J.A. Jaken's Adventures in Writing

Power. Obsession. Escape that never meant freedom.

I thought I was done writing in the Pathfinder series, but here we are. I was having a conversation with someone recently about favorite villains we've written over the years. I mentioned that I really loved Timothy Ross, the charismatic and manipulative leader in the Mosaic cartel, and that I was disappointed I hadn't gotten the chance to explore his character more fully in the original Pathfinder novels. The comment was made that "Hey, why don't you write a spin-off story about him?", and this is the result.

I really love how the story turned out. It was interesting writing an entire novella from the POV of one of my villains. Ross is such a textbook sociopath, lol. I love him so much. ♥️


You can get your copy of Whispers in the Glass here:

Buy link: 🌒 books2read.com/WitG

The e-book is now available. Audiobook is coming soon!


Learn more about the Pathfinder series here: https://www.jajakenfiction.net/Pathfinder-series/


Whispers in the Glass by J.A. Jaken
Audiobook narrated by Dan Calley

(M/M, Science Fiction, Suspense/Thriller)

A pathfinder is invaluable. A captured pathfinder is unstoppable.

In a world where survival is measured not by fortune but by utility, Timothy Ross understands the game better than anyone. His tenure within Mosaic isn't built on morality—it's forged through calculation, influence, and the unwavering ability to stay useful.

Shai would be the perfect conquest—an unbonded pathfinder, ready to be molded into whatever Ross desires. But as power shifts and alliances tighten, the battle for control is never truly won. And as the hunt for Shai moves forward, one question remains: who will hold the reins when the dust finally settles?

Hi everyone! Just a quick note that the audiobook for The House of Silence Vol. 3 is currently under production. This third book in the series is being narrated by Dan Calley, who was responsible for bringing the characters in the previous two books to such amazing life. I'm super excited to hear what he creates out of this newest book in the series!

https://www.jajakenfiction.net/House-of-Silence-Series/

Sharing the audiobook cover I made for THE MAGICIAN'S APPRENTICE, which is finishing up production today:



I'd love to know what you all think of it! I'm really excited to get this audiobook finalized and have Dan's magnificent voice acting out there for all of you to enjoy. He did an absolutely fantastic job on this one.

For those of you who aren't familiar with the story, here is a brief description of it:

The Magician's Apprentice
A Prequel to the Dragon Mage Chronicles
by J.A. Jaken

Narrated by: Dan Calley
10 hours 46 minutes (108,000 words)
Genre(s): Fantasy, Adventure, M/M Romance

Jander Teregnan has never wanted anything more than to become a mage--to serve his king and defend his country as he explores his natural talent at commanding the strange power known as magic. Of course every apprentice needs a master, which comes with its own set of challenges...especially when the master he's chosen for himself is none other than Andrei Teresh, personal advisor to the king and master mage of the city of Vallerin.

Andrei, however, has more pressing problems on his mind than dealing with the unsolicited advances of one untrained mage-apprentice. A fierce and merciless army of unknown intent is sweeping across the land, threatening the kingdom he has sworn to protect. Even worse, dragons--long thought to have withdrawn from the world of mankind--are emerging once again and spreading chaos in their wake. Somehow, Jander must find a way to help; not only to prove that he can be of use in the defense of his kingdom and become a mage, but also to secure his place at the side of the man he hopes to claim as master both of his magic and his heart.

https://jajakenfiction.net/the-magicians-apprentice/

I've recently created my very first Instagram profile:

https://www.instagram.com/jajakenfiction/

I'm still learning how it all works, but I've managed to get a few things posted there. I'm planning to use it mainly to share information about my writing.

It's a little lonely right now, so if you want to give me a follow I'll follow you right back, and then I can start growing a network over there. I'd love to see what sorts of things all of you are sharing on that platform.

See you there! :)

💕🎧 The audiobook for 𝐍𝐢𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐢'𝐬 𝐕𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 is now available! 🎧💕

Audible US: adbl.co/42SGEkl
Audible UK: adbl.co/42ACRZi
Universal Amazon link: getbook.at/NsV
Smashwords link: bit.ly/NV_SW

I am so very excited to share this with all of you! Dan Calley’s fantastic performance brings each of the characters to breathtaking life as Nicki struggles to survive in a world of sensuality and terror, where the lines blur between slave and free, good and bad, desired and feared:



Audiobook read by Dan Calley
10 hours 42 minutes (110,000 words)
Genre(s): M/M, Dark Fantasy, Slavefic
(𝐶𝑜𝑛𝑡𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝑎𝑑𝑣𝑖𝑠𝑜𝑟𝑦: 𝑛𝑜𝑛𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑠𝑒𝑛𝑠𝑢𝑎𝑙 𝑠𝑒𝑥)

Nicholi’s world goes up in flames when soldiers invade his country, leaving chaos in their wake. Captured and enslaved in a foreign land, Nicholi struggles to cope with the nightmare of slavery and adapt to the terrifying and inexplicable world he is thrust into. He draws courage from a steadfast determination to get justice for his murdered family and—he hopes—peace to himself by finding and killing the man responsible for the destruction of his village. Yet through it all, Nicholi’s greatest enemy might not be foreign powers or enemy soldiers, or even in the self-serving machinations of his fellow slaves, but himself.

bit.ly/NV_Jaken

I'm writing again! I can hardly believe it. I haven't written a new story in at least two years, and it has been incredibly painful not having that creative outlet to lean on. I think with the health problems I've had--the heart failure just over a year ago, then the scare with the uterine tumors and the surgeries and all of that madness--I just haven't had the mental fortitude for it. Plus I had to leave the job I've had for the past 17 years (and absolutely loved) because I can no longer do that kind of work with a diagnosis of chronic heart failure. Which means I've been sitting at a desk for the past year or so with a new work status of "permanent light duty", which I'm still trying to wrap my head around.

But I am writing again!!! I'm 38 pages into a new m/m romance novel, and it's zooming right along. It feels so GOOD to be creating new characters and new worlds like this. Kind of freeing, or maybe lightening is a better word. It feels like I'm where I need to be for a change.

All of this probably sounds a bit nonsensical, but I'm feeling happy and I just really wanted to share it with someone. I'll post more info about the novel as it gets closer to being finished. I'll be looking for beta readers if anyone's interested. :)

I just hit the go button on the audiobook for Entering the House of Silence. Now it's in the hands of the QA gods over at ACX, waiting on their approval. I'm still feeling blown away by how good it all turned out. I had this same sort of giddy feeling the first time I listened to Dan bringing my characters to life in Through the Last Door, like these characters that had until then existed only in my head are now out there for everyone to enjoy. It's an absolutely breathtaking feeling.

Books 1 and 2 in The House of Silence m/m erotica series are now available in audiobook, thanks to the incredible voice acting talents of Dan Calley. Join Charon, Reiji, Tam, Danny, and Vincent as they embark on an adventure full of intrigue, mystery, and sensuality:

Exodus (Volume 1)
US: adbl.co/3mIyCuy
UK: adbl.co/3JvQ9ih
All other marketplaces: getbook.at/HoS1

Ricochet (Volume 2)
US: adbl.co/3YIyYy
UK: adbl.co/3YCHDT5
All other marketplaces: getbook.at/HoS2



The House of Silence
by J.A. Jaken

Audiobook narrated by: Dan Calley
Volume 1: 8 hrs 35 min (90,000 words)
Volume 2: 8 hrs 16 min (88,000 words)
Genres: M/M Erotica, BDSM, Gothic, Suspense
(Content advisory: nonconsensual sex)

Exodus (Volume 1) summary:

The House of Silence is an elite male bordello catering to the obscenely rich. No matter how extreme or mundane the fantasy, the House is rumored to serve. Master Charon employs a group of versatile, beautiful young men, some lewd, some innocent, many with tragic pasts and hidden secrets of their own, who depend on him for safety. Each young man -- Vincent, Danny, Reiji, Tam and more -- brings his own history and his own fears to the House of Silence.

This unpredictable mix erupts when danger threatens. A powerful nobleman strikes out at Charon and his staff, seeking to destroy them all if he's not given what he wants: one of the boys to keep for his own.

Ricochet (Volume 2) summary:

The sanctuary of The House of Silence is shattered when an influential client presents Master Charon with an ultimatum: hand over Vincent, or he'll destroy the House. When Charon refuses, he is plunged into a nightmare of reprisals, forcing him and the boys who work for him to fight for their lives, their sanity, and their right to exist. Why are some powerful men willing to destroy the House of Silence to get hold of one male prostitute? What secret threatens the governments of two countries?

Charon, Phoebe - the head of security - and all the young men of the House of Silence will have to work together. They must tap into long-hidden resources and long-denied histories for their safety and survival. To thwart the forces aligning against them, they'll need to unlock the secrets buried deep in the House's past. How much is one man's life worth to them?


"The author takes you on a fantastically written journey to an alternate reality of old-worldly grandeur, in which an opulent brothel with secret passageways is home to beautiful young men and their charismatic, but mysterious master, Charon Marque. [...] You, too, will get sucked into the seductive world inside the House and the lives of its occupants."
-The Blog of Sid Love

"I recommend this to anyone that likes Lords, rich business men, Cabals, dark fantasy, M/M erotica, sensual steamy sex, BDSM (not the soft and flowery kind), D/s, mystery, and intrigue- it’s all here, and more."
-MM Good Book Reviews

"Wow, this is so well-written that I am amazed by it and will be reading the other books in this series. The setting, the tone, the mood... everything just pulled me in."

"What a heart gripping emotional roller coaster well written and plot driven book. Each character in this book grabs at you and never let go. I have finished books 1 and 2 a couple days now and gosh what an impression it left. Each character was written with their own specific persona that added to the development of the plot. I cried, laughed, and struggled along with these characters which makes the impact even greater."

"I guarantee you will fall in love with Reiji, Danny, Tam, Vincent, Brand, Lord Ander, and the heart of this family Charon. Must Must Must BUY!"

"I think what makes this book and the series of books work is that Jaken takes the time to develop interesting, 3-D characters. The characters are complicated and like real people they have strengths and weaknesses."

"I loved Charon and his boys. Each was well developed, wonderfully flawed, and ultimately likeable. Add an uptight cop, a mysterious patron, and a lonely lord, sprinkle in a few despicable bad guys, and you've got a sexy, intriguing story."

- Reader Reviews (Amazon and Goodreads)

Recording for the first audiobook in The House of Silence series is finished! I have so much love for these characters, and Dan gave such an amazing performance for them. We're doing pickups this week, and then it's on to book 2. 🥰

Audiobook recording for The House of Silence series begins tomorrow! So far we've nailed down voices for over a dozen of the characters, and worked out pronunciations for various names and places. Dan is doing an absolutely amazing job capturing the characters with their unique personalities and speech patterns, and has been extremely patient with my requests for tweaks and changes as we go. ❤️

I absolutely adore Charon and his boys, and all of the various escapades (and sexcapades, heh) they get up to. I'm really looking forward to sharing the series in this new format, brought to life by Dan's incredible talent. It's so amazing to actually hear the voices of Reiji and Tam and Danny and dear, wounded Vincent. And Charon, of course, and Aburon and Ander and Brand and the rest..... I have so much love for this audiobook, and the first chapter hasn't even been recorded yet. 😄

Here's the newest graphic I've made for the series. I'm really proud of how it turned out: