Trope Time – Immortal and Witch

A graphic featuring an ebook cover of Phantom and Rook by Aelina Isaacs. Text captions surround the cover describing different tropes. 'Have we met before?' 'Hunt based on the secret' 'Magic Tattoos' 'I won't forget you again.' 'Grumpy Owl' 'Immortal x Hedge Witch' 'Retired Hero, Now What?' 'Found Family'

Phantom and Rook is a queer urban fantasy romance following a retired hedge witch and a mysterious immortal that is cursed to be forgotten by all those who know and love him.

We have found family, magical tattoos, starting over later in life, and lots of healing. It is the first in a series, a toe dip into the magical world of Levena and all of its mysteries.

Phantom and Rook’s ebook is free at (most) of your favorite retailers, and is also available in paperback and audio.

Vampstar 2.0

A graphic captioned Vampstar. There is an illustration of Proteus Xlato, a smug looking being wearing glasses and a celestial necklace. They have tousled hair, and an arched eyebrow. An excerpt beneath is “The discovery of celestial bodies is a personal favorite of mine.” A warm voice offers instead, along with a healthy dose of suggestion. “I’m afraid that discussion may have to wait until after, however,” the stranger says, breaking me out of my critical fugue.  “Unless you need assistance with teaching, as well?”'

The sassy new professor who loves to show skin and has a bit of an attitude problem, Proteus Xlato is unlike any of the love interests we’ve encountered in Levena thus far. I am thoroughly enjoying the catty dynamic between our grumpy vampire, and this new mysterious new professor.

Vampstar

I am back to indulging myself with this grumpy vampire and his newly appointed rival, my favorite sassy star.

Mochizuki and Xlato is the story of When A Vampire Falls in Love With a Star, and involves an overambitious professor and the mysterious stranger determined to upend his life.

Art by Crossroad Art

Plans for 2026

We return to the magickal world of Levena this year with a sassy star and their grumpy vampire. You do not need to have read the first two books to read Mochizuki and Xlato as it focuses on a different couple, but it helps with the 🌜lore🌛

For reading this year, it’s almost indie all the way for me. There are quite a few I have been wanting to get to, and some that I’ve started and need to finish. Especially the ones already on my shelves.

2025 in a Nutshell

Commence the 2025 Wrap Up!
I published my first historical fiction and ran my first Kickstarter, and participated in an anthology with the Right Here Write Queer Podcast. I also was nominated in the Indie Ink Awards!

For reading, there was a lot of rereading (and rereading again in the case of the Big Bad Series) but I did discover a lot of new favorites and other stories I really enjoyed. There was only a few that I didn’t care for as much.

Stay tuned for this year’s hopes and dreams!

Indie Ink Awards 2025

My urban fantasy and historical fiction were nominated for the Indie Ink Awards!

Phantom and Rook, the first in my Levena series, made it as a finalist last year and it makes me so happy to see Matsdotter and Adrastus getting love and attention this year! And my beloved gay explorers, in a category that is so very fitting.

You can vote for your favorite indie books beginning on Monday, December 15th. Check out Indie Story Geek to learn more. 🎉✨️📚

An Outstretched Hand

Presenting An Outstretched Hand: A Tarot Spread of Queer Stories, from the Right Here Write Queer podcast! My story is inspired by the tarot card Temperance, and you may have seen excerpts of it here and there.

Tune into the podcast to learn more about each story, our first anthology episode is about The Star!

Blurb:

A hand reaching to you from the shadows. Six cards over-turned. Six enchanting queer tales inspired by the magic of tarot.

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.

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.

The Chariot by R.K. Ashwick

Two witches vie desperately for a goddess’s blessing- but the fortune they seek might be right in front of them.

Temperance by Noah Hawthorne

A grieving mercenary 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

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

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.

Pre-orders are open here, release date is November 11th, 2025.

Testing a Hypothesis

Cornelius gazed up at Watt, their chests inches apart. His steely eyes seemed to glitter in the dark, like Lake Michigan under full moonlight. “I made a promise, and I intend to keep it.”

“Aventurier,” Watt whispered, overcome with an intense desire to bend down, and kiss Cornelius.

He—he wanted to kiss Cornelius.

He wanted Cornelius.

🧭🏳️‍⚧️🌈✨️

One of the goals we hit on the Kickstarter was a hardback, and Crossroad Art has been working on the cover. These fellas are not the main focus on the new cover, but boy are they handsome.

Only 26 days until The Voice of Wild Places releases !

New Arrivals

Prints, packaging, and the final copy of the book have arrived!

Bookmarks and stickers are on the way, as are cartons upon cartons of books. That pesky spine and I fought hard, but it’s certainly behaving now.

Only 35 more days until release !