New York Times bestselling author Gail Carriger writes to cope with being raised in obscurity by an expatriate Brit and an incurable curmudgeon. She survived her early years by reading most of her local library and memorizing Greek battles. Eventually she escaped small-town life and inadvertently acquired several degrees in Higher Learning. In pursuit of further finishing, Ms Carriger travelled ... Read morethe historic cities of Europe, subsisting entirely on the biscuits secreted in her handbag. The Finishing School series is Gail's first foray into young adult fiction. In it, she travels back to a time before the Parasol Protectorate, explaining the mysteries of this steampunk world and visiting a few old friends. Gail now resides in the Colonies, surrounded by fantastic shoes, where she insists on tea imported from London. Show Less