book set in the Gas-Lit Empire?
Readers of this page will know that I’ve been talking about a ‘book four’ for some time. If I’ve been cagy about the exact nature of the story, it’s because I haven’t wanted to put out any spoilers. Will Elizabeth Barnabus survive book three? Maybe yes, maybe no.
But on Tuesday at the Custodian of Marvels book launch, a fact slipped out that had till now been a secret...
The complete article can be found here:
https://www.facebook.com/gaslitempire...
Readers of this page will know that I’ve been talking about a ‘book four’ for some time. If I’ve been cagy about the exact nature of the story, it’s because I haven’t wanted to put out any spoilers. Will Elizabeth Barnabus survive book three? Maybe yes, maybe no.
But on Tuesday at the Custodian of Marvels book launch, a fact slipped out that had till now been a secret...
The complete article can be found here:
https://www.facebook.com/gaslitempire...
What is Steampunk?
Would you like to know what 'steampunk' means? For years, people have been trying to define this essentially undefinable... um... thing.
But in looking for a book to use as an example of steampunk fiction, Kirkus Reviews has chosen the Custodian of Marvels. I'm delighted that it gets a mention in this hugely influential publication.
There is a question though: are my novels really steampunk? Some reviewers have said...
The complete article can be found here:
https://www.facebook.com/gaslitempire...
But in looking for a book to use as an example of steampunk fiction, Kirkus Reviews has chosen the Custodian of Marvels. I'm delighted that it gets a mention in this hugely influential publication.
There is a question though: are my novels really steampunk? Some reviewers have said...
The complete article can be found here:
https://www.facebook.com/gaslitempire...
Circus Daybills and Victorian QR Codes
Browsing some Gas-Lit Empire related images from the last few years, I came across the following. It represents the kind of thing that happens when I start messing around with Paint.net
The images are:
A mock-up of the daybill seen by Elizabeth Barnabus in Sleaford in the Bullet Catcher's Daughter.
An attempt to make a QR code into something the Victorians...
The complete article can be found here:
https://www.facebook.com/gaslitempire...
The images are:
A mock-up of the daybill seen by Elizabeth Barnabus in Sleaford in the Bullet Catcher's Daughter.
An attempt to make a QR code into something the Victorians...
The complete article can be found here:
https://www.facebook.com/gaslitempire...
The Lost Chapters
I wrote several chapters of The Custodian of Marvels that never made it into the book. Two of them were set in Kent, where Elizabeth, Fabulo, Jeremiah and Lara set out to explore the cellars of a winery. (The winery cellars were laid out according to the same plan as the cellars of the International Patent Court in London.)
Here below is an extract from one of those lost (and unedited) chapters:
Custodian of Marvels, Chapter X
We could not imitate the wealth of the London dandies. Far easier to pretend to be trying to hide our money. Thus it was that Jeremiah came to be riding a private coach South from Dover on the Folkestone Road, dressed in a pale grey suit of modest price, but with fine Italian shoes on his feet – hired for the occasion. The cufflinks, mostly hidden under the sleeves of his jacket, were the touch of which I was most proud. Each appeared to be adorned with a sapphire the size of an acorn, though in truth they were paste.
Anyone searching for clues would see a man failing to perfectly conceal his extraordinary wealth. And they would look. We had made him up to seem 10 years older. Whilst Lara clung to one of his arms and I clung to the other. I had borrowed one of Ellie’s dresses for the purpose and felt myself unreasonably exposed.
The coach came to rest at the front entrance. The driver had clearly been taken in by our display because he was double-quick to open the door and place the steps. He even bowed as Jeremiah emerged and received his tip with ill concealed delight.
We had argued long and hard on that question. To give away money we could ill afford seemed wrong to the others. But I could think of no better way of spreading the news of Jeremiah’s supposed wealth. Within minutes the stable hands would know. Then the stablemaster and other servants too. Such valuable intelligence would quickly reach the owners of the vineyard.
At the doorway to the tasting rooms we were met by a young man of the staff, who gave Lara and I more than a passing glance. And then, once inside and seated, a matron dressed in a considerable quantity of turquoise silk came to enquire of our journey.
“Very pleasant,” Jeremiah said...
The complete article can be found here:
https://www.facebook.com/gaslitempire...
Here below is an extract from one of those lost (and unedited) chapters:
Custodian of Marvels, Chapter X
We could not imitate the wealth of the London dandies. Far easier to pretend to be trying to hide our money. Thus it was that Jeremiah came to be riding a private coach South from Dover on the Folkestone Road, dressed in a pale grey suit of modest price, but with fine Italian shoes on his feet – hired for the occasion. The cufflinks, mostly hidden under the sleeves of his jacket, were the touch of which I was most proud. Each appeared to be adorned with a sapphire the size of an acorn, though in truth they were paste.
Anyone searching for clues would see a man failing to perfectly conceal his extraordinary wealth. And they would look. We had made him up to seem 10 years older. Whilst Lara clung to one of his arms and I clung to the other. I had borrowed one of Ellie’s dresses for the purpose and felt myself unreasonably exposed.
The coach came to rest at the front entrance. The driver had clearly been taken in by our display because he was double-quick to open the door and place the steps. He even bowed as Jeremiah emerged and received his tip with ill concealed delight.
We had argued long and hard on that question. To give away money we could ill afford seemed wrong to the others. But I could think of no better way of spreading the news of Jeremiah’s supposed wealth. Within minutes the stable hands would know. Then the stablemaster and other servants too. Such valuable intelligence would quickly reach the owners of the vineyard.
At the doorway to the tasting rooms we were met by a young man of the staff, who gave Lara and I more than a passing glance. And then, once inside and seated, a matron dressed in a considerable quantity of turquoise silk came to enquire of our journey.
“Very pleasant,” Jeremiah said...
The complete article can be found here:
https://www.facebook.com/gaslitempire...
A virtual tour of the Gas-Lit Empire
Would you like a tour of the Gas-Lit Empire but can't make it over here to Leicester? Having last week walked people around the streets where Elizabeth's adventures unfold, I have just this moment realised that I can offer a wider invitation to explore through the marvel that is Google Street View.
Not every location in the books is precisely mapped onto the real world. But many are. So here are a selection of views, which you can explore by rotating the image...
The full article can be found here:
https://www.facebook.com/gaslitempire...
Not every location in the books is precisely mapped onto the real world. But many are. So here are a selection of views, which you can explore by rotating the image...
The full article can be found here:
https://www.facebook.com/gaslitempire...
Working Out the End
This morning I finally worked out the entire ending sequence of the novel. I already knew where the story had to get to. But in my various plans of the final act, I had statements like: 'Elizabeth figures out a clever way to....' followed by the THING which I can't tell you because it would be a massive spoiler.
This morning, sitting in the car outside a well known supermarket...
The full article can be found here: https://www.facebook.com/gaslitempire...
This morning, sitting in the car outside a well known supermarket...
The full article can be found here: https://www.facebook.com/gaslitempire...
On Reading and Writing Fictional Characters
Many reviews of the Gas-Lit Empire mention Elizabeth Barnabus. Opinions of her are overwhelmingly positive. But in those few negative assessments, it often turns out that the reviewer just couldn’t relate to her. Somehow her emotions didn’t feel genuine to them.
Regular readers of this page will know that I’m always grateful to reviewers. They’ve taken the time to read the book and express their opinions. Even negative comments are valuable. The mixed views on Elizabeth’s believability as a character remind me that each reader takes their own unique mix of meaning and experience from a text. There are as many versions of Elizabeth Barnabus as there are readers of the novels.
She is diffident when it comes to sharing her intimate feelings. Some things she wants to keep to herself. There are also times - particularly in her interactions with a certain Patent Office Agent - where we might understand more of her feelings than she does.
It is a style of narrative which invites the reader to do some detective work, to try to figure out her feelings from the things she chooses to tell us. I know it’s not a style that suits everyone. But that’s OK. My aim has always been
The full article can be found here: https://www.facebook.com/gaslitempire...
Regular readers of this page will know that I’m always grateful to reviewers. They’ve taken the time to read the book and express their opinions. Even negative comments are valuable. The mixed views on Elizabeth’s believability as a character remind me that each reader takes their own unique mix of meaning and experience from a text. There are as many versions of Elizabeth Barnabus as there are readers of the novels.
She is diffident when it comes to sharing her intimate feelings. Some things she wants to keep to herself. There are also times - particularly in her interactions with a certain Patent Office Agent - where we might understand more of her feelings than she does.
It is a style of narrative which invites the reader to do some detective work, to try to figure out her feelings from the things she chooses to tell us. I know it’s not a style that suits everyone. But that’s OK. My aim has always been
The full article can be found here: https://www.facebook.com/gaslitempire...
Editing Vs Writing
Happy New Year - for those of you who follow the Gregorian calendar.
My writing goal for last year was to finish the first draft of the next novel, which I achieved with a few days to spare. I have allocated January and February for editing.
The editing will begin with a broad-scale rewriting. Chapters will be deleted. Now ones will be written. Then I'll start on the finer work, reading out sentences to see how they sound, tweaking the wording. On the final couple of read-throughs I'll change the odd semicolon into a comma.
Looking further ahead, in March 2017 I'll move on to the fifth book set in the Gas-Lit Empire. But here, I anticipate a problem.
The truth is, I enjoy the process of editing. It satisfies my inner perfectionist. By the time March comes around, I'm going to be so far into that process that it will be very hard to start something new. By then I will be in love with book 4 and nothing I write in book 5 will seem good enough. The transition from one novel to the next has always been difficult for me.
But today - January 1st seeming like a portentous date - I opened up my computer and instead of getting on with the editing process, I created a new document, typed a title, and then: "Chapter 1".
I will need to get back to editing book 4 tomorrow, or perhaps the day after. But for now, it feels good to have launched into a brand new story. And when March does arrive, I will already have a few words on the page to kick start the next adventure.
Thank you for your friendship and support during the last year. I can't tell you how precious it has been to me, and how helpful. It gives me the confidence to carry on. Whatever you do in 2017, I hope it brings you joy and fulfillment.
PS As I mentioned in an earlier post, I hope to be making an IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT on the 5th January, which may include the names and dates.
https://www.facebook.com/gaslitempire...
My writing goal for last year was to finish the first draft of the next novel, which I achieved with a few days to spare. I have allocated January and February for editing.
The editing will begin with a broad-scale rewriting. Chapters will be deleted. Now ones will be written. Then I'll start on the finer work, reading out sentences to see how they sound, tweaking the wording. On the final couple of read-throughs I'll change the odd semicolon into a comma.
Looking further ahead, in March 2017 I'll move on to the fifth book set in the Gas-Lit Empire. But here, I anticipate a problem.
The truth is, I enjoy the process of editing. It satisfies my inner perfectionist. By the time March comes around, I'm going to be so far into that process that it will be very hard to start something new. By then I will be in love with book 4 and nothing I write in book 5 will seem good enough. The transition from one novel to the next has always been difficult for me.
But today - January 1st seeming like a portentous date - I opened up my computer and instead of getting on with the editing process, I created a new document, typed a title, and then: "Chapter 1".
I will need to get back to editing book 4 tomorrow, or perhaps the day after. But for now, it feels good to have launched into a brand new story. And when March does arrive, I will already have a few words on the page to kick start the next adventure.
Thank you for your friendship and support during the last year. I can't tell you how precious it has been to me, and how helpful. It gives me the confidence to carry on. Whatever you do in 2017, I hope it brings you joy and fulfillment.
PS As I mentioned in an earlier post, I hope to be making an IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT on the 5th January, which may include the names and dates.
https://www.facebook.com/gaslitempire...
And the next novel will be...
Something happened last year, which I’ve had to keep quiet about. But today the embargo is lifted and I can make a happy announcement.
I started writing the Bullet Catcher’s Daughter back in 2012. When it was done, my agent sent it out to lots of publishers - who one by one turned it down. That process went on for almost a year and I began to think that it wasn’t going to get published. Then it went to Angry Robot, a company I knew little about. From their first response, I knew they understood what I was trying to do in the story. They welcomed its oddness and its peculiar mix of genres.
In retrospect, I’ve come to understand how Angry Robot was the perfect home for Gas-Lit Empire novels. The story fits with the kind of strangeness that has become their hallmark. I love the ethos of the company, their clear thinking and the support they give to their authors.
In that initial pitch, I told them that The Bullet Catcher’s Daughter was the first in a series of three trilogies. Nine books in total, which would see the Gas-Lit Empire crumble. I was hoping for a...
The full article can be found here: https://www.facebook.com/gaslitempire...
I started writing the Bullet Catcher’s Daughter back in 2012. When it was done, my agent sent it out to lots of publishers - who one by one turned it down. That process went on for almost a year and I began to think that it wasn’t going to get published. Then it went to Angry Robot, a company I knew little about. From their first response, I knew they understood what I was trying to do in the story. They welcomed its oddness and its peculiar mix of genres.
In retrospect, I’ve come to understand how Angry Robot was the perfect home for Gas-Lit Empire novels. The story fits with the kind of strangeness that has become their hallmark. I love the ethos of the company, their clear thinking and the support they give to their authors.
In that initial pitch, I told them that The Bullet Catcher’s Daughter was the first in a series of three trilogies. Nine books in total, which would see the Gas-Lit Empire crumble. I was hoping for a...
The full article can be found here: https://www.facebook.com/gaslitempire...
