Constance is a wild, stubborn young girl growing up poor in a small industrial town in the late 1800’s. Beneath her thread-worn exterior beats the heart of a dreamer and a wordsmith. But at age twelve, she’s orphaned. Running away to join the circus—like kids do in adventure books—seems like such a brilliant idea… or is it?
It’s been ten years since Constance Jessamine Whittlesey told us her story!
Ten years ago I took a deep breath, closed my eyes, and pushed the “Publish” button to send my debut novel, The Flight to Brassbright, into the world. On February 17, 2026, which happens to be Random Acts of Kindness Day, I’m releasing this Tenth Anniversary Celebration Edition.
At its heart, The Flight to Brassbright is about a young girl finding her way in a vast and bewildering country. She survives not by knowing all the answers, but by meeting strangers who choose, again and again, to help her along her journey to Brassbright City. Some offer advice. Some offer shelter. Some become treasured friends.
This new edition, which I’m stuffing full of all sorts of bonus material, is my way of saying “thank you” to readers who enjoyed Constance’s journey, and also to new friends who are just now coming along for the ride.
Inside the book you’ll find:
- The entire original novel, with a new foreword
- A never- published novella, starring two fan-favorite characters from the book (Hint: He has red hair and she mispronounces words)
- Author’s filing cabinet memoirabilia
- Creating Industralia and the world of BrightHope
- Character Profiles
- Easter eggs, the oddity of the birds, inside jokes
- Surprises!
What Readers Are Saying

Bookshops! The Flight To Brassbright: Tenth Anniversary Celebration Edition is available through the Ingram Content Group: ISBN 9798233922107
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Constance is a wild, stubborn young girl growing up poor in a small industrial town in the late 1800’s. Beneath her thread-worn exterior beats the heart of a dreamer and a wordsmith. But at age twelve, she’s orphaned. Running away to join the circus—like kids do in adventure books—seems like such a brilliant idea… or is it?