Project Ember

An epic fantasy middle grade novel for ages 12-15

“There is a temple at the peak of the Altasanti Summit that bears my name. Carved into stone, the letters that read Francesca Farina are worn from the passing of time, discolored from the many hands that have traced the grooves with their fingertips. A marble statue of a veiled saint, the first of the Francescas—my great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great grandmother from nearly four hundred years ago—looms above, the eternal keeper of our name, the watchful steward of our legacy.”

Francesca “Chess” Farina is the thirteenth in a legendary line of firstborn daughters, a legacy she is duty-bound to protect. When it is time for the people of Primavera to select the Shepherd to lead the annual youth pilgrimage up the Altasanti Summit, Chess knows she must secure the role. After all, her mother was Shepherd when she was thirteen, as was her grandmother and all of the Francescas dating back to the founding Saint Francesca at the start of their line. Failure is not an option.

When Chess is selected as the Shepherd after a series of challenges testing her mettle, Chess assumes the hardest part is over. But despite her careful planning and forethought, nothing about the pilgrimage goes as planned. The conflicts between the magical creatures and ancient lands that stand between the pilgrims and their blessings make Chess question everything she has ever known about her faith, her family, and herself. Can Chess protect her fellow pilgrims and fulfill her birthright even when fear and self-doubt threaten to consume her—and when it’s her own legacy and choices that put them in peril? 

The Thirteenth Firstborn Francesca is a coming-of-age tale about forging one’s identity in the shadow of societal and familial expectations, and how the bravery we admire in others is often the same strength we can find within ourselves.

About the Author

Hi! I’m Ashley Warren. I began writing this book in the days after my daughter was born in 2022. She is a firstborn daughter, as am I, my mother, my grandmother, and my great-grandmother (and possibly more). As a new mom, I spent a lot of those early days reflecting on who I could be as a parent—what traditions did I want to pass along? What cycles did I want to break? Being an eldest daughter has always been part of my identity that I cherish, despite the responsibilities and expectations that come with it.

I took a break from this book for a year and a half to rebuild my creative process from scratch in the wake of new motherhood, but the story would not let me go. I wanted to write something my daughter could read when she is older. To be at this stage with a shareable draft is the result of many, many sleepless nights, cups of coffee, tears, joy, discussions, and so much more. My amazing writing group has championed it since the very first chapter and I’m so pleased to have a full draft to share with you all now!

This book is inspired by my own Mediterranean heritage and my first trip abroad to Italy when I was a teenager. You’ll also find homages to Girl Scouts and other relatable coming-of-age experiences. If you are familiar with my narrative design work in Loreloop or for Dungeons & Dragons, you’ll likely notice my dedication to (and obsession with) immersive, atmospheric details.

I especially want feedback from readers in my target audience range — ages 12-15 — so if you’re the parent of a child who devours long fantasy books and stays up too late reading, this book might be for them. Please get in touch so I can share something special with them as a thanks for their honest thoughts.