Updated! Bard & Barbarian has updated over on my Patreon with Ch57: “Picklock,” because it’s becoming increasingly important that they get their crew inside. Trust me on this. Or listen to Marshmallow Wargoat.
Bard & Barbarian
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::
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:
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!
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
LMM 561: To Go
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 having fun.
561
To Go
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::
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 >>
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.
Pokemon GO!
2022 in Review. I received a message from Niantic with a roundup of my year. How many kilometers I walked, how many spinners spun, how many Pokemon I caught, how many raids I participated in … that sort of thing. And I also earned a … title?
Apparently, I’m a good & loyal friend, so if you need one (in-game) … comment or drop me an email with your trainer code. ::twinkle::
LMM 560: Penny Drop
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 cheeky one.
560
Penny Drop
LMM 559: Trivial Pursuits
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 in the know.
559
Trivial Pursuits
Favorite Tropes
Tough Guys & Cute Kids. I’ve been loving (and writing) this classic trope for ages. Doesn’t matter if it’s a dad, a big brother, a guardian, or some (oft reluctant) stranger who’s left holding the baby, I’m there for it. (In the IY fandom, this was Sesshoumaru & Rin.) Thankfully, this trope has become a recent trend in manga/anime. Last year’s big hit was Spy x Family, in which a top-ranked international spy needs to cobble together a family for a mission.
If you loved that, you’ll love this one. I’d been reading The Yakuza’s Guide to Babysitting manga for months when I heard news that the anime would release (again, last year).
Which brings us to this morning. I just finished the first episode of a new simulcast that fits the going theme. Buddy Daddies involves two guys (assassins this time) who end up having to juggle their career with child-raising.
Umm … you’re welcome. ::twinkle::
ART: Warm Enough?
January’s Art Card. One of my “resolutions” for the new year involves my Patreon. I send out monthly mailings to thank supporters. In the past, I’d choose note cards or stationary that suited my mood for the month. This year, with my mailing list growing steadily, I’ve made the commitment to have cards printed every month. They’ll feature story-related art, book covers, etc. And most will incorporate book quotes or (like this month) an original story snippet.
For January, I wanted something in-character and cozy, so this month’s art card/story will feature two of the Five, longtime friends Harmonious Starmark & Lapis Mossberne. Teaser here. The full illustration is under the cut, so click for more! ::twinkle::
LMM 558: Second Opinion
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 over-protective one.
558
Second Opinion
FORTHRIGHT 