Enamel Pins. I’ve mentioned before that I have a friend who always gives me an enamel pin to celebrate my stories. For Tamiko and the Two Janitors, I was given two (since there are two couples). I already showed you the black feather. Here’s the other:
Strong Like My Coffee – by femfetti.com
Avians. Open to suggestions for future polls. ::twinkle::
If you don’t have Twitter (and therefore cannot vote), have your say-so in comments.
**FINAL RESULTS**
Want to see past polls? Click the Twitter Polls tag.
Lord Mettlebright’s Man. I hope you’re enjoying this splurge of daily updates. Here’s the next set of prompts that I’m using while I write.
Want to contribute prompts?
Here’s the place >>
Reading Nook. You know, I recently realized I still have some snapshots from the Tsumiko photo challenge that I never shared. I’ll mix them in! This one comes courtesy of Michelle, who lives on a ship in the Florida Keys.
Thank you to Mariana for this entry in the Photo Challenge I hosted last month. Lovely! ::twinkle::
Kith. Open to suggestions for future polls. ::twinkle::
If you don’t have Twitter (and therefore cannot vote), give some love in comments.
**FINAL RESULTS**
Want to see past polls? Click the Twitter Polls tag.
Thank you to Alicja for this entry in the Photo Challenge I hosted last month. Her photograph includes many details from Kimiko and the Accidental Proposal. She shared, “I got her favorite tree in, though this is a Pink Serissa not a red like Kusunoki’s.” Nice! ::twinkle::
Release Eve. Those of you who pre-ordered the Tamiko and the Two Janitors audio book (narrated by Travis Baldree) can expect a digital delivery within the next few hours. I have my tomorrow blocked off. Who’s with me? ::twinkle::
Crossers. Open to suggestions for future polls. ::twinkle::
If you don’t have Twitter (and therefore cannot vote), give some love in comments.
**FINAL RESULTS**
Want to see past polls? Click the Twitter Polls tag.
Photo Challenge. Abundant thanks to everyone who participated in August’s two Photo Challenges. I poked through the resulting pile, assigned every entry a number, then used a handy dandy random number generator to draw names. Here are our winners:
Kimiko and the Accidental Proposal
Leslie (the audiophile)
Alice
Tamiko and the Two Janitors
Mariana
Saholia
Lexie
Congratulations!
Tote Bags. Yes, I have a few more totes, but quantities are extremely limited. First come, first served. Cost in the US is $25 (includes shipping). Email me with questions or orders – always.forthright @ gmail.com
Thank you to Lynne, who sent this along during last month’s Photo Challenge. For those who’ve read both Book 2 and Book 3, I’m sure you grasp the humor. ::twinkle::
… I really will be drawing for winners soon. Thank you for your patience!
Thank you to Goldenmirth for this entry in the Photo Challenge I hosted last month. Look at all those acorns! What fun! ::twinkle::
Thank you to everyone who took the time to set up a photo shoot. I have lots more pictures to share, and I’ll be drawing for winners soon.
Jacques Smythe of the Uppington Smythes. In my mind, he barely resembles the character from Impeccable who shares his name, but since readers sometimes like knowing “behind the scenes” details, here’s something that even many of my fandom readers didn’t pick up on. In InuYasha, there’s a group of villains known as the Band of Seven.
Jakotsu & Bankotsu from InuYasha
In Impeccable, members of the Band of Seven were “cleverly” disguised among the Smythe relations (some of whom had the surname Kotsu). Doctor Stewart “Stewie” Smythe (Suikotsu) and brothers Boniface (Bankotsu) and Jacques (Jakotsu) carried their basic roles from my fanfic into Tsumiko and the Enslaved Fox, where they claimed new lives with new meaning.
Especially Jacques.
• • •
But the one at the door had no reaver sense. Argent seriously doubted he had any sense at all.
Jacques Smythe executed a precise little bow. “Welcome home, honored master.”
“Still here?”
“Well spotted, sir.” The young man’s gaze swept over his attire, his face. Admiration seemed at war with simple awe. “Is that the Amaranthine equivalent of formal wear?”
“These are my clan’s colors.” Argent studied the silvered tips of his claws. There had been little time to change before their hasty departure. And Twineshaft had encouraged him to retain his finery. For Tsumiko’s sake.
Jacques mouth worked for several moments, as if sifting past all the flippant, flirtatious things he might usually to say. Lowering his eyes, he earnestly declared, “Truly sir, you are a tribute to Stately House.”
Someone had been coaching him in diplomacy. And Jacques was actually applying it? At this early hour? And in a very different sort of formal attire. Argent was almost afraid to ask. “What are you playing at?”
—Tsumiko and the Enslaved Fox (Amaranthine Saga, #1)
• • •
Lord Mettlebright’s Man will be resuming today. The story is set immediately after the events of Tsumiko and the Enslaved Fox. Updates will be daily. Prompts for September are selected, but you can always add to my options for future installments. Prompt Post! For now, it’s posting exclusively here, on the blog. (If the Amaranthine Saga ever shows up on fanfiction.net, I’ll add LMM in a hot second.) In the meantime, if you need to refresh your memory, Jacques’ story STARTS HERE >>
Thank you to Rayah for this entry in the Photo Challenge underway this month. Her figures are handmade and hand-painted. Beautiful! ::twinkle::
Last Day to Enter!
For those needing an exact deadline – 11:59 p.m. PDT
always.forthright @ gmail.com
Siblings. Open to suggestions for future polls. ::twinkle::
If you don’t have Twitter (and therefore cannot vote), give some love in comments. Next week, I’m thinking of doing some duos.
**FINAL RESULTS**
Want to see past polls? Click the Twitter Polls tag.
FORTHRIGHT 