After the first title in the Cupcakes brand, Kyell Gold’s Bridges, was published, we’ve been interested in finding out what the other two authors running this project were working on. Kevin “Rikoshi” Frane is up next with an as-yet-unnamed story set in a medieval fantasy world, and we’ve managed to squeeze a few details out him.

The story is about Simon, a fox and a wizard. He’s not the “expelliarmus!” or “You shall not pass!” kind of wizard, more of a historian/librarian. He’s also a bit of a social reject, which is a bummer since, according to Frane, wizards have a rather high social standing, and the town he lives in really only exists because they built it to be near a wizard.

His inability to pick up on social cues also makes him unaware of the love triangle forming around him with his raccoon assistant and a beautiful vixen that happens to be the mayor’s daughter. Not that he’s uninterested, he just doesn’t even realize people like him.

“Wizards live a long time, and he hasn’t stopped to think about love in a long time,” Frane explained.

The story is described as “lighthearted and whimsical, though not strictly a comedy” a point emphasized by a conversation between Simon and his assistant about recognizing when a lady is flirting that ultimately culminates in: “How can somebody this smart, be so stupid?”

The world Frane has created has been featured in other short stories, including “Sanguine and Clockwork” by KM Hirosaki in FANG Volume 3.

Something about fantasy books seems more romantic than contemporary settings, and it will be interesting to see Frane do a story that doesn’t revolve heavily around people dying a lot. While the story is a romance, this particular entry in the Cupcakes brand won’t be an adults only book (so no triple perspective three-way scenes).

Frane’s novella is set to release this year, either at Anthrocon in July, or RainFurrest in September.