Jon Hartless

Rise of the Petrol Queen Jon Hartless

Poppy Orpington is going racing. With or without your approval. Following a controversial disqualification at the Purley Cup, the biggest racing event of the year, Poppy Orpington is hot news - especially when she announces she will be racing again in her unique, petrol-fuelled car, Thunderbus. And more announcements follow for the launch of her own clothing line, as well as her own car-manufacturing business. In response, the outraged media launches an all-out war on Poppy, slandering her character, belittling her achievements and pouring scorn on her abilities, for the establishment expects everyone to know their place - especially working-class women. Can Poppy succeed on her own terms or will she be crushed into conformity? And can society's conventions ever be flouted without consequence? Join editor James Birkin as he looks back at Poppy's first full year in both racing and business. Rise of the Petrol Queen; book two of a Steampunk motor racing adventure set in a world of division, intolerance and inequality which modern readers may find disturbingly familiar...