Indeed, though I think his mother's "N.W.F or Nevernever Way Finder," is going to come in handy very soon.
It kinda had a "starring role" in
Changes! I've wanted to see more.
But suspect that Jim finds it a challenge to write interestingly. Hearing a pre-recorded voice of his mother only carries so much narrative weight, after the first few times. In terms of the narrative, it can be reduced to a 1-liner along the lines of "a quick consultation with my mother's gem..."
(I mean, it gets a bit more wordcount each time it's 1
st used in a book, simply because Jim needs to allow for new readers just jumping aboard. But we've
already had the emotional "this is my mother's voice" scene.)
I seriously doubt we'll see it in Twelve Months. Jim has already said the book is a bit more "Daily Life" and "Guest Starring: The City of Chicago," which mostly would seem to preclude a Wayfinder-Gem storyline... Maybe the one after that?
I'm hoping (semi-expecting) that in TM he'll be interacting with the mortal Chicagoans who followed his Banner in BG.