Claimer: I do hereby claim all rights and responsibility for the characters in a certain boy’s adventures because the Amaranthine Saga & Songs are mine. Please continue to indulge the lot of us, especially the one who disagrees.
176
Maybe Not Always
Category: Uncategorized
Dropping on the 1st
“Sipping at Happiness” is the latest in a series of Amaranthine Outtakes: moments that fit in and around or soon after the more official moments in the Saga & Songs … and Interludes. This scene is a moment between the Smythe Brothers, written as a companion to the recently revealed artwork by Mart Lett. It’s pretty short, just 10 minutes, but it has been narrated by Travis Baldree. ::starry eyes::
The story snippet drops on November 1. You can purchase it in my shop on Patreon and queue up for the fancy countdown to release on Saturday. More information here >>
Coop 123: Leadership Qualities
Claimer: I do hereby claim all rights and responsibility for the characters in a certain boy’s adventures because the Amaranthine Saga & Songs are mine. Please continue to indulge the lot of us, especially the one who understands his place in the pack.
123
Leadership Qualities
Once & Well Drops Tomorrow
Wednesday, July 9 at 8 a.m. (Pacific), the next Amaranthine Outtake will drop over on my Patreon. That’s tomorrow! This is a Patreon event, but anyone can get in on the excitement. Just head over to my shop.
Their unlikely attachment would establish a dynasty.
He’s a reaver boy, raised by the fox whose captivity is a family secret. She’s a reaver girl whose line is both favored by and feared by dragonkind. The ward rising through the ranks meets the battler with a healer’s touch. They have little in common, or so they thought. Because trust can be shared, and friendship can belong to two. [An Amaranthine Saga prequel that offers glimpses of Michael and Sansa during their Ingress Academy days.]
This short story has been narrated by Travis Baldree. As a reminder, I’ve set up a drop over on Patreon, where you’ll find a countdown to its debut on Wednesday, July 9 at 8:00 a.m. (Pacific). Leading up to its release (or anytime after), you’ll be able to purchase Once & Well in my shop.
© copyright by forthright, 2025
narrated by Travis Baldree
10k words | 1 hour, 5 minutes
Eggy Buns
Comfort Food. One of my editors remarked that she couldn’t really picture Varti’s favorite eggy buns. Happy for an excuse to go buy some, I headed to the Asian market and secured a few hexes so I could snap pictures.
Lulling
Writing Retreat. I’ve scheduled a few posts, but my serials will be lulling for the rest of the month because I’ll be away, focusing on my next novel. As always, thank you for your patience!
The Latest
Folk-Spelled (Immortal Holmes, No.1). My new series is a paranormal mystery set in an alternate history. Steampunk and gaslight leanings. Fantasy elements. Cozy suspense is a thing, right? And hey! Hopepunk also fits the bill. NOW AVAILABLE!
This gaslit Holmesian steampunk mystery from Forthright (author of the Amaranthine Saga) opens with a scene as cozily inventive as it is tantalizing …. A promising series-starter about a truth-seeking liar, a city cloaked in ancient magic, and a detective who distrusts his own mind.” —BookLife Reviews (Editor’s Pick)
An immersive read …. the author’s meticulous attention to detail makes the most commonplace scene memorable.” —BlueInk Review
Forthright immerses the cast in a rich environment with hints of a more familiar world beyond the steam-powered machines and the constant whirring of gears …. This delightful opening installment introduces an eccentric, magical world. —Kirkus Reviews
Varti shines as the unlikely protagonist, persevering despite (or perhaps because of?) his curse; while the supporting cast is varied, interesting, and just as crucial to the plot, helping to paint the picture of the quaint-turned-ominous Newcomb in the throes of a series of mysterious murders. —BookLife Prize
OTHER STUFF:
- The Amaranthine Saga is complete in seven volumes, though it’s fair to say the story isn’t quite finished unfolding, thanks to various serials underway (see Amaranthine Interludes).
- Songs of the Amaranthine is a collection of short stories that predate the Emergence. They encompass a variety of -ships: kinship, friendship, partnership, mentorship … and romances of every stripe. Crossovers, cameos, and saga-relevant details abound. There are currently 10 to choose from.
- Amaranthine Interludes are stories that happen in the background of the main Saga or in the years soon after. Two are complete. Three are ongoing. More are planned. ::twinkle::
- Kimiko and the Cycle of Moons – Readers have often asked for more of Kimiko Miyabe’s courtship of Eloquence Starmark. Their grand cycle is a tale I’ve been telling as a Patreon-exclusive serialization. Cozy Fantasy. Slice-of-Life. Family. Courtship.
- Coop and the Elderbough Trackers – An ongoing serial that posts here on my blog. Cole Pfeiffer-Cooper, who prefers to be called Coop, became part of a pack way before the world found out about the Amaranthine. Begins here.
- Boniface Smythe of the Stately House Smythes – a story in 100-word chapters that’s being serialized over on Patreon. Free to read for all members (even free members). Begins here.
- Bard & Barbarian is a D&D-inspired action/adventure tale that posts exclusively to Patreon. Now with serialized narration! Become a patron to read along.
• • •
Want fanart? Try the Cast Portraits and Fanart tags.
Want MOAR to read? Try this highly recommended series >>
(spoiler: 4thy has other pennames)
Signed Books
Assembly Line. I’ve been working through my pile, stamping & inscribing books. If you’re interested in securing one of these copies, you can check out the particulars on the Signed Books page, then email me!
always.forthright at gmail
Release Day!
Book 7. If you’ve been waiting for the final book in the Amaranthine Saga to drop, it’s here. Travis Baldree’s narration of Rhomiko and the Confirmed Bachelor is live on Audible! Enjoy!
Good News
Other Venues. I just did a quick check, and Rhomiko and the Confirmed Bachelor is showing up in the B&N storefront (for Nook). Keep checking your preferred ebook purveyors! If Bk7 isn’t there yet, the drop has to be imminent.
On a quote-related note, do y’all remember Anjou? He’s one of the toms who arrived for Pim Moonprowl’s consort call back in Bk6:
::twinkle::
Mean Time
As in GMT (Greenwich Mean Time). Rhomiko is ready. I’ve been on a strict final read-though schedule all week, and I left the little finesses until today (title page, table of contents, etc.) Plenty of time to hit my upload deadline. Except. Not …? Because I was meant to be operating on GMT, which has somehow never come up before. Anyhow, I missed the upload deadline by several time zones.
What does this *mean*, 4thy?!
Amazon will cancel the book. And anyone who pre-ordered will probably get some kind of notice to that effect.
So is the book delayed?
Nope. Still planning to publish on the 22nd. But I’ll have to set up the title again and click publish on the 22nd. Manually. It’ll release (sorta) immediately.
So this isn’t the end of the world?
Nah. Just really embarrassing. It’ll be okay.
Here’s a teaser for your trouble:
Who remembers Anjou? ::twinkle::
::twinkle::
Lulling
Finishing Touches. Many of you have been messaging me about Coop’s serial, which hasn’t been updating according to the usual schedule. This happens whenever I’m embroiled in the final phases of a book. Rhomiko and the Confirmed Bachelor is nearly done, so I’ve been hyper-focused. All I can do is beg patience. Coop will be back when I can switch gears without derailing higher priorities.
And hey, thanks! I’m so glad to know you’re enjoying Coop and the Elderbough Trackers! That’s encouraging.
Follow for Free
NEW Patreon Feature. There’s a new thing going on over on Patreon, designed to help creators build their audience. In short, you can now follow me there … for free. What does this do? Right now, not a whole lot, since I use this blog to announce most everything. But if I post anything publicly for my audience on Patreon, you’ll know.
Story access (Bard & Barbarian, Kimiko and the Cycle of Moons) will remain perks for patrons who join a tier. Same goes for regular mailings & access to Travis Baldree’s narration.
Coop and the Elderbough Trackers will stay here. And I’m giving myself time to consider how to do something different for Patreon … so that following there (for free) isn’t redundant to this blog. Maybe I’ll sort something out for next year. Do you have ideas?
In the meantime, Patreon wants to grow audiences, become an essential social network, and lure you in. So follow me there. I mean, hey … it’s free! ::twinkle::
Prompt Me!
Drop a comment on THIS POST with more prompts for Coop and the Elderbough Trackers. I’d like more to choose from! Thanks in advance! ::mwah::
Lulling
I’ll be scarce for a bit. Need to focus on getting Suuzu and the Nine Nippets of Legend out the door on time! Once that’s off to the (virtual) presses, I’ll be back with LMM updates, etc. Thank you for your patience! ::twinkle::
FORTHRIGHT 