Welcome to the official webpage of The Clockwork Century, an alternate-history world setting created by Cherie Priest.

Here, it is 1880 (or thereabouts). The Civil War is still underway, drawn out by English interference, a different transportation infrastructure, and a powerful Republic of Texas that discovered oil at Spindletop some fifty years sooner than real life allowed.

The competition of war has led to technological progress and horrors unimaginable, and many people have fled the combating states, hoping for an easier life out west.

Some of them have found it.
Some have found something else.

So stay tuned. This site will be updated periodically with publication information, upcoming plans, short stories, and every sort of related and pertinent miscellany. In fact, if you scroll down past this entry, you’ll find all the new content as it appears … including the first installment of Boneshaker — the first Clockwork Century novel, available now from Tor — posted for your reading pleasure.

Thanks for stopping by, and welcome aboard!

I am thrilled and honored to announce that Boneshaker has been nominated for a Nebula Award. It is a privilege and a delight to be on that list, in that company; and in fact, it blows my mind with glee that I’m sharing the space with so many friends.

For my full statement on the matter visit my main webpage, where I get downright giddy and sappy about the whole thing.

I’d like to thank Mary Ann Gwinn at the Seattle Times, for she has been very, very kind. She has also dubbed me the “high priestess of steampunk,” which is a little hilarious. Ah, the punny-riffic joys of having a common noun for a name

If you’re visiting this page due to her article, then welcome! Have fun poking around. Feel free to contact me if you have any questions.

Back in November I mentioned that Boneshaker had been shortlisted for a PNBA award — an award given out by the Pacific Northwest Booksellers Association, a non-profit association of independent bookstores Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana and Alaska. And now it’s finally official: Boneshaker won! Click that link to read about the other four winners, and to see a very old picture of me with long red hair. (I have no idea where they got it or why they used it, but heck. That’s okay.)

Thanks so much to the PNBA committee and to all the readers who’ve taken a chance on Boneshaker so far!

The very first Clockwork Century story ever released — the novelette “Tanglefoot” — has been acquired by Ann and Jeff VanderMeer for their STEAMPUNK RELOADED anthology! Their original STEAMPUNK anthology was an absolute masterpiece, and I’m absolutely honored and tickled beyond belief to be included in the next installment.

Stay tuned; when I have details about release dates and fellow authors (and whatnot), I’ll make a point to post such things here.

To be brief and self-promotional (’tis the season!), in case you didn’t see it — Boneshaker made Barnes & Noble’s list of top science fiction/fantasy novels from 2009! And I’m tickled pink to be in such good company on that list, I tell you what.

Anyway, if (by any chance) you’d like a personalized copy of Boneshaker — for yourself or someone special — you can always pick one up via the University Book Store (please follow directions at that link). I can’t promise you delivery by Christmas because I’m not in charge of the store’s shipping practices; but I can promise to head over there and sign mail order copies tomorrow … which makes your stocking-stuffing chances better than fair.

If you don’t care about signatures but you’d like some ordering options, here goes:

Boneshaker at B&N.com
Boneshaker at Amazon.com
(Amazon redux: For your Kindle)
Boneshaker at Powell’s
Boneshaker in digital formats by Diesel eBooks
Search for an independent bookstore near you.

If you’re local to the Seattle area, you may expect to find signed copies at the University Book Store, Third Place Books in Lake Forest Park, and probably the Barnes & Nobles at both Northgate and Pacific Place.

Whew! I think that covers pretty much everything, and I hope this answers — in one fell swoop — some of the emailed questions I’ve been getting lately. Thanks so much for reading, everyone, and happy holidays of every sort to everyone who celebrates them.