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Rose Sutherland @rosesutherlandwrites is a Toronto-based writer who grew up a voracious reader with an overactive imagination in Nova Scotia (where she once fellΒ off a roof trying to re-enactΒ Anne of Green Gables!).Β She's been to theatreΒ school in NYC, apprenticed at a pΓ’tisserie in ruralΒ France,Β and currently moonlights as an usher and bartenderβin between writing queer folktales, practicing yoga, dancing, singing, searching outΒ amazingΒ coffee and croissants, and making niche jokes about Victor Hugo on the internet. She's mildly obsessed with the idea of one day owning a large dog, several chickens, and maybe a goat.Β A Sweet Sting of SaltΒ is her debut novel.
Keep reading for more about character arcs in A Sweet Sting of Salt, Rose's favorite fanfic tropes, and some excellent reading recs π
Can you tell us about A Sweet Sting of Salt and how you came to write it?
A Sweet Sting of Salt is a queer (f/f) historical reimagining of the classic folktale of the selkie wife, set in 1830βs Nova Scotia. I call it a βreimaginingβ because while it draws on the folktale, itβs not a retelling of that tale so much as a story playing out in relation to that mythology. Iβd wanted to write something centering a love story between two women for a while, but the initial spark came from a Tumblr post! It suggested the idea of selkies testifying before the UN as victims of human trafficking, which reminded me of all the things I disliked about the original folktale and its inherent darkness that is generally glossed over, starting me down the rabbit hole toward finding my own story.
How did you approach research for A Sweet Sting of Salt, and what is a favorite historical fact you learned?
I joke that I did a lot of research by osmosis: I already had a lot of base knowledge about the location, having grown up in Nova Scotia, and then set the story in a period that Iβve been absorbing information about in a low-key way for agesβ1832 is also the year of the student rebellion in Les Mis, so Iβve been gleaning tidbits about this era since I first got into the musical and book back in high school. However, I had to do more specific research into things like British divorce law, period midwifery, and animal husbandry. I also visited some small, hyper-local museums on the South Shore that gave me an invaluable glimpse into daily life. I also did some fun practical research into things like βHow long does it take to walk from x to y?β and βHow cold IS a plunge into this body of water in March?β (Spoiler: Very.)Β
A fact that fascinated me but didnβt make it into the book was that some early European settlers in the area were granted lands by luck of the draw, pulling from a deck of playing cards: Each card was assigned to a specific 50-acre lot, and whatever you pulled, you were stuck with it.
When we meet them, Jean and Muirin are isolated for different reasons. What do you hope readers still searching for their people take away from A Sweet Sting of Salt?
That thereβs always hope. Itβs valuable and important to keep reaching out to the world around you, to be open, and not cut yourself offβthe biggest reason for Jeanβs loneliness at the beginning of this story is the way she has come to keep everyone around her at armβs length, shutting herself away out of fear, and refusing to let anyone truly get to know her because she thinks thatβs the best way to protect herself from being hurt again. Reaching out to others can take a real act of courage, especially if youβve had bad experiences in the past, but βyour peopleβ will reach back to you.
Found family elements play a strong role throughout the novel, within supernatural and mundane settings and across species. Was this something you intended from the beginning, or did this grow out of writing the relationship between Jean and Muirin?
I always intended for Jean to have a found family of this type, which is something that a lot of queer people identify with, but those bonds also got stronger and more meaningful as I wrote, especially once Jean and Muirin began growing into their own family unitβtheir new relationship and the real danger that comes along with it put pressures on Jeanβs other relationships that I hadnβt originally considered. Disagreements with Anneke and Laurie over Jeanβs choices arise from their deep concern and love for her, and her own love and care for them, reflected in her responses, is a big part of what made them feel like a real family, for me. Jean and Laurie always having each otherβs backs while also being the first to call one another out on their bullshit ended up being one of my favourite dynamics in the whole book.
The selkie myth carries an inherent element of transformation. What is a character transformation you most enjoyed writing, and why?
On a character level, the change in Jeanβs worldview following a conversation with her childhood sweetheart meant a lot to meβit heals an old wound for her. I love how grounded and self-assured she is afterward, in spite of the daunting task still ahead of her. But my favourite transformation to write was the antagonistβs mask-off moment, where they directly threaten Jean for the first time. Itβs so sly and coded so that only she will understand the menace behind it, a real dun-duh-dunnn moment, which was a lot of fun for meβI also enjoy the foreshadowing elements in that exchange.
This is your debut novel. Did anything surprise you about getting it from manuscript to published book?
Oh my gosh, how LONG it took! After I finished the original draft and decided it was worth attempting to publish, I spent over a year revising based on my own thoughts, input from beta readers, critique partners, and my mentor, Maureen Marshall (whom I connected with through the now defunct Author Mentor Match program, and whose book, The Paris Affairβabout a young gay engineer attempting to help Gustave Eiffel secure the funding to build a certain celebrated Parisian landmarkβ is coming out in May). After that came a full year of querying agents and getting rejected. A lot. People loved Salty but werenβt quite sure what to do with her or where the book would fit in βthe market,β which was hard to deal with at the time but is hilarious in retrospect: Salty was snapped up less than a month after she finally went out on submission! But that was back in 2022, and the book is only coming out now. Publishing can be painfully slow.
Youβve written fanfic in the pastβdo you have a favorite fanfic trope?
Iβm not sure either of these counts as a trope, but I adore a character thatβs βpure of heart, dumb of assβ, and love a truly unhinged Fanon Explanation For Canon Object. As a longtime Les Mis stan, I ship Tholomyes/Getting Punched. If you know, you know.
Do you have any favorite queer retellings of folktales you can recommend?
Right here on Tumblr, Iβm a huge fan of @laurasimonsdaughter, who writes delightful riffs on classic folktales, truly inventive urban fantasy spins on old lore, and her own original folktales.Β
Iβm currently reading Spear, an amazing queer, gender-bent, Arthurian novella by Nicola Griffiths. Anna Burkeβs books Thorn and Nottingham are up next on my TBR.Β Lately, Iβve been reading a lot of brilliant queer historicals that arenβt retellings (I recently loved Suzette Meyrβs The Sleeping Car Porter and Heather OβNeilβs When We Lost Our Heads) and wonderful historical retellings that arenβt queer (I highly recommend Molly Greeleyβs beautiful, heartbreaking Marvelous, about the real-life couple that inspired Beauty and the Beast). Queer, historical retellings aimed at adults seem to be considered quite niche, still, and can take some digging to find! So, throwing this out to Tumblr: Do you have recommendations for me?
Do you have a writing routine? Is there a place/state of being/playlist you find most conducive to your writing practice?
My routine is chaotic at best, but I find I do my best work earlier in the day, so I usually scribble in my journal while I have breakfast, and then progress to working on my current project as I drink my second cup of coffee. Iβm luckyβmy day job is an evening gig, which mostly allows me to write on my preferred scheduleβ¦ but Iβve also been known to have a bolt of inspiration strike at 10pm and dash home to write until well past midnight on occasion. Nothing quite like the hyperfocus zone!
Whatβs next for you? Are you working on anything you can tell us about?
No official news yet, but Iβm currently working on a story set in 18th-century provincial France based on a true unsolved mystery of the past. It has me delving into a very specific branch of French folklore, and I hope future readers will pick up on common threads with one popular fairytale in particular. Iβm really excited about where this one is headed, but keeping the details close to my chest for now!
Thank you Rose for taking the time to answer our questions! If you love queer fantasy and old folktales, grab yourself a copy of A Sweet Sting of Salt, and be sure to share your queer folktale reading recs with Rose on @rosesutherlandwrites!
Queer Fiction Free-for-All Book Bracket Tournament: Round 1B
Choose a book:
Tipping the Velvet by Sarah Waters
A Sweet Sting of Salt by Rose Sutherland
Voting ended onFeb 22, 2025
Book summaries and submitted endorsements below:
Tipping the Velvet by Sarah Waters
Endorsement from submitter: "An absolute classic of lesbian fiction. Excellent read. Very hot."
Nan King, an oyster girl, is captivated by the music hall phenomenon Kitty Butler, a male impersonator extraordinaire treading the boards in Canterbury. Through a friend at the box office, Nan manages to visit all her shows and finally meet her heroine. Soon after, she becomes Kitty's dresser and the two head for the bright lights of Leicester Square where they begin a glittering career as music-hall stars in an all-singing and dancing double act. At the same time, behind closed doors, they admit their attraction to each other and their affair begins.
Historical fiction, late Victorian, turn-of-the-century, adult
A Sweet Sting of Salt by Rose Sutherland
Once a young woman uncovers a dark secret about her neighbor and his mysterious new wife, sheβll have to fight to keep herselfβand the woman she lovesβsafe in this stunning queer reimagining of the classic folktale The Selkie Wife.
When a sharp cry wakes Jean in the middle of the night during a terrible tempest, sheβs convinced it must have been a dream. But when the cry comes again, Jean ventures outside and is shocked by what she discoversβa young woman in labor, already drenched to the bone in the freezing cold and barely able to speak a word of English.
Although Jean is the only midwife in the village and for miles around, sheβs at a loss as to who this woman is or where sheβs from; Jean can only assume she must be the new wife of the neighbor up the road, Tobias. And when Tobias does indeed arrive at her cabin in search of his wife, Muirin, Jeanβs questions continue to grow. Why has he kept his wifeβs pregnancy a secret? And why does Muirinβs open demeanor change completely the moment sheβs in his presence?
Though Jean learned long ago that she should stay out of other peopleβs business, her growing concernβand growing feelingsβfor Muirin mean she canβt simply set her worries aside. But when the answers she finds are more harrowing than she ever could have imagined, she fears she may have endangered herself, Muirin, and the baby. Will she be able to put things right and save the woman she loves before itβs too late, or will someone have to pay for Jeanβs actions with their life?
Your local selkie tumblogger not the best at taking pretty photos but I had to show you all this new book called A Sweet Sting of Salt that I just got for my lesbian book hoard, because it's about a selkie! If you're familiar with the fisherman's wife story then you can guess what the selkie is dealing with. I'm so excited to read this!
Anya is live and ready to show you everything. Watch her strip, dance, and perform exclusive shows just for you. Interact in real-time and make your fantasies come true.
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Free to watch β’ No registration required β’ HD streaming
A Sweet Sting Of Salt By Rose Sutherland -- A Review
Trigger Warnings: Kidnapping, mention of rape, domestic violence, homophobia, mentions of death in labour, mentions of self-harm, war, emotional abuse, stalking, outing, animal cruelty, gaslighting, murder, drowning, psychological abuse, isolation, and mentions of miscarriage.Β Β Β
My RatingΒ
9/10. I blew through this book, it took me two days. I loved it. I have always been intrigued by selkies, and I can never pass up a sapphic slow-burn love story. The ending was the right amount of tension and heart-wrenching, although at the very end, the dialogue was worded oddly and sounded cliche. The writing felt like it was from two separate books. Overall, it is a beautiful love story with gorgeous descriptions and a very entertaining climax.Β
Overview
Jean, the town midwife, has been ostracized from society. Her only friends are her mentor, Anneke, and Laurie. When one night, she is woken up by a cry late one night, by her neighbour's new wife. Thus, starting an unlikely friendship, despite Jean's reluctance to form friendship with anyone to protect herself. As Jean teaches Muirin English, she learns more and more concerning this, and as her intrigue grows, so do Jeanβs feelings for Muirin.Β
My ThoughtsΒ
I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and for a debut novel, it was done incredibly well. However, the last chapter was not written as well as the rest of the novel. Almost, as if it was the first part written, the rest of the book has a completely different tone. And I also wish that the epilogue added a little more. It felt rushed and unorganized. Almost like the words were thrown on the page as a second thought to clear up any loose ends that were forgotten.Β
I have always been intrigued by selkies. Selkies are a metaphor for domestic violence, a woman is stolen and held captive against her will, with the husband denying her the right to the outside world. It was so interesting to read a selkie story that was turned on its head. Watching the change in Muirin as she is with Jean versus when she is with Tobias, her husband, was very well written. And watching Muirins personality come out, and Jean becoming so flustered by the tall, hot, foreign lady was quite cute.Β
I feel so bad for Jean. As a queer woman myself, I do relate to her fear of ostracization and isolation. Always ensuring you are fitting in and not bringing to much attention to yourself. Jean has gone through so much and she just deserves to settle down with her pretty, big, selkie wife.Β Β Β
The setting for this book was amazing. Half of my family lives out east, in New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and PEI, so I felt a real connection to the landscape and the superstitions. The east of Canada is so gorgeous and it does not get a lot of outside recognition. The way that Rose described everything made it feel so real, it genuinely felt as though I was experiencing those views and landscapes of rural Nova Scotia myself. Beautifully written when Rose describes the landscape it is like a love letter to the land itself.Β
The climax of the story was enthralling. I could not put my book down; I was hooked. I was at the edge of my seat, gripping my book for dear life and wishing I could read faster as though the scene would be over before I could experience it. Like when you are watching a movie, and you are scared to look away for one moment and miss the final scene. It has been a while since a book has had such a hard grip on my attention.
Conclusion
Although there are some oddly worded dialogue scenes near the end, it does not change the fact that this is a good book. It blends the worlds of reality and fantasy so well, that it is almost as if selkies really do live in secrecy among us. It had very good pacing and beautifully written scenes. I highly recommend this book if you enjoy low fantasy, anxious queer friends-to-lovers, and a satisfying revenge plot.
Thereβs a certain wild magic in the salt air and the thrum of the sea. Beet MacNeill has known this all her life. It added spice to her childhood adventures with her older cousin, Gerry, the two of them thick as thieves as they explored their Prince Edward Island home. So when Gerry comes up the path one early spring morning, Beet thinks nothing of it at first. But he is soaking wet and silent, and he plays a haunting tune on his fiddle that chills Beet to the bone. Something is very, very wrong.
A Sweet Sting of Salt by Rose Sutherland
Jean is the only midwife in the village and for miles around, and during a freezing and stormy night, she discovers a soaking woman who can hardly speak a word of English, who she is or where sheβs from, Jean can only assume she must be the new wife of the neighbor up the road, Tobias. And when Tobias does indeed arrive at her cabin in search of his wife, Muirin, Jeanβs questions continue to grow. Why has he kept his wifeβs pregnancy a secret? And why does Muirinβs open demeanor change completely the moment sheβs in his presence?
Though Jean learned long ago that she should stay out of other peopleβs business, her growing concernβand growing feelingsβfor Muirin mean she canβt simply set her worries aside. But when the answers she finds are more harrowing than she ever could have imagined, she fears she may have endangered herself, Muirin, and the baby. Will she be able to put things right and save the woman she loves before itβs too late, or will someone have to pay for Jeanβs actions with their life?
The Annual Migration of Clouds by Premee Mohamed
The world is nothing like it once was: climate disasters have wracked the continent, causing food shortages, ending industry, and leaving little behind. Then came Cad, mysterious mind-altering fungi that invade the bodies of the now scattered citizenry. Reid, a young woman who carries this parasite, has been given a chance to get away, to move to one of the last remnants of pre-disaster society, but she canβt bring herself to abandon her mother and the community that relies on her. When sheβs offered a coveted place on a dangerous and profitable mission, she jumps at the opportunity to set her family up for life, but how can Reid ask people to put their trust in her when she canβt even trust her own mind?
Eleven Houses by Colleen Oakes
Mabel is one of the last surviving members of House Beuvry, one of the eleven houses on the haunted island of Weymouth, Nova Scotia. Her days, like all the other teens on the island, are spent readying her house for The Storm: a once-a-decade event that pummels the island with hurricane-level wind, water, and waves. But thatβs not all the Storm brings with itβbecause Weymouth Island is a gate between the world of the living and the dead.
When Miles Cabot arrives on Weymouth Island after the death of his mother, he realizes quickly it isnβt like other places and Mabel Beuvry isnβt like other teenagers. Thereβs an intense chemistry between Miles and Mabel that both feel, yet neither understand the deadly consequences that will come with it.
The Wolf in the Whale by Jordanna Max Brodsky
Born with the soul of a hunter and the spirit of the Wolf, Omat is destined to follow in her grandfather's footsteps-invoking the spirits of the land, sea, and sky to protect her people.
But the gods have stopped listening and Omat's family is starving. Desperate to save them, Omat journeys across the icy wastes, fighting for survival with every step. When she encounters Brandr, a wounded Viking warrior, they set in motion a conflict that could shatter her world. . .or save it.
here is the long, long list of my 2024 reads with ratings & dates. because of tumblr's limit on links, i cannot direct to individual reviews. if you would like to view my reviews on their respective sites, you can find them on thestorygraph & goodreads.
dates are listed as month, day. manga volumes that are binged will be grouped so that this list isn't a million miles long, with the range of ratings for the volumes in the stack. a few of these titles were started in 2023, lol whoops! those are the only dates with a year stamp.
wanna read along or chat with me about books? i'm super active on fable.
Just Like Mother by Anne Heltzel
πππππ - 10.11β10.13 - fiction
Green Fuse Burning by Tiffany Morris
πππππ - 10.09β10.12 - fiction
The Exorcist by William Peter Blatty
πππππ - 10.04β10.11 - fiction
The Salt Grows Heavy by Cassandra Khaw
πππππ - 10.09β10.10 - fiction
The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson
πππππ - 10.03β10.09 - fiction
Indian Burial Ground by Nick Medina
πππππ - 08.25β10.09 - fiction
originally i listened to the audiobook, stopping at 57% & restarting the hardcover book from the beginning.
Walking Practice by Dolki Min
πππππ - 10.04β10.05 - fiction
The Memory Police by YΕko Ogawa
πππππ - 09.04β09.12 - fiction
The Dead Take the A Train by Cassandra Khaw & Richard Kadrey
πππππ - 09.02β09.12 - fiction
This Thing Between Us by Gus Moreno
πππππ - 09.04β09.05 - fiction
Five-Star Stranger by Kat Tang
πππππ - 08.30β08.31 - fiction
The Haar by David Sodergren
πππππ - 08.25β08.29 - fiction
None of This is True by Lisa Jewell
πππππ- 08.26β08.27 - fiction
My Heart is a Chainsaw by Stephen Graham Jones
πππππ - 08.19β08.25 - fiction
i actually gave this a 3.75 on thestorygraph, which may seem obnoxious, but it felt right idk. sometimes rating shit 1-5 feels arbitrary and hard.
The God of the Woods by Liz Moore
πππππ - 07.30β08.24 - fiction
The Eyes Are the Best Part by Monika Kim
πππππ - 07.30β08.06 - fiction
The Ruins by Scott Smith
πππππ - 08.01β08.05 - fiction
Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin
πππππ - 07.24β07.30 - fiction
at the time of reading and reviewing this i was unaware of the controversies surrounding the author (uncredited use of the likeness of a video game and possible Zionism.) i don't want to change my rating & review because the book did have a profound impact on me, but i also do not believe in separating art from the artist, so i will not be purchasing the book or reading more from the author.
Ghost Station by S.A. Barnes
πππππ - 07.14β07.29 - fiction
Playground by Aron Beauregard
πππππ - 07.23β07.28 - fiction
Middle of the Night by Riley Sager
πππππ- 07.17β07.27 - fiction
Bright Young Women by Jessica Knoll
πππππ- 07.15β07.24 - fiction
The Spirit Bares its Teeth by Andrew Joseph White
πππππ- 07.11β07.23 - fiction
The Liminal Zone by Junji Ito
πππππ- 07.20β07.22 - manga
The Summer Hikaru Died Vol. 1 by Mokumokuren
πππππ - 07.19β07.20 - manga
