Fantastical histories for modern feminists
Day 1 was a blast, now looking forward to spending time with the rest of the authors and steampunks at day 2 of Clockwork Alchemy.
My schedule today involves taking part in the Fashion Show at 2pm and the Scientists and Spiritualists panel at 4pm. Then Authors’ Salon After Dark for the spicy version of Hot Potato School of Writing.
Leaning into the Roboticist of Versailles books at this event!
I am attending Clockwork Alchemy, a SF Bay Area steampunk conventiom this weekend! The event is at the San Mateo Marriott and promises to be lots of fun. This year’s theme is Villains and Heroes. I’m still deciding which one I am. https://www.clockworkalchemy.com/
I will be presenting two panels today (Friday)
3pm: Mapmaking for Villains and Dungeon Masters. My dear friend Dover is heading up this hands on workshop and I merely her willing minion (she’s def a Villain). I love maps so looking forward to this one.
4pm: Convergence of Steampunk and Solarpunk. I have dabbled in solarpunk and hope to write more. On this panel with a couple of erudite folks.
Please stop by Authors’ Alley and say Hi if you’re at the event!
Released today: The Vitruvian Mask
It’s been three and a half years since I started writing this book and it’s finally out in the wild! <happy dance>
What is it about? Loss, motherhood, learning to trust, love…and scary nuns. <grin>
Available in print or ebook online in all the usual places (but I like Bookshop.org best).
I am well-chuffed. A five-star review and the reviewer really delved into the themes of the book. Here’s the full review.
The Vitruvian Mask is a historical sci-fi drama story by BJ Sikes. After disposing of the previous regime, the Naturalists have taken over France, methodically targeting scientists and destroying every one of their creations. Former Head Scientist and Roboticist Adelaide Coumain takes refuge on a remote farm alongside three of her colleagues, only to be left homeless when the authorities arrest her colleagues and burn down the farm. Pregnant and on the verge of giving birth, Adelaide arrives at a Paris hospital to deliver a healthy boy. But she soon realizes that hospitals are no longer the bastion of science and starts treating injured Augmented soldiers with significant risk to herself. Meanwhile, Henri Desjardins returns to France following his exile and accidentally stumbles onto Adelaide’s path. What does fate truly hold for Adelaide?
Reviewed by Pikasho Deka for Readers’ Favorite
A splendid mix of suspense, drama, and thrills makes The Vitruvian Mask a sci-fi thriller you don’t want to miss. Set in an alternate history of France, BJ Sikes’ tale is high on political intrigue and touches upon some issues that feel more relevant today than ever. In the story, scientists are persecuted, and superstition and misinformation are favored by the totalitarian regime, which has uncanny parallels with how some nations of the world operate. The characters have human flaws and personalities in how they react to adversity, making you relate to them. Sikes keeps an even pace with a thoroughly compelling plot. Recommended to readers of sci-fi and historical fiction alike.
Now that The Vitruvian Mask is done (and about to be released), I’m going to work on another writing project, The Cultist’s Wife. I will finish it. I swear. So I signed up for the April NaNoWriMo camp. I find that it gives me some external pressure to work on those final (?) edits to the manuscript.
Hopefully, by the end of the month, I will have the 6th (!) draft edited.
The Vitruvian Mask is featured on the Awesomegang’s page! https://awesomegang.com/?p=1081609 Getting the word out to new readers about the book! Many thanks to the good folks at Awesomegang.
I think it would be fun to have a star (as in an astronomical body) named after me. There are milliona and millions of visible stars so I don’t think it would make me stand out in any way. Not like naming an arena after me. I’m not much for notoriety, so that would be fine by me. But what name would I choose? First name? Full name? Pen name?
How about you, dear reader? What would you have named after you?
What is one word that describes you?
The first word that popped into my head was “dedicated” but I don’t know if that really does it. I mean, it seems kinda dull, no?
Here’s some info from their website:
https://www.clockworkalchemy.com/
Clockwork Alchemy is the San Francisco Bay Area’s own steampunk convention, celebrating alternative history, sci-fi, and fantasy.
For anyone who loves sci-fi with an alternate history spin, Clockwork Alchemy provides a 3-day event with an immersive environment, welcoming community, and many hours of panels, games, social events, and concerts.
Clockwork Alchemy is a great event for readers, artists, makers, crafters, costumers, fans, families and more
Immerse yourself in fun and activities all weekend long.
Attend educational panels and classes to learn history, science, literature, crafts and martial arts.
In the evenings, the convention transforms into a showcase of entertainment and music, with concerts and dancing.
BJ Sikes, author 