The Latest

Fumiko and the Finicky Nestmate – coming in 2021
Captured on Film – March 4, 2021

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) – coming in 2021

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) – March 4, 2021

• • •

CURRENTLY UPDATING

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

Mood Stripes (IY fanfic, SessKag, Canon Divergence) – begins here

Bard & Barbarian posts exclusively to Patreon. Become a patron to read along.

• • •

Fandom Prompt Collection:
Mood Stripes | Savvy | Lord Mettlebright’s Man

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

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Release Day!

Captured on Film. Today’s the day! The 6th Songs of the Amaranthine tale has released. I hope it’s well-received. And since such tales are short & sweet, I’ll make this post do double duty as the Squee Post for Captured on Film.

One brother believes in impossible things.
One brother denies he can see them.

When Caleb Dare’s younger brother shows up out of the blue, he’s immediately suspicious. The two of them live in totally different worlds. But Josheb threatens to camp in the middle of Caleb’s urban loft for as long as it takes to convince him to take a nice, long hike into the woods. They can camp. Swap stories around the fire. Just like old times.
Yeah, right.

Josheb’s true motive is a major hassle. If not a hustle. He’s always believed in absolutely everything, from extraterrestrials to the paranormal. On a hot tip from an undisclosed source, he’s chasing a myth into the mountains, sure he’ll be the one to prove the existence of an elusive cryptid. It’ll be the story of the century, and Caleb is the only one who can give him the edge he needs.
Yeah, he’s right.

Release Day: March 4, 2021
Amazon (US) | Goodreads

Squee Post. If you need a place to react, confer, or kick up a fuss, this is the spot. I’ll enjoy your enthusiasm, I might be willing to clarify small points, but I reserve the right to evade questions that will be answered later in the series. ::twinkle::

[[[WARNING: HERE THERE BE SPOILERS]]]

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ART: Naproom

Michael and the Crossers. Thank you to everyone who participated in the recent poll over on Patreon. Fully half of you (51% to be exact) asked to see our “halfers” next. Most of Stately House’s crossers are known by name thanks to Lord Mettlebright’s Man. Of all of my options, I chose Nonny, Gilen, and Jarrah in large part because they’ve had the most mentions & screentime. Jacques mentions Jarrah in Bk3: Tamiko and the Two Janitors, trying to pawn off the little hellion on Kip, and all three of these boys had their moment in Cross and Crosser (that IY x Amaranthine Saga crossover I wrote for my fanniversary last September), which I’ve excerpted below.

Naproom | art by FoxOfTwilight

Excerpted from Cross and Crosser:

::twinkle::
by Categories: Amaranthine Interludes, Amaranthine SagaTags: , , , , , , , 8 Comments

Bard & Barbarian

New Chapter. I’m easing my way into a quicker pace for posting new chapters of Bard & Barbarian, in part so I can stay ahead of Travis Baldree, who’s handling the narration of our tale. For those who haven’t taken note, Bard & Barbarian is an original story about two of the characters I played in my very first DnD campaign. What can I say … I got attached. So I’m giving them a story. Imber’s and Marc’s serialized adventure will undoubtedly be a stand-alone book one day, but if you want to be a part of their story while it’s unfolding, become a patron.

Fun Fact: In today’s installment, I introduce two other characters that I played during a brief “funhouse campaign” our DM put on while I was prepping for my first stint as a DM in our current campaign. I mean … why not? Right? ::twinkle::

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Still Time to Pre-Order

Captured on Film. The next short story in the Songs of the Amaranthine collection will be releasing this Thursday, March 4, 2021. Pre-order on Amazon now, and you’ll undoubtedly get a sneaky early copy. (Mine always arrives by 10pm the night before.) As usual, this will be a digital-only release. Eventually, once I have four new stories (5 through 8), I’ll compile them into a print anthology.

Who are the Dare brothers? If you’re a detail oriented person, you might recall that they were first mentioned in Book 3: Tamiko and the Two Janitors as part of Harrison Peck’s BINGO night trivia challenge: 

“On the popular television series Dare Together, what famous cryptid did brothers Caleb and Josheb Dare bring out of hiding for an interview?”  

They’re mentioned again in Book 4: Mikoto and the Reaver Village: 

Lilya held Kyrie’s hand all the way back from movie night. They’d been treated to back-to-back episodes of Dare Together, with hints that special guests would be arriving the following weekend. Rampant speculation pointed toward a visit from Caleb and Josheb Dare … or any number of the cryptids they were so famous for tracking down.

Nab your copy to get in on this brotherly adventure. And look forward to Dare Brothers art on release day! ::twinkle::

Pre-order on Amazon (US storefront) >>

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ART: Catnap

Long Sleep. Amaranthine don’t need sleep often, but when they “go deep,” it’s often for days. Of all those you’ve met, Hisoka-sensei may have the most difficult time catching enough rest. His many obligations tend to infringe upon a normal sleep pattern. But Argent (ever the strategist) has found an effective counter. While Hisoka cannot indulge every month (and still pushes his limits), he’s found a safe haven in Jacques Smythe.

Catnap | art by FoxOfTwilight

close crop
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Pokemon GO Tour: Kanto

I Choose You! Every once in a while, I mention here on the blog that I play Pokemon GO. (Daily. Devotedly. Obsessively.) Yes, I’m taking part in the Kanto event (2/20). Nearly all of my in-game friends are readers, which I think is quite spiffy. I love sending gifts & stickers & raid invites, so if you share my little hobby, you’re welcome to send me your friend code. My email is always.forthright at gmail dot com.

I Choose You | art by FoxOfTwilight

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Bard & Barbarian

Narrated Edition. Supporters can now listen to the first chapter of Bard & Barbarian, which just went live for some tiers over on Patreon. New chapters will arrive every other Wednesday (a pace I’m pretty sure we can maintain), which means … something else to look forward to! Learn more about my Patreon here >>

Imber & Marc | art by Alexa Sharpe

What is this Bard & Barbarian you speak of? When I set up my Patreon account a little over a year ago, I wanted to offer an exclusive story as a perk for patronage. At that time, I was embroiled in my very first DnD campaign and (as I do) had become very attached to the two characters I’d created. So I decided to start at their beginning & give them a book. Imber is a half-elf with bards in his bloodline, and Marc is … oh, let’s go with “lacking in social skills.” They’re friends, and really, their adventure’s just begun. Watch it unfold!

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