#1 Devils Island Light: 1 of 2 lighthouses that were on the island, now the last left standing. I hear there's some book coming out next week that features one of them set in the 1860s with deals with the devil and a murdered ghost and runaway sisters or something???? 10000/10 very haunted

#2 Peggy's Cove Lighthouse: Built in 1914, replaced the original from 1868. The light has changed colour several times! 10/10 or else the tourism board would snipe me. Any photo you take here could be a postcard, if you don't capture a thousand tourists in it too. DON'T STAND ON THE BLACK ROCKS.

#3 Annapolis Royal lighthouse: A small lighthouse on the boardwalk in Annapolis Royal, built in 1889 and still operating today! 9/10 would be very cramped to live in but love the vibe

#4 Georges Island Lighthouse: Made of concrete in 1919, replaced the original from 1876. Easily visible from the Halifax waterfront. 8/10 Difficult to get to as a historic landmark but lovely to look at while chowing down on some Cows ice cream.

Ranking my own photos of lighthouses #5 a blurry lighthouse on the highway that welcomes you on the border of New Brunswick into Nova Scotia. More pretty than functional. 7/10 I know we're close to grabbing some a&w when I see it

A fun pre-release surprise: A FATE WORSE THAN DROWNING was picked as a @kobobooks.bsky.social Best of the Month book in sci-fi, fantasy, & horror! Honoured to be one of the 15 books picked for July. Special shout out to @megbontra.bsky.social 's THE SEA HIDES ITS DEAD which is releasing TOMORROW!!

Feeling cool, normal, and very regulated about there being less than 10 days until my debut novel comes out!!!

what do you mean some people are getting their pre-orders of A FATE WORSE THAN DROWNING already I thought I had another few weeks to prepare emotionally AHHHHHHHHHHHHHH ❤️😭❤️😭❤️

super cool and sexy of me to pre-order a bunch of debut novels from my local indie bookstores this morning. You can be like me if you also pre— a shepherd's crook appears at the edge of the stage, quickly scooping me out of sight as the curtains close and a "we'll be right back" sign appears.

My girls ❤️❤️❤️

Just a debut author holding the final version of their book for the first time ❤️🌊❤️ Oh, and what's that?!!! On the front matter page???? Could that be... 👀👀👀

JULY DEBUT RECOMMENDATIONS! 🌊🗡😈 We're here: 7 months into the year! My debut release month!!! And an absolute spoil of great books are coming out! I've included some books with similar themes to A FATE WORSE THAN DROWNING that if you're interest in my book, you should check out as well!

Is A FATE WORSE THAN DROWNING historical fiction? Is it fantasy? Is it historical fantasy? Is it horror? Is it queer? Does it feature Nova Scotian folklore? Are there gothic elements? Is there (relatively light) body horror? Are there romantic elements? Is there a hot ghost? Yes! ❤️

THRILLED for AFWTD to be named a MOST ANTICIPATED CANADIAN BOOK from the folks at Indigo!! From June 28 - July 5, you can get 30% a pre-order of my book along with many other amazing Canadian books! I've made a shortlist of books I'm excited for! I am SO proud to be listed alongside them ❤️

how's drafting going??? oh great!

10 years ago, I co-founded an awesome indie press who make fiction anthologies for charity (they are still doing amazing things @tldrpress.bsky.social!) With my debut book I have the privilege of continuing that spirit of community as the July pick for Ampersand's monthly sales commission donation!

I can finally, officially say: I'm one month out from the release of my debut novel! ❤️🌊❤️ Luckily, one of the questions I get most often is: What's most helpful to do to support? (Thank you, so many times over, for caring to ask!) So I thought it'd be helpful to list some of the best ways:

Got to talk folklore and ghost stories with some awesome people today as my first time being a guest on a podcast!! ft. fish bones necklace!!

Outtake: Pepper loves my book. At least the taste of it.

Officially the age I'm going to publish my debut book!!! Only been looking forward to this for more than half my life!!! No pressure!!! 💖 33 💖

I truly wish that my spooky nature extended past writing fun gothic fantasy/horror but alas my recent obsession has been a minecraft modded world where I slowly make roads between different structured I find in the world. I don't make any structures. I just make little lit paths to connect them.

I also hope readers who enjoy Liney's quieter, but equal strength and hope also empathize with her journey as a young lesbian woman finding her first love in the worst circumstances. A FATE WORSE THAN DROWNING comes out July 21, 2026, with @poisonedpenpress.bsky.social 🌈

I hope readers who love Elle's fierce loyalty and even fiercer terror also see her complicated relationship with gender and the social systems she's brought up within.

Queer love, identity, rage, and hope are all integral to my book. "What if you had to save your lesbian sister from a cruel man in 1860s Halifax?" turns into a complicated web of Faustian bargains, sacrifice, and revenge on the tiny island the sisters escape to.

Happy Pride!!! While most festivities around my parts start in July, I can't help sharing in the fun June brings as well 🌈🌈🌈 Scroll through to see the lovely words others have written about the queerness in A FATE WORSE THAN DROWNING!

This weekend has been full of friends, helping with friends' babies, celebrating a family birthday, reading, going to a movie I was excited for and enjoying it, eating brunch while talking books, browsing a bookstore, and taking in the little joys of life ❤️ Two of said joys pictured here!

1: Cherry blossoms in Dartmouth!!!! 2: Seasonally appropriate book 3: Delicious "mo xtra mo" iced mocha 4: How is Pepper as long as Hazel is already she is not even 6 months old HELP--

2 MONTHS TO THE DAY UNTIL AFWTD RELEASES - AND WE HIT 15,000 ADDS ON GOODREADS!!! I'm sure I sound like a broken record but again: Thank you so, so much to everyone who has said a kind word, shared my book, even pre-ordered (!!!), and above all believed in me. 2 months can't go by quick enough ❤️

Thank you @library_journal for a lovely review of A FATE WORSE THAN DROWNING!! My first two trade reviews in the same day! Happy Wednesday! 🎉 Additionally: "Hawthorn’s debut is a horror-tinged historical fantasy that, while not a cozy, shows how love of all kinds can face down hell."

Thank you to ALA Booklist for a lovely review of A FATE WORSE THAN DROWNING! 🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉!