Songs of the Amaranthine, #8. The next Amaranthine title to release will be the eighth short story in the Songs collection. This time, the tale’s set in Keishi, Japan which is 1) where Hisoka Twineshaft is from, 2) where Kikusawa Shrine is established, and 3) where Junzi Chocolates was founded. ::eyebrow waggle::
He’s a rough-hewn romantic, and she becomes his muse.

Junpei is a day laborer who’s supporting his mother and younger brother. He’s mostly resigned to rough hands and scant respectability, but for a few precious hours each evening, he loses himself in the colors and beauty of creation. His painted lanterns and parasols always sell, but supplies are costly, and unlike his illustrious father, he has no patron. While Junpei struggles to get by, strange things are afoot in Keishi—foreigners and their foreign ways. But he’s most interested in the lovely daughter of a local sweets merchant, whose kimono patterns inspire his paintings.
Release Day: April 4, 2022
PRE-ORDER NOW
(Amazon’s US storefront)
Yes, this is a digital-only title. Yes, the short story will appear in other virtual stores once we’re closer to the release date. And since this is Songs 08, that means I’ll be pulling together the next Songs of the Amaranthine anthology, which will contain four short stories:
- Hemmed in Silver
- Captured on Film
- Bathed in Moonlight
- Flattered by Flowers
Print editions and the audio book are scheduled to release on May 22, 2022. More about that later! ::twinkle::
Ooooohhh, I like the sound of this one! Junzi (the sweet makers, not the Four Storms) are Amaranthine? I think?
April is agggggeeeeesssss away!
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The Junzi Chocolate Company was certainly founded by an Amaranthine clan. I believe Akira mentioned something about them in Bk2. ::twinkle::
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Yay! Can’t wait!!!
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Oh! I am looking forward to this. Your ability to blend cultures while emphasizing the spiritual differences has always enchanted me. Over the last two years I have been practising kitsuke, so I’m eager to see the designs on these kimonos.
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When will this be available on amazon.ca?
Do you make the covers for your books, Forthy?
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Soon, I assume. I cannot presume to guess how long the algorithms will take to approve and distribute the title internationally. It came through in US stores in a matter of hours. So … soon!
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