ART: Sonnet

Two Sides. Last week, I teasered this piece of art over on Patreon with a close crop. (I always do. Peeks are a perk of patronage.) Seems especially appropriate that I post this piece today, since Sonnet steps seamlessly (dare I suggest fluidly) into a new role for his family in Hemmed in Silver.

• • •

When Pennythwaite called them for dinner, he sounded strange. Strained.

Concerned, Wyn hurried to the kitchen, only to draw up short. Triggs showed up a moment later and with a surprised grunt, backed into the corner. Pennythwaite was clearly holding himself in check, a sure sign he was thoroughly flustered.

Beck sauntered in and swore. “Sonnet, what are you doing?”

“Getting ready for our children.”

Gesturing widely, Beck squawked, “You’re in a dress!”

“Well, I was thinking.” Sonnet calmly slid a platter and a covered dish onto the table. “They’re children. They’ll need mothering.”

Hemmed in Silver
Songs of the Amaranthine, #5

• • •

Sonnet | art by FoxOfTwilight

Redefining Himself. Based on what responses I saw, Sonnet rather stole the show in the fifth Song. He’s a dog by birth (one of Harmonious Starmark’s grandsons, actually), but he ran away from home to live as a wolf. Sonnet Skybellow fancies himself a lone wolf, but he may be the only person who actually believes that. To quote myself (from another story), he mothers beautifully. ::twinkle::

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This came up…

Question and Answer. I received a (probably unintentionally) loaded question in comments on my most recent chapter of Lord Mettlebright’s Man. It really kicked my brain into overdrive, and by the time I finished answering, I figured I’d bring it out of comments & make a blog post of it. If only because there’s a teaser tucked in there. So with all due respect, I’m reposting the question & my answer here:

So, when are you going to write an LGBTQ character that’s a normal person? Not in love with a married man, or these two who are basically siblings.

My goodness. What a loaded question. I’ve given it a ponder.

  1. Define “normal.” Do you mean a human without reaver powers who fits somewhere within the LGBTQ+ spectrum? Because … that’s Jacques. And I am most definitely writing him.
  2. Jacques is not “in love with a married man.” Argent was his first love, a boyhood crush that began long before Tsumiko was on the scene. And that devotion has been changing shape. I wouldn’t say Jacques has been “in love” for a while now. Patience.
  3. Cat and Canary aren’t “basically siblings.” They’re childhood friends, unrelated by blood. And feline culture doesn’t conform to … much of anything. I’m sure we’ll brush up against it more in future books & stories. But it’s safe to say you shouldn’t try to interpret Amaranthine behavior by human standards. Leads to all kinds of trouble.
  4. This is largely an aside, but … I am having a hard time coming up with ANY “normal person” in the Saga & Songs, regardless of their orientation. The series is usually stashed in the “paranormal romance” and “urban fantasy” categories, and my characters tend to be exceptional … or at least exceptions. ::twinkle::
  5. Provided you’ll consider a Kith-kin as a “normal person,” Kip’s heart belongs to another male. And Melissa Armstrong has two mothers. A pair of kick-ass battlers who are a Big Deal in the new lineup of reaver-exclusive extreme sports in America. You may recall that the enclave where they’re from is in California. Oh, heyyy, isn’t that where Bk5 is set?
  6. While I may know the sexual orientation of my cast (in much the same way I know their eye color and taste in shoes), I don’t think that orientation alone defines a person. But it shapes their choices, and that’s where things get interesting. At least for me.

As the Saga continues, I can’t promise you much in the way of “normal,” but there are interesting choices ahead. For everyone. Including Jacques.

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Troved

Tuesday’s Tote. Once a week, I’m posting a new fandom book cover to Goodreads & to the fanfic site. As an added bonus, the new pattern is available in my Threadless & TeePublic shopfronts. Totes, masks, backpacks, zipper bags, journals, and note cards are available. This week we’re adding an homage to Troved.

Summary: Everyone knows that a hanyou comes from the union of a human and a youkai. In this case, the union of a human and a youkai is brought about by a hanyou. A Valentine’s Day oneshot. Alternate Universe. [Sesshoumaru x Kagome]

Read Troved here >>
Troved on Goodreads >>

Valentine’s Day. Yes, this is the oneshot that I borrowed from in order to create Kimiko and the Accidental Proposal (Amaranthine Saga, #2). Little Inuyasha’s (show-stealing) performance led to the birth of Ever Starmark in Bk1 … because Eloquence would also need a little matchmaker. I’d hardly call it copying, though, given that the original fic was a mere 4,500~ words. It caused a stir & inspired much art. Even then, people were begging me to continue the story because they wanted to see the whole courtship. ::cough:: While I don’t plan to add to Troved, you can look forward to Kimiko and the Cycle of Moons (Amaranthine Interludes, #2) once I hit my community goal over on Patreon.

TWINKLE PRESS
Threadless   |   Tee Public

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COMPLETE: News Hound

Summary: Iruka is sent undercover on a mission that bears every resemblance to an enforced vacation. It’s the world’s most boring assignment. And the loneliest. Until a chatty photojournalist named Sukea starts hanging around. Canon Divergence. [Iruka & Kakashi/Sukea/Hound] – COMPLETE

This Naruto fanfic has reached its conclusion. Chapter 20: “Hero’s Welcome” just posted.

Story Link >>

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Anniversary of the Emergence

Lunar New Year. We’re nearing an international holiday (at least, it is in-story). The news that startled humanity around the world, that they shared space with the so-called “inhuman races,” coincided with the Lunar New Year (because wolves).

• • •

“Look, look, look!” Coop’s voice broke with adolescent urgency as he pointed at the television screen. “They cut in a few seconds ago. Across all channels.”

He flipped through to demonstrate. Every station was emblazoned with banners that screamed, BREAKING NEWS!

“What’s happened?” asked Charles, because the words scrolling across the bottom of the screen were more confusing than anything.

Non-human.

Coexistence.

Treaties.

Reavers.

Shock.

Worldwide.

“Is this for real?” asked Charles. 

Coop got right up next to the screen, which showed a row of five people on a stage. Some kind of government building, by the look of things. The camera zoomed in and panned back and forth, offering a closer view of calm smiles and pointed ears.

“Back, back, back, already,” Coop grumbled. And when the cameras finally obeyed, he jabbed his finger at one of them. “The taller lady. Dad, she has a tail.”

It took that long for Charles to realize what must be going on. He sank to a seat on the edge of their couch. “Those people. They’re just like ….”

Dragged through Hedgerows
Songs of the Amaranthine, #3

• • •

Over on Patreon, I’m doing a special mailing for the Lunar New Year by borrowing from human tradition. Red envelopes. Lucky coins. Year of the Ox. If you’ve been considering becoming a patron, this would be an excellent time to join the ranks. As with everything I do, I try to keep things interesting over there. ::twinkle::

Just for fun, I’ll pose the same question here that I did on Patreon. Which two bovine clans have been mentioned so far in the Saga & Songs?

forthright on Patreon >>

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ART: Making a Home

The Cooper Family. Each of the Songs of the Amaranthine stories has its own part in the larger story. In Dragged through Hedgerows, we meet Daroo-fen Clearsong, whose duties and vows have set him apart from the packs, making him a lone wolf. Used to masquerading as a human, Daroo/Drew figures he can pull off another kind of impersonation: family pet.

“Making a Home” | art by FoxOfTwilight

Fun Facts: Daroo is over seven feet tall, and Charles is barely five. Quite the height difference. Also, Daroo isn’t the first lone wolf you’ve met in the Saga & Songs. You’ll learn more about their choices (and consequences) when that other fellow deigns to recur. ::twinkle::

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Pale Shadows

Tuesday’s Tote. Once a week, I’m posting a new fandom book cover to Goodreads & to the fanfic site. As an added bonus, the new pattern is available in my Threadless & TeePublic shopfronts. Totes, masks, backpacks, zipper bags, journals, and note cards are available. This week we’re adding an homage to Pale Shadows.

Summary: It’s Halloween, and Kagome keeps catching glimpses of something … or someone … out of the corner of her eye. An imposing presence, an implicit threat, and a message from beyond. Oneshot. Canon Divergence. Modern Era. [Sesshoumaru x Kagome]

Read Pale Shadows here >>
Pale Shadows on Goodreads >>

Ghost Story. This oneshot (8,000~ words) was written for a Halloween fic!exchange thingie over on Dokuga. The story is ooooold, but it holds true. (Just reread it, and I’m proud of how it turned out.) I’m pretty sure that it was shortly after I posted this fic that I started getting requests for a Kagome x InuPapa stories. Eheh. Can’t deny I’d have fun with the pairing. ::twinkle::

TWINKLE PRESS
Threadless   |   Tee Public

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News Hound

Updated! Iruka is sent undercover on a mission that bears every resemblance to an enforced vacation. It’s the world’s most boring assignment. And the loneliest. Until a chatty photojournalist named Sukea starts hanging around. Canon Divergence. [Iruka & Kakashi/Sukea/Hound]

This Naruto fanfic updates on Tuesdays. Chapter 19: “Hobble Home” just posted.

Story Link >>

Extra! Extra! For those who ignore author notes & end notes (hey, I know I do), today’s update is the penultimate chapter of News Hound. The fanfic will be complete in 20, so if you’ve been putting off reading the story until it’s done, your wait’s nearly at an end. Although … as it says in the oh-so ignorable end note to Ch19, Iruka’s story isn’t really finished. His ongoing mission will be going on. I’ve already begun writing what comes next in the hopes it’ll be complete before my fanniversary in September. You heard it here first! Look forward to Cub Reporter.

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