About the Book
Murder, mystery, and romance collide aboard the Aerial Express!
It was supposed to be an uneventful trip. But when the airship’s owner is found dead on night one, everyone becomes a suspect.
Lady Isabelle didn’t come looking for trouble, but trouble doesn’t seem to care. Soon, she’s snooping, prying, and desperately trying to keep herself and the other passengers alive. If she isn’t careful, she may even fall in love — and who has time for that?
About the Author
I’m a Minnesota-dwelling, California-born writer with a love of books that straddles centuries and genres. After getting my Ph.D. in English Literature from UCLA, I realized that I didn’t want to be an academic. I wanted the thing I’ve always wanted — to be a novelist. Everything I’ve done since has been in pursuit of that goal (or paying the bills).
Qn 1: Can you tell us more about your book What is it about?
This novel is a steampunk cozy mystery loosely inspired by Agatha Christie’s Murder on the Orient Express. Lady Isabelle Huxley is a smart, independent seventeen-year-old who’d rather work on the solution to renewable aetheric energy than solve mysteries. But when someone murders the owner of a luxury dirigible line, she may not have a choice.
This book is a genre-bending mixture of young-adult mystery, Steampunk fantasy, and romance. It’s whimsical and fast-paced, guaranteed to leave you impatient for each new chapter.
Rather than take a traditional publishing path, I’m exploring new digital opportunities in serial fiction and online storytelling. Readers can subscribe for free and receive a new chapter each Thursday. Or they can upgrade to the enhanced digital reading experience for a fun, scroll-through text that includes AI art and an interactive layout.
Qn 2: Who do you think would be interested in this book, is it directed at any particular market?
To some extent, good books are good books. I don’t believe in the separation between literature and genre fiction. But this story will especially appeal to fans of Gail Carriger, Jennifer Lynn Barnes, and Naomi Novik.
The enhanced digital version is aimed at creators of all stamps, people exploring the new frontiers of publishing. It’s also for anyone who believes that you should never be without a book and wants a story genuinely designed for the device of their choice — even when they only have a mobile phone at hand.
Qn 3: Out of all the books in the world, and all the authors, which are your favourite and why?
Too many to list! But my favorite discovery of the past few years has been T. Kingfisher. Her writing is voice-y and witty. Her characters are delightful individuals, and she tells fabulous stories about them. She’s always a one-sitting read for me.
Qn 4: What guidance would you offer to someone new, or trying to enhance their writing?
Read. Write. Repeat.
Read: Read everything and in all genres. You’ll learn things about pacing from thrillers, world-building from fantasy, and style from “literary” fiction.
Write: The definition of a writer is a person who writes. That’s it. There’s no way to get better without doing it (sometimes poorly at first). You need to find both your voice and your courage.
Repeat: Read more, write more. Reread favorites or just visit your favorite scenes. Ask yourself why something resonates with you or catches your attention. Rewrite again and again. Explore scenes from different angles, play with rhythm, and prune away everything that clutters up your stories — and sentences.
Qn 5: Where can our readers find out more about you, do you have a website, or a way to be contacted?
Visit me at mkrumsey.com. You can also follow me on Instagram (@mkrumsey) and Facebook (/megankathleensmith).
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