First Cup of Coffee with Jeffe Kennedy

Some exciting news on an upcoming anthology project, musing on why people always want us to pick a favorite among equally wonderful things, champagne problems, and the value of hanging with successful people in your field. Interested in Author Coaching from me? Information here: https://jeffekennedy.com/author-coaching SHADOW WIZARD, Book One in Renegades of Magic, continuing the epic tale begun i...

A random beauty tip today, plus I'm talking about sex scenes in books, how they shouldn't be gratuitous, but also a new insight into why male and female (caveat on this binary) readers view them differently. This is the micellar water makeup remover I talk about - NOT sponsored in any way! https://www.bioderma.us/all-products/sensibio/h2o-micellar-water Interested in Author Coaching from...

How I handle self-published projects vs. trad-pub targeted projects with my agent, my sugarplum of a midwinter holiday novella, and shaking my cane at publicists these days and how they're promoting books. This is the Reddit Gush I mention https://www.reddit.com/r/RomanceBooks/comments/xt3982/shadow_wizard_by_jeffe_kennedy_is_pure_fantasy/ Interested in Author Coaching from me? Information he...

I'm waxing philosophical today, talking about the flow of Tao and what it really means to be without desire. Also about embracing strong emotions, which power us to attain those things we desire. Interested in Author Coaching from me? Information here: https://jeffekennedy.com/author-coaching SHADOW WIZARD, Book One in Renegades of Magic, continuing the epic tale begun in DARK WIZARD. https:/...

It's release day for SHADOW WIZARD!! My audiobook narrator says it's her favorite so far, so that's awesome. I'm also talking about taking audiobooks wide vs. ACX exclusive and which platforms I'm using and how. Interested in Author Coaching from me? Information here: https://jeffekennedy.com/author-coaching Preorder SHADOW WIZARD, Book One in Renegades of Magic, continuin...

SHADOW WIZARD  is uploaded! I'm back from mini-break. And I'm discussing why I buy my own ISBNs, how they work, and a bit about false economies in running your own self-publishing biz. Also: a Starbucks odyssey. Interested in Author Coaching from me? Information here: https://jeffekennedy.com/author-coaching Preorder SHADOW WIZARD, Book One in Renegades of Magic, continuing the epic tale...

I'm running on fumes a bit, but I'm nearly done with this book! Ruminating on choosing titles from earlier in the alphabet, picking Dedications when you've written a lot of books, and good news from Amazon! Interested in Author Coaching from me? Information here: https://jeffekennedy.com/author-coaching Preorder SHADOW WIZARD, Book One in Renegades of Magic, continuing the epic tale...

Discussing my revision process today, how it works for me and what I learned about it in writing this book regarding revising with more than two POVs. Also a tidbit on what NOT to do with review requests. Interested in Author Coaching from me? Information here: https://jeffekennedy.com/author-coaching Preorder SHADOW WIZARD, Book One in Renegades of Magic, continuing the epic tale begun in DARK WI...

I'm ruminating on characterization today, especially of beautiful/privileged women, with a particular focus on Nic from DARK WIZARD and how she changes over the series. Thus, there may be spoilers. Interested in Author Coaching from me? Information here: https://jeffekennedy.com/author-coaching Preorder SHADOW WIZARD, Book One in Renegades of Magic, continuing the epic tale begun in DARK WIZA...

Some stats on my Bookbub Featured Deal and setting DARK WIZARD free for the week. TL:DR-great sell through on books 2 & 3! Also how I harvested grapes, organized all the things, and danced to TSwift. The blog post I mention on writing communities is here https://blog.jeffekennedy.com/2022/09/18/circles-of-community-how-writer-friends-keep-me-going/ Interested in Author Coaching from me? Inform...

Updates on my next projects and on the state of trad publishing - spec is out, full mss are in - and thoughts on being hybrid & the "middlest" author. Also info on how/why trad publishing only counts print sales. Interested in Author Coaching from me? Information here: https://jeffekennedy.com/author-coaching Preorder SHADOW WIZARD, Book One in Renegades of Magic, continuing the epic...

I'm celebrating finishing SHADOW WIZARD! And the exciting results of my BookBub Featured Deal with setting DARK WIZARD to free. Also a bit on endings, respecting the story brain, and tithing to the creative powers. Interested in Author Coaching from me? Information here: https://jeffekennedy.com/author-coaching Preorder SHADOW WIZARD, Book One in Renegades of Magic, continuing the epic tale b...

Happy release day to ONCE UPON A FORBIDDEN DESIRE, a Fantasy Romance fairytale anthology! Besides that I'm discussing defending writing time with fences and thoughts on setting first in series free. You can buy ONCE UPON A FORBIDDEN DESIRE here: https://books2read.com/forbiddenfairytales Interested in Author Coaching from me? Information here: https://jeffekennedy.com/author-coaching Preorder...

Telling some stories about WorldCon that illustrate the power and efficacy of networking - and how that's really making friends with people. While we never stop pitching, it does get easier and friendlier. Interested in Author Coaching from me? Information here: https://jeffekennedy.com/author-coaching Preorder SHADOW WIZARD, Book One in Renegades of Magic, continuing the epic tale begun in D...

A bit on audiobooks and the relativities of going exclusive with Audible vs. wide - and *how* to go wide if you do that. Also some (bad) news on the midwinter holiday fantasy romance anthology and a question for you all. Interested in Author Coaching from me? Information here: https://jeffekennedy.com/author-coaching Preorder SHADOW WIZARD, Book One in Renegades of Magic, continuing the epic tale...

I'm sharing the incredibly gorgeous covers from the Czech translation of the Chronicles of Dasnaria trilogy, and also talking about covers in general, how self-publishing helps being savvy about them. Some spoilers for this trilogy and for Forgotten Empires. Interested in Author Coaching from me? Information here: https://jeffekennedy.com/author-coaching Preorder SHADOW WIZARD, Book One in Re...

I'm back from WorldCon in Chicago! Reporting on the convention - awesome - and how lovely Chicago was, along with thoughts on ballet and appearing effortless. Now l'm buckling down to finish SHADOW WIZARD! Interested in Author Coaching from me? Information here: https://jeffekennedy.com/author-coaching Preorder SHADOW WIZARD, Book One in Renegades of Magic, continuing the epic tale begun...

Why it annoys me that people are using Taylor Swift's August on reels about romance books - and people not listening to lyrics in general - and other thoughts on details and what we want from our careers as authors. Interested in Author Coaching from me? Information here: https://jeffekennedy.com/author-coaching Preorder SHADOW WIZARD, Book One in Renegades of Magic, continuing the epic tale...

I'm back from Bubonicon with tales about pronouncing names correctly, the importance of normalizing giving pronouns, and the pervasive tail-sniffing among authors and how that leads to sycophantic behavior. Interested in Author Coaching from me? Information here: https://jeffekennedy.com/author-coaching Preorder SHADOW WIZARD, Book One in Renegades of Magic, continuing the epic tale begun in...

More on critique groups and workshops, how to tell if crit is toxic and what to do about it, critique during the drafting stage vs during revision, and my extended analogy of shaken baby syndrome and how it applies to early drafting. The essay by S.L. Huang is here https://www.tor.com/2022/08/17/the-ghost-of-workshops-past-how-communism-conservatism-and-the-cold-war-still-mold-our-paths-into-sff-w...

My thoughts on writing workshops, critique groups, taking critique, and other musing spurred by S.L. Huang's excellent essay on Tor.com. Also a bit about the era of the Facebook birthday and monetizing relationships. The essay by S.L. Huang is here https://www.tor.com/2022/08/17/the-ghost-of-workshops-past-how-communism-conservatism-and-the-cold-war-still-mold-our-paths-into-sff-writing/ Inte...

Musings on the amount of romance in fantasy romance and romantic fantasy - and how I seem to want more lush romance feels than many books in the genre deliver. Also squees on reading a Lisa Kleypas historical. Preorder SHADOW WIZARD, Book One in Renegades of Magic, continuing the epic tale begun in DARK WIZARD. https://jeffekennedy.com/shadow-wizard ROGUE'S PARADISE is out today! ( https://je...

More on time management and my delightful discovery on managing my To-Do List with less - even no! - mental and emotional anguish. Also a bit on finding errors in books as young reader and what I learned from them. The time-management guy Megan has been listening to is Oliver Burkeman https://www.oliverburkeman.com/ ROGUE'S PARADISE is out today! ( https://jeffekennedy.com/rogue-s-paradise )....

ROGUE'S PARADISE, Book 3 in the Covenant of Thorns re-release, is out today! Also, ORIA'S GAMBIT, book 2 in the Sorcerous Moons series is out on Scribd audio! Plus insights on managing To-Do lists and my Vegas vacay. The time-management guy Megan has been listening to is Oliver Burkeman https://www.oliverburkeman.com/ ROGUE'S PARADISE is out today! ( https://jeffekennedy.com/rogue-s...

On writing the thing you believe in, how inspiration and survivorship bias play into the tales we share about doing this, along with thoughts on the Women Who Rock documentary (excellent!) and taking control of your own career. Preorder SHADOW WIZARD, Book One in Renegades of Magic, continuing the epic tale begun in DARK WIZARD. https://jeffekennedy.com/shadow-wizard LONEN'S WAR - now in audi...