Write a Review

Dear Amber Grey Readers,

If you've read the second book, Amber Grey-the lost city, please leave a review on amazon.com--just click on the link below.
Thank you!!
Amber Grey: the lost city

The Police Crisis

Orem Residents: In Good Hands

Over the past decade or so, we’ve been the witnesses of many stories screaming out against our Police Officers in this nation. There is another side, and it’s time to share it.

It was 10:30 a.m., the day after Thanksgiving, and Jennie Maycock, an Orem resident who is in her eighties, was busy cleaning the leaves from her front yard when she took a nasty fall, landing on her left side. As no one was in sight, she began a prayerful pleading for help, and a neighbor drove up and helped her call 911.

Dispatch remained on the line with her until Orem City Police officers Thorpe and Christensen arrived on the scene not two minutes later. Paramedics from Fire Station 2 shortly followed them: Captain Edwards, Cooper, Pearson, and Fray. Jennie recounts being treated with much kindness and tender care as they gently lifted her onto the gurney. They travelled to Timpanogos Regional Hospital where Jennie was observed for 6 hours, and was finally able to leave the orthopedic surgeon’s office with a sling and a large cast, and a bundle of torn ligaments.

She returned home to find that Officers Thorpe and Christensen had finished cleaning the leaves from her yard. The following day at around noon, she received visitors at her front door. The officers were back. They explained that they’d overheard her concern of her injury preventing her from putting up her holiday décor, and that they had returned to offer their help.

Miss Maycock gratefully let the officers in, and they got to work, digging out her Christmas tree, assembling it, and setting it up. They then extracted Jennie’s large wreath from storage and placed it above her fireplace mantle. Officer Christensen fluffed the wreath with care, and, impressed by his skills, Jennie said, “Officer Christensen, I’ve never seen that wreath look so good.” He replied, “My wife taught me.” In leaving, they assured her, “If we’re not too busy, we can come back to help more. We’ll be nearby and just call if you need something.”

Miss Maycock concluded, “In my 47 years of living here, I have never been treated so kindly and gently. They were certainly an answer to my prayers.”

Noteworthy are the words of the Orem Police Department’s motto. (below) Powerful is the message when the weapon of choice can be a rake.

Orem City Police Department: Ready to Protect, Proud to Serve

Article by Author J. L. Coalwell 

                                  

Book Signing in Orem!

Hello Friends! Just in time for Christmas-We'll have copies of both books, Amber Grey-the calm before the storm, and Amber Grey-the lost city, available at the Orem SMITH'S on State Street for 1 day only! I'll be there to sign books this Friday-December 5th, from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Blackfoot, ID Students

Wow! The touring has begun again, and I had the privilege of spending 2 days with students at Mountain View Middle School in Blackfoot, Idaho. These students displayed maturity and understanding, and a desire to learn and improve. These qualities will take them far in life, and will be the driving force for the continued peace and general pleasant feel of their community.

It's always encouraging to witness hoards of young people clamor for books at book fairs; parents guiding their children and allowing them to spend hard earned money on what they recognize as a key to their child's future success. I'm very grateful to have been invited to participate in this important tradition!

Trailer - "Amber Grey: Calm Before the Storm" by J.L. Coalwell

Turkish Sunrise

Turkey is one of those countries that has fascinated me from my childhood. It's home to many of our treasured fairy tales, and it exudes an air of mystery and adventure. Ancient tradition seems to whisper down Istanbul's streets, from it's shops and homes, from the foods, to breathe from it's people. In her escape from The Lost City, Amber embarks on a journey from Damascus across Turkey, finding temporary refuge on an old Syrian bus.

As Lazam had predicted, a pinkish hue rose over the distant horizon about an hour later, and Amber reveled in the awesome scene that grew before her eyes as she twisted her head to the far right, resting her cheek against the next chair up’s headrest. Gold sunbeams lit the underbelly of a huge cumulus cloud that hovered above far-off mountain peaks, its companions remaining violet in the dawn. As the sun became ever more revealed, the colors bled to vast pillars of glowing lavender, magenta, crimson, the spectacle suspended in the infinite, deep blue expanse. As the day wore on, the clouds spread, drifting apart in conflicting upper atmospheric turbulence. When the bus veered away from the scene, Amber twisted to gawk out of the rear window. She reached out her hand, wishing to touch the cold, wet substance, yearning to feel the sensation of being encompassed by such beauty, as though surrounded by living color that she could bind with her lungs, her blood, simply by breathing it.

Amber Grey-the lost city

Our Mind's Eye

A couple of weeks ago, while on a walk with my daughter at the base of nearby mountains, 

We had the incredible good fortune to be enveloped in the most magical sunset we've ever experienced.

A light mist must have hung in the air, as a pinkish glow surrounded us in the near dusk. 

Everything appeared oddly clear though, 

As if a clean new lens passed before our eyes, 

Endowing us with immortal vision. 

As we glanced at the twinkling lights in the valley below, 

We felt transported to a different time and place.

Through these gifted eyes, we'd been moved to heaven's door; 

We'd entered a master's painting.  

An enormous, brilliantly bright rainbow had formed almost above us in the East, 

Quickly mimicked by a shimmering twin that hovered like an echoing crown over the mountains. 

And then we truly felt the life surrounding us as its glowing colors drenched the air we inhaled; 

We became part of the dance. 

We reached out, trying to grasp the stuff, 

Trying to understand what it was made of and why it made us giggle.

To the West, our sun melted into the distant mountain range, transforming it to liquid gold. 

It dripped from the sky as though Midas' hands had swept across the far horizon, 

And all we should do to claim endless fortune was run with the wind and catch it. 

It was the gold that should've been with us under our rainbow. 

Back and forth our eyes darted, attempting to see both at once, to feel both at once.

Oh, and miracle; Mother Nature wasn't done yet. 

Massive rumblings crashed over the earth and the ground under our feet shook, 

Warning us of danger to the South. 

We ripped our eyes from our fairy skies, 

In wonder yet again as a swiftly flying storm raged toward us, 

Casting shadow over the peaceful valley. 

Flashing, flashing, lightning bolts tore from the heavens,

And their growling voices reached us in long, low threatening breaths. 

And then cool rain spattered our upward turned faces. 

I chose to not take any photos.

I told my daughter, "Focus hard on the scene you want to remember, 

Then close your eyes and see it in your head. 

Do it over and over, until it's clear, and remember how you feel right now. 

Your eyes only catch half of what you're experiencing--

Your heart can catch the rest."

Sometimes, the most beautiful visions are the ones we see in our mind's eye.