Marianne Ratcliffe
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Marianne Ratcliffe
@ratcliffemj.bsky.social
Lambda literary shortlisted author of historical sapphic fiction. Published by Bellows Press | The Secret of Matterdale Hall, a gothic romance set in the Victorian era | A Lady to Treasure, a sparkling Regency romance | www.marianneratcliffe.com
Following the news that my publisher, Bellows Press, will soon cease trading, I've written a blog about my experiences. I've tried to be as open and honest as i can, hoping it will be useful to other authors considering going with a small press.

marianneratcliffe.com/blog
#wwlw #sapphic #hisfic
May 14, 2025 at 2:13 PM
To thank everyone who supported me and my writing over the past few years, "Nothing Ventured, Nothing Gained" is FREE for the holiday period. It's a short story sequel to A Lady to Treasure. With our heroines desperate for investment, Sarah has a plan...

marianneratcliffe.com/free-stuff

#wwlw
December 15, 2024 at 1:58 PM
For the FIRST time since launch, The Secret of Matterdale Hall is on offer. A gothic mystery/romance perfect for fans of Sarah Waters, Katie Lumsden and Stacey Halls. Sale runs 14-18th October.

[wwlw, gothic fiction, sapphic romance, historical romance]

books2read.com/u/mVD6oP
October 15, 2024 at 10:32 AM
Readers have said they'd love to see more of Sarah and Louisa's life after the end of A Lady to Treasure. Nothing Ventured Nothing Gained is a short story sequel taking place in the period described in the Epilogue. Available FREE to newsletter subscribers. www.marianneratcliffe.com
#wwlw #sapphic
June 4, 2024 at 2:52 PM
With less than a month to the Lammys you can snap up A Lady to Treasure ebook (shortlisted in the lesbian romance category) for only $2.99/£2.99.

Features as part of this week's Iheartsapphic challenge (based in UK).

iheartsapphfic.com/2024/05/13/i...

wwlw lesfic sapphic romance queer romance
May 14, 2024 at 10:20 AM
April 12, 2024 at 2:37 PM
Just me, sharing a shelf with one of my favourite authors!

[BarbaraPym, Barbara Pym, Pym Society, historical fiction, English authors, bookshelf, Waterstones]
April 10, 2024 at 12:36 PM
😍😍A Lady to Treasure has been shortlisted for a Lammy Award in the Lesbian Romance category. Find out more about the book using the link:

books2read.com/u/mYqQ8p

Congratulations to the other finalists, Melissa Brayden, Kris Bryant, Georgia Beers and Lisa Peers. It's an honour be among this list ♥️
March 29, 2024 at 9:56 AM
Anyone else read this? A great evocation of a time and place. Explores the value of curiosity, compassion and community.

#TLOST #yorkshire #2024books #HistoricalFiction (sort of)
February 25, 2024 at 7:24 AM
For one week only, the eBook of my Regency romance, A Lady to Treasure, is for sale at the bargain price of 99p/99c.
 books2read.com/u/mYqQ8p

[sapphic romance, historical fiction, queer romance]
February 11, 2024 at 3:55 PM
Matterdale Hall has been out for more than a year, so it's lovely to still see readers engaging with it. This recent Amazon review sums up exactly what I hope to do with my writing, which is present more inclusive (and, yes, sapphic!) spin on traditional or classic literature tropes.
February 2, 2024 at 12:44 PM
#LesficFri #truth

A Lady To Treasure | Universal Book Links Help You Find Books at Your Favorite Store! (books2read.com)
January 26, 2024 at 7:46 PM
Happy LesFicFriday!

"woman"

From A lady to Treasure: books2read.com/u/mYqQ8p
January 19, 2024 at 4:52 PM
I was blown away by this debut novel. There's not enough room on the graphic to capture its complexity, but if you are looking for something with a unique voice, prose that rises almost to poetry, queer protagonists captured with searing insight and honesty, then this might be for you.
January 17, 2024 at 1:23 PM
My latest blog concerns ambiguity in gothic and gay fiction. I also explain how (and why) I try to incorporate it into my own writing.

Blog - Marianne Ratcliffe Author Of Historical Fiction

[sapphic romance, historical fiction, queer fiction]
December 14, 2023 at 4:27 PM
Looking for last minute stocking fillers? I got you covered😀
December 8, 2023 at 1:32 PM
Always happy to be the goldilocks in an Austen-Bronte sandwich 😍

[sapphic romance, gothic historical fiction]
December 5, 2023 at 12:27 PM
Friends of mine have been dealing with the consequences of ME/CFS. They have set up an arts and crafts business and their stuff is gorgeous. I bought these (made from bamboo, so completely sustainable). Website link below:

Home - Kyloe Creations | Eco-friendly personalised gifts from Scotland
December 3, 2023 at 7:55 AM
So this happened yesterday 😀

So grateful to Waterstones Macclesfield for supporting this local author. I mean, look at that display! Met some lovely people, and sold about 20 books over 2 hours - no idea if that's good or bad, but it's 20 more than zero...😍.
November 19, 2023 at 7:59 PM
Being an author with an indie press can be like pushing a large rock up a very steep hill. So today, I'm celebrating the positives. Its been a year since the launch of Matterdale Hall, and a month for ALTT. 🎉 Happy anniversary to my book babies.

And they'd be great stocking fillers (just sayin')😉
November 15, 2023 at 12:07 PM
I've seen mixed reviews of this, but I thought it was marvellous. Gorgeous prose, characterisation and setting - a snapshot of adolescent first love & of flying too close to the sun. Teenage Anne Lister leaps off the page, with all her contradictions. Love or hate her, she's a fascinating subject.
November 14, 2023 at 12:42 PM
I really enjoyed this mystery set in pre WW1 Leeds. Louisa and Ada make for a great couple - chalk and cheese who can rub each other up the wrong way, but whose love for each is beautifully realised as they get caught up in solving the murder next door.

Ace rep, historical fiction, sapphic fiction.
November 11, 2023 at 12:39 PM
This is me, doing my very best to look author-y. I shall also be attempting to look author-y next Saturday, when signing books at my local branch of Waterstones. If you are in the area, do pop in and say hello 😀

(there will be chocolate)
November 9, 2023 at 1:58 PM
Ok, so I'm late to the party on this one, but what a fabulous example of the age-gap/thawing ice queen trope! The writing is sublime, Ari is adorable, the sex scenes super 🌶️🌶️.
November 2, 2023 at 11:42 AM
The US Amazon glitch that prevented the paperback version of A Lady to Treasure being available looks to have been fixed. Only two weeks after launch, but hey-ho 🙄🙄. Any US based-folks who've been waiting for the paperback - now's your chance 😀
October 31, 2023 at 11:53 AM