The Star 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 reveals her tarot-inspired cozy fantasy story, The Star, wherein a lighthouse keeper who influences the fate of her people by wrangling misbehaving stars back into place must remedy her own constellation.

An Outstretched Hand releases November 11th—preorder wherever you find your fave books! And stay tuned for more sneak peeks into the anthology on Right Here Write Queer.

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

An Outstretched Hand: A Tarot Spread of Queer Stories

The secret is out at last—save the date for something exciting and new coming on November 11th!

A hand reaching to you from the shadows. Six cards over-turned. Six enchanting queer tales inspired by the magic of tarot. Explore the forest, meet the fae, pray to the gods, shepherd stars, or fight creatures of myth. An offering for you, if you accept the Outstretched Hand.

This fantasy anthology 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

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

If you’d like to grab an Advanced Review Copy of the anthology, you can access the epub from BookFunnel here.

And as always, thank you for reading.

Goldheart – Floral Fantasy with Tess Carletta 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!

Growing flowers out of your skin all by yourself, handsome? Plant magic, putting characters through the wringer, and sunflowers vs. lilies—Tess Carletta talks with RK Ashwick about her new queer romantasy novel Goldheart.

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

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 

Groveling – Trope Talk on Right Here Write Queer

The hour has arrived for a big apology to slake the reader’s thirst for justice. Tess Carletta (she/her) and I discuss the groveling trope in romance and genre fiction, why it’s so difficult to get right, and what can be done to make it truly satisfying.

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

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

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 

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

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/

Finding Friends in Fanfiction on Right Here Write Queer

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

Indie authors Tess Carletta (she/her) and Alana Savchuk (she/her) discuss their personal writing journeys through the lens of fanfiction, including learning to write for yourself, giving yourself permission to be bad at writing, making the leap from fanfic to original fiction, fandom etiquette, The Scottish Boy by Alex de Campi, Reylo, the Buck/Eddie ship on 911, Anne of Green Gables (and Anne with an E), and Once Upon A Time.

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

Alana Savchuk (she/her) is the author of the short story Soldier Boy(s) in the Patchwork collection, alongside sundry fanfictions. You can connect with her on instagram @alanarosewrites

Beta Reading 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 beta reading? How do you become a beta reader? And how do you get the most out of the feedback you receive from beta readers? Three indie authors come together for a rousing discussion, including some wild stories.

RK Ashwick (she/her) is the cozy fantasy author of the Lutesong series (beginning with The Stray Spirit) and the Side Quest Row series (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 romance, and its sequel, Patchwork. You can connect with her at her website: tesscarletta.com

Noah Hawthorne (he/they) is the author of the queer 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