I feel like it may be time to announce a book that has been in development for a while: The Red-Haired Maiden. This story is not set in the Nightshade universe, but is instead set in the world of Kigenishi. Here’s the current draft of the “back cover” description:

The island of Kigenishi is a land divided. Daimyo warlords feud over the civilized lands, while those in the frontier northern lands keep an eye out for foreign invaders.

In one corner of this divided world, a girl with deep red hair was found and raised in a remote wayshrine. As she grew into adulthood, Mizuyo became known for her beautiful face and singing voice.

When it is discovered that Mizuyo’s voice can summon forth divine magic, the resulting conflict sends her on a journey beyond her comfortable life at the shrine. Mizuyo and her friends find themselves beyond the bounds of the society they knew, and must adapt quickly to life on the run...

The Red-Haired Maiden is a fantasy e-book with elements of adventure and Bildungsroman (coming-of-age story). It is set in Kigenishi, a fantasy world that is loosely based on the Sengoku Era of Japan and elements of Japanese mythology. The book focuses on Mizuyo and her friends in a series of short stories, each story being an arc in the overall narrative of Mizuyo finding her place in the world.

There’s been a lot of work put into the setting, beyond what is directly seen in the stories, so I hope that this detail shows in the final book. It’s possible that a second book about Mizuyo could be written, or perhaps stories about other characters from Kigenishi. Because this background information can be a big part of the overall feel of the setting, I’m also considering writing a few blog posts about Kigenishi and the development of The Red-Haired Maiden. These posts introducing the setting will probably come out before the release of the book, to prepare for the release. (Although some may be held back if they would contain spoilers.)

I’ve really liked working on this story, and I believe it’s the first original fantasy story that I’ve finished. I hope others will enjoy the story too, when it comes out. There isn’t a set release window yet, but my ideal release schedule would be sometime before the end of the year; we’ll have to see how the revision cycle goes before I come up with a date. At any rate, I hope people look forward to it!