A. F. Stewart was born and raised in Nova Scotia, Canada, and still calls it home. The youngest in a family of seven children, she has always had an overly creative mind and an active imagination. She is fond of good books (especially science fiction/fantasy), action movies, sword collecting, and oil painting.
Ms. Stewart is an indie author with several published novellas and story collections in the dark fantasy and horror genres, with a few side trips into poetry and non-fiction. She has a great interest in history and mythology, often working those themes into her books and stories. Twitter: @scribe77.
A graduate in History from UCLA, David Wilkin has written in various genres for thirty years. Extensive study of pre-modern civilizations, including years re-enacting Medieval, Renaissance and Regency times, has given Mr. Wilkin insight into such antiquated cultures. He studied Micawber and Copperfield's period of Victorian Colonialism under John Semple Galbraith.
With a proficiency in historical conventions, his fantasy and historical work encompasses mores beyond hero quests, and adds depth to his created worlds. Mr. Wilkin regularly posts about Regency history on his blog thethingsthatcatchmyeye.wordpress.com, and as a member of English Historical Fiction Authors (englishhistoryauthors.blogspot.com). Mr. Wilkin is the author of several Regency romances; his most recent, a sequel to the epic Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen, called Colonel Fitzwilliam's Correspondence. Twitter: @DWWilkin.
A Wisconsin gal with a Southwest soul, M. K. Wiseman can generally be found wandering happily amongst the pages of the largest book she can get her hands on. She came upon writing rather accidentally, finding that, sometimes, there are stories that simply must be told.
A techie with a penchant for typewriters, she is a magnet for misadventure, though her own story has yet to unfold. Harboring such dreams as someday possessing a library complete with hidden bookcase doors, piloting a hot air balloon, and running away in a sailboat, she currently subsists contentedly between worlds in the company of her hypoallergenic fish. She tweets @FaublesFables. Connect on Facebook at www.facebook.com/faublesfables.
As a child, Neve Talbot, developed the habit of lulling herself to sleep by dreaming up continuations of her favorite books too soon ended. She never left off the habit, and eventually gained confidence in worlds of her own creation. She first cracked open a spiral binder in high school, and has spent the past decade dutifully penning her prerequisite one million words of bad writing before getting to the good stuff.
Now author and journalist, Neve currently lives with her husband in a quasi-reality filled with fantasy, sci-fi, historical fiction, Regency romance, the classics, and history books, suspended between the piney woods and sprawling metropolis of southeast Texas. She plans on exploring the world when she grows up.
Scott William Taylor lives and writes in Utah. He grew up living on the side of a mountain and lives on that same mountain today, with his family and a dog that loves cheese. Scott is married, with four children. He received his undergraduate degree in Communications from the University of Utah and a Masters in English from Weber State University. Scott is the creator and producer of A Page or Two Podcast. He also wrote the award-winning short film, Wrinkles. When not writing and working, Scott enjoys participating in community theater productions with his children.
Follow Scott on Twitter @Hyggeman.
Xchyler Publishing prides itself in discovery and promotion of talented authors. Our anthology project will produce four books a year in our specific areas of focus: fantasy, Steampunk, suspense/thriller, and paranormal. We proudly present Mechanized Masterpieces: a Steampunk Anthology as the second installment of this endeavor. Authors include Aaron and Belinda Sikes, Alyson Grauer, Anika Arrington, A. F. Stewart, David W. Wilkin, M. K. Wiseman, Neve Talbot, and Scott William Taylor; edited by Penny Freeman.
Also from Xchyler Publishing:
Vivatera by Candace J. Thomas, April, 2013
Vanguard Legacy: Foretold by Joanne Kershaw, April 2013
Grenshall Manor Chronicles: Oblivion Storm by R.A. Smith, December 2012
Forged in Flame: A Dragon Anthology, by Samuel Mayo, Brian Collier, Eric White, Jana Boskey, Caitlin McColl, and D. Robert Pease, edited by Penny Freeman, October 2012
Look for more exciting titles from Xchyler Publishing in 2013, including:
Shadow of the Last Men, a dark dystopian fantasy, the first installment of The Next Man series by J.M. Salyards, summer 2013.
Mr. Gunn and Dr. Bohemia, a Steampunk action/adventure by Pete Ford, summer 2013.
Primal Storm, Book II of the urban fantasy series The Grenshall Manor Chronicles by R. A. Smith, October 2013; sequel to Oblivion Storm.
Held quarterly, our short-story competitions result in published anthologies from which the authors receive royalties. Additional 2013 themes include: Mind Games (psychological thrillers, summer), Extreme Makeovers (paranormal, fall), Back to the Future (fantasy, winter), and Around the World in Eighty Days (Steampunk, spring 2014).
To learn more, visit www.xchylerpublishing.com.
Tropic of Cancer copyright © 2013 by Neve Talbot
Sense and Cyborgs copyright © 2013 by Anika Arrington
Micawber and Copperfield and the Great Diamond Heist of 1879 copyright © 2013 by David W. Wilkin
Little Boiler Girl copyright © 2013 by Scott William Taylor
The Clockwork Ballet copyright © 2013 by M. K. Wiseman
His Frozen Heart copyright © 2013 by Aaron and Belinda Sikes
Our Man Fred copyright © 2013 by A. F. Stewart
Lavenza, or the Modern Galatea copyright © 2013 by Alyson Grauer
No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without written permission from the publisher. For information visit www.xchylerpublishing.com
This is a work of fiction. Names, descriptions, entities, and incidents included in this story are products of the authors’ imaginations. Any resemblance to actual persons, events, and entities is entirely coincidental.
Xchyler Publishing
an imprint of Hamilton Springs Press, LLC
Penny Freeman, Editor-in-chief
www.xchylerpublishing.com
1st Edition: April, 2013
Cover and Interior Design by D. Robert Pease, walkingstickbooks.com
Edited by Penny Freeman and Heidi Birch
Published in the United States of America
Xchyler Publishing
Table of Contents
Foreword
Tropic of Cancer By Neve Talbot
Sense and Cyborgs By Anika Arrington
Micawber and Copperfield and The Great Diamond Heist of 1879 by David W. Wilkin
Little Boiler Girl By Scott William Taylor
The Clockwork Ballet By M.K. Wiseman
His Frozen Heart By Aaron and Belinda Sikes
Our Man Fred By A. F. Stewart
Lavenza, or the Modern Galatea By Alyson Grauer
About the Authors
About Xchyler Publishing
Copyright
Mechanized Masterpieces: A Steampunk Anthology Page 27