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Claus: Volume 2:1
This book is part one of Volume 2, of Claus: A Christmas Incarnation.
526 pages, Paperback
First published February 28, 2013
About the author
C. John Coombes
9 books3 followersC. John Coombes was born in Michigan, son to a brilliant father, who lost his leg after returning from Europe after WW2 and given a year to live. Scrambling to survive, his father pursued a career in graphic design as an artist. He was the first class president of Kendall School of Design, now a branch of Ferris State University in Central Michigan. He was instrumental in CJC’s future.
Raised in an environment of art, CJC astonished his grade school teachers, won an art scholarship in high school, and followed in his father’s footsteps by attending Kendall. Upon graduation he was asked to join the artists at Hallmark Cards, but instead entered the army as a graphics designer during the Viet Nam era. He did not see action in Viet Nam, but served his time at the NATO headquarters in Naples, Italy. He was part of the support staff for CINCSOUTH (Commander in Chief Southern Forces Europe), and was heavily involved in the development of presentations made to many of the world’s ambassadors and dignitaries. Ironically, his mother was an Italian war bride, and her family welcomed him with open arms.
After being discharged with honors, CJC worked in the graphics field for a number of years—a designer, photographer, printer, an art director—before entering into what was at that time the cutting edge of computerized machining technology. It amounted to a 180 degree shift in careers. For his Italian mother, his decision amounted to nothing less than cultural suicide, a betrayal to her sense of greatness. The memory of her crying at the kitchen table will go with him to his grave. As for CJC, he had no regrets. From his experience, artists seemed entirely underappreciated, died young, and drunk.
Over time, CJC moved increasingly distant from visual art and closer toward writing as a replacement for relieving his creative needs. For him, writing proved to be far less restrictive, far more convenient, and a more fulfilling venue for personal expression.
CLAUS was CJC’s first serious attempt to write. He leaves it as is with all the common mistakes that an untrained writer can deliver. Unlike many authors who are embarrassed by their early works, CLAUS remains his favorite, not his best, but his favorite, as it changed his life. The research broadened his horizons in more ways than he might convey. It also proved to him that he could complete the daunting task of a ten year project (for better or for worse). It is only fitting that CLAUS, his first attempt to write, contains his last attempt to illustrate at a time when art and illustration moved into the digital world of stylus and pad.
After three volumes of CLAUS, an 850,000 word novel, CJC was desperate to experience anything other than historical fiction. He turned his sites toward science fiction. He elected to write a piece that reflected his concerns about humanity's disregard for the planet in a scenario that pitted land developers against environmentalists. It was titled FULL MOON STO.
After FULL MOON STO, he challenged himself to write a suspense/thriller, and delivered The JACK CREEK Horror. The novel intended to force thought about invasive species in the Great Lakes and watershed of Michigan.
His last release, ONE WAY, is presented as a mind game. CJC focuses on the soul of a miserable mortal now faced with finding its way to salvation. The read is dark and entirely different from his earlier work.
Near completion is CJC’s current novel, CHIMES. This is a lighter read, an adult suspense/thriller intended to be age appropriate down to middle teens. It was written out of necessity to fill requests by that younger age group, who after reading JACK CREEK wanted more. He remains sensitive to the concerns of mothers.
Among other projects, CJC continues to play with CATBLACK, a work in high demand by those who know the premise and are familiar with the main character. No date has been set for its release.
In closing, CJC insists on acknowle
Raised in an environment of art, CJC astonished his grade school teachers, won an art scholarship in high school, and followed in his father’s footsteps by attending Kendall. Upon graduation he was asked to join the artists at Hallmark Cards, but instead entered the army as a graphics designer during the Viet Nam era. He did not see action in Viet Nam, but served his time at the NATO headquarters in Naples, Italy. He was part of the support staff for CINCSOUTH (Commander in Chief Southern Forces Europe), and was heavily involved in the development of presentations made to many of the world’s ambassadors and dignitaries. Ironically, his mother was an Italian war bride, and her family welcomed him with open arms.
After being discharged with honors, CJC worked in the graphics field for a number of years—a designer, photographer, printer, an art director—before entering into what was at that time the cutting edge of computerized machining technology. It amounted to a 180 degree shift in careers. For his Italian mother, his decision amounted to nothing less than cultural suicide, a betrayal to her sense of greatness. The memory of her crying at the kitchen table will go with him to his grave. As for CJC, he had no regrets. From his experience, artists seemed entirely underappreciated, died young, and drunk.
Over time, CJC moved increasingly distant from visual art and closer toward writing as a replacement for relieving his creative needs. For him, writing proved to be far less restrictive, far more convenient, and a more fulfilling venue for personal expression.
CLAUS was CJC’s first serious attempt to write. He leaves it as is with all the common mistakes that an untrained writer can deliver. Unlike many authors who are embarrassed by their early works, CLAUS remains his favorite, not his best, but his favorite, as it changed his life. The research broadened his horizons in more ways than he might convey. It also proved to him that he could complete the daunting task of a ten year project (for better or for worse). It is only fitting that CLAUS, his first attempt to write, contains his last attempt to illustrate at a time when art and illustration moved into the digital world of stylus and pad.
After three volumes of CLAUS, an 850,000 word novel, CJC was desperate to experience anything other than historical fiction. He turned his sites toward science fiction. He elected to write a piece that reflected his concerns about humanity's disregard for the planet in a scenario that pitted land developers against environmentalists. It was titled FULL MOON STO.
After FULL MOON STO, he challenged himself to write a suspense/thriller, and delivered The JACK CREEK Horror. The novel intended to force thought about invasive species in the Great Lakes and watershed of Michigan.
His last release, ONE WAY, is presented as a mind game. CJC focuses on the soul of a miserable mortal now faced with finding its way to salvation. The read is dark and entirely different from his earlier work.
Near completion is CJC’s current novel, CHIMES. This is a lighter read, an adult suspense/thriller intended to be age appropriate down to middle teens. It was written out of necessity to fill requests by that younger age group, who after reading JACK CREEK wanted more. He remains sensitive to the concerns of mothers.
Among other projects, CJC continues to play with CATBLACK, a work in high demand by those who know the premise and are familiar with the main character. No date has been set for its release.
In closing, CJC insists on acknowle
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Displaying 1 of 1 review
April 1, 2026
This is book 2 in the series and continues where book 1 leaves off. The writing is very detailed and takes time to read. It is well worth the time to read this story, and dive into the past.
Displaying 1 of 1 review