First Cup of Coffee with Jeffe Kennedy

Splitting hairs on subgenres - what does historical fantasy mean and what are the expectations? - and how those labels affect marketing and discoverability. Also, marketing your backlist and writing consistently FTW. THE TALON OF THE HAWK is here ( https://jeffekennedy.com/the-talon-of-the-hawk ). You can watch the You Tube video of the podcast here (https://youtu.be/XU5mSJ6S3Jk) . First Cup of Co...

How to know who to take advice from on the internet, and some thoughts on good and bad advice on traditional and self-publishing overall, including my take on both. Also, a sad and fond farewell to Jan Sterling. The XKCD comic I mention is here ( https://xkcd.com/386/ ) plus a bonus one on Survivorship Bias ( https://xkcd.com/1827/ ). You can watch the You Tube video of the podcast here (https://y...

Musings today on the reverse harem trope and certain logistical issues - but how I kind of want to write one anyway. I'm in a bit of a reading slump and looking for recs. And being on the Paper & Vices podcast. You can check out the Paper & Vices gals here ( https://paperandvices.com/ ). You can watch the You Tube video of the podcast here (https://youtu.be/B6WBC5iHQx4) . First Cup of...

I'm telling a story about my special earrings and a writer friend who's lost to us. Also about author professional jealousy and being envious of the shiny others get to have and do, but being aware of the down sides. You can watch the You Tube video of the podcast here (https://youtu.be/o_xM97ctyiQ) . First Cup of Coffee is part of the Frolic Podcast Network. You can find more outstandin...

How readers (and agents and editors) don't really know what they want until they get it, a design heuristic analogy from a cool wheelchair. Also a shoutout to Lone Wolf, a new anthology with cowboys and wolf partners! The video on design that I mention is here ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rdH8Kuku9tA ). You can read about Lone Wolf by Diana Palmer, Kate Pearce, and Rebecca Zanetti here (...

Craft is heavy on my mind - with thoughts inspired by a talk on making design excellent and weighing that against cost-benefit-risk paradigms from my science background. What does it mean that God is in the details? The video on design that I mention is here ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rdH8Kuku9tA ). You can watch the You Tube video of the podcast here (https://youtu.be/JShMTSy_8no) . First...

A shout-out to Kelly Robson on the official release of Alias Space! Also, more on the hero's journey and why some people see women as the reward and so can't be the hero, and other kinds of objectification. You can find out more about Alias Space here ( https://kellyrobson.com/alias-space-and-other-stories/ ). You can watch the You Tube video of the podcast here (https://youtu.be/HqcH3kw...

How I got angry on a panel because a male writer said the hero's journey could only belong to a man, about story beats in general, why I think the term "hero" shouldn't be gendered, and other thoughts on transformation. You can watch the You Tube video of the podcast here (https://youtu.be/6Rn26Qs84F8) . First Cup of Coffee is part of the Frolic Podcast Network. You can find mo...

Author kerfuffles, books of the heart, 4.5 star ratings (up or down??), what a well-structured novella looks like, and a shout out today to A.C. Anderson on the release of THE MARS STRAIN. Also, Sam Heughan and Christopher Mason. The Mars Strain is here (https://www.alexiachantel.com/books.html). The Salena Gomez video is here (https://youtu.be/FMlcn-_jpWY). You can watch the You Tube video of the...

First grape arbor podcast of the year! I'm talking about spring, gardening, and our adventures with nesting birds this weekend, including a near wren-mishap! Also why divine and immortal characters don't always work for me. Dark Wizard is here (https://jeffekennedy.com/dark-wizard). You can watch the You Tube video of the podcast here (https://youtu.be/WeTxDQw0cts) . First Cup of Coffee...

I'm talking about covers today, some do's and don'ts and why I kept Stella in a red gown on the cover of THE SORCERESS QUEEN AND THE PIRATE ROGUE . Also a panel today, the Paper and Vices podcast, and elephants! Find THE SORCERESS QUEEN AND THE PIRATE ROGUE here (https://jeffekennedy.com/the-sorceress-queen-and-the-pirate-rogue) . The Chronicles of Dasnaria books are here (https://j...

Happy Earth Day! I'm talking about why I don't believe in conspiracy theories (people just aren't that clever), getting into the rhythm of drafting again, how my views of travel have changed, and RWA's summer retreat. Find THE SORCERESS QUEEN AND THE PIRATE ROGUE here (https://jeffekennedy.com/the-sorceress-queen-and-the-pirate-rogue) You can watch the You Tube video of the pod...

Language is the topic for today - from the haunting homonym errors to "modern language" in fantasy stories. Does it really "pull you out of the story"? Also a bit on foul language and why that's something readers complain about. Find THE SORCERESS QUEEN AND THE PIRATE ROGUE here (https://jeffekennedy.com/the-sorceress-queen-and-the-pirate-rogue) You can watch the You Tube...

THE SORCERESS QUEEN AND THE PIRATE ROGUE is out today! I'm giving you an inside look at one pivotal scene. Also, some advice for writers of all career levels on how to behave - and not - at other author's events. Find THE SORCERESS QUEEN AND THE PIRATE ROGUE here (https://jeffekennedy.com/the-sorceress-queen-and-the-pirate-rogue) You can watch the You Tube video of the podcast here (http...

Today is a special anniversary of my younger self. A bit about ramping up into writing a book by giving yourself room to perambulate. Also, the business of publishing and evaluating money now vs money later. The Flights of Foundry Speculative Fiction Conference is here ( https://flights-of-foundry.org/ ). The Aged to Perfection workshop is here ( https://agedtoperfectionromancewriters.com/workshop...

Exciting (kinda) news in my little world and notes on other Big Decisions. Exemptions to my 3K/day writing rule, a bit more on synopses, Identifying and Breaking Bad Writing Habits, and where you can see me this weekend. The Flights of Foundry Speculative Fiction Conference is here ( https://flights-of-foundry.org/ ). The Aged to Perfection (I knew it was something like that!) workshop is here ( h...

On writing synopses, what they need to do, and what newbie authors face that established authors don't. Also, how I went from being a last-minute, binge writer to developing a habit that lets me work incrementally. You can watch the You Tube video of the podcast here (https://youtu.be/vmVpCNflCKA) . First Cup of Coffee is part of the Frolic Podcast Network. You can find more outstanding podca...

How building a writing habit will do the work for you in getting back into writing after time off. Also a bit more on how doing something I didn't want to do, but that was the right thing, played into serendipity for me. You can watch the You Tube video of the podcast here (https://youtu.be/XiMgdseqYHA) . First Cup of Coffee is part of the Frolic Podcast Network. You can find more outstanding...

Warning signs that a plot might be too contrived and that the author is leaning too heavily on luck and coincidence. Also a bit on social media and how it can distort our perception of our relevance in other people's lives. You can watch the You Tube video of the podcast here (https://youtu.be/LsZHbxITZaA) . First Cup of Coffee is part of the Frolic Podcast Network. You can find more outstand...

Some thoughts today on email, how to achieve - and maintain! - inbox zero, along with the stress-relief that brings. Also how I manage work/life balance that way, including organizational tips. You can watch the You Tube video of the podcast here (https://youtu.be/BsNnhTtbrgg) . First Cup of Coffee is part of the Frolic Podcast Network. You can find more outstanding podcasts to subscribe to at Fro...

I'm back from our mini-break and I'm revealing the cover for THE SORCERESS QUEEN AND THE PIRATE ROGUE!  ( https://jeffekennedy.com/the-sorceress-queen-and-the-pirate-rogue ). Thoughts on re-acclimatizing post-COVID and a bit of cat wrangling. You can watch the You Tube video of the podcast here (https://youtu.be/MXioa3umnqE) . First Cup of Coffee is part of the Frolic Podcast Network. Yo...

Finally, the story of how we ended up in Santa Fe! Mostly because I have no brains left, now that the revision of The Sorceress Queen and the Pirate Rogue is 25 pages from done. Yes, I know I forgot about the earrings. THE SORCERESS QUEEN AND THE PIRATE ROGUE is here ( https://jeffekennedy.com/the-sorceres... ​). You can watch the You Tube video of the podcast here (https://youtu.be/GcFPwJ4rIIA) ....

Teaching yourself not to be afraid of failure - and even to enjoy it! - and how I totally lied to you all and didn't run this revision according to the excellent advice I gave you only two days ago. Also: dealing with deadlines. THE SORCERESS QUEEN AND THE PIRATE ROGUE is here ( https://jeffekennedy.com/the-sorceres... ​). You can watch the You Tube video of the podcast here (https://youtu.be...

Why I think the success advice "If you're not growing, you're dying" is total bunk, along with associated thoughts on waxing and waning, homeostasis, cycles in nature, and why the full moon is valued over the new moon. THE SORCERESS QUEEN AND THE PIRATE ROGUE is here ( https://jeffekennedy.com/the-sorceres... ​). You can watch the You Tube video of the podcast here (https://you...

THE SORCERESS QUEEN AND THE PIRATE ROGUE is done! I'm reflecting on privilege, having the luxury of time and peace to create, not to mention read and reflect, and the impact of time poverty. THE SORCERESS QUEEN AND THE PIRATE ROGUE is here ( https://jeffekennedy.com/the-sorceres... ​). You can watch the You Tube video of the podcast here ( https://youtu.be/GNXub6MgdPY ). First Cup of Coffee i...