Category: Amaranthine Saga

ART: Samesies

Countdown. We’re one month away from the release of Pimiko and the Uncharted Island, so I’m doing a character reveal. Here’s a teaser. Full illustration is under a cut in case you DON’T want to know anything more before you get to read the book. ::twinkle::

Pim Moonprowl, the titular character for Book 6, is an American actress. But you knew that already. Or did you? Pim has been around for a while. In fact, she was first mentioned in Bk3: 

A commercial was running for some new drama in the fall line-up. The old man kept it muted, but his gaze never left the screen. He was long and lean like the other Armstrongs she knew, but his hair was pure white, and his blue eyes were partially obscured by reading glasses.
“You see that?” he asked.
She shook her head in confusion, then realized he wasn’t looking. “No, sir?”
He pointed with the remote. “Pim Moonprowl. First openly Amaranthine actress on primetime. Get this … she plays a wolf.”
Melissa stared blankly at the clip. The actress was clearly meant to be part of a team of investigators. A tracker with bare feet and baubles at her throat and ankles, clad in a form-fitting corset and a furry miniskirt the same color as her tail.
“Ever seen the like?” he demanded.
“She’s very beautiful,” Melissa managed as she watched that tail flick and curl.
The old man gave her a disappointed look, then harrumphed. “She’s very feline.”
Uncle Abel asked, “Does it really matter? Rivven all look the same to me.”
“Next time you ask for a puppy, you’re getting a kitten,” groused the senior Mr. Reaverson.

Tamiko and the Two Janitors
Amaranthine Saga, #3

::twinkle::
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Books Ordered

Pimiko and the Uncharted Island. All of the final checks are done with my printer, and I’ve ordered book boxes! They should arrive in plenty of time. If you’re interested in purchasing author-signed books from me, I’ll begin taking pre-orders on October 1.

Release Day: October 22, 2022

Pre-orders should begin showing up in all online bookstores within the next week or two. (Digital editions might already be there. Probably.) Ah, this is so exciting! :: confetti toss ::

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Midivar Mailing

All through September. This month’s Patreon mailing is an Open Offer, which means that it’s available to all my patrons, no matter their tier. If you join at the Glimmer or Twinkle level, be sure to request yours! (All tiers above that get automatic inclusion in mailings like this.)

Midivar | art by Ren

Postcard: glossy, 4″x6″
Last Day to Request: September 30, 2022

Amaranthine and More. I’ve been gradually migrating toward story-related mailings for my patrons, and I’ve made the commitment for 2023 to print cards that tie in with my books EVERY MONTH. That means cover art, character art, book excerpts, and original outtakes & snippets related to the Saga & Songs, Bard & Barbarian, and 4thy’s new trilogy, which will see its first book release in 2023. If you like mail & you want to collect story extras, consider joining! forthright on Patreon >>

Thank you for supporting my stories, wherever they’re found.

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Typesetting Complete!

Good Progress. I wrapped up the typesetting for Bk6: Pimiko and the Uncharted Island, so it’ll be off to the printer next. Here’s a screencap of one of the early pages, because if you want to brush up on the Saga & Songs, now’s a good time to begin. ::twinkle::

Pimiko and the Uncharted Island
Release Date: October 22, 2022

You can pre-order the digital edition now on Amazon >>

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ART: Mani-Pedi

The Adorning of Dragons. Stately House has become a peaceful retreat for those Argent trusts and respects. Lord Mossberne is one of the fortunate few, and he has long-since made himself at home.

“Mani-Pedi” | art by FoxOfTwilight

Although it’s only been hints here and there, it’s clear that those who call Stately House home love Lapis. He’s there as often as he can be. Throughout Book 4, Kyrie recalls Lapis often and fondly, since the dragon lord has been mentoring him almost since birth. Lilya is similarly attached.

Lilya had always considered Lapis part of her family. His face had been bending into view since her cradle days, because he doted on Kyrie. But Lapis was too kind to part her from the brother she adored. He had two arms, and so he would carry them both away. Some of her earliest memories involved midnight blue hair, trilling lullabies, and reaching for sparkling baubles that seemed to be singing.
Lapis came to Stately House more than any of the other members of the Amaranthine Council, and she was sure that in his heart, their home was his home.

Mikoto and the Reaver Village (Amaranthine Saga, #4)

Isla Ward is similarly close to Lapis, though their relationship has taken a turn toward the professional. Since she’s Hisoka-sensei’s apprentice and a diplomat in her own right, she works closely with everyone on the Amaranthine Council. But Lapis is practically family. Indeed, in Bk4, Lilya refers to him as “Uncle Lapis.”

::twinkle::
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How Old is Sonnet?

Sonnet Skybellow. This question came up in comments today for Lord Mettlebright’s Man, and a blog post seems appropriate. As is usual with my writing, you have all the facts, but they’re somewhat scattered. I’ll go through his appearances in publishing order:

  • We first meet Sonnet in Hemmed in Silver (Songs of the Amaranthine, #5), which is set in post-war England (1950s or 60s, given Alfie’s reference to seeing things on the telly). Midway through that story, Sonnet’s father turns up, inadvertently outing his son to Alfie. Why’s his da there? Sentinel wants to tell Sonnet that he has two new baby sisters (twins Lyric and Lavish) & to invite him home so they can get a whiff of their big brother.

**That sets Hemmed in Silver roughly 80 years before the Emergence.

  • Sticking to publication order, Sonnet next appears in Lord Mettlebright’s Man. Why is our lone wolf in Keishi at the time? To attend the whelping feast of little Clarion Starmark (daughter of his Uncle Prospect, making Clarion his first cousin). This jives with the opening scene in Bk2: Kimiko and the Accidental Proposal, in which Prospect entrusts Eloquence with his baby girl while he goes to play music for Harmonious’ gathering of friends. (And hey! Lyric and Lavish are mentioned in passing in this scene.)
::twinkle::
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ART: Dressage

Jacques & Nonny. While Nonny does show up briefly in the main books of the Amaranthine Saga, you only really get to know the goat-crosser if you read Lord Mettlebright’s Man. He first appears in Ch54: “Prat” and goes on to become Jacques’ apprentice. Fun Fact: for those not in the know, in the audio editions, Travis Baldree gives Nonny a Cockney accent.

“Dressage” | art by FoxOfTwilight

. . .

Jacques took delivery of a parcel from Uppington and immediately sought out Nonny. “My years in dressage left me with more than high boots and a riding crop!”

Lord Mettlebright’s Man, Ch315: “Mentoring Style”

. . .

Zooming in, because Fox gave Jacques some very special badges:

::twinkle::
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Narration of Pimiko

Scant 2 Hours. If you’re planning to drop by Travis Baldree’s Discord server, Cryptid Audio, to get an early listen of the beginning of Pimiko and the Uncharted Island, he’ll begin around 8:30 am (Pacific). I’m already hanging out in the listener’s lounge, so come on over & join at any time. (Is anyone else on edge? Just me? Okay, then.)

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Narration

Audio Book. Travis Baldree will begin narration for the audio edition of Pimiko and the Uncharted Island this week. It’s looking like a Wednesday start, so if you want to listen in, you’ll need to join his Discord server. Book 6 is also currently available for pre-order (digital edition, Amazon/Kindle version). Release Day is October 22, 2022.

. . .

P.S. “Hearth slippers” were first referenced in Governed by Whimsy (Songs of the Amaranthine, #4). They’re definitely a thing for the feline clans, but most especially for hearthcats. ::solemn wink::

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ART: Such a Gentleman

Jonnet. (Or Soques). I recently hosted a poll over on my Patreon, asking folks to weigh in on “Jacques x ???” People do tend to ship him variously, and I may have a small pile of new art pending that features Stately House’s butler/favorite uncle + various other cast members. Jacques and Sonnet won by a landslide, and the timing for this piece couldn’t be better. ::twinkle::

“Such a Gentleman” | art by FoxOfTwilight

. . .

Who would you vote to see with our Mr. Smythe?
(He has so many good friends!)

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Pre-Order Available

Pimiko and the Uncharted Island (Amaranthine Saga, #6) will be releasing October 22, 2022, and the digital edition just become available for pre-order on Amazon.

He leads an elite taskforce.
She did, too. On television. 

After the finale of her dazzlingly successful television drama, Pim Moonprowl packs her bags and books passage to a secretive resort that makes alluring claims. She’ll pay anything, promise anything, do anything to find out if they’re true. On an island that’s not on maps, Pim encounters a silver-tongued doctor, a kindred soul, a caged star, and a clever monkey. This is her big chance to put into practice the skills she gained from eight seasons on an elite taskforce.

Boon can almost taste his prey, he’s that close. If only he hadn’t run up against a barrier in the middle of the ocean. He puts out a call and calls in a favor. There’s a plan in place, and reinforcements are en route, but Boon is restless to run the Rogue to ground. Taking a risk—definitely his style—lands him with a couple of responsibilities he really didn’t need, and both of them are female.

Release Date: October 22, 2022
PRE-ORDER NOW >>

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ART: Rifflet

“Rifflet” | art by FoxOfTwilight

We first meet Rifflet in Bk4: Mikoto and the Reaver Village, when Lilya finds the little wind dragon in the woods surrounding Wardenclave. That’s at the beginning of summer camp. Bk5: Fumiko and the Finicky Nestmate takes place roughly four months later, the following October. By then, Rifflet would have been this size, which is nearly double a hatchling’s size. Fun Fact: It’s mentioned in passing that a human can ride an adult wind dragon. Needless to say, Rifflet is growing fast.

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