If your idea of “high tech fun” involves gears, goggles, and corsets, you’re probably a steampunk fan. This popular genre of fiction and film imagines an alternate Industrial Age, in which steam power and Newtonian physics reign supreme. Imagine if Victorian science fiction were real, and you’ll get an idea of what steampunk’s all about. My fellow Cogwheel Press author Bruce Hesselbach and I will jointly present an introduction to the kinds of Victorian-era technology that really existed, and inspire steampunk authors today. Our illustrated lecture will take place at Forbes Library, 20 West St., Northampton, MA at 7:00 p.m. I'll be talking about examples of Victorian domestic technology I've encountered in my work as a museum consultant, and Mr. Hesselbach will introduce “strange but real” inventions reimagined in steampunk literature. Both of us will be available to sign copies of our books. Hope to see you there! | Bruce Hesselbach is an attorney living in Newfane, VT, and the author of Perpetual Motion, a steampunk alternative history novel. His web site is www.hesselbachwriter.com. |
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It's the end of August. Almost the end of summer. The garden's dying and needs to be cleaned out. The house needs tidying, the pool has to be drained and put away. The apples are almost ripe and ready to be transformed to sauce. Lots to do that's bittersweet. Yesterday marked the 19th anniversary of my father-in-law's death. Today is my 22nd wedding anniversary. Bittersweet, again. And I had these thoughts: I'm not rich - indeed, I often wonder where the money's coming from to pay the bills. But I have a safe, comfortable place to live and sleep, and I never go hungry. I'm not famous, but I have a published novel. I'm not a trendsetter, but I have friends. I'm not a supermodel, but I have beautiful children. I struggle every day with impatience, imbalance, ineptitude, and inequality, but I have the love of God in Jesus Christ. In fact, I'm blessed beyond measure. And I'm truly grateful. Being happy is an exercise in both choice, and seeing what's actually real and right before our eyes. Don't waste time wishing for what's out of reach, and in the end, just vanity. Peace, everybody. Yours truly had the delightful opportunity to be part of an on-air book discussion with Denise Stankovics, editor of Today's American Catholic and Maria Johnson, host of ReasonablyCatholic.com. We talked about Hildegard of Bingen, how the Bible came to be, the priesthood, and of course Discovering Ren. It was great fun! The show was broadcast on WESU, 88.1, but you can listen here |
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