Brianne Gillen
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Brianne Gillen
@booksbybrianne.bsky.social
270 followers 460 following 210 posts
Romance Author. Writer of Fierce Dames & Cinnamon-roll Gents.
Eternal lover of HEAs.
And Costume Designer by day.
she/her
💋🐆My Favorite Leopard — available now! 🐆💋
https://linktr.ee/BrianneGillen
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booksbybrianne.bsky.social
Want to support small, indie bookstores (& this indie author!) this Black Friday? You can find all of my books over at @bookshop.org & support your favorite small book businesses in the process. Plus, I hear they’ve got free shipping all weekend!
📚
Happy Reading!!
bookshop.org/beta-search?...
Against a pale blue background, headlines read, “Want to support small, indie bookstores this Black Friday?” and “All my books are available on Bookshop.org!” In the center of the image are the covers of all five of my books, with the captions, “The Phoenix Pictures Series” and “Plus! The Phoenix Pictures Vault.”
November 28, 2025 at 9:47 PM
booksbybrianne.bsky.social
Need a quick, whimsical escape to recharge amid *gestures at everything*?
My novellas SEA CREATURES PREFER REDHEADS & MY FAVORITE LEOPARD are on sale in anticipation of Halloween!
🎃
The e-book editions are only $0.99 for a limited time, so grab ‘em while they’re hot…& steamy! 😈
🎥🌊🐾💖
(🔗 in reply...)
Against a gray marbled background, the covers of Sea Creatures Prefer Redheads and My Favorite Leopard, with little paw prints and some water bubbles scattered behind them, and a purple monster hand coming up from one corner of the image. Text around the books reads: “It’s a Monster of a Halloween Sale! Both novellas in the Phoenix Pictures Vault are just $0.99 for a limited time! (E-book edition only.)”
October 16, 2025 at 11:55 PM
booksbybrianne.bsky.social
🍁 Only ONE WEEK until @fallintobooksfest.bsky.social 🍁
I can’t wait to hang out with my fellow authors and readers next Saturday 9/20!
🍁📚🍁
At the afternoon signing, you can find me (plus all my books & some adorable, brand new stickers & bookmarks) at Table 1307!
🍁📚🍁
I hope to see you there!!
Against a pale leaf-patterned backdrop, text reads: “One Week to go! Will I see you at Fall Into Books Fest in Orange County, CA, next week? Swipe to see where to find me at the afternoon signing.” An arrow points to the right, and the logo for the festival, featuring a book and a few fall leaves, is in the center of the photo. Against a pale leaf-patterned backdrop, the map of table placements for the signing authors in the ballroom. Captions read: “Signing Hall, Royal Ball C-F” and “I’ll be at Table 1307, come say hi!” Around Table 1307, which is near the upper right corner of the map, there is a red circle with a few arrows pointing at it.
September 13, 2025 at 9:31 PM
booksbybrianne.bsky.social
I'm excited to be an attending author at Fall Into Books Fest on Sept. 20, in Garden Grove, CA! I hope to see you there!
🍁📚🍂
And you can Pre-Order all of my books ahead of time (plus they'll come with some adorable stickers!)
beventi.co/orderform/jv...
Against a film-strip background, text reads: “Going to Fall Into Books Fest? You can Pre-Order all of my books! (…psst…they’ll come with fun bonus goodies!)” Across the bottom, the covers of all five of my books are fanned out; a small Fall Into Books Fest logo with leaves and a book is in the top corner.
June 20, 2025 at 11:43 PM
booksbybrianne.bsky.social
On Father’s Day, it feels fitting to shout out Max Mitchell, my sweetheart of a baker from A Kiss to Build a Grudge On. Max starts out with great step-DILF potential, and becomes a fantastic dad over the course of the book! His scenes with little Lucy were some of my favorites to write.
💖
Against a pink striped backdrop, an excerpt from A Kiss to Build a Grudge On, with the book’s cover in one corner, below a heart with a kiss mark inside it. The excerpt reads: “He gently chucked her under the chin. “And you know, no matter what happens between me and your mom”—here, he offered up a silent plea for more good than bad in their future—“I’ll always be your friend. And there will always be a couple of snickerdoodles here with your name on ’em. I promise.” She giggled. “Thanks, Max!” She reached up and swung her arms around his neck, nearly clocking him in the ear with her cast. He bit back a laugh at her enthusiasm, and then let his eyes drift closed for a moment, taking solace in this delightful child, already a daughter in his heart.”
June 15, 2025 at 11:24 PM
booksbybrianne.bsky.social
Fun Fact: My Favorite Leopard features an Irish leading lady! While Lina Leonard left the Emerald Isle for Hollywood, her Celtic heritage is an important part of who she is (…along with the fact that she’s secretly a leopard shifter… 😽)
Happy St. Patrick’s Day!
🍀🐆🍀
books2read.com/myfavoritele...
Against a green background, a vintage black-and-white photo of a brunette white woman in black shorts and a white blouse, holding a glittery shamrock over her head, with the silhouette of another shamrock projected behind her. The cover of My Favorite Leopard is in one corner. A heading reads, “wishing you a very happy St. Paddy’s Day from Lina Leonard and all her feline friends.”
March 17, 2025 at 10:07 PM
booksbybrianne.bsky.social
Enjoy a magical *squeeze* of a #FridayKiss from My Favorite Leopard on this Valentine's Friday!
💕💋🐆
Against a sepia-toned background with lit up hearts, a Friday Kiss excerpt from My Favorite Leopard: “It feels like my magic … heightens with you. Specifically you.” She turned her hand over in his, giving him a little squeeze. “Earlier, when I was projecting comfort into Betty, and you held my hand? It’s hard to describe, but I felt something extra. Like my connection to you was enhancing my magic somehow.” Tony sucked in a sharp inhale. “Wow. I’m…” He smiled shyly. “I’m honored, Lina. To have earned not only your trust, but … your magic’s too.”
February 14, 2025 at 9:48 PM
booksbybrianne.bsky.social
Without downloading any new pics, where are you mentally?
Mock-up of a vintage Nancy Drew mystery cover, with the perfect title "The Mysterious Night We Buried Our Last Fuck." The illustration features Nancy and two of her friends digging in the yard outside a creepy old house, while one of the women gently places the word "fuck" in the newly-dug hole.
January 23, 2025 at 9:22 PM
booksbybrianne.bsky.social
Guess what? Sea Creatures Prefer Redheads—my classic Hollywood romance with a supernatural twist—is FREE Today Only… & only at bookmas.co!
I’m excited to offer it as part of Angela James’ Book Boss® Bookmas celebration!
I hope it brings you a much-needed joyful escape today. Happy Reading!
🐬💋
Against a pale pink backdrop, an illustration of a blushing winter bird perched on a pile of books is in the top corner. A text box reads “Sea Creatures Prefer Redheads by Brianne Gillen” and the book’s cover is above it. Other text in the graphic reads: “Bookmas in January, sponsored by Rakuten Kobo. Free ebooks for Readers and Business Tools for Authors. January 10-31. Check back tomorrow for a new ebook.”
January 21, 2025 at 5:37 PM
booksbybrianne.bsky.social
Claiming a little joy this evening by watching the always delightful Kids Baking Championship and making some good progress on my latest embroidery project… 🧁🪡
Close up photo of my embroidery-in-progress, which is a collage of wintery things, including orange slices, cinnamon sticks, and snowflakes.
January 21, 2025 at 4:38 AM
booksbybrianne.bsky.social
This January, I am joining forces with several of my fellow authors to promote the value (& appeal!) of CONSENT in our historical romances!
Check out the fab lineup (feat. excerpts of the authors' favorite consent scenes from the books!) here:
books.bookfunnel.com/consentissex...
💋💋
#Romancelandia
In dark red text, the words “Consent is Sexy” are laid over a faded collage of the covers of many of the books featured in this promo.
January 7, 2025 at 2:03 AM
booksbybrianne.bsky.social
One thing I want to focus on in the year to come is JOY - finding it, letting it in, nurturing it, sharing it… I believe it’s going to be more important than ever.
On that note, I’m starting early & sharing some of the books that brought me joy this past year!
📚🥳
Happy New Year & Happy Reading! 🥂
Against a pale green backdrop with open polka-dots, the heading “A few of My Favorite Reads in 2024.” Below it are the covers of these books: Isabel & the Rogue - Liana de la Rosa; The Finest Print - Erin Langston; What Is Love? - Jen Comfort; At First Spite - Olivia Dade; The Most Wonderful Crime of the Year - Ally Carter. Another mini-caption reads "audio highlights!" and is next to the covers of these audiobooks: Pride & Protest - Nikki Payne; Be Ready When the Luck Happens - Ina Garten; The Third Gilmore Girl - Kelly Bishop
December 31, 2024 at 11:07 PM
booksbybrianne.bsky.social
🐾 My Favorite Leopard has been out in the world for a month! 🐾
I had a lot of fun writing this supernatural '40s Hollywood romance, and the responses to it have been lovely so far.
And if you haven’t read it yet, I hope you fall in love with Tony & Lina when you do! 🐆💋
books2read.com/myfavoritele...
Against a black background, white and red text reads: “Tony Benson’s favorite film femme fatale is about to drop a Bombshell that has nothing to do with her looks…” A faded white pawprint sits below the text. Along the right side of the text is a film strip and the cover of My Favorite Leopard, with the book’s title above it, and the website books2read.com/MyFavoriteLeopard below it.
December 14, 2024 at 9:11 PM
booksbybrianne.bsky.social
Yes, I’m religious, I believe in the holy trinity
Photo of Gene Kelly, Debbie Reynolds, and Donald O’Connor dancing in the “Good Morning” number from Singin’ in the Rain.
December 1, 2024 at 7:59 AM
booksbybrianne.bsky.social
Looking for a mid-20th-century historical romance that feels like a classic film, only with all the naughty fun that would never have made it past the production code office?
I've got you covered!
All my Phoenix Pictures books and novellas are available wide!
(Links in 🧵...)

#Romancelandia
Against a blue backdrop, the three book covers of my Phoenix Pictures Series. The main caption reads: “Fierce Dames & Cinnamon Roll Gents Find Love in 1940s Hollywood! The Phoenix Pictures Series.” Each of the Books has its own caption. Difficult: “Starring Lois Ashford & Nick Bradley. A Diva & A Matinee Idol. A Phony Publicity Marriage. Plenty of Real Feelings.” Single Indemnity: “Starring Nate Reynolds & Colin Canfield. A Designer with a Big Secret. A Smitten British Screenwriter. Can Love Survive the Screwball Antics?” A Kiss to Build a Grudge On: “Starring Frannie Haynes & Max Mitchell. New Neighbors, Old Grudge. A Baker and An Accountant/Single Mom Discover How Delicious Love Can Be.” Against a darker blue backdrop, the two book covers of my Phoenix Pictures Vault Series. The main caption reads: “Fierce Dames, Cinnamon Roll Gents…and a few Supernatural Twists!” Each of the book covers has its own caption. Sea Creatures Prefer Redheads: “Starring Opal Prince & Adrian Waterson. A Makeup Artist with a fondness for Monsters. An Actor who secretly *is* a Sea Monster. A Movie to make & a Curse to break.” My Favorite Leopard: “Starring Lina Leonard & Tony Benson. A Herd of Kittens + Two Lovelorn Leopards. A Noir Actress (who’s also a Leopard Shifter). And the Animal Trainer who Loves them All.”
November 30, 2024 at 12:14 AM
booksbybrianne.bsky.social
Authors, let’s start a chain of posts of your FIRST published book! Quote post the cover, a link, and three words about it! Here’s mine:

DIFFICULT (2021)

Classic-Hollywood “Publicity” Marriage

books2read.com/difficultbri...
Cover of Difficult. Against a dark blue background, a retro-looking dark-haired white woman with a blue sweater and bold gold necklace looks over her shoulder at a half-smiling, brown-haired white man in a brown suit and green tie. Red and yellow bands across the bottom contain the words, “Difficult” by Brianne Gillen.
November 24, 2024 at 8:55 PM
booksbybrianne.bsky.social
This week’s #FridayKiss theme of *never* gives me a chance to share one of my favorite sections to write in My Favorite Leopard!
💋💋
Against a peach-colored, faintly sparkly backdrop, this excerpt from My Favorite Leopard: “Tony realized with a start that he’d never, before today, seen the woman in color. All her films were black-and-white. The cameras had never picked up that she had the most delightful spray of faint freckles across her nose and cheekbones. The eyes he’d assumed to be blue were, in fact, an almost golden hazel.”
November 22, 2024 at 9:04 PM
booksbybrianne.bsky.social
Screwball classic Bringing Up Baby was part of my inspo for MY FAVORITE LEOPARD & I sprinkled quite a few tribute Easter eggs throughout the book! Can you spot them all?
(By my highly unscientific count, there are at least 12 😸)
Happy reading/hunting!💋

#Romancelandia

books2read.com/myfavoritele...
Against a background of film strips, a black-and-white photo of a majestic-looking leopard next to the cover of My Favorite Leopard (also in black-and-white). Art-deco style text below the photo reads: “Can you spot all of the Bringing Up Baby Easter eggs in My Favorite Leopard?”
November 21, 2024 at 11:43 PM
booksbybrianne.bsky.social
Ooh, this is a new Nancy Drew to me! My personal favorite:
A parody of a vintage Nancy Drew book cover: “Nancy Drew Mystery Stories - The Mysterious Night We Buried Our Last Fuck.” The illustration depicts three white women in 1950s outfits, digging a hole by lantern-light in the front yard of a mansion. One of the women reverently places the word “fuck” inside the ditch.
November 18, 2024 at 8:01 AM
booksbybrianne.bsky.social
My latest novella, My Favorite Leopard, just came out this week!
It’s a paranormal romcom set in 1940s Hollywood, and features a saucy noir actress/leopard shifter & an anxious sweetheart of an animal trainer 🐆💋

books2read.com/myfavoriteleopard
Against a pale yellow polka-dot backdrop, the cover of My Favorite Leopard, with little paw prints around it. The website to find the book is at the bottom (the same one that’s directly linked in the post itself.)
November 18, 2024 at 3:49 AM
booksbybrianne.bsky.social
🌟MY FAVORITE LEOPARD is HERE!🌟
My new novella—an homage to Bringing Up Baby, with a dash of Cat People—is out in the world! I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it. May it bring you a few much-needed laughs (& swoons) today…
💋🐆💋
books2read.com/myfavoriteleopard

#romancelandia
Against a sunset-colored background, the cover of My Favorite Leopard is surrounded by various features and tropes of the book, with arrows pointing at it. A caption at the bottom reads: “Available Now! books2read.com/myfavoriteleopard” The features include: A Saucy Noir Actress/Leopard Shifter; An Anxious Animal Trainer with a big heart; A Secondary Romance between 2 (actual) Leopards; Meet-cute + herding kittens; Workplace Romance at a classic Hollywood Studio; Magic; Animal (& Human) Shenanigans; Brought to you by the number 69… Against a sunset-colored background, the Cast of Characters from My Favorite Leopard. At the bottom is the book’s cover and this link books2read.com/myfavoriteleopard . Character info includes: Lina Leonard, a sassy & (literally) magical noir actress with a feline side; Tony Benson, a worrisome ginger animal trainer with a giant heart; Betty, a sweetheart of a (mostly) domesticated leopard; Bob, the handsome leopard gent who steals Betty’s heart; Gouda, a feisty, mischievous fur ball who keeps Tony on his toes; 6 (cheesily-named) Kittens, Gouda’s siblings, always up for an adventure.
November 13, 2024 at 7:04 PM
booksbybrianne.bsky.social
I have a brand-new novella coming out in just 2 days, & it’s one I’m really proud of. & if you, like me, are in need of something to replenish your oxygen right now, I hope My Favorite Leopard can provide you with a little burst of comfort and joy 🧡
books2read.com/myfavoritele...

#romancelandia
Against a sunset-colored background, the cover of My Favorite Leopard is surrounded by various features and tropes of the book, with arrows pointing at it. A caption at the bottom reads: “11.13.24. books2read.com/myfavoriteleopard” The features include: A Saucy Noir Actress/Leopard Shifter; An Anxious Animal Trainer with a big heart; A Secondary Romance between 2 (actual) Leopards; Meet-cute + herding kittens; Workplace Romance at a classic Hollywood Studio; Magic; Animal (& Human) Shenanigans; Brought to you by the number 69…
November 11, 2024 at 9:29 PM
booksbybrianne.bsky.social
Since this lovely new community is growing, I should introduce my author side too! I write 20th-century hist-roms, with lots of nods to my favorite screwball comedies. I hope they can provide a few moments of joy right now. 💋
Against a blue backdrop, the three book covers of my Phoenix Pictures Series. The main caption reads: “Fierce Dames & Cinnamon Roll Gents Find Love in 1940s Hollywood! The Phoenix Pictures Series.” Each of the Books has its own caption. Difficult: “Starring Lois Ashford & Nick Bradley. A Diva & A Matinee Idol. A Phony Publicity Marriage. Plenty of Real Feelings.” Single Indemnity: “Starring Nate Reynolds & Colin Canfield. A Designer with a Big Secret. A Smitten British Screenwriter. Can Love Survive the Screwball Antics?” A Kiss to Build a Grudge On: “Starring Frannie Haynes & Max Mitchell. New Neighbors, Old Grudge. A Baker and An Accountant/Single Mom Discover How Delicious Love Can Be.” Against a darker blue backdrop, the two book covers of my Phoenix Pictures Vault Series. The main caption reads: “Fierce Dames, Cinnamon Roll Gents…and a few Supernatural Twists!” Each of the book covers has its own caption. Sea Creatures Prefer Redheads: “Starring Opal Prince & Adrian Waterson. A Makeup Artist with a fondness for Monsters. An Actor who secretly *is* a Sea Monster. A Movie to make & a Curse to break.” My Favorite Leopard: “Starring Lina Leonard & Tony Benson. A Herd of Kittens + Two Lovelorn Leopards. A Noir Actress (who’s also a Leopard Shifter). And the Animal Trainer who Loves them All.”
November 11, 2024 at 4:37 AM
booksbybrianne.bsky.social
recommend a romance book in one sentence:

sexy golden retriever scientist with lovable, wacky family helps prickly widow un-haunt her house

#romancelandia
The cover of Diana Biller's The Widow of Rose House, featuring the back of a woman in a red velvet and black dress, holding an old-fashioned key on a red ribbon.
November 10, 2024 at 9:57 PM
booksbybrianne.bsky.social
🌟 I have a novella releasing in just 1 Month! 🌟
MY FAVORITE LEOPARD arrives 11.13.24!
🐆💋🐆
My homage to Bringing Up Baby (and Cat People) features a noir dame with a big secret & an anxious animal trainer with a heart of gold… 😻
Pre-order here: books2read.com/myfavoritele...
#romancelandia
Against a faded leopard-print backdrop, black and burgundy text reads: “1 Herd of Kittens… 2 Lovelorn Leopards… A Noir Actress (who’s also a Leopard Shifter… and the Animal Trainer who Loves them All. My Favorite Leopard. Coming 11.13.24.” The cover of My Favorite Leopard is in the bottom corner.
October 13, 2024 at 9:17 PM