Psst~! (Patreon)

Hey hey, Everyone 👋

How are we all holding up in the New Year? Only Day Five! So, I thought I'd share some fun and exciting news since I saw it pop up on Amazon. Ready? I have a middle grade book coming out this fall! It's somewhat like The Book of Japanese Folklore, but of course shorter chapters and for elementary-aged children. Instead of just yōkai, though, there's also as section on gods and goddesses and one on ghosts. It's called Legends of Japanese Mythology.What I'm really, really, really thrilled about is the artist for the book is Tomii Masako, a Japanese manga artist who is beyond talented and delightful. All the pages are illustrated (neat frames, and in the margins, too) and the whole book is just a beauty to behold. I can't wait for it to be released into the world. Being Japanese, she includes all kinds of nuances and details as well as her own take on the creatures that really make the images sing. Shhh...here's her Susano-o.

The publisher is called Wide Eyed Editions, an imprint of The Quarto Publishing Group. I don't see a pre order for the actual book book, just kindle. So since it's still quite early, I'll wait for the go ahead to do a public announcement of it. I just wanted to give everyone a peek as I'm so excited about it.

So, that's a nice thing that's happened recently.Also, did I show you what Julyan's girlfriend made for me for Christmas? She poured the plaster of Paris hands herself, made the candle, and included crystals, little vials filled with lucky things (like their bunny Gimli's fur) and a locket with a photo of Gimli and said it's a healing and protecting candle. I cried. Seriously, one of the (if not THE) coolest and best presents I have ever gotten. I can't think of anything more touching. Especially now.

A bunch of other little things that I loved, but they also got me...this Gekko Bodhisattva (Moonlight Bodhisattva) mask which is a replica of the one in Tōdai-ji Temple from the Nara period.

This was also really surreal (and made me cry!) because of all the masks, I chose this one. Like, it called to me. It wasn't until we turned it over that we saw it was the Moonlight Bosatsu and I've been just crazy about the moon lately (hence, the episode I did on it).

In the house I'm moving into, I'll be staying in my father-in-law's room. He has a couple masks and then I have my handful that I've been collecting. So I want to line the wall with them and my Gekko Bosatsu is going right in the middle, front and center. What a sweet face. Much better than this one mask Ojii-chan has that I've always been squicked out about.

Let me find the photo I took...

...found it. Can you guess which one I've always been kinda freaked out about?

I should look it up. I regret never asking. I'm sure it's not something horrible. I did wipe all those masks down, too, by the way, and tell them they were going to have a bunch of friends arriving soon.

I'm going to try and record something to put up here this week. I also need to work on a new episode of the show. Nervous about that. Still in the house packing and writing. Alone for one more day. Nervous about that, too.

But staying chipper! Thank you everyone who's reached out with words of kindness and support. They really do help. Immensely. I can't tell you how much. 💕

Please stay safe and well, it sounds like a nasty flu? pneumonia? is going around there. Here, too, actually. I'll be back real soon! XOXO,

t