QSFer Cay Fletcher has a new cozy queer fantasy book out (gay, lesbian, trans MTF): Sowing Spells.
Sil was perfectly content as the manager of the village plant shop. That is, until a certain wizard, Wixen Anders Kessel, requested a fire curry plant to add to what Sil assumed was his growing graveyard of helpless greenery. Thoroughly convinced of Anders’ proclivity to kill every plant he purchases, Sil is determined to thwart the disastrous wixen’s intentions, both for his garden and recruiting a magically disinclined apprentice.
Sil and Anders return from the beloved short story, “The Wizard’s Garden”, to grow in friendship, companionship, and perhaps even more. Together, they encounter a variety of local magical creatures, spells, and obstacles as Sil resists the idea that he might actually have a talent for magic and that he might want something more from the hopeless wizard after all…
Get It At Amazon | Publisher | B&N | Bookshop.org | Kobo | Apple | Smashwords | Universal Buy Link
Excerpt
Standing in front of the old stone shop, Sil sucked in a chest full of the crisp morning air. He had already inspected the old wooden sign hanging above the door and made certain that the flower boxes hanging below the windows looked perfect.
The opening of the garden shop was a signal that spring was close at hand.
Beren, the easy-going owner, had taken over the shop, with its huge glass greenhouse, from her parents almost a decade ago, and Sil had spent the last several years learning everything he could about the unique selection of plants they sold. He had been promoted to the senior clerk at the end of last season. Though, “promoted” might be a strong term, as the previous senior clerk had retired after a nasty tangle with an octopus bramble bush . But all the same, Sil was determined to prove that he was a valuable asset to the shop.
All the usual herbs were out in pots, trimmed to be perfectly appealing to anyone looking to add a little spice to their potions. The flowers were slowly waking up, petals stretching out as the early morning sun rose higher in the sky, light streaming in through the greenhouse glass. Sil carefully inspected each pot, pressing a finger into the cool soil and watering the ones that felt dry. Everything needed to go perfectly. A good opening day would show Beren that he had everything under control.
With the watering done, Sil straightened his apron and looked over the tables of plants. He leaned over a display of carnivorous plants and put on his bossiest tone. “Today is very important. I don’t think any of you want to ruin it, so be on your best behavior.”
Magda, donning a sweatshirt with her university’s pixie mascot on the front, sipped loudly at her iced coffee, “Are you going to berate them if they’re bad?”
Sil pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose. “What good would that do?”
With a shrug, Magda replied, “You’re the ‘expert.’ You tell me.”
“I don’t have time to go over the theories for keeping plants happy and harmonious in a shop setting,” Sil said dismissively and walked over to the snapdragons. A part of him preened at the title of “expert,” even if it was meant as a jab.
Most of the brightly colored blooms were still snoozing, but a few were awake and nuzzling each other. The bell that signaled the door opening rang brightly, and he heard Magda mumble a greeting.
“You lot, no biting anyone today,” Sil softly instructed the sleepy flowers.
He could feel someone standing behind him. They leaned over and let the snapdragons nip at their dirt-stained fingers. “ You know, if you give them a little honey, they listen better.”
The man’s deep voice was warmly familiar. Standing stiff as a board, Sil slipped out of the man’s way, his optimistic mood suddenly darkened by the man’s foreboding arrival.
“We can’t spoil them in a shop setting,” he told the man. “They might turn on a new owner if they don’t keep up with the care that we provide. You of all people should know that, Anders.”
Smiling at the snapdragons, Anders shook his head in amusement. “Honey wouldn’t spoil you, would it?”
They nipped more at his fingers and rustled together in agreement.
“Is there something I can help you with, sir?” Sil snapped at the wizard.
Somehow, the man always looked disheveled. His velvet cloak was tattered at the hem and worn down to the threads in some places. The cuffs of his shirt sleeves were fraying and stained with ink and dirt. Not to mention the bits of leaves and mulch that stuck in the wizard’s pale brown hair or the scruffy appearance of his stubble.
“Sir? No need to be so formal, Sil. I’ve been shopping here for years,” Anders said as he continued tickling the snapdragons. “But I suppose you might be able to assist me with finding something.”
Bristling, Sil readied himself for another of Anders’ outrageous requests. He was in the shop almost every week buying plant after plant. Surely, the wizard had an entire graveyard full of the poor things. Sil could picture the stacks of pots, the soil dried out and hydrophobic, the withered remains of once lush, green foliage shivering in the breeze. Beren wouldn’t have kept selling to him if she knew that the wizard was in the business of killing plants, right? It was a truly horrid image, and he shook his head to banish it from his thoughts.
He certainly hadn’t anticipated Anders being their first customer of the season, and he felt it cast a bad omen over his new position. At least the man hadn’t gone to Magda for help; she hardly knew the difference between the uses of lemon balm and lavender, and she was likely to let him buy whatever he wanted.
Author Bio
Cay Fletcher is a Queer author with a passion for fantasy and science fiction. Crafting rich landscapes and memorable characters in new and exciting worlds.
Living in the Portland metro area, Cay spends their free time in the garden, cooking, or making a mess, aka crafting. She spent over fifteen years volunteering at fan conventions across the US and still occasionally assists at events in the PNW. As a writer, Cay strives to create relatable queer characters, giving them the titles of hero and protagonist.
They also love to use their crafting and graphic design skills to make products such as patchwork book sleeves, TTRPG journals, stickers, bookmarks, and more. She lives with her wife Sam, their two roommates, and pets: tuxedo cat, Satsuki and keeshond, Lakota.
Cay uses She/They pronouns.
| Author Website | https://www.cayfletcher.com/ |
|---|---|
| Author Bluesky | https://bsky.app/profile/cayfletcher.bsky.social |
| Author Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/CayFletcherAuthor |
| Author Other Social Media | https://www.instagram.com/cayfletcher/ |