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
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 >>
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!
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!
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::
YOU HAVE TWO MONTHS!
June 20 – August 20
always.forthright@gmail.com
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
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::
Totally impressed with this snapshot of a reader’s copy of Tsumiko and the Enslaved Fox. It reminds me of the Velveteen Rabbit, kept close and much-loved, read so often, it’s become real.
Thank you, Miss E, for loving my story.
Many thanks to Chelsea for sending along this snapshot of her day’s reading material and her feline companion. ::twinkle::
Stuffies! Many thanks to JN for sending in this snapshot of Tsumiko and the Enslaved Fox. D’awwww!
Where Are You? Have you ever thought of showing us your corner of the world by snapping book photos while out and about? Stephanie, who lives in Alaska, sent me a bunch from scenic places. Here’s one I hadn’t shared yet!
Reading Nook. You know, I recently realized I still have some snapshots from the Tsumiko photo challenge that I never shared. I’ll mix them in! This one comes courtesy of Michelle, who lives on a ship in the Florida Keys.
He Needed a Name. Questions related to Kyrie have come up from three or four different people this week. That’s FAQ levels of inquiry, so I thought I’d do a blog post. Who knows, maybe you’ve been wondering about this, too. ::twinkle::
• • •
They would give them a home and teach them how to be the best of all worlds. Starting with this little one, who needed them as much as he needed a name. An idea sparked, and Tsumiko started along the path again, aiming for the central courtyard. “I want to show you something.”
A stone archway spanned the broad entrance, and words were chiseled deep into the stone. Argent scanned the Latin and translated, “God Have Mercy.”
“Yes. Kyrie eleison … my favorite song and the school’s motto. I thought Kyrie might make a good name for a child who needed mercy and found it.”
“Kyrie,” he said, testing the syllables.
—Tsumiko and the Enslaved Fox (Amaranthine Saga, #1)
• • •
Pronunciation. Kyrie’s name is properly pronounced with three syllables (KEE-ree-yay), which is the Latin word for “lord.” You can check out YouTube, where abundant recordings of Tsumiko’s favorite song are available. But since I’m ever and always a fangirl and Death Note‘s OST is memorable for its sonorous Latin choruses, I’ll link you there – Death Note Kyrie, Kyrie II And Kyrie Orchestra.
KEE-ree-yay
Origination. Some of you kindly flagged the above scene in order to correct my reference to Latin, pointing out that kyrie eleison is Greek. You are not wrong. But neither am I. (And this is where I start to sound like a total nerd, but not a defensive one. Because this stuff is really cool, but can be a little confusing.) Continue reading
FORTHRIGHT 