Toru: Wayfarer Returns
Author: Stephanie R. Sorensen
Genre: Historical Steampunk Fiction
Book Description:
A nation encircled by enemies
A noblewoman with everything to lose
A fisherman with everything to prove and a nation to save.
In Japan of 1852, the peace imposed by the Tokugawa Shoguns has lasted 250 years. Peace has turned to stagnation, however, as commoners grow impoverished and their lords restless. Swords rust. Martial values decay. Foreign barbarians circle the island nation’s closed borders like vultures.
Tōru, a shipwrecked young fisherman rescued by traders and taken to America, defies the Shogun’s ban on returning to Japan, determined to save his homeland from foreign invasion. Can he rouse his countrymen in time? Or will the cruel Shogun carry out his vow to execute all who set foot in Japan after traveling abroad? Armed only with his will, a few books, dirigible plans and dangerous ideas, Tōru must transform the Emperor’s realm before the Black Ships come.
Book Description:
A nation encircled by enemies
A noblewoman with everything to lose
A fisherman with everything to prove and a nation to save.
In Japan of 1852, the peace imposed by the Tokugawa Shoguns has lasted 250 years. Peace has turned to stagnation, however, as commoners grow impoverished and their lords restless. Swords rust. Martial values decay. Foreign barbarians circle the island nation’s closed borders like vultures.
Tōru, a shipwrecked young fisherman rescued by traders and taken to America, defies the Shogun’s ban on returning to Japan, determined to save his homeland from foreign invasion. Can he rouse his countrymen in time? Or will the cruel Shogun carry out his vow to execute all who set foot in Japan after traveling abroad? Armed only with his will, a few books, dirigible plans and dangerous ideas, Tōru must transform the Emperor’s realm before the Black Ships come.
Buy Links:
EXCERPT
“Rather than argue with them, you should invite them to make the first flight with you,” said Takamori. “At first they will agree, since it is their place as the leaders. Everyone is very excited about the dirigibles. Set the time and place for the first flight. Jiro should explain that is not a good time because of the wind or something technical that needs testing first. You argue with Jiro and perhaps even scold him for impertinence in front of the daimyōs.”
“Yes, I am often scolded for impertinence,” said Jiro. “I have a talent for it, you know.”
“Indeed you do,” said Tōru. He saw where Takamori was going. “Then they notice the risks and uncertainties…and they ask me if it is safe. I tell them honestly that we have no idea if it is safe or if it will work, and that we might all crash to a fiery death and therefore perhaps I should test it first myself before we endanger them.”
“And I will be impertinent again and tell you in front of them that you don’t have a clue how to fly one of these dirijibi!” Jiro finished the plan for them. “Which is also true, by the way. I know how to fly one of these, and you don’t.”
“You’ve never flown one either,” protested Tōru.
“I have built one. Almost. Soon. How many have you built?” asked Jiro, with his broad grin.
Tōru opened his mouth and closed it again.
“See? Problem solved,” said Takamori, as he pounded Tōru on the back. “We have a fine dirijibi pilot, the finest dirijibi pilot in all of Japan, our good man Jiro here.”
“Yes, I am often scolded for impertinence,” said Jiro. “I have a talent for it, you know.”
“Indeed you do,” said Tōru. He saw where Takamori was going. “Then they notice the risks and uncertainties…and they ask me if it is safe. I tell them honestly that we have no idea if it is safe or if it will work, and that we might all crash to a fiery death and therefore perhaps I should test it first myself before we endanger them.”
“And I will be impertinent again and tell you in front of them that you don’t have a clue how to fly one of these dirijibi!” Jiro finished the plan for them. “Which is also true, by the way. I know how to fly one of these, and you don’t.”
“You’ve never flown one either,” protested Tōru.
“I have built one. Almost. Soon. How many have you built?” asked Jiro, with his broad grin.
Tōru opened his mouth and closed it again.
“See? Problem solved,” said Takamori, as he pounded Tōru on the back. “We have a fine dirijibi pilot, the finest dirijibi pilot in all of Japan, our good man Jiro here.”
About the Author
Stephanie is a writer based in the Victorian mining town of Leadville, Colorado, where she lives at 10,251 feet with her husband, five chickens, two bantam English game hens and one Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. After a former life in big cities-New York City, Tokyo, Hong Kong, Boston, Mexico City, Atlanta, Los Angeles and Santa Fe-she now enjoys the birdsong and quiet writing time she finds in Leadville. Her first novel draws on her experience living and working in Japan; her next historical novel is set in Mexico where she also lived for several years. As a Leadville local, she likes her Victorian attire spiced with a little neo-Victorian futurism and the biggest bustle possible.
Recognition for "Toru: Wayfarer Returns"
-- Finalist, Fantasy category, 2016 Next Generation Indie Book Awards
-- Bronze Medal Award, Multicultural Fiction category, 2016 eLit Book Awards
Recognition for "Toru: Wayfarer Returns"
-- Finalist, Fantasy category, 2016 Next Generation Indie Book Awards
-- Bronze Medal Award, Multicultural Fiction category, 2016 eLit Book Awards
Author Links:
Website ¦ Facebook ¦ Publisher ¦ Publisher Facebook ¦ Publisher Twitter ¦ Sell Sheet PDF ¦ Kirkus Review ¦ Historical Novel Society
***GIVEAWAY***
Blog Tour Organised by:
Thanks for hosting!
ReplyDeleteCongrats on the tour and thanks for the chance to win :)
ReplyDeleteHey, I really appreciate you hosting me today. Just wanted to let your followers know I've put "Toru" on special promotion through the book tour for $0.99 on Amazon, and I'm working on getting the price lowered for Kobo, Nook and iBooks as well. I hope you'll check it out!
ReplyDeleteThanks,
Stephanie
You are most welcome. I really like the book cover. Congrats on the book :)
DeleteThe book description and excerpt sounds intriguing. Thanks for sharing. Love the cover too.
ReplyDeleteIt is a great cover, really brings home the blending of genres!
ReplyDelete--Trix
Thank you for the excerpt.
ReplyDeleteI am really enjoying following this tour, thank you for all the great blog posts and excerpts!
ReplyDeletethanks
ReplyDeleteThanks for hosting this giveaway
ReplyDeleteI can't wait to read this book ! Thank You !
ReplyDeleteLove the cover of the book!
ReplyDeleteWhat is your favorite scfi book?
ReplyDeleteI want that book. It looks very cool.
ReplyDeleteThis one sounds like a great read!!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the chance to win!
this book looks/sounds awesome.
ReplyDeleteThank you for the giveaway & excerpt.
ReplyDeleteToru sounds like a great adventure. Thank you
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing the excerpt - this sounds like a great book :)
ReplyDeleteStephanie seems very worldly. It would be interesting to read an autobiography of her life, also.
ReplyDeleteFee roberts,
DeleteYour comment just made me laugh out loud and shout down the spiral stairs from my writing nook in the attic to share it with my husband. He laughed too, for it sounds so glamorous. I live in a tiny mountain mining town, raise chickens, have forgotten where I keep my make-up, sew, read and write. Not very worldly at all am I, although I do believe in the magic of books, and the opportunities they afford us for traveling into every time, every place, every race and culture of human being.
This sounds like a fantastic book. Love the cover! Thanks for hosting.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad everyone likes the cover so much! If I may brag on my cover designers a bit, the cover actually won an award! https://stephaniersorensen.com/2016/05/cover-design-award/ They were absolutely amazing to work with and just completely understood what the cover needed to be. If you ever need a cover, talk to Biserka Design!
DeleteIt's awesome!
DeleteSounds great,thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteLildevilgirl22, whoa, there are so many I enjoy! You'll see from my list that I love epic scale, clashes of civilizations, and endless series...Here are some favorites: Anything by Heinlein--love his old school high testosterone swashbuckling sense of humor, the Dune series, the Foundation Series, Ender's Game and all the books that followed by Orson Scott Card, anything by Ursula Le Guin (although maybe she is considered more fantasy?), The Three Body Problem series by Cixin Liu (China's hottest science fiction writer at the moment), the Ancillary Justice series by Ann Leckie (sentient spaceships, anyone?), The Martian by Andrew Weir (engineering problem-solving porn!), Abaddon's Gate series by James S.A.Corey (hilarious motifs with Mormons, noir detectives and epic scale alien invasions), and guilty pleasure here, ashamed to admit I loved it, for it's politically incorrect and cheesy pulpy space opera but SO much fun B.V.Larson's Star Force Series...and wow wow wow, the series I am gobbling up now, N.K.Jemisin's The Fifth Season series. I'm in book 2 and I am in awe of her writing craft, her human insight, her wisdom, her understanding. It is literature as well as a cracking good story with characters who hook and intrigue. You all must rush out and read it, for it is grand.
ReplyDeleteThis book sounds really great--thanks for sharing it!
ReplyDeleteThis immediately caught my attention! Definitely want to read this. :)
ReplyDeleteWhat made you choose to the genre of historical steampunk?
ReplyDeleteThe story I wanted to tell...an alternate history set in Japan. I wanted to look at how Japanese culture met the West, but not the strict history of it, more the feel of it. Loosening it up with Steampunk let my characters show the story in an approachable way. I love the culture of Japan, and wanted to build a story in that world, but I am not a historian. So I blended history and fantasy to create a world for my characters.
ReplyDeleteA fascinating description.
ReplyDeletehow did you choose your setting?
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like an interesting read. Thanks for the giveaway.
ReplyDeleteWigget, I had lived in Japan for years, loved it, so that is part of choosing the setting. I also wanted to do something new and fresh within steampunk, instead of the usual Victorian England or Wild West settings, and I thought Japan was a great fit, for it went through a really fast industrial revolution around that "Steampunk" time period and steampunk is about a culture's response to technology, among other things.
ReplyDeleteEnjoyed the excerpt. Sounds like a good story.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the giveaway.
ReplyDeletemia2009(at)comcast(dot)net
This book looks fantastic! Thanks for hosting.
ReplyDelete