Jaya
Jaya asked Gail Carriger:

Hi my names Jaya M. I am doing a project on your writing style for an 8th grade project and I was wondering if you had some tips on writing for me, also if you know of a few places to get steampunk costumes. I am currently reading your first finishing academy book. I love it! Is vieve transgender or just a tom boy? Thank you!

Gail Carriger Tips on writing? Sit. Write. Finish. That's the secret, of course, almost no one ever actually finishes.

There's lots of steampunk stuff all over the internet, on etsy and amazon and so forth. I like to make my own (and yes I started when I was your age, if not younger) by shopping at thrift stores and modifying. I have a massive blog post here full of resources. http://retrorack.blogspot.com/2016/01...

I don't know if Vieve is transgender or not. Given the time period she wouldn't have the vocabulary to articulate it, nor would any of my POV characters. If your read any of my adult books you will meet her all grown up and she still cross dresses and she is gay. In the Victorian era women who preferred the company of women were called "Toms" but there is no word for actually being a man trapped in a woman's body. I guess the answer to your question is, I don't know. Perhaps if I ever write a book with Vieve as the central character I will find out.

Best of luck with your project!
~ Gail

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