Blog

10 May

Posted at 07:58h in Reinvention, Sample Sunday

This is a little snippet from my forthcoming (no date) "The Reinvention of the Rose". This is a different Rose from the one introduced in Storytime, which I am not revisiting at this time. Unedited. Subject to change. Please enjoy. “Another spiked chai. To go,” I told the barista after I’d patiently waited my turn, then took a seat at the steadily emptying bar until it was ready. Now that the music was done, I assumed they must be closing soon, based on the thinning crowd. “Sorry about that.” My eyebrow lifted at the sound – and feel – of somebody in my ear, way...

22 Apr

Posted at 13:16h in Randoms

"Why so many novellas/short projects, CCJ?" This is such a loaded question, which I get painfully often, that I’m sorely attempted to answer with, “Because I’m grown.” I guess that’s not very helpful though, huh? Especially when it’s often a question with no malice behind it, just a simple inquiry. Only… it’s hard to not be defensive about it when my art is attacked on this very specific front on a regular basis. I seriously get this in comments, questions, reviews, messages, every week. Sometimes multiple times a week. What’s with all these novellas? Shorts don’t satisfy me. This could’ve been 300 pages. Why is it so abrupt? This didn’t...

16 Apr

Posted at 09:59h in Randoms

It's not Sunday, but it's still sample time! We know how it goes - I don't have a release date yet, and anything here is unedited and subject to change. Enjoy! “Knock knock,” I called through the open doorway of Kima’s office, and waited to be invited in. She looked up from whatever she was busy with, her slanted eyes going wide when she saw me standing there. “Oh. Chef Clarke. You’re… early.” Chef Clarke? “Aiight,” I drawled, stepping in and closing the door behind me, even though we were the only ones there. “I think I see what you’re doing – the Chef...

08 Apr

Posted at 10:33h in Short Stories

I hope you've enjoyed this little foray into the land of Lyrah and Desmond! It comes to a close here, with no plans at this time to revisit - but, I mostly try not to say never when it comes to characters, since they're the ones in charge!  I have still been getting messages from people who'd rather read in a more "all at once" format, on their devices. I'm thinking through my options for that now, as I do want to leave this as a free offering, since that's how it was intended when I wrote it. Once I've...

07 Apr

Posted at 09:26h in Short Stories

As promised, I'm back today with part two of three parts! Enjoy! I didn't miss the smoke. It curled in the air around me, simultaneously acrid and cloyingly sweet as it fought for access to my lungs. I breathed it in, getting it over with - subtly choking on it as I lingered in the fringes of the crowd. Clearing my throat, I finally stepped forward, into the crush of patrons that always occupied BB’s with my head held high and any nerves pressed together in a tight, suppressed ball. This was not the place to feel afraid. They'd smell it on me, and...

06 Apr

Posted at 14:32h in Short Stories

Some months ago, I introduced a new creative endeavor I dubbed "Storytime with CCJ". I have unfortunately fallen off. Blah. But, with this first story, many of you wanted to be able to read about my Black vampires. I was making arrangements to make it available on Amazon, but...

03 Apr

Posted at 10:38h in Blog

I get this (the title of this post) a lot! If you’ve read more than one project (series) from me, you probably already know this, but… I love a good cameo appearance from other characters! Often, if you haven’t read the series that character is from, you may not know that they even have their own story - part of what makes them such fun easter eggs!   In any case, I’ve been getting lots of questions about the cameos in my latest project, The Clarke Brothers series, so I wanted to take a moment to point out some of the titles that...

29 Mar

Posted at 12:25h in Randoms

Unedited. Subject to Change. Coming soon. Between inventories, future menus, supply orders and contracts, I was so busy that I ignored the knock that sounded at the office door after ten at night. Anything important was supposed to be deferred to Addison, and if he needed something, he would just walk in. As a matter of fact, when the door opened without me answering, he was the person I expected to see on the other side. Definitely not Drew. “I know you’re not ignoring me, right?” she asked, stepping in and closing the door behind her. She looked good as fuck, in an oversized...