#followFriday - @GailCarriger: New York Times Bestselling Steampunk Author, Tea Fanatic.

Little is known about @GailCarriger's origins other than that she was raised in obscurity by an expatriate Brit and an incurable curmudgeon. And we only know that because that is what she tells us. Corroborating documentation is mysteriously missing. Or we didn't bother to go look. One or the other.

Aside from her deep seated and pervasive obsession with tea, Gail is perhaps best known for being a New York Times Bestselling Author for her Parasol Protectorate Series, Soulless, Changeless, Blameless, Heartless (forthcoming in July 2011), and Timeless (eternal, yet generally available in 2012). The series is set in a Steam era world where Vampires, Werewolves, and the Soulless exist openly alongside human society as part of the same civilization. At least, they do in the British Empire, where Alexia Tarabotti must deal with forces attempting to usurp the power of the Supernaturals. Ripping good stuff.  Really.

On Twitter, @GailCarriger gives reign to her tea cravings and her taste for fashion. And she does find the most fantastically steampunky things. She is an excellent person to converse with on these topics, or in person, should you be fortunate to meet her at one of her many Convention appearances. I was lucky enough to meet her at BaltiCon this year. Indeed, if you are supplying the scones, jam, and hot water, she is likely to be quite eager to speak with you. But do understand if she is particular about her Tea. Strawberries would be considered a plus. Just don't forget the cream!

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