Get your copy now at Amazon.com (paper and Kindle) and on Smashwords (ALL other digital formats.)

The Gospel According to Verdu, my second novel, has been pushed, pulled, smothered, covered and capped. No, wait. That’s Waffle House. The book IS ready. Are you? What’s your (format) pleasure?

• Kindle? Just $3.
• Paper? Get it at Amazon.com. $14.99.
• Sony eReader? Nook? Reading on your ipad or smartphone? Smashwords has you covered – for $3.  BARGAIN!

I can get back to blogging now. What a relief.

Points to think on:

• I have the cover to work on next – that will be a good.
• Planning the Pacific Northwest coast. Two cities: Portland and Seattle. Considering points around and between.
• Working on thoughts for short stories for an anthology I’ve been asked to participate in.
• Time to let the muse inspire me.
• Gratitude for the gifts I have been given: good friends, good connections, the generosity of my husband and the sweetness of my kids.

I am looking forward to the next big thing. Just wait and see…

I love steam events, don’t you? Get up. Get out. Go meet some people and show off your creativity. Ger some ideas and so on…

Did I miss something? Just send me a comment and I will get it on the list.

Have you seen Steampunk Fett? A little bit Star Wars – a little bit Steampunk, you know the guy; he gets around the Con circuit pretty well. If you have seen Steampunk Fett then you know at least one of the many things that Penny Dreadful Productions has made. Most of their stuff is unique, custom made, eye-catching and worth a picture (to save you a thousand words when you try to explain it to your friends).

Outside of a convention setting, finding Penny Dreadful Productions and that admirable handwork has been a challenge. They’ve sold all the custom work without the benefit of a physical shop or the benefit of having a reliable home base. “We’ve moved SO many times,” says P.D.P. owner Matt Silva, who is looking forward to the grand opening next month of his new workshop and retail space – called The Boiler Room – in Duluth, Georgia. He’s thrilled to have a larger place for his conceptual design and physical production company, one where he can build sets (like those used for the short Steampunk film “Heartless”), work on custom prosthetics and make up and create custom costumes, such as Fett.

Owner Matt Silva stocks a shelf at The Boiler Room.

Silva says the storefront part of the workshop will be split 50-50 between products made by P.D.P. (and associates of the company) and consignment items from other Steampunk artists, including fine art, sculpture, music, books, costume accessories, custom Hula hoops and even more bizarre things. The shop will also display some of the finished P.D.P. custom pieces before they are shipped off to movie sets, theaters, parties or whatnot. Several pieces in the shop at any given time won’t be for sale, but will be a wonder to see nonetheless.

Speaking of things that can’t be bought or sold, The Boiler Room is also a place for the exchange of ideas and knowhow.  The crew at the shop is assembling a cadre of specialists with knowhow in the areas of art, acting, sewing, prop making, burlesque, etc. Silva’s partner Erin Bushko says she is working with these artists so they can teach classes at the shop from time to time.

Their philosophy of pouring what they have learned back into other people doesn’t end there. Silva says that the tools, space and resources of The Boiler Room are available on a monthly basis for people to try their hand at creation. “Part of what we do with this building is all about empowering all those friends of friends who need a space. For a small fee, someone can come and use the space for a month or more. Not having a place to work holds a lot of artists back.”

Silva says he now has quite a bit more elbow room to bring folks in. “Our last place was the size of a 2-car garage,” he says. The tool area at The Boiler Room is bigger than the old place, plus there is the paint room, fabric and makeup room, the retail space and gallery. “The His and Hers bathrooms are a treat, too,” says Bushko. “We’ve never had that before.”

Penny Dreadul Productions has come a long way since it began two years ago. The gang hopes The Boiler Room will help them continue to grow and look for “the next cool thing.” Silva says he’s thrilled to be making a living AND leaving a good mark.

The Boiler Room, located at 3067-B  Main Street, Duluth, Georgia, will quietly open for business later this month with a grand opening February 1^st. Interested artists should contact Penny Dreadful Productions through their website www.GetDreadful.com.

See MORE articles by Emilie P. Bush at SteampunkChronicle.com

This is the flier from this weekend’s Steampunk Event at Crossroads Writer’s Conference.  I am happy to say that if you like Steampunk and live in the Macon area, my books are available at Golden Bough bookstore. AND the Chinese place next door make one heck of a good Ma Po Tofu and Shrimp Fried Rice. YUM!

Emilie P. Bush and Professor Henrietta Hoppingood at Chattacon

It seemed this year Chattacon was a great success. At least it was for me. I met new friends and reconnected with some old friends, and walked and walked and walked. My legs are still tired!

Now that I have experienced it first hand, I can make a few generalizations about Chattacon. First off, it is a PARTY con. The room parties were freely available and well advertised.  It’s a young person’s con. Lots of teens and 20-somethings. Nice. Fresh. The food at Con Suite was tasty and always available (but, as usual – less vegan that one would hope!) – and it catered toward the young folks with lots of wrapped snack cakes, chips, beer and sodas.

In my panels – however – I attracted a bit of an older crowd.  There wasn’t a soul under 35 in the Steampunk Literature panel (at 10AM Saturday – the first session of the day).  I’d say half were 50+. BUT, years were equal to experience and the program went very well. People trickled in but didn’t wander back out.

The Tesla v. Watt session was a hoot! The panelists and I had them rolling in the aisles, and I will be doing this program again at a convention near you. The maker’s panel was good as well – standing room only!

The big surprise was the Crew of the Airship Brofman taking second prize at the Masquerade – and winning Best Presentation.  That was a shock!  None in the group had ever entered a costume contest, and we just decided that afternoon to do it. Lucky us. We won $50! Rather than splitting it 4 ways – we went to the Terminal Pub next to the Chattanooga Choo Choo and ate our winnings. YUM!

Which way to the Airship!?!?!

I sold out of my books at the con – every book I brought with me. YEA! I look forward to doing that again soon!

I will be involved with at least 3 panels: 10AM Steampunk Literature Panel. 1PM Great Debate: Tesla v. Watt, and 4PM Maker’s panel.  The supplies and notes and everything else swag wise is all ready.

As for the new duds, I am 95%. I have to decide whether I will tack a black ribbon on the pirate hat, and the pirate coat needs ONE hook and eye to keep it closed. That – and I decided at the last minute to put sleeves on the new dress.

It’s a fine at a Con between promoting yourself and your work, and tarting it up.  I’m going for snappy but not slutty, talented but now snooty.  When you see me at the con, let me know if I pull it off.  Pictures and recap coming soon.

There will be a Literature Panel, a Fashion Show, a Maker’s panel and one called The Great Debate: Tesla Vs. Watt.

There could be more, but this is what I know of today.

I look forward to seeing you! Check back here for a schedule update in a day or two.