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!

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

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

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

Undead Historical Romance with Kara Jorgensen on Right Here Write Queer

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

Noah Hawthorne interviews Kara Jorgensen 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 Mechanical Devices series (beginning with The Earl of Brass), and the Paranormal Society series (beginning with Kinship and Kindness). You can connect with them at karajorgensen.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

Home for the Holidays with Jay Leigh on Right Here Write Queer

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

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 light shine all the brighter.

Jay Leigh (she/her) is the author of Whisper into the Night, Checking Out, and sundry other mm romances featuring action, suspense, and spice. You can connect with her on instagram @jayelle_m and enter the Home for the Holidays giveaway at her website: authorjayleigh.com

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

Book Signing at Tatnuck Bookseller!

Literally tomorrow!

I’ll be signing books at Tatnuck Bookseller on Saturday June 22nd from 11:30am-3pm, including…

• Oak King Holly King, a Victorian mm romantasy between a fae warrior destined to die and a mortal clerk fated to save him.
• Fiorenzo, a queer fantasy-of-manners romance between a duke and a courtesan with swordplay and hurt/comfort.
• Hold Fast, a gay Victorian romance between a whaler who inherits a baronetcy and the estate agent tasked with turning him from sailor to gentleman.
• Mr Warren’s Profession, a gay Victorian cross-class romance between a wealthy baronet and a working class engineer.
• The Haunting of Heatherhurst Hall, a lesbian Gothic romance rife with horror and heartache, wherein an heiress makes an ill-advised marriage to bring herself closer to the woman who’s stolen her heart.

See you there!