Even in the Dark
Title Tentative

Genre: Contemporary LGBTQIA+ Romance
Trope: Sunny x Grumpy, Emotional Scars
Spice: Two
Lucas Llywelyn doesn’t know how to love. A twenty-six-year-old librarian seeking escape from
an abusive ex, Lucas carves out a peaceful existence for himself. He settles in Freyford, a small town in Southern England, and dreams of a quiet life in academia. Lucas believes solitude to be a prerequisite to happiness—at least, until he meets an artistic motorcycle enthusiast with a
soft spot for Mary Oliver.
Daniel Mason knows all about love, which is why he prefers being called by his last name and loves the sound of a door closing protectively behind him. Mason takes risks, drives too fast, and challenges Lucas’ beliefs every step of the way.
Their instant connection is soon tested when Lucas’ ex returns to Freyford in his effort to win Lucas back. Meanwhile, a mysterious figure from Mason’s childhood urges him homeward. As secrets are revealed, Lucas must decide whether to trust his heart or risk losing Mason forever.
Even in the Dark is a romance as well as a manifesto. It takes love and trauma together to
consider the redemptive nature of love and the resilient beauty of queer joy.

Meet Jen Colclough

Jen Colclough is a Pushcart-nominated poet, essayist, artist, and ESL Instructor based in Nova Scotia, Canada. Her debut poetry collection Our Little Agonies will be released on 1 May 2025 by Montreal Publishing Co.
Jen’s work has been featured in numerous publications
including CRAFT Literary, Tabula Rasa Review, Heimat Review, ionosphere, MORIA, and Free the Verse. Jen is also an active member of the Writers' Federation of Nova Scotia's Writers Council and enjoys sharing her work with her literary community in Halifax, Nova Scotia.
Jen holds a Master of Arts in Classics from Western University and a Bachelor of Arts with Honours in Classics from Acadia University. With an academic background in ancient literature and trauma theory, Jen’s creative projects pair timeless stories of profound connection with devastating emotional catharsis.
She is currently writing a historical fiction novel and developing a serial drama for a major streaming service.