Thursday, December 08, 2022

Blacksmithing is fun!!

As a birthday gift to me, my amazing fiancée 🥰 signed us up for a two-day Blacksmithing Class! It was held out at Jourdan-Bachman Pioneer Farms in Austin, and the description said we would learn how to use a coal forge to shape metal into various implements. 

Y'all...it was FABULOUS!!

We’re both big Forged in Fire fans, so we went in with a tiny bit of understanding, but also knowing that we truly didn’t know a danged thing, lol. Our goal was to listen to the instructor, have fun while we worked through the projects, and stay safe. I’m happy to say that we succeeded in making several really cool items!

I could give y’all a play-by-play, but suffice it to say that we had a blast. It was so much fun to actually take hot metal to an anvil and hammer it into shape, I can easily see how folks fall in love with metalworking and bladesmithing. Even though we both smelled like a forest fire and had coal dust everywhere afterward, it was super-fun. It thrills me to my toes that my girl knows me well enough to pick such a perfect gift, and we’re already looking forward to the Blacksmithing 2.0 class! 😁









Saturday, April 09, 2022

New house, new study, new school!

This month has been craaaaazy. Firstly, we had to clear out the old location of my martial arts school. It's amazing how much stuff you can accumulate in seven years! We had to empty it all the way down to the bare walls and donate, trash, sell, or store an impressive amount of stuff. It took weeks of effort, but at last, we looked around and realized that we'd done it! Everything was out and the space was ready for the next tenant. This past Tuesday, I handed the keys over to our fabulous property manager, and that chapter of our school's history is finally over.


The old Jade Mountain Martial Arts is empty.
Thanks to my son Connor for helping me so much!

Our new location is smaller, more efficient, and in a fabulous residential neighborhood. We've had more walk-in traffic than I ever hoped! So although we bid a fond farewell to the old location and we'll cherish the good memories we made there, we're thrilled to look into the future at our new place!

JMMA's new location in Cinco Ranch, Katy, TX!

In addition, my amazing girl and I bought a new house! We had some work done in the kitchen, garage, and ceilings, which took far longer than expected. We've had to work around it, unboxing and unpacking in a whirlwind over the last few weeks. We've been hopping, to say the least! So between the two moves, I barely had two minutes to rub together, much less get any writing done. 

Our movers getting their groove on!

The great thing about the new house is that I now have my very own writing study! Y'all...I absolutely LOVE it! I've got a great feeling that a lot of stories will come out of this little room. I'm still decorating it and lining the bookshelves with my favorite books, but it already feels like my author's lair. I think I'll get a lot of writing done here. 😊


I wish I'd been able to get more writing done this month, but both moves have taken up most of my time. It's been a focused imbalance, but things are settling down now so I'll be able to get back into a writing groove soon. I've got three books to finish, so I'm chomping at the bit to get back to work.

While you're waiting, jump into another of my series! Two of the first-in-series are only $0.99 right now, and one is completely free! Whether you like epic or urban fantasy, I've got something for you. 

Mage's Burden - FREE

Reyanna's Prophecy - $0.99

Grim Undertakings - $0.99

The dust is finally settling here, and the next book in the GrimFaerie Chronicles is already pulled up on my laptop so I can dig into it. Some new developments have arisen—someone from Kane's past may put in an appearance. I'm wondering if Detective Avery Lynne might be the least bit jealous... 


I'll keep working, folks. Hopefully, you'll keep reading. 😊 Have a great day, everyone!

Sunday, August 08, 2021

August 2021 - Touching Base

August, 2021! Wow, a lot has changed since I last sat down to write here on this blog. There's been a pandemic, after all. It was a challenging time for pretty much everyone I know, myself included.  And now, it's over a year later, things are more or less looking up in my little world. I figured I'd stop in and say hello.

Jade Mountain Martial Arts, my martial arts school, survived the pandemic, and through a very improbable series of events, is about to open a temporary second location. We thought we were going to have to make an emergency move, but ended up being able to secure the space AND keep our current space until the end of our lease in March 2022. Let me tell you, I'd never have predicted that! We're still a couple of weeks away from opening our doors, but we're almost there! Next year, we'll move all our operations to the Cinco Ranch location and go back to one location, but in the meantime, we'll have classes at both. It's an adventure, and I'm looking forward to it!

You'd have thought a two-month shutdown would have allowed me time to write, but I was busier than ever keeping the school going. That left me even less time to write, so the next installment in the GrimFaerie series didn't come out until February of 2021. I really enjoyed that story, though, and it seems my readers do too! You can check that out here ---> Grim Obligations: Book 3 of the GrimFaerie Chronicles.



I feel like I'm still playing catch-up, as I'm now scrambling to get words on the page for the 4th book in the series, as well as keep a toe in the water with another story in that same universe that has very little GrimFaerie and a whole lot of werewolf in it. That one's still percolating. I'll finish it later, along with the prequel story for the Fire of the Jidaan series. Brunar and Mordak? Buddies? Yeah, for my Jidaan fans, that may be a bit of a shock, but it'll make sense eventually. ;-) I look forward to exploring those tales and eventually sharing them.

I've been a bit more consistent in my social media recently, even going so far as creating a TikTok profile. That's kind of fun, to be honest! I'll see what I can do to toss a video up there every so often.

That's all the news for now, folks. Don't be a stranger! I'm on Facebook most often, but I check in on Instagram too, and as I mentioned, there's TikTok. Stop by and see me!




Thursday, April 16, 2020

Meeting a GrimFaerie

   Years ago, I got a visit from a GrimFaerie. Scared the crap out of me. It would have scared you, too, I'm thinking.
   I'd been living in an old duplex in Lake Jackson, Texas, working at a nearby chemical plant. I'd been shopping and came home after dark. They like the dark. I let myself in and set my bags down on the table like I always did. As I reached for the light, a cold voice spoke.
   "Hey." It was a low voice, but clear. Something in that voice froze me in place. It was cold and calculating, and I felt a chilling power lurking within it. I slowly turned my head to see a shadowy figure seated on my couch. Not a big guy...average height, and from what I could tell, average build as well. The darkness concealed much, but his eyes were clearly visible. They were glowing silver.
Ordinarily, I'd have burst into action at the first hint of an intruder in my home, whether to flee or fight, but that voice...those eyes...I may as well have been a statue. The voice continued.
   "You're not him. Not Lloyd, I mean."
   I took a deep breath and responded as intelligently as I could. "Uh...no...Whit. I'm Whit. I don't know any Lloyd."
   A resigned sigh echoed from the shadows that surrounded the couch. "Figures. Blasted sorcerers always covering their tracks. Now I'll have to ask the Wee Folk to run him down for me again."
   The figure stood and walked towards me. I frowned. Aside from his eyes and the aura of power that surrounded him, he looked kind of...well...ordinary. It registered on my face, I guess, because the stranger chuckled.
   "I know, not much to look at," He said, amused, as he moved to within an arm's length of me. "Part of the job."
   "The job?" I asked, thoroughly confused. "Burglary? Breaking and entering?" That made a certain sense to me. "Shouldn't you wear a mask or something?"
   The stranger laughed in genuine amusement, then looked at me for a few seconds, as if weighing his thoughts. Then he seemed to make a decision. "No, I'm not a burglar. I'm a GrimFaerie. I kill bad guys. Evil things. Supernatural threats that would gobble up humans like you. That's my job."
   And just like that, he changed. A ripple washed over him and the image of the nondescript man vanished, leaving a terrifying creature in his place.
   He was taller than I, all wiry muscle and sinew. His skin was a deep blue-black, and I could see scars in various places on his muscular torso. His long, black hair fell far past the striated muscles of his shoulders. A grin split his face and I got a good look at a mouthful of sharp fangs. He lifted one hand to brush his hair aside and I saw that his fingers seemed a bit too long. Then I realized that bone claws were jutting out from the ends of his fingertips. They looked awfully sharp. Only his eyes remained the same, pools of glowing quicksilver in a half-human face. He chuckled at me, more of a growl, really.
   "Don't worry. You're not a bad guy. I can tell."
   "Um...yay?" I responded, totally at a loss.
   He laughed louder, and that fanged grin widened. "Indeed. All right then, I'll be on my way. Can't have Lloyd out there doing his evil deeds. You stay out of trouble."
   I think I nodded because he nodded back at me. In a few silent steps, he was out the door and gone, leaving me bewildered, full of adrenaline, and suddenly needing to go to the bathroom.
   Years later, I decided to write about the GrimFaerie. I gave him a name and made up some adventures I thought were suitable for a creature such as he. He hasn't been back to see me since, though I often wonder if he might decide to track me down to correct something I wrote about him. He seemed like a nice guy...really. Deadly, but nice.

Sunday, December 01, 2019

New Release! A Grim Situation is live!!

Kane and Ariana are back!!

I had soooo much fun writing this book. And I think y'all will enjoy it, too! Kane and Ariana are back, defending West Houston, Texas against a shadowy threat that's inserting demons into unsuspecting innocents. When they step in, they're going to need all of their skills, magick, and firepower just to stay alive. Check out A Grim Situation: Book 2 of the GrimFaerie Chronicles!


This book introduces a couple of new characters that are screaming for their own stories, so keep an eye out for Detectives Avery Lynne and Jim Kaley!



Kane the Grim is a hard-bitten assassin. He's also a Faerie, who brings fangs, claws, and magick to his work...and loves it. Ariana is a gun-toting Texas witch, a force of nature with a blonde ponytail. Together, they keep the Houston area safe. When drugs that induce instant demon possession hit the scene, they sense someone with vast powers pulling the strings. 

Kane and Ariana go on the hunt, but the police aren’t far behind, and a detective from Kane’s past suspects his true nature. When Kane is framed for murder, he and Ariana must evade the police while pursuing a killer from Houston to the desert of New Mexico. It’s a heart-stopping thrill ride as Kane and Ariana race to catch the demon-monger before all hell breaks loose…literally.

BLACK FRIDAY SALE!!


The whole Trilogy and first-in-series only $0.99!

I know I'm getting this out a bit late, but I'll keep the sale going for a few days to catch up! Now, you get the entire Fire of the Jidaan Trilogy for under a buck. Or you could follow Reyanna on her adventures in Reyanna's Prophecy. And if you haven't read the first book in the GrimFaerie Chronicles, Grim Undertakings, that's on sale too.

Title: The Fire of the Jidaan Trilogy Boxset(ALL THREE BOOKS!)
Genre: Epic Fantasy
Sale Price: $.99 Ebook
Buy links ---> https://books2read.com/u/bQaKpZ

Title: Reyanna’s Prophecy: Book 1 of the Forge Born Duology
Genre: Epic Fantasy
Sale Price: $.99 Ebook
Buy links ---> https://www.amzn.com/B07G4MG74Y/

Title: Grim Undertakings: Book 1 of the GrimFaerie Chronicles
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Sale Price: $.99 Ebook
Buy links ---> https://www.amzn.com/B07P9DGSMZ/


What's that? You prefer paperbacks?  I've got paperback copies of all my books available at a holiday discount, and I'll be happy to sign them or personalize them so you can give them as gifts. Just fill out this form, and I'll hook you up! 


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Saturday, August 31, 2019

GrimFaeries, Conventions, and stuff!

It's been a busy summer out here, and with school starting up again, it's only gotten busier. Even so, I've managed to keep working on the new GrimFaerie tale, and the end is getting closer! I've got a convention coming up in Houston in October, and I'd love to have copies on hand, so that's motivated me to keep working. That, and the fans who keep asking me when the next one's coming out. ;-)  Haven't read Grim Undertakings yet? It's available on Kindle Unlimited...you can check it out here:


 The event I'll be attending is called The Fandemic Tour, at Houston's NRG Center on October 18-20th. I've really enjoyed having booths at the various fantasy/sci-fi conventions the past few years...there's just so much cool stuff to see! At past events, I've met folks like Adrian Paul, Ron Perlman, Brent Spiner, Gil Gerard, Hacksaw Jim Duggan, Marina Sirtis, and Sandahl Bergman. All of them were super-fun to talk to, and I always enjoyed the experience. More importantly, I loooove the chance to talk to fantasy fans, meet new people, and occasionally run across folks who enjoy my books!

If you're interested in checking out all the fun stuff at Fandemic, I've got a deal for you! If you use my code, you'll get 10% off your ticket! Just click the pic below and use JADEMOUNTAIN10 to get your discount!


After a Marvel movie binge a couple of weeks ago, I've been wondering...what fictional hero inspires you?

It was always Spider-Man for me, ever since I was a little kid. "With great power comes great responsibility." What a profound lesson that was for me as a child, to see this teenager gain incredible powers and then choose to use them to help others. Great, noble stuff. Of course, the fact that there were exciting battles, fantastic villains, and creative storylines helped a lot, but I was always drawn to Spidey's strong sense of responsibility. Was there a character that meant something to you, inspired you? I'd love to hear!

Ok, I'll get back to work here. Thanks for spending a little time with me, my fabulous readers! Don't be strangers, feel free to give me a holler anytime!

E-BOOK GIVEAWAYS & BOOK FAIRS!!

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Happy reading, folks! I'll touch base again soon!

Friday, June 21, 2019

What Makes a Villain?

Hey, folks! Still working on GrimFaerie Chronicles here. It appears on the page at whatever pace it wants, which is either frustrating or exciting, depending on the day. Some interesting possibilities are rolling around in my mind at the moment, and I'm waiting for a clearer picture of the story to emerge. It's fun, though, and as always, I hope y'all will enjoy it when it's ready!
The title of this email refers to my current, slow-cooking, epic fantasy project. I had an idea for it a loooong time ago, and finally started writing it back in October 2018. Of course, Grim Undertakings jumped ahead of it in line, but that's how Kane rolls. Even so, I got around 24K words in before I set that other story aside to work on GU. Now, I'm working on the next story in the GrimFaerie series, but that other one...well...it's still calling me, whispering in my ear, telling me that it wants to be written. OK, I hear you, I hear you! 

Darth Vader was one of my favorite villains. Seriously. I remember being in the theater as a young child, seeing him onscreen for the first time, and holding my breath in fear and excitement as he casually strolled through the smoke on Leia's ship as he boarded. It was totally silent in that theater except for the sounds of his mechanical breathing. WOW. Talk about making a first impression! As the series continued over the years, it became clear that Vader was a ruthless, terrifying character, but he had layers. He had not always been like that. Back then, I wondered what he had been like, before the cape, before the helmet. What made him like that?


Thanks to 'the prequels,' we all know that story by now. We all know better than to attack Obi-Wan when he's got the high ground. And we all know that young Anakin was led astray by a very powerful dark lord. However much you loved (or loved to hate) those movies, they showed the making of a famous villain. And to be honest, Anakin always seemed to be leaning in that direction anyway. He didn't need much of a push to go all Sithy...he was a pouty, arrogant, and angry young man, a perfect tool for the evil emperor. 

So why tell you that? Bear with me, I'm getting there. In Mage's Burden, you're introduced to a guy who's a villain in every sense of the word: Mordak. He's straight-up evil. An indiscriminate killer bent on domination, willing to sacrifice anything to achieve his goals. He relishes the suffering of others, finds it amusing, and causes pain as a matter of course. Insane enough to make a deal with a Daemon-God for power, fully knowing the price he'd pay, Mordak is a dangerous, ruthless, and mighty villain. 

But was he always like that? I think not. And I think there's a story or two that needs to be told. Many of my friends and fellow Star Wars fans were generally unhappy with how Anakin's backstory was depicted in the movies. Anakin was pretty unlikable, even when he was good! Mordak's tale is very different. It's tragic, exciting, and heartbreaking, from what I've seen of it so far. And don't worry...Mordak wasn't nearly as annoying as Anakin was. He was actually pretty cool. ;-)   
As always, dear readers, I'll keep you posted. This pic shows him as he appeared in the Fire of the Jidaan Trilogy. A master sorcerer, consumed by hatred and ambition, he's a bad, bad man. 


Want to know more about this Mordak guy? Check out The Fire of the Jidaan Trilogy! It's classic Epic Fantasy, written for fans of Terry Brooks, Raymond E. Feist, Robert E. Howard, and Dennis L. McKiernan!


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