I have to start this post with some sad news: due to a pile of other commitments in recent weeks and an upcoming trip, the next issue of Marvellous Adventure will have to be delayed — most likely until the end of January. Believe me, I don’t like this anymore than you do, but you know what they say about the best laid plans of mice and men…

However, since so many of you have been loyally following each issue I decided to give you a little treat. Call it a Christmas present if you like. As you know, The Adventures of Emily Monroe is the work of a mysterious figure who calls himself The Author. He claims to be doing constant research into the life of this hitherto unknown character and the lives of people around her; this research goes into the narratives he weaves. I asked The Author if, in lieu of a new issue, we might put out some of his preliminary notes on the backgrounds of these people and — after a bit of arm-twisting, let me tell you — he agreed. The documents (sometimes edited; The Author has a remarkably firm view of spoilers) trickle into the editorial offices every now and then, and I pore over them with a fine-toothed comb.

Here follows a substantial excerpt from a biographical sketch of Emily Monroe herself.

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Emily Leanne Monroe was born on October 23, 1905, the daughter of James Monroe and [blank], in the small town of New Camden to the northwest of Aurora City. She was born in Hollyfield House, the estate built by her grandfather Matthew Monroe when he made his fortune.

Emily was an athletic girl, having an interest in both gymnastics and sports in school. She wanted to develop skills in various areas such as climbing, swimming and diving, archery, shooting, piloting, and fencing, but didn’t have the time to pursue everything. James encouraged this as much as he could, taking Emily on outdoor adventures and sometimes giving her private lessons when it was considered unfashionable for young ladies to participate in such activities. Emily also remembers a time when he gave her a lockpicking lesson, which she thought strange but didn’t question then. This was just before he died.

James Monroe was killed in a car crash in November of 1921. It was put down officially as an accident caused by ice on the road. Emily was 16 years old. Upon her father’s death she went to live with her Aunt Marie, her father’s sister, who was the manager of a theatre company and one of its leading actresses. She was a loving guardian, but at first they had trouble adjusting to each other. Eventually the two found common ground and Emily began to discover an interest in acting. Aunt Marie taught Emily her craft, especially in the area of makeup and disguise; Emily even appeared several times onstage in various supporting roles under a pseudonym.

In 1926, Emily turned 21 and on attaining her majority took over as the head of Monroe Industries, the company founded by her grandfather.

The month of April 1935 changed Emily’s life forever. It was then that she met Richard Newport and discovered the secret that her father had kept from her: that he was a member of an organization called The Whitehawk Legion, dedicated to fighting crime and injustice all over the world. James Monroe was in charge of operations in Aurora City and the surrounding territory, holding the rank of centurion. This caused Emily to see her childhood in a new light and indeed forced her to reconsider everything she thought she knew about her father and herself. It began to make her more and more inquisitive about the past history of her family, eventually growing into something of an obsession.

Emily Monroe is 5’7” tall, with brown hair and eyes. She dresses fashionably, but not overly fancy in her everyday clothes. She prides herself on her professionalism as a businesswoman and leader of an important company, something that is not always taken seriously by the older men both inside and outside the company. She is surrounded by male influence, but retains her essential femininity without becoming a tomboy who hates dresses and refuses to wear skirts. She is very brave, but can sometimes rush in recklessly where she shouldn’t — a trait she shares with Richard Newport. She has a tendency to overconfidence in part because of her determination to overcome the social obstacles she encounters as she does a man’s job. When she is worried or thinking or fretting, she has a tendency to unconsciously begin fiddling with bits of her hair and ends up by chewing it.

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Look for the fourth issue of Marvellous Adventure, containing the next installment of The Adventures of Emily Monroe, in the new year. Until then you can take the opportunity to refresh your memory of the storyline. Find past issues here.

Thank you for your patience. And remember to come back for more…Adventure With A Capital A!