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!

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

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

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

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

The Spirit’s Curse with R.K. Ashwick 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!

Cozy fantasy author R.K. Ashwick (she/her) speaks on the rewards and challenges of wrapping up a series with her latest novel The Spirit’s Curse, the conclusion to the Lutesong trilogy.

The spirits have awoken – and can never sleep again.

After being roused to defend against a magical disaster, the nature spirits of Thalis have begun to leave their groves and mingle with humans. Eager to welcome their verdant new friends, Emry, Cal, and Aspen take center stage once more: they throw the country’s first spirit festival.

Music and merriment abound—but when an angry lynx attacks Aspen onstage, demanding to know how to go back to sleep in his grove, Emry realizes that not every spirit wants this new life… and he has no idea how to return them to their old one.

The trio and their allies venture into an old-growth forest, seeking answers from Yarrow, the country’s oldest spirit. But Yarrow has grown treacherous—instead of helping them, it traps them in Raven’s Rest, a stubborn little village fighting for its place in the forest.

As Yarrow’s malice grows and the spirits question their place in the world, Emry, Cal, and Aspen must join forces with the village to subdue Yarrow—even if it means destroying the very answers they seek.

R.K. 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

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

She Was Monstrous with Robin Jo Margaret on Right Here Write Queer

Robin Jo Margaret (xe/xyr) joins Noah Hawthorne (he/they) to discuss xyr queer indie author journey, including the new She Was Monstrous anthology, flipping the script on who gets to be the beast in romance, forging author community through collaboration, and the joy of commissioning human artists.

Robin Jo Margaret (xe/xyr) is a queer and disabled author from Italy, writing paranormal and monster romance and erotica under the penname Robin Jo Margaret for paranormal and monster romance and erotica, and human stories (both spicy and non) under R.J. Margaret. Whether clearly stated or not, there is always some kind of queer representation in xyr books, and xe makes room for many body types, especially bigger ones, as well as disabilities. You can connect with xyr through xyr website: authorrobinjomargaret.com

Noah Hawthorn (he/they), 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 him at their website: neshamapublishing.com

Goldheart with Tess Carletta on Right Here Write Queer

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

Tess Carletta (she/her) chats with Sebastian Nothwell (he/him) about her successful Kickstarter campaign for her queer romantic fantasy novel Goldheart.

You may remember Goldheart from such hits as “consensual cannibalism in the form of erotically consuming the body-horror flowers that sprout from your beloved’s flesh.”

Goldheart is a story about chosen family, choosing love, and the impossible feat of staying good in times of darkness. Coming to a bookshelf near you on June 25th, 2025!

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/

Hope and Spite with E.M. Lindsey on Right Here Write Queer!

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

E.M. Lindsey (they/them) chats with Sebastian Nothwell (he/him) about writing characters with disabilities, forging your own path through indie publishing, and keeping hope alive while spitefully surviving.

E.M. Lindsey (they/them) is a non-binary, MM Romance author, an ancient historian, and avid lover of nerdy things. You can connect with them and their 100+ queer romance stories at their website: emlindseyauthor.com

Found Family on Right Here Write Queer!

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

A roundtable of queer and cozy authors discusses why we love the found family trope, what stories do it best, our favorite character dynamics within the trope, and why it rings so true for the queer community.

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

Sarah Wallace (they/she) is the author of the cozy Regency romantasy series Meddle & Mend beginning with Letters to Half Moon Street and coauthor with S.O. Callahan of the Fae & Human Relations series beginning with Breeze Spells and Bridegrooms. You can connect with them on instagram @sarah.wallace.writer

Cozy Fantasy with Meg’s Tea Room on Right Here Write Queer!

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

Meg (she/her) of Meg’s Tea Room joins cozy fantasy authors Noah Hawthorne (he/they), RK Ashwick (she/her), and Sarah Wallace (they/them) for a roundtable discussion on the subgenre’s growing popularity, what they’d like to experience in cozy stories going forward, and how to cope with cozy burnout—plus, all the cozy recs you could ever dream of.

Meg (she/her) is a fantasy bookish influencer creating cozy books through Bindery. You can follow along with the publishing journey for Recipes for an Unexpected Afterlife and get cozy on instagram @megs.tea.room, on TikTok @megstearoom, and on Bindery at cozyquill.binderybooks.com

Sarah Wallace (they/them) is the author of the cozy Regency romantasy series Meddle & Mend beginning with Letters to Half Moon Street and coauthor with S.O. Callahan of the Fae & Human Relations series beginning with Breeze Spells and Bridegrooms. You can connect with them on instagram @sarah.wallace.writer