First Cup of Coffee with Jeffe Kennedy

On Dread & Procrastination™ and why Shipping Things slides down my list. (Spoiler: it's not rational.) How habits help us overcome these weird blocks, and a story about baby quail and bad parenting.  You can find BRIGHT FAMILIAR here ( https://jeffekennedy.com/bright-familiar ). And THE LONG NIGHT OF THE CRYSTALLINE MOON is here  ( https://jeffekennedy.com/the-long-night-of-the-crystallin...

BRIGHT FAMILIAR is finished! Also the standalone novella THE LONG NIGHT OF THE CRYSTALLINE MOON is out! Thoughts on rain after drought, overextending, recovery, and apologies for being behind on Things. You can find BRIGHT FAMILIAR here ( https://jeffekennedy.com/bright-familiar ). And THE LONG NIGHT OF THE CRYSTALLINE MOON is here  ( https://jeffekennedy.com/the-long-night-of-the-crystalline-moon...

On giving critique, the differences between alpha reading and beta reading, critting and workshopping. How to take critique and what to do with it. Also why having someone clean your house isn't a luxury. You can watch the You Tube video of the podcast here (https://youtu.be/tzShYuPk9vQ) . First Cup of Coffee is part of the Frolic Podcast Network. You can find more outstanding podcasts to sub...

How I predict how long a book will be and a discussion of book length, chapter length, how to play with reader expectations to amplify suspense. Also how I use 8-scene, 3-act structure to plan all of this. You can watch the You Tube video of the podcast here (https://youtu.be/fda4bGn3G6g) . First Cup of Coffee is part of the Frolic Podcast Network. You can find more outstanding podcasts to subscri...

I'm back from dealing with family emergencies and traveling all over the front range and desert southwest. Also a bit on being a writer and how that competes with other people's conceptions of who we are. You can watch the You Tube video of the podcast here (https://youtu.be/4k3JhE60n0M) . First Cup of Coffee is part of the Frolic Podcast Network. You can find more outstanding podcasts t...

Some discussion of the elephant in the room and what we don't talk about regarding whether or not our books are successful. Also why we must learn our artistic process and own it, then improve without trying to change it. Grace's Facebook post is here ( https://www.facebook.com/grace.draven/posts/10222439615552000 ) and the Passive Voice article I mention is here ( https://www.thepassive...

On the vicissitudes and vagaries of traditional publishing and other tales of tail-chasing. I also do a secret garden reveal, talk about the segregation of readers and fandom, and otherwise I have book brain. You can watch the You Tube video of the podcast here (https://youtu.be/NS7ID4XB-Ls) . First Cup of Coffee is part of the Frolic Podcast Network. You can find more outstanding podcasts to subs...

Family emergencies, jealously guarding your writing time, and how to get back on the pillow when you fall off. Also thoughts on those who prey on authors with new releases and other scammers and scavengers. You can watch the You Tube video of the podcast here (https://youtu.be/RyqaAon04qY) . First Cup of Coffee is part of the Frolic Podcast Network. You can find more outstanding podcasts to subscr...

Finding ways to give myself real time off and how that's difficult when you work for yourself. Also on the raging success of DARK WIZARD over the weekend, hitting the Kindle Top 100, and other nourishing vindications. You can find DARK WIZARD here ( https://jeffekennedy.com/dark-wizard ). You can watch the You Tube video of the podcast here (https://youtu.be/57-b_6SDzxY) . First Cup of Coffee...

About upcoming - in person! - conferences, a little-known secret about how conrunners avoid bloodshed on panels. Also how I'm the cat who walks by herself, and other thoughts on the virtues of aloneness. You can watch the You Tube video of the podcast here (https://youtu.be/4Niwa9WmVx4) . First Cup of Coffee is part of the Frolic Podcast Network. You can find more outstanding podcasts to subs...

What is art? Who am I? Thoughts on how I learn the same things about my process over and over, each new book an education. Also thoughts on Gen X, Tik Tok, age, albums, symphonies, and how long a chapter should be. You can watch the You Tube video of the podcast here (https://youtu.be/dAzZ6FiF8dc) . First Cup of Coffee is part of the Frolic Podcast Network. You can find more outstanding podcasts t...

I'm welcoming special guest A.C. Anderson , author of THE MARS STRAIN . She chats with me about her journey to the publication of her debut novel, the ups and downs of publishing, and the joys of coffee and wine. You can read up about - and acquire! - THE MARS STRAIN here ( https://www.alexiachantel.com/books.html ) You can watch the You Tube video of the podcast here (https://youtu.be/GAQNUO...

An amusing review of an audio book from the dirty part of the publishing pool, a funny story about GRRM vs JRRT and the perception of one's own success, including how perplexing it can be to become a phenom. You can watch the You Tube video of the podcast here (https://youtu.be/2Jlk3tD5gsM) . First Cup of Coffee is part of the Frolic Podcast Network. You can find more outstanding podcasts to...

Whether there's an objective quality of "good" in writing, what I think is subjective and what is more objectively quantifiable. Also what I mean by continuity errors and inconsistent characterization. You can watch the You Tube video of the podcast here (https://youtu.be/2Jlk3tD5gsM) . First Cup of Coffee is part of the Frolic Podcast Network. You can find more outstanding podcasts...

Warning: I down a bit of a rabbit hole on nipple rings and nipples in general. Also dipshit author behavior on Facebook, spammer friend-requesting, and an example of how NOT to PM your new "friends." You can watch the You Tube video of the podcast here (https://youtu.be/07hq8-_Nj7Y) . First Cup of Coffee is part of the Frolic Podcast Network. You can find more outstanding podcasts to sub...

Do we hold self-published books to a lower standard? What about Kindle Unlimited books? The "minimum viable product" approach to writing books feels fraught to me, but maybe it's like guzzle wine vs. special occasion bottles. You can watch the You Tube video of the podcast here (https://youtu.be/7HkRBxbhwV0) . First Cup of Coffee is part of the Frolic Podcast Network. You can find m...

The perils of social media brain, how to promote a calmer and more productive creative mind that allows for extended periods of concentration, and treating your creative self like a high-performance athlete. You can watch the You Tube video of the podcast here (https://youtu.be/Cg_LPcXoQAI) . First Cup of Coffee is part of the Frolic Podcast Network. You can find more outstanding podcasts to subsc...

I'm back home, talking about how a disruption in my beloved (and, okay, a bit rigid) schedule made release day even better. Also on being back home, getting back in the flow of writing - and how to release anxiety about not writing. You can watch the You Tube video of the podcast here (https://youtu.be/WV14crtz_Dw) . First Cup of Coffee is part of the Frolic Podcast Network. You can find more...

I'm celebrating the release of THE PROMISED QUEEN! I'm also at the Inn of the Mountain Gods, so a bit scattered. Telling you all why I subtweeted about Zoom instructions, high def makeup, and paying authors. THE PROMISED QUEEN is here! ( https://jeffekennedy.com/the-promised-queen ). You can register - for FREE! - for my launch day conversation with Jennifer Estep here ( https://www.ther...

I crashed on wordcount yesterday - so it goes - but I also had good conversations with excellent writer friends. Also a bit on the growing segregation of the reading audience, 21 Bridges, and Murderbot. THE PROMISED QUEEN is here ( https://jeffekennedy.com/the-promised-queen ). You can register - for FREE! - for my launch day conversation with Jennifer Estep here ( https://www.therippedbodicela.co...

About choosing a "publishing company" name for your self-published work (or not), titanium jewelry in the 80s, my new secret project and how I'm going about trying to add to what I'm doing without overloading. THE PROMISED QUEEN is here ( https://jeffekennedy.com/the-promised-queen ). You can register - for FREE! - for my launch day conversation with Jennifer Estep here ( https...

Finding a middle path - and solid footing - between the poles of the self-publishing community, weighing the costs and benefits of putting indie books in audio, and the role keeping house plays in my life (or not). You can register - for FREE! - for my launch day conversation with Jennifer Estep here ( https://www.therippedbodicela.com/events-and-tickets ). You can watch the You Tube video of the...

A shout out to Vanessa Riley's  AN EARL, THE GIRL, AND A TODDLER ! Also, a bit more today on terrible email marketing approaches and how the author-reader relationship should be about the long term. You can see more about Vanessa Riley's AN EARL, THE GIRL, AND A TODDLER here ( https://vanessariley.com/rogues.htm#earl ) You can see the David Gaughran article I mention here ( https://previ...

A shout out to Darynda Jones on the release of THE GRAVEDIGGER'S SON ! Also on marketing techniques that try to trick readers, the use and misuse of subcategories, and why taxonomy can matter in the real world. You can see more about Darynda Jones's THE GRAVEDIGGER'S SON here ( https://darynda.com/books/the-gravediggers-son-novella ) You can watch the You Tube video of the podcast h...

A story about seeing the bioluminescence in Vieques and how I lost one of my favorite earrings. More on subgenres and where reverse harem comes from. Also, it turns out I really don't like oat milk. You can watch the You Tube video of the podcast here (https://youtu.be/1SscN3RhgxU) . First Cup of Coffee is part of the Frolic Podcast Network. You can find more outstanding podcasts to subscribe...