Tales from the Tea Shop with Nik Kirimizi on Right Here Write Queer

There’s a new episode of Right Here Write Queer waiting for you wherever you listen to your fave podcasts!

Nik Kirimizi (they/them) chats with Sebastian Nothwell (he/him) about fantasy worldbuilding rooted in real-world history, mental illness representation, and how the only way out is through.

Nik Kirimizi (they/them) is the author of the fantasy novels Bounds of the Forest and Of Indomitable Desire as well as their forthcoming book Tales of the Tea Shop. You can find them on instagram @nikthemoonlightwriter

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!

Cozy Capitalism – Trope Talk on Right Here Write Queer

There’s a new episode of Right Here Write Queer waiting for you wherever you listen to your fave podcasts!

Authors RK Ashwick (she/her) and Noah Hawthorne (they/them) discuss why so many cozy fantasy stories feature coffeeshops and bookshops, how to break out of the mold, and where the genre’s economic models may go in the future.

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

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

Immortality – Trope Talk on Right Here Write Queer

There’s a new episode of Right Here Write Queer waiting for you wherever you listen to your fave podcasts!

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!

Tess Carletta (she/her) is the author of Kit & Basie, a queer cozy fantasy romance, its sequel collection Patchwork, and the forthcoming fantasy novel Goldheart. You can connect with her at her website: tesscarletta.com

Astrophobia with Vesper Doom on Right Here Write Queer!

There’s a new episode of Right Here Write Queer waiting for you wherever you listen to your fave podcasts!

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 Mountain, and the upcoming Metropolis Down. You can connect with her on their website: vesperdoom.com

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

A Love Letter to Independent Bookstores on Right Here Write Queer

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 of Gethin (beginning with The Unwanted Prophet). You can connect with them on instagram @ninawolverina

Noah Hawthorn (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

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: rkashwick.com

Gay the Pray Away with Natalie Naudus on Right Here Write Queer

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 Audie and Earphones award-winning audiobook narrator of over 500 titles, as well as the author (and narrator!) of the young adult novel Gay the Pray Away and the co-creator of spicy sapphic short stories on her Patreon. You can connect with her at her website: natalienaudus.com

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

I Want That Twink Obliterated with Trip Galey on Right Here Write Queer

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

“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 entertaining I Want That Twink Obliterated anthology.

Trip Galey (he/him) is the author of the queer fantasy novel A Market of Dreams and Destiny and the cozy cosmic novella Apple Pies and Eldritch Skies as well as the co-founder of the small press Bona Books Ltd and co-creator of the I Want That Twink Obliterated anthology of queer spec fic. You can connect with him at linktr.ee/tripgaley and keep up with all the cool things Bona Books Ltd is up to at bona-books.com

Noah Hawthorne (he/they), also writing as Aelina Isaacs, is the author of the queer cozy fantasy series Adventures in Levena, beginning with Phantom and Rook. You can connect with him at their website: neshamapublishing.com

Mental Health in the Latine Community with Valerie Gomez on Right Here Write Queer

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

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 Handyman for the Holidays. You can connect with her on instagram @valeriegomez_writes

Rivals to Lovers – Trope Talk on Right Here Write Queer

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

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: rkashwick.com

S.O. Callahan (she/her) is the author of the Fella Enchanted cozy fantasy duology and co-author of the Fae and Human Relations series beginning with Breeze Spells and Bridegrooms. You can connect with her on instagram @s.o.callahan

Luna Daye (she/her) is the author of the epic fantasy Thoraius Saga beginning with Swords and Seers and the romantasy series Fated Fae beginning with Fae’s Mate. You can connect with her at her website: lunadaye.com

Noah Hawthorne (he/they), also writing as Aelina Isaacs, is the author of the cozy fantasy series Adventures in Levena beginning with Phantom and Rook. You can connect with him at their website: neshamapublishing.com

Sarah Wallace (they/them) is the author of the cozy fantasy series Meddle and Mend beginning with Letters to Half Moon Street and co-author of the Fae and Human Relations series beginning with Breeze Spells and Bridegrooms. You can connect with them on instagram @sarah.wallace.writer