It’s so fun to catch a glimpse of the finished product on the publisher’s preview screen. Followed by Thunder releases next Saturday! Are you pre-ordered?
Pre-Order Tamiko
Tamiko and the Two Janitors. Great news! The digital edition is now available for pre-order for those who buy ebooks on Amazon.
In doing her part for world peace, she puts one crosser’s whole world at risk. Conspiracy theories, werewolf scares, and protest rallies have hampered the peace process in America, where social and political unrest keep most Amaranthine from declaring themselves. Those not in seclusion rely heavily on illusion to mask their true nature.
As the newly appointed principal of a small elementary school, Tamiko Reaverson is doing her part for world peace. She rallies her community’s support and applies for Hisoka Twineshaft’s school revitalization project, which will bring Amaranthine to her hometown. Little does Tami realize that Fletching was founded by one of the oldest and largest urban enclaves in the United States. And two of her staunchest supporters—janitors at her school—share a secret neither wants exposed.
Release Date: July 22, 2019
Coming Soon
Only a week remains before the release of the next short story in the Songs of the Amaranthine collection. I’ve made my final tweaks to Followed by Thunder, and I’m pleased. (This is a good sign.) Who’s ready for some horse culture? ::twinkle::
How long is this story?
This one’s a touch longer than Marked by Stars, coming in at 25,000~ words, which I find to be a pleasant afternoon’s (or evening’s) read.
Does Followed by Thunder follow the events of Marked by Stars?
No. Each of the stories in the Songs of the Amaranthine collection can stand alone. You may find connections though. They’re usually there. In fact, the setting for Followed by Thunder is alluded to in Tsumiko and the Enslaved Fox (Amaranthine Saga, #1). Oh, look! Here’s the excerpt now…
Will these short stories be available in print?
Indeed! The plan is to collect four of these short stories (4thy does love her 4s) into an anthology, which will be available in a print edition. They’ll have the same trim size as the main series, so Saga & Songs will look nice together on your bookshelves. ::wink::
Where will Followed by Thunder be available for purchase?
Everywhere books are sold, so check your usual virtual venues. If you’re the Kindle variety of reader, pre-order is available now on Amazon. Those who read on other platforms should see Followed by Thunder coming available by release day, which is …
May 4, 2019
May the forth be with you!
One sister, a pure light that beckons, the other, a fierce light that burns. Fira and her sister are chased out of another village. Fleeing on foot across the empty moors, they’re caught by a storm that roars like the monsters ever in pursuit. But the wind changes and the thundering brings a stampede of defenders who carry them off to a secret place. Where mares dance and rabbits mine. Where the lost clans hid a lasting treasure. Where the girls’ curse is considered a blessing.
Likes & Answers
There’s a thing floating around on Twitter (I’m ForthWrites there, too, if you care to follow me), and I’m posting it here, too. For every time you “like” my tweet, I’ll yield an answer. Some of them may even be interesting.
I’ll copy my answers into comments here for those who don’t lurk the social media circuit. If you have a “better” question for me, ask away. It never hurts to ask, right? ::twinkle::
Lately…
I always feel a little bad when there’s nothing but a long string of Mood Stripes chapters on my blog. Makes me feel neglectful. This always seems to happen when we’re “between books.” So let’s have a little round of updates!
I’ll be making Tamiko and the Two Janitors available for pre-order (on Amazon, at first) later this month. Which feels a bit dodgy when the manuscript isn’t quite finished. But progress is both daily and good. We’re on track for a July 22 release.
The next title in the Songs of the Amaranthine collection has reached the final editing phase. Followed by Thunder is currently available for pre-order (again, on Amazon for now, other venues to follow). I’ve developed a real fondness for this cast … and hope you will, too.
My manga reading is mood-driven, and the last few weeks have been one long binge. I went from being WAY behind schedule on my Goodreads goal for 2019 to being a few titles ahead. At the moment, I’m reading Naruto (nostalgia!) and DNAngel (double nostalgia!) as well as re-reading some newer series to refresh my memory before catching up with their latest installments. Are you following me on Goodreads?
AND because I have a new project in the works, I’m participating in Camp NaNoWriMo this month. Daily word sprints! Creative bliss!
Fruits Basket
Returns! If you haven’t yet heard, there’s a NEW Fruits Basket anime, and the simulcast began tonight. Now, I own the original anime, and this was the very first series that I collected when I stumbled upon manga, so the story and its characters hold onto a sizeable corner of my heart. Tonight’s revisitation still has me giddy with nostalgia.
If you’re familiar with the first anime, you’ll be in familiar territory. The new Fruits Basket is a faithful rendering (almost verbatim in spots) … but with utterly gorgeous, even cinematic backdrops and subtle tweaks to character design. For instance, Yuki actually looks like he could be related to Shigure now. ::twinkle::
If you’re familiar with the manga series (and how everything ended), you’ll catch new nuances of foreshadowing. And since the title panel includes the text “Season One,” I am holding out hope that we’ll get the full storyline (and the full cast) with this new rendition.
Heaven help me, this could lead to fanfiction. ::twinkle::
Mood Stripes 091: Unhappy
Disclaimer: I do hereby disclaim all rights and responsibilities for the characters in this audacious adventure… especially for the one who’s only guessing. A nod of recognition is bent towards Rumiko Takahashi for her creative prowess.
Chapter 91: Unhappy
The gaze that lifted to Kagome’s was blank, but lurid ripples Continue reading
Mood Stripes 090: Huddled
Disclaimer: I do hereby disclaim all rights and responsibilities for the characters in this audacious adventure… especially for the worried one. A nod of recognition is bent towards Rumiko Takahashi for her creative prowess.
Chapter 90: Huddled
Kagome didn’t understand Inuyasha’s urgency Continue reading
Mood Stripes 089: Ungrateful
Disclaimer: I do hereby disclaim all rights and responsibilities for the characters in this audacious adventure… especially for the one who’s outnumbered. A nod of recognition is bent towards Rumiko Takahashi for her creative prowess.
Chapter 89: Ungrateful
Just as surely as he’d known Continue reading
Mood Stripes 088: Focused
Disclaimer: I do hereby disclaim all rights and responsibilities for the characters in this audacious adventure… especially for the affected one. A nod of recognition is bent towards Rumiko Takahashi for her creative prowess.
Chapter 88: Focused
Days passed, and nothing moved him. Continue reading
Udon
Itadakimasu. I’ve been working my way through the soup menu at a little Japanese restaurant I recently began to frequent. (I’m there enough that the waitress recognizes me now, so I get an extra-warm “Irasshaimase!”) Ramen. Udon. Soba. Different soup stocks. Different toppings. This time around, I had a bowl of mabo udon.
gochisosama deshita
Audio Release Day!
Mood Stripes 087: Absent
Disclaimer: I do hereby disclaim all rights and responsibilities for the characters in this audacious adventure… especially for the attentive one. A nod of recognition is bent towards Rumiko Takahashi for her creative prowess.
Chapter 87: Absent
Perturbed, Sesshoumaru closed himself off, Continue reading
Mood Stripes 086: Felt
Disclaimer: I do hereby disclaim all rights and responsibilities for the characters in this audacious adventure… especially for the uneasy one. A nod of recognition is bent towards Rumiko Takahashi for her creative prowess.
Chapter 86: Felt
Sesshoumaru knew the miko was coming. Continue reading
AUDIO: Kimiko and the Accidental Proposal
Coming Soon! You can now pre-order the audio edition of Tsumiko and the Enslaved Fox, which is narrated by Travis Baldree. Here it is on Audible. And my publisher tells me that the audiobook will also be available through other distributors, such as OverDrive, Hoopla, OneClick (RB Digital) in the library market, iTunes, Google, Audiobooks.com, Kobo, Findaway, and other smaller distributors in the retail market. Whew!
Releasing: March 19, 2019
FORTHRIGHT 