JEA Press

Difficulties

7/15/2014

Above. Click to read a review that really explains this book's true power.

You never know when darkness is going to cross your path.
Lydia Allison Cantrell was a beautiful child from a seemingly loving family when all hell broke loose. The person who was supposed to love her and protect her from the evils of the world betrayed her in the worst way possible.
For years Lydia endured the horrors of her father’s abuse, finding her only solace in her beloved books, and a pure affection from her friend Michael. Until a day came when something, a small flame of a thing began to wake within her.
Now, as the flame grows, it threatens to consume not only her but those around her as well, both innocent and guilty. Lydia must choose vengeance or mercy, realizing that both come with a cost that might be too much to pay for a girl so young.

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Review

Immolation is an intense book. It is not for the faint of heart. The protagonists are teenagers, but this is no "young adult" novel. The language and plot themes are way too strong for young readers, though unfortunately, this book touches on topics that many young people endure on a daily basis. Bullying, self-mutilation, incest, domestic abuse, drug addiction... Immolation will certainly make the reader squirm at times, but these elements are not rolled out merely for shock value. Sam Reese paints a very real portrait of conflicted teenage angst and trauma, along with a heaping helping of horror and violence.

I visited with Sam tonight. He is a good writer and Immolation is about many things...it's a good book...but part of it deals with a very difficult topic: abuse. It's always hard to deal with a topic like this, but Sam does deal with, and he does so with a delicate, sensitive touch. At JEA, we don't accept books that glorify rape.abuse, or anything illegal. It's how we are. This book does not glorify child abuse, but uses it to serve as a catalyst for the real story. This is a cautionary tale, a horror story, a frightening look at abuse, but it is also a story that is very real. Readers have called this a "beautiful story" and the reviews are excellent. My thoughts are that it takes a special kind of writer to take on a very profound topic and a hot button topic) and keep the honesty. and then weave it into a story that captivates.
I fee this is a book for the intelligent reader, and one that will break hearts, but still engage. What? That is confusing, isn't it? Immolation is brutal in some ways. But it is also about power and coming to terms with that power, morality, and strength. A reader won't put it down. That's just a fact. And when the book is done, there will be emotions. I feel that is what makes this shine. Reese doesn't apologize for dealing with a very real heartache. He doesn't shy away. He handles it all well, tells the tale, and then gives his character power. Literally. Will some be upset? Yes. Will some be confused? Yes. Will some be shocked? You bet. But overall, everyone will remember this.
A story that leaves us emotionless is useless, to me. Give this a shot. Appreciate the honesty, and admire the power within the words. Few authors can manage this balance.
Sam Reese and Immolation is about power...but in ways unexpected.

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Just a Shout Out For Those Books Selling Fast and Furious

7/10/2014

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Summer HOT

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Happy Fourth

7/5/2014

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Celebrating a little bit of art, music, and writing....

6/27/2014

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(from catt) Hi! I never click videos but I did this once, and found a unique sound. I want to share this little song with our followers because I love the message of "All for One". The management graciously told us we could share this with everyone, and I really love seeing new, fresh artists in any area. Gangstagrass is bluegrass (fiddles and banjos) with a fun rap added.
Click their icon (to the left) to hear and see the video.

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JEA artists use several programs and we purchase image rights, but David must deal with sizing, balance, hue, saturation, light, and blending, just to name a few elements. JEA is honored to employ a man as talented as McG, who loves the work and puts himself out there. See more of his work here:

Mcg's Art

David McGlumphy

is a free lance artist and also on staff at JEA Press as a cover-designer and artist. As a designer, he had to first intern before he could work with the authors fully. Under the direction of Executive Editor and Art Director, Susan Simone, David learned how JEA listens to writers, considers commercial appeal, and then locates (legal!) images, or hand-draws the covers. After his internship, David was hired as an artist. (We look at talent, ethics, and ability to work within our strange company). When working on a cover, artists are very hands-on; after many meetings with the author, David sets up the images and then designs the font so the title looks good in thumbnail images. He must please the author and show their view of the book (and what it is about), balance images, chose and alter colors for contrast, and then get the font perfect so it looks good in a large view, but also when it is the size of a postage stamp! It's a challenge, but McG (as we call him) always stays on the job until the author is pleased, and Susan accepts the cover.

Sam Reese
Immolation

You never know when darkness is going to cross your path. Lydia Allison Cantrell was a beautiful child from a seemingly loving family when all hell broke loose. The person who was supposed to love her and protect her from the evils of the world betrayed her in the worst way possible. For years Lydia endured the horrors of her father’s abuse, finding her only solace in her beloved books, and a pure affection from her friend Michael. Until a day came when something, a small flame of a thing began to wake within her. Now, as the flame grows, it threatens to consume not only her but those around her as well, both innocent and guilty. Lydia must choose vengeance or mercy, realizing that both come with a cost that might be too much to pay for a girl so young.

new Interview

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Cover art by Michael "Fish" Fisher

Final Reverie

Many years after the downfall of technology, magic has reclaimed its position within Earth’s ecosystem. Over time, the delicate balance of between good and evil has weighed heavily toward the malevolent side, despite attempts at stabilizing the equilibrium. Two heroes, Franklyn – an adolescent boy, and Chij – his wolf brother, travel the land with a sole purpose of helping those that cannot defend themselves from the creatures that lurk and feed upon the weak. Their carefree travels are unexpectedly given a larger purpose when they are tasked to search for, and destroy, the nefarious being known as Nafets – who was imprisoned many years prior but teeters on the edge of reemergence.
Franklyn and Chij endure an emotional journey filled with blood, tears, and self-discovery as they encounter the unexpected and become entangled in a expedition that will test their abilities and emotions.

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Summertime Books

6/24/2014

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News

Information: click here

Accepting work for this anthology until July 31. Gore, body fluids, bizarre ideas...check. Be as weird as you wish and if you have been rejected for content, we are very interested!

Some exciting reads....

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Sam Reese
Immolation

You never know when darkness is going to cross your path. Lydia Allison Cantrell was a beautiful child from a seemingly loving family when all hell broke loose. The person who was supposed to love her and protect her, betrayed her in the worst way possible. For years Lydia endured her father’s abuse, finding her only solace in books. A flame began to wake within her, and as the flame grows, it threatens to consume not only her but those around her as well, both innocent and guilty. Lydia must choose vengeance or mercy, realizing that both come with a cost that might be too much to pay for a girl so young.

Samantha Gregory

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What is After about?
On the surface it is an action story about a young girl struggling to survive in a harsh world after her father 's apparent death. I think underneath the story deals with a sense of loneliness and what it is like to be a teenager and feel like an outcast and the search for someone who understands that.
What inspired this?
I think it is a universal theme that we have all felt at one time or another. For some people this can make or break them.

Keith Milstead

coming soon

Fish to Die For
has won literary awards and an award for cover art.
"I was born and raised in the great State of Texas. Currently I am a displaced Texan since my wife Rhonda of 16 years asked that we move to Colorado. We bought a home in the mountains and now live with the wildlife and our rescue dachshund Baxter. If I could move the weather from Colorado down to Texas, it would be awesome but then it wouldn’t be Texas then, would it?" (Keith)