Meeting the Author: Leigh Statham

We had our first author Skype in for our meeting this weekend. We had the great privilege to meet Leigh Statham, the author of the book we read in December. (See reviews for our thoughts on the book.)
We gathered around, had great food, and some laughs.
Leigh skyped in with us so we could discuss her novel: The Perilous Journey of the Not-So-Innocuous Girl

For some, this was an introduction to steam punk, so there were questions about what inspired Statham to write in this genre, especially since it's a twist of her ancestor's story with the  "Daughters of the King" program in France.
The general consensus was that this is a fun read, and a easy, and pleasant introduction to steam punk. Everyone loved the main character, Marguerite, and enjoyed her character arc as she grew from a spoiled girl, to a strong woman.
I gave out bookmarks for everyone, which had little clockwork grasshoppers on them, that go so well with the book.

We are now anxiously awaiting the release of the sequel in October.

After we finished talking with Leigh, discussed how to write reviews, set up a Goodreads account,  selected next month's title. We are all so excited to be able to read more in our busy lives! So please come back to see our reviews for How to Date Dead Guys and our meeting with author Ann M. Noser.

Team Reviews of The Perilous Journey of the Not-So-Innocuous Girl

From Goodreads:
Lady Marguerite lives a life most 17th-century French girls can only dream of: money, designer dresses, suitors, and a secure future. Except she can’t quite commit to a life of dull luxury and she suspects she may be falling for her best friend Claude, a common smithy in the family's steam forge. When Claude leaves for New France in search of a better life, Marguerite decides to follow him and test her suspicions of love—only the trip proves to be more harrowing than she anticipated. Love, adventure, and restitution await her if she can survive the voyage.

Based on the true story of The Daughters of the King, Louis the XIV’s social program to settle the wilds of Canada with women of noble birth, Marguerite’s steampunk adventure follows in the footsteps of nearly one thousand brave women and girls who were rewarded handsomely for trekking across the pirate infested Atlantic to a strange land.

Katie:
I had the great privilege of reading this book in its early stages. Perilous Journey is a fun read, detailing the story of Statham's ancestor with an interesting steam punk twist. Marguerite is a spunky, yet spoiled brat, who goes through a transformation throughout the book into a strong, intelligent young woman. 
I loved Jacques throughout, and Claude... well, I wasn't very happy with him at the end.
This is a clean read, and a great adventure for teens and adults alike.

Kristy:
This is my first steam punk read and I was skeptical. But after the first chapter I was hooked. This was a fun quick escape from reality for me and I will certainly be reading more of Leigh's work!

Jackie G:
I really enjoyed reading this book. This was my first exposure to Steam Punk. A very fun genre. Following Marguerite on her adventures in her home land and in New France were a never ending trail of not knowing what would happen next. I can not wait for the continuation of this story. A life in a new world, what fun!