Happy June — and more importantly, Happy Pride Month! Since I’ve been a bit rubbish here, I have lots of new updates to share today, from the release of my second novel, Summer at the Scottish Castle, to some exciting giveaways I’ll be taking part in this month.
Let’s start at the beginning, shall we? On 4th April, Summer at the Scottish Castle was released into the world with Embla. I spent a huge amount of time and tears trying to make my second novel as heartwarming and fun as possible, and I’m so grateful for the support I’ve received so far. SatSC was lucky enough to go on tour with Insta Book Tours, who I would definitely recommend for marketing support if you’re a debut author looking for some visibility. I also managed to worm my way into the Amazon Kindle charts last week, ranking just sixth in LGBTQ+ Romance. In case you don’t know, SatSC is a contemporary romance focused on queer found family, featuring opposites attract and mistaken identity. You can grab your copy in ebook, audiobook, and paperback now.
I’ve also been working on plenty behind the scenes. My query package for my next novel, tentatively titled The Highland Baby, is in the hands of my agent, with the first draft complete. You can expect a sapphic romance set in the SatSC universe. If you have a fondness for secondary characters like me, you’ll be glad to know that this is Gem’s story!
Last month I enjoyed a lovely trip to Cornwall, where I finally got to visit the setting of my Love in St Agnes series. I saw the very cliff where Bluebell Lodge sits in my own brain, and the place where Tarin and Will kissed for the first time at Trevaunance Cove. It was everything I’d hoped for and more, and there was something very special about feeling so close to my characters.
For those who don’t know, I’m releasing more novellas under the pen name Bryony Rosehurst. You can grab my adventure romance, Cursed in Love, now. And one of the very first novellas I ever wrote has just been released as a Scribd exclusive. Where We Go is a tale of two restless souls abandoning their everyday lives for the sake of spontaneity. A perfect bit of escapism for the summer months!
You can now purchase signed copies of my books from my Etsy store, and I’m working on making some bookmarks to match!
And there’s more! I’m offering my friends-to-lovers novella, Save the Date, free to anyone who subscribes to my mailing list. You might have read this one in Violet Gaze Press’s anthology last year — but why not read it again?
When I’m not writing, I also love to edit, so you may have seen on social media that I’m now offering my services for authors on a lower budget. This includes developmental and copy editing, proofreading, mentoring, and cover design. I’ve been passionate about collaborating with other authors for as long as I can remember and have already worked with the likes of Alex M. Najera on her novel, Where Our Closure Begins. If you’re looking for some guidance and don’t know where to turn, I’ve got your back!
Now for some exciting Pride Month events! Over on Swords & Sapphics, Ivy and I are hosting a month-long event to celebrate Pride and our 1 year anniversary! You can expect daily content, from giveaways to author interviews to new episodes, and we can’t wait to share what we’ve got in store. The event has already kicked off, so don’t miss our interview with Felicia Davin out now.
I’m also taking part in the Great Sapphic Pride Book Giveaway hosted by JC Rycroft! If you fancy getting your hands on a whopping 15 sapphic books by some amazing indie authors, be sure to enter now!
If giveaways aren’t your style (why?!) and you’d rather stuff your Kindle, I have good news! Many of my queer novellas are on sale this month for just 99p! Make the most of the price dip and celebrate Pride with alllllll the sapphics.
I just want to say a massive thank you to anyone who has supported me thus far. I have lots going on at the moment and it’s so exciting to have a community to share it all with. I hope your Pride Month is full of nothing but colour, sun, and celebration, and don’t forget to support queer creators from all walks of life this month and always. Until next time!
Rachel Bowdler 