Way back in 2013, I had a dream. I was in an office and could hear the sound of heavy machinery through the open window. On a desk in front of me was a strange object. It looked like a typewriter, but it was far more ornate than any that I’d seen before. It belonged in a past time, maybe it was Victorian?
Looking outside, I could see huge pipes snaking across the ground, throbbing with power. I knew these contained high-pressure steam, driving some sort of mining equipment. I could see a conveyor belt, carrying coal from a hole in the side of a hill.
And that was how my Steampunk journey started. Before long, I had a world. I called it Norlandia. It was based on the world of the 1850s, before oil or electricity were used as they are today. Yet it was advanced; the lack of these things had only served to spur science on in different directions.
As well as steam, piped to homes (visiting New York in winter had probably influenced me there), I found that coal gas had replaced oil-based fuels and clockwork motors had evolved way past what we have now. There was a lot of technology in Norlandia; things might have been done differently, but the same result was obtained.
As I saw more of the world in my mind, I wrote what turned out to be The Rocks of Aserol. There was steam, clockwork, romance and conspiracy. I even managed to include a few Dragons.
My hero was a civil servant from the Ministry of Coal. I named him Horis Strongman.
What is the secret of Waster Mine?
Horis Strongman is a man on a mission. Sent to discover the truth behind a strange message from the provincial city of Aserol, he stumbles upon a secret.
One that could change the balance of power in Norlandia.
In this world, mighty machines of metal are powered by Steam and Clockwork. Coal is King.
Because of what Horis discovers, those in power want him silenced, whatever the cost.
Horis is forced to run for his life, aided by those who can prove his innocence and unsure of whom he can trust.
One thing is for certain. His life, and Norlandia itself, will never be the same again.
To assist him, Horis had Grace, a chambermaid from his hotel and Maloney, an ex-serviceman with a clockwork arm. They were all embroiled in a government conspiracy, in a world that was changing rapidly.
Over time, I added a sequel and a two-part spin-off series, as well as some short stories that provided a little more depth to the world I’d created.
In true Victorian fashion, there were gentlemen with stiff upper lips, elegant ladies (who often wielded the real power), and fiendish villains. Dastardly schemes abounded, and tales of derring-do were filling my mind, demanding that they be written.
The point of this post is to tell you that, for the next five days, The Rocks of Aserol will be free to download on Amazon. Just use this link.
If you want to know more, about Norlandia or anything to do with my writing, just drop me a comment. Until next time,
Happy reading.
I’d love to get your comments, please leave them below. While you’re here, why not take a look around? There are some freebies and lots more content, about me, my writing and everything else that I do. You can join my newsletter for a free novella and more news by clicking this link.
Leave a Reply