Stop Press Girl

A young woman who inherits the ability to stop any mechanical device she encounters. Her gift brings both wonder and danger, and it mysteriously ceases when she falls in love, creating tension about her true influence. Her journey takes her from Slipfold to London, where she becomes a focal point of media attention and public curiosity.

A junior partner at Fairfax & Sons who hopes to marry Jennifer and secure the reputation of his family's company. His plans are complicated by his fear of scandal when machines stop working around him, and by the cost of failing to impress Jennifer's guardian. He is eager to demonstrate that he is respectable, despite the chaotic events around him.

Jennifer's protective father-like figure and the village dentist who tests Roy and later worries about the consequences of Jennifer's gift. He believes in handling the situation with caution and uses practical wisdom to guide the family through the escalating publicity. His guidance frames the family’s responses to the public spectacle.

Jennifer's aunt who is involved in the plans to manage her niece's powers. She supports concealment of the truth and plays a role in destabilizing the threat of exposure. Her presence adds a layer of family dynamic to the story's tension between privacy and publicity.

A journalist who falls in love with Jennifer and becomes a central figure in the media coverage surrounding her abilities. He writes articles that propel her into the public eye and later wrestles with the ethics of using her story for his career. His reporting drives the narrative's momentum and public debate.

Another journalist who covers Jennifer's story, often challenging its credibility. She investigates and documents the events, contributing to the national conversation about whether the powers are real or a fabrication. Her perspective helps balance the media narrative.

Jennifer's roommate who later steps into a supporting role in London, helping with transportation and covering shifts. Her actions assist in moving Jennifer's journey forward and illustrate the wider social network surrounding the central figure.

Roy Fairfax's father and the head of the London factory and showroom tour, who encounters Jennifer during her visit. He represents corporate interest and the industrial side of London life, adding another layer to the power dynamics around the gifted woman.