Barnes & Noble Book Signing – Now on Friday, October 24th!

Quick change of plans!

Due to a slight inventory mix-up, the signing has been rescheduled to Friday, October 24th, from 6pm onward. It will still be at Barnes & Noble in North Dartmouth, Massachusetts – just evening instead of afternoon, and pushed back far enough to allow for the books to arrive.

Apologies to those of you who had already intended to swing by. I only hope the plans made may be easily amended.

I’ve met so many wonderful readers at events like these, and I look forward to meeting you at the book signing on the new date and time – so please do come over and say hello!

(And if you’re searching for more fun things to do in the region, check out my guide to New Bedford!)

WHAT
Sebastian Nothwell book signing!

WHEN
Friday, October 24th from 6pm onward

WHERE
Barnes & Noble
Dartmouth Towne Center
392 State Road Route 6
North Dartmouth, MA

An Outstretched Hand: A Tarot Spread of Queer Stories

The secret is out at last—save the date for something exciting and new coming on November 11th!

A hand reaching to you from the shadows. Six cards over-turned. Six enchanting queer tales inspired by the magic of tarot. Explore the forest, meet the fae, pray to the gods, shepherd stars, or fight creatures of myth. An offering for you, if you accept the Outstretched Hand.

This fantasy anthology includes…

The Star by Tess Carletta

A lighthouse keeper who influences the fate of her people by wrangling misbehaving stars back into place must remedy her own constellation.

The Hierophant by Carolina Cruz

A knight who was disabled in battle gives up on asking the gods for healing and turns to something dark in the woods for help instead.

The Chariot by RK Ashwick

Two witches vie desperately for a goddess’s blessing—but the fortune they seek might be right in front of them.

Strength by Luna Daye

A warrior is sent to investigate the rumors of a raided village and is forced to face the trauma of his past, and has to battle more than his grief after a terrifying discovery.

Temperance by Noah Hawthorne

A grieving mercenery searches for the tallest mountain to throw himself from, but a mystery and curious folk keep him grounded for a little while longer.

The Devil by Sebastian Nothwell

Wherein a repressed Victorian finds fleeting release in a fae courtesan’s arms—until iron chains threaten their growing bond.

If you’d like to grab an Advanced Review Copy of the anthology, you can access the epub from BookFunnel here.

And as always, thank you for reading.

A Visitor’s Guide to New Bedford for a Book Signing

On Friday, October 24th (just over a week away!), from 6pm onward, I will be signing books at the Barnes & Noble in North Dartmouth, Massachusetts.

This is the most local-to-me signing I’ve ever done, so if you’re able to attend I have plenty of recommendations for tasty treats and cool sites to visit just a hop, skip, and jump over in scenic New Bedford!

Consider…

Izzy’s Restaurant – Incredible Cape Verdean fare; the cachupa rafugado is divine.
BesTeas – Delicious boba with actual brewed tea; my personal faves are the Salty Girl (salted caramel oolong), the Early bird (earl grey), and the Ride-or-Thai (precisely what it says on the tin).
The Baker – A wonderful bakery and cafe that has thrived despite throwing everyone who tries to verbally recommend it into a Who’s-On-First skit, and creator of the only yeasted cinnamon roll I will accept into my heart.
Aviary Books – Why visit just one bookshop in a day when you can visit two? Aviary Books has a skillfully-curated selection of fine pre-loved books, stationery, and a charming shop cat. The shop’s first anniversary will be the same day as my signing, so what better excuse to celebrate?
Acushnet River Antiques – Chock-a-block with vintage treasures and conveniently located right next door to Kyler’s Catch for the freshest seafood in town. (And given that New Bedford is one of the biggest fishing ports in the whole country? That’s saying something.)
The New Bedford Whaling Museum – I’m biased for Hold Fast reasons but the jewel of New Bedford is jam packed with exhibits of ecological, historical, and artistic interest. Wonder at the suspended whale skeletons, climb aboard the half-scale whaleship model, and stare at scrimshaw both shocking and sublime.

Regardless of how much of my hometown you take in, I’d be thrilled to meet you at the book signing – so come over and say hello!

A Draught for a Dragon with RK Ashwick on Right Here Write Queer

There’s a new episode of Right Here Write Queer waiting for you in your favorite podcast app!

RK Ashwick (she/her) chats with me about her upcoming cozy fantasy novel, A Draught for a Dragon—featuring every Dungeons & Dragons player’s dream of dragging your favorite NPCs along for the quest.

RK Ashwick (she/her) is the author of the Lutesong trilogy beginning with The Stray Spirit, as well as the cozy fantasy series Sidequest Row beginning with A Rival Most Vial. You can connect with her at her website: rkashwick.com

Ch. 2 – The Devil – Sneak Peek on Patreon!

We interrupt your regularly-scheduled broadcast to bring you the second chapter of something new coming this autumn – The Devil.

Chapter One went up on Patreon in June, and you can download both chapters in one epub file over on Patreon.

As always, thank you for reading!

Edmund Woodbury always slept better with bruises.

He’d found nothing in all the world in all his years to equal the relief of seeing Chastity after a month of holding himself to an exacting standard. The promise of release saw him through day after day of drudgery in the account-books of the bank where he clerked. He had no family to support beyond his mother and doubted he ever would. He did not gamble, nor was he a drunkard.

He had no vice, save Chastity.

Joining me on Patreon will give you access to “drawer fic” – aka the 500k+ words worth of manuscripts that have been shelved until I figure out how to fix or finish them. You’ll also be invited to join an exclusive Discord server just for patrons!

A new chapter will go up every week. Missing (unwritten) scenes will be indicated by brackets describing what would probably happen if the scene were written. Example: [in this scene Aubrey and Lindsey ride a carousel]

Currently posting…
♡ A Mirror for the Prince’s Shadow (historical m x nb romantasy)

Completed works…
♡ the Aubrey & Lindsey solar fantasy project (mm)
♡ A Willing Canvas – John Halloway x Lord Cyril Graves (mm)
♡ The Train Job – Rowena Althorp x Rebekah (ff)
♡ Hold Fast 2 – Hold Faster (mm)
♡ Vampires Vampires Vampires (mmm)
♡ The Sebastian Nothwell Contemporary Expanded Universe (mmm+)
♡ Theo. (transmasc historical mm romance)

See you on Patreon!

Potion Shop Designer with RK Ashwick on Right Here Write Queer

There’s a new episode of Right Here Write Queer waiting for you in your favorite podcast app!

Ever wonder about the overlap between gaming and writing in cozy fantasy? RK Ashwick (she/her) chats with Sebastian Nothwell (he/him) about her new video game, Potion Shop Designer.

Happy Book Birthday to Tales from Blackthorn Briar

Happy Autumnal Equinox! Three years ago today, Shrike and Wren embarked on their second voyage out into the world – alongside Mr Grigsby, Daniel Durst, and all their other friends from Oak King Holly King, with new friends gathered along the way.

Shrike and Wren hold a special place in my memory for getting me through some rough moments, and I am so beyond grateful for every single reader who has taken their story to heart.

If you enjoy happily-ever-afters, hurt/comfort, and catching up with old friends, I wrote this book for you.

Tales from Blackthorn Briar is a collection of sequels to the fae romance Oak King Holly King – including…

Mabon

Wherein Shrike and Wren repay their debt to the Court of Hidden Folk.

Mr Grigsby’s Clerk

Wherein Mr Grigsby finds a replacement for Wren – and perhaps more than he bargained for.

Jack in the Green

Wherein a certain Horse Guard wanders into Blackthorn Briar.

Winter Solstice

Wherein the Holly King surrenders to the Oak King.

The Holly King’s Peril

Wherein Wren and Shrike discover danger in the wilds of the Fae Realms.

The Ballad of Daniel Durst

Wherein Daniel embarks on his authentic life in a bold new land.

Amazon • Apple Books • Barnes & Noble • Bookshop dot org • Kobo • Payhip • Scribd • Smashwords

The Mr Warren’s Profession audiobook is here!

I’m so excited to finally share with you just how Gary Furlong has brought our Victorian lads to life.

Kickstarter backers have already received their download links. It will take a while for the audiobook to upload to all the major retailers (Audible, libro.fm, Chirp, etc.) as well as library apps like Libby and Hoopla.

In the meantime, however, you can preview the first chapter in the YouTube video above, and you can listen to the whole book right now thanks to my author storefront over on Payhip!

To celebrate this new audiobook release, use the coupon code “Nothwell” at check-out for 20% off your entire purchase. (A wonderful opportunity if you wanted to grab the Oak King Holly King audiobook or any of my ebooks while you’re over there.)

However or wherever you acquire your audiobooks, thank you for listening.

Bookstore Romance Day 2025

WHAT

Bookstore Romance Day, a celebration of the romance genre at independent bookshops.

At LaLa we will be having local author readings and book signings, as well as a Romance Trivia game and a raffle for a book tote filled with romance reading.

WHO

Local authors, including Elizabeth Franta, Mary Hart, Molly Kerr, Nik Kiri, Elena Markem, Sara Marks, K. Nies, Becky Lee Whitehouse – and yours truly, Sebastian Nothwell.

WHEN

Saturday, August 9th

1:30pm – Reading & Signing 1
2:15pm – Romance Trivia
3:30pm – Reading & Signing 2

WHERE

LaLa Books
189 Market Street
Lowell, MA

There’s a parking garage just down the block and across the street from the bookshop. The bookshop’s handicap-accessible entrance is around back.

I can’t wait to meet you there!

Old(er) Characters in Romance on Right Here Write Queer!

From Professor X and Magneto to Our Flag Means Death to, yes, actual romance novels—unlock the potential of a lifetime (literally) with older characters in romance. Readers yearn for old man yaoi. (And, if we dare to dream, old lady yuri…?)

Carolina Cruz (they/them) is the author of the vampire horror romance Blood in the Water and the queer fantasy series The Creed of Gethin (beginning with The Unwanted Prophet). You can connect with them on instagram @ninawolverina

Noah Hawthorne (they/them), also writing as Aelina Isaacs, is the author of the queer cozy fantasy series Adventures in Levena, beginning with Phantom and Rook, and the solarpunk novel The Rebel Foxes, amongst other titles. You can connect with them at their website: neshamapublishing.com

And yours truly, Sebastian Nothwell (he/him).