From the Ashes Blogfest!

I'm so happy to participate in the From the Ashes Blogfest for the launch of Jess's debut novel. 

The prompt is: tell 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?

I've been pretty lucky in my life and have never been tested to the breaking point.  My biggest fear is rather silly, it is being face to face with a shark, or in a room/cave full of tarantulas.  I think I can probably avoid both of those situations relatively easily.

My character, Nakyte, in The Hidden Truth, has it much more difficult.  Aside from having to fight off ferocious wild ponjits and other beasts from the forests of Bishare, she has to decide whether or not to trust her father, the King, or to disobey him and search for the truth.  She could lose everything she has ever loved, but she might just find the love of her life.  

Now on to the main event!!!! 

I'm so proud of Jess for all the hard work she has put into From the Ashes.  She is such an inspiration to me and I'm very lucky to be her mom!  :)

Summary:

Jaina Indera has been preparing her entire life for the chance to prove herself a superior and loyal citizen of the Imperial Alliance. In order to do so, she believes she must win the galaxy-wide competition known as the Trials. With training at her Gifted School progressing swiftly, everything looks like it is on pace for her to achieve her dream…until a boy named Dragon enrolls in her class.

Suddenly doubting herself and everything she’s been taught to believe, Jaina and Dragon are teamed with six of their classmates for the chance to compete and achieve their dream: winning the Trials. Consisting of four different tests, the Trials are about to challenge these eight young adults to the limits of their abilities. But learning to work as a team is more difficult than they ever imagined and dark secrets from Dragon’s past emerge that put them in mortal danger. Now Jaina must discover what she’s really fighting for if she and her team have any hope of finishing the Trials…alive.

Exploring the nature of self-reliance and self-confidence, McKendry delivers a perceptive, nuanced portrait of the importance of teamwork and the strain it puts on individual desires and motivations. Playing with the concepts of dark and light, her novel is a complex coming of age story that encapsulates the complicated hero’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.

The Kindle version will be available sometime today.  

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/From-Ashes-Volume-Jessica-Mckendry/dp/1480287075/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1362661455&sr=8-1&keywords=jessica+mckendry

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17374554-from-the-ashes

Jessica McKendry was born in Michigan, yet grew up all over the Northeastern United States. She has lived in 7 different states, moved 15 times, and loves to travel. Jessica has been writing since she could read, but didn't write much more than poetry until she was 14 when she accidentally began writing what would become her debut novel two years later. Check out her website (www.jessicamckendry.com) or follow her on Twitter (@JessicaMcKendry) for more information.





Check out all the other participants here:



Have a great weekend everyone!

Kathy :)