Playlist: June 2023

For Love. For Pride.

This month’s playlist is inspired by Pride.

Telling myself not to get maudlin over Pride has become an annual event.

When I was fifteen, a gay man was beaten to death in the park opposite my school, and the thing I remember about that the most is that people talked about it like it was inevitable. Inevitable that someone should feel so incensed by the existence of gay men that they felt justified in killing them.

We can tell ourselves we’ve come a long way, and I guess we have in a lot of ways, but there are still people all over the world who believe queer people don’t deserve to live. In 2023, there are still people who show themselves up as the worst of humanity. It makes me sad, and it makes me sick.

There is nothing as brave and beautiful as queer people celebrating their existence in the face of the hatred still being slung at them. If you’re reading, I’m so fucking proud of you.

I’m not getting into the people I lost during the AIDS crisis because it was one of the worst times of my life and I’m not ready to put it out there. After thirty years, I’m still not ready.

This is the reason I waited until July to post this here. The playlist has been live on Spotify since June 1st, but I knew this post would get dark, and I didn’t want to spoil the vibe of the music.

It is truly a celebration of the lives we all should have been allowed to have, and a hope that the world will become a safer place for the generations of queer kids to come because they deserve better.

Make sure they get it, eh?

Happy listening!

New York Pride 1974. Parents holding placards. Man in foreground holding a sign that reads "I'm PROUD of my Gay Son."

Dance The Night – Dua Lipa

Rain On Me – Lady Gaga, Ariana Grande

Gimme More – Britney Spears

MONTERO (Call Me By Your Name) – Lil Nas X

Born This Way – Lady Gaga

Raise Your Glass – P!nk

Same Love (feat. Mary Lambert) – Macklemore & Ryan Lewis

Girls Like Girls – Hayley Kiyoko

Strangers – Halsey, Lauren Jauregui

She Keeps Me Warm – Mary Lambert

The Antidote – St. Vincent

She Likes Girls – Metro Station

Bad Romance – Lady Gaga

Y.M.C.A. – Village People

I’m Every Woman – Chaka Khan

Going Back to My Roots – Odyssey

I’m Coming Out – Diana Ross

Dancing Queen – ABBA

Lady Marmalade – Christina Aguilera, Lil’ Kim, Mya, P!nk

Firework – Katy Perry

Shake It Off – Taylor Swift

Starships – Nicki Minaj

Young Love – Eli Lieb

Too Good At Goodbyes – Sam Smith, Galantis

Be Alright – Ariana Grande

I Kissed A Girl – Katy Perry

What the Hell – Avril Lavigne

Let There Be Love – Christina Aguilera

Rhythm Is A Dancer – Breathe Carolina, Dropgun, Kaleena Zanders

Ex’s & Oh’s – Elle King

Side To Side – Ariana Grande, Nicki Minaj

About Damn Time – Lizzo

Chained To The Rhythm – Katy Perry, Skip Marley

Never Be the Same – Camila Cabello

People Like Us – Kelly Clarkson

Rise – Jonas Blue, Jack & Jack

Levitating – Dua Lipa

My My My! – Troye Sivan

Wings – Little Mix

Good as Hell – Lizzo, Ariana Grande

After the Afterparty – Charli XCX, Lil Yachty

Survivor – Destiny’s Child

Good Ones – Charli XCX

Euphoria – Loreen

Cut To The Feeling – Carly Rae Jepsen

I’m Good (Blue) – David Guetta, Bebe Rexha

Click here for my Spotify Playlist

Playlist: May 2023

Of Blood & Oil

This month’s playlist is inspired by my latest release, Of Blood & Oil, which is book three of my Not the Same River series.

It follows Violet as she goes from gobby orphan to treasured warrior in six books.

A hunted portrait. A twisted duke. An embarrassing crush.

When a hunted portrait arrives at the priory for safekeeping, Violet makes a disturbing discovery or two about her immortal neighbour. And an unwelcome one about herself.

As the resourceful Penhaligons try to figure out what’s so special about the painting, a sinister duke makes a bold move in his bid to claim it. But the painting is not the only thing he’s after.

Can Violet and the Penhaligons outwit the duke and bargain their way to victory? Or will they learn that they’re not the only ones with betrayal in mind?

This book features a vampire who doesn’t know where his trousers are, a stray nephilim, judgemental goats, and an MC who hasn’t quite got a handle on romance.

Happy listening!

Gothic Christmas witch with amber eyes and fiery red hair

Coloring the void – M83

Anachronism – Crywolf

Colder – Edwin Raphael

Angel’s Song – Arlo Parks

Under My Skin – SPC ECO

Speak Loud – Trills

Call Me What You Like – Lovejoy

From Eden – Hozier

Hypnotic – Zella Day

Fade Into You – Mazzy Star

Neptune – Sleeping at Last

Milk & Honey (Alt Version) – Billie Marten

I Found – Amber Run

Breathe – of Verona

Blood//Water – grandson

Litost – X Ambassadors

Illuminate – WILDES

Monster – Half Moon Run

Make It Holy – The Staves

Moon Begins – Florist

Pay – Ramsey

Heavy in Your Arms – Florence + The Machine

Swell – Twin Caverns

You Made Me Human – Richard Wells

Your Name – Lissom, Julien Marchal, Lowswimmer

Click here for my Spotify Playlist

Of Blood & Oil is Live!

Out Now! Of Blood & Oil

Book 3 of Not the Same River comes fifteen months after the battle at the priory, when Violet’s day is ruined by her sister’s recklessness and panic on the London Underground.

Vicious. Hairy. Panic.

A hunted portrait. A twisted duke. An embarrassing crush.

When a hunted portrait arrives at the priory for safekeeping, Violet makes a disturbing discovery or two about her immortal neighbour. And an unwelcome one about herself.

As the resourceful Penhaligons try to figure out what’s so special about the painting, a sinister duke makes a bold move in his bid to claim it. But the painting is not the only thing he’s after.

Can Violet and the Penhaligons outwit the duke and bargain their way to victory? Or will they learn that they’re not the only ones with betrayal in mind?

This book features a vampire who doesn’t know where his trousers are, a stray nephilim, and judgemental goats.

Of Blood & Oil is now available from all major online retailers.

BUY NOW

Out Now! Secrets at the Door

The first book of the Tales from the Noctuary series is available now from all major online retailers. This series currently has four books written, each taking place in a different historical setting. This one features characters who can be found in the first two books of my Not the Same River series. If you’ve read them, you’ll recognise the Merryweather coven, Adam Castle in his younger days, and his friend Amos Blackmore.

Each book in the Tales from the Noctuary series can be read as a standalone.

The secrets aren’t at the door. They’re already in the house.

Betsy’s reluctance to lead the Merryweather coven puts her entire family in danger, and with an injured vampire showing up on their doorstep and a bloodborn harvest to resurrect, they can’t afford mistakes.

When the coven is targeted on neighbouring Castle land, the only reliable witness is a young girl found hiding in the family mausoleum. But the girl is not what she seems.

Lotus is a secret keeper with a bind on her tongue. When one of the Merryweathers finds her unconscious in the woods, Betsy helps Lotus unravel her tongue, slowly learning the terrible truth about what her coven has been harbouring for years.

~~~

This book features a fat, beekeeping lesbian vampire, a well-demon in need of a haircut, and romantic elements (f/f & m/nonbinary). Although this book is a standalone, it features characters from the Not the Same River series, so reading both will provide a richer experience.

Due to certain graphic elements, this is recommended for readers aged 18+

BUY NOW

Amazing Deal on my Books, Only at Kobo

For a limited time only, the first two books of the Not the Same River series are available with a 30% discount, only at Kobo.

If you like your YA urban fantasy with a hefty dose of British humour, sibling banter, functional families, mystery, and LGBTQ+ characters, these books are for you.

You have until March 27th to claim your discount.

Add the code MAR30 at checkout.

Happy Reading!

BUY NOW