First Cup of Coffee with Jeffe Kennedy

We are less than a week away from the release of AMONG THE THORNS! Amazing, really. I'm also talking about "easy" writing advice that really isn't useful because it's too pat. And what kinds of scenes and details truly are gratuitous. Preorder ~ Among The Thorns Indie Booksellers! You can buy my indie books direct from me at discount!! Submit a Request for an order here Ne...

 Why everyone should read CONSENT by Vanessa Springora about her affair with pedophile Gabriel Matzneff when he was 49 and she was 14. Also, how very much I loved The Devil Wears Prada 2, with observations on how the writing was done really well. And there may be a bit of a bookish opportunity embedded here!  The Romancing the Vote Auction is live! You can bid on my items here:  Writing Retreat in...

Weird self-publishing takes that appear to be positive, but are truly toxic. What truly works to build a career as an author, having solid goals, and knowing that achieving them will be great, but won't make you happy forever because external validation never does. Also, appreciating the book deal that doesn't seem glam because it furthers those goals. Indie Booksellers! You can buy my i...

NEVER THE ROSES in ebook is on sale for $1.99! All of my other news is life-based: getting in-home care for David, setting up trusts, taxes, purging my bathroom, and generally feeling lighter getting over these big hurdles. Indie Booksellers! You can buy my indie books direct from me at discount!! Submit a Request for an order here New Releases ~ Blades, Books, and the Bandit Love, Lies, and Ley L...

I'm getting weepy about Jane Yolen's passing on the podcast today, talking about how kind she was to me. Also about my hijinks attempting to use my new espresso machine , changes to the podcast schedule (yet again, but for the last time now, I think), and the future of "AI." Indie Booksellers! You can buy my indie books direct from me at discount!! Submit a Request for an order...

Some tough love on losing sight of the joy of storytelling and the great privilege of being able to make a living doing this wonderful, creative effort and instead getting lost in a swamp of comparisonitis and striving for status. Especially on why bigger advances aren't necessarily better. Indie Booksellers! You can buy my indie books direct from me at discount!! Submit a Request for an orde...

I'm back from retreat and pleasantly relaxed. Looking forward to the weekend events ahead - especially the RomCon at Books on the Bosque in Albuquerque tomorrow, June 6, 10am-3pm! Indie Booksellers! You can buy my indie books direct from me at discount!! Submit a Request for an order here New Releases ~ Blades, Books, and the Bandit Love, Lies, and Ley Lines MAGIC REBORN Never The Roses Preor...

The (absolutely gorgeous) trade paperback edition of NEVER THE ROSES releases tomorrow!! Otherwise, I'm talking about friendships - working on them, forgiving what we can, drawing boundaries, and mulling the difficulty of having a relationship with someone who doesn't share your ethics about other people. Indie Booksellers! You can buy my indie books direct from me at discount!! Submit a...

On doing hard things - and recognizing that we're going to feel what we feel and that pretending otherwise is stressful. And a bit more on reading and how it can go from being an escape to being a source of pressure, like monetizing creative pursuits. Indie Booksellers! You can buy my indie books direct from me at discount!! Submit a Request for an order here New Releases ~ Blades, Books, and...

On making time for reading, even though we don't all have the same 24 hours in a day, and other thoughts on tracking books read and that 📀🐎, competition, scheduling our lives, and why audiobooks rock. This is Michael Ulloa, Personal Trainer & Nutrition Coach , who I follow on Instagram and really like for his practical advice and scathing debunking of "wellness" influencers. h...

The Battle of the Roses and Gophers commences! Also, my weekend at the Santa Fe International Literary Festival and what I learned about writing from listening to Susan Orlean.  Goodreads Giveaway for AMONG THE THORNS goes May 4-25. Enter here. https://www.goodreads.com/giveaway/show/431710-among-the-thorns Indie Booksellers! You can buy my indie books direct from me at discount!! Submit a Request...

BLADES, BOOKS, AND THE BANDIT is out in the world! I'm celebrating that and also looking back over the last ten years of being on the self-publishing endless hustle - and what it means to step off of that hamster wheel and let it get a little dusty. Goodreads Giveaway for AMONG THE THORNS goes May 4-25. Enter here. https://www.goodreads.com/giveaway/show/431710-among-the-thorns Indie Booksell...

What writing schedule works for you? I'm considering going to writing four days/week with a day for business - two days writing/business/two days writing or...? I'm also doing a deep dive into agents and busting a myth I loathe: that picking an agent is a till-death-do-us-part commitment. Goodreads Giveaway for AMONG THE THORNS goes May 4-25. Enter here. https://www.goodreads.com/giveawa...

I have finished copies of the NEVER THE ROSES trade paperback and the foil is so shiny ! I have also finished BLADES, BOOKS, AND THE BANDIT, releasing a week from today!! I'm also talking publishing industry predictions and the "stuff they aren't telling you." Goodreads Giveaway for AMONG THE THORNS goes May 4-25. Enter here. https://www.goodreads.com/giveaway/show/431710-among...

I'm off tomorrow to the Mountains and Plains Independent Booksellers Conference for a cameo appearance to talk to them. I'm almost done with BLADES, BOOKS, AND THE BANDIT. And I'm talking about authors being idiots on social media and making business decisions about what in-person events to attend. Also, a bit of transparency on my traditional publishing deals. Finally, Lexi Ryan&ap...

The magic of habit-building and why I find my routines so helpful - and dealing with the chaos when they're disrupted! Also, the saga of Killian's brush with death. (Or so I was panicking would be the case, but he's okay!) $3, $4, $5 audiobooks here! Indie Booksellers! You can buy my indie books direct from me at discount!! Submit a Request for an order here New Releases ~ Love, Lie...

I'm back from Apollycon and cranking hard on Blades, Books, and the Bandit for the next two weeks. Also, how I've fallen in love with Mark Rothko and Project Hail Mary (Amaze Amaze Amaze!), a visit from Mary Robinette Kowal and Elsie, and continuing ruminations on multiple pen names. $3, $4, $5 audiobooks here! Indie Booksellers! You can buy my indie books direct from me at discount!! Su...

How living in the world with insane politicians is a macrocosm of having crazy and toxic relatives - we're all along for the ride and have to do our best to maintain our own balance. Related: Taoism, Ursula Le Guin, the ups and downs of the publishing industry, and filter bubbles. $3, $4, $5 audiobooks here! Indie Booksellers! You can buy my indie books direct from me at discount!! Submit a R...

On story ideas, where they come from, how we make them our own - including a funny story about my lovely friend Lexi Ryan and her upcoming, absolutely delicious adult romantasy: NIGHT TIDE. Also, enough of this self-care sh*t, I need to get to work! (And what getting myself back into the groove looks like.) $3, $4, $5 audiobooks here! Indie Booksellers! You can buy my indie books direct from me at...

A recap of my weekend at the Jack Williamson Lectureship, including great conversations with Connie Willis and T. Kingfisher. I'm sharing some nuggets from our panels on leveling up craft, why we write retellings, what a pastiche really is, and a bit on fan fiction and filing off the serial numbers. $3, $4, $5 audiobooks here! Indie Booksellers! You can buy my indie books direct from me at di...

A special podcast coming to you from Eastern New Mexico University in Portales, New Mexico, where I attended the Jack Williamson Lectureship. Steadfast podcast listener Jon Barr joins me for a conversation about teaching, voice acting, and audiobook narration, among other things! $3, $4, $5 audiobooks here! Indie Booksellers! You can buy my indie books direct from me at discount!! Submit a Request...

A story about putting your work out in the world and how that can further your writing career, along with a few cautions in that direction. Also, how traditionally published authors aren't a monolith and the Jack Williamson Lectureship! You can find PETALS & THORNS here   $3, $4, $5 audiobooks here! Indie Booksellers! You can buy my indie books direct from me at discount!! Submit a Reques...

Lost toothbrushes and creative genius: are they linked? Yes, I have book brain so I'm babbling today on Romance, reader expectations, language, nuance, inflections, Equus, Now?, increasing word count and other Friday thoughts. $3, $4, $5 audiobooks here! Indie Booksellers! You can buy my indie books direct from me at discount!! Submit a Request for an order here New Releases ~ Love, Lies, and...

What makes something "good"? I seem to be always circling this question. Is entertainment enough or does a creative work have to change your life? And other thoughts on books as experiences. Also, a vague bit on events with poor business practices. $3, $4, $5 audiobooks here! Indie Booksellers! You can buy my indie books direct from me at discount!! Submit a Request for an order here New...

Showing off my new tattoo to celebrate AMONG THE THORNS! I'm also talking option books and how no one deserves - or should count on - having their traditional publishing contract renewed. My villain origin story on why I don't like standing at signing tables and booths. Finally, my thoughts on using generative AI "only" for brainstorming. Spoiler: I think it shoots your creativ...