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.

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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!

Oak King Holly King audiobook sneak peek!

This week’s episode of Right Here Write Queer is a preview of the Oak King Holly King audiobook, narrated by Gary Furlong.

Since we’re four chapters deep into the podcast version, I made a playlist of them on YouTube so you can listen in order easily.

Oak King Holly King is a gay romantasy wherein a fearsome fae warrior destined for ritual sacrifice seeks a Victorian clerk fated to save him – available now wherever fine books are found, possibly including your local library!

The Historical Romance Sampler Podcast with Katherine Grant

Katherine Grant very kindly hosted me on the Historical Romance Sampler podcast to talk all things Mr Warren’s Profession! We had a lovely chat about the challenges of writing class difference romances, my hands-on research process, and my approach to sharing work and receiving feedback. Listen now wherever you find your favorite podcasts, and subscribe to sample a different historical romance every week.

Ch. 19 – Theo – transmasc MM romance on Patreon!

Chapter Nineteen of Theo – a transmasc historical MM romance inspired by Little Women – is up on Patre♡n, wherein against all odds a happily-ever-after is achieved.

~

“I have three beautiful daughters,” Mother began, the tremor in her voice less like tears and more like an operatic vibrato.

“You may have two daughters and a son,” said Theo, unmoved. “Or you may have two daughters. The choice is yours.”

~

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 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…
♡ Theo. (transmasc historical mm romance)

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+)

See you on Patre♡n!

Ch. 18 – Theo – transmasc MM romance on Patreon!

Chapter Eighteen of Theo – a transmasc historical MM romance inspired by Little Women – is up on Patre♡n, wherein Leslie makes a modest proposal.

~

“Don’t you see? You’re the Hephaestion to my Alexander—”

“Bagoas, more like,” Theo muttered darkly.

“The Antinous to my Hadrian—”

“Stop it,” said Theo.

“The Sebastian to my Antonio—”

“I said stop it!”

~

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 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…
♡ Theo. (transmasc historical mm romance)

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+)

See you on Patre♡n!

Ch. 17 – Theo – transmasc MM romance on Patreon!

Chapter Seventeen of Theo – a transmasc historical MM romance inspired by Little Women – is up on Patre♡n, wherein a splendid party is attended.

~

“What have you done?” Myrtle continued in a furious whisper. “Entertaining gentlemen at a hotel? Are you deranged?”

Theo hoped the truth might set him free—from Myrtle’s claws, if nothing else. “Leslie invited me, as a fellow gentleman, to join him and his school-friends for a perfectly respectable dinner.”

Myrtle stared at him. “You’re not even ashamed.”

“I’ve done nothing to be ashamed of.”

~

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 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…
♡ Theo. (transmasc historical mm romance)

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+)

See you on Patre♡n!

Appendicitis: The Narratively Perfect Disease – Hurt/Comfort

Disclaimer: I am not a doctor. None of this is medical advice. We are speaking of appendicitis in a purely fictional context. If you are having symptoms you suspect may be appendicitis please stop reading and seek medical attention from a qualified practitioner immediately.

~

“Four people are sitting around the table talking about baseball, whatever you like.

Five minutes of it, very dull.

Suddenly a bomb goes off. Blows the people to smithereens.

What do the audience have?

10 seconds of shock.

Now, take the same scene. And tell the audience that there’s a bomb under the table and that it’ll go off in 5 minutes.

Now the whole emotion of the audience is totally different. Because you’ve given them that information.

Now that conversation about baseball becomes very vital. Because they’re saying to you, don’t be ridiculous, stop talking about baseball there’s a bomb under there.

You’ve got the audience working.”

— Alfred Hitchcock

~

I hear Alfred Hitchcock talk about Suspense and I think Appendicitis. A bomb strapped under the table that only the audience can see? No—a vestigial organ in everyone’s abdomen.

Continue reading “Appendicitis: The Narratively Perfect Disease – Hurt/Comfort”