First Cup of Coffee with Jeffe Kennedy

On the rebranding of Sorcerous Moons - out on KU starting tomorrow! - some movie recs, and non-recs (what's with the discordant jazz in Spencer???), and thoughts on disease in Victorian times and how lucky we are. The movies I mention are Gifted ( https://www.imdb.com/title/tt4481414/ ), Pam & Tommy ( https://www.imdb.com/title/tt13659418/ ), and Spencer ( https://www.imdb.com/title/tt125...

Meeting your heroes and how it can be awesome or devastating. Updates on why I've come to working incrementally and steadily on my novels and current tweaks to my process for Sustainable Creativity. 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 audiobo...

Believing in yourself, in your own work, and keeping to your line - and knowing the difference between that and looking for ways to improve and grow. Also plot-breaking with Melinda Snodgrass and not being a clone. 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 )....

I've gone down a delightful and rewarding rabbit hole of reading, learning all about the poet Elizabeth Barrett Browning. That's linking into thoughts on the evolution of literary criticism  and what makes work "good." The book I mention is Dared & Done: The Marriage of Elizabeth Barrett and Robert Browning by Julia Markus ( https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/613753.Dared_...

On having the inside track for how things work - from the mystique of knowing when the best hanging plants are in to navigating various communities, including thoughts on privilege and the volunteer ethic. The audiobook of BRIGHT FAMILIAR is here ( https://www.audible.com/pd/Bright-Familiar-Audiobook/B09WSGFLXW?source_code=AUDFPWS0223189MWT-BK-ACX0-303113&ref=acx_bty_BK_ACX0_303113_rh_us ) and...

On improving craft and leveling up at any career stage - how do we do it? Thoughts on Fred Astaire, The Beatles, Connie Willis, and how who we are, and what we're going through in our lives, will always influence our work. The audiobook of BRIGHT FAMILIAR is here ( https://www.audible.com/pd/Bright-Familiar-Audiobook/B09WSGFLXW?source_code=AUDFPWS0223189MWT-BK-ACX0-303113&ref=acx_bty_BK_A...

The BRIGHT FAMILIAR audiobook is now available! Otherwise I'm talking about asking questions of and having conversations with other creatives, why being in person is so stimulating, and shows I'm loving. Severance is here ( https://www.imdb.com/title/tt11280740/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1 ) and Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty is here ( https://www.imdb.com/title/tt10244600/?ref_=fn_al_...

All about the Jack Williamson Lectureship, peopleing, how utterly wonderful Connie Willis is, and how meaningful it can be, how we treat those we perceive as lesser than us, careerwise. Also, what I did to my laptop. The FIERCE HEARTS Anthology to benefit Ukraine is here ( https://books2read.com/fiercehearts ). The treats for the Pixel Project Fundraising Campaign are here ( https://thepixelprojec...

A Very Special Episode: I'm at the home of the fabulous Darynda Jones, chatting with her about her revision process, knowing what critiques to pay attention to, and how we're doing the author life all rong. The FIERCE HEARTS Anthology to benefit Ukraine is here ( https://books2read.com/fiercehearts ). The treats for the Pixel Project Fundraising Campaign are here ( https://thepixelprojec...

Thoughts on Generation X (of which I is one) and a recent Twitter thread on our traits. Also my feelings on email expectations, catching up, and all the various business that require an author's attention. The Twitter thread I mention is here ( https://twitter.com/girdley/status/1511316479106453511 ). The FIERCE HEARTS Anthology to benefit Ukraine is here ( https://books2read.com/fiercehearts...

On the recent kerfuffle of readers buying and returning books on Amazon, declaring that it's "an author problem, not a reader problem," why Amazon tolerates this behavior and the lesson authors can take from that. The FIERCE HEARTS Anthology to benefit Ukraine is here ( https://books2read.com/fiercehearts ). The treats for the Pixel Project Fundraising Campaign are here ( https://th...

About the honor system, tricking people, whether to answer questions authentically or to entertain, Jack Williamson and having a legacy of words that you created, and my upcoming schedule for the week. The FIERCE HEARTS Anthology to benefit Ukraine is here ( https://books2read.com/fiercehearts ). The treats for the Pixel Project Fundraising Campaign are here ( https://thepixelproject.rallyup.com/r...

The FIERCE HEARTS Anthology to benefit Ukraine is out today!! I'm talking about my contribute to this wonderful collection - a special sneak peek! which I never do - and why there's a prologue when I don't do those either. The FIERCE HEARTS Anthology to benefit Ukraine is here ( https://books2read.com/fiercehearts ). And the Kingdom of Thirst podcast is here ( https://open.spotify.c...

A surprise kitty visit has me laughing! Beyond that I'm telling about the OTHER time a magazine printed my story without permission or paying me, with advice on how creators can be smart about this sort of thing. The treats for the Pixel Project Fundraising Campaign are here ( https://thepixelproject.rallyup.com/read4pixelsiwd2022/Campaign/Details ) GREY MAGIC is now available!  ( https://jef...

My weekend: with thoughts on The Lost City, Bridgerton, how I learned to use a chainsaw and other thoughts on romance, rearranging my office, and long-term landscape-management in the desert southwest. The treats for the Pixel Project Fundraising Campaign are here ( https://thepixelproject.rallyup.com/read4pixelsiwd2022/Campaign/Details ) GREY MAGIC is now available!  ( https://jeffekennedy.com/gr...

I'm celebrating the change in SFWA's membership requirements and discussing my long history of working toward this change - since 2008! - including a tale of how a magazine published my story without telling me. The treats for the Pixel Project Fundraising Campaign are here ( https://thepixelproject.rallyup.com/read4pixelsiwd2022/Campaign/Details ) GREY MAGIC is now available!  ( https:/...

Being with the Tao and embracing a natural sleep cycle, becoming more productive in healthy ways, upcoming conferences,  and why I'm so grateful I don't have to earn a living as a cocktail waitress. The Kingdom of Thirst podcast is here ( https://www.kingdomofthirst.com/ ). The treats for the Pixel Project Fundraising Campaign are here ( https://thepixelproject.rallyup.com/read4pixelsiwd...

Celebrating the 700th episode of First Cup of Coffee today! Otherwise I'm talking about a cool thing Lyft is doing, singing the praises of sweet peas (yes, still), and offering hot tips on new fashion trends. The treats for the Pixel Project Fundraising Campaign are here ( https://thepixelproject.rallyup.com/read4pixelsiwd2022/Campaign/Details ) GREY MAGIC is now available!  ( https://jeffeke...

Spreading the good word that there is no shortage of sweet-pea seeds! LOL. And used hybrid cars are really expensive right now. In other breaking news, you can bid on some goodies from me to help stop Violence Against Women. The treats for the Pixel Project Fundraising Campaign are here ( https://thepixelproject.rallyup.com/read4pixelsiwd2022/Campaign/Details ) GREY MAGIC is now available!  ( http...

David got rear-ended yesterday. He and his passengers are fine, but our car maybe isn't. Otherwise I'm talking about subjective interpretations of books by readers and what cliffhangers are and aren't. GREY MAGIC is now available!  ( https://jeffekennedy.com/grey-magic ) The audiobook of DARK WIZARD is here ( https://www.audible.com/pd/Dark-Wizard-Audiobook/B09QQRHTYZ?source_code=AU...

Author birthdays and doing a bit of show and tell on my very first publications, nearly 25 years ago. Also reflecting on authors letting go of works for readers to make their own - but that readers need to remember that authors, even famous ones, are human beings. GREY MAGIC is now available!  ( https://jeffekennedy.com/grey-magic ) The audiobook of DARK WIZARD is here ( https://www.audible.com/pd...

Part of finding out what your process is and owning it is knowing what kind of worker you are and whether you can create your own structure or if you need help with that. Also a story about dealing with doctors. GREY MAGIC is now available!  ( https://jeffekennedy.com/grey-magic ) The audiobook of DARK WIZARD is here ( https://www.audible.com/pd/Dark-Wizard-Audiobook/B09QQRHTYZ?source_code=AUDFPWS...

Self-care, "forcing ourselves to relax," and the ongoing push/pull of knowing when to be kind to ourselves and back off of pressure and when to apply discipline to get the work done. GREY MAGIC is now available!  ( https://jeffekennedy.com/grey-magic ) The audiobook of DARK WIZARD is here ( https://www.audible.com/pd/Dark-Wizard-Audiobook/B09QQRHTYZ?source_code=AUDFPWS0223189MWT-BK-ACX0-...

I'm unfolding my New Plan for daily wordcount and being honest with myself about my true sustainable productivity. Also about missing stairs and the creep problem in the writing community, and what we do about it. The new article I mention on the creep problem is here (https://hclairetaylor.medium.com/indie-publishing-has-a-creep-problem-df60bfbef7b1) and the Missing Stair definition is here...

A surprise bird strike today! (With a happy ending.) Also why finishing a story arc takes so much effort, the analogy of landing a plane, thoughts on exercise physiology and creative output, and being aware of other creators. GREY MAGIC is now available!  ( https://jeffekennedy.com/grey-magic ) The audiobook of DARK WIZARD is here ( https://www.audible.com/pd/Dark-Wizard-Audiobook/B09QQRHTYZ?sourc...