Forthright .'s Blog, page 2

Coop 127: Pairing Program

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 only non-reaver in the bunch.

127
Pairing Program

Speaking for reavers? Coop knew he was out.

Mirrim strode forward to face Torloo. “I’ll be your balance this year.”

Then they went through formal introductions, which took a long time. But it was interesting because Coop lear...

Coop 126: Circle

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 appreciative one.

126
Circle

The reavers’ game forgotten, the Kith threw themselves into a round of chase. Every battler clinging to their backs gasped out protests or called worried questions.

Coop guessed that if you didn’t know any better, it’d seem like their animals were o...

Every Word Matters

I thought y’all might enjoy learning how I came up with some of the names of cast members, places, etc. I’ll share more from time to time so that you can appreciate what an absolute nerd I am about words.

Coop 125: Give Chase

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’s game for a new game.

125
Give Chase

Heads turned. Bryce guided his Kith closer. “What’re you doing?”

Coop’s handsign meant back down.

Nearby Kith yipped with laughter before sounding out, giving their names as they were sung in wolvish.

Leaf was Silvering the Le...

Coop 124: The Beginning of Trust

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 overlooked ones.

124
The Beginning of Trust

Coop had only just found out that Kith were people, but he was an outsider.

Realizing that these reaver kids were just as in the dark—maybe more in the dark—was weird. He felt bad for all these wolves being treated as convenient mount...

Publisher’s Weekly

Nice! Great to see Folk-Spelled in a recent issue of Publisher’s Weekly. Definitely celebrating that lightning bolt, which means my book was an Editor’s Pick. Want to read the review? I included the whole of it back on this post.

Grateful to all of you who trust my storytelling enough to dip into a new series.

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

Ours? Coop wanted to search for answers in Mutt’s face, but his partner’s hold was firm. So he asked, “Do you mean us…? You and me?”

“Who’s in charge here?”

“Oh. Gotcha. Okay, I feel stupid.”

“Humility is...

Kimiko and the Cycle of Moons

Chapter 17, “Traveling with a Cortege” is live over on Patreon! Subscription to this story is one of the perks that starts at the Twinkle tier ($4/month). Thanks to those who’ve chosen to read along! I’m grateful.

forthrightly on Patreon >>

Coop 122: Eyes Shut

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 ones being overlooked.

122
Eyes Shut

Coop reported back to Mutt. “She said that if I can do better, then go ahead, but… we’re already winning, and neither team likes it.”

Mutt grumbled, and there was a disorienting shift. Then arms wrapped around Coop from behind. “Don’t look.”...

Introducing Durst

If Looks Could Kill. One of my Folk-Spelled cast members is a gorgon. When I was picking and choosing recurring characters, I wanted to mix things up. That’s one of the reasons why I took two traditionally female creatures (harpies & gorgons) and created a male counterpart. Durst’s steampunk-style goggles counteract his deadly gaze.

This month’s Patreon mailing is a portrait of Durst created by Mart Lett, series illustrator, from which the above art is cropped. Want great mail? Head on ov...