Saturday, June 13, 2020 

Image by Teagan R. Geneviene, sourced via Pixabay

Welcome back to the riverside, my chuckaboos.  The episodes of this serial keep getting shorter.  I’m trying hard to make progress on the novel I began in November.  I’m a research geek, and the deplorable Internet service I get from TDS is making my pace a hundred times slower.

Even though this is an extra-short segment, I managed to use one “random reader thing.”  It’s goggles from Priscilla Bettis.  What could be better for a steampunk story?

Here are links to the past few chapters: 

 33 — Chaperone

34 — Scrabble

35 — Frown

36 — Research

We join Émeraude and Eliza, who are still at the public library in Cairo, Illinois.  Without further ado…

All aboard!

The Delta Pearl

Chapter 37 — Stalk

Kellepics at Pixabay

Haze tarnished the sun beyond the library window.  I wished…

Saturday, June 6, 2020 

Pixabay

Welcome my chuckaboos.  That’s a Victorian Era slang word for dear friend. Some of you have been following since very early in my blogging career — my long-time chuckaboos! One of the earliest of those is author and blogger, Christoph Fischer.

Last weekend’s chapter prompted Christoph to mentioned something I never knew about him.  If you’ll recall, at the end of the past episode, Eliza and Émeraude went to the library in Cairo, Illinois — and they encountered the librarian.  Well, for a time Christoph was a librarian.  So I asked if I could name our librarian after him.

Today I used two “random reader things.”  First I used fountain pen from GP Cox.  When I decided to give Christoph’s librarian a gemstone name, I thought of the fascinating gem, Jet.  Then I remembered that Resa McConaghy had suggested it…

Saturday, May 23, 2020 

Lafayette Louisiana. Steampunk Festival Wikimedia

Welcome back to the riverbank my chuckaboos.  It’s another all new episode of The Delta Pearl.  This one was not part of the original novel. 

I was able to use a couple of “random reader things.”  First we have Ribbon Candy from Jan Twissel.  Also, Beth suggested Red Herrings.  

Last time, our potential lovebirds didn’t make it off the riverboat for what might have passed for a date with the Victorians.  Do you think they can go ashore with chaperones?  More importantly will they have any fun?  Let’s see.

All aboard!

The Delta Pearl

Chapter 34 — Scrabble

Pixabay

Wind gusted down the narrow streets.  Clouds darkened the eastern sky.  Turning uneasily, I gazed back toward the river.  I could see a smidgen of water, but I had lost sight of the Delta Pearl. …