Indie authors RK Ashwick, Tess Carletta, and Noah Hawthorne discuss their immortal characters and how they use immortality in their writing—from forest spirits to fae descendants and everything between and beyond. Spoilers ahead! RK Ashwick (she/her) is the author of the Lutesong trilogy beginning with The Stray Spirit, as well as the cozy fantasy …

Carolina Cruz (they/them) is joined by Vesper Doom (she/they) to discuss their space horror anthology Astrophobia—including an audio love letter to the Alien films and the joy of collaborating with human authors and human artists. Vesper Doom (she/they) is the author of sci-fi, fantasy, and horror works like Broodmother, The Binding of Bloom Mounta…

Cozy fantasy author RK Ashwick (she/her) chats with Sebastian Nothwell (he/him) about the rewards and challenges of wrapping up a series with her latest novel The Spirit’s Curse, the conclusion to the Lutesong trilogy. The spirits have awoken- and can never sleep again. After being roused to defend against a magical disaster, the nature spirits of …

Please enjoy this exclusive preview of the audiobook for Kit and Basie by Tess Carletta, narrated by Josh Innerst. Immortality is a dangerous affair when it isn’t done right. Basie Yeats knows he’s doing immortality all wrong, spending endless days in the same place, but he doesn’t see a reason to leave the home he loves in Long Lily, Pennsylvania.…

A roundtable of indie authors chat about why we love independent bookstores, the perfect match between indie authors and indie bookshops, and what NOT to do as an indie author who wants to work with independent bookshops. Carolina Cruz (they/them) is the author of the vampire horror romance Blood in the Water and the queer fantasy series The Creed …

Please enjoy this special sneak peek into the audiobook of Oak King Holly King - a gay Victorian fae romance by Sebastian Nothwell, read by Gary Furlong. Shrike, the Butcher of Blackthorn, is a legendary warrior of the fae realms. When he wins a tournament in the Court of the Silver Wheel, its queen names him her Oak King - a figurehead destined to…

Audiobook narrator turned author Natalie Naudus (she/her) joins Carolina Cruz (they/them) and Sebastian Nothwell (he/him) to discuss her debut novel Gay the Pray Away, a young adult tale of escaping the confines of a cult to find a sapphic happily-ever-after that deftly weaves raised stakes with even higher hopes. Natalie Naudus (she/her) is an Aud…

Robin Jo Margaret (xe/xyr) joins Noah Hawthorne (he/they) to discuss xyr queer indie author journey, including the new She Was Monstrous anthology, flipping the script on who gets to be the beast in romance, forging author community through collaboration, and the joy of commissioning human artists. Robin Jo Margaret (xe/xyr) is a queer and disabled…

Please enjoy this special sneak peek into the audiobook of Oak King Holly King - a gay Victorian fae romance by Sebastian Nothwell, read by Gary Furlong. Shrike, the Butcher of Blackthorn, is a legendary warrior of the fae realms. When he wins a tournament in the Court of the Silver Wheel, its queen names him her Oak King - a figurehead destined to…

Tess Carletta (she/her) chats with Sebastian Nothwell (he/him) about her successful Kickstarter campaign for her queer romantic fantasy novel Goldheart. After being abducted from his orphanage, Senna Kane was raised and molded into the perfect Goldheart. As his personal guard, Senna accompanies Prince Percy on a journey outside the kingdom of Talsu…

Please enjoy this special sneak peek into the audiobook of Phantom and Rook by Aelina Isaacs, narrated by Kirt Graves. At 100 years old, witch Arlo Rook is set to finally leave the orphanage and strike out on his own — but his life turns upside down when he crashes into Thatch Phantom, a celebrated immortal who longs for a place and a person to cal…

E.M. Lindsey (they/them) chats with Sebastian Nothwell (he/him) about writing characters with disabilities, forging your own path through indie publishing, and keeping hope alive while spitefully surviving. E.M. Lindsey (they/them) is a non-binary, MM Romance author, an ancient historian, and avid lover of nerdy things. You can connect with them an…

Sarah Wallace (they/she) chats with Sebastian Nothwell (he/him) about the surprise release of their queernormative cozy Regency romantasy The Viscount Says Yes. Pip Standish enjoys his life in Tutting-on-Cress, surrounded by found family and working in his friend Gerry’s spellshop. But there’s one niggling problem at the corner of his how to propos…

A roundtable of queer and cozy authors discusses why we love the found family trope, what stories do it best, our favorite character dynamics within the trope, and why it rings so true for the queer community. RK Ashwick (she/her) is the author of the cozy fantasy A Rival Most Vial and its sequel A Captured Cauldron, as well as the Lutesong trilogy…

Meg (she/her) of Meg’s Tea Room joins cozy fantasy authors Noah Hawthorne (he/they), RK Ashwick (she/her), and Sarah Wallace (they/them) for a roundtable discussion on the subgenre’s growing popularity, what they’d like to experience in cozy stories going forward, and how to cope with cozy burnout—plus, all the cozy recs you could ever dream of. Me…

Please enjoy this special sneak peek into the audiobook for Letters to Half Moon Street by Sarah Wallace, narrated by Abigail Bailey Maupin and Gregory Maupin. London, 1815: where magic can be purchased at convenience, and the fashionable and wealthy descend for the start of the social Season. But 25-year-old Gavin Hartford finds the city intimidat…

Please enjoy this special sneak peek into the audiobook of Oak King Holly King - a gay Victorian fae romance by Sebastian Nothwell, read by Gary Furlong. Shrike, the Butcher of Blackthorn, is a legendary warrior of the fae realms. When he wins a tournament in the Court of the Silver Wheel, its queen names him her Oak King - a figurehead destined to…

Indie authors Tess Carletta (she/her) and Alana Savchuk (she/her) discuss their personal writing journeys through the lens of fanfiction, including learning to write for yourself, giving yourself permission to be bad at writing, making the leap from fanfic to original fiction, fandom etiquette, The Scottish Boy by Alex de Campi, Reylo, the Buck/Edd…

This week we offer you a special sneak peek into the audiobook for the queernormative cozy fantasy Regency romance Breeze Spells and Bridegrooms! (Written by Sarah Wallace and S.O. Callahan, narrated by Matt Simpson.) Thanks so much for listening; we’ll join you again for more interviews and roundtables soon. Roger Barnes is determined to solve iss…

From Victorian penny dreadfuls to 21st century fanfiction and everything between and beyond, St John Starling chats with Sebastian Nothwell about serial fiction, Gothic romance, and bold strategies for telling stories. St John Starling (he/him) is the author of the queer Gothic romances What Manner of Man and The Sacred Sins of Father Black. You ca…

Ring in the new year with this special first chapter sneak peek of the A Rival Most Vial audiobook! (Written by RK Ashwick, narrated by Brendan Robert Kane.) Stay tuned next year for more author interviews and panel discussions, and thank you so much for listening. Any adventurer worth their sword knows about Ambrose Beake. The proud, quiet half-el…

“Even back then, they wanted that twink obliterated.” Noah Hawthorne (he/they) interviews Trip Galey (he/him) about paying queer artists to make queer art, fae morality, identification with the alien, drawing inspiration from boredom, resonating with queer experiences outside of your own, writing the weirdest story of your heart, and the wildly ent…

Noah Hawthorne (he/they) interviews Kara Jorgensen (they/them) about exploring queer history and themes of neurodivergence, disability, and grief through undead indie romance. Kara Jorgensen (they/them) is the author of queer historical fantasy romances including the Reanimator Mysteries (beginning with The Reanimator’s Heart), the Ingenious Mechan…

Writing from personal experience, Carolina Cruz (they/them) interviews Valerie Gomez (she/her) about mental health in the Latine community and portrayals in queer romance. Valerie Gomez (she/her) is the author of the contemporary queer Latine romance Cover Story and its sequel novella Coming Home, as well as the cozy queer romance novella A Handyma…

What is beta reading? How do you become a beta reader? And how do you get the most out of the feedback you receive from beta readers? Three indie authors come together for a rousing discussion, including some wild stories. RK Ashwick (she/her) is the cozy fantasy author of the Lutesong series (beginning with The Stray Spirit) and the Side Quest Row…

What is it about rivals-to-lovers that makes readers ravenous for it? Five indie authors form a roundtable to discuss a favorite trope. RK Ashwick (she/her) is the author of the cozy fantasy A Rival Most Vial and its sequel A Captured Cauldron, as well as the Lutesong trilogy beginning with The Stray Spirit. You can connect with her at her website:…

Move over holiday cheer, it’s time for holiday queer! Tess Carletta (she/her) interviews Jay Leigh (she/her) about the upcoming multi-author novella collection, Home for the Holidays, including found family, writing from a place of authenticity, mental illness representation in romance novels, and the necessity of a touch of darkness to make the li…

What are some of the rewards and challenges of taking the road less travelled and writing a romance between an already-established couple? Sebastian Nothwell (he/him) interviews Sarah Wallace (they/them) and S.O. Callahan (she/her) about their upcoming queernormative cozy Regency romantasy, Fire Spells Between Friends. Sarah Wallace and S.O. Callah…

Sarah Wallace (they/them) interviews Kayla Kumari Upadhyaya (she/her) about her work in the “relationship horror” subgenre, her career spanning nonfiction TV and film criticism to writing fiction, and adding to the growing canon of queer horror with her illustrated novelette, Helen House. Kayla Kumari Upadhyaya (she/her) is the managing editor of A…

Carolina Cruz (they/them) interviews Sebastian Nothwell (he/him) about his gothic sapphic romance The Haunting of Heatherhurst Hall, including lesbian flirtation through sapphic literature, drawing inspiration from Carmilla and The Goblin Market, the perils of writing about writers, 19th century spirit photography, and a surprise guest appearance b…

Noah Hawthorne (he/they) interviews Luna Daye (she/her) about her upcoming release Fae’s Bargain, the first sapphic story in the Fated Fae romantasy series - coming October 31st! Luna Daye (she/her) is the author of the Fated Fae romantasy series as well as the high fantasy series the Thoraius Saga. You can connect with her at her website: lunadaye…

A ship at sea is beset by a vampire, leaving two survivors—one turned, one human—adrift in uncertain tides. A bloody beginning begets a shockingly sweet end. Sebastian Nothwell (he/him) interviews Carolina Cruz (they/them) about their horror romance novella Blood in the Water. Spoilers for The Last Voyage of the Demeter (2023) and Passengers (2016)…

Sebastian Nothwell (he/him) interviews RK Ashwick (she/her) about her upcoming novel A Captured Cauldron, a cozy fantasy sequel to A Rival Most Vial—featuring a potion-brewing convention, a cozy kidnapping, and a brand new sapphic romance for a returning fan favorite. RK Ashwick (she/her) is the cozy fantasy author of the Lutesong series (beginning…

Noah Hawthorne interviews A.K. Mulford and K. Elle Morrison about cowriting, grief, inspiring representation, small town autumn, and their new cozy paranormal sapphic romance Pumpkin Spice & Poltergeist. A.K. Mulford (they/she) is the author of the Five Crowns of Okrith novels and the Golden Court series, amongst others. You can connect with them a…

Tess Carletta (she/her) interviews Sebastian Nothwell (he/him) about his gay romance novel Mr Warren’s Profession, including historical research, Victorian engineering, and the strange and stubborn road to indie publishing. Tess Carletta (she/her) is the author of Kit & Basie, a queer cozy magical-realism romance. You can connect with her at her we…

Sarah Wallace (they/them) and S.O. Callahan (she/her) answer your questions about cowriting! What does it take to meld two distinct author voices into a cohesive narrative? How did their coauthoring journey begin? And what unique formula have they worked out to balance dialogue with description? All this and more! Sarah Wallace and S.O. Callahan ar…

“Big guys that stab things also deserve to be soft and squishy.” Noah Hawthorne (he/they) interviews Sebastian Nothwell (he/him) about his queer romantasy Oak King Holly King, including historical research, fae folklore new and old, and the surprising discoveries that occur when creating an audiobook. Noah Hawthorne (he/they), also writing as Aelin…

Sebastian Nothwell (he/him) interviews Sarah Wallace (they/she) about large print and dyslexia font editions, their importance for accessibility, their value to libraries, and how indie authors can create their own. To learn more about Erin Wright's "Wide for the Win" author classes, check out her website: erinwright.net Sarah Wallace (they/she) is…

Sebastian Nothwell (he/him) interviews E. H. Lupton (she/they) about under-explored eras of historical fiction through a queer lens and the community of indie publishing. E. H. Lupton (she/they) is the author of the 1960s-set queer fantasy romance trilogy Dionysus in Wisconsin, Old Time Religion, and Troth. You can connect with them at their websit…

Noah Hawthorne (he/they) interviews M.N. Bennet (he/him) about the catharsis of cozy amidst tragedy, the joys of fanfiction, exploring literal and metaphorical queer experiences simultaneously, taking ithe terrifying leap from fantasy to contemporary, and why indie publishing is not a consolation prize. M.N. Bennet (he/him) is the author of the Bra…

Dear Listener, We hope this episode finds you well… Because it’s time to talk epistolary fiction! From Dracula to Daddy Longlegs to Dangerous Liasons (and everything in between), we discuss the weaknesses, strengths, and practical applications of epistolary writing, and determine once and for all which podcaster is secretly a ghost. Sarah Wallace (…

A character is hurt. A character is comforted. It’s all about vulnerability on today’s episode where we explore one of our favorite tropes: hurt/comfort! (Called “whump” in some circles.) From the cathartic reader experience of seeing beloved characters looked after and cared for to the versatility of a writing tool that enables characters to open …

Indie authors discuss everything we love about libraries! From the strong positive influence of libraries in our individual lives to the power of apps like Libby, Hoopla, and Kanopy, and the vital access provided by the Queer Liberation Library—plus, how to get your favorite indie books into more library collections and other ways YOU can help your…

Five indie authors weigh the benefits of writing interconnected books as a series or specializing in telling single stories, including the shiny lure of a fresh story idea, getting to know intriguing new characters compared to settling in for another adventure with old friends, the challenge of crafting a sequel as compelling as its predecessor, an…

Three indie authors at wildly different stages of newsletter experience discuss what to include in a newsletter, how often to send it, what readers expect from it, and why it’s vital to any indie author’s growth. Luna Daye (she/her) is the author of The Thoraius Saga and the Fated Fae series. You can sign up for her newsletter at her website: www.l…

Sebastian Nothwell (he/him) interviews Sarah Wallace (they/she) about the newest book in the queernormative cozy fantasy series Meddle and Mend. They discuss the challenges of crafting new love interests for established characters, the many forms queer relationships can take, and what’s coming up next in this beloved world. You can preorder The Spe…

Carolina Cruz (they/them) interviews Mars Adler (they/them) and H. S. Wolfe (they/them/he/him) about starting a small press, queer indie cozy horror, body horror as a tool to write about disability and queerness, catharsis, Weird West, and Kickstarting an anthology. You can back the Dead Cowpokes Don't Wrangle anthology Kickstarter here! Mars Adler…

Newsletters Part One with RK Ashwick and Noah Hawthorne Indie fantasy authors discuss author newsletters, why every author should have one, and what treasures readers can expect to find when they sign up. RK Ashwick (she/her) is the author of A Rival Most Vial and The Stray Spirit. You can sign up for her newsletter at her website: rkashwick.com No…

Four indie authors discuss the how and why of audiobook production - including accessibility, distribution, funding, surprises, pitfalls, and the joys of collaborating with human narrators. Plus, the true cost of paperbacks. Noah Hawthorne (he/they), also writing as Aelina Isaacs, is the author of Phantom and Rook, narrated by Kirt Graves. Sarah Wa…

Do indie authors gain anything from giving books away for free? The answer may surprise you. With bonus digressions into BookBub, Vellum, and Kobo Plus. Sarah Wallace (they/she) is a queer historical romantasy author of such titles as Letters to Half Moon Street (now permafree!) and Breeze Spells & Bridegrooms. You can connect with them and their b…