Ch. 9 – Booksellers and Bone Setters – a new Oak King Holly King story on Patreon

The ninth chapter of Booksellers and Bone Setters – a brand new Oak King Holly King tale – is now on Patreon! Wherein a mortal learns fae secrets.

Ephraim knew not what to expect.

The ways of the fae were largely unknown to him, as a mere mortal. (Hull had never called him “mere,” had never once even implied it, but the alliteration sprang to mind nonetheless.) Their customs were a vast dark sea roiling beneath him while he sailed along as a passenger in a splendid ship captained by his Hull. Every so often something new would surface, like the wulpertinger, and Hull would explain it, and Ephraim would marvel at it, and they would sail on, content to explore the unknown together. It never occurred to him to demand to know what lay beneath the surface. He felt secure in his conviction that it posed no danger to him, and if he were unfamiliar with these seas, at the very least his Hull knew how to navigate them.

Now, however, he had glimpsed something gliding beneath their vessel—some looming thing with the sharp edges of fin or fang and unfathomable tendrils trailing behind—and for the first time in all their acquaintance, his Hull seemed reluctant to explain.

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!

Barnes & Noble Book Signing – Saturday, January 10th

What better way to kick off the new year than with books? Come join me at Barnes & Noble in Wareham, Massachusetts for a book signing – I can’t wait to meet you there!

WHAT
Sebastian Nothwell book signing!

WHEN
Saturday, January 10th at noon

WHERE
Barnes & Noble
2421 Cranberry Hwy, Suite 444
Wareham, MA

Oak King Holly King 3 – First Chapter on Patreon

The third volume of Shrike and Wren’s tale is a ways off yet. In the meantime, however, please enjoy this glimpse into the beginning of their next adventure.

What does the Summer Solstice ritual look like after Wren’s grisly injuries over the winter? How will the Oak and Holly Kings contrive to overcome this new obstacle? And what fresh marvels will their rite display?

Find out now over on Patreon! (Warning: spicy!)

A Streak of Lightning – New Aubrey & Lindsey Story on Patreon!

A brand new short story featuring Aubrey & Lindsey of Mr Warren’s Profession is now on Patre♡n! Wherein Aubrey discovers an alarming development in his wash-stand mirror.

Aubrey had not read the novel by Lord Graves’s playwright acquaintance. He had however heard its details discussed at length over the course of several dinners. He knew that it involved a beautiful youth who had a devilish portrait painted to age in his place, and for every sin the dissipated lad committed, the portrait grew more hideously withered. Aubrey had no such portrait. His own sins could only bear out upon his flesh, and he supposed, with more resignation than bitterness, that given the life he’d led it was more surprising he hadn’t found anything more than a single grey hair ‘til now.

Joining me on Patre♡n 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 or story 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)

See you on Patre♡n!

Ch. 7 – Booksellers and Bone Setters – a new Oak King Holly King story on Patreon

The seventh chapter of Booksellers and Bone Setters – a brand new Oak King Holly King tale – is now on Patre♡n! Wherein Dr. Hitchingham reveals a startling soft spot.

On the second evening after Hull’s injury, Dr. Hitchingham expressed his profound relief at Hull’s absence, that he and his old friend might at last speak freely without curtailing their conversation lest a mere clerk hear more than he ought. As the ensuing conversation deviated not a whit from its usual track, regardless of Hull’s presence or absence, Ephraim set the comment aside on the little shelf in his mind that he reserved for his oldest friend’s oddest remarks.

On the third evening after Hull’s injury, Dr. Hitchingham began their dinner in much the same vein, but as the minutes wore on towards the hour mark, he lapsed into a brooding silence more oft than not. Ephraim, concerned for his friend, discreetly-yet-earnestly enquired after what might trouble him, but Dr. Hitchingham merely sighed and blamed the fog for aggravating his rheumatism. As Ephraim could do very little about the fog or the rheumatism, he endeavoured to brighten the mood with his own chatter, which seemed to alleviate at least a part of his friend’s unease.

On the fourth evening after Hull’s injury, Dr. Hitchingham appeared downright gloomy.

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

See you on Patre♡n!

Ch. 6 – Booksellers and Bone Setters – a new Oak King Holly King story on Patreon

The sixth chapter of Booksellers and Bone Setters – a brand new Oak King Holly King tale – is now on Patre♡n! Wherein Ephraim lavishes Hullvardr in every comfort imaginable.

If Ephraim were not already a lawyer, Hullvardr thought he’d make an excellent nurse.

Per the Holly King’s instruction (at first) and in accordance with his own inclinations (after he’d met Ephraim himself), Hullvardr always arose before Ephraim to perform his valeting duties. As such, Ephraim hadn’t enjoyed the opportunity to show his affection through acts of service.

Until now.

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

See you on Patre♡n!

Ch. 5 – Booksellers and Bone Setters – a new Oak King Holly King story on Patreon

The fifth chapter of Booksellers and Bone Setters – a brand new Oak King Holly King tale – is now on Patre♡n! Wherein Ephraim and Dr. Hitchingham dine.

“No, there is one particular trait both men share that I believe may prove the root of your difficulties. They are bachelors.”

Ephraim studied his friend. “And?”

“A bachelor,” Dr. Hitchingham said, warming to his argument, “is an unfettered creature, and likely to fly off where’er the wind takes him. You have twice now hired bachelor clerks, and both clerks have abandoned the nest. If you want my advice, when you replace Mr. Hull, you would do well to seek out a married clerk. A thoroughly-settled man. Ideally one with a family already established. This will anchor him to London, to Staple Inn, and, ultimately, to your office.”

“John,” said Ephraim. “I am a bachelor.”

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

See you on Patre♡n!

Strength with Luna Daye – Tarot Anthology on Right Here Write Queer

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

Luna Daye (she/her) chats with RK Ashwick (she/her) about how she overcame adversity to write her short story Strength, a queer fantasy inspired by the tarot card of the same name. (The Rider-Waite tarot deck is not the first tarot deck in history, but it did popularize the use of tarot as a widespread fortune-telling tool.)

An Outstretched Hand: A Tarot Spread of Queer Stories 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

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

Amazon • Apple Books • Barnes & Noble • Books2Read • Bookshop.org • Kobo • Smashwords

Luna Daye (she/her) is the author of the Fated Fae romantasy series as well as the epic fantasy series the Thoraius Saga. You can connect with her at her website: lunadaye.com

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. 4 – Booksellers and Bone Setters – a new Oak King Holly King story on Patreon

The fourth chapter of Booksellers and Bone Setters – a brand new Oak King Holly King tale – is now on Patreon! Wherein the bone-setter arrives.

Ephraim knew not what to expect of a fae bone-setter.

He’d already begun on the wrong foot from the first mention of the trade by assuming the practitioner was a man rather than a woman. From there he struggled to return to the proper track. As he knew even less of women than he did of the fae, his assumptions ran thin and in the vaguest possible direction. What little imagination he had to spare in the face of his dear Hull’s agonies summoned a wispy willowy sort of creature with damselfly wings and diaphanous garb—a sort of nymph to Hull’s apparent satyr, he supposed, though he knew full well that Hull was a huldrekall and satyrs merely his distant cousins. How such a delicate individual as a lady nymph would do something so visceral as setting bones he did not know. Magic, perhaps. A wave of a wand, a whisper of a spell, and Hull’s leg would knit back together in its proper shape as if no dreadful accident had ever befallen him.

The trudging step up the stair forced Ephraim to reconsider his theory.

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

See you on Patreon!

Ch. 3 – Booksellers and Bone Setters – a new Oak King Holly King story on Patreon

The third chapter of Booksellers and Bone Setters – a brand new Oak King Holly King tale – is now on Patreon! Wherein Mr Grigsby and Hullvardr have a hurt/comfort adventure.

The icy sweat trickling down Hullvardr’s scalp felt at odds with his fevered brow. The pain in his broken limb remained a constant—but, as one might grow accustomed to the howling of hounds after enough hours of ceaseless noise, so the searing agony had become just another part of the world, like the rattle of wagon-wheels over cobblestones and the crackling hearth-fire. Part of him felt better for having beheld the wound; now that he understood the shape of it, no longer did the possibility of worse torment him. The pain burst into something louder and brighter only when he moved his leg, and so he did not move it. His molars ground together to keep the more pitiful moans at bay. Giving voice to his pain would not change matters. He had but to wait for Grytha’s arrival. Until then he need only endure. And with seven centuries behind him, he could endure well enough.

The more pressing matter, to his mind, was how to look after Ephraim.

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

See you on Patreon!