The Ghost Rebellion has now been released to the general public. Yep, it is out there in the wild.
After $21,837 raised in the Kickstarter, an epic photoshoot with Michael Ward of Go ForWard, wrestling words with Katie Bryski and Jennifer Melzer, recording ten hours of audio, editing it, and all the nervousness possible, book five has made it into the world.
I was musing the other day how the Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences has truly had a weird, and peculiar journey. How it has been an organic thing, a wild unexpected ride, and a joyful thing (with a bunch of terror through in there). It started as an experimental podcast for pay (yep, that would have sunk like a lead balloon) and now is a roleplaying game, novel, short story thing.
So I can’t think of a better title for this fifth book. Not only is the whole adventure a rebellion at the whole way this book publishing thing is done, but also this book is all about rebels, the weirdos, the strange people that don’t fit in. Eliza and Wellington are both oddballs in their own way. Eliza is a woman who is an adrenalin junky, and loves explosions far too much. Wellington is a man brought up by a terrifying father, and who seeks shelter surrounded by words. They are weird and wonderful, and so is their world.
You see, the Ministry is a lot like the collection of wonderful eclectic people I have met on this journey of becoming a steampunk author. Dreamers, makers, people who have wild ideas and make them real. I never really thought about it before, but the Ministry is a collection of geeks who have made themselves a family over the five years since the first book come out.
Strangely, or maybe not that strangely, this rebel spirit fits in very well with the vibe of steampunk. The punk in steampunk is a rebel, going against the grain, doing things differently, and that is what this series has become.
And then there is the self-publishing rebellion that has been going on for the last few years, which we have joined full-tilt with this novel.
And looking ahead, only more rebellions await. It’s all exciting, hard work, but worth it. Who knows what will come after the dust has settled.
For now here are all the buying links and a little David Bowie as music for the revolution.
Print edition
Buy a signed copy direct from the authors
Ebook edition