Sebastian Nothwell's Blog, page 7
January 9, 2025
What Manner of Man - Serial Fiction with St John Starling on Right Here Write Queer!
There’s a new episode of Right Here Write Queer waiting for you in your favorite podcast app!
From Victorian penny dreadfuls to 21st century fanfiction and everything between and beyond, St John Starling chats with Sebastian Nothwell about serial fiction, Gothic romance, and bold strategies for telling stories.
St John Starling (he/him) is the author of the queer Gothic romances What Manner of Man and What Manner of Man. You can connect with him on tumblr @stjohnstarling and join his newsletter at stjohnstarling.substack.com
From Victorian penny dreadfuls to 21st century fanfiction and everything between and beyond, St John Starling chats with Sebastian Nothwell about serial fiction, Gothic romance, and bold strategies for telling stories.
St John Starling (he/him) is the author of the queer Gothic romances What Manner of Man and What Manner of Man. You can connect with him on tumblr @stjohnstarling and join his newsletter at stjohnstarling.substack.com
January 5, 2025
Ch. 8 - Theo - transmasc MM romance on Patreon
Chapter Eight of
Theo
- a transmasc historical MM romance inspired by Little Women - is up on Patre♡n, wherein our heroes prepare for a ball.
~
“There!” Myrtle declared. “A perfect little woman!”
Against his better judgment, Theo opened his eyes.
A young woman stood before him. She had a strong jaw, a long nose, sharp cheekbones, full brows, and long lashes. Her chestnut hair had gathered in a pile atop her head, and the neckline of her gown sank very low indeed, leaving nothing in between to hide her slender neck or her shoulders as straight as a soldier’s. Indeed, her gown came down far enough to reveal the top of her bosom, not particularly ample but appearing moreso as her corset forced it up. Her narrow waist kept the fashion, as did her voluminous skirts. No trace of a smile graced her lips, though their curve and color compelled the eye regardless. She had altogether a proud stance, as if the cage of the crinoline could scarce contain her, and she seemed the sort of woman Theo would like to know.
Then her lips parted for breath in time with his own, and with a horrible jolt, he recalled the face he stared into supposedly belonged to him.
~
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!
~
“There!” Myrtle declared. “A perfect little woman!”
Against his better judgment, Theo opened his eyes.
A young woman stood before him. She had a strong jaw, a long nose, sharp cheekbones, full brows, and long lashes. Her chestnut hair had gathered in a pile atop her head, and the neckline of her gown sank very low indeed, leaving nothing in between to hide her slender neck or her shoulders as straight as a soldier’s. Indeed, her gown came down far enough to reveal the top of her bosom, not particularly ample but appearing moreso as her corset forced it up. Her narrow waist kept the fashion, as did her voluminous skirts. No trace of a smile graced her lips, though their curve and color compelled the eye regardless. She had altogether a proud stance, as if the cage of the crinoline could scarce contain her, and she seemed the sort of woman Theo would like to know.
Then her lips parted for breath in time with his own, and with a horrible jolt, he recalled the face he stared into supposedly belonged to him.
~
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!
December 30, 2024
Sentiment - Oak King Holly King short story on Patreon!
Surprise! We interrupt your regularly-scheduled
Theo
to bring you a rough draft of a short story featuring Shrike and Wren from Oak King Holly King.
~
“Sentiment,” Shrike had told him, “is the highest value any artifact may attain. It would grant powerful magic to its wielder. Your milk-teeth, imbued with a child’s innocence and a mother’s love, would prove potent indeed.”
~
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!
~
“Sentiment,” Shrike had told him, “is the highest value any artifact may attain. It would grant powerful magic to its wielder. Your milk-teeth, imbued with a child’s innocence and a mother’s love, would prove potent indeed.”
~
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!
December 22, 2024
Ch. 7 - Theo - transmasc MM romance on Patreon
Chapter Seven of
Theo
- a transmasc historical MM romance inspired by Little Women - is up on Patre♡n, wherein our heroes endure a Christmas.
~
“All right!” Annabelle cried. “Open your eyes!”
Theo dropped his hands. His well-practiced smile froze on his lips as his eyes fell upon the waist-high white cage assembled in the center of the room.
Myrtle and Mother stood on either side of it, holding it up and beaming with pride, while Annabelle hopped around them both, bursting with excitement.
“Isn’t it marvelous?” Annabelle cooed, looking as if she’d like to crawl under the cage’s domed roof herself.
“Yes,” Theo lied, and put all his effort into maintaining his smile as he stepped forward to touch the cage—a whalebone crinoline, to hang under his skirts. He hoped his shocked dismay would read as wonderful disbelief.
“Don’t pout just because it isn’t steel,” said Myrtle.
~
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!
~
“All right!” Annabelle cried. “Open your eyes!”
Theo dropped his hands. His well-practiced smile froze on his lips as his eyes fell upon the waist-high white cage assembled in the center of the room.
Myrtle and Mother stood on either side of it, holding it up and beaming with pride, while Annabelle hopped around them both, bursting with excitement.
“Isn’t it marvelous?” Annabelle cooed, looking as if she’d like to crawl under the cage’s domed roof herself.
“Yes,” Theo lied, and put all his effort into maintaining his smile as he stepped forward to touch the cage—a whalebone crinoline, to hang under his skirts. He hoped his shocked dismay would read as wonderful disbelief.
“Don’t pout just because it isn’t steel,” said Myrtle.
~
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!
December 18, 2024
Oak King Holly King in the Indie Ink Awards!
The Oak King Holly King audiobook has been nominated for an Indie Ink Award - Best Audio Narration!
If you've enjoyed Gary Furlong's incredible work on this queer historical romantasy, please give us your vote.
(And if you haven't had the chance to listen yet, you can snag a copy from Chirp for just 99 cents now through December 26th.)
December 16, 2024
Smashwords End-of-Year Sale!
Now is your best chance to find my entire ebook collection for a steal at Smashwords as part of their End of Year Sale through the end of 2024!
Including…
♡ Oak King Holly King, a Victorian fae romantasy between a fae warrior and a mortal clerk.
♡ Fiorenzo, a fantasy-of-manners romance featuring swordplay, hurt/comfort, and a happily-ever-after.
♡ Mr Warren’s Profession, a Victorian cross-class romance featuring hurt/comfort and a happily-ever-after.
♡ Hold Fast, a Victorian romance between a whaling harpooner who inherits a baronetcy and the estate agent tasked with turning him from sailor to gentleman.
♡ The Haunting of Heatherhurst Hall, a Victorian gothic romance rife with horror and heartache, wherein an American heiress makes an ill-advised marriage to bring herself closer the woman who’s stolen her heart.
December 15, 2024
Ch. 6 - Theo - transmasc mm romance on Patreon!
Chapter Six of
Theo
- a transmasc reimagining of Little Women - is up on Patre♡n.
~
Many times, when they thought themselves out of earshot, the staff discussed how foolish Leslie had been to try to skate across the middle of the lake, and whether the first freeze was always the safest or most dangerous ice of the year. Occasionally they spoke of Theo himself and his kindness in doting on the invalid—though one particular housemaid, he knew not which, considered him “too clever by half” in insinuating his way into the household with “an eye for the young master’s hand and the inheritance with it.” Once Theo overheard the nurse talking with one of the footmen and calling him “a perfect little angel of the house,” and had to force himself to think of it as the compliment she’d intended, rather than the sickening twist he felt in his guts.
~
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!
~
Many times, when they thought themselves out of earshot, the staff discussed how foolish Leslie had been to try to skate across the middle of the lake, and whether the first freeze was always the safest or most dangerous ice of the year. Occasionally they spoke of Theo himself and his kindness in doting on the invalid—though one particular housemaid, he knew not which, considered him “too clever by half” in insinuating his way into the household with “an eye for the young master’s hand and the inheritance with it.” Once Theo overheard the nurse talking with one of the footmen and calling him “a perfect little angel of the house,” and had to force himself to think of it as the compliment she’d intended, rather than the sickening twist he felt in his guts.
~
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!
December 4, 2024
Turn the Page indie book podcast
Kay M. Weston kindly hosted me on the Turn the Page indie book podcast to chat about queer romantasy - including Fiorenzo and Oak King Holly King.
You can listen on Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you find your favorite podcasts!
You can listen on Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you find your favorite podcasts!
November 27, 2024
Book Signing on December 7th!
Save the date! Join me at Tatnuck Bookseller for a book signing.
WHEN
Saturday, December 7th @ 11am-2pm
WHERE
Tatnuck Bookseller
Westborough Shopping Center
18 Lyman Street
Westborough, MA
Come say hello - I can't wait to see you there!
WHEN
Saturday, December 7th @ 11am-2pm
WHERE
Tatnuck Bookseller
Westborough Shopping Center
18 Lyman Street
Westborough, MA
Come say hello - I can't wait to see you there!
November 17, 2024
Ch. 4 - Theo ROUGH CUT - transmasc mm romance on Patreon
Chapter Four of the YA rough cut for
Theo
- a transmasc reimagining of Little Women - is up on Patre♡n - a wholesome cozy Alcott pastiche that I absolutely could not keep up for the length of a full novel.
~
Before that moment in the Tilton foyer, Theo had never made any friends besides his sisters. He had always wanted to befriend another boy, but circumstances prevented his success. Boys and girls went to separate schools in town, and of course society had shunted him off into the girls’ academy. He had no brothers, nor any male cousins nearby in age or location. Myrtle strongly discouraged talking to any strange boy they met in town without a proper introduction, and such introductions proved few and far between. If Theo should happen to find himself introduced to another young man at a party, the other boy’s behavior would, without fail, fall into one of two categories: obsequious and obnoxious in efforts to prove himself a gentleman towards one he perceived as a lady, or aloof and standoffish towards one he perceived as a mere girl.
~
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!
~
Before that moment in the Tilton foyer, Theo had never made any friends besides his sisters. He had always wanted to befriend another boy, but circumstances prevented his success. Boys and girls went to separate schools in town, and of course society had shunted him off into the girls’ academy. He had no brothers, nor any male cousins nearby in age or location. Myrtle strongly discouraged talking to any strange boy they met in town without a proper introduction, and such introductions proved few and far between. If Theo should happen to find himself introduced to another young man at a party, the other boy’s behavior would, without fail, fall into one of two categories: obsequious and obnoxious in efforts to prove himself a gentleman towards one he perceived as a lady, or aloof and standoffish towards one he perceived as a mere girl.
~
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!
