I’m the author of the trilogy The Adventures of Bodacious Creed, a steampunk western series that takes place in an alternate wild west with a resurrected U.S. Marshal as the protagonist. The novels in that series are Bodacious Creed: a Steampunk Zombie Western, Bodacious Creed and the Jade Lake, and Bodacious Creed and the San Francisco Syndicate.
Now, I’m writing the first in a spin-off trilogy about his daughter, Anna. In fact, my Kickstarter for the project just wrapped up! I’m finishing the first draft, and plan to have the book published in early 2025.
To celebrate the success of the Kickstarter, which was 499% funded, here’s Anna’s backstory. Mild spoilers ahead if you haven’t read Bodacious Creed: a Steampunk Zombie Western, but not heavy spoilers.
Setting the Stage
Anna Lynn Boyd’s journey from Laura Ann Creed to the influential figure she became is a tale of resilience, transformation, and self-discovery. Her story, set against the backdrop of the tumultuous 1870s in an alternate timeline I call the Creedverse, examines how both external circumstances and internal determination shape one’s identity.
Early Life: Laura Ann Creed
Born as Laura Ann Creed on April 8, 1853, in Charlottesville, Virginia, familial warmth marked Anna’s early years. Her parents, James Creed, a deputy sheriff, and Raquel Anita Creed, a homemaker, provided a stable and loving environment. Laura’s childhood play, learning, and the security of a close-knit family filled her days.
Her life took a dramatic turn in 1859. When she was just six, a devastating fire engulfed the Creed home, claiming the life of her mother. Her uncle, Emilio Boyd found Laura, who had been playing in the nearby forest. In the tragedy’s aftermath, Emilio and his wife, Loretta, both devout Quakers, made a fateful decision. Believing that James Creed could not adequately care for Laura on his own, they took her away, convincing James and the rest of Charlottesville that Laura had perished in the fire.
A New Life: Becoming Anna Lynn Boyd
Emilio and Loretta moved, taking Laura with them. They changed her name to Anna Lynn Boyd, hoping to give her a fresh start away from the painful memories of her past. They raised Anna in a Quaker household, which significantly influenced her values and worldview. The Quaker principles of simplicity, peace, and equality became integral to her character.
During her teenage years, Anna discovered the truth about her origins. She learned her father hadn’t abandoned her, as her uncle and aunt claimed. This revelation sparked a deep desire within her to reconnect with her roots and understand the world from which she had been torn away.
Interest in Science
Anna displayed a keen interest in science, often found engrossed in books far advanced for her age. Even as a child, works such as Mary Somerville’s “On the Connexion of the Physical Sciences” and Michael Faraday’s “Experimental Researches in Electricity” captivated Anna. Filled with complex theories and experiments, these books fascinated her and fueled her desire to understand the natural world. This early exposure to scientific literature laid the foundation for her later achievements, as she continued to devour every scientific text she could find, from treatises on mechanical engineering to advanced research on steam power and metallurgy. Anna’s childhood passion for science not only survived her life’s upheavals, but also became the driving force behind her innovative spirit and transformative inventions.
A Journey Across America
At sixteen, driven by a need to rediscover herself and reclaim her identity, Anna fled from the Boyds’ home. She embarked on a cross-country journey, disguising herself as a boy to avoid suspicion and danger. During this period, she worked as a tinker and fix-it person, joining caravans and assisting people in various settlements. She honed her skills and gaining invaluable life experiences.
Arrival in Santa Cruz and a New Beginning
Anna’s journey eventually led her to Santa Cruz, California, in 1870. However, arriving in a new city without resources, she found herself out of money and options. Desperate to survive, she took up work as a prostitute at The House of Amber Doves. Here, she met and shared a room with Maybelle Templeton, forming a close friendship that provided her with much-needed support during a challenging time.
Despite the hardships, Anna’s inventive spirit remained undiminished. In 1872, while still working at The House of Amber Doves, she invented her first celestium alloy rod, a metal that tapped into the power of the luminiferous ether. This breakthrough marked the beginning of her journey into the world of emerging technologies.
The Inventor
Anna’s invention caught the attention of Miles Morgan, a prominent industrialist. Recognizing her genius, Morgan quickly hired her. This opportunity allowed Anna to leave prostitution and focus entirely on her inventions. She lived with the Morgan family in secret, working on various technologies that would revolutionize the world.
By mid-1875, Anna had accumulated enough success and resources that she felt ready to return to public life. She purchased The House of Amber Doves establishment from Margarita Fullerton and undertook significant renovations. Anna had the building expanded; each woman employed there received her own private room, and she had a secret laboratory added in the basement. This lab became a hub of innovation, where Anna and her partner, Jonathan Johns, worked on revolutionary technology for Morgan’s corporations.
Reclaiming Her Past: The Resurrection of James Creed
One of the most remarkable chapters in Anna’s life began with the resurrection of her father, James Creed, in 1876. Using the experimental healing properties of her celestium alloy technology, she brought him back to life as a partially mechanical being, an act of love and scientific prowess that reunited her with her father.
The Legacy of Anna Lynn Boyd
Anna Lynn Boyd’s unwavering spirit and intelligence are further highlighted in my upcoming novel, Anna, Daughter of Creed. If you’re curious about it, check out the Kickstarter, which recently wrapped up. Follow me on Amazon to get an email when the book comes out, or sign up for my newsletter by clicking on one of the free stories in the right sidebar. And, to jump in into her world now, check out the first trilogy, The Adventures of Bodacious Creed.
“I had to make my own living and my own opportunity. But I made it! Don’t sit down and wait for the opportunities to come. Get up and make them.” ~ Madam C.J. Walker