Meet the Creator
Allow Me to Introduce Myself...
My name is Clayton Stabley
I'm the creator of The Curiositorium of Cogglepotts—a steampunk world where imagination is engineered, curiosity is celebrated, and every story invites readers to discover something extraordinary.
Long before I ever wrote my first book, I was building, creating, and imagining. Whether through art, music, design, or hands-on invention, I've always believed that ordinary things can become extraordinary with enough curiosity and a little imagination.
As a retired U.S. Army veteran, lifelong creator, and someone fortunate enough to experience different parts of the world through my military service, I’ve learned that the greatest adventures aren’t always measured by the places we’ve traveled or the discoveries we’ve made.
Sometimes the most important discoveries are the ones we make about ourselves—through the people we meet, the challenges we face, and the experiences that shape us.
Because in the end, the true measure of an adventure is not simply where it takes us, but what it teaches us—and how we use what we’ve learned to inspire, encourage, and bring something meaningful to the lives of others.
Eventually, that lifelong curiosity became impossible to ignore. It demanded a world of its own.
That world became Gearinthia—a place filled with steam-powered curiosities, remarkable inventions, forgotten mysteries, and impossible machines waiting to be rediscovered.
At the heart of Gearinthia stands my most treasured creation: Professor Thaddeus Montague Cogglepotts—an eccentric inventor, storyteller, and guide who welcomes young adventurers (and the young at heart) into a world where creativity, kindness, and discovery are every bit as important as science, engineering, and invention.
Professor Cogglepotts was inspired by my two real-life granddaughters, Madilynn and Madison, whose curiosity and sense of wonder reminded me that the greatest adventures often begin close to home. What started as a single character soon grew into an entire world of books, artwork, educational experiences, and live performances—all created to inspire families to explore, imagine, and learn together.
My work is deeply inspired by the craftsmanship of the Industrial and Victorian era and the timeless sense of wonder found in stories like Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory. Through storytelling, illustration, immersive world-building, and live performance, my goal has always been the same: to create experiences that don't simply entertain—they awaken curiosity.
Today, I continue to expand the Curiositorium through new stories, imaginative inventions, artwork, and educational programs, inviting visitors not just to read about this world—but to step inside it.
Because I believe curiosity is one of the greatest gifts we're ever given.
It isn't something we outgrow...
It's something we return to.
