Category: Songs of the Amaranthine

Time Skip & Timeline

Lord Mettlebright’s Man has hit a time skip. We left off in the summer after the end of Bk1, and we’re picking up again in the days before Bk2. So … roughly 2 1/2 years have passed. (Nngh. Maths.) SO! I’m using this opportunity to introduce the timeline terminology developed by the Amaranthine Council. It’s become the international standard for relative dates (similar to the usage of A.D. and B.C. by human historians) with the Emergence as its pivot. Both systems are in use, with the Integrated Dating System having secondary importance. It’s primarily used whenever people want to reckon time in direct relation to the Emergence.

  • Prelude – before the Emergence, noted as PR. (eg. Dragged through Hedgerows is set in PR. 5.)
  • New Saga – after the Emergence, noted as N.S. (eg. Tamiko and the Two Janitors is set in 5 N.S.)

• • •

To help anchor Lord Mettlebright’s Man in the new timeline, let’s run through a few events.

::twinkle::
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Finally!

Hemmed in Silver is (finally, finally) showing up in both the Barnes & Noble and Kobo shopfronts, so I have high hopes that it’s now everywhere. Many thanks to the host of international readers who haven’t had access to Songs of the Amaranthine, #5 until now.

I’ve been holding back art & other surprises related to this story until everyone can enjoy it together. Reminder: It’s just as important to rate & review the short stories as it is the novels. Only readers can sway the almighty algorithms. Thank you for sparing me the extra moments (or minutes) it takes.

On a related note: I’ll likely have Songs of the Amaranthine, #6 showing up for pre-order in time for Christmas. It’s been my December writing project. ::eyebrow waggle::

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ART: Her Colt

Fira folded her arms over her chest. “Human men like docile, doting, dainty wives.”

Ricker blinked. “You are not … large.”

“Compared to mares. But my stature is considered a misfortune. I am ungainly, cumbersome. You know, I have even been described as coltish.”

He snorted his way into a whinnying laugh and swooped her into his arms.

“Her Colt” | art by FoxOfTwilight

::close up::
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ART: Perfect Fit

Governed by Whimsy. While you’re (hopefully) enjoying the newest Songs tale, here’s art for the previous one. Ambrose is no doubt attired for some new theatrical in this Rococo-inspired ensemble. And the shoes! “The very kind of extravagance that he both craved and could not have.”

• • •

“My proportions require specialty craftsmanship. And fittings.” Which was as close as Ambrose would come to admitting he had big feet.

Governed by Whimsy
(Songs of the Amaranthine, #4)

“Perfect Fit” | art by FoxOfTwilight

Close-ups:

::twinkle::
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Release Day

Hemmed in Silver. Today’s the day! The 5th Songs of the Amaranthine tale has released. Please, enjoy. And since such tales are short & sweet, I’ll make this post do double duty as the Squee Post for Hemmed in Silver.

Fairies in the garden. Frost on the pumpkins. Farmhands at the dance. Wyn Outler doesn’t talk about where he came from (or how long ago). All part of the vows he took when he and his best friend turned their backs on the In-between. Decades later, when a letter arrives from an orphan boy who thinks he’s found his uncle, Wyn faces the monumental task of welcoming two children into a household rife with secrets.

Alfie is quite sure Merritt House is magical. Uncle Wyn’s quirky rules only add to the farm’s mystique. He’d do anything to stay. Even if it means pretending not to notice that the chickens are enormous, the cows are a little too clever, and the cook has a tail. However, his baby sister Hazel, who is forever bending the rules, grows up with some peculiarly romantic notions. First love will make things awkward for everyone, especially the three farmhands who live in Cozy Cottage.

Add this title to your shelves on Goodreads >>

Squee Post. If you need a place to react, confer, or kick up a fuss, this is the spot. I’ll enjoy your enthusiasm, I might be willing to clarify small points, but I reserve the right to evade questions that will be answered later in the series. ::twinkle::

[[[WARNING: HERE THERE BE SPOILERS]]]

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Hemmed in Silver

Songs of the Amaranthine. The fifth story in the collection will be releasing on November 4, 2020. It’s showing up for pre-order on Amazon (so far). As usual, it’ll be available from other vendors closer to release day.

Fairies in the garden. Frost on the pumpkins. Farmhands at the dance. Wyn Outler doesn’t talk about where he came from (or how long ago). All part of the vows he took when he and his best friend turned their backs on the In-between. Decades later, when a letter arrives from an orphan boy who thinks he’s found his uncle, Wyn faces the monumental task of welcoming two children into a household rife with secrets.

Alfie is quite sure Merritt House is magical. Uncle Wyn’s quirky rules only add to the farm’s mystique. He’d do anything to stay. Even if it means pretending not to notice that the chickens are enormous, the cows are a little too clever, and the cook has a tail. However, his baby sister Hazel, who is forever bending the rules, grows up with some peculiarly romantic notions. First love will make things awkward for everyone, especially the three farmhands who live in Cozy Cottage.

Add this title to your shelves on Goodreads >>

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Photo Challenge

Two Days Left. We’re nearing the deadline for the latest Photo Challenge. Here’s another entry that came in recently. Anisa garnered the cooperation of her nephew-dog Lucky for a snapshot with Dragged through Hedgerows (Songs of the Amaranthine, #3). Will you also enter? Pretty, pretty prizes (there will be a drawing) were revealed on this post >>

YOU HAVE TWO MONTHS!
MORE LIKE 2 DAYS
June 20 – August 20

  • Send me a link to your #bookstagram or blog post, pins, or pic-spam.
  • Tweet your pics using @ForthWrites, and I’ll retweet.
  • Email me your snapshots or leave them here in comments.
  • *DO* notify me via email. Unlike Hisoka-sensei, 4thy isn’t quite omniscient.

always.forthright@gmail.com

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Photo Challenge

Cameras Ready?! Take pictures for me! This time around, I’m inviting you to send me snapshots of ANY of the books (Saga & Songs). Jumble them together or feature them individually. Prop one up in your favorite reading spot. Snag a book-sniffing selfie. Showcase the latest title with the other books in your set … with props from the story … with your mug of tea … with your pets … with your plushies … with character doodles … with a Kimiko-worthy snack. Get creative. Be enthusiastic. Impress me. Be elegant or silly. Make me smile. Because there will be fabulous prizes. 

YOU HAVE TWO MONTHS!
June 20 – August 20

  • Send me a link to your #bookstagram or blog post, pins or pic-spam.
  • Tweet your pics using @ForthWrites, and I’ll retweet.
  • Email me your snapshots or leave them here in comments.
  • *DO* notify me via email. Unlike Hisoka-sensei, 4thy isn’t quite omniscient.

always.forthright@gmail.com

If you’re taking part, I’m going to assume you’re okay with my re-posting your pictures here on the blog, on Twitter, on Goodreads, etc. And yes, if you can find creative ways to show off your digital edition, I’ll count those pictures, too.

Fabulous Prizes. Everyone who participates (and lets me know w/ a comment or email and link) will be entered into a drawing. Four people will be selected by ye olde randomizer. Multiple pictures are welcome (encouraged, even), but they’ll add up to one entry per reader in the prize drawing. I’ll reveal what those fabulous prizes are in a future reminder. ::eyebrow waggle::

 

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Inky Fingers

Four Stories, Four Stamps. It’s Release Day for Governed by Whimsy: The Anthology, and the first big batch of books have shipped, thanks to Mr. Right, my sometimes shipping clerk. ::twinkle::  Already at work on another pile, so don’t be shy about contacting me with your orders. Details on the Signed Book page >>

As additional enticement, I’m showing off the inked first page. One stamp for each story in the set. They were fun to design, and they came out so pretteh! ::bliss:: (I’ll leave it under a cut in case you’d consider it a spoiler.) Continue reading →

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Release Day!

Governed by Whimsy: The Anthology includes the first four stories in the Songs of the Amaranthine collection:

  • Marked by Stars
  • Followed by Thunder
  • Dragged through Hedgerows
  • Governed by Whimsy

Governed by Whimsy_The Anthology

Songs of the Amaranthine is a collection of short stories set in Forthright’s Amaranthine universe. Before the Emergence, the clans were nothing more than whispers and mysteries and legends and lore. But every so often—in out-of-the-way places or shockingly close to home—an unsuspecting person stumbled into a fateful encounter with someone who was decidedly other. An eclectic collection, spanning continents and centuries. Tales of adventure, discovery, friendship, rescue, belonging, and love. Each short story stands alone and can be read in any order.

FAQ – Will there be more of these short stories?
Yes. I have the next set planned. (And by planned, I mean that there’s a vague idea, a clan or two I want to include, and what kind of relationship is involved.) Honestly, I’ll probably keep adding to the collection for as long as there’s interest (that’d by mine & yours). Always digital first. Always in batches of four. Always with the fourth story lending its title to the resulting print anthology.

Fun Fact – Did you notice the chapter titles?
Marked by Stars (Songs of the Amaranthine, #1) has one-word chapter titles. Followed by Thunder (Songs of the Amaranthine, #2) has two-word chapter titles. Dragged through Hedgerows (Songs of the Amaranthine, #3) has three-word chapter titles. (You see where this is headed, right?) However, Continue reading →

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