Read Clean YA with CJ
Episode Forty
Welcome to another episode of Read Clean YA with C.J. Milacci, where we explore clean, engaging books for teens and young adults. Today, we’re diving into a fascinating conversation with Chuck Black, former F-16 fighter pilot and author of over 22 novels.
Episode Show Notes below
Links to Things Discussed in this Episode
From the Cockpit to the Keyboard: Chuck Black's Mission to Inspire Readers
Episode Show Notes:
The Author Behind the Stories
Chuck Black brings a unique background to his writing:
- Former F-16 fighter pilot and tactical combat communications engineer
- CEO of Flow Core Systems
- Inventor/co-inventor of 16 U.S. and Canadian patents
- Father of six and grandfather of thirteen
The Star Lore Legacy Series
“The Star Lore Legacy series is my fourth series. It’s something that has been marinating in my mind for years…”
Nova, the first book in the series:
- Allegorically chronicles the life of Moses
- Combines science fiction with biblical truth
- Features authentic space combat scenes drawn from Chuck’s military experience
Writing with Purpose
Chuck’s motivation for writing stems from a powerful moment:
“My prayer to God was, Lord, how do I inspire my kids to look at their faith with a fresh perspective? How do I get them to understand what you truly did on the cross for us?”
Key Themes
- Spiritual warfare and eternal reality
- God’s calling on unlikely heroes
- Courage to step into God’s purpose
A Message for Readers
“I think what I would like my reader to take away is that God is waiting for you to say yes to his call. You don’t have to have the skill… you don’t have to have the experience… through Christ, I can.”
Chuck emphasizes that being chosen by God is simply about saying “yes” to His call.
The Journey Continues
The Star Lore Legacy series will span:
- 12 books total
- Three generations of characters
- Deep spiritual truths woven into exciting sci-fi adventure
Connect with Chuck Black
Find Chuck and his work at:
- Website: chuckblack.com
- Social Media: Facebook, X (Twitter), Instagram
- Newsletter signup available on website
- Fully dramatized audiobooks available
For more clean YA book recommendations, tune in to Read Clean YA with C.J. Milacci.
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Chuck Black
Author
Chuck Black first wrote Kingdom’s Edge to inspire his children to read the Bible with renewed zeal. This captivating expanded parable led him to write the Old Testament allegories, Kingdom’s Dawn and Kingdom’s Hope. Chuck added three more titles to the series, Kingdom’s Call, Kingdom’s Quest, and Kingdom’s Reign which were released in May of 2007.
Chuck’s current works include The Knights of Arrethtrae series, Call to Arms, and Wars of the Realm, and The Starlore Legacy. Chuck is a former F-16 fighter pilot and currently is the president and general manager of a chemical injection automation company in the oil and gas industry. He has a degree in electrical and electronic engineering and served eight years in the United States Air Force. Chuck and his wife have six children and nine grandchildren.
It is Chuck’s desire to serve the Lord through his work and to inspire people of all ages to study the scriptures in order to discover the hope and love of a truly majestic King and His Son.
About Your Host
Award-winning author CJ Milacci writes stories for teens and young adults with heart-pounding action and hope. As the podcast host for Read Clean YA with CJ, she loves talking about books and the deeper themes woven into the pages of each novel. She’s passionate about crafting stories of good overcoming evil, finding hope in the midst of seemingly hopeless circumstances, and true acceptance.
Always willing to get real about hard issues, C.J. also enjoys the cheesiest of puns. She chats about writing, her faith, bubble tea, and other fun adventures online (@cjmilacci) and at cjmilacci.com.
CJ Milacci is the award-winning author of The Talionis Series, and she writes stories for teens and young adults with heart-pounding action and hope. As a referee, she’s always relearning the hard lesson that it’s impossible to make everyone happy, and she’s discovered that stories can be found anywhere, even on a lacrosse field. She’s passionate about crafting stories of good overcoming evil, finding hope in the midst of seemingly hopeless circumstances, and true acceptance.
Recruit of Talionis, Book 1
A teen with a dark past. A secret military force that kidnaps new soldiers. Can she survive as a Recruit of Talionis?
Fugitive of Talionis, Book 2
They kidnapped her. Trained her. And now they’re hunting her.
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