Cozy Up With Fantasy

$.99 SALE. I’m participating in the Cozy Up with Fantasy book blast. Several authors in the genre have dropped the price on more than 50 books! I’ve marked down Tsumiko and the Enslaved Fox AND Kimiko and the Accidental Proposal for the day … as well as Meadowsweet (Galleries of Stone, #1) by C.J. Milbrandt (that’s one of my other pen names). You’re invited to check out ALL the offerings on the Cozy Up with Fantasy website, which has helpfully listed books along with their summaries, key words, and links.

With a sale like this, you can fill your e-reader in cozy ways. Do take a look. It’s a one-day event.

COZYUPWITHFANTASY.COM

ICYMI – Cozy Up with Fantasy

$.99 SALE. I’m participating in the Cozy Up with Fantasy book blast. Several authors in the genre have dropped the price on more than 50 books! I’ve marked down Tsumiko and the Enslaved Fox for the day … as well as Meadowsweet (Galleries of Stone, #1) by C.J. Milbrandt (that’s one of my other pen names). You’re invited to check out ALL the offerings on the Cozy Up with Fantasy website, which has helpfully listed books along with their summaries, key words, and links.

With a sale like this, you can fill your e-reader in cozy ways. Do take a look. It’s a one-day event.

COZYUPWITHFANTASY.COM

Book Blast

$.99 SALE. I’m participating in the Cozy Up with Fantasy book blast. Several authors in the genre have pooled together in order to attract new readers. I’ve marked down Tsumiko and the Enslaved Fox for the day … as well as Meadowsweet by C.J. Milbrandt (one of my other pen names.) You’re invited to check out the offerings on the Cozy Up with Fantasy website, which includes summaries, key words, and links. Go, take a look. Maybe something will tickle your fancy. ::twinkle::

COZYUPWITHFANTASY.COM

Bookends by Kristelle Studio

A while back, I was contacted by an overseas artist who wanted to create something special for the Amaranthine Saga. Bookends, sure. But also these bookshelf windows, which include three-dimensional acrylic characters. We chatted about design elements and appropriate imagery.

Ginkgo leaves and forget-me-nots are seen throughout the series. My set of bookends arrived this week!

::twinkle::

October Art Cards

Dazzle Tier and Up. I forgot to mention here that the art cards for October are extra special. To celebrate this month’s release of a Russian-language edition of Tsumiko and the Enslaved Fox, I received permission from the publisher to use the cover art (by @artovbros). These 5×7″ prints have a pearl shimmer treatment. (So shiny!) If you want this Argent, go peruse the tier options on Patreon. Sparkle tier patrons, whose perk includes mail every other month, can expect to see this blaze-baring Argent in their mailboxes in November.

forthrightly on Patreon >>

International Edition

Coming Soon! I’m pleased to report that the Amaranthine Saga will have a Russian-language edition. The publisher recently showed me the cover, which features art by artovbros. Tsumiko and the Enslaved Fox will release in October.

The publisher has contracted more of the series, so I imagine we’ll be seeing sexy Quen and sexy Ash soon(ish). As an added bonus, they’ve given me permission to use the cover art on next month’s art cards for Patreon. It’s all very exciting! ::confetti toss::

forthright on Patreon >>

Quarterly Art Card

September Mailings. In addition to the regular monthly mailing (this one featuring Jacques), the Quarterly Art Card goes out this month to patrons. This time around, I’ve selected a lovely lettered quote by Asha, one of her favorites from Tsumiko and the Enslaved Fox. She generously gave permission for me to share her art with all of you. Here’s a zoomed in peek at the original:

Asha created both a full-color version with the blues and gold highlights of the original cover … but she also did a black & white version. Choosing which to print was a breeze because … I did both. The prints are reversible, so you can choose which side to display!

Lettered Tsumiko Quote by Asha
Size: 8.5″ x 5.5″ on felt-textured paper

Thank you to everyone who’s come alongside as a patron. I appreciate your supporting my storytelling in such a practical way. September is a great time to join the ranks of Glimmers, Twinkles, Sparkles, et. al. because later this month, I’ll be sharing the first chapter of Kimiko and the Cycle of Moons (Amaranthine Interludes, #3). This novel-length book will be a Patreon exclusive for now. It’ll give you ALL the kisses of Kimiko’s courtship along with other excitement at Kikusawa Shrine. Check out the various tiers and their perks here >>

Happy Valentine’s Day

First and Last and Always. The Amaranthine Saga begins with Argent and Tsumiko, and later this year, when the final book in the main series releases, we’ll be right back at Stately House. Happy Valentine’s Day, reading friends! ::twinkle::

Bonded | art by FoxOfTwilight

Quarterly Art Card

September 2022. This will be a busy month for the mailboxes of those readers who’ve become patrons. The regularly scheduled September mailing will feature another illustration in the Ephemera collection:

Midivar | art by Ren

Normally, this mailing would only be available to patrons beginning at the Sparkle tier ($14/month), but a couple of times a year, I will do an Open Offer, making a mailing available to patrons at any tier. That’s what I’ve done for the midivar postcards, so if you’ve been thinking about becoming a patron, this would be a great time to do so. Glimmers ($1+) & Twinkles ($4/month) are able to request inclusion!

But wait, there’s more!

Quarterly Art Cards are one of my recurring thank you gifts to patrons. They’re sent out during solstices & equinoxes, since those dates have long been important to the Amaranthine clans. For the Autumn Equinox (September 22), I was given permission to use the cover art from the Hebrew edition of Tsumiko and the Enslaved Fox.

Cover Illustration: Tsumiko and the Enslaved Fox (Hebrew edition)
Artist: Omri Koresh

Bonus Story. As a little something extra, I wrote an exclusive story snippet, which is printed on the reverse. It’s called “Under the Ginkgo Trees” and features Tsumiko & Argent. Patrons beginning at the Twinkle tier will be able to request inclusion in the art card mailing. By the way, patrons starting at the Sparkle tier ($14/month) are automatically included in these quarterly mailings, and my Dazzles ($24/month) enjoy monthly mailings. All part of the perks of patronage!

Thank you to everyone who’s been supporting me so far. We’re nearly halfway to the community goal that will bring you Kimiko and the Cycle of Moons. (Summary & details about Kimi2 on this blog’s pinned post.)

For more information about perks for ALL the tiers, visit my Patreon page >>

Audio Book Sale

The marketing folks at Recorded Books have alerted me to a sale on the first book in the Amaranthine Saga. Starting today, you can get Tsumiko and the Enslaved Fox, narrated by Travis Baldree, for 75% off the retail price. This is a limited-time sale, running through the month of July. Here’s a link to the sale page.

If you haven’t heard Travis’s narration of the Saga (and Songs) yet, you’re in for a treat. Snag a copy for yourself!

Tsumiko Translated

Show & Tell. Tsumiko and the Enslaved Fox (Amaranthine Saga, #1) has its first international edition, thanks to Alma Books, which specializes in romantic speculative literature. The cover illustrator is Omri Koresh, and to celebrate this milestone, I’ve gotten permission from him and from the publisher to create an art card of his rendition of Argent & Tsumiko. It’ll be our Quarterly Art Card over on Patreon for September 2022!

Reminder: Photo Challenge

Ideal Setting. This is a quick reminder that there’s a new Photo Challenge underway. Here’s a snapshot of Tsumiko and the Enslaved Fox amidst fallen gingko leaves, sent to me last fall by Jeanine. What would make a good setting for your own photo shoot? ::twinkle::

Tsumiko among the Gingko Leaves, Jeanine

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

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::