The Brass Queen – An Interview

2020 was a year fraught with challenge, both globally and individually. Pandemic brought isolation while protest morphed into riot. Voices silenced and voices clamoring to be heard. In the midst of a year of unrest, a book by an unknown author was brought to my attention. The cover looked great (Thank you, James Artimus Owen) and the recommendation came from a trusted source (David Farland, Founder – apex-writers.com). I picked up an advance copy of “The Brass Queen” by Elizabeth Chatsworth, opened the first page, and in what seemed to be an entrance and exit into uncharted time, I turned the last page and immediately contacted the author! Would there be more?

 Our ensuing conversations turned into a delightful interview which I herein present …

 On Becoming a Writer – 

1. Elizabeth, can you pinpoint when in your life you decided to become a writer?

As my fiftieth birthday loomed, I took stock of my life. I’d always been an avid reader, but somehow, I’d never made the time to create my own stories. So, I decided to sign up for an online creative writing class. The instructor, best-selling author David Farland, encouraged my fledgling efforts, and my first assignment turned into chapter one of The Brass Queen. Five years later, the book I started in class is now being published. The moral of the story is that it’s never too late to start anything!

2. Who were some of your most inspiring authors?

As a child, I loved Diana Wynne Jones and J. R. R. Tolkien. Later, I was drawn to humorous speculative fiction writers including Terry Pratchett, Neil Gaiman, and Douglas Adams.

3. What was your first published piece?

My first published work was in When To Now: A Time Travel Anthology. The editor knew that I was working on a steampunk novel and asked if I could write a story for the collection. The result was my time-travel novelette, Ten Minutes Past Teatime. The story was later published as a standalone book. I currently offer the book as a free download to folks who sign up for my newsletter at https://elizabethchatsworth.com/

4. Awards or nominations for awards received?

In 2020, I was delighted to win the Writers Of The Future contest with my short story “The Widow’s Might.” This tale is set in the same universe as The Brass Queen, which was an RWA® 2018 Golden Heart® Finalist in the Mainstream Fiction category. (RWA-Romance Writers of America)

In 2018, The Brass Queen won the RWA On The Far Side Contest (Light Paranormal category), the Molly Contest, (Paranormal category), the Put Your Heart In A Book Contest (Paranormal, Science Fiction, & Fantasy category), the Best Banter Contest (Paranormal category), and the Catherine Contest (Wild Card category).

“The Brass Queen”

1. What inspiration led you to write “The Brass Queen”?

A minor character in H. G. Wells’ The Invisible Man inspired my plot. In Wells’s 1897 novel, a mysterious American tourist in an English pub whips out a revolver and shoots the invisible man in the knee. Upon reading this, I wondered – who is this curious interloper with the less-than-deadly aim? Thus began the adventures of J. F. Trusdale, an inept spy in a world where nothing is as it seems, starting with Trusdale himself. Such a man requires an exceptionally talented partner – enter Miss Constance Haltwhistle – weapons designer and amateur scientist.

2. What did you base your character, Constance Haltwhistle, on? Is she a version of you?

If she were to take a personality test, Constance would be an INTJ, like me! She’s a bookworm, a martial artist, and an inventor, yet she’s comically naive about how the world works. She can be bold, brave, and occasionally brilliant, but often misses the important issues right in front of her nose. And her people skills – well – they could use some work! I’d say Constance is an extreme version of myself as a teenager – an outsider who just can’t figure out how to fit in with everyone else. What I learned in the end is that you don’t have to fit in. Carve your own path through life!

3. What do you feel is the most important message of “The Brass Queen”?

My message is that one person, however flawed, can change the world for the better. My heroine starts the novel hosting her own coming-out ball. By the end, she’s commanding an airship and standing up for women’s rights. She learns to speak for those who are voiceless, which is something I hope we can all do in our daily lives.

4. Is a sequel planned? Perhaps a continuation of Constance and J.F. (Liberty) Trusdale’s story?

The Brass Queen is the first book in the series. I anticipate that the second book will be published in late 2021. In the second volume, our heroes face an interdimensional alien invasion. I also plan to expand the universe (or as I like to call it, ‘The Brassiverse,’) with additional tales.

Your Writing Process: 

1. When writing, do you write daily? Do you set time or word count limits on yourself?

I’m afraid I don’t write daily, mostly because my family insists that the weekends should be work-free zones. But, I do try to write Monday through Friday for at least an hour a day. I’m not a fast writer, but I can produce at least ten decent pages each week through this method.

2. What are you working on now?

I’m currently working on the sequel to The Brass Queen, and I’ve written a series synopsis for the next three books, should there be a demand for more Constance!

3. How much time do you spend researching your topic? How do you organize all the tidbits of information? 

I use Scrivener to organize my research into Victorian society. I use historical events and details throughout the novel, enlivened with a healthy dose of steampunk fantasy.

4. The book is so fast paced and the juxtaposition of words, items, ideas, are brilliant. Was it hard to balance fact within Steampunk?

I try to present steampunk technology and concepts as a natural part of the world. For instance, the snail-train monorail that runs over the roofs of my alternate Sheffield could well have existed in our world, as monorails were a popular idea in the nineteenth century. The British army’s enthusiasm for mechanical eco-suits could well have blossomed in our world if the Victorians had access to my alternate dimension’s supra-metals. The trick is to keep things within the realm of possibility, whilst still creating a sense of whimsical wonder.

5. Do you keep a common book or a writer’s journal?

I don’t, but it sounds like a good idea!

6. Regarding your process, do you outline, write chapters that intrigue, write the ending first? Margaret Mitchell did that with “Gone with the Wind.”  Jack Gantos, however, writes his favorite chapters, spreads them out, sequences them, and then does his transitions until his work is complete. Are you a pantser (discovery writer) or a plotter?

I’m definitely a plotter. I start both short stories and novels with an outline that details both the plot twists and the emotional arc of the characters. The two elements mirror and support one another, and the outline helps me to see that relationship from start to finish before I wade into writing individual paragraphs.

In a way, I use the outline to mentally drive through my story. It allows me to feel the potholes in the road, to savor the slow climb toward an emotional moment, and the downhill rush of an action scene. When the story highlights play like a movie in my mind, I know I’m ready to write.

7. Do you see the “holes” in your work as you write or do you prefer to work with other writers/readers to get feedback on what is and isn’t working in each story?

I write until I feel the draft is perfect. Then I share it with others so that they can point out that it clearly isn’t. I evaluate all feedback as if I was a third party, without attachment to my original work. Finally, I make the changes that make the most sense, and go through the entire process again!

8. How do you tackle revision?

You have an obligation to your reader to give them your best work. Revision is how you make that happen. When I have revisions to do, I schedule at least an hour per weekday until I’ve gone through the entire manuscript. Edits inevitably change the story, and you have to check for consistency throughout your draft once you begin to revise.

Suggestions and Recommendations: 

1. Elizabeth, can you give us any writing tips for those just entering the field?

My advice to those entering the field is to enjoy the creative journey itself. Ninety percent of publishing success boils down to persistence and sheer good luck. If you enjoy the process of creating your world, characters, and stories, you will be far happier than if you focus on publication alone. Plus, if you’re enjoying creating your work, the chances are that others will enjoy reading it!

2. Regarding publication, it’s especially important to new writers to understand the process of garnering an agent and publisher. In your experience, what did you look for in an agent… an editor… and/or a publisher?

Do your homework before pursuing a particular agent or publisher. For an agent, an active, current sales record is vital. For a publisher, which distributer they work with determines whether your book will make it into bookstores.

3. Writing Recommendations?

David Farland’s writing courses gave me the tools to build my writing career. I wrote the first chapter of The Brass Queen as a worldbuilding exercise in the Story Puzzle class. Dave’s kind words of encouragement inspired me to expand that exercise into an entire novel. As I worked through Dave’s courses, I learned how to create unforgettable characters, thrilling plotlines, and emotionally resonant themes. I also gained an insider’s perspective of the publishing industry that helped me to become a traditionally published author. Dave shared the tools to build my rocket ship and pointed me toward the stars. I couldn’t have wished for a better launch!

On a Personal Note:

1. What’s one thing our readers would be surprised to learn about you?

I’m deathly afraid of heights. I fainted atop the Eiffel Tower because I thought I had a handle on my fear. Reader, I did not!

2. What is your favorite food?

It’s the most whimsical of cakes, Battenburg. For folks who haven’t had the opportunity to try it, Battenburg is a marzipan covered sponge cake held together with jam. When cut, the cake displays a distinctive check pattern of pink and yellow squares. The cake would fit in perfectly at Alice’s Wonderland tea party!

3. Do you like to cook?

I do. I particularly like to bake, and scones are my specialty!

Elizabeth also has an adorable Yorkie named Boo (Pictured Above). As we concluded our interview, I asked Elizabeth to share a quote or personal statement. Not surprisingly she said …

“It’s never too late to take up a new passion. Start today and see where the journey takes you!”

Further Information on The Brass Queen:

Bibliography:

https://elizabethchatsworth.com/

Elizabeth Chatsworth writes of rogues, rebels, and renegades across time and space. From Victorian sensibilities to interstellar travel, her fiction takes you on an adventure like no other!

https://www.amazon.com/Elizabeth-Chatsworth/e/B07HD6P8QH?ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1&qid=1598923994&sr=8-1

The Brass Queen” (From Amazon)

“She knows a liar when she sees one.
He knows a fraud when he meets one.

In a steam-powered world, Miss Constance Haltwhistle is the last in a line of blue-blooded rogues. Selling firearms under her alias, the “Brass Queen,” she has kept her baronial estate’s coffers full. But when US spy J. F. Trusdale saves her from assassins, she’s pulled into a search for a scientist with an invisibility serum. As royal foes create an invisible army to start a global war, Constance and Trusdale must learn to trust each other. If they don’t, the world as they know it will disappear before their eyes.

If you like the Parasol Protectorate or the Invisible Library series, you’ll love this gaslamp fantasy—a rambunctious romantic romp that will have you both laughing out loud and wishing you owned all of Miss Haltwhistle’s armaments.

“Simply a joy to read!” —James A. Owen, bestselling author of Here, There Be Dragons

“At times wondrous, at times romantic, and very often gut-bustingly funny.” —David Farland, New York Times bestselling author of The Runelords series”