Steampunk that is actually well-written, with young female characters who are capable and competent. If that appeals to you, run, do not walk, and get this book.

Originally shared by Steve Turnbull

Minimum self promotion … my steampunk action-adventure book Harry Takes Off featuring Harriet and Khuwelsa Edgbaston is free until Wednesday (and the second book is on 99c).

It’s set in East Africa, 1896. At this time Britain and Germany were the big colonial powers in Africa, while Harriet (Harry) is white, her adopted sister Khuwelsa (Sellie) is African.

This may be steampunk action-adventure but I don’t minimise the bad behaviour of either empire, or the racism. The books are “accurate” as far as the historical setting is concerned (only in quotes because my timeline does diverge from reality because it’s steampunk – but people’s attitudes don’t).

The reason “Harry” gets her name in the title (and will do up until book 5) is that the stories are partly inspired by the “Biggles” books by Capt W. E. Johns. And Biggles gets his name into almost all 100 titles in that series.

Finally, in case you think Sellie being the engineer is putting her at the back of the story (so to speak), here’s what one reviewer said “I especially liked the way Khuwelsa as the engineer for their ornithopter is essential to their eventual triumph—not because she is black or female, but because of her demonstrated engineering skill!”

Harry and Sellie are equal partners.

Anyway if you’re interested in taking a look http://bit.ly/pegasus-01-gp