Q&A with Elizabeth Chatsworth, the author of The Brass Queen

So, I was recently privileged to be asked to read and review the new debut novel of Elizabeth Chatsworth. So far, I’m loving the book and I just wanted to share little something about the author with you!

About the author

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). Her debut novel, THE BRASS QUEEN, is an award-winning fantasy set in an alternative Victorian age. When she’s not writing, Elizabeth works as voice-over actor. There’s a rumour she possesses the world’s best scone recipe. Visit her at elizabethchatsworth.com to see if it’s true.

The Q&A

Question: Congratulations on your debut fantasy The Brass Queen! Please tell us about the story.

Elizabeth Chatsworth: In a steam.powered world, Miss Constance Haltwhistle is the last in a line of blue-blooded rogues. Selling firearms under her alias, the ‘Brass Queen’ has kept her baronial estate’s coffers full. But when U.S. spy, Trusdale, saves her from assassins, she’s pulled into a search for a scientist with an invisibility serum. As a royal foes create an invisible army to start a global was, Constance and Trusdale must learn to trust each other. If they don’t, the world they know will literally disappear before their eyes.

Question: What makes your book different from others in the fantasy genre?

Chatsworth: Although many gaslamp fantasies lean toward the gothic, The Brass Queen shares a hopeful, humorous adventure in a fantastical whimsical world. Miss Constance Haltwhistle is an unconventional heroine who’s fearless, independent and brilliant. She’s a debutante, an underworld weapons designer, and an amateur scientist who dabbles in inter-dimensional travel. She sets the bar for the alpha-heroine fighting for her found family in a brutally conformist Victorian society.

Question: What message do you want the reader to take with them after they finish the book?

Chatsworth: One person, however flawed, can change the world for the better. My heroine starts the novel hosting her own coming-out ball. By the end, she’s commanding an airship and standing up for women’s rights. She learns to speak for those who are voiceless, which is something I hope we can all do in our daily lives.

Question: What do you like about your main characters, Constance and Trusdale?

Chatsworth: Constance and Trusdale prove that you don’t have to be perfect to be a hero. Trusdale is a shady spy who lies for a living. Constance is an illegal weapons designer. Together, they bring out one another’s best and worst traits. They may be flawed individuals, but they’re exactly who they need to be when destiny comes to call.

Question: The novel’s conclusion leaves us eager explore this rich universe further. Do you plan to continue Constance’s story?

Chatsworth: Absolutely! The Brass Queen is the first book in the series. I anticipate that the second book will be published in mid-to-late 2022. In the second volume, our heroes face an inter-dimensional alien invasion. I also plan to expand the universe (or as I like to call it, ‘The Brassiverse’) with additional tales.

Question: What inspired you to start writing The Brass Queen?

Chatsworth: As my fiftieth birthday loomed, I took stock of my life. I’d always been an avid reader, but somehow, I’d never made the time to create my own stories. So, I decided to sign up for an online creative writing class. The instructor, best-selling author David Farland, encouraged my fledgling efforts, and my first assignment turned into chapter one of The Brass Queen. Five years later, the book I started in class is now being published. The moral of the story is that it’s never too late to start anything!

Question: Do you have any advice for those who are considering pivoting their career and want to pursue a newly discovered passion?

Chatsworth: My advice to those pursuing a new passion is to enjoy the creative journey each and every day. Ninety percent of success boils down to persistence. I must have edited The Brass Queen at least thirty times before I found a publisher. I’ve learned from experts, been open to criticism, and knew when to ask for help. I joined writing groups, entered contests, and tried to enjoy the writing process rather than focusing on whether I would ever be published. Through the years, I never once considered writing to be “work”. This was how I chose to spend my time, and I was grateful for every moment that I got to spend creating unique worlds and characters. I hope you have the same experience.

*Interview received from Smith publicity.