Forthright .'s Blog, page 2
August 19, 2025
Coop 128: Under Your Noses
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 who are catching on.
128
Under Your Noses
Magda spoke up. “Do you know who tapped you?”
“Was it you?” asked Bryce warily.
“Nooo. Not me.”
Heads turned to consider Mirrim, who snorted. “Not even close.”
“The answer is closer than you realize,” said Magda, her tone ...
August 17, 2025
Table Games

Always Hexagons, Please. Favorite things tend to work their way into my books, which is why Ramage keeps games on the tables at The Speckled Hen. Naturally, I needed to make them fit in with Newcomb’s unique culture, so chess became a six-sided melee, and decks of cards gained a couple of extra suits. During my research, I found (and purchased) this simple puzzle game, which is just the sort of thing you might play with friends while waiting for dinner to arrive at your table.
Details, de...
August 15, 2025
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...
August 12, 2025
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...
August 10, 2025
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.
August 8, 2025
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...
August 5, 2025
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...
August 3, 2025
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.
August 1, 2025
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...
July 30, 2025
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.
