Forthright .'s Blog, page 78
January 10, 2022
LMM 345: Figurehead
Claimer: I do hereby claim all rights and responsibility for the characters in this series of vignettes because the Amaranthine Saga is mine. (Which means I should probably behave myself since anything I say or do could be taken as canon.) Indulge the lot of us, especially the one who is perfect for their job.
345
Figurehead
“Our Lapis?” Jacques asked, incredulous. “Lord Mossberne?”
Argent’s lip curled. “According to the traditions of his clan, Lapis is neither a lord nor a leader. H...
January 9, 2022
Cover Reveal
Songs of the Amaranthine, #8. The next Amaranthine title to release will be the eighth short story in the Songs collection. This time, the tale’s set in Keishi, Japan which is 1) where Hisoka Twineshaft is from, 2) where Kikusawa Shrine is established, and 3) where Junzi Chocolates was founded. ::eyebrow waggle::
He’s a rough-hewn romantic, and she becomes his muse.
Junpei is a day laborer who’s supporting his mother and younger brother. He’s mostly resigned to rough hands and scant r...
ART: Noble Son
Pocket Puppy. When Mikoto receives the gift that is, was, and always will be Glint Starmark’s answer to grief, he looks for a name that’ll be just right. His puppy is tiny, just a puffball, really … especially compared to a big guy like Mikoto.
Noble Son | art by FoxOfTwilight
The puppy was a bigger handful than he would have guessed. Not literally, of course. He was more of a scant handful, barely large enough to count as canine. Especially in a village where Kith-partnered battlers ...
January 7, 2022
LMM 344: In a Word
Claimer: I do hereby claim all rights and responsibility for the characters in this series of vignettes because the Amaranthine Saga is mine. (Which means I should probably behave myself since anything I say or do could be taken as canon.) Indulge the lot of us, especially the one who’s conveniently absent.
344
In a Word
Argent’s jaw tightened. “Why have they gathered while Twineshaft is away?”
“Oh, it’s worse than that,” said Sinder. “Lapis is down and out, yeah?”
Jacques stopped...
January 6, 2022
LMM 343: Storm Brewing
Claimer: I do hereby claim all rights and responsibility for the characters in this series of vignettes because the Amaranthine Saga is mine. (Which means I should probably behave myself since anything I say or do could be taken as canon.) Indulge the lot of us, especially the one who’s being a dear.
343
Storm Brewing
Jacques leaned into Juuyu’s shoulder—pristine wool and starched cotton, soft tutting and sure fingers. “You use the same hair oil as Suuzu?”
The phoenix only warbled a ...
January 5, 2022
Bard & Barbarian
Updated! Bard & Barbarian has updated over on my Patreon with Ch35, “Nest and Swarm.” Imber puts his ranger training and his bardic training to good use.
Cover Reveal
Pimiko and the Uncharted Island. Many of you already know the name of the next book in the Amaranthine Saga. It’s become tradition to include the title at the back of my ebooks … and to include both the title and summary in print editions. As an added bonus, those who order signed copies always receive swag that offers a full-color sneak peek of the next book cover. Let’s make this official!
He leads an elite taskforce. She did, too. On television.
After the finale of her dazzlingly ...
January 4, 2022
LMM 342: Ahead of Schedule
Claimer: I do hereby claim all rights and responsibility for the characters in this series of vignettes because the Amaranthine Saga is mine. (Which means I should probably behave myself since anything I say or do could be taken as canon.) Indulge the lot of us, especially the one who never relaxes his standards.
342
Ahead of Schedule
Argent drew up short. “I smell dragon.”
Jacques glanced between him and the welcoming committee. “Are you being rude to Sinder or obliquely ominous?”
...January 3, 2022
LMM 341: Event of My Demise
Claimer: I do hereby claim all rights and responsibility for the characters in this series of vignettes because the Amaranthine Saga is mine. (Which means I should probably behave myself since anything I say or do could be taken as canon.) Indulge the lot of us, especially the one who likes his creature comforts.
341
Event of My Demise
Jacques didn’t mind flying in the first-class sense—soft music, strong libations, attentive stewards.
This might be faster, but white-knuckling a fant...
Prompt Me!
Lord Mettlebright’s Man. With the uptick in LMM chapters during 2022, I’m going to be going through prompts like crazy, so … prompt me MOAR! Most of the time, I ask for one-word prompts. They’re easiest to work in, and I usually need that flexibility. Especially when erudite readers toss me doozy-level words. My favorite prompts are interesting nouns (claxon, pinprick, sniffle) and strong verbs (vault, nibble, haul) or intriguing props (snifter, rosebud, collar). Emotions and colors are also the...
