A Bit About... Alyra The Illuminated

Alyra The Illuminated

Birthplace: Belluvita the beautiful place

Family: Her mother, Mary was also an Illuminated, but was killed during what seemed to be an accident, but later, questions arise as to what really happened.
Her father, Stephen is a Messenger, as is her brother, Ethan. These things tend to run down the family line. 
Alyra only has one family member left: Her brother, Ethan who at first, isn't too happy with her return home. For many reasons. 

Skills: Alyra is an Illuminate- or Light Bearer
Most Illuminates, just like the Curians, have been killed off. King Darnel wished to extinguish any light, or any possibility of people seeing and learning the truth of who rightfully ruled the land of Alburnium. 
He killed them all, except for one who he kept to serve his purposes and to help him obtain what he needed to gain in strength and power. 

Then one day, a Messenger came to Racah....
“And how did you end up in this wretched place?” Dean the Messenger pressed his dirty, beaten face against the cell bars.
Alyra shook her head, knowing she shouldn't talk to him. Reason warned her to go back now before Master found out she'd been disobedient. Again.
“Do you have a medallion like this?” Dean thrust his golden pendant through the rust-flaked bars.
Alyra gasped, staring at the round disk resting in her own sweaty palm. Torchlight reflected off the flame-emblem embossed on the surface.

“The Illuminate’s mark,” he whispered, dark eyes widening. “Whoever possesses a medallion is a true citizen of Aloblase. You must escape, child! Return to where you truly belong.”
Illuminated: Book One of the White Road Chronicles

Once Alyra learned the truth, she began a journey which will take her across the land of Alburnium, then back again as she learns the truth about herself, her abilities and her purpose. 

You can follow Alyra's adventures starting with The White Road Tales: a three book Novella series told from Tarek's point of view, then on to the White Road Chronicles where we watch Alyra's escape into the unknown as she goes in search of the truth about who she is and where she comes from. Oh and why she has this strange ability to light up like a lantern.


See more of my art, and the credits for this piece over at Deviant Art.

Cover Reveal: Radiance Book Four

I'm so excited to see Radiance: Book four of the White Road Chronicles finally coming together. 

The past couple of months have been one happenstance after another, but I'm pleased to say the book is completed, I now have a cover, and soon as my editor has had her hand at the story, I'll be fixing her suggestions, then passing the story on to you, dear readers. 

So, here's the blurb that's on the back cover: 

The Dark Lord Darnel knows a Curian has returned to the Halls of Knowledge. He must stop this spark before it turns into a raging fire. 

Alyra's memories have returned. The staggering truth about her past and her former master is more than she can bear. While Lotari and Stitch try to finalize the building of the Wilderland Meeting Hall, she and Ethan are proving to be a hindrance to their plans. Alyra must decide if she should stay and work through the trials facing her quest, or give in to Lord Darnel’s demands.

Katrina has more help now than she knows how to handle. Tarek, the Racan traitor, is now in her service along with the warriors Jerin and Carah. Jerin is commissioned to help train the townsfolk as they attempt to reclaim the city of Denovo. Katrina must decide if she should give up the search for her missing peoples, or stay in hiding from the one who knows her secret. 

Alburnium can only be saved if everyone will put aside past grievances and stand together for the common good. Unfortunately, wounds run deep and forgiveness means  mean weakening defenses in a time when a strong defense is needed more than ever. 

~~~*~~~

Here's the cover!

I'd like to thank everyone who participated in the Help Me Pick My cover contest. This is what we finally came up with. Kari Ayasha over at Cover to Cover Designs did a wonderful job putting my ideas together.

And, the winner of the Pick the Cover Contest is Rhonda Stephenson

Rhonda, please PM me from my author facebook page and we'll get the information I need to send you a signed print copy when it becomes available.


Please check back next week for a sample first chapter. Soon as I build the Radiance Page, I'll have the first chapter and maybe even a playlist for you to listen to.

I'm really excited about this one. It took me longer than intended to get it completed. I hope you all find the wait worth it.

Thanks for reading the books and for any reviews you've left.

Blessings,
JC

A Bit About Curians

Katrina the Curian
Kat has been waiting for the right moment to  make her move. 

She's small, petite and seemingly insignificant. Seemingly. But don't let her outside appearance fool you. Inside, she contains something special. Something timeless. 

Oh yeah, she is definitely ready for this journey. The hope of her people depends on her reaching her destination.

Please click here for photo credits

History of the Curians:
Long ago, the Curians were inventors, historians, great thinkers and story-catchers. Their libraries held vast tomes of information on every city, every creature, clan, and cultures of Alburnium. They imparted wisdom on the young and prided themselves in their intellect to the point of forgetting the world around them.

They didn't even see the enemy's attack until it broke through their doors. Yet, some saw what was happening, and prepared to escape the onslaught before it knocked down their lofty towers.

***

All the Curian's have supposedly been destroyed. Katrina's parents saw the coming threat and managed to send her away to the northern mountains where she was raised by a family of goat herders. Yet, the strange girl, outlived them all and on her adoptive mother's deathbed, Katrina learns the truth.

She then travels to Denovo in hopes of finding the way into the demolished Halls of Knowledge where her people's bones remain, along with hopefully the truth on if a remnant escaped.

Katrina has the strange lobbed ears and dark swirling marks of her people. She can walk into a library and know what books dwell upon the shelves, and what information those books contain. If one ever needs to know about anything, having a Curian as a friend is always a plus.

You can read more about Katrina in the White Road Chronicles.

This song is one that brings Katrina to mind whenever I hear it. 

Katrina the Curian created using Gimp

From my White Road Chronicle book series
Model: Readingby jliorarch background
chair: pixabay.com/en/chair-croatia-s…
mountain lake scene: pixabay.com/en/lake-scenery-la…

arch back ground comes from Premade Background Stockby Shinobinaku