Tag: 05 Hemmed in Silver

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::
by Categories: Amaranthine Interludes, Amaranthine Saga, Songs of the AmaranthineTags: , , , 6 Comments

Day 2

Narration Continues. Travis Baldree will continue his narration of Flattered by Flowers: The Anthology this morning. He’ll be wrapping up Hemmed in Silver. (The song is still oncoming!) And then he’ll dive right into Captured on Film with the Dare brothers. ::twinkle::

I hope you can join the fun! I explained the HOW TO on this post, from when Travis narrated Galleries of Stone.

by Categories: Songs of the AmaranthineTags: , Leave a comment

Today’s the Day!

Narration Begins. Travis Baldree will begin narrating Flattered by Flowers: The Anthology today. This is the second of the Songs of the Amaranthine anthologies, which includes Songs 05 – 08. This morning, he’ll begin with Hemmed in Silver. I hope you can drop by and listen in. It’s always fun to watch him work.

Start Time is usually between 8am – 9am (Pacific). It’ll be fun to have voices for Pennythwaite, Thrussel, Alfie, and the rest. ::twinkle::

by Categories: Songs of the AmaranthineTags: 2 Comments

Narration Session

Imminent. As many of you know by now, there are audio editions of both the Amaranthine Saga and the Songs of the Amaranthine collection. Travis Baldree does a splendid job of bringing my assorted casts to life, and he lets folks listen in (and watch) while he does his thing. Since my turn on his docket is coming up in a couple of days, I’m inviting you to join in on the fun. You’ll need Discord. Let’s see. I explained the HOW TO on this post, from when he narrated Galleries of Stone.

The recordings will likely take four days (Friday, February 18 – Monday, February 21). Travis will be reading the four short stories in the next Songs of the Amaranthine anthology:

  • Hemmed in Silver
  • Captured on Film
  • Bathed in Moonlight
  • Flattered by Flowers

Fair Warning: He will NOT be reading Flattered by Flowers live, since I want to keep that tale under wraps until 4/4, when it’ll have its digital-only release. You can currently pre-order Flattered by Flowers on Amazon. It’ll show up in other venues soon. Flattered by Flowers: The Anthology will release in print & audio on May 22, 2022. I won’t start taking orders for signed copies until May 1, 2022.

Which of these four short stories are you MOST looking forward to (and why)?

by Categories: Songs of the AmaranthineTags: , , , , 4 Comments

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::

by Categories: Songs of the AmaranthineTags: , , , 1 Comment

ART: Songsters

Avian Minstrels. We’ve worked up a little surprise for Christmas, setting the copperplate shopping list from Hemmed in Silver to music. But because I’m shy, it’s a Patreon Exclusive. (More about becoming a patron here >> ). Meanwhile, you can enjoy the companion artwork. Here are Pennythwaite and Thrussel, who are surely more tuneful than Mr. Right and I. (But we had fun with our little ditty.) ::twinkle::

“Songsters” | art by FoxOfTwilight

by Categories: Songs of the AmaranthineTags: , , , , , 2 Comments

ART: Dun Nippets

Hemmed in Silver. I’ve been holding back until the short story showed up in ALL the storefronts, and we surmounted that hurdle that over the weekend. (Thank goodness.) So I am here with the first piece of Hemmed in Silver art. For those just now reading Songs of the Amaranthine, #5, I’ll link back to the Squee Post that went up on release day (in case you want to share reactions, speculations, etc.).

Dun Nippets | art by FoxOfTwilight

• • •

It had only been a week. Florent knew he was still an outsider in Hazel’s eyes. On some level, he felt bad for trespassing on her safe corner of the world, but he’d resolved to be patient. If he left her be, eventually, she’d be ordering him around with the same breezy condescension with which she treated the other farmhands.

—Hemmed in Silver

by Categories: Songs of the AmaranthineTags: , , , , 7 Comments

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::

by Categories: Songs of the AmaranthineTags: 2 Comments

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]]]

by Categories: Songs of the AmaranthineTags: 16 Comments

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 >>

by Categories: Songs of the AmaranthineTags: , 7 Comments