Is This What You’re Looking For?  [Part 19]

(Books by Authors Who Never Existed:  A Steampunk Hybrid story)

By the author of BARD: Owner of the Gemstone

Mr. Clockwind, is hunched over a device consisting of an assorted size of gears. He’s so focused on the tiny bolt he’s unscrewing, that he almost doesn’t hear, the uneven steps coming up the stairs.  He sets down the device, and takes off his magnifying visors.  Reaching behind, to his work desk, he grabs a spring coil tied with wire, and a pair of pliers.  He shoves them into his pants pockets.

As the footsteps reach the doorway of his workroom, he picks up the device once again. 

“My understanding is, that my automaton, will be brought to you, on the morrow,” a wispy voice says behind him.  “I also learned, that part of him might already be here.”

Inspectors Harper and Campbell did bring him the device he’s currently holding.  A safety precaution, they had told him, since the automaton’s hourglass had been flipped.  He turns to the stranger and asks, “Is this what you’re looking for?”

                                                                           ***       

Bob Godglick (Mr. Clockwind) does repair vintage clocks.

He and his wife Dianne, and Lexi, the furry one of the family, are also fantastic neighbours and friends.

If you want to learn more about, Considerate Done:  Vintage Clock Repairs, below is an interview we did a few years ago:

Video and Audio Interview with Bob Godglick of Considerate Done: Vintage Clock Repairs

Bob can be reached at:

Bgdm201@gmail.com

519-897-0419

Honourable Mentions (people I enjoy listening to and/or want to work with):

Galya Sky is a Lithuanian musician, who plays what is becoming my favourite instrument, the cello.  She also has a voice that will draw you into ethereal planes.

https://www.instagram.com/galya.sky.official/

I’ve Got My Monocle, On You!  [Part 18]

(Books by Authors Who Never Existed:  A Steampunk Hybrid story)

By the author of BARD: Owner of the Gemstone

Mr. TLC observes the humans talking in the kitchen.  He knows, when speaking cat to his human mom, he needs to repeat instructions over and over again.  Unfortunately, as with most humans, she doesn’t have the cognitive ability to understand the superior language, right away.  Worse, if she doesn’t have her hearing horn in, he has to gently swat her, to get her attention.

He hears Chief Shabuni talking on his steam cell to Mr. Clockwinder.  Tobey can’t wait for the clockmaker to arrive, so they can discuss the man with the brass face.  He listens more intently, as the Chief’s voice becomes frustrated.  The Chief just said that, since the clockmaker can’t get here today, they’ll transport the automaton to his shop tomorrow.

Tobey turns his attention to the hourglass on the brass faced man’s top hat.  As the grains trickle down, the needle of the pressure gauge hanging around his neck, show an increase in pressure.

                                                                           ***       

Although my artwork is rushed and conceptual, Jo Wermter creates amazing Steampunk Art. To see it go to:  gizmoroxon or Jo Wermter http://www.jowermter.com

High Heels Were Invented For Cats

High Heels Were Invented For Cats

You’re sitting at the desk

Trying to write a paper

When a lean, furry form

Jumps on your lap

Expecting to be stroked along the back

Quite ready to take a nap

To level out the thighs

You have to raise up your heels

And stay that way

While a certain kitten stretches out

And purrs

High heels were invented for cats

To keep the thighs level

While they groom themselves

While lounging

On your lap

The Hourglass [Part 17]

The Hourglass  [Part 17]

(Books by Authors Who Never Existed:  A Steampunk Hybrid story)

By the author of BARD: Owner of the Gemstone

Lady Evelyn Oolong

He glances down at Lady Oolong as they walk towards Mrs. Claws and Mr. TLC’s house.  “Really, he’s your father?”

Lady Oolong stares up at him and smirks.  “Chief Shabuni, you are so inquisitive.  I’ve heard about a person like you.  It’s whispered, that in one of the books by authors who never existed, a certain, very real, detective exists.  Do your eyes always move side-to-side like that?”

He halts.  “It’s called nystagmus.”

“Must mean you are magical.  You might want to wear special glasses.” Lady Oolong rubs her thumb along the drake handle of her cane.

“Your father wore special glasses.  Did he have any eye disorders?”  Two could play the game of distraction.

“I don’t know who my real father is,” she says, walking towards the front door.  “But Mr. Intrepid was as close as I got.”

He waited for her to say more but gave up as Mrs. Claws let them into her house.

“I brought tea, dear,” Lady Oolong says to Mrs. Claws. 

“Oh, that’s thoughtful,” Mrs. claws says, rubbing her hands together.  “Chamomile?”

“Much better,” Lady Oolong replies with a toothy smile.  “A mixture of chamomile, licorice root, tulsi and more.”

“That would be wonderful.  I’ll boil some water.”

As Mrs. Claws departs for the kitchen, he sees Mr. TLC bound down the stairs and leap onto the Salinas desk.

“This must be Mr. TLC,” Lady Oolong says.

“Protector of the house,” he replies with fondness.

“Well, you two talk, while I go into the kitchen to help Mrs. Claws.”

He steps closer to the now sitting Mr. TLC, and whispers, “Keep an on that one.”

Mr. TLC leaps off the desk.

He ducks under the lintel of the doorway to the kitchen. 

Inspectors Harper and Campbell are sitting at the kitchen table, eating sandwiches, Mrs. Claws must have made them.  Once she catches sight of him, Inspector Campbell wipes her mouth with her sleeve.  “Mr. Clockwind got caught in an emergency but should be here soon.”

“Well, that smells ready,” he hears Lady Oolong say from behind him.

“It does, and what a wonderful aroma,” Mrs. Claws replies.

“I must be going then,” Lady Oolong says.

He turns around, and sees the two ladies standing side by side in front of an ornate Chinese teapot. 

Lady Oolong smiles up at him with hooded eyes.  “I’ll let myself out.”

After many repeated goodbyes and thankyous for the tea, he sees Lady Oolong saunter up the walkway.

He turns to Mr. TLC.

“She—flipped—the—hourglass—on—the—brass—man,” Mr. TLC tells him.

***

Taylor Norris, RMT (Lady Evelyn Oolong): taynorris@gmail.com

My Jolly Sailor Bold—Mermaid performed by @_melegie

Perched Drake Cane by FireandSteel.ca

I just saw a fantastic steampunk post by @Hannah_redfoxcloset with art by @creadoresasueldo

One of the goals for these writing experiments is to include makers, and models of Steampunk.  Ben Lanzenstein of Switzerland creates Steampunk vehicles, weapons, and more.  I will be posting a short interview with Ben in very near future.  Meanwhile, you can see his work at:  ben_lanzenstein

Unwoman.com

Joanne Gosling (as Lady Marina Steamsail):  Jgosling@calclosets.com

Fireandsteel.ca Dragonrider Folding Knife

GRACEART Unisex Steampunk Top Hat with Goggles

Alivila.Y Fashion: Women’s Faux Leather Steampunk Corset Victorian Bustier Top

Book Review of: Songs Of Bittersweet Memories

Book Review of Nandita Khandelwal’s poetry and picture book:

Songs Of Bittersweet Memories

Poetry is universally known as the language of the Soul.  There are many styles: prose, haiku, limerick, ballad, and more.  Each, creating a moment, an observation, a realization, or a connection with others who have wondered or experienced the same.  In Songs Of Bittersweet Memories, Nandita reflects, encourages, and puts words to what many of us have seen or felt. 

In her book Climate Change—Health Connection, Nandita writes as a master geologist.  In Songs Of Bittersweet Memories, she is a dancer, writing swirling verses, that make up a dance of stanzas.      

Available on Amazon

Contact details 

Instagram and YouTube  – @Nandita Khandelwal

Did You Know, Mr. Intrepid?  [Part 16]

(Books by Authors Who Never Existed:  A Steampunk Hybrid story)

By the author of BARD: Owner of the Gemstone

Did You Know, Mr. Intrepid?  [Part 16]

(Books by Authors Who Never Existed:  A Steampunk Hybrid story)

By the author of BARD: Owner of the Gemstone

As they step onto Nigel Street, he glances at the cane with the dragon handgrip.  A time, from many years ago, replays in his mind. 

Mr. Claws, and Ulysses, had brought back, mysterious gravity crystals. from one of their far north adventures.  Mr. Claws had allowed the Museum of Physics to put some of the crystals on display.  However, on a cloudy night, someone, or something, had broken into the museum, and stolen the crystals.  Chief Shabuni was called in by the Yard, to help investigate.  The Yard believed the thief had arrived by steam train from Londonera.

It was twilight, in late spring, in Scotlandterra, when the Chief saw a person with a top hat and wearing a gray Londonera Fog, trench coat talking to someone else.  The collars of the Londonera Fog were up, so he couldn’t see the person’s face.  Another individual, with the curves of a woman, was holding a pink crystal, the size of a small scrying ball, in her hands.  She wore a tight, black bodysuit, black corset, and midnight blue calve high army boots.  A black cape covered her shoulders.  With the collar up, he couldn’t see much of her face, only the tinted, brass goggles she wore under her bowler hat.

When he saw that the crystal hovered above the woman’s hand, he charged towards the two.  The person in the trench coat blew on the crystal as he pulled out a double barrel gun.  After the crystal landed on the woman’s hand, she shoved it between her bosom, while drawing a black straw from a pocket in her corset.

After that, everything became hazy.  He remembers touching his neck.  Feeling the feather of a dart.  He fell sideways onto the ground, staring along a street full of terra cotta, coloured buildings.  His eyesight cleared but he couldn’t move.  He heard the rapid steps, before he saw a determined man, with a cane, walking by.  The man was wearing a top hat with a ring of copper wire that held up miniature gears, and a silver music note charm, with a skull at the top.  The man turned in his direction, and he immediately recognized him. 

“Here, take this, before they catch me,” the man said gruffly, to someone he couldn’t see.  That’s when he noticed the skeleton key, without a gemstone, at the front of the man’s top hat.  The voice, and tiny, tinted glasses told him, exactly who this was.

“Did you ever meet a man named Mr. Intrepid?” he dared to ask.

“Of course,” Lady Oolong replied.  “He was my father.”

***

Taylor Norris, RMT (Lady Evelyn Oolong): taynorris@gmail.com

My Jolly Sailor Bold—Mermaid performed by @_melegie

Perched Drake Cane by FireandSteel.ca

I just saw a fantastic steampunk post by @Hannah_redfoxcloset with art by @creadoresasueldo

One of the goals for these writing experiments is to include makers, and models of Steampunk.  Ben Lanzenstein of Switzerland creates Steampunk vehicles, weapons, and more.  I will be posting a short interview with Ben in very near future.  Meanwhile, you can see his work at:  ben_lanzenstein

Unwoman.com

Joanne Gosling (as Lady Marina Steamsail):  Jgosling@calclosets.com

Fireandsteel.ca Dragonrider Folding Knife

GRACEART Unisex Steampunk Top Hat with Goggles

Alivila.Y Fashion: Women’s Faux Leather Steampunk Corset Victorian Bustier Top

Wait, I’ll Go With You [Part 15]

(Books by Authors Who Never Existed:  A Steampunk Hybrid story)

By the author of BARD: Owner of the Gemstone

Lady Oolong tilts back her head, and blows out the invisible smoke from her pipe.  “And what tea are you interested in Chief Shabuni?” she asks.

He stares down at her, and gulps.  “What do you know about a block of ice that doesn’t melt?” 

Her reaction is cool, and quizzical.  “That sounds interesting.  Is it used to keep a cold room cool, or drinking water refreshing?”  She smirks.

“It may be a portal,” he replies.  “Or part of one.”

“A portal,” she says while chewing on the end of her pipe.  “To where?”

He gives her a shallow smile, hoping it will come across as confidence.  He takes a chance by telling her a slight lie.  “Lady Steamsail believes, it’s a portal to somewhere called, The Other Place.”

For a moment Lady Oolong’s eyes widen.

When she doesn’t reply, he asks, “Can you think of anyone, who would be interested in Mrs. Claws’, books by authors who never existed?”

At that, she shrugs.  “Makes more sense than stealing a block of ice that doesn’t melt.”  She lets out a long breath.  “Anything unique, or that might contain secrets, is always of interest, wouldn’t you agree?”

“Yes,” he says with a nod.  He places his stovepipe back on his head.  “I must be getting back to Mrs. Claws.  There was a break in the other night.”

“Wait, and I’ll go with you,” she says.  “One moment.”

He watches as she pours some of the kettle water into a siphon connected to a cabinet.  Next, she takes a record out of the cabinet, and places it on the spinning table of a gramophone.  A needle automatically lifts onto the record.  As the sonorous voice of Melegie, and enchanting chords of a harp, play through the clamshell shaped speaker, Lady Oolong places her top hat on.  Next, to his surprise, she unwinds the dragon handle of her cane, to reveal a narrow sword blade.

“All ready,” she says.

***

Taylor Norris, RMT (Lady Evelyn Oolong): taynorris@gmail.com

My Jolly Sailor Bold—Mermaid performed by @_melegie

Perched Drake Cane by FireandSteel.ca

I just saw a fantasic steampunk post by @Hannah_redfoxcloset with art by @creadoresasueldo

One of the goals for these writing experiments is to include makers, and models of Steampunk.  Ben Lanzenstein of Switzerland creates Steampunk vehicles, weapons, and more.  I will be posting a short interview with Ben in very near future.  Meanwhile, you can see his work at:  ben_lanzenstein

Unwoman.com

Joanne Gosling (as Lady Marina Steamsail):  Jgosling@calclosets.com

Fireandsteel.ca Dragonrider Folding Knife

GRACEART Unisex Steampunk Top Hat with Goggles

Alivila.Y Fashion: Women’s Faux Leather Steampunk Corset Victorian Bustier Top

Book Review of The New Age Herbalist

Along with writing fiction (currently Books By Authors That Never Existed: Steampunk hybrid), and fitness articles and videos, I will be talking about eco friendly technology and other matters that have to do with positive eco living.

In this video I discuss the advantages of getting a book such as, The New Age Herbalist by Richard Mabey.