Jackie Keswick's Blog: Musings & Meanderings - Posts Tagged "the-power-of-zero"

I never thought I’d enjoy writing about families. If you’d asked my younger self, I’d have looked at you as if you had two heads. But as I grew older, I realised – just like Jack does in the Power of Zero books – that a “found family” isn’t as unlikely as it sounds and that it’s possible to make your own family with the people you choose. Beyond possible, really. It’s recommended.

And why shouldn’t it be? The people we choose to have in our lives invariably lift us up. They support us when we need it, they help us celebrate our successes, and they let us do the same for them. The families we’ve made for ourselves are really the best thing ever!

I was chuffed when the Found Family promo came along, right in time to help me celebrate Jack’s “birthday”. And what a promo it is! Over 40 books all celebrating one theme… and I was surprised by how many of the books I hadn’t read yet! Pleasantly surprised, because many books are on sale this weekend, so I can go buy more books for less.

Click on the image to check them out:

The Found Family promo runs until May 10th, and offers a basket of gorgeous stories, each one centred around a family, or characters who’re doing their best – deliberately or accidentally – to build one.

I love Anne Barwell’s Sleeping City book, Shades of Sepia.

And I’ve literally just finished Elle Keaton’s Storm Seasons. And liked it so much, that I’ve got the second book in the series on my Kindle right now.

You can check out my Bookbub recommendations here.

My contribution to the Found Family promo is the book that started it all for me: Job Hunt. It’s the beginning of Jack’s journey to having a home rather than just a place where he sleeps, and where he takes the first steps to building a family for himself. In typical Jack style by caring for standing up for someone else.

Job Hunt is on sale during the promo, so if you’ve not yet met my vigilante hacker with the big heart, then maybe now’s a good time.

This is the kind of surprise I don’t mind getting on a Sunday night! The second, quietest, Jack & Gareth story, Ghosts, will be out in French next Thursday… and the timing couldn’t be more perfect.

From its start on Christmas Eve to the end on Valentine’s Day, Jack battles the ghosts of his past, and ponders his choices. The ending is one of my favourite Jack and Gareth scenes, written long before I ever sent Job Hunt to a publisher. And while the story was always Ghosts to me, I really like the title the French translator has chosen for the book.

Jack really is plagued by his “cumbersome past”… but being Jack, he pushes past it when he has to.

For tonight, I’ll celebrate my beautiful new cover, and toast the French version of Jack as he heads out of the house.

Un passé encombrant: Force intrinsèque #2

La famille, Noël, de vieux fantômes. Ou le réconfort, la joie et les nouveaux départs ?

Quand il s’agit des fêtes, Jack et Gareth sont aux antipodes.

À la simple perspective d’une grande fête, Jack passe des nuits blanches et ressasse de douloureux souvenirs. Ajoutez-y, les deux adolescents qu’ils ont secourus, un procès à venir et une découverte inattendue, et Jack est convaincu qu’il va gâcher sa seconde chance avec Gareth…

Parce que Gareth adore les fêtes. Pour lui, elles sont synonymes de nouveaux départs et de la famille qu’il s’est choisie, alors que le passé de Jack ne lui a appris qu’à se battre et à protéger.

Jack veut Gareth, les garçons, et une nouvelle vie. Seulement, il n’aurait jamais imaginé que le combat pour ce qu’il a toujours voulu se déroulerait sur le plus dangereux des champs de bataille : son propre esprit.

You can order your copy here:
Juno Publishing
amazon
All other retailers

Time for a Throwback Thursday post! And this one goes all the way back, and deep into my heart.

One series I’m aiming to finish this year is Zero Rising, which follows Jack through his early years, from finding Rio’s house to just before he reconnects with Gareth. The series currently has two books, a shoebox full of notes and bits, and a Word file with more of the same.

Jack, were he real, would be 40 this summer. Shocking, right? Fortunately, my writing speed hasn’t kept up with the calendar, so I still have a little while before he has to face that milestone. But the final book in the first part of his journey is now well and truly overdue!

And I’m going to get on that by reminding myself that zeroes are important. And that many of us need someone like Jack Horwood.

The current Zero Rising books:

The Power of Zero
Two Divided by Zero

Yesterday was the publiversary of one of my favourite books - Ghosts, the second book in Jack & Gareth's story.

I love it because of the minefield they're trying to negotiate as they become a couple, and because I love Jack change and reach for what he wants.

To celebrate - and because Ghosts ends on Valentine's Day, I've put the book on sale.

It's 0.99 from all amazon stores. (and available with KU)