First Cup of Coffee with Jeffe Kennedy

I'm finishing THE SORCERESS QUEEN AND THE PIRATE ROGUE today, so I have a bit of book brain. Also how too much backmatter can make books seem to end too soon, reader expectations, and (ugh) clean romance. 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/5Ywp8sXcMlw ). First C...

Why there's no such thing as original work, how this is a misguided idea and not something to worry about - just like you can't accidentally plagiarized anything. You can't steal ideas anymore than you can steal oxygen. You can check out DARK WIZARD here ( https://jeffekennedy.com/dark-wizard ​). ​ THE GOLDEN GRYPHON AND THE BEAR PRINCE is here ( https://jeffekennedy.com/the-golden-...

On good advice and bad for writing sex scenes, books and movies I recommend for research, along with a request for your recs! Also how Grace Draven and I prove, yet again, that we really are Wondertwins. Some that I mention: Exit to Eden by Anne Rampling Delta of Venus by Anais Nin In the Cut 9 1/2 Weeks The Big Easy The Turning Point You can check out DARK WIZARD here ( https://jeffekennedy.com/d...

A cat photobomb today - and subsequent podcaster injury. Also how same cat had a major jailbreak, spring garden cleanup, and why I sometimes (often?) make choices that aren't the best businesswise. You can check out DARK WIZARD here ( https://jeffekennedy.com/dark-wizard ​). ​ THE GOLDEN GRYPHON AND THE BEAR PRINCE is here ( https://jeffekennedy.com/the-golden-g... ​) and THE SORCERESS QUEEN...

A bit about openings today, what they need to include and how to make that precious real estate count. Also, how structure and plot arc can vary from book to book, along with thoughts on a series arc. You can check out DARK WIZARD here ( https://jeffekennedy.com/dark-wizard ). ​ THE GOLDEN GRYPHON AND THE BEAR PRINCE is here ( https://jeffekennedy.com/the-golden-gryphon-and-the-bear-prince-heirs-o...

Why I feel comfortable being a strong anti-outline voice and more on how schools program us to believe there is a correct way of doing things, and an amusing (now) moment this morning putting on a pair of jeans. You can check out DARK WIZARD here ( https://jeffekennedy.com/dark-wizard ). ​ And THE GOLDEN GRYPHON AND THE BEAR PRINCE is here ( https://jeffekennedy.com/the-golden-gryphon-and-the-bear...

A special St Patrick's Day podcast today, with thoughts on why the holiday matters in light of the Irish diaspora. Also a bit about knife-throwing, how it relates to success, and why outlining can be a displacement activity. You can check out DARK WIZARD here ( https://jeffekennedy.com/dark-wizard ). ​ And THE GOLDEN GRYPHON AND THE BEAR PRINCE is here ( https://jeffekennedy.com/the-golden-gr...

The irony of Gen X being called on to corral the Millennials and Gen Z on so-called "cancel culture" when they're doing what we raised them to do. Also, the best metrics to measure the success of a book vs. those misleading attention sparklies. You can check out DARK WIZARD here ( https://jeffekennedy.com/dark-wizard ). ​ Watch the YouTube video of the podcast here ( https://youtu.b...

I'm talking today about the Go-Go's and  the misogyny we faced in the 80s. Also why I don't reply to comments on Podbean, why Stacey Dash is an outside cat now, free speech, guns, and Wyoming. The Go-Go's documentary is here ( https://www.imdb.com/title/tt11394468/ ). My book Wyoming Trucks, True Love, and the Weather Channel is here ( https://jeffekennedy.com/wyoming-trucks-tr...

By request, more self-publishing talk today on what parts to outsource, cover designers, what you can expect to pay in total, how many copies you need to sell to earn back your investment, and the time vs money equation. The Paper and Vices Podcast is here ( https://paperandvices.com/ ) and the episode I mention is here ( https://www.podbean.com/media/share/pb-gjuyb-f7fa05?utm_campaign=w_share_ep&...

I'm explaining why I'm not a Vellum fan like so many, and who I use for formatting my self-published books. Also how I don't like when Big Name Authors look down on other authors who might not have the same measures of success. The BBeBooks website, the formatter I recommend, is here ( https://bbebooksthailand.com/ ). You can check out DARK WIZARD here ( https://jeffekennedy.com/dar...

A (more coherent) report on the effects of the second COVID vaccine dose - and why I think we'll be seeing more reactions like mine. Also thoughts on losing ground on deadlines and strategizing from there.  Information on my Author Coaching services is here ( https://jeffekennedy.com/mastermind01 ). You can check out DARK WIZARD here ( https://jeffekennedy.com/dark-wizard ). ​ Watch the YouTu...

How to handle modern understanding of medical science in a non-tech alternate fantasy world, getting my COVID-19 booster and why this is a great time to get yours, even if you're concerned about "jumping the line." Information on my Author Coaching services is here ( https://jeffekennedy.com/mastermind01 ). You can check out DARK WIZARD here ( https://jeffekennedy.com/dark-wizard )....

I have a bit of Friday brain drain today. Been working on The Sorceress Queen and the Pirate Rogue, am grateful to Nalini Singh for a Dark Wizard shout-out, and feeling like the world is coming alive again! Information on my Author Coaching services is here ( https://jeffekennedy.com/mastermind01 ). You can check out DARK WIZARD here ( https://jeffekennedy.com/dark-wizard ). ​ Watch the YouTube vi...

Ruminations on working for free or very little pay and deciding on the level of effort to invest in those gigs. Also time zones, syncing calendars, upcoming workshops and conserving mental bandwidth. Information on my Author Coaching services is here ( https://jeffekennedy.com/mastermind01 ). You can check out DARK WIZARD here ( https://jeffekennedy.com/dark-wizard ). ​ Watch the YouTube video of...

About pantsing for plotters, AKA, trusting your inner storyteller, finding more efficient ways to write, and my Loki debacle. You can still register for my online class! Sex as a Tool for Character Transformation here ( https://marylandromancewriters.com/event/sex-as-a-tool-for-character-transformation/ ). Information on my Author Coaching services is here ( https://jeffekennedy.com/mastermind01 )...

Reflections on emerging from pandemic hibernation and how things that seemed suspended maybe aren't. Related: page proofs for The Promised Queen, reader gifts of European chocolate, and INDOOR brunch! You can still register for my online class! Sex as a Tool for Character Transformation The very interesting article on email making us miserable is here . You can check out DARK WIZARD here . ​...

I'm talking about genre definitions today, what drives them, where they're relevant and not - and how much is in the eye of the beholder. Also a bit on being disappointed by authors who turn out to be monsters. You can check out DARK WIZARD here . ​ Subscribe to my YouTube channel for the video version of the podcast here. First Cup of Coffee is part of the Frolic Podcast Network. You ca...

DARK WIZARD - book one in a brand new series, new world, new magic system, like The Witcher meets The Selection - is out today! I talk about titling this book, my wizard earrings, and why I never read at events unless asked. You can check out DARK WIZARD here . ​ "With delicious characters and exquisite writing, Jeffe Kennedy is an author you simply can't go wrong with. Dark Wizard is on...

Thank you all for the kind comments yesterday! I'm better today and talking about slut-shaming, "selfish" as a dog whistle, and double standards. Also a shoutout to Darynda Jones on the release of BEGUILED! You can check out BEGUILED here https://darynda.com/books/beguiled ​. And check out CAPTURE THE CROWN by Jennifer Estep here https://www.jenniferestep.com/series/... ​ And here i...

A weepy podcast today (for no good reason except that my ego is a bit bruised), so I'm talking about embracing emotions and the pressure we can feel to suppress them and soldier on. You can  also watch the video of this episode on YouTube . First Cup of Coffee is part of the Frolic Podcast Network. You can find more outstanding podcasts to subscribe to at Frolic.media/podcasts! Support the sh...

More on the anxiety that comes with being a writer - or maybe any creative - and how the fear that people won't like your work never goes away. And a bit on how some readers don't like certain kinds of heroines. You can watch the video of this episode on YouTube . The IG live video didn't save. *Sigh* First Cup of Coffee is part of the Frolic Podcast Network. You can find more outst...

Asking authors you love to read your work and posibly give blurbs or shout-outs, how that's fraught and always will be. Also news on Meljean Brook/Milla Vane. You can watch the video of this episode on YouTube or IGTV . First Cup of Coffee is part of the Frolic Podcast Network. You can find more outstanding podcasts to subscribe to at Frolic.media/podcasts! Support the show

My thoughts on identical twins and a mini-rant about stories like The Astronaut's Wife where we're supposed to believe an entirely different person can be inside a body and the people close to them don't notice. My YouTube channel is here. First Cup of Coffee is part of the Frolic Podcast Network. You can find more outstanding podcasts to subscribe to at Frolic.media/podcasts! Suppo...

About choosing the happy, being stuck inside, reading psychological thrillers (with a couple of recs) and experimenting with new media. My YouTube channel is here. The books I mention are The Broken Girls by Simone St. James , Behind Her Eyes by Sarah Pinborough , Darynda Jones's Betwixt and Between , and Jennifer Estep's Capture the Crown . First Cup of Coffee is part of the Frolic Podc...