The Spirit of the Past and the Ghost of the Future

Kohōpeh Despatch: The Spirit of the Past and the Ghost of the Future

Dearest {{ contact.FIRSTNAME }},

Here is your Director’s cut — Edition new moon July 14, 2026.

Upcoming Novel: The Kabuki Book

I have spent the last few months quietly working away, stocking up on stories to share with you. Today, I want to let you in on the big project.

My upcoming novel, The Kabuki Book, is officially launching on September 1st. The Kindle pre-order is live now, and other storefronts will follow soon. The Kabuki Book is my Magnum Opus… so far.

The Kabuki Book is a substantial journey, coming in at 107,000 words (or roughly 675 pages for the paperback version). It is a subversive historical fantasy set during the transition to the Tokugawa Shogunate.

The Hook:

In early Edo Japan, an exiled fox-spirit. A guilt-ridden swordsman. An empire determined to silence them both. As the gods of land and sea clash over Okuni’s soul, she consumes her divine life force to forge a radical, transgressive theatre on Kyoto’s muddy riverbeds, sparking a rebellion of art and magic that refuses to die.

Blending the immersive feudal realism and subtle Shintō magic of Lian Hearn’s Tales of the Otori with the fierce, feminist mythological reclamation of Madeline Miller’s Circe, this is a sweeping and unapologetic historical fantasy. It will strongly appeal to readers of R.F. Kuang’s Babel who are looking for a visceral, anti-authoritarian story about marginalized creators fighting against systemic erasure. The novel explores the violent birth of Japan’s most famous theatre and the philosophical awakening of its most lethal swordsman.

Genre & Categories: Literary Historical Fantasy / Speculative Subversion / Magic Realism
Tone: Lush, Atmospheric, Witty, and Sad in turns

Early Access: ARCs are Open

Because you are a subscriber, you get first access to everything before the rest of the world. Advanced Reader Copies (ARCs) are now open, and I would love for us to share this step together.

If you are open to reading and leaving an honest review, you can claim your early copy by emailing me. For those of you who prefer NetGalley, it will officially open there on August 1st.

Getting early reviews is the lifeblood of an independent release, so if you want to be part of the inner circle bringing this book to light, please grab a copy.

Celebrating the Sengoku-Edo Timeline

To celebrate the launch prep, I have added a new interactive Sengoku-Edo timeline to the site.

This timeline spans the transition from the warring states to the early shogunate, covering both the history and lore of the period. It connects the events of:

The Takuan novella, What is the Colour of Purple? (which is still free to download at kohopeh.com/free-book if you missed it),
and the upcoming novel, The Kabuki Book.

It tracks historical markers like the duels of Miyamoto Musashi and the trial of Takuan Sōhō alongside fictional developments. You can explore how the theatre scene grew in Kyoto’s dry riverbeds, leading up to the Shogunate’s eventual 1629 ban on women performing on stage.

Lore Drop: What Is The Colour Of Purple

In the universe of What Is The Colour Of Purple: Edo, Kyoto, Kaminoyama, c.1630, Japan

We have added 1 character: Hanada Seizō, 1 location: Edo Castle & Holding Compound.

Check the interactive timeline for more: What Is The Colour Of Purple Timeline

Latest Blog

No new blog posts this despatch.

Stay tuned for discounts/freebies coming up in the full moon next newsletter, or come visit the site.

— Kohōpeh, with love