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