When I first met Tarek in the very first Alburnium story, Illuminated, he was supposed to be a throw-away character. Little did I know at that time that Tarek had his own story that he wanted told. 

Turns out, Tarek is not what he first seems. Not at all.
If you have not read any of the White Road Chronicles or White Road Tales stories, be warned that there may be spoilers in this post.  The first books of both series are available for free. Click the series page links to find out where you can get your copy

Alyra had everything stolen from her while she'd been under the Dark Lord's rule. Her memories, her past, and even her name! 
But there was one thing he could not take from her...and that was her heart. It belonged to the King. The Medallion she kept hidden was testimony that she'd come from somewhere else, that she'd had a good life once. The entire six-book White Road Chronicles series is her journey to reclaim what was stolen. 

Read on to learn more about this enchanting character. Be warned, there might be a few spoilers ahead, so if you have not read Illuminated yet, you might want to go grab it for free, then come back here an read on.

​In the land of Alburnium live a race of enchanted beings, called the Logorians, who inhabit the White City. In celebration of the Prince’s birthday season, they’ve decided to gather together the first three books of the White Road Chronicles collection and bind them into one.

The bound volume, reveling in the beginning tales of the Illuminate children- Tarek and Alyra – along with their brave group of friends, will go out across the kingdom for all to enjoy.

However, the special collection will only be available during this magical celebration time. As the last glow of this season fades, so will the chance to attain this special offering come to an end.
​
Seize yours now…while time remains. 

Looking for a Christmas gift for your favorite reader? You will be able to load someone's e-reader with the first three book from the White Road Chronicles for nearly half the price of purchasing them separately. 
Haven't read the White Road Chronicles yet? Here's your chance to try out the series.

In this special edition, there will be a special note from me about the writing of Illuminated, Luminosity and Emanate. This offer will only be available until the end of 2017 and will only be offered in ebook format, at your favorite retailer. 

Keep watch for when it releases on November 20th. Just in time for your Thanksgiving Holiday. 

Great News! I've finished the last White Road Chronicle book. 
I'm pleased to announce that the final installment is due to release June 22nd. At the moment, the book is with editors. But I'm confident that I'll be able to have the ebook version in your hands by the end of June, at least. 

So, you might be wondering... just what will you be looking for?
Well, for those of you who missed the big announcement on my Newsletter, here is the Big Reveal...

I find it amazing where my books can end up. 

Actually, I find it more than amazing. I've had my moments when I dreamed of being a missionary and traveling the world, but it's never quite worked out for me. We can't all be missionaries, right?

But I've found that my books have traveled to places I could only dream of going. I've been contacted by people who've read my books in Africa, the Philippines, Australia, and just lately, someone who lives on a big boat. The boat is actually the Mercy Ship, and the reader was young Caleb who is an International Press reporter for Scholastic News. 

​If you're not impressed, that's okay, because I was impressed enough for the both of us.

The cap and gown came in the other day, making it all so real. 
My last one is about to graduate. 
We'll soon be empty nesters.

I'm having a lot of feelings about this and a few other things that are coming to an end.

Happy Spring, my friends!
Today, I have a fun surprise that I’d like to share with you.

How would you like a chance to win a Kindle Fire, and an astounding haul of Fantasy books? This is big folks and I'd hate for you to miss out. 

The contest expires on March 28th, so click to read more about how to enter.

One of the first songs I learned, and many other children will learn, was Jesus Loves Me. My mom used to tell people that whenever I'd get in trouble, I'd start singing about how Jesus loved me and she'd be hard put to punish me. She said I sang it all the time, and my grandparents testified to that fact. 

I was only a toddler at the time, but there's something profound about a child clinging to that very basic fact and belting it out when the situation became dire. 

When I was in trouble: Jesus loved me.
When I was alone: Jesus loved me.
What I was playing: Jesus loved me.
Even when I was up to mischief, he still loved me. 

I think I understand why Jesus told his disciples that unless they became like a child, they would never be able to enter the Kingdom of heaven. The older I get, the more I understand what he meant.

As we age, the world plagues us with lies about us, doubts about our abilities, fears of the unknown, and conflicting facts about right and wrong. As I've grown, I've found I tend to loose fact of that one simple truth: Yes, Jesus love me. YES, Jesus loves me. Yes!!! Jesus loves me because that's what the Bible tells me is so.  

In my stories, I've gotten a bit of flack over how my characters dumbly leave the path time and again. I might not be able to defend myself on the reviewers sites, but I can here. Let me ask, just a general question to those of you who are reading this... Have you always stayed right on course? Have you never made bad decisions? Have you never doubted where you were going or sought for an easier way?

I know for a fact I can not answer yes to any of those questions. I've gone off course too many times to count. I've let fear rule my steps instead of God's word. And I've often sought the easier way rather than the true way. I forgot that basic, simple truth I knew when I was just a toddler: That Jesus loves me and he has me. The Bible is full of promises that God has my life in his hands when I hand it over to him.

So yeah, I'm going to write stupid characters who do humanly stupid things. I firmly believe that since God created us to be human, when he could have created us to be anything else, He honestly doesn't mind when when we act the part. Our humanness, our dumb decisions, our miserable mistakes and our troubled thoughts are what creates a basic need for Him. In all our humanness, he's able to pull us in and cover us in his arms of grace. ​

So when I write stories, I'm going to write characters who are flawed, broken... yet loved despite their flaws and brokenness. Because we live in a sinful world that hurls mud and casts stones that hurt and break. ​There is an enemy force that fears our potential. That potential that's brought about by God's love for us. If only we can grasps that basic truth with a child-like faith, then we can become a formidable force in this world.  

If people get nothing else out of my stories, I pray and hope they'll get this one thing: God loves us! He loves us how we are, right now, with all our flaws and brokenness. He loves you. He loves me. Jesus died for us while we were yet sinners. (Romans 5:8) He didn't come here to condemn, but to save. (John 3:17) To walk with us once again, as he did in Eden, as we travel our paths in life. As we climb the seemingly insurmountable mountains. And even as we wander off the trail after something that seems good, but isn't. 

Through all that, He loves us... if we'll let Him. If we'll only believe that. As I child I truly did believe that. Wholeheartedly. As an adult, I have to fight to keep that child-like faith that despite life's difficulties, despite my mistakes, that promise still remains true. 

Whether you read my fantasy or romance stories, I hope that message comes through loud and clear. No matter what, you are loved. No matter what. 

I'm leaving a couple of videos for you. Words that spoke to my heart and continue to speak and uplift my spirit. If you have time, take a listen. 

Blessings and Peace and remember to be kind of one another. 
​JC

Get Illuminated and Luminosity for .99¢ until this Sunday, October 16th. 

Check out the White Road Chronicle page or blogsite for links to your favorite distributors. 

​Welcome to the kingdom of Alburnium
If the Wizard of Oz swept you away and Narnia enchanted you, then follow the White Road Chronicles for a new kind of adventure. 

Illuminated: Book One- begins with a girl in search of the truth.
Alyra, mockingly known as Princess, was captured at an early age by the evil ruler, Darnel, and brought up in the dark land of Racah. Now, at the age of seventeen, she considers herself nothing special. She has no recollection of who she is or where she came from. Her hope of ever finding freedom dims.
Until the messenger arrives. Until he brings to light the meaning behind the medallion she's kept hidden. Until she accepts the blinding truth.

Now she flees for her life. 

Alyra’s journey leads her down a narrow road with strange traveling companions. Together, they encounter a kingdom where nothing is what it first seems.

This is an updated revised version with a new cover

Illuminated is the first book of The White Road Chronicles followed by:
Luminosity Book Two 
Emanate Book Three
Radiance Book Four
Ignited Book Five
Book six coming soon!