Monday, 18 November 2024

Steampunk Sleuths Update

The table of contents for our first novelette anthology has been finalised. Steampunk Sleuths will be published on the 18th of July next year and will feature the following stories set in a steampunk world. Each adventure will have an appropriately quirky crime or mystery at the centre of its plot, and as well as steam-powered vehicles and clockwork machinery, you might just bump into pirates, samurai, vampires, and extra-terrestrials!

Tears of the Dragon by S.B. Watson

Murder in Whitby by Karen Bayly   

The Untimely Death of Clockmaster Tollsmead by Cameron Trost

The Copper Train by Diana Parrilla

The Strange Case of Private Ornshaw and the Martian Detective by David Turnbull



Friday, 15 November 2024

The Third Black Beacon Book of Mystery - Publication Date

Black Beacon Books is pleased to announce the publication date for The Third Black Beacon Book of Mystery. The puzzles will be ready for you to solve (with the help of our host of talented investigators) on Friday the 18th of April, 2025.

These are the cases you'll be cracking...

The Painting and the Password by Cameron Trost
Death Goes Gourmet by Edward Lodi
Webster's Wallet by Robert Petyo  
A Veiled Truth by Karen Keeley
Gunning for a Promotion by Jon Matthew Farber
Take Care of Zozo for Me by Christina Hoag
A Study of Death by Teel James Glenn
Storm in a Teapot by Chris Hook
The Roman in the Fountain by Ron Fein
The Lunt by S. B. Watson
The Adventure of Woodbury Barrow by Cameron Trost

In the meantime, you can get your fix of mystery in the first two volumes.


Thursday, 14 November 2024

Trailblazing Women - Karen Bayly

Karen Bayly shares the real-life inspirations behind her steampunk adventuress Artemis Devereaux with us over on her website and Black Beacon Books gives you, Dear Reader, the chance to win a print copy of her novels, Fortitude and Courage, simply by answering the question at the end of this post.


TRAILBLAZING WOMEN by Karen Bayly

In my latest novel, Courage, Artemis Devereaux stops over in Terra Australis, after flying her dirigible Taygete solo over much of the world. She had done similar journeys previous, but never solo, and I was determined she should fully spread wings after her journey toward independence in Fortitude.

Like all authors, some of my character’s drams and skills represent my own. I have wanted to learn to fly since my teens. However, the cost of flight tuition was more than I earned. Other avenues such as air force pilot weren’t open to women when I was young enough to take advantage of the opportunity. Now, I still can’t cover the cost of flight tuition, but even if I could, my failing eyesight might make things difficult.

Read Karen's full post on her website blog in order to answer the question below. Answer the question as a comment on this post or on any of our social media posts for the competition. A winner will be randomly selected at the end of the month.

Question:
What is the name of the reporter who beat the fictional record set by Phileas Fogg?