A New Chapter

 It's been more than three years since I've posted here, and I'm sure that's because I'm on Facebook every day. I post lots of short updates and commentary because I'm pretty busy and never felt that I had the time to sit and write longer posts like the ones here. Well, things have changed recently, and I have a lot more time for lots of different things, so I figured I'd come over here and write about, well, everything.

In my last big update from April, 2022, we had just closed out the 'big yellow school' location of Jade Mountain Martial Arts and moved to a new location in Cinco Ranch. It was a nice place, all things considered. Even so, I have to admit that it never felt like home to me. The people were amazing, as my students have always been, but after more than two decades of running the business, the idea of retirement finally started to appeal to me. If you've known me, you know that even having that feeling was a bit of a shock! I always envisioned myself teaching until I just keeled over on the mat in the middle of a lesson when in my 90s! As surprising as that feeling was, it grew until I just couldn't ignore it anymore. I had lived my childhood dream of becoming a Sifu and running my own martial arts school for twenty-two years, and I felt other dreams calling me.

I retired from teaching full-time on December 20th, 2025. We had a celebration, and I was so honored to see so many familiar faces! A handful of my earliest students showed up, too, and they'll never know how much it moved me to see them (I'm getting misty-eyed as I type this). This picture is only about half of the attendees, as folks came and went all afternoon. I was deeply touched by their love and support.

It took over a month for me to get the school all cleaned out. My storage facility is filled to the brim with stuff that I really should discard, but just can't bring myself to yet. There was a lot of paperwork involved in closing out the school, and lots of administrative stuff that I had to handle, so it's taken this long for me to really feel like my time is free again. It's March now and I'm only just now getting my feet under me. It's a really cool feeling to realize that I have all day to work on all the things that I couldn't find the time for before. And let me tell you, there are a LOT of things that I'm dying to dig into now that I have the time!

Since I was young, I loved writing stories. I published my first book back in 2014, and since then, I've published a dozen books, mostly fantasy fiction. I slowed down a lot in recent years as the school required more of my mental bandwidth, but now I'm free to really immerse myself in being an indie author, and I'm beyond excited at the idea! I have one new book in editing right now and I've got three more planned for this year. The thing is that being an indie author requires that I do an awful lot of other stuff besides simply writing the books, such as editing, publishing, marketing, advertising, accounting, and running the entire business side of that career. It's a lot of fun and interesting stuff, but when you're running an entirely separate business as well, it's hard to fit everything in. Now, I can focus my energy mostly on my writing and publishing tasks, and I'm absolutely thrilled about that.

One of the things that made my retirement possible is the fact that my lovely fiancee, Kathryn, is running her own business as well! She runs CarePatrol of Central and West Houston, and she's been extremely successful with it. That's one hard-workin' lady! It just so happens that she desperately needed someone who had the same computer skills I've cultivated for both JMMA and my author business, so now I am her official Media Manager. I was a perfect fit for the job, and working with her allows me to do all my author stuff as well. Plus, I admit that I might just have a huge crush on the boss. 😉

So if anyone ask how retirement is treating me, I have to answer that it's treating me quite well. I'm busy pretty much all the time, but I love every minute of it. I'm still working out, teaching BJJ once a week at my friend Larry's school, teaching Tai Chi on Saturday mornings, working in my author business, and handling various social media tasks for CarePatrol—and I'm happy as a clam.

Oh, and I'm also bald now. Shaved my head several weeks ago and I'm sticking with it. 😊

If you want to take a peek into my author career, you can check out my website at www.WhitMcClendon.com and see all of my books. I'm also on Facebook/IG and Threads. Feel free to stop by and say hello! As I said to many of my students: "I'm retired...not dead!"

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! 😁

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!

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!

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.

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!

A Grim Situation: Book 2 of the GrimFaerie Chronicles

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! 

--->  https://forms.gle/4eKFZUdi5bTmeFWf8 

E-BOOK GIVEAWAYS & BOOK FAIRS!!

The weather's getting colder, and it's a great time to curl up with some awesome fantasy and sci-fi books! Check out these cool books in C.L. Cannon's Fantasy & Sci fi Holiday Sale!

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!!

Hey, if you're looking for a way to spend the Holiday Weekend, here's a Sci-Fi, Fantasy, Paranormal Book Binge for you! Discounted box sets and awesome individual books, priced from FREE to CHEAP! Settle in for some serious relaxing and reading this Labor Day!

Searching for your next favorite story? Check out this Book Fair! These authors have teamed up to offer a delightful selection of 100+ Urban Fantasy and Paranormal Romance books. Take a look, these are too good to miss!

More awesome Fantasy and Paranormal Romance books, all for FREE! Check 'em out at the 
Fantasy and PNR Summer Book Fair!

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