The Brass Queen by Elizabeth Chatsworth is now out in the world. To celebrate her new release, I’m thrilled to host this Q&A today with the author, Elizabeth Chatsworth.
Learn more about the author, her writing process and her new book! Thank you so much, Smith Publicity, for partnering with me.
Interview: Elizabeth Chatsworth, author of The Brass Queen
What inspired you to write this story?
A minor character in H. G. Wells’ The Invisible Man inspired my plot. In Wells’s 1897 novel, a mysterious American tourist in an English pub whips out a revolver and shoots the invisible man in the knee. Upon reading this, I wondered – who is this curious interloper with the less-than-deadly aim? Thus began the adventures of J. F. Trusdale, an inept spy in a world where nothing is as it seems, starting with Trusdale himself. Such a man requires an exceptionally talented partner – enter Miss Constance Haltwhistle!
Describe your main character in 3 words.
Miss Constance Haltwhistle is a bold, fiery, feminist who fights for her rights in a steam-powered patriarchy.
What was the most challenging part to write in this book?
The most challenging scene to write was when an invisible assassin attempts to drown J. F. Trusdale in his bathtub. Describing a visually exciting fight scene where only soap bubbles indicate the location of one of the combatants is trickier than it sounds!
What was your most favorite part and why?
My favorite part of the story is when Constance and Trusdale waltz across the deck of an airship. For once, they are in perfect harmony with one another.
What’s a typical writing day for you?
I try to spend a couple of hours in the morning focusing on a single chapter. Then I take a break for a few hours to let the story play out in my subconscious as I do other things. Refreshed, I’ll come back to the chapter and will keep working on it for another hour or two.
Where do you like writing and why? Favorite snacks and/or beverages?
My favorite place to write is my home office, with my Yorkie puppy, Boo, curled up on my lap. My beverage of choice is a chocolate milkshake. It’s both filling and energizing, plus it’s delicious!
How would your main character fare with a stay-at-home order?
As long as there’s an endless supply of tea, cakes, and books, Constance would be happy to while away the hours on her country estate.
What author or story inspired you growing up or inspired you in some ways?
As a teenager, I loved The Lord Of The Rings (I still do!) for its fantastical imaginings. Pride and Prejudice is my favorite classic for its wit, romance, and sumptuous settings. Terry Pratchett, Douglas Adams, and Neil Gaiman are my perennial favorite authors for their humor and heart.
Is there anything you can tell us about the book that is not a spoiler and not on the blurb? Something you’d like to share with us?
My Yorkshire terrier, Boo, is named for the puppy in The Brass Queen. Her full AKC name is “Boudicca of Haltwhistle Hall,” in homage to Constance’s home. The original Boo in the book can be a bit of a terror. My real-life Boo is super sweet and cuddly!
Synopsis – The Brass Queen by Elizabeth Chatsworth
In 1897, a fiery British aristocrat and an inept US spy search for a stolen invisibility serum that could spark a global war.
Miss Constance Haltwhistle is the last in a line of blue-blooded rogue inventors. Selling exotic firearms under her alias, the ‘Brass Queen,’ has kept her baronial estate’s coffers full. But when US spy, Trusdale, saves her from assassins, she’s pulled into a search for a scientist with an invisibility serum. As royal foes create an invisible army to start a global war, Constance and Trusdale must learn to trust each other. If they don’t, the world they know will literally disappear before their eyes.
PRAISE FOR THE BRASS QUEEN
Publishers Weekly pick for Best Fall Titles from Independent Presses (cover below)
“The Brass Queen is at times wondrous, at times romantic, and very often gut-bustingly funny. Elizabeth Chatsworth isn’t just a new author to watch for—buy this book, and she’ll be one of your new favorites!” – David Farland, NYT best-selling science fiction and fantasy author, author of The Runelords series
“Simply a joy to read!” – James A. Owen, best-selling fantasy author of Here, There Be Dragons
About the author – Elizabeth Chatsworth
Elizabeth Chatsworth is a British author and actor based in Connecticut. She loves to write of rogues, rebels, and renegades across time and space. Elizabeth is a Writers Of The Future winner, a Golden Heart® finalist, a Pitch Wars alumna, and a member of SFWA (Science Fiction and Fantasy Authors of America).
THE BRASS QUEEN (January 2021), an award- winning fantasy set in an alternate Victorian age, is her debut novel. When she’s not writing, Elizabeth works as a voice-over actor. There’s a rumor she possesses the world’s best scone recipe. Visit her at elizabethchatsworth.com to see if it’s true.
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