The Latest

SAGA

Tsumiko and the Enslaved Fox (Amaranthine Saga, #1) – NOW AVAILABLE!
Kimiko and the Accidental Proposal (Amaranthine Saga, #2) – NOW AVAILABLE!
Tamiko and the Two Janitors (Amaranthine Saga, #3) – NOW AVAILABLE!
Mikoto and the Reaver Village (Amaranthine Saga, #4) – NOW AVAILABLE!
Fumiko and the Finicky Nestmate (Amaranthine Saga, #5) – NOW AVAILABLE!
Pimiko and the Uncharted Island (Amaranthine Saga, #6) – NOW AVAILABLE!
Rhomiko and the Confirmed Bachelor (Amaranthine Saga, #7) – Autumn 2023

Squee Post for Pimiko

SONGS

Marked by Stars (Songs of the Amaranthine, #1) – NOW AVAILABLE!
Followed by Thunder (Songs of the Amaranthine, #2) – NOW AVAILABLE!
Dragged through Hedgerows (Songs of the Amaranthine, #3) – NOW AVAILABLE!
Governed by Whimsy (Songs of the Amaranthine, #4) – NOW AVAILABLE!
Hemmed in Silver (Songs of the Amaranthine, #5) – NOW AVAILABLE!
Captured on Film (Songs of the Amaranthine, #6) – NOW AVAILABLE!
Bathed in Moonlight (Songs of the Amaranthine, #7) – NOW AVAILABLE!
Flattered by Flowers (Songs of the Amaranthine, #8) – NOW AVAILABLE!
TBA (Songs of the Amaranthine, #9) – Coming in Spring 2023

• • •

INTERLUDES

Lord Mettlebright’s Man (Amaranthine Interludes, #1) – goes to print in June 2023!
Suuzu and the Nine Nippets of Legend (Amaranthine Interludes, #2) – a Suuzu-centric short story set between Bk5 & Bk6
Kimiko and the Cycle of Moons (Amaranthine Interludes, #3) – still gathering support
TBA (Amaranthine Interludes, #4) – new serialization coming to this blog in June 2023!

• • •

CURRENTLY UPDATING

Lord Mettlebright’s Man (Amaranthine Interludes, #1)

  • Part 1 – begin at the beginning, shortly after the events of Bk1.
  • Part 2 – begin at Ch192 (3 N.S.), just before the beginning of Bk2.
  • Part 3 – begin at Ch325 (5 N.S.), around the same time Bk3 starts.
  • Part 4 – not there yet! (12 N.S.), leading up to the events of Bk4.

Bard & Barbarian posts exclusively to Patreon. Now with serialized narration! Become a patron to read along.

• • •

Kimiko and the Cycle of Moons (Amaranthine Interludes, #3) – Readers have often asked for more of Kimi’s courtship of Quen. Their “grand cycle” is a tale I’m eager to tell. Once I reach my posted community goal over on Patreon, I’ll begin a serialized account that ranges from fittings in the seamstress’s workroom at the Starmark compound to the forming of fresh triads at New Saga High School. And of course, all the drama at Kikusawa Shrine: three sisters, twelve kisses, and the long-awaited stirring of a sleeping landmark. [forthright on Patreon – currently around 190 of 400 patrons – about 47%]

• • •

Prompt Collection:
Savvy | Lord Mettlebright’s Man

Want fanart? Try the Cast Portraits and Fanart tags.
Want MOAR? Try this highly recommended series >>

by Categories: Find & Follow 14 Comments

Of Mugs and Men

Author Confession. I sometimes buy things for my characters. This mug was a gift for Jacques. I don’t take my coffee nearly as strong as he does, but he puts up with me anyhow. Also … I play a lot of Scrabble, and J – A – C – Q – U – E – S scores pretty darn high, especially with a triple word square. (Which he insists on calling “scoring a threesome.”) ::sigh::

Lord Mettlebright’s Man should be back next week! Thank you for your patience.

by Categories: Amaranthine InterludesTags: 6 Comments

January Mailing

Incentives Abound. After a week’s delay (printer error required a re-order), I’m pulling together January’s monthly mailing for my patrons. Here’s a small teaser because many of this year’s art cards will include story snippets. This one goes along with the art “Warm Enough?” There are a few days left in the month. Join at the appropriate tier, and you’ll have nice mail next week! ::twinkle::

forthright on Patreon >>

by Categories: Amaranthine Saga, PatreonTags: Leave a comment

ART: Opal the Sage

Opulence Windlore. When this dragon clansman showed up for Bathed in Moonlight, it must have been a “confluence of destinies,” because he charmed his way into all my future plans for the Amaranthine Saga (and quite possibly a future Interlude). A song-writer and storyteller of some fame, he’s long-winded, high-handed, self-important, and often smug … yet somehow manages to be (as Sinder would put it) one of the good guys. Opal is due to recur in Bk7. ::twinkle::

. . .

Where are my manners?” Seyroo beckoned him closer. “Char, this good dragon is Opulence Windlore, widely known as Opal the Sage, a tale-bringer and lore-singer in high demand throughout the Widelands.”
“Charmed,” said the dragon, whose smile was winsome and wily.

—Bathed in Moonlight
(Songs of the Amaranthine, #7)

Opal the Sage | Art by FoxOfTwilight

. . .

Oooh. I happen to have a clip from Bathed in Moonlight, in which Opal presents Char with a choice:

by Categories: Amaranthine Saga, Songs of the AmaranthineTags: , , , , , , 2 Comments

Bard & Barbarian

Narrated Edition. Bard and Barbarian has been posting slow and steady over on my Patreon account. Reading along is great, but supporters on some tiers can now listen along. The story is being narrated by Travis Baldree. Ch46, “Armory” just went live for those in qualifying tiers. AND Ch42, “Queasy” has unlocked for the Twinkle and Sparkle tiers.

New narrated chapters will arrive every other Wednesday, which means … there’s always something more to look forward to! Learn more about my Patreon here >>

by Categories: PatreonTags: Leave a comment

Lunar New Year

Year of the Rabbit. As per tradition (this is the third year), I’ll be doing a Lunar New Year mailing for my patrons. Red envelopes and lucky coins have been secured, as have the USPS’s special stamps. One of the reasons I like to make a fuss is because the lunar new year coincides with the Emergence in the Amaranthine Saga (wolves, you know).

This mailing will go out in February and will be available to patrons starting at the Twinkle Tier. Automatic inclusion in this (and other) mailings kicks in at the Sparkle tier. You can look over your options here >>

Another reason I’m so pleased that it’s the Year of the Rabbit involves Bard & Barbarian. Along the way, Imber (my main character) has picked up five summons that we affectionately refer to as his “rabbity boys.” Look forward to chibi art & a guide to telling apart the Springheel crew! Here’s a teaser:

Lorem is such a sweetheart. ::twinkle::

Thank you for supporting me wherever my stories are found!

by Categories: Mailbox, PatreonTags: , Leave a comment

Audio Book Sale

Mikoto and the Reaver Village. I just received notification that they’re running a discount on Bk4 of the Amaranthine Saga over on Audiobooks.com. You could nab it for 50% off (until Valentine’s Day). If you follow this link to their jump page, this is what you’ll see:

Travis Baldree has been narrating the Saga & Songs (thanks, Tantor Audio!) from the start. The audio books are a great way to reread the series as we head towards the release of the final book in this series … coming this autumn!

If you didn’t know, Travis also narrates Bard & Barbarian for us (serial updates over on Patreon) AND the Galleries of Stone trilogy AND Deuce, which is being serialized over on CJ’s Patreon. So much stuff! ::twinkle::

by Categories: Amaranthine SagaTags: , 1 Comment

Amaranthine Interludes

Suuzu and the Nine Nippets of Legend. For a while now, I’ve been hinting at a new short story that’s Suuzu-centric & set after the events of Fumiko and the Finicky Nestmate (Amaranthine Saga, #5). Suuzu’s story will be the second title in the Amaranthine Interludes collection, with Lord Mettlebright’s Man being the first. The time has come for a cover reveal!

He’s more accustomed to speaking for others than speaking up for himself.
Stranded at Stately House, Suuzu Farroost is restless and fretful and lonesome for Akira. Waiting is a misery, and all he has to hold onto is the memory of a fleeting kiss, a circlet of nippet eggs, and one very stubborn, very outspoken valet. To keep him from wallowing, Suuzu’s friends find ways to distract him, and as one story leads to another, the phoenix learns about the special place nippets hold in avian lore, especially where courtship is concerned.

. . .

If all goes according to plan, Suuzu’s interlude will publish this spring. I’ll establish a release date and set up pre-orders when things are closer to ready. This short story will release digitally first. Then, when Lord Mettlebright’s Man goes to print/audio this summer, I’ll include Suuzu’s short story at the end of the print edition & as part of Travis’s narration.

I’ll report more details when they become available! For now, I encourage you to add both of these books to your shelves on Goodreads:

Lord Mettlebright’s Man

Suuzu and the Nine Nippets of Legend

by Categories: Amaranthine InterludesTags: 1 Comment

Lulling

Sorry, Jacques. As is often the case when I’m close to the end of a manuscript, my focus narrows until it’s all I can see. I’m very (very, very) close to finishing the first book in a new series for CJ, and its deadline is looming large. Travis will be narrating Farley (Journeymen of Stone, #1) in less than a month. (Eek.) I need to write the last few chapters & push through a final proofing pass before then, so … Lord Mettlebright’s Man is going to take a teensy break. Thank you for your patience!

by Categories: Uncategorized 5 Comments

LMM 562: Squirrel Identification

Claimer: I do hereby claim all rights and responsibility for the characters in this series of vignettes because the Amaranthine Saga is mine. (Which means I should probably behave myself since anything I say or do could be taken as canon.) Indulge the lot of us, especially the one who’s pretty cozy with a trickster.

562
Squirrel Identification

::twinkle::
by Categories: Amaranthine InterludesTags: 4 Comments

Civic Duty

Always Something. This week, my usual schedule was interrupted because I had to report to the county courthouse for jury selection. The first day, they didn’t get through the whole process, so we had to reassemble the next morning. Then (after standing in marble halls for a little over an hour) we filed into the courtroom only to have the judge announce that the case was closed. “Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for your service. You are dismissed.” So having done my civic duty, I’m back in ye olde home office, trying to catch up. If things go very well, there might be two Lord Mettlebright’s Man chapters today. ::twinkle::

by Categories: Random Asides 1 Comment

Bard & Barbarian

Narrated Edition. Bard and Barbarian has been posting slow and steady over on my Patreon account. Reading along is great, but supporters on some tiers can now listen along. The story is being narrated by Travis Baldree. Ch45, “Over Chowder” just went live for those in qualifying tiers. AND Ch41, “Incursion” has unlocked for the Twinkle and Sparkle tiers.

New narrated chapters will arrive every other Wednesday, which means … there’s always something more to look forward to! Learn more about my Patreon here >>

by Categories: PatreonTags: Leave a comment

The Final Miko

Coming in Autumn 2023. We’ll call this my “official” cover reveal for Bk7, even though (as usual) I slipped an early peek at this cover into signed copies of Bk6 that went out last October. It’s tradition. I’ve always given the title of the next book at the end of Pimiko’s digital editions, but print editions always also include a bonus: the summary. Today, you’ll have it all in one place!

One bachelor is love-shy. One is unrequited.
One is much-loved. One is blindsided.

::twinkle::
by Categories: Amaranthine SagaTags: 7 Comments