Wednesday, August 31, 2011

Guest Post with Mary E. Pearson

Today I have a guest post with Mary E. Pearson.
“Once there were three. Three friends who loved each other . . . "
It seemed appropriate to me to wrap up the blog tour for The Fox Inheritance with a post about friendship. Friendship is at the heart of the story and I would like to share a couple of brief passages that speak to this:
“It was always Kara, Jenna, and me. Or at least it seemed that way. We were friends for only a year and a half before the accident, but for me it was a lifetime. We were instantly bonded. Maybe it was because it came at a turning point in our lives–just the right window where our worlds were all aligned, all needing something, maybe the same thing, maybe one other. We lifted one another up. Strengthened one another. We held hands. We crossed a line. We made one another braver.”
I think the friends who walk into adulthood with us have some of the mo
st far-reaching effects on who we will become. Maybe that’s why high school reunions are so popular. These are the friends who made decisions with us that helped shape the course of our lives, the friends who were there with us when we suffered the consequences of some of our decisions, the friends who often went their separate ways, but still left a mark on us nonetheless.
In The Fox Inheritance, which takes place 260 years after the first book, Jenna has now gone on and made many new friends over the years, decades, and centuries, but reflects back on her friendship with Kara and Locke when she was just a teen:
“There are all kinds of friends you make in life . . . But there’s something different about someone who spreads their wings with you. That’s what we did, didn’t we?”
Yes, there is something different about these friends, no matter how brief a time we had with them. They were there at a pivotal time in our life and in their own lives, a time when all of our world views were separating from that of our parents. We laid the foundations of our adulthood together.
Some of my friends from my teen years I have stayed in contact with, even if only occasionally. Facebook helps a lot with that. But other friends I have lost track of. We went our separate ways, moved, lost contact, but I still think of them often. These friends helped me adjust to “womanhood,” read my bad poetry, made great life plans with me that never happened but still warm me with the memory (like planning to go to Cape St. Francis to surf the perfect wave.) These friends commiserated with me over parental injustices, filled in my “educational” gaps (things you would never ask your parents), cried with me over heartbreaks, and laughed hysterically with me over close calls of one kind or another. These friends left their mark. They changed me as I was stepping into adulthood. Mostly for the better.
“We lifted one another up. Strengthened one another. We held hands. We crossed a line. We made one another braver.”
Yes. All those things. These might be Locke’s words, but their mine too.
That’s why I dedicated The Fox Inheritance to them, and to the many, many friends who have come into my life since then and changed me in small and large ways. To all of you, I say thank you.

I hope that you enjoyed this post as much as I did. Have any of your friends ever helped you out? Tell me about it in the comments for a chance to win a a personalized copy of The Fox Inheritance.

5 comments:

  1. Well this one time I was talking to my friend Toastess with the Mostest on Pottermore day and she gave me the Magical Quill answer. THAT WAS HELP.

    I cannot wait to read this book! Jenna Fox was so amazing.

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  2. Khyrithia and Sarahbear totally helped me (more than they know) get through the most tiring school years in my life so far. So that was awesome. I've had 3-5 friends (both irl and online) that helped me with the anxiety I have that started last year.
    I have such amazing friends *hugs Khy and Sarah*. Without all of them, I wouldn't be the person I am right now. (oh god, I'm so sorry for the incredible cheesiness of that line. Seriously. Sorry.)

    I can't wait to read The Fox Inheritance!

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  3. I'm really excited about this sequel. I wasn't expecting it, and I can't wait to see what happens. As far as friends helpine me out... yes, they have. They played a very import role in helping me get out of an abusive relationship my freshman year in college. Could never thank them enough!
    Thanks for the giveaway!
    britneywyatt[at]gmail.com

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  4. My friends help me out all the time! They're always there when I need them. When my dog died my best friend listened to me cry over the phone for a good 10 minutes and didn't say anything, just let me cry. it really helped.
    peachandblue2(at)aol(dot)com

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  5. This is a fantastic book with down-to-earth, REAL characters. It starts off with this family tree (which you're not suppose to understand), but towards the middle, you begin to understand and KNOW each character. I am very impressed by the plot. It's also great for laughs, particularly at the end of a day of family court. Highly recommend for stress-relief!

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Thanks for visiting. Every comment creates a smile.

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