Kristen L. Jackson's Blog

I'm sooo excited about MAGIC HARBOR's upcoming release on October 10, that I'd like to share a sneak peek preview of the story right HERE on my blog!Please enjoy the Prologue and the first three chapters for FREE. I hope this magical version of Dune Harbor carries you away, as it did for me as I was writing it. I'm completely in love with this book and the characters in this setting. My hope is that you'll love them as much as I do! Enjoy!KristenMAGIC HARBORKEEPER OF THE WATCH SERIES, BOOK TWOBYKRISTEN L. JACKSONPrologueAlyxAugust 8th, 8:00 a.m. The ticking clock echoed in her head. Tick-tick-tick-tick. Eight minutes left before the jump. I think we’re ready... Alyx fidgeted with the zipper on the backpack. Up and down, up and down. Zip-zip. Zip-zip. Everything was packed. She paced the perimeter of the room in circles, a frown wrinkling her forehead. Chase watched her from the middle of the living room. They were alone in the abandoned house they had been living in since the victory against the hunters here in Dimension 7—one of twelve parallel worlds, the existence of which remained hidden from most people within those dimensions. Here, they had discovered a post-apocalyptic parallel Earth under the tyrannical rule of two hunters hell-bent on finding the remaining watches, and put an end to their dictatorship. The people here were truly free for the first time in years. A gentle sigh hissed between her teeth. The watches opened a magical door between twelve parallel worlds, but only watch-wearers known as keepers could bond—or couple—with a watch. Since the invention of the twelve watches by Chase’s ancestor, Elias Walker, over one hundred years ago, the two they’d dubbed ‘hunters’ had made it their life-long goal to steal the power the watches provided. Her eyes took on a faraway glint as she recalled the history she’d been taught since she was old enough the listen. In the beginning, the hunters had tried to harness the power of the watches for themselves—the remarkable ability to travel the twelve dimensions. They soon learned that only a keeper’s blood can power the watch itself … and had begun their quest to eradicate all keepers and their watches. Only children born on specific dates (the first day of the first month, second day of the second month, and so on up to the twelfth day of the twelfth month) within specific ancestral lines could jump to a new world each month of their eighteenth year, and even then only if they coupled with the watch after their eighteenth birthday. Alyx rounded her shoulders, standing taller. It was an honor to be a keeper, and she had painstakingly—calling on all her powers of persuasion—convinced Chase of that when he had his own doubts back in his home world, Dimension 6. The hunters new goal was clear: to find and destroy all remaining watches … and their keepers. Keepers. Us. That’s why we have to destroy them first. They won’t stop until they’ve killed us all. A determined look lit her eyes. Since hunters were nearly immortal, it wouldn’t be easy. Hunters aged at a very slow rate. They had been around since the watches’ invention but looked like they were in their mid-twenties. Although she and Chase had defeated the hunters in this dimension, she knew they would likely continue to battle the hunters’ ‘other selves’ in each dimension they jumped to. Only a keeper was born solely in one world. Everyone else had the potential to exist in multiple worlds. At least we don’t have to worry about running into our ‘other selves’ … I don’t think I could survive two of him. Her eyes found Chase and traveled the length of him. His blonde hair with just a slight hint of curls at the tips, cerulean blue eyes that crinkled when he laughed. And those dimples.… At that moment he looked up as if he could hear her thoughts, flashing a smile that showed off that very feature and had her heart skipping in her chest. Her lips turned up against her will. He seemed to have that effect on her. Her shoulders raised with a sigh. Who am I kidding? He has that effect on everyone. Breaking her eyes away, she turned and resumed her pacing. Each event in time caused a shift, creating a ripple effect resulting in a different reality in each world in the multiverse. They had no idea what—or who—they would find in each new world they jumped to. Only the box they’d found hidden in Chase’s home world could guide them on their journey. In it: an ancient journal written by the creator and previous keepers, along with currency and some other trinkets they had no idea how to use. She knew they had succeeded in this seventh dimension to the best of their ability, but still they had failed to complete a big part of their mission. There just hadn’t been time to search for the last keeper before the next jump. Originally, there had been twelve watches, one originating in each dimension. Now, all but three had been destroyed by the hunters. Hers. Chase’s. And one other. It was their hope to find the last keeper and protect him along with his watch, though they had no idea in which world the third keeper might reside, or for that matter if the next keeper had even been born yet. One thing was sure. If he, or she, resided in this dimension, they would most likely never know it, since this was a one-stop dimension hop. Their time here was up, and they would not return to D-7 again. Even now, they were mere minutes away from jumping to the next world. Dimension 8. Her hands continued to toy with the zipper as she spoke and her brow creased again. “I think we can assume we’ll both jump to Dune Harbor, I just wish we could jump together to the same coordinates.” Chase reached for her hand. “What if we hold hands? Anything we’re wearing or holding goes with us, right? If we hold hands, maybe we’ll end up in the same place this time.” She tilted her head. “But what if our touching throws everything off? This hasn’t been done before, we have no idea if our two transports will be compatible, or if combining them will have disastrous consequences. We could end up anywhere, or worse, not survive the jump. Maybe we should just take our chances and hope to find each other quickly once we get there. Maybe make a meeting point?” “Easy for you to say. You didn’t have to see me executed. I don’t want to risk something like that happening again, Alyx.” She blew out a breath. “Okay. We’ll try holding hands. But just in case that doesn’t work, meet me at Uncle Charlie’s house as soon as you can.” Chase nodded. She glanced at her watch. 8:05 a.m. “Ready?” She said. “Ready.” They stood side-by-side, backpacks on, fingers intertwined. Chase absently rubbed his thumb over Alyx’s palm as they waited. “Three minutes seems like an eternity when you’re waiting,” he said. “True.” 8:07 a.m. Both pairs of pupils dilated as the watches began glowing, then pulsing brightly, bathing the room in unnatural light. “Good luck, Chase.” “I love you, Alyx.” She inhaled a deep breath and looked into his glowing blue eyes. “I…” All at once electricity filled the room and both of their bodies hummed with power of it, causing the hair on their arms to stand on end. Dual silver ever-changing pools appeared above each of their heads, taking on a life of their own. When they emerged, they were about the size of a coin, hovering over each of them, and then grew before their eyes to the size of a full-length mirror in the blink of an eye. The wavering shapes writhed in anticipation of the passing minute, fluctuating in constant motion as if agitated. 8:08 a.m. Chase looked at Alyx questioningly. “What?” “I…” Suddenly, she launched herself at Chase, wrapping her arms around him and holding on. He caught her, stumbling back a step, and returned her embrace, folding her in his arms and hugging her body to his. As always, their bodies fit perfectly together. His hard lines meshed with her soft curves. Alyx squeezed her eyes shut, her head tucked under Chase’s chin, so close she could feel his heart beating against her body in perfect unison with her own. And she waited. A bolt of lightning streaked through the room as the two shimmering pools bounced off of each other like opposing magnetic forces. His cobalt light joined with her iridescent magenta glow, combining to create a deep mulberry color that ignited their veins and traveled throughout their bodies, as if they had become one unit. Anticipation turned to attack. The writhing pools above them continued to bounce off of each other, as if engaged in a deadly battle, until a final crash when, accompanied by another bolt of lightning, the two energies united, creating a single shimmering mercurial pool that hung above their heads. At once the cosmic war ceased, and the mass moved peacefully, as if there had never been discord. A second after the discrete entities joined, the now single larger mass dropped from the air. Both Alyx and Chase were consumed from head to foot in one heartbeat, disappearing instantaneously. The house where they had been present just seconds before stood suddenly vacant. The only trace that anyone had been there was the electrical hum and a faint burning smell left in their wake. And that’s when the pain began.Chapter 1Chase Agony. It encompassed his body, saturating every pore; every blood cell pumping through his veins seemed to be screaming in anguish. Fire. There was no pinpoint of space within or without left untouched by the violent pain that burned through to the core of his being. It was as if his heart had burst out of his chest in flames, his body gasping to breathe through the inferno raging inside him. I can’t… He clenched his teeth against it, jaw grinding, hands fisted even as his eyes remained clamped shut. Coherent thought was just out of reach, so he turned into himself, searching for some kind of solace, sinking farther into a pool of never-ending blackness. Sanity knocked on the outskirts of his consciousness, but he turned it away, preferring the nothingness. Flames licked along the edges, searching for a crack in the mortar, a tiny hole to find its way deeper inside the well. Pain.Can’t. Give. In. Clawing toward the surface, Chase pushed with every ounce of energy inside him to beat back the burning that threatened to consume him. I survived this once before. I can do it again. Willing his body to move, he was again denied. It was as if a tractor trailer was parked on his chest, and he was powerless to do anything but lay here, every breath a struggle. The roaring in his ears made his brain hurt, but he shoved back at it, forcing it to retreat with the strength of his will alone. Alyx. Are you here? That one thought gave him the push he needed to fight. He cracked one eye, letting the searing light pierce like a dagger into his cerebrum. He lifted his head and looked down. Chestnut hair tinged with purple tips fanned out across his chest. Alyx. Not a truck. Alyx lay sprawled on top of him. His head fell back and he closed his eyes again. He willed his arms to move, gingerly wrapped them around her. Second by second, the pain was receding. Now he could die peacefully. “Ch-Chase?” the muffled voice broke down the rest of the wall, and he rolled to his side carrying her with him. His breathing evened out, and he savored the feel of doing that one simple act. “I’m here,” he croaked through his tortured throat. “You’re ... hurting me.” “What?” He forced his eyelids open, and realized he was squeezing her to him in a vise grip.Loosening his arms, he moaned. “Always complaining.” The sound of her labored breathing broke through the fog, and he pushed his body upright. “You okay?” he asked, watching her eyelids flutter open, her lavender eyes meeting his. “Better now. It’s getting better.” She, too, gingerly pushed her body into a sitting position, arms resting on her knees, body hunched over. “Thank God.” He rubbed his hands over his face then into his hair, making it stand on end. “At least we’re together this time.” “Yes.” “Two jumps down. How many more times do we have to do that? I can’t think.” The corners of her mouth lifted, though her eyes remained strained. “You have ten more jumps. I have eight. I’ve got three down, and I skipped a dimension, remember?” He scowled down at her, then looked up for the first time taking in his surroundings. “Whoa. Where are we?” He slowly got to his feet, taking in the scene before him. “Uh, guess we didn’t land at the beach this time.”Chapter 2Alyx“No, definitely not the beach.” Alyx pushed to her feet, bent over with hands on her knees, breathing erratically. Her eyes traveled the area around them, squinting through patchy shade broken with bursts of sunlight, creating a kaleidoscope of colors. A myriad of green hues invaded her senses. Juniper bled into olive and basil creating an explosion of mossy color interspersed with various browns. Vertical slants in shades of mocha as far as she could see. The smell of pine made her nostrils flare. A musty scent saturated her senses, and she stood straighter. “A forest. Do you think this is the same place we camped in Dimension 7? The one near that town? Apple Blossom?” She turned in a full circle. “I think I can find my way out, if it is. I spent a lot of time there,” she added. Chase scanned the area. “Don’t know. We’re not in the clearing. And I don’t hear a stream, at least not close by. It feels … different.” His head tilted as he met her eyes. “I thought we’d always land in the middle of Dune Harbor. I didn’t expect this. Where’s the beach?” “We have no way of knowing where in Dune Harbor we’ll land. It’s different each time. Let’s check this place out. We’ll have to find our way out of the woods if we’re going to look for the hunters and begin our search for the last keeper.” “Yeah, and we need to find food. Jumping makes me hungry.” Alyx rolled her eyes. “You’re always hungry. Food’s the least of our worries. Didn’t you stuff your backpack with every packaged food you could fit before we left?” “And yours is stuffed with weapons.” He winked, flashing those dimples. Alyx sighed, a slight smile tugging at the corners of her mouth. She shook her head, continuing her inspection. “Never know when we may need to use the Inferno Ray to incinerate something, or the Spark Gun to incapacitate someone for a while. You were happy to use them in D-7.” Crack-snap. Crack. Both heads jerked toward the sound. They held their breath and stilled their bodies, heads cocked. Alyx positioned herself back-to-back with Chase, hand inching toward the set of blade discs she always carried in a holster under her shirt. The small weapon could, if thrown correctly, sever limbs or even decapitate a target. Her hands went clammy as she remembered a hunter meeting just that fate in D-7. Alyx could almost hear the sound of the woman’s head thumping to the ground; see it launching into a wobbly roll as her body remained standing. At least temporarily. She shook her head to clear the image.Snap. “What was that?” she whispered. Chase held up a hand, palm out. “Don’t move,” he breathed. His finger slowly pointed toward the distant left. “Keep quiet and don’t move.” She froze, except for the hand that continued creeping toward her weapon of choice, just barely breathing as she slid one of the blade discs out, grasping it between her fingers. Her legs spread in battle stance and she rolled her shoulders. This is what she’d trained for since birth. Her eyes followed the direction Chase indicated, and at first she saw nothing. Then she heard it. A low rumbling, like an engine idling, continuous and fierce. When she pinpointed the spot from which the sound originated, her quick intake of breath gave away her surprise. Two eyes glowed out of the shadows as the thing peered from behind a tree, a mixture of light and dark shades of gray camouflaged the creature perfectly in the dark patches of shade. As she made eye contact with the thing, it slinked from behind the tree, snarling. Its dagger-like yellow teeth were bared, lips curled in warning. She saw that the fur on its back stood on end, and its tail was raised and straight. “A wolf?” she murmured. “No. Too small. Shh.” She began raising her arm, ready to launch the blade disc toward the animal, but felt Chase’s hand on her forearm holding her back. She looked at him over her shoulder, raising a brow. His hushed words barely reached her ears, “Don’t kill it unless you have to.” She gave a slight nod. Her arm relaxed by her side, blade disc in hand and ready if needed. They remained at a stand-off, no one moving, their breathing amplified in the stillness. Sweat trickled from beneath her hair down the base of her neck causing a shiver to run along her spine, despite the heat of the day. She resisted the urge to swipe it away. Continuously glancing down at her watch’s gentle violet glow, she could see the the blood-red minute-hand move notch by notch. They stood as still as the trees surrounding them for what seemed an eternity, though she knew only minutes had passed. Enough. Alyx took one step toward the small wolf-like beast. As she drew her arm back, another set of eyes appeared behind the animal. The pup crouched behind its mother, mimicking her stance, though it lacked her size and dominance. The high-pitched growl had one corner of her mouth lifting. The small body seemed disproportionate in its awkward adolescent stage, lanky hind quarters larger than the front. It was covered in fuzzy fur, much lighter in color than its parent. The copper color of its head bled into a gray flank and tail. Its winsome appearance belied any attempt at intimidation. Once again, she lowered her arm, even before Chase’s hushed words reached her ears. “It’s just a mother protecting her baby.” He inched his hand toward his jeans pocket, and pulled out a stick of beef jerky. She rolled her eyes. Of course he has food in his back pocket. Probably in every pocket. His soothing words filled the silence, spoken softly, making the mother’s growl gain volume. “It’s okay. We’re not here for your baby. Here, I’ll share.” Gearing back as slowly as possible, he tossed the jerky in the creature’s direction, and the treat landed a few feet in front of it with one bounce on the soft turf. The animal’s trembling body lurched at the sudden movement, lips pulling back to reveal dark gums, saliva hanging from its jowls like shoestrings. The pup hid behind its parent, only its head and eyes visible from around her hunched back. The mother’s nostrils flared as it picked up the scent of food. It leaped forward in one swift move, snatching the snack and disappearing into the shrubbery, the pup right on her heels. “Thanks. For not killing them,” Chase said. “I’m not heartless.” He nodded. “Just practical.” “Could have solved your food problem. Wolf-burgers might be good,” she teased, returning the blade disc to its holster. Arms gesturing, he retorted, “I’m not eating a …” His words trailed off. “Wolf-burger. Good one.” He looked back to where the pair had disappeared. “I wonder what that thing was? Not a wolf, exactly. I was thinking coyote because of its size, but its features were wrong. The snout was too blocky. Maybe some kind of a dog?” “It doesn’t matter, it’s gone. Now, we can get on with finding our way out of here.” Chase nodded. “We ought to find shelter before nightfall.” His eyes scanned the area. “You hear anything?” She shook her head. “Shouldn’t we hear birds? Leaves rustling? Crickets chirping? An airplane overhead? Something. Anything. It’s creepy that there isn’t another sign of life.” She scrutinized the area in a 360 degree circle. “Let’s move.” She started moving away from the place where the creature had disappeared and heard the sounds of his footsteps in the underbrush following. “How do you know which way to go?” Chase asked. “I don’t.” Her eyes remained alert as she continued moving forward.Chapter 3ChaseChase grumbled to himself as he stooped to pick up more firewood, adding it to the thick bundle already under his arm. This wasn’t the way it was supposed to go. What could they accomplish stuck here in the forest? He’d done his share of camping as a boy, so he knew how to survive in the woods. He could probably keep the two of them alive for the month, until they jumped to the next dimension on September 9th. And if they could find a water source, he could always catch fish to feed them. He looked down as his stomach grumbled. But finding water here was not as easy as he’d first thought it would be, and his brow furrowed when he held up his nearly empty water bottle, sloshing the liquid back and forth. Food and water. That had become their first mission here in Dimension 8. August 10th. Two days. They’d been tramping through these woods in the summer heat for two days, and neither one of them had a clue how to get out of here. And worse, he was beginning to suspect that they’d walked in a full circle. Was that the same tree the animal and its pup had hidden behind when they’d first arrived? It had the same slant to its trunk. Hard to say. All the trees were beginning to look alike. Forty-eight wasted hours. He sighed, and continued his task. When his hands were so full it took both arms to wrap around the stash he began backtracking, following the slashes he’d left on the tree trunks as he walked. He’d begun marking their path yesterday, so if they did circle around again they would know it without a doubt. When he got back to camp, Alyx was sitting cross-legged on the moss-covered ground between two majestic hemlock trees that had to have been planted sometime in the last century. She had something in her lap, and as she studied it her hair fell forward covering her face from his view. The purple tips stood out amongst the greenery, and her head snapped up when he took a step closer, wild violet-blue eyes softening with recognition. “You’re back.” “Got enough firewood to last us for tonight. What’cha got there?” She held out her hand, palm up. “Some kind of fruit. Recognize it?” The berries were the size of grapes, round and translucent, seeds visible deep inside them. At a glance, they looked like frozen dewdrops in solid form. He dropped next to her to get a closer look. “Definitely not. They’re kinda cool, though. Where’d you find them?” She pointed. “Over there, growing up the side of that weird tree.” He turned in the direction she indicated. “Uh, I don’t see…” And then he did. The tree was bent sideways, its trunk at an angle reaching toward the sun’s rays. Now that he saw it, he wondered how he had missed it. Unlike the other trees of this forest, its body was smooth and appeared translucent when viewed from any angle except straight on. It blended with its surroundings so well that he had missed seeing it the first time around. The leaves were a pale iridescent lime green, and also seemed to shimmer into nonexistence into the shadows and light of the forest. Like the berries, they were translucent. Alyx raised a berry to her mouth, and Chase swatted it out of her hand. “Hey!” “You can’t just eat every berry you find. You didn’t already eat one, did you? What if it’s poisonous?” “How will we find out if we don’t eat them?” “Good question. But I’m not comfortable eating those berries until we do. That’s one of the first things you learn in Boy Scouts.” She huffed. “What’s Boy Scouts?” “Seriously? I pegged you as a Girl Scout for sure. It’s a kind of a club that kids can join to learn all kinds of survival skills.” “My parents taught me all of that. My training began on the day I learned to walk. I didn’t need a club.” His shoulders shook. “Apparently they missed teaching you about poisonous berries.” She sat up straighter, her head lifting a notch. “They taught me how to survive. To protect myself and others. We each have our strengths.” He winked, a slow smile spreading. “You’re right. That’s why we make such a good team.” He leaned over, bumping her shoulder with his. “Good find, though. Let’s stash them, and watch the plants and see if anything else comes to eat them. If an animal or bird eats one and doesn’t keel over, I guess we’ll be okay, too.” Chase reached across her lap to grab his backpack and looked up, meeting her eyes. His smile faded as his expression turned suddenly serious. His eyes focused on her lips, and he leaned forward. Alyx leaped to her feet. He looked up at her, crossed his legs, and leaned back on his arms. “I thought…” He looked away. “Thought what?” “You were going to tell me something… Right before the jump. Remember?” “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” His eyes followed the red climbing up her cheeks, and continued, “You like me, admit it. Like when you stare at me when you think I’m not looking. And how you melt when I kiss you…” “Ha! Melt? Is that what you call it? We’re melting because of the heat, not because of some kiss.” She slammed her hands on her hips and began pacing a small path in front of him. “How about we focus on surviving in this place? Finding food, maybe? Or, I don’t know, getting out of here so we can search for the two hunters and the last keeper? How about we get our priorities straight.” His eyes followed, aware of her every movement. Wow. She’s something. He pushed slowly to his feet and took a step toward her. “Oh, my priorities are in the right order.” She jumped back and assumed a battle stance; knees and elbows bent, arms raised. “I need space.” His arms dropped to his sides and he sighed while taking a step backward. You’re moving too fast, moron. Slow down. She may be eighteen like me, but she’s never even had a boyfriend before. “That, I can do.” He scanned the area, remembering the sound of her laughter when they’d gone swimming on their last jump. “Okay, priorities. Let’s make camp. We need to take inventory of our food supply, and as much as I hate to say it, ration it out. Since food is not abundant around here, we need to make sure we don’t run out.” Alyx relaxed her pose and nodded. “Too bad you shared some of our supplies with that beast.” She frowned. “And I’m almost out of water.” “Me too.” He held up his plastic water bottle and shook it back and forth. “Let’s try digging for water after we make our shelter. I’ll look for large sticks to use as supports, you look for bushes with good-sized leaves, or fallen branches still full of leaves. Who knows, maybe it will rain?” Splitting up, he wandered around the campsite glancing periodically in her direction, picking up anything he could use to fashion into a shelter for the night. He leaned two long sticks against the tree with the thickest trunk. Using a rock and a spoon from his backpack, he carved a small notch into the wood, then wedged one end of the stick into the notch while pushing the other end into the ground. “There. That should hold for one night.” He repeated the process so the two sticks created a small lean-to at the base of the tree. Alyx began placing her discoveries on top. She’d broken branches off a nearby bush, and the leaves were thick and wide. She nodded when Chase spoke, “Those are perfect.” Overlapping them together in a zigzag pattern, he watched as she stood back to observe her work and gave one curt nod. “This will do.” “Perfect. Now for water.” Chase squatted, grasping the spoon and stabbing it into the soil. He scooped the earth and dumped it onto a growing pile next to the hole he created. It fell like dust that rolled down the sides of the mound. Sweat dripped a jagged path from his temple to his jawline even though his body didn’t tire as he dug. “The dirt is very dry,” Alyx said unhelpfully. “Well, I’m going to keep trying. I’m not nearly deep enough yet.” “Okay, I’m going to take a walk around the area, see if there are any signs of a creek or stream nearby.” He nodded, his small mountain of dirt growing as the hole got deeper. After a few minutes, he sat back and wiped the sweat from his brow. The heat emanating from his body had him pausing for a break. He glanced at his hole, now elbow-deep. Odd. It was still just as dry as the topsoil. In his experience the deeper the hole, the more moist the soil, but this was almost like working through sand. His tongue was glued to the roof of his mouth. What he wouldn’t give for a fountain soda from McDonald’s right now. Along with a cheeseburger and fries. A pie. Maybe a milkshake. And a cookie. He scowled at the spoon in his hand before pushing himself back up to resume digging. The aquamarine glow of his watch caught his eye, and he paused to stare at the minute and second hands, for a moment mesmerized by the movement of his very lifeblood flowing through them. His blood: the power source for the watch itself as his heart beat in time with the clock. Don’t think I’ll ever get used to this. He resumed his monotonous task. Scoop and dump, scoop and dump. The mound grew mere tablespoons at a time.Why didn’t we think of bringing a shovel? He wondered. The rumbling in his stomach put a scowl on his face. He barely heard the cracking of twigs off to his left that signified he was no longer alone.***Magic Harbor Launches on October 10, 2019! Pre-order your copy to read on. (Links below)!***Kristen L. Jackson, author of Young Adult Fantasy series KEEPER OF THE WATCH Available Now:Black Rose WritingAmazonBarnes & Noble*Book Two, MAGIC HARBOR, Coming 10/10/19! Click to Pre-Order Now!Black Rose WritingAmazonBarnes & NobleChildren's Picture Book JOCELYN’S BOX OF SOCKS Available Now:AmazonBarnes & NobleSchiffer BooksFind Me On:Facebook: @kristenjacksonauthorAmazon: Kristen L. JacksonTwitter: @KLJacksonAuthorTumblrGood Reads: Kristen L. JacksonPinterestInstagram: @krisjack504Yahoo: kristenjacksonauthor@yahoo.comWebsite: https://kristenljackson.wixsite.com/kristenjacksonauthorLinkedinCLICK HERE TO READ THE FIRST THREE CHAPTERS OF KOTW FOR FREE!

A cover is the face of a book. It's the first thing a potential reader sees. Do people judge a book by it's cover? The answer is a resounding 'yes.' I know I do it all the time. So that means it's extremely important to get it right. Ideally, I want the combination of title and picture to capture the attention of someone walking (or scrolling) by, enough so they will pause long enough to take a closer look.It has to have just the right amount of mystery, accompanied by hints to the storyline and genre of the novel without giving too much away. No pressure, right? (Ha, ha!)And so, I struggled with choosing the perfect cover for MAGIC HARBOR, the second book in the KEEPER OF THE WATCH Series due out October 10, 2019--four months away. Oh, I had lots of ideas. I wanted it to match perfectly with the cover of Book One, with the same font, coloring and even some elements the same. So ... that's what I told my publisher's cover designer to do. A few days passed, and I got an email. He'd given me exactly what I asked for, but as my eyes devoured the new cover, I wasn't convinced. It was just too similar to its predecessor's cover.Back to the drawing board. Another brilliant idea came to me, and again, I passed on my ideas.In a repeat performance, the designer, David, gave me exactly what I had asked for. But it wasn't exactly my vision for this novel, and though I did like it, I just couldn't commit to it. Something was holding me back from final approval. I asked for adjustments to the placement of the title and author name, and though it was better, something just wasn't quite right.By this time, I'm sure poor David was getting a bit disgruntled with me, though gracious as he is, he didn't let on. I decided to go a totally different route, and that meant starting all over again. A few more days passed, and when I opened the attachment in the email, my immediate reaction was "This is the one." The one I'd been waiting for all along. It has just enough mystery, combined with elements from the story including the setting of the first half of the book. This is the one. I hope you like it as much as I do.Drum roll please...I give to you, MAGIC HARBOR, (Keeper of the Watch Series, Book Two!)Kristen L. Jackson, author of KEEPER OF THE WATCH Available Now:Black Rose WritingAmazonBarnes & Noble*Book Two, MAGIC HARBOR, Coming 10/10/19!Available NOW for Pre-Order through the publisher only, use Promo Code: PREORDER2019 to get an extra 15% off your order! Pre- Order Link: Black RoseWritingKristen L. Jackson, author of JOCELYN’S BOX OF SOCKS Available Now:AmazonBarnes & NobleSchiffer BooksFind Me On:Facebook: @kristenjacksonauthorAmazon: Kristen L. JacksonTwitter: @KLJacksonAuthorTumblr: https://kristenjacksonauthor.tumblr.comGood Reads: Kristen L. JacksonPinterest: AuthorKristenLJacksonInstagram: @krisjack504Yahoo: kristenjacksonauthor@yahoo.comWebsite: https://kristenljackson.wixsite.com/kristenjacksonauthorLinkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristen-jackson-036604126/CLICK HERE TO READ THE FIRST THREE CHAPTERS OF KOTW FOR FREE!

Here are the Questions and Answers from the Online Author Interview on Release Day! Any other questions? Ask them in the comments!Question #1: What gave you the idea to write the book?Answer: The first spark of an idea came from my mom. She loves to wear socks with pictures on them...she calls them 'fun socks.' That's where the original idea came from. (Thanks, Mom!)So, then I thought, wouldn't it be fun to write about a little girl who loves to wear socks, even in funny situations (like on the beach, and in the bathtub.) Since I work with preschool children every day, I know how important it is to talk about emotions with young children, and that's when I came up with the idea to put feelings faces onto the socks.Question #2: What age group is the book intended for?Answer:The book is intended for children ages 3-7 (preschool to approximately first grade.) I'm a preschool teacher, and I've tested it out on my class, as well as the other classes in the building! I guess you could say it's my job to 'research' children's picture books on a daily basis, LOL! (By the way, storytime is my FAVORITE time of the day!)I recently visited an elementary school, and a group of 139 preschoolers and kindergartners were all very excited and responsive to Jocelyn's story. Here is the back cover blurb: Jocelyn loves socks. She wears them everywhere . . . even in the bathtub! When a box of socks depicting different emotions arrives in the mail from her grandparents, she is ecstatic. After tearing open the package, she decides to wear a different pair of socks for when she’s happy, when she’s sad, and everything in between. Jocelyn soon discovers that her beloved new socks are not as exciting as they seem and are weighing her down. Can she learn how to manage her feelings and mix and match her socks to fit her every mood? Complete with a teacher's guide ideal for parents and educators.Question #3: Why did you include 'emotions' on the socks?Answer:I'm a preschool teacher ... and I watch the news. In the classroom, I guide my students through difficult social situations and frustrations of all kinds all day long. It's important to teach children acceptable ways to handle these and other strong emotions they feel. Sadly, news broadcasts highlight an urgent need to promote emotional wellness to try to end the violence that seems to be happening more and more in schools and other public places. The earlier we start talking about it, the better-equipped children will be to handle tough situations in school, at home, and in society as they grow into young adults. Books can open the door for this very important discussion about feelings...and what to do with them. Children aren't born with this knowledge. It is a skill that needs to be taught. I thought it was also important to address how quickly feelings and moods can fluctuate, and that it's okay. Children need to know they're not alone. Everyone's feelings shift and change, even in the span of just a few seconds or minutes. It is my hope that books like Jocelyn's Box of Socks can facilitate this need.Question #4: What is your favorite part of the book?Answer: There are so many parts of the book that I love! I think the illustrator, Tino Santanach, did a fantastic job bringing my story to life through pictures! He followed my suggestions perfectly and added a few touches of his own. My favorite page is the one with Jocelyn posing with her mismatched socks. I think the illustrations of her capture her personality so well, and I applaud Tino for making her fun and relatable.Question #5: Where did you come up with the name 'Jocelyn'?Answer:I'm 'Mom' to two amazing sons. Jordan is my oldest, and Jeremy my youngest. Jocelyn is the name my husband and I chose long ago for a girl (Notice the 'J' theme. Guess it runs in my family... I have two sisters, and our names all begin with 'K'.) Since we never had a daughter, I used our 'girl-name' for the main character in my book. And that's how 'Jocelyn' got her name! I guess that makes her one of my kids now, too!Any other questons? Ask in the comments, and I'll be happy to answer them! Keep on Reading!KristenJocelyn's Box of Socks, AVAILABLE NOW!Purchase links:Barnes & NobleTarget OnlineWalmart OnlineSchiffer PublishingAmazon

BOOKS FOR YOUNG CHILDRENSome of my favorite books are children's books.As a preschool teacher, I have the good fortune of reading a wide variety of books to my students every day.(Usually multiple times a day!) I guess you could say I research books for children on a daily basis. And I love every minute of it. Everyone in the building knows that storytime is my very favorite time of the day. The spark in a child's eye when he recites repeating lines, predicts what will happen next, or sits in rapt attention is the highlight of my career as a teacher. It's what inspired me to write my own children's picture book to share with the world.Each year with my class, I do a multiple-week study on Literacy, focusing on different children's book authors each week of the unit. Eric Carle, Mo Willems, Lois Ehlert, Dr. Seuss, Laura Numeroff, Eric Litwin, Leo Lionni, Bill Martin, Jr.; to name just a few. These weeks are always my favorite lesson plans to create and implement.Through this theme, it is my hope to pass on a lifelong love of books and reading on to my three, four, and five-year-old students. I'm a firm believer that books can teach you anything. They can teach you everything.And it begins even before a child can talk.WRITING CHILDREN'S BOOKS Children's books have a simple - but tough - job. Most people don't realize the amount of time, thought, and planning that goes into writing a 32-48 page book. A good picture book needs to have engaging pictures, humor (a must for preschoolers!), a relatable story, and an almost-hidden theme. Yes, I said hidden. Shh!I mean, the children can't know they're learning a life-altering lesson, or they won't be interested ... most of the time.Think about it. If you say to a child, "Let's read this book about identifying your feelings," you'll probably hear grumbling. But if, instead, you say to the same child, "Oh my, look at this girl wearing socks on the beach! She even wears them in the bathtub! Is that a sock on her head?" You'll catch their attention and draw them into the story itself before they realize there are feelings faces on the socks.It is every author's hope that the message of her book will come out, not just in the story itself, but in the meaningful follow-up discussions and activities led by parents and educators. The book opens the door on a topic or academic skill. The rest is up to the reader. For that reason, I felt it important to include a guide at the end of my book, with suggestions and ideas for extending the learning beyond the book itself. A LOVE OF READINGI've loved reading all my life, and it began with my mom reading to me at a very young age.My favorite book back then was a book called 'Will You Come to my Party', By Sara Asheron. It is the story of a forest party, and all the creatures are bringing something to the party, but they realize that they don't all eat the same thing...because they are all different species of animals. They figure out how to have a party anyway. What a wonderful, fun, and simple tale of acceptance.Another early favorite: A Little Golden Book called, 'There's a Monster at the End of This Book.'As I got older, some of my favorites were 'Bunnicula' by Deborah and James Howe, and 'Charlotte's Web' by E.B. White. As a teenager, I always had a book to read.When my husband (also an avid reader) and I married at a very young age, I can picture us so clearly reading Dean Koontz novels out loud to each other, lying side by side in bed. Bonding over books. So, it's safe to say I've loved books and reading my whole life. And I have my mom to thank for that because she passed her own love of reading on to me. Children learn by doing, seeing, and mimicking our behaviors. My advice: Read, read, read! FAVORITE CHILDREN'S BOOK QUOTESIn honor of the upcoming release of my first picture book, I'd like to end with some of my favorite quotes in children's literature. There are sooo many! I promise, I'll try to keep it reasonable! Take a moment and add your favorite children's books or quotes in the comments. I'd love to hear about them!Here they are:"A person's a person, no matter how small." - Dr. Seuss, Horton Hears a Who"The moment you doubt whether you can fly, you cease forever to be able to." -J.M. Barrie, Peter Pan"We all can dance ... when we find the music we love." - Giles Anderson, Giraffes Can't Dance"It has been a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day. My mom says some days are like that. Even in Australia." - Judith Viorst, Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day"I'll love you forever, I'll like you for always, as long as I'm living, my baby you'll be." - Robert Munsch, Love You Forever"The Rainbow Fish shared his scales left and right. And the more he gave away, the more delighted he became. When the water around him filled with glimmering scales, he at last felt at home among the other fish." - Marcus Pfister, The Rainbow Fish"By helping you, perhaps I was trying to lift up my life a trifle. Heaven knows anyone's life can stand a little of that." -E.B. White, Charlotte's Web"It does not do to dwell on dreams and forget to live." - J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone"Listen to the MUSTN'TS, child. Listen to the DON'TS. Listen to the SHOULDN'TS, the IMPOSSIBLES, the WON'TS. Listen to the NEVER HAVES then listen close to me - Anything can happen, child. ANYTHING can be." - Shel Silverstein, Where the Sidewalk Ends"Do you know that you are very strong?" - The Monster at the End of This Book"But looking back on the next day I can tell you that happy endings are possible, even in situations as fraught with complications as this one was." - James Howe, Bunnicula, #1"Your'e braver than you believe and stronger and smarter than you think." - A.A. Milne, Winnie the Pooh"She ran into her room and pulled on two mismatched socks. Her socks didn't have to match her mood. (And they didn't have to match each other, either!)" - Krisen L. Jackson, Jocelyn's Box of SocksAdd your favorite children's books or quotes in the comments, I'd love to hear them!Keep On Reading!KristenKristen L. Jackson, author of:JOCELYN’S BOX OF SOCKSA Children's Picture Book Coming May 28, 2019Pre-Order Now at:AmazonBarnes & NobleSchiffer BooksKEEPER OF THE WATCH, a young adult sci-fi/fantasy novelAvailable Now:Black Rose WritingAmazonBarnes & NobleFind Me On:Facebook: @kristenjacksonauthorAmazon: Kristen L. JacksonTwitter: @KLJacksonAuthorTumblr: https://kristenjacksonauthor.tumblr.comGood Reads: Kristen L. JacksonPinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/AuthorKristenLJacksonInstagram: @krisjack504Yahoo: kristenjacksonauthor@yahoo.comWebsite: https://kristenljackson.wixsite.com/kristenjacksonauthorLinkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristen-jackson-036604126/CLICK HERE TO READ THE FIRST THREE CHAPTERS OF KOTW FOR FREE!

As the official release date approaches for my very first published children's picture book, I'd like to share my release week schedule so you can mark your calendar now!I hope you can join me at one or all of the events. To accommodate busy schedules, I have local in-person events scheduled, as well as an online all-day event for those who don't live in the area or can't make it out to the events. You may not know that the road from writing to publishing this story has been over two years in the making! It's been a long road, but it's well worth the wait! The story of Jocelyn's Box of Socks was inspired by my Mom and her love of wearing socks with pictures on them, combined with my personal experiences in working with young children and their ever-fluctuating emotions. As a preschool teacher, I know how important emotional awareness is in developing social skills at an early age.I put the two ideas together, and Jocelyn's Box of Socks was born. About the book:Jocelyn is a young girl who loves to wear socks ... everywhere. Once, she even wore them in the bathtub! When her grandparents send her a box of socks, she notices that there are feelings faces on them. The socks spark an idea. Jocelyn decides to always wear the socks that match her mood. Jocelyn soon discovers; however, that moods can and do change quickly, and she becomes frustrated with changing her socks all the time. Check out this 'Sneak-Peak' reading of the beginning of Jocelyn's Box of Socks on YouTube at this link: YouTube Jocelyn's Box of Socks PreviewJOCELYN'S BOX OF SOCKS RELEASE WEEK SCHEDULE:Tuesday, May 28, 2019 (*Release Day!) Book Reading and Celebration- I'll be visiting the Mifflin Community Library (My Home Library!) at 6 Philiadelphia Ave., Shillington, PA, at 9:30am during storytime to read JBOS followed by some fun activities. We'll celebrate with custom-made Jocelyn-themed cookies made by local business One Smart Cookie.Tuesday, May 28, 2019 (Release Day!) All-Day Online Event- Join me all day on Facebook (@kristenjacksonauthor)! All you need to do is follow my page by clicking the 'Like' button, and check in throughout the day where I'll be posting giveaways, videos, quotes from the book, and little-known facts about JOCELYN'S BOX OF SOCKS! This is perfect way for those who can't make it to the live events to join in the celebration! (I'll be posting across my social media platforms, but the majority of posts will be on Facebook.)Saturday, June 1, 2019, Release Week Ice-Cream Party!- I'll be visiting Sweet Ride Ice Cream located at 542 Penn Ave., West Reading, PA, 19611, from 12:00-2:00pm, with a scheduled book reading of JOCELYN'S BOX OF SOCKS at 12:30pm. I'll have books for sale, and I'd love to meet you, sign your book, and talk writing over an icecream treat - what better way to celebrate the release of a children's picture book than with icecream! (SPECIAL DEAL: ***I'm buying icecream for the first five people who either buy a book, or show me your already-purchased copy.***) This event supports local businesses with a local author (Me!), a local small business (Sweet Ride), and a local publisher (Schiffer Publishing located in Atglen, PA.)Monday, June 3, 2019, School Visit- I'll be visiting the students at Owatin Creek Elementary School, 5000 Boyertown Pike, Reading, PA 19606, to do a book reading of JOCELYN'S BOX OF SOCKS and talk about writing.***Contact me at kristenjacksonauthor@yahoo.com to schedule an event!***JOCELYN'S BOX OF SOCKS is available for pre-order now at the following links:AmazonBarnes & NobleSchiffer PublishingKeep On Reading!KristenFind Me On:Facebook: @kristenjacksonauthorAmazon: Kristen L. JacksonTwitter: @KLJacksonAuthorTumblr: https://kristenjacksonauthor.tumblr.comGood Reads: Kristen L. JacksonPinterest: AuthorKristenLJacksonInstagram: @krisjack504Yahoo: kristenjacksonauthor@yahoo.comWebsite: https://kristenljackson.wixsite.com/kristenjacksonauthorLinkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristen-jackson-036604126/Click Here to Check out Keeper of the Watch, A Young Adult Sci-Fi/Fantasy Novel

Last night, I ate a fortune cookie.(Of course, you can't eat a fortune cookie without reading your fortune inside, right?)It's all part of the fun. I cracked open my cookie, exposing the hidden treasure inside which boldly declared, "Expect the best!"And, don't just expect the best ... but do it with excitement (exclamation point!) Seems simple enough. We should all expect the best in everything we do. So ... do we?Winners already know to expect the best, right? A runner doesn't take off thinking: I'm going to come in last place today. An Olympic gymnast doesn't enter the competition without first picturing that gold medal around his own neck.A writer doesn't put words to paper unless she believes in her story. A football player doesn't play to lose. The world is full of these subtle positive thoughts that keep us going. There's the positivity that we'll succeed.Positivity that we can achieve a goal. There really is power in positivity. Except...Sometimes. It's. Hard.To.Stay.Positive.Let's be honest here. Negative thoughts can weigh you down, pushing all those positive thoughts deep into the background. You start off with the best of intentions, and then something nags at you, urging you to give up. That little voice of negativity overshadows all of those happy thoughts.I know it happens to me. And I know it happens to you, too.Not because I'm a psychologist (I'm not!), or smarter than anyone else. Just because I'm human. We all are. And it's human nature to battle that negative thing called self-doubt. That runner may see his competition during practice, and that little niggle of doubt eases in without permission.The Olympic gymnast may worry about falling off the balance beam. When she can visualize it so clearly, won't that make it all the more possible?A writer may believe in her story, but what happens when she gets the first round of edits back from the editor and it's so overwhelming that she convinces herself the story is poorly written and will never be ready?What if the football player's team is on a three-game losing streak and all the news journalists are predicting this will be the fourth loss?Yes, there is power in positivity. But unfortunately, there's even more power in negativity. So, back to my fortune cookie. I know, it's just a piece of paper left for me, or someone else, to find.But it came at a time when I needed it. Last week was stressful. At work, in writing. Even the weather was depressing. I'm currently editing the sequel in the Keeper of the Watch series, MAGIC HARBOR, and let me tell you, editing can be hard. It's difficult to hear, after you've gone over a manuscript so many times you can't even begin to guess a number, that there are things that need to be added or changed. Oh, I know all writers go through this. But it's hard to push those words of self-doubt to the side. What am I doing, pretending to be a writer?This manuscript is terrible.Why did I ever think I could do this?I'll never be good enough.So, you see, my fortune cookie came at just the right time."Expect the best."I must expect the best in myself before I can expect the best in others. Thank you, little cookie, for reminding me. I am growing as a writer every time I make a change.This manuscript is a work in progress that will be amazingly polished when I finish.I know I can do this, I can't give up.I'm good enough to be a published author, so that means I must be good enough.So, here's my advice.Next time you're struggling with your own self-doubt, order Chinese take-out. Those little cookies are full of wisdom and positive support.Think I'll have another one...Or ... maybe they're just cookies, after all.Oh, well, if nothing else, you're smiling now, right? Keep on Reading, and Stay Positive!KristenKristen L. Jackson, author of KEEPER OF THE WATCH *Book Two, MAGIC HARBOR, Coming 10/10/19!Available Now:Black Rose WritingAmazonBarnes & NobleKristen L. Jackson, author of JOCELYN’S BOX OF SOCKS Coming May 28, 2019Pre-Order Now at:AmazonBarnes & NobleFind Me On:Facebook: @kristenjacksonauthorAmazon: Kristen L. JacksonTwitter: @KLJacksonAuthorTumblr: https://kristenjacksonauthor.tumblr.comGood Reads: Kristen L. JacksonPinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/AuthorKristenLJacksonInstagram: @krisjack504Yahoo: kristenjacksonauthor@yahoo.comWebsite: https://kristenljackson.wixsite.com/kristenjacksonauthorLinkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristen-jackson-036604126/CLICK HERE TO READ THE FIRST THREE CHAPTERS OF KOTW FOR FREE!

A few weeks ago, I had a bad day. You know, the kind that makes you wish you could stay in bed for 24 hours with your head under the covers?The kind of day where your dark inner thoughts make the personalities of both Oscar the Grouch and Eeyore look downright pleasant and perky in comparison?Did you ever have one of those days that just seems to go wrong from the start? I mean, literally from the moment you throw back the covers and your feet hit the cold hardwood floor causing instant shivers to shoot up your legs? No? Well, here’s an example of how it might look:You take one step out of bed, and trip over the area rug because the dog pushed the corner under with his paw during the night and now it's rolled at the edge. You reach for the bedpost to steady yourself and, just when you breathe a sigh of relief, you put your other foot down into something wet.Yes, I said wet.And not the clear-liquid kind of wet. This wet has substance as it squishes up between your bare toes. You can't see what it is, but your mind conjures horrid pictures of all the countless possiblities as a shudder travels from your scalp down to your still-moist foot. Sigh.Hopping from the room on one foot, you make a bee-line for the bathroom, only to discover the door is closed. Someone beat you to it.The smell of the mysterious substance coating your foot finally reaches your nose, and you immediately stop breathing to block the stench. All it takes is that one whiff and you think you may have identified the source of the mystery moisture ... at the same time realizing that in cases like these, ignorance is always preferable.Sigh.Now you're hopping down the stairs holding your breath with who-knows-what on the bottom of your foot ... and your bladder is about to burst. You vehemently shake your head. (No, I refuse have a grown-up potty accident.) You flip the light switch ... and nothing happens. Blown bulb. Sigh.Uncontrollable grumbles escape through your clenched teeth. One more step and you hear a yelp. Oops. Stepped on the dog's tail. Ha! That's payback for my wet foot, you think. You make it to the kitchen, reach under the sink, and remember that you needed to buy paper towels at the store ... but forgot yesterday when you were there even though that's the reason you went shopping in the first place. Sigh. Sigh. Sigh. Now you're wiping the gift-from-the-dog off your foot with a dish towel, and you hurl it at the trashcan like a major league baseball pitcher. (There's no way I'm washing that.)Then you notice that there's no trash bag in the can.Eye roll.You briefly consider leaving it, then shake your head, reluctantly digging the soiled dish towel out of the bottom of the can. And of course the mysterious wet-stuff is now smeared all over the bottom of the trashcan itself. Sigh.Was that the ... yes! It's the sound of the bathroom door opening! You run toward the blessed sound of ... oh no ... the door closes again with a bang and a quick snap of the lock.Sigh. "I need the bathroom," you inform the interloper who is using your bathroom time.Sigh. The rest of the day continues in the same vein. Out of milk for the morning coffee. Gas tank on Empty. An outbreak of pink eye at school. Clogged toilet at work. And ... wait ... no ... say it isn't ... head lice! (Arrrrgh!)Sniffle-sniffle, followed by a breath-hitch. Hold back the tears.And oh, it's not over yet.Spilled milk ... three times! Short-staffed at work. Student squabbles. Lost your favorite earring. Forgot to pack lunch. (Do my eyes itch—or is it my head?)You get the idea. It's like taking a page right out of Judith Viorst's popular children's book Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day.Some days, it seems as if nothing goes right. And I mean nothing. So, backtrack to my bad day. It was all I could do to make it to the end of my shift. While watching the clock, I dreamed of my pillow, warm pajamas and cozy slippers. Maybe a warm mug of hot tea with honey. And a book. Tick-tock, tick-tock. Two minutes. One. I made it. Hopping into my truck, I forced myself to drive at a reasonable speed even though my foot itched to 'floor it' in my quest for home. I pulled onto the highway ... and stopped. Perfect. Why wouldn't there be bumper-to-bumper traffic on the road standing between me and home?Sigh. Did I mention my Ipod wasn't working?Groan.We inched along for thirty minutes and had hardly made any progress at all.So a litany of ornary thoughts flitted through my gloomy brain:Great. Now we'll eat dinner late. I'll be folding wash at bedtime.The dogs are hungry, and if I don't get home soon there may be another 'wet spot' on the floor.I have a headache.All legitimate complaints. I mean, come on. This had been a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day. Anyone would agree, right? And then something happened to change all that. Something that put a screeching halt to all of my negative, self-pitying thoughts in that one instant. A flash of red strobe lights in the rearview mirror caught my attention. I noticed cars, packed like sardines, slowly pulling over as far as they could to make a tiny path for the vehicle to squeeze through the line of bumper-to-bumper traffic blocking the way.It was an ambulance.An ambulance. I lost my breath for a second, and when it came back in a rush I moved the truck over to allow the life-saving vehicle through. I thought about the people, somewhere up ahead, who clearly had suffered an accident on the same road where I was sitting. The person, or people, who was injured not far from the very spot where I sat in traffic with my truck. I thought about the possible injuries or, heaven forbid, possible fatalities that could be just up ahead. I thought about the families of those maybe-injured people, and my eyes filled with unshed tears. My heart picked up its beat. My lips moved in a quick whispered prayer for those unknown souls. And I was ashamed. Here I was, sitting there with my inner thoughts, in my mind whining and complaining about mundane things when in hindsight none of it mattered at all. Faced with an inconvenience, it's sometimes hard to see the bigger picture. I have to remember: It's not always about me. As an adult, and a mom, this isn't a new concept. I know this. Truly. But sometimes, even grown-ups just need to be reminded. I drove the rest of the way, inching along, with a troubled mind. I resolved right then to be thankful, even on the bad days.Especially on the 'bad' days.Because my bad day pales in comparison to what others may be going through. Over the weeks since this incident, I have thought about those unknown people many times. And each time I do, I remind myself to look at each situation from another point of view. Next time I step in something wet, I'll do my best to clean it up and move on. (And give the dog a kiss. His tummy's not feeling good!)I am thankful. I'm alive. My family is safe.Life is good, even when I have a no-good, very bad day. Sometimes, it's all a matter of perspective. "If you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change." --Dr. Wayne DyerKeep on Reading!KristenKristen L. Jackson, author of KEEPER OF THE WATCHAvailable Now:Black Rose WritingAmazonBarnes & NobleKristen L. Jackson, author of JOCELYN’S BOX OF SOCKSComing May 28, 2019Pre-Order Now at:AmazonBarnes & NobleFind Me On:Facebook: @kristenjacksonauthorAmazon: Kristen L. JacksonTwitter: @KLJacksonAuthorTumblr: https://kristenjacksonauthor.tumblr.comGood Reads: Kristen L. JacksonPinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/AuthorKristenLJacksonInstagram: @krisjack504Yahoo: kristenjacksonauthor@yahoo.comWebsite: https://kristenljackson.wixsite.com/kristenjacksonauthorLinkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristen-jackson-036604126/CLICK HERE TO READ THE FIRST THREE CHAPTERS OF KOTW FOR FREE!

"It must always be about the music, the songs. The world wants to sing. To rejoice. Never take for granted the power of a song. Love, not hate." —Brent Smith, ShinedownMusic has a certain kind of power. In every corner of the world the steady beat of a drum accompanied by the strum of fingers brushing over strings touches the lives and emotions of a multitude of people in various ways.Whether its amplified with a powerful rock beat, a low, twangy tune of sorrow, or the soothingly mournful breath of two voices embracing like soul-mates, it speaks to us. In celebration or mourning, in love or disdain, thankfulness or despair; a string of musical notes can release emotions from deep within our hearts. A song has the potential to touch a person's soul, possessing the universal ability to speak to us on a level to which not much else can compare. The impact of music on our lives is not a new concept.In fact, there are passages in the bible that encourage songs and music. "Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet, praise him with the harp and lyre, praise him with timbrel and dancing, praise him with the strings and pipe, praise him with the clash of cymbals, praise him with resounding cymbals." —Psalm 150:3-5Every Sunday in churches around the globe, voices join together to rise in praise, fellowship, and love. Because it brings us closer to our beliefs and allows us to rejoice in our faith. And that's only one of the ways music is intertwined with our lives.“Music is a language that doesn’t speak in particular words. It speaks in emotions, and if it’s in the bones, it’s in the bones.” ― Keith RichardsOn the drive to work, we crank up the volume and belt out the words, carefree and happy to let the music flow around us when we're all alone.As we watch television and movies, songs both old and new are woven throughout, helping to create the picture and tell the story. The tune can make our hearts speed up - or bring tears of sorrow to our eyes. Have you ever heard a song on the radio, and with just a note or a lyric it transports you back to another time, another place?Even a deaf person can feel the beat and rhythm of the music.At holiday time, music lifts us up, creating a festive mood. During the most important moments in our lives, music is there.Weddings. Birthdays. Graduations. Funerals.We each associate certain songs with events in our own individual worlds.The power of music. Music can be the hidden miracle, or the proof that amazing things can, and do, happen. It can be a reminder of times past, lessons learned, people we've loved. It can be an ode to history, or a prediction of things to come. It can remind of darker times, and teach us to remember the path not to take. "Our scars remind us, that the past is real." —Papa RoachYes, there is power in music.For as long as I can remember, music has touched my life. The words of "'You Are My Sunshine', my only sunshine," are forever a part of me because my mom sang this song to me thousands of times. I, in turn, sang this same song to my own children, hopefully creating memories they will cherish as I do. I was in the church choir when I was a kid. Standing in front of the congregation, I quickly realized that center-stage was not for me. I much preferred singing from the safety of my pew, while still enjoying the music.Long ago, my parents surprised me with my first concert to see my favorite singer at the time —Shawn Cassidy—when I was 8-years-old... "Met her on a Monday and my heart stood still, Da-Do-Run-Run-Run". (Be still my young, infatuated heart!) What an amazing experience. Looking back, I can remember my mom playing albums like 'Abba' and 'The Eagles' on her old stereo, the speakers vibrating as she cleaned or cooked. "You can't hide, your lyin' eyes..."And whenever I hear the golden oldies, I inevitably think of my dad. I can picture the way he would tilt his head, close his eyes, and sing along letting the music carry him away... "Still like that old time rock'n' roll, That kind of music just soothes the soul, I reminisce about the days of old, With that old time rock 'n' roll..." Oh, how I miss watching his pure enjoyment of all genres of music. My childhood Christmastime was filled with the bold, jaunty vocals of Johnny Mathis...I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas... which would fill the house, creating an air of jubilation for the coming holiday. And now, with my own children, it's Amy Grant's lilting voice that signifies the season for celebrating is near..."the night before Christmas..."And of course, my wedding song will forever bring tears to my eyes and love to my heart as I look at my husband of 28 years and we sing The Jeff Healey Band: "How did I ever win your love? What did I do? What did I say? To turn your Angel Eyes my way?" How about Shinedown's 'The Sound of Madness' cd, given to my husband for his birthday on a vacation trip to Wildwood, N.J., that will forever make us think of the beach and how we bungled the words to the song 'Haley's Comet' while riding in the car? It never fails to make us smile at the memory.Or the 25th anniversary trip to Hawaii, with Israel Kamakawiwo'ole's (IZ) 'Somewhere Over the Rainbow' pouring from a blue-tooth speaker as we sailed on a cruiseship into Maui with multiple actual rainbows following us on the horizon.The list could go on and on, as I'm sure it could for every one of you. Memories strewn throughout our own musical timelines. The power of music. I can only hope that music has been a constant source of soothing for you as it has always been for me. No matter which is your musical genre of choice, breathe in the music and let it take you away. Much the same as a good book, the words can lift you to another world, time or place. Let them. "Let it be, let it be. Let it be, yeah, let it be. There will be an answer. Let it be." —The Beatles“One good thing about music, when it hits you, you feel no pain.” ― Bob MarleyKeep On Reading,KristenKristen L. Jackson, Author of KEEPER OF THE WATCHAvailable Now:Black Rose WritingAmazonBarnes & NobleJOCELYN’S BOX OF SOCKSA Children's Picture Book Coming May 28, 2019Pre-Order Now at:AmazonBarnes & NobleFind Me On:Facebook: @kristenjacksonauthorAmazon: Kristen L. JacksonTwitter: @KLJacksonAuthorTumblr: https://kristenjacksonauthor.tumblr.comGood Reads: Kristen L. JacksonPinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/AuthorKristenLJacksonInstagram: @krisjack504Yahoo: kristenjacksonauthor@yahoo.comWebsite: https://kristenljackson.wixsite.com/kristenjacksonauthorLinkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristen-jackson-036604126/CLICK HERE TO READ THE FIRST THREE CHAPTERS FOR FREE!

The current state of our country worries me. I don't claim to have the answers. In fact, I'm not sure anyone does.Neither the upper, middle, and lower class citizens; nor the senate or congress. Not the president and his staff.Which only serves to make the situation all the more depressing. If there's no clear solution, how can we solve this problem?I don't want to debate politics with anyone. That's not the purpose of this post, and please note that I'm purposely leaving out to which political party I'm registered. None of that matters.What does matter is the level of rage, hate, and downright meanness I've seen across both 'sides' of this battle. And it is on both sides. I'm in the habit of scrolling right past all politic-bashing posts. I refuse to be drawn in to an argument or debate where there are surely no winners.I have friends and followers on both sides of the line, which means my news feed is equally filled with all kinds of political posts.Some of them make me hang my head in shame. People mocking each other. Belittling other's opinions. Disrespecting everyone that has a differing viewpoint.Again, I see it equally from both sides. And it makes a wave of pure sadness fill my soul. On television commercial's smear-ad campaigns, on the news, posted on social media, and in everyday conversations, the divide is real.And alarming.I see both sides contradict each other, fighting over just about any topic, and I'm scared. Looking back through the history of my life, I can't remember a time when we have seemed so desperately lost as a nation. I dream of a country not torn in two - the red versus the blue - but of a country united. The red, white, and blue together as one.We are brothers and sisters, friends and neighbors. And we all have opinions. I know I have plenty of them. But here's what we need to be reminded of.Just because someone has a different opinion on a topic than you do does not mean you are right and they are wrong. Conversely, it also does not mean that they are right and you are wrong. Most issues aren't that clear-cut anyway. Here’s another point to keep in mind. I may belong to a political party, but that does not mean that I agree with everything that party believes, says, or does. I'm so weary of hearing about Democrats and Republicans, Liberals and Conservatives. They are just four words. Words that we've allowed to have too much power in our nation. We are so much more than that. I have a wish. I wish I could write away the controversy. Invent a magical solution to make things right. Use fiction to solve the problem. I dream of a place where we could cast our political parties aside.A government where we wouldn't have to worry about who has the majority in the senate, because our representatives would vote from the heart and for the greater good, not just to align with their party. But it's truly just a fantasy. I know the odds of that happening, and they're not good.Besides, if we removed the current parties it would not make all the hostility disappear overnight. Other parites would form under new names, and the same division would resurface. I may not have the answers. But I do know one thing. Democrats and Republicans can get along, even within the same household. I know this because my husband and I are registered on different sides of that political party line, and for 28 years we've debated, argued, agreed, and disagreed on political matters. And somehow, we still love and respect each other. We still like each other, despite our differences. At the end of the day, it really doesn't matter whether you are registered to vote as a Democrat or a Repulican. Your political party does not define who you are. What matters is that we all live here together. We share this country. We are not enemies. We are not at war.We are American citizens just trying to find our way. Open your heart and love one another. And when you debate, remember to do it with respect.Respect. That's the key to bringing us back together. Whatever your political party or beliefs. Kristen L. Jackson, Author of KEEPER OF THE WATCHCLICK HERE TO READ THE FIRST THREE CHAPTERS FOR FREE!Available Now:Black Rose WritingAmazonBarnes & NobleFind Me On:Facebook: @kristenjacksonauthorAmazon: Kristen L. JacksonTwitter: @KLJacksonAuthorTumblr: https://kristenjacksonauthor.tumblr.comGood Reads: Kristen L. JacksonPinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/AuthorKristenLJacksonInstagram: @krisjack504Yahoo: kristenjacksonauthor@yahoo.comWebsite: https://kristenljackson.wixsite.com/kristenjacksonauthorLinkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristen-jackson-036604126/

October is the month of frights and crazy sights.Jack-o-lantern carving, pumpkin seed baking, costume buying, hayrides.Crisp air and shorter days.Warm jackets, boots, mittens, hot cider, rustic colors.Candied apples, candy bars, and candy corn.Ghosts and goblins, zombies and evil clowns, witches and trolls.Skeletons, vampires, scarecrows, and beasts of the night.The bloodier, the better.Gore? Give us more!Children and young adults (and even a few older adults) talk about dressing up on the 31st of October weeks ahead of the holiday itself.In anticipation, they soak up the scary decorations adorning yards all over town.Watch frightening Halloween-themed movies.And dream of the big night.But why?What draws them to this holiday in particular?Could it be that people of all ages, even young children, crave the scare?Like a thrill-ride, hearts starts pumping, breathing escalates, and tingles race down the neck. A feeling unlike any other.(Click here to read more in the article 'The Science Behind Why We Like To Be Scared.)Or is it the reward of a candy treat (or more accurately a bag full of treats that lasts well into November)?Maybe it's the fun of dressing up in a costume on a night that it's not only accepted, but expected. Whatever the reason, here are a few SIMPLE TIPS TO MAKE YOUR HALLOWEEN EVEN BETTER:1. Visit PinterestIf you don't already have an account, go there now. Here's the link: www.pinterest.com. You'll find more ideas for costumes, decorations, and recipes than you'll know what to do with! Trust me, you're going to love this site. (And it's great for every holiday!)2. Buy Ahead Don't wait until the last minute to buy your Halloween supplies like candy, costumes, and pumpkins. The stores sell out quickly...and all that will be left on the shelves are Christmas treats. Unless you want to hand out candy canes in October, this is important advice!3. Pets AwayOn Halloween night, put your pets - especially dogs - in a safe place. They won't enjoy this holiday as much as you do, and you'll both be happier that they are safely separated from this event. Dogs will bark at every trick-or-treater that comes inside your house. I mean, costumes are meant to be scary, right? Dogs don't understand that it's only 'dress-up'. They could attack what they perceive as an intruder, or run away in fright. It's best to keep everyone safe by planning ahead. 4. Shop at theDollar StoreIn September (See # 2 above), visit your local Dollar Store and stock up. There's no need to buy things that have large pricetags. The Dollar Store has a surprising variety of Halloween goodies from costumes to candy. Check it out...and if it's too late this year, then remember this tip for next year.5. Keep a Stash of CandyDon't forget to put some of your favorite candies aside. Trust me, you're going to need the chocolate boost to survive the night. And when your trick-or-treater supply runs out, remember to turn off your porch light, hang up your witch's hat, put your slippers on, and enjoy your treat. Take a deep breath. You don't have to do this again until next year. I wish you all a safe, spooky, and spectacular Halloween! Keep On Reading!KristenKristen L. Jackson, Author of KEEPER OF THE WATCHAvailable Now:Black Rose WritingAmazonBarnes & NobleFind Me On:Facebook: @kristenjacksonauthorAmazon: Kristen L. JacksonTwitter: @KLJacksonAuthorTumblr: https://kristenjacksonauthor.tumblr.comGood Reads: Kristen L. JacksonPinterest: AuthorKristenLJacksonInstagram: @krisjack504Yahoo: kristenjacksonauthor@yahoo.comWebsite: https://kristenljackson.wixsite.com/kristenjacksonauthorLinkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristen-jackson-036604126/CLICK HERE TO READ THE FIRST THREE CHAPTERS FOR FREE!