Marketing Is Scary

I guess my plan for blogging more over the summer didn't go down so well.

Either way, I'm done with excuses, because there's really no excuse, nothing I have to say in my own defense as to why I didn't write more over the summer.

Anyway, what's done is done.

Okay, so I'm sort of nervous.

See, I love to write.

I mean, obviously.

Then again, you wouldn't say you love to breathe. You only do it because if you didn't, you would die. I live to write, and write to live. My world, and writing are dependent on each other. It's become a fact of my existence, I guess.

The thing is…

With my book out, and everything, I have to worry about marketing now.

And I don't like marketing, I just like writing.

Let's put it this way.

I'm not really a "people" person.

I'm a writer because I'm not a good speaker.

Although I could probably write a good speech for myself, there's no guarantees I'll actually say it well.

No, really, all I want to do is write.

And meet some hot male protagonist, but that's beside the point.

So my mom has kind of taken the role of a marketing advisor, and been helping me get my books into local book stores. Actually only one bookstore so far, and I haven't even given them the copies they requested yet, but hey, it's a start.

I'll admit, it scares me a little.

Like, a lot.

And it makes me wanna go like this "ASL;DKFJAS;DFJKL" all over the keyboard.

Seriously though…not that I'm going to have one any time soon, but…what exactly do you do at a book signing? I mean, besides sign books? Do you have to answer questions? Are there certain questions that people tend to ask?

Ahhh I'm making myself nervous.

Please, though, if you have any suggestions let me know.

–Jess

Stuff

Hello strangers…I know it's been a while, but the good news is that I'm back. I've just…kind of been…trying to…maybe…avoid responsibilities…like blogging.

It's really easy to get out of the loop on things.

I skipped the A to Z Challenge, thinking I'd easily be able to come back in May, but…one thing led to another, and…it's not that I didn't have enough time, it's just I didn't really make time.

I'm taking a few classes over the summer (one of which I failed during 9th grade, so…so yeah…don't judge) which is making things very hectic. And then there's all this teen drama no one wants to get caught up in, so I'll spare you the details on that one. Oh and I got my wisdom teeth out last week.

The Inferiors, my sequel, is coming along alright, except I'm coming up against these brick walls which making things very difficult. I won't say too much about it, but it starts off in the Crystal City, and…well…maybe it isn't as perfect as it's made out to be. So Jaina's going through her issues there.

I think over the long period of time I was publishing, I sort of lost my connection with Jaina. The Inferiors starts four, long, tiresome months after From the Ashes, so she's grown more during that time. And the thing is, it's been five months since I've been published, and well…I've grown during that time. I guess she and I just need to spend some Author/Character bonding time together and see how we can work things out.

Other than that, though, I've been revising and writing a lot of poetry, which I may or may not end up sharing with you.

So yeah.

That's it for me.

What are you guys up to lately? I need to catch up.

–Jess 龍

I'm Almost Free!

Life has been so crazy lately. I'm so tired and burned out from the whole school year, the only thing keeping me going is the fact that it's almost over! I only have about two weeks left of school, and god, am I relieved.

Not really looking forward to finals, though, and I'm taking a few classes over the summer.

Anyway, I got this really good (or, at least I hope it's really good) story idea recently, and I've been having a lot of fun adding to it and making character sketches, but I feel like I really should be working on The Inferiors, the sequel to From the Ashes.

It's such a hard choice, because now, I've got people waiting for me to finish it. At the absolute earliest, even if I worked really hard at it, I don't think it'd be done until the end of the year, which I might add, is approaching much more swiftly than I expected. It always does, I guess.

Is it so bad to want to take a break from my main story now and then?

Maybe.

Guess we'll find out.

What do you think?

Have a nice day!

–Jess

P.S.

IF YOU HAVEN'T MADE IT TO THE LAST EPISODE OF SEASON 4 OF DOCTOR WHO or ever plan on watching Doctor Who (which you MUST), DON'T HIGHLIGHT THE FOLLOWING WORDS HIGHLIGHTED IN BLACK.

I just made it to the 5th season of Doctor Who on Netflix, and I'M SO SAD. Okay, at least Matt Smith does a good job, but I was so heartbroken seeing the Doctor die as David Tennant! And DONNA. I don't ever cry, not really about anything, but I got tears in my eyes watching the episode where she forgets. Breaks. My. Heart.

The thing is, most people have made it that far, because I'm so awfully behind in the series. So I probably don't need that spoiler alert. Gotta be safe, anyhow.

BYE! :)

IWSG: I'm Still Here, Reviews, and Doctor Who?

Yes, everyone, I am still here, and hopefully I will be "here" much more often!

I hope the A to Z challenge went wonderfully, and I felt bad that I didn't participate, but ohmygosh did I have tons of stuff to get done. I can't say I have time to be blogging right now, but eh…I'm making the time for it.

So today is IWSG post day!

Right now, I'm really insecure about From the Ashes. I know, I know, I can't control the sales or anything. But when it slows down, it makes me nervous.

The good thing is, all of the reviews I've gotten so far have been really encouraging, and it makes me want to hurry up and get on with the sequel, The Inferiors.

I mean look! It makes me so excited looking at my Amazon page and seeing THIS:

(By the way, if you can't see it tell me because if you can't, then I can see why you may think I'm going crazy. Just click the link if it doesn't show up.)

I mean, a few people here and there have said that it's a little bit too much like The Hunger Games, and I try to pretend like it doesn't bother me. But hey, even the people who have said that still liked the story.

Anyway, yeah, that's all for today, and I think I'm back into blogging again :)

Happy May 1st!

–Jess

P.S.

I've gotten overly obsessed with Doctor Who lately. Hadn't watched the show before a few months ago, and my god, I'm hooked like a fish. Only on Series 3 though.

Do any of you watch Doctor Who?

They're After Me!

They're after me.

Don't have much time to write this.

Haven't forgotten you guys, I promise.

(^And that my friends is how you build suspense :)

Bottom of this post: http://imagine-today1.blogspot.com/2013/04/j-is-for-job.html explains everything!

-Jess

P.S.
No one is actually after me lol. Just wanted to say that!

Drained

Okay yeah, this is really late, but I'd just like to thank everyone who participated in the Kindle release for From the Ashes! Seriously, I can't thank you enough. You made it an amazing release day!

I'm still trying to get used to the fact that I'm actually published. Does it ever really sink in?

Anyway, as far as writing goes, I have definitely not done enough.

My soul feels deprived of writing.

Honestly, this blog post is the only writing I've done for fun in a few weeks. The rest has been for school, and yeah, okay maybe I am an author, but I'm not good at writing things people tell me to write about.

So this week, I'm going to try my best to wake up really early with my mom so that I have time to do some editing or writing. Lately, I've been feeling completely drained of energy, and I think it's due to a lack of writing. Book two needs lots of work, and I can actually say that people are waiting for me to finish it now.

And I miss Jaina, and I think she misses me. She's been left in suspense about what's going to happen.

LOTS of pressure on me.

So yeah, that's kinda the plan.

What are you guys doing this week?

–Jess

From the Ashes Kindle Release!

Okay, everyone! Today is the day! The Kindle edition of From the Ashes is LIVE!!! So you can officially buy it on Kindle now!!!

From the Ashes is a lot about overcoming your fears, and fighting for what you believe in. So that's why I chose the prompt:

"Tell us about a time when you or your character was thrown into a trial by fire situation. What biggest fears did you or your character have to face? What sort of situation would test you to the fullest?"

So I'm only sixteen, and I'll be up front with all of you guys. I haven't experienced a lot in my life yet, so I know I haven't been tested to the fullest.

But, the greatest test I've endured so far was definitely writing this book and taking it this far. Seriously, I sacrificed everything for this story. My grades, ice skating, spending time with friends…so I'm really glad to finally be officially done with my first book!

When I first started writing the story in December of 2010, I had no idea what I was getting into. And if someone had told me that I was going to get it published within the next two years, I definitely wouldn't have believed them.

But, I couldn't have come this far without all of the amazing people I've known and who've helped me through! You guys are awesome!

Oh, and you can add my book on Goodreads now!

To visit other people who participated in the blogfest, here's the linky list:

Have you faced your biggest fears? What sort of trials have you or your characters endured? Please share!

Have a wonderful Friday!!

–Jess

Everything's Spinning Out of Control!!

Ever feel like no matter how long you work during the day, it's never enough?

Well then, don't worry, you're not alone, I know exactly how you feel right now. I could not be more swamped with life in general. Not that that's a bad thing…if you're not busy then I guess you're not living every moment to the fullest, but damn it can be so stressful!

Anyway, today is the IWSG, and I know I'm really late in posting, but here goes anyway.

I'm really insecure about how my blogfest is going to go on Friday. And I'm insecure about what people will think of my writing.

I know we're not supposed to care what other people think, and you should only write the story you want to write. And I did write the story I wanted to write, but I'm just afraid that other people might not like that story as much as I liked writing it.

It's a silly fear, I know, but a very real one, at that.

Anyway, the Kindle edition of From the Ashes goes live on Friday!

So I'm really excited about that, but it's still really scary. Not only will my book be available to people, it'll be very accessible! That's a great thing, but I'm so scared about it! The more people that read it, the more chances my baby has to be not liked. Or liked, but I'm clearly not afraid of that.

For those of you that have already signed up, I promise, I'm sending the info you need for my blogfest TONIGHT. Some of you have asked for me to send it, and I felt really bad that I hadn't already, but life has just been so pushy lately I haven't gotten to it.

If you'd like to sign up, it's going to be on Friday and you can sign up below.

Rules:

1. Sign up on the linky list below
2. Grab the blogfest button above
3. On Friday, March 8th, tell us about a time when you or your character was thrown into a trial by fire situation. What biggest fears did you or your character have to face? What sort of situation would test you to the fullest?
4. Post the pre-written info I will send you by email with the cover and a few more details about From the Ashes

Thanks so much, you guys, you're awesome!!

–Jess

From the Ashes Blogfest!!!

BIG NEWS TODAY!

I'm finally announcing the FROM THE ASHES BLOGFEST to celebrate the publication of my first book, From the Ashes.

If you'd like to help me spread the word, here are the rules:

1. Sign up on the linky list below
2. Grab the blogfest button above
3. On Friday, March 8th, tell us about a time when you or your character was thrown into a trial by fire situation. What biggest fears did you or your character have to face? What sort of situation would test you to the fullest?
4. Post the pre-written info I will send you by email with the cover and a few more details about From the Ashes

(If you only feel like doing #4 that's fine, too :)

So PLEASE SIGN UP! I need all the help I can get, here.

If you can't make the blogfest, that's okay. If you'd be willing to help me spread the word with an interview on your blog, that would be perfect! (You can email me at jessicamckendry@icloud.com) Or you could just help me announce that I'm actually published now.

Anyway, yup, that's all for today.

Happy Friday!

–Jess

FIRST REVIEW. EVER.

Morning everyone!

Yes, yes, I know, I haven't been really good about blogging lately. Had quite a lot on my plate recently with make-up work, homework, publishing, and well…just everything.

Anyway, I know you guys don't want to hear my lame excuses, so here comes the real big news.

I GOT MY FIRST FIVE STAR REVIEW!!

This is how I felt:

I absolutely can't get over it :)

--Jess

Done.

Okay, this is a tiny bit awkward, but…

I'm published now!

It's a little bit awkward because, well, I didn't know if when I clicked the "Publish My Book" button on CreateSpace it would immediately publish it, or if the whole process would start then.

So, I pressed it.

Apparently, it publishes to Amazon.com the MOMENT you press "Publish My Book."

So, the date of publication for From the Ashes was Monday, February 11, 2013.

On Monday, February 11, 2013, I became A PUBLISHED AUTHOR.

Since I had no clue what I was doing, I never exactly set up a release date. And since I didn't set up a release date, I didn't exactly set up anything like a blogfest or something to announce or even celebrate the fact that I was published!

I hadn't even realized From the Ashes was available on Amazon until WEDNESDAY.

So, if you have any ideas or suggestions about what I should do, please tell me! Because I have negative five days to get this done!

–Jess

P.S.
My book's available in paperback on Amazon.com HERE and will be available soon for Kindle :)

Wacky Waddles

Hey guys!

Today, Miranda Hardy is releasing her first picture book, Wacky Waddles. 

Please join Wacky Waddles on his journey through his new home.

 

Wacky Waddles is a rhyming picture book for young readers written by me and illustrated by Rimi Rasheed.

 

Wacky Waddles is currently available in print and ebook versions on Amazon, as well as an ebook through Barnes & Noble.

 

Publisher: Quixotic Publishing

Pages: 26

Date of Publication: 02/05/13
Goodreads Page: here

 

Miranda Hardy writes children's literature to keep the voices in her head appeased. When she's not in her fantasy world, she's canoeing in alligator infested waters or rescuing homeless animals. She resides in south Florida with her two wonderful children, and too many animals to mention.

Blog | Facebook |Twitter

 

Rimi Rasheed is a professional in primary education yet follows a passion in digital illustrating, and much of her work is focused on children. She is well known for her colourful creations of lovable characters, most of which can be found on her blog. She lives in Maldives with her husband and two children.

Blog |Facebook | Twitter

Have a great day!

–Jess

Almost Over…

Okay.

I'll fully admit that I'm pretty nervous.

I should be getting my final proof back by February 4th.

After that, all I have to do, is press "publish."

I'm not sure how long it takes to go from pressing "publish" to it actually being published. And I'm not really sure how setting up a release date goes, but by the stars, I'm really nervous.

I assumed that a decent amount of people would buy it. Like some of you guys, and some of my friends from the ice rink…but I hadn't really expected people I used to know from public school to get it. Or people I knew a long time ago.

People keep asking me when it's coming out, and suddenly I'm really scared of what people might think.

Yes, I wrote the story I wanted to write.

It's exactly what I wanted it to be.

But what if people don't like it for what it is?

Anyway, that's just what I've been worrying about lately. How are you guys?

Happy Wednesday!

--Jess

Eyes of Eden

Okay, I know not everyone's into poetry, but I write it now and then when I've got nothing better to do (which is never, so more like, when I feel like not doing what I should be doing.)

Either way, I wrote this poem and had nothing else in mind to post today, so here it is.

Go easy on me, poems aren't one of my strengths, despite how many I write.

Eyes of Eden

Cross the world,

Face the black,

Run for you,

Then double back.

Watch your face,

See you smile,

Stay with me

for a while.

Reach for you,

But turn away,

Must forget,

Or fall astray.

You are fading,

Fading fast,

Let you go,

Relive the past.

What I was,

Was tied to you,

Shed my skin,

Follow through.

Eyes of Eden,

Look for me,

Take my hand,

Set me free.

I am day,

You are night,

Make your stand,

Hang on tight.

Lead the way,

'til death we fight,

For you are dark,

And I, the light.

So there you have it.

Any ideas on what it's about?

I'll give you a hint. There's no wrong answer.

--Jess

The Pale Blue Dot

Humbling, isn't it?

I know the sound quality isn't that great, but the video is just as epic. Hope you enjoyed it as much as I did :)

--Jess

Apologies

Hey everyone!

Sorry I've been absent for the past week and a half, I had my midterms to take in school, so that made things extra busy. I even missed posting for this month's Knights of MicroFiction! So yeah, I've been really out of it.

And, I haven't been doing such a great job catching up on my homework lately, so my grades are not so great right now.

Nevertheless, I now have it all under control, and I am back!

Anyway, I should probably get back to making the last final changes to From the Ashes, because it's taking me much longer than it should to finish up. I can't believe how much still needs to be fixed! It's a little bit worrying…

Have a nice weekend :)

--Jess

Wow. Just…wow.

The doorbell rang.

My stomach churned. It was about the time the UPS truck made the rounds, but I didn't want to get my hopes up. It wasn't supposed to come until tomorrow, anyway.

"Jessica!" Mom called. "It's for you!"

The package was from Amazon.

I felt a rush of excitement as I grabbed the scissors and tore the package from her hand. I still refused to think that it was it.

I opened it.

I screamed.

It's real.

100% real.

And I'm still in complete shock.

 

Happy Wednesday!

--Jess

P.S.
Only a little bit after I'd gotten my ARC, I think my sister realized how awesome writing books was, because she's picked up writing her novel again :)

The "Publish" Button

First of all, I just want to say thank you to everyone who helped out with my Cover Release! You guys made it all truly epic, and I feel like I can't thank you enough!

If you didn't see the cover, just scroll down.

Anyway, I was so scared for quite a while about releasing it. I was afraid people might think it sounded too much like The Hunger Games or something (which a few did unfortunately…)

But overall, I think it went really well.

Okay, what I'm really excited for now, is getting the long awaited Author's Review Copy. Like, I'm literally finding it hard to sit still just waiting for it. CreateSpace said that I should get it within five to seven days.

And they said that about four days ago, so I'm dying to see my book in print.

I also realized that after I submit my final revisions for the story…

There's a "publish" button.

So like, when I click publish, it will be published.

I mean how cool and scary is that!?

Anyway, I'm just sorta freaking out about all this.

Happy Monday!

--Jess
麥潔思

From the Ashes Cover Reveal!

Alright.

I'm nervous.

But here goes.

I'm not sure how it all went wrong.

The concept was simple.

The Trials were made to test us. They were made to challenge our strengths; our bravery.

We were supposed to come out better.

Winning the Trials would make us Superior citizens.

It would bring us honor and demonstrate our loyalty to the Imperial Alliance.

I knew exactly what I wanted.

Until I met him.

There was something about him. Something dark. If only I had known the danger it would put us in.

I thought I knew the risks.

But I never imagined the price we'd pay.

***

An insightful look at the good and bad that exist within us, McKendry's debut is a high-octane adventure that pushes the imagination to the limit as it lays bare the nature of self-reliance, self-confidence, and teamwork. Playing with the concepts of dark and light and how they affect our lives in multiple forms, her novel is a complex coming of age story that encapsulates the heroine's journey from student to leader. A dark tale of love and revenge, From the Ashes is a powerful reminder to think for yourself instead of blindly following what you've been taught to believe.

***

So…

What do you think?

I honestly find it hard to believe that when I first started writing this blog, I was only halfway through writing the first draft of From the Ashes. And to think that now, I have the cover, which has completely brought the story to life!

I can't believe I've gotten this far!

Then again, I couldn't have made it without all of your great help and support. Truly, you guys are all just so awesome!

Thanks so much for everything :)

--Jess

Happy New Year (A Day Late)

Happy New Year!

We made it to 2013!

I didn't exactly make a list of my New Years Resolutions, but I know what I'm going to do this year, so I guess that's good enough. I hope.

Anyway, my cover release will be on FRIDAY.

So make sure you stop back then!

I'll also be posting it on my Facebook Author page.

Okay, now I have to get back to catching up on my school work, because I'm still a tiny bit behind. That is also why this post is so short, and why I'm posting so late.

Have a nice day! (Or whatever's left of it…)

--Jess