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.

"Amber Grey-the lost city" Author Tour

http://www.lagrandeobserver.com/News/Local-News/Fiction-author-coaxes-LHS-students-to-embrace-art-of-writing

The 2011/2012, Amber Grey-calm before the storm, book tour was all about teaching high school and junior high school students the importance of the written word. It was designed to reach youth throughout the country and motivate them to reach for higher ground, both in their educational and personal life scenarios. The basic theme was, "You Have the Power to Create a Positive Change".

I feel so blessed by the successes and friendships received during those months, that I've decided to tour again with book 2 of the trilogy, Amber Grey-the lost city. 

Along with personal empowerment, my goal is to inspire our nation's young people to see beyond their personal wants, and reach out to others to create positive relationships.

If you're aware of a high school or junior high school that would be in particular need of a visit, please leave us a message at jlcoalwell@gmail.com

All We Can Do

There is much unrest in many parts of the world, incredible sorrow and devastation. I see men hurting their brothers, sisters betraying those for whom they claim to care, sons and daughters standing in hateful rebellion and dishonor. I see children crying in  the night with no hands to soothe their wounded souls, and the powerful of this world crushing the simple man's hope into painful despair. I see much of this done in the name of order--those who force their brothers and sisters to bend to their will, who claim their opinion of law as supreme.

There are times when I feel so helpless, so distant from many who suffer under evil and tyrannical hands, and, so, I comfort myself with, do what you can do, and that's all you can do…but DO ALL YOU CAN DO. That was, in fact, my late father's life motto, and I take it quite seriously.

As societal groups, we really can differ from each other in our opinions and beliefs, but we all have much more in common than many realize: we love, we pray, we rescue, we cherish, we lift another's burden, we teach, we learn…yes, it all comes back to love. Wherever we live, to whatever religion, nationality, or culture we belong, our fundamental values are the same.

I see a parallel in the controversies between nations, religions, and cultures, and the manner in which we treat each other daily. Do you?

She spoke gently, realizing that their bond mustn’t be broken, that their division would be their demise, both literally and emotionally. The unification of their people had been so carefully organized, and to break apart at this crucial moment represented something much more sinister than she cared to ponder. The ties that linked Protectors everywhere was their ultimate desire for freedom and justice, and their love for their fellow beings no matter nationality or ability. But weakness and pride could rip them apart, digging a pit with inconsequential attitudes or opinions. Her grandfather had pressed beyond these blinding limitations, and opened the eyes of many along his way. He was gone, but his precepts had to live on. His, her people must be one in purpose, or none would stand a chance. They must set aside their preconceptions and cultural differences in order to succeed.

“We’re here to fight the enemy, not each other,” she reminded them quietly. “I can’t do this alone—none of us can…"
~ Amber Grey-the lost city

The Essence of Amber Grey: Finding Joy

Using emotion and desire, she can summon lightning, command the winds, the waters move on her whim, but Amber finds little satisfaction in these compared to the Light. The more Amber learns to focus on love, the greater her light grows, and it has an odd effect; those who find themselves enveloped in her glow become part of it. They aren't physically changed, but any darkness they bear is smothered, snuffed out; evil people are virtually paralyzed.

Although Amber is faced with numerous challenges, she learns mankind's most valuable lesson: there is a gift that we can all draw on while we walk this earth--it's called joy. And Amber learns how to find it--she learns to experience true love.

"The message is simply a plea for you to increase your light. When all is complete on this earth, the light we bear is truly all that matters. Most humans are blind to it, for we all bear such, in different degrees, but from you it bares itself to the world, revealing plainly love, peace, and goodness. It is a witness to all that such glory exists."

~Jules Marnet, Amber Grey-the lost city