First Cup of Coffee with Jeffe Kennedy

THE STORM PRINCESS AND THE RAVEN KING is out today!!! FINALLY! I'm talking about that, my busy and productive weekend - including a tour of the secret garden - plus special appearance by Jackson. (Apologies for the failure to stop at the end...) Buy THE STORM PRINCESS AND THE RAVEN KING here!! ( https://jeffekennedy.com/the-storm-princess-and-the-raven-king ). The Heirs of Magic series is her...

A bit about how to write back cover copy (BCC), otherwise known as blurbs, and why there's confusion. Also several kinds of good news for me, plus the fabulous effect of gushing reader recommendations. The Reddit post I mention is here https://www.reddit.com/r/RomanceBooks/comments/v7q5uf/guys_i_have_found_my_fantasy_romance_white_whale/ The form to preorder books for Apollycon is here ( http...

Insights into getting your rights back on trad-published books and what you need to do from there. Also results of my experiment in read-out-loud proofing, along with random thoughts on data and vaccines. The form to preorder books for Apollycon is here ( https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScbs-nwq5cfOpk-5xzhz1mfUMycvaZ-bRdvmF0uN7--Ii9ioQ/viewform?vc=0&c=0&w=1&flr=0 ). The Heirs...

Last week to preorder books for Apollycon! Also thoughts on author and reader platforms like Goodreads, free speech, "cancel culture," reviews, and why saying I write "Epic Fantasy Romance" works best. The form to preorder books for Apollycon is here ( https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScbs-nwq5cfOpk-5xzhz1mfUMycvaZ-bRdvmF0uN7--Ii9ioQ/viewform?vc=0&c=0&w=1&fl...

I finished the book! Also, it turns out I'm fascinating - or have fooled people into thinking so. A rundown of the wedding weekend involving drinking lots of champagne. And a bit on ISBNs and book platforms. The Heirs of Magic series is here (https://jeffekennedy.com/series/heirs-of-magic). Preorder THE STORM PRINCESS AND THE RAVEN KING here ( https://jeffekennedy.com/the-storm-princess-and-t...

Thoughts on leaving readers with an emotionally satisfying ending, regardless of whether it makes perfect sense plot-wise, along with a story about buying wedding flowers and celebrating with joy. The Heirs of Magic series is here (https://jeffekennedy.com/series/heirs-of-magic). Preorder THE STORM PRINCESS AND THE RAVEN KING here ( https://jeffekennedy.com/the-storm-princess-and-the-raven-king )....

Updates in general - THE STORM PRINCESS AND THE RAVEN KING  is done except for the epilogues! which I'm really enjoying writing because they're great touch-backs to the original Twelve Kingdoms trilogy. And other stuff... The audiobook of GREY MAGIC is here ( https://www.audible.com/pd/Grey-Magic-Audiobook/B09Z77GHDL?source_code=AUDFPWS0223189MWT-BK-ACX0-307001&ref=acx_bty_BK_ACX0_30...

The lone female story construction and how creators default to it - and how we can combat it. Also the digging-bodies-out-of-the-rubble dramatic beat, final reveals, and biological drives to physical aggression. The Heirs of Magic series is here ( https://jeffekennedy.com/series/heirs-of-magic ). Preorder THE STORM PRINCESS AND THE RAVEN KING here ( https://jeffekennedy.com/the-storm-princess-and-...

On balance, dealing with Parkinson's disease and problematic food additives. Also thoughts on being an intuitive writer and ways of discovering the answers to mysteries in my stories - or not! The audiobook of GREY MAGIC is here ( https://www.audible.com/pd/Grey-Magic-Audiobook/B09Z77GHDL?source_code=AUDFPWS0223189MWT-BK-ACX0-307001&ref=acx_bty_BK_ACX0_307001_rh_us ), BRIGHT FAMILIAR is h...

More on this series re-read I'm doing and how books hit us differently at various times in our lives. Also, author newsletters and what NOT to do, plus a happy report (at the end so you can nope out) on the 16/8 eating regimen. The blog post I mention - Now, Where Did I Pack My Writing Career - is here https://blog.jeffekennedy.com/2009/08/26/now-where-did-i-pack-my-writing-career/ The audiob...

Some background on the Disney Must Pay effort and why we still need to celebrate writers working for Disney. Also thoughts on stress, getting knocked off our pillows, and putting things into perspective. The audiobook of GREY MAGIC is here ( https://www.audible.com/pd/Grey-Magic-Audiobook/B09Z77GHDL?source_code=AUDFPWS0223189MWT-BK-ACX0-307001&ref=acx_bty_BK_ACX0_307001_rh_us ), BRIGHT FAMILIA...

On rewarding ourselves for hard work, getting the thing you want, even if it's frivolous. Also, I'm delaying the release of THE STORM PRINCESS AND THE RAVEN KING - sorry! - but not by much. The audiobook of GREY MAGIC is here ( https://www.audible.com/pd/Grey-Magic-Audiobook/B09Z77GHDL?source_code=AUDFPWS0223189MWT-BK-ACX0-307001&ref=acx_bty_BK_ACX0_307001_rh_us ), BRIGHT FAMILIAR is...

Exciting events for me today and this weekend - I get to interview Mercedes Lackey! - and more and extended thoughts on building an author platform, what's most important, and being aware of how others do it. The link to the blog post on author platforms is here https://blog.jeffekennedy.com/2022/05/18/the-one-thing-an-author-must-do-to-expand-their-platform/ The Nebula Awards trailer is here...

The order of creations and naming and how people get creative derivations backward. Also balancing between taking due credit for hard work with fighting being egotistical. The Nebula Awards trailer is here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=21VKlslZIRo You can register for the online Nebula Conference here ( https://events.sfwa.org/ ). The audiobook of GREY MAGIC is here ( https://www.audible.com/pd/...

Updates on Stuff, including something I'm noodling about The Mark of the Tala and Rayfe's point of view - and some of the other male protagonists, too - and more considerations of how much to change when republishing an older book. You can register for the online Nebula Conference here ( https://events.sfwa.org/ ). The audiobook of GREY MAGIC is here ( https://www.audible.com/pd/Grey-Mag...

On pets, best friends, jewelry, and character details. Why some stuff gets forgotten and has to be caught on revision, why writers tend not to give characters pets (though I think they should),  and how I forgot Nic's copper bracelet. The SFWA Auction is here ( https://www.biddingforgood.com/auction/auctionhome.action?vhost=wbi ), and you can register for the online Nebula Conference here ( h...

Why we forget things going into another room and, related, why I had melting ice cubes in my pocket. Great news on the GREY MAGIC audiobook, though I'm puzzled why ACX put it under erotica. Jack's podcast DERELICT is here ( http://jbartonmitchell.com/derelict-episode-one-premiere/ ). The SFWA Auction is here ( https://www.biddingforgood.com/auction/auctionhome.action?vhost=wbi ), and you...

What it means to be a fulltime writer and supporting yourself with your writing career, and how that's a continual effort to maintain. Also big news on rights reversion for my TEN Carina Press books! What do I do now??? The Heirs of Magic series is here ( https://jeffekennedy.com/series/heirs-of-magic ). Preorder THE STORM PRINCESS AND THE RAVEN KING here ( https://jeffekennedy.com/the-storm-...

Clichés, why we reach for them, how they're really just tape-recordings to fill in gaps - even in daily conversation with each other! - and how to counter them. Also how every book is someone's favorite book ever. Because I mention MASTER OF THE OPERA, that's here ( https://jeffekennedy.com/series/master-of-the-opera-e-serial ). The Heirs of Magic series is here ( https://jeffekenne...

A bit of a breakdown of membership requirements of various writer's organizations, along with thoughts on insular knowledge (and lingo) and unwritten rules. And some rhapsodizing about my first Kindle. (Angels wept!) The Sorcerous Moons series - now in KU! - is available here ( https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09YVVB82N ). The form to preorder books for Apollycon is here ( https://docs.google.com/f...

Using the Scalzi method for planning a new book/series idea, generally good news on the health front - I have beautiful bones! - and some agent thoughts and news. Also, an exception to common wisdom on submitting to trad. The Sorcerous Moons series - now in KU! - is available here ( https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09YVVB82N ). The form to preorder books for Apollycon is here ( https://docs.google.com/f...

I'm raving about what I loved about Bridgertons Season 2 (with spoilers, so...) and about a magical moment in the delightful Julia. Also some secret author ranting, being a creative, and other champagne problems. The show Julia that I talk about is here ( https://www.imdb.com/title/tt10975574/ ). The Sorcerous Moons series - now in KU! - is available here ( https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09YVVB82...

My Act II Climax crisis arriving right on schedule, being emotionally available for writing fiction, the ways feminism manifests, mastery and the show Julia, and thoughts on being kind to one another. The show Julia that I talk about is here ( https://www.imdb.com/title/tt10975574/ ). The 30 minutes of Tom Hiddleston reading poetry is here ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GooJaG0CtaU ). The Sorce...

An eventful weekend for me - with good and bad - and I'm talking about the value of fiction and even sports in helping us get through tough times in life. Also my discovery on poetry and its amazing effect on refilling the well! The 30 minutes of Tom Hiddleston reading poetry is here ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GooJaG0CtaU ). The Sorcerous Moons series - now in KU! - is available here (...

A Happy Birthday shoutout to Agent Sarah Younger, along with thoughts about what makes an agent truly amazing. Today is also the relaunch of Sorcerous Moons in KU! Thoughts on editing, proofing, and reaching new readers. The Sorcerous Moons series - now in KU! - is available here ( https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09YVVB82N ). The form to preorder books for Apollycon is here ( https://docs.google.com/fo...