Welcome to my weekly Author Spotlight. I’ve asked a bunch of my author friends to answer a set of interview questions, and to share their latest work.
Today: Madeleine is the writer/creator of the steampunk supernatural graphic novel, prose, and audio drama series, Boston Metaphysical Society and her new graphic novel series, Morgana Pendragon. Boston Metaphysical Society (Vol. 1) was nominated for a Geekie Award and the Reader’s Choice Steampunk Chronicle award. Morgana Pendragon #1 recently won Best First Issue in the Inaugural Zelda Awards.
In 2021, she wrote and produced the audio drama, Boston Metaphysical Society: The Ghost Ship.
The first novel in the series, Boston Metaphysical Society: A Storm of Secrets, was awarded a Silver Medal in the SciFi/Fantasy category in the Feathered Quill 2019 Book Awards.
Other short comic projects include The Scout (The 4th Monkey anthology), The Sanctuary (The Edgar Allan Poe Chronicles anthology), The Marriage Counselor (Cthulhu is Hard to Spell anthology), The Glob (Night Wolf), The Infinity Tree (Menagerie: Declassified), Monster (The Dark Side of Purity Culture anthology), Frenemies (Holiday Spirits: Monster Special Anthology), as well as The Rats of Hamelin Station for the upcoming scifi anthology, Systemic Vol. 2, and The Airship Pirate for the Rum Row anthology.
The first issue of her story for Joe Benitez’s, Lady Mechanika: The Mechanical Menagerie, will be published by Image Comics in May 2026.
Website: http://www.queenofmercia.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/QueenofMerciallc
Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/mcholly1
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/mcholly1.bsky.social
Thanks so much, Madeline, for joining me!
J. Scott Coatsworth: Do you ever base your characters on real people? If so, what are the pitfalls you’ve run into doing so?
Madeleine Holly Rossing: Boston Metaphysical Society (“BMS”) has a number of historical figures included in the series. The first volume of the graphic novel includes Tesla, Edison, Bell, Houdini, and Granville T. Woods. I wouldn’t say that I’ve had any pitfalls, but my approach to historical figures is to try and keep their relationships and personalities as accurate as possible. For instance, Edison and Tesla are NOT friends in my series, but they do work together to try and solve an issue for the greater good—sort of. Also, I don’t feel compelled to make the story historically accurate. Granville, for example, was from Ohio and accomplished much of his work there. I moved him to Boston because, well, I’m the writer, and I can do that.
JSC: Why did you choose to write in your particular field or genre? If you write more than one, how do you balance them?
MHR: Actually, I’ll expand this question to include different mediums. I’ve written for TV, film, prose (long and short form), as well as an audio drama, and of course, comics. And it’s not so much about balancing them, but prioritizing. Comics are how I make my living, so that always gets first priority. I love writing prose, especially short fiction, as it exercises a different part of my brain, though it shares similarities with comics in that it must be concise.
JSC: What is the most heartfelt thing a reader has said to you?
MHR: I’ll have to talk about the audio drama, Boston Metaphysical Society: The Ghost Ship, for this question. I ran a Kickstarter for it and one of backers came to me later to tell me a story about him and his son. His son is autistic, and it was during the time we were coming out of the COVID lockdown. He had picked his son up at school but was having a difficult time getting him in the car. He was finally able to persuade him with the promise of this new story he was listening to. The young man agreed and each day they’d listen to an episode on the way home. His son loved it and started reading the comics with his father. It enabled him to bond more with his son and have something to talk about every day. He couldn’t thank us enough. When I told the cast and crew this story (with his permission), there wasn’t a dry eye. These are the times it makes me proud to be a creator, and to work with such talented people.
JSC: How do you approach covers for your indie stories?
MHR: I am very particular about my covers, and I go through many portfolios. It’s especially important in comics. I look for artists who can capture the tone, mood, and show a good sense of the world I’ve created. I took the same approach for the cover of my novel and the anthology. I also talk to other creators for recommendations so I know I’m working with someone who gets the job done.
JSC: What book is currently on your bedside table?
Queen Demon by Martha Wells.
JSC: What secondary character would you like to explore more? Tell me about them.
Her name is Beatrice Weldsmore, and she was a secondary character in the novella, “Steampunk Rat,” in the Boston Metaphysical Society: Prelude anthology. She is the grandmother to Jonathan Weldsmore who is Samuel Hunter’s father-in-law and was the head of House Weldsmore at one time. She is overprotective, domineering, a class bigot, but tough as nails and has loved deeply in her life. She is actually one of the main characters in a prequel trilogy to Boston Metaphysical Society that I have been writing on and off over the past few years. I have the first novel done but have yet to finish the second. It begins 35 years prior to the start of the graphic novels and is set during the House Wars which is the BMS equivalent of the American Civil War.
JSC: Do you believe in the old advice to “kill your darlings?” Are you a ruthless darling assassin? What happens to the darlings you murder? Do you have a darling graveyard? Do you grieve them?
I do. I have cut many scenes out that I love when it drags the story down or no longer contributes to story or character development. There have been certain characters that are supporting or background characters in a story, but as I learn more about them, I realize they deserve a story of their own. I will backburner those characters and hope to get back to them at a later time.
JSC: Tell me one thing hardly anyone knows about you.
MHR: I have a MA in Arabic and the Cultural History of the Arabs.
JSC: What fantasy realm would you choose to live in and why?
MHR: Wakanda. Because they treat each other well, and they have cool tech.
JSC: What are you working on now, and what’s coming out next? Tell us about it!
I am working on several things. The first is finishing up the final issue in the Morgana Pendragon graphic novel series, and the Kickstarter to print the special hardback and trade paperback of Boston Metaphysical Society Vol.3. This deluxe volume features not only the complete Mystery at Pikes Peak mini-series, but includes new pin up art, all of the previous variant covers, and a NEW and our EXCLUSIVE ELEVEN PAGE STORY, The Wraith of Mechanics Hall, with art by Roberta Ingranata, into a huge 132 page book!
We launch on May 12, and you can sign up here to be notified when we launch so as not to miss the early bird specials.
Sign up link: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/mhollyrosing/boston-metaphysical-society-mystery-at-pikes-peak-vol-3
And now for Madeline’s project: Boston Metaphysical Society:
Boston Metaphysical Society is a graphic novel, prose, and audio drama series about an ex-Pinkerton detective, a spirit photographer, and a genius scientist who battle supernatural forces in late 1800s Boston.
Store | Amazon | Smashwords | Drivethru Comics
Excerpt
From Boston Metaphysical Society: Prelude (Prequel anthology. From the story, “The Secret of Gage House.”)
JEANETTE DID NOT CARE ONE bit that her romantic fantasy had been dead for over fifty years.
“He be here. I just know it, Caitlin.” The girl’s eyelashes fluttered as she pretended to swoon.
Caitlin knew a ghost was present from the moment she entered the crumbling South Boston tenement. Not because it reeked of mildew or because an icy breeze wound its way around the hem of her skirts, but because of the humming sensation throughout her body. Distinct and high-pitched, it was as if static electricity built up from her feet to her neck and rippled through her arms until it reached the end of her fingertips. When she held her hands up to her face, Caitlin saw tiny sparks dance on her nails. The sensation made her aware of everything around her; especially her friend Jeanette breathing down her neck.