A.J. West, a Sunday Times bestselling author and award-winning journalist brought his knowledge of gay Georgian London to Hay-On-Wye, as he celebrated the release of his new historical fiction novel, The Betrayal of Thomas True.

The event, in conjunction with Hay bookshops Gay-On-Wye and Clocktower Books, was held in Hay Distillery on Brook Street.

The Betrayal of Thomas True was released on the 4th of July and soon shot straight to number two in the Sunday Times bestseller list. Set in the year 1715, the novel sees Thomas True discover the underground and illegal scenes of the Georgian molly houses, where queer people could meet and be themselves. Weaving in true historical tidbits, The Betrayal of Thomas True deals with a subject matter that saw men condemned to the hanging noose if they were caught. It is published by an independent publisher, Orenda Books.

Speaking to The Brecon and Radnor Express, A.J. West said: “The book wasn’t easy to get published because it’s such an unusual story. Some of the big publishers worried that women wouldn’t want to read a historical adventure about gay men, but I knew that was complete nonsense.”

He said he felt ‘vindication’ when he got the news that he had made the Sunday Times bestseller list. “The reception so far feels really empowering. The mollies of old London. Not forgotten.”

At his event, A.J. thanked Tom from Gay-On-Wye and Dale from Clocktower Books for their support. His first novel, The Spirit Engineer, was Clocktower’s bestselling book, and deemed the bestselling book in Hay. He said: “Without Gay-On-Wye and Clocktower Books I wouldn’t be the author I am today. They have championed my writing tirelessly. Dale gave me room and board when I had to escape London to write a difficult part of Thomas True. I also wrote a chapter while enjoying a very tasty sandwich in The Cosy Cafe.”

Speaking of the Brecon and Radnor area, A.J., who lives in London, said: “London today is just as noisy, distracting, stinky and dangerous as it was in the 1700s as far as I’m concerned, and, though I love living there, I do feel my lungs swell and my chest open out when I arrive in Brecon and Radnor. Life feels a little slow for the first day, but then I realise that’s because I’m rushing, and then I settle amidst the hills and relax. That’s when stories come. Thank you to Hay and everyone there for the most wonderful event, it was unforgettable.”

The Betrayal of Thomas True is out now.