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20 Hours to Charles Town
When Madame Elvira O'Sullivan plans a scheme to expand her information network across all the colonies of 1855 British America, Liberia, Florida, Louisiana and Mexico. Her partner and lover, Zulie Dahomey, warns against moving from a luxury cruise for the wealthiest tycoons to the larger pond of international intrigue, but Elvira's mind is set on expanding her network and her range across the Appalachians into First Nations territory using new technology discovered by Texas, to reach California and the gold fields.
But an operative from the Mauverton Detective Agency that has been trying to infiltrate her business network comes to her begging asylum from his employers. Can she root out the secrets held by her clients, manage a hoodoo, and deliver all the colonial ambassadors to Charles Town in time to prevent an international incident, or will she lose it all including the love of her life?
But an operative from the Mauverton Detective Agency that has been trying to infiltrate her business network comes to her begging asylum from his employers. Can she root out the secrets held by her clients, manage a hoodoo, and deliver all the colonial ambassadors to Charles Town in time to prevent an international incident, or will she lose it all including the love of her life?
ebook
Published April 28, 2019
4 people want to read
About the author
Charlotte Henley Babb
40 books78 followersWriting healing fiction that makes people laugh while they are changing their lives.
I began writing when I could hold a piece of chalk and scribble my name–although I sometimes mistook “Chocolate” for “Charlotte” on the sign at the drug store ice cream counter.
When my third-grade teacher allowed me access to the fiction room at the school library, I discovered Louisa Alcott and Robert Heinlein, an odd marriage of the minds. These two authors, along with many others, have had the most influence on my desire to share my point of view with the world and to explore how the world might be made better. I had already read Black Beauty, Alice in Wonderland, and a good bit of King Arthur and Robin Hood.
Having (mis)spent my youth teaching English in high schools and junior colleges, I have had a few publications, first two SF story cycles of six pieces in a space opera anthology Port Nowhere and now, my first novel, Maven Fairy Godmother: Through the Veil.
I bring to any project a number of experiences, including work as a technical writer, gasket inspector, cloth store associate, girl Friday, and telephone psychic.
Moving beyond the first half century of my life, I amwriting the sequel, and have begun plotting a series of stories in a shared universe. I want to explore the clashes in societies between an engineered society and a lawless anarchy. In the meantime, I’ve fallen prey to steampunk and the gears are turning.
I began writing when I could hold a piece of chalk and scribble my name–although I sometimes mistook “Chocolate” for “Charlotte” on the sign at the drug store ice cream counter.
When my third-grade teacher allowed me access to the fiction room at the school library, I discovered Louisa Alcott and Robert Heinlein, an odd marriage of the minds. These two authors, along with many others, have had the most influence on my desire to share my point of view with the world and to explore how the world might be made better. I had already read Black Beauty, Alice in Wonderland, and a good bit of King Arthur and Robin Hood.
Having (mis)spent my youth teaching English in high schools and junior colleges, I have had a few publications, first two SF story cycles of six pieces in a space opera anthology Port Nowhere and now, my first novel, Maven Fairy Godmother: Through the Veil.
I bring to any project a number of experiences, including work as a technical writer, gasket inspector, cloth store associate, girl Friday, and telephone psychic.
Moving beyond the first half century of my life, I amwriting the sequel, and have begun plotting a series of stories in a shared universe. I want to explore the clashes in societies between an engineered society and a lawless anarchy. In the meantime, I’ve fallen prey to steampunk and the gears are turning.
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Displaying 1 of 1 review
October 10, 2020
I'm familiar with Ms. Babb's humorous fantasy with her Maven the Fairy Godmother, so trying out an entirely different genre by an author I enjoyed wasn't too hard to do.
Steampunk! Steam-driven hot air balloons? Even better. When the balloon is shaped like an elephant and is run by the Madame of a brothel, I began to wonder if the author had gone mad, then I got in a chapter or two and discovered the complexity of the plot. We learn how the world developed in the unconventional world of steampunk. Multiple nations' ambassadors are traveling on Madame Elvira's to meet, make treaties, dissolve relationships, try to get access to the all-important and brand-new helium which will speed air travel. Imports, exports, treaties, deals, and of course, some bad guys trying to throw wrenches into the works.
I can really see this book made into a movie. Hello, Netflix! Here's your next story.
The plot is as basic as described above, but far more complex than to try to sort out the countries, conspirators, the Belles who make up Elvira's all-important web of communication, a detective who may or may not be a friend.
This is a unique take on a steampunk alternative world. It is well-written, has vivid 3-dimensional characters, humor, sadness, tension. Oh, what the heck, people. Get your very inexpensive copy and see for yourself. While you're at it, grab one or two of the Maven books. You'll like those as well.
Steampunk! Steam-driven hot air balloons? Even better. When the balloon is shaped like an elephant and is run by the Madame of a brothel, I began to wonder if the author had gone mad, then I got in a chapter or two and discovered the complexity of the plot. We learn how the world developed in the unconventional world of steampunk. Multiple nations' ambassadors are traveling on Madame Elvira's to meet, make treaties, dissolve relationships, try to get access to the all-important and brand-new helium which will speed air travel. Imports, exports, treaties, deals, and of course, some bad guys trying to throw wrenches into the works.
I can really see this book made into a movie. Hello, Netflix! Here's your next story.
The plot is as basic as described above, but far more complex than to try to sort out the countries, conspirators, the Belles who make up Elvira's all-important web of communication, a detective who may or may not be a friend.
This is a unique take on a steampunk alternative world. It is well-written, has vivid 3-dimensional characters, humor, sadness, tension. Oh, what the heck, people. Get your very inexpensive copy and see for yourself. While you're at it, grab one or two of the Maven books. You'll like those as well.
Displaying 1 of 1 review