Ashburn Author Advancing in Amazon Competition

Things are going well for Ashburn resident Kamichi Jackson’s writing career.  Her second book, K My Name is Kendra has advanced to the second round of the Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award competition in the young adult category, and she has high hopes it may go farther. 

“It’s a novel written in the first person about a girl going through an undiagnosed depression,” she said. “Because she’s not getting the treatment she needs, she’s unable to cope when a number of things come at her, and she finds herself facing them alone.”

Jackson grew up in Connecticut and New York, but relocated to Ashburn about 10 years ago. Her novel takes place in Northern Virginia.

“I believe an author should write what they know, so the character lives in this area, but relocated from up north, like me,” she said.

Jackson finds writing to be the best route to personal expression. “I can say things through my writing I could never say myself," she said. "I can take topics that concern me and fictionalize them, and then speak to them in an honest way.”

Recent health problems have added a newfound urgency to Jackson’s writing, but she focused first on her book.

“I find myself drawn to writing a lot more now, but this book was just in me," she said. "Though the character is African American, it speaks to every culture.”

The next round in the Amazon contest occurs March 22. You can follow her progress at www.kamichijackson.com. K My Name is Kendra is available for sale at Amazon.com.