So, my plan is to focus on two sequels this fall. I have had several people write in with their favorites, so I thought we could make this fun! Contact me and vote on the sequel you would most like to see come out. The two with the most votes will be my focus! : ) If I get enough responses, I might post them to keep things interesting!
Take Care
J.C.

Well, I just finished another book, Siren’s Call! Book 2 in my quest to complete five stories this year.
In honor of that quest, I will randomly draw five names from my contact list each time a book comes out.
Also, I am going to be sending out free copies of “The Ascension”, the first book of my m/f series, Aelida, to everyone on my mailing list. If you are not into m/f, feel free to pass it on to someone else who might enjoy it!

Take Care
J.C.

Well, surprise! Dragon Forge is being released early, this Saturday, Mar. 25th! I am totally amazed at how quickly this had been achieved! Thanks so much to Shelly and everyone else who has worked so hard on getting this done. Love the cover!
I am currently getting a huge amount done on another new book, Siren’s Call, a book on pirates! Arrgh, pirates. Got to love them! I have always loved ships and am so happy to work on a story with honest to goodness sailing ships… Anyway, I am hoping to have it done by the end of April.
My huge goal this year, is to get five books finished, something I have never achieved before and want to attempt. We will see how the muse holds out. : )
Take Care
J.C.

As I have noted in some of my comments, this time has been both a blessing and a curse. Watching events unfold, and hearing so many horror stories from readers, authors and publishers over ARE’s moral and financial collapse, it made me sit back and take stock of things. Of what had happened, how I felt about continuing in this ebook industry, where it is all too easy for sales numbers to be fudged. I think there needs to be more accountability, in my humble opinion.
But beyond that, it brought me in a circle, back to where I started writing and why. I wrote because I always had, even as a child. It is as natural to me as breathing and as important to my well being. It has empowered me, in shedding harmful emotions through the magic of words, to create worlds and characters who went through terrible things, and yet, came out the other side triumphant, battered, bruised but with hope.
Like me.
If that is me, then I cannot let these recent events destroy what I do, how I express myself. Writing is not a job to me, it IS me. Therefore, to let others take that away is pure foolishness. I am stronger than that.
The blessing is that I have heard so many comments from fans and readers, who have taken the time to let me know they support me, that they enjoy the stories and it gives them pleasure. If this had not happened, would I have realized that to this extent?
So a silver lining brings me back to why I write. I love reading about characters who go through terrible things and come out the other side, and it was hard to find stories that went deep enough in emotional darkness to suit me. So I wrote stories involving such things, and found others who loved what I did. I could share and it was wonderful in a way I had never encountered before. I love to see people truly “get” what I am writing about.
And it is those people who have sent such kind and total support.
In light of that, how can I quit? I have to go back to my roots and remember why I am writing at all.
Strange, that today, after realizing all this, I have written non-stop, my muse up and running in full force.
Perhaps that was what this mess was meant for.
Thank you to all those lovely souls who wrote to me, both privately and on my blog. Your comments were taken to heart. Any future works are dedicated to all of you.
Be kind. Remember your words and actions echo through those you encounter daily. The smallest gesture or word can lift someone to glorious heights or break them entirely.
Take care of each other.
J.C.

My first book was published back in 2009, and it seems like eons ago. Things were bright then, the industry relatively new and full of promise. 2016 has worn me down with the absolute idiocy and greed that has characterized the year. For the first time, my dream of being a published author is seeming more like a nightmare. There are many, many others in the same boat right now, some having been robbed far worse than I. Between Ellora’s Cave and All Romance Ebooks, not to mention pirate sites, I am questioning whether to continue writing at all.

If my creations are simply being used to pad other people’s pockets, then it seems foolish to give them my work.

And yet, I have had so many good people over the years that have encouraged me and told me how much they enjoyed my stories. That is the silver lining in this whole thing, but, right now, the feeling of disbelief and betrayal is overwhelming everything else. We, as authors, along with the honest publishers, trusted these people. Put our creations in their hands with the belief of basic decency and morals.

And this is what we get back…

Completely discouraged.

JC

So sorry for not posting for a while. This summer has been crazy! Anyway, back to writing now. Just finished a new story, “The Falling”, which has been accepted by Etopia Press. Will let you know when a release date is announced. : )
Take Care
J.C.