Join us for a very special afternoon of lunch and stories on Wednesday 10th June as we welcome the wonderful Matt Cain (One Love) to Romiley for the launch of The Castle of Stories – a moving, heartwarming and uplifting novel about modern family in all its forms, what it means to love, and the importance of understanding your own story.

Matt will be in conversation with Freya North (The Unfinished Business of Eadie Browne) and the talk will be followed by a delicious afternoon tea. Vegetarian and glutten / dairy free options are also available and we’ll be in contact ahead of the event to check for any dietary requirements and seating requests.

Tickets are £40 and include a signed copy of The Castle of Stories… and afternoon tea.

This event will be held at the Grapevine bar in Romiley. Doors: 12.30pm, event starts: 1.00pm

About the Book:

Stories don’t always unfold the way you expect them to…

When 45-year-old Adam inherits a rundown farmhouse and castle in Tuscany from a great uncle he didn’t know existed, he quits his job in Manchester to renovate the property. He’s thrilled his boyfriend of two years, newly divorced and out-of-the-closet Theo, is joining him. But Theo’s ex-wife says she can’t take their children for the summer, so they come too. As the temperature rises, so does the tension. The kids are hostile to Adam, immune to the beauty of the rural location – and scared of the resident lizards.

As Adam explores the crumbling walls of the castle and sorts through his uncle’s possessions, he discovers some dark family secrets. But could they finally allow him to break free from the pain of the past, start building a new family and open a life of queer joy?.

About the Author:

Matt Cain is a writer, broadcaster, publisher and leading commentator on LGBTQ+ issues. He was Channel 4’s first Culture Editor, Editor-In-Chief of Attitude magazine, has written for all the national newspapers, and has appeared on BBC Breakfast, Good Morning Britain, The Today Programme and Lorraine. He’s a patron of LGBT+ History Month, has received an honorary doctorate from Bolton University, addressed the Cambridge Union, and in 2025 was awarded an MBE for services to LGBTQ+ culture. Matt’s bestselling novels include The Madonna Of Bolton, The Secret Life of Albert Entwistle and One Love. His latest, The Castle of Stories, will be published in June 2026 as the first title from Pansy, the independent publisher he’s set up with his husband Harry Glasstone to prioritise queer authors and put queer-themed books first. Born in Bury and brought up in Bolton, Matt now lives in London with Harry and their dog, Teddy.

Freya North is one of the UK’s bestselling writers. Her first novel, Sally, was published to great acclaim while she was still in her twenties. Her subsequent books have all been bestsellers. In 2008 Freya North won the RNA Book of the Year award with Pillow Talk. Across all books and formats, Freya North has sold over two millions books to date.