How This Journey Started
On a mild Saturday afternoon in January 2023, Tracy Caillouet walked across a field and surveyed a crowd dressed in various pre-17th century clothing. Norse Vikings sat next to Englishmen, who chatted with others in French Tudor costumes, and so on. Her gaze landed on one lady she had been informed about from a mutual friend. A newcomer and her family. After speaking with the woman briefly, Tracy reached out via Facebook, since she lived nearby.
Her name was Jessy, and she was a professional cosplayer; a person that created costumes based off various games, comics, and books. Prior to their meeting, she competed in cosplay costume contests, winning a plethora of awards over several years. She expressed interest in participating in the Medieval recreationist group that Tracy was a part of, and much of their conversation revolved around that.
Over the next couple of months, the two formed a friendship that would last a lifetime. However, it was in March of that same year that Tracy had an idea and called her friend. Little did she know, this question that would change her life.
Tracy always wanted a steampunk saloon girl costume. However, the mass-produced options showed more skin than she was comfortable with, so she reached out to Jessy and requested her seamstress expertise in creating one.
Jessy was more than willing to help and asked what colors and accessories Tracy wanted.
Having not put much thought into the accoutrements, Tracy replied, “Maybe something red and black with a cute top hat that has some decorative gears. Perhaps there can be some glowing syringes or something…You know, the usual stuff.”
Jessy paused for a moment and cleared her throat. “If you’re going to wear this to comic-cons and what not, you’ll need to have a reason why your character would have these things. If you get asked about your costume, you need to be able to explain everything. Before we move forward, you need to ask yourself,
‘Who is she?’”
Tracy was driving at the time, and after their conversation ended, she mulled it over. A few weeks passed and she decided she wanted to add various aspects of herself into this character. She was a nurse and had worked in the medical field most of her adult life. At one point, she took flying lessons and obtained a commercial license in rotorcraft (helicopters).
She had always enjoyed writing; creating small backstories for a multitude of character-driven RPG games. But this was different. This was something she couldn’t stop thinking about and it became a borderline obsession.
Overtime, she drank in dozens of books. To become a good writer, one must read. Not only were the novels fictional but she also read also tutorials. She attended classes, took notes, and slowly increased her knowledge.
In August 2024, she traveled to Greece with her husband and friends. One day, she rested on a lounge chair, and for the first time, had the courage to tell someone about her writing journey. It turned out this friend, Lynne, was also writing and attended an online critique group. Tracy joined and began reading her creation. She had much to learn, and this group proved to be an invaluable resource.
Three years after meeting Jessy, it was March 2025, and Tracy finished the first draft of her steampunk fantasy manuscript. She created an entire world, drew blueprints, and added a plethora of flawed characters. Their backstories shaped their actions, and as she progressed, she realized writing was something she loved. It had become as necessary to her life as breathing and sustenance.
To this day, she still writes and will continue to do so. Tracy will forever be grateful to her friends that lit the match of her writing, and asked the one fateful question that changed everything… Who is she?