Full Episode Show Notes Can be Found Here: https://cjmilacci.com/read-clean-ya-with-cj-podcast/ 

Links to Things Discussed in this Episode

Recruit of Talionis (affiliate link): 
CJ Milacci’s website: https://cjmilacci.com
Christmas Blog Post: https://cjmilacci.com/christmas-gift-ideas-🎁-for-teens/ 
Find CJ on Fayette Press: https://www.fayettepress.com/shop/by-c-j-milacci/35 


Intro: Welcome my friend! You are listening to Read Clean YA with CJ. The podcast for teens and young adults who want to explore exciting worlds, deep themes, and epic stories— without the objectionable content. I’m your host, award-winning young adult author, CJ Milacci, and today’s episode is….A CHRISTMAS episode! Because Christmas time is busy, I’ll keep things shorter today, and at the end I have a fun Christmas-y treat for you. 

I would like to start things off by thanking YOU, my listener. It has been so much fun for me to record these episodes, talk with some INCREDIBLE authors, and then share our conversations with you. And your emails and messages about the episodes make my day. Thank you for making Read Clean YA with CJ part of your week. 

We have talked about so many fantastic, epic, clean YA stories, and, in case you missed any, here’s a recap:

Katherine Briggs kicked off our first author interview when she joined me to discuss her amazing YA fantasy debut, The Eternity Gate.
Sara Ella and I had a sweet conversation about her newest book in her Curious Realities Duology, The Looking-Glass Illusion.
Bradley Caffee and I talked about his adventurous new novel, Sides.
Candace Kade and I had a blast diving into her debut YA sci-fi, Enhanced.
Jamie Foley and I journeyed into her engaging fantasy world when we discussed Emberhawk and Silverblood.
Sandra Fernandez Rhoads and I got lost in her incredible world in her YA urban fantasy duology, Mortal Sight and Realms of Light.
Tabitha Caplinger joined me to talk about her dystopian novel with hope, The Wayward.
I was thrilled to welcome EA Hendryx to discuss her epic sci-fi fantasy, Suspended in the Stars.
Clint Hall and I had fun doing dual interviews while we discussed his debut novel, Steal Fire from the Gods
Victoria Lynn introduced us to her sweet, non-magical fantasy in our chat about her novel Once I Knew.
Tim Shoemaker and I had a wonderful and deep conversation as we discussed stories and their power, as well as his novel Escape the Everglades.
RJ Conte and I had fun talking about her novel, The End of the Dream.
RJ Metcalf and I took to the skies in her steampunk fantasy, Renegade Skyfarer.
And I had two solo episodes where we discussed my YA dystopian books, Recruit of Talionis and Fugitive of Talionis.

So many fantastical stories, and just as many wonderful conversations. If you missed any of them, be sure to check out the backlist and catch up over Christmas break. I have some amazing guests lined up for you in 2024.

If you’re still working on those last minute shopping options, I encourage you to pick one — or several — of these books. Give the gift of an adventure, with stories that have hope and aren’t filled with cringy content.

Now, for the Christmas treat! I have a somewhat silly version of ’Twas the Night Before Christmas for you — with a Talionis style twist. Here we go:

‘Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the cityEveryone in Talionis was all in a tizzy;No stockings were hung, ‘cuz Laban would be a bear,If presents were given here or there;
The recruits did their training, some willing, some not,while all of them understood this now was their lot;Early morning trainings, Sergeants yelling in her face,All Bria expected for Christmas was to be called a disgrace,
Ari’s gift to herself of course would bebetter marks in every area — easy as one, two, threeShay listened to Trill, believing every wordWhile others watched their instructor thinking she looked like a bird
Every soldier in Talionis made one thing sureNo recruit would think of Christmas, no not any moreSo the exercises grew harder and recruits became exhaustedWhile the weather turned colder making their fingers feel frosted
Commander Ark lounged in his office, his plans coming togetherNo one would stop him now, or they’d regret it foreverHe called for his officers to hear their report,“Valarius, Vasco, and Mandeville, you have shown great support.
“And now as the recruits continue to grow strongerthe time for our rise will be not much longer.Take care to continue my plans to employAnd ensure no recruits find any Christmas joy.”
“Yes, sir!” The soldiers chanted and off they wentto make sure every recruit would end the day spent.But one thing they didn’t plan for, you seewas that Cai would keep them in the Ruins, busy.
And as the soldiers attempted to put out firesSome recruits were able to rise above the Sergeant’s ireNika began remembering Christmases from beforeand realized what mattered was not gifts galore
Cade reflected on the birth of his Savior, the ChristAnd determined that no matter what he’d follow Him with his lifeBria couldn’t understand how her friends could be happyBut she was thankful they were with her, even if it was sappy
As the darkness of evening started to close inMatthias jumped up and said with a grin,“Talionis might not be the best in the landbut I say Merry Christmas — because with my friends it’s grand.”

Thank you, once again, for listening and being here, my friend. If there are any authors you hope to hear from in 2024, let me know! I am always happy to hear recommendations from you, my amazing listeners. 

I’ll be taking next week off, so it’s the perfect time to catch up on those backlist episodes. 

Merry Christmas my friend! May you experience the joys and wonders of celebrating the birth of Jesus this Christmas season, wherever you may be.  

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