Lori Alden Holuta Celebrates a Decade of Brassbright and the Joy of Steampunk Storytelling
PHOTO: Author Lori Alden Holuta in her Michigan home, where imagination grows alongside vegetables, herbs, and endless stories.
A Spirited Journey Through Fiction, Food, and Victorian Flair With One of Steampunk’s Most Imaginative Voices
Lori Alden Holuta brings humour, heart, and historical charm to life through her beloved Brassbright books, poetry, and cookbooks, inspiring readers of all ages with her whimsical storytelling.
Lori Alden Holuta, a multitalented author whose works sparkle with creativity, wit, and heart. From the steam vents and skyscrapers Brassbright City is modeled after New York City, but with a brassy, Victorian spin, Holuta crafts literary experiences that resonate with both young readers and adults. Her storytelling is at once clever and comforting, brimming with spirited characters, vintage charm, and deeply rooted values of curiosity, courage, and community.
Celebrating the tenth anniversary of her beloved debut novel The Flight to Brassbright, Holuta continues to enchant with forthcoming projects like Down the Tubes, a long-awaited sequel bursting with charm and clever chaos, and Parlor Poetry: A Victorian Versification Abecedary, which showcases her gift for wordplay and historical homage. Her world of Industralia extends far beyond fiction into delightful cookbooks that weave recipes with lore, revealing a storyteller who finds magic in the everyday.
Holuta’s stories sparkle with wit, warmth, and worldbuilding brilliance, inviting readers into a vibrant universe that delights and empowers.
In this exclusive interview for Mosaic Digest, Lori Alden Holuta reflects on her writing journey, shares a peek into her vibrant imagination, and reaffirms her place as a literary artisan whose work both entertains and uplifts.
The Flight to Brassbright is turning ten this year—a major milestone! What inspired you to revisit the book with a special edition, and what new elements are you most excited for readers to discover?
I’ve grown a lot as a writer over the past decade. While I think the story holds up well, there are a few things I’d like to change, or at least have the chance to explain to my readers. I’ve held onto every draft, all my notes, even my scribbled maps and building plans. As my math teacher used to require, I’ll “show my work” for anyone curious about the process.
Your upcoming poetry collection, Parlor Poetry: A Victorian Versification Abecedary, sounds both whimsical and historically rich. What drew you to the Victorian era as the thematic core for this book, and how did you approach blending poetic form with historical fact?
I enjoy playing with words and the challenge of making use of rhythm, rhyme, and beat. I got the notion to write a poem for every letter of the alphabet. I needed a binding theme, though. My lifelong obsession with the Victorian era seemed a logical choice. A talented artist friend volunteered to make an illustration for each letter. I chose 26 topics so that she could get to work. Whenever the mood struck, I’d tackle a topic, write a poem or two, and add an introduction to the topic for readers who might not be familiar with, for example, a reticule or a daguerreotype. And finally, I’m almost done.
Full Steam Ahead: A Short Story Collection where Kids Save the Day has resonated with young readers. What inspired you to write empowering stories for children, and what has been the most rewarding feedback you’ve received?
My Brassbright universe has plenty of scrappy young kids. Most of them are smart, curious children who aren’t afraid of a challenge. These sorts of kids are just so fun to write! One of the stories, “The Secret of Tarragon Alley”, resonated with a local family who were new to backyard gardening. Robin, my budding (see what I did there) horticulturist, gave them inspiration to try some experiments in their own garden. I was so excited to hear that!
From imaginative fiction to poetry, and even cookbooks—you seem to thrive in many genres. How do you balance such varied creative outlets, and what motivates you to explore these different forms of storytelling?
What is this “balance” you speak of? My motivation is to push concepts out of my head and into stories where they belong so I can have my brain back. I have a really energetic imagination though, so the process is never-ending.
Can you give us a sneak peek into Down the Tubes, the long-awaited sequel to The Flight to Brassbright? What challenges and joys have accompanied its creation over the years?
When I wrote The Flight to Brassbright, I expected it to be the culmination of an exciting writing experience. I didn’t expect it to capture my imagination the way it has, but every time I think about Brassbright City, something new pops to mind. This story just grew out of the city I’ve come to love.
Down the Tubes has some complex logistics that have to hang together in a way that makes sense. My eagle-eyed editor has been a lifesaver. I’ve rewritten the story repeatedly, based on his observations. I may whine, but I’m grateful he won’t let this book get out the door until it’s truly ready. The manuscript had to be set aside whenever real-life challenges arose, including my retirement, the Covid pandemic, family health issues, and moving to a new home (twice!)
The book is really six novellas bundled into one novel. They all take place over the same two weeks in the Autumn of 1895. The first story plays out an “inciting incident” that affects everyone in the next four stories. The final story ties up loose ends and bring everyone together to celebrate a citywide holiday, “Greensday”.
The inciting incident would probably make Harold Lloyd, the Three Stooges, and the Marx Brothers all say, “Whoa, too much!” The accident causes four letters to be sent through the wrong pneumatic mail tubes in the citywide mail system. The recipients don’t realize they received the wrong mail, and they act on the messages they have in hand. The recipients and the senders find their lives are changed in a variety of ways.
You’ve mentioned planning another cookbook for 2026. What role does food and family tradition play in your creative life, and how do your cookbooks reflect your personality and values as a storyteller?
I’m the family historian and keeper of genealogies and recipes. I decided to make a cookbook featuring the foods my characters enjoyed in my Brassbright stories, since many of those were my family recipes. Each recipe is accompanied by a relevant story excerpt. I kept it cute and simple, illustrating it with vintage clip art rather than lavish, expensive photography.
Steamed and Steamy was such fun to make that I decided to do another. I had so many cabbage recipes from family and friends that Shredding It came together quickly. Summertime seems to be when the cookbook-bug hits, so that is likely to happen again in Summer, 2026. The next volume might be soups and stews, but we shall see!
