I’m Back – And I’ve Got News

Hey there, friends.

To anyone who’s been following my work and checking back on this blog—first off, thank you.

Sincerely. I appreciate your patience and your support more than you know.

Let me start with an honest apology for the extended silence. It wasn’t intentional. Life hit the gas and didn’t exactly ask me for directions. For the longest time, I only had iPad access, which meant keeping this site updated the way I wanted just wasn’t in the cards. Thankfully, I’ve now got full desktop access again, and I’m back in control of this space.

That said—life still isn’t slowing down. I work overnight shifts, seven days a week, sleep maybe four hours a day (on a good day), and spend the afternoons with my boys and taking care of life’s many, many demands. You know how it is—juggling work, fatherhood, personal projects, and trying to hold onto some semblance of sanity. Time management has become more like time triage.

But even in the chaos, the stories haven’t stopped. And now that I’ve got this blog back in motion, I wanted to fill you in on what’s been cooking behind the scenes.

The Next Novel – “Tears of the Damned”

Yes — Something new is coming.

Over the past year and a half, I’ve been deep in the shadows working on a new entry in the Order of the Reapers universe. The manuscript for Tears of the Damned is fully written and I’m now about halfway through the first phase of editing. This stage is all about tightening the bolts, smoothing the story’s rhythm, and preparing it to hit you hard and leave a mark.

To put things in perspective: Athalon’s book, Blood, Fire, & Fate, took me 18 months to write and another three years to get right. I don’t rush these things. I don’t push them out just to meet a deadline. I believe in stories that resonate—stories that stay with you after the final page. And this one? It’s drenched in loss, defiance, forbidden love, and rebellion against the powers that be.

Ekahl Bajur, once a shade trapped in the void, is granted a second life in service to The Order—an ancient force that governs the fate of souls. Bound to a scroll etched with the names of the soon-to-die, he moves between worlds as a Tsalmaveth, a reaper, harvesting and escorting souls into the underworld.

In a quiet corner of the mortal world, he meets a barmaid with warmth in her voice and something unknowable in her eyes. She is not meant to matter. Yet in the stillness between assignments, she becomes the only thing that does.

What began as a forbidden spark kindled into something reckless, sacred, and real.

Each meeting deepened the wound between them and the world—a secret he tried to bury in silence…but The Order sees all.

Their love was their undoing.

Her name, etched in ink upon his scroll, became the blade poised at both their throats.

He hesitated—and in that pause, chose her over duty.

Others came to finish what he could not.

But before they could steal her away, he broke the ancient laws and pulled her back from beyond the veil.

An act of love.

An act of rebellion.

An act that would cost them everything.

But Wait, There's More... I Have Something For Kids This Time

Here’s something different—and close to my heart.

I’ve just completed the first in a children’s book series that stars my youngest twin sons as the main characters. The series follows their wild, imaginative adventures—where stuffed animals become heroes, playtime becomes epic quests, and every challenge teaches them something new.

It’s more than just fun and games. These books are designed to teach values like teamwork, courage, compassion, and problem-solving—wrapped up in beautifully illustrated, vibrant tales that feel like Saturday morning cartoons met a bedtime story.

And yes, if you’re wondering: this series was made not just for my boys, but with them in mind.

New Store Coming Soon – Because Amazon Isn’t It

Here’s the business side of things.

I’m currently working on launching a direct-to-reader store on this site. It’ll let you purchase eBooks and ePubs directly from me—no middlemen, no hoops.

Why? Because Amazon forced me to list my children’s book at $20, and after all that, I’d make somewhere between two and six cents per sale. I don’t say that for pity—I say it because it’s outrageous. That kind of pricing model hurts both creators and readers, and I’m not okay with that.

I want you to be able to grab my work at a fair price—and I want to make sure your support actually supports me. The plan is to have this store up and running by the end of the year, if all goes smoothly. Stay tuned.

Thank You!

Please Accept My Humble Apology

If you’ve stuck with me through this unplanned hiatus, thank you. And I mean that. I know consistency matters, and I hate disappearing without explanation. But I’m back now—and I’ve got a lot to share in the months ahead.

So keep checking in. Stories are coming.

— Johnny