A Patreon Exclusive

To Thank My Patrons. So far, I’ve used my Patreon account to let supporters sneak a little closer to my life outside of books. Which (let’s face it) is a life surrounded by books. I enjoy taking pictures, so most updates have been snapshots of things that make sense for the forthy side of my life. My manga collection. Japanese tableware and cooking. Reading and writing snacks. Fandom gear. Story-related gifts and splurges. It’s little stuff, really, but it’s mine … so it matters to me. All of these photographs are ONLY posted to Patreon. One part incentive for you to join. One part thanks for established patrons.

forthright on Patreon >>

A New Exclusive. After a couple weeks of muddling through ideas, I’ve decided to go ahead and add an additional incentive in the form of an exclusive story. Again, it’s something personal, because I’ll be introducing patrons to the two characters I play during Dungeons & Dragons campaigns. Self-indulgent? Admittedly. But these guys are as real to me as Miroku or Argent or Lapis or Ricker or (le gasp) Sesshoumaru. And I treat them with the same care and respect. Who knows? Maybe you’ll get as attached as Michael does to those he tends. ::twinkle::

How long will these installments be?
Short. This is a story in bits and pieces. So far, chapters are averaging 500 words.

How often will you update the story?
At least once a month. Sometimes more. (I have the first four chapters written.)

Will I need a Patreon account?
Yep. And it seems that requires a credit card. That’s how the site sends out your pledges each month. I’m new to this, so it’s probably best just to check out their FAQ.

How much does it cost to become a patron?
Depends on how much you have to splurge. You choose your pledge amount. It’s like a monthly subscription. Since I don’t have any tiers set up, you can become a patron for just $1 a month and have access to all my patron-only posts.

When will you post the first installment?
Tomorrow, January 8, 2020.

Will you publish this story as a book? (I can wait.)
Eventually? It’s a little early to tell. Might happen, though.

Are you going to tell us about the story?
Yep. That’s next. Continue reading →

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The best part of making tonkatsu…

…is being able to fix katsudon for breakfast.  For the uninitiated, tonkatsu = fried pork cutlets. And katsudon involves simmering slices of katsu with onions, mirin, and soy sauce in a small pan, then drizzling the lot with egg before sliding it over a bowl of hot rice. In Japan, the dish is often made to bring good luck because the word katsu means “win.” (In anime, it’s the go-to meal for students with a test/competition on the morrow.) Fangirls may recall katsudon having a prominent place in Yuri on Ice!

Katsudon, 01.20

by Categories: Random Asides 7 Comments

LMM 100: Finding the Words

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 middleman.

100
Finding the Words

Jacques tension ebbed away as—for once—Argent fully embraced the role of translator, Continue reading →

by Categories: Amaranthine InterludesTags: 4 Comments

Fortune Cookie Challenge

Confessions of a Collector. It’s becoming established I collect many things. Those who’ve begun supporting me on Patreon even have photographic evidence. My collections aren’t always big and grand. Sometimes, they’re small and simple … and ride around in my coin purse for months … and have been piling up in a small box for years. Case in point: Continue reading →

by Categories: Amaranthine Saga, Songs of the Amaranthine 20 Comments

LMM 99: Past Wards

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 for the trusted one.

99
Past Wards

All the way upstairs, Jacques caught Continue reading →

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LMM 98: Entirely Reasonable

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 those off-scene but influential women.

98
Entirely Reasonable

“It’s not my place to make demands,” Jacques muttered. Continue reading →

by Categories: Amaranthine InterludesTags: 5 Comments

Mailbox Report

Token of Affection. Many thanks to KShadeslady, who surprised and delighted me by sending a package in December. The enclosed ornament is apropos to my stories (especially Tamiko and the Two Janitors) since … well … acorns mean what we’ve been told they mean. ::twinkle::

Token of Affection, KShadeslady

The ornament is hinged (the clasp is a twinkle!) and inside, was a slip of paper with a book quote. Here’s me grinning as bashfully as Joe … and as grateful as anyone ever was or will be. ::glomp::

by Categories: Mailbox 6 Comments

LMM 97: More in Store

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 demanding one.

97
More in Store

“You found it,” remarked Gingko. Continue reading →

by Categories: Amaranthine InterludesTags: 5 Comments

Comfort Zone

Plans for 2020. Some of my plans for the New Year will have me tiptoeing along the borders of my comfort zone. Good things, I assure you. Just … well, you know how most writers are. Bookish, skittish creatures who freeze like rabbits whenever someone other stumbles into their natural habitat. But I shall embrace my inner Duntuffet and make a merry mess of things. It’ll be fun.

One such plan is to out myself as a DnD player (there, that was easy) and perhaps introduce you to a couple of fellows who have become so dear to me that our DM has been threatened (on multiple occasions) not to contribute to their demise … lest I rage-quit the campaign and ensure their immortality by giving them a book. Nay, a SAGA of their own. (He just laughs and says, “roll for initiative.”)

So … anyone else dabble with DnD? And does anyone want to bravely guess the classes/races of my two boys? ::twinkle::

by Categories: Random AsidesTags: 10 Comments