First Cup of Coffee with Jeffe Kennedy

Part two of my book tour recap for NEVER THE ROSES! All about Columbus Book Festival and my terrible day where I could not seem to get anywhere on time or do anything correctly. And then I flew to NYC! I will be at San Diego Comic Con! See me on the Mystical Mayhem panel on Saturday, July 26, 2025 10:30am - 11:30am PDT, Room 10 . https://www.comic-con.org/cc/things-to-do/programming-schedule/satur...

I'm back from Book Tour and super revved that NEVER THE ROSES debuted at #29 on the USA Today Bestseller list! Today is part 1 of the tour, who I saw, how it went, and all the other (not-so) salacious details! I will be at San Diego Comic Con! See me on the Mystical Mayhem panel on Saturday, July 26, 2025 10:30am - 11:30am PDT, Room 10 . https://www.comic-con.org/cc/things-to-do/programming-s...

It's release day for NEVER THE ROSES!! I'm mostly burbling about that, the importance of having author friends and how they're showing up for me. And how I'm leaving on book tour tomorrow! Book Tour for NEVER THE ROSES information here! https://us.macmillan.com/tours/jennifer-k-lambert-never-the-roses/ Buy LoveLitCon tickets here https://lovelit.com/ Be sure to use my author-sp...

At last getting to share the news: I'll be at San Diego Comic Con! Very excited to be on programming there. Also, working on this revision still and how I'm contemplating hosting writing retreats.  Book Tour for NEVER THE ROSES information here! https://us.macmillan.com/tours/jennifer-k-lambert-never-the-roses/ Buy LoveLitCon tickets here https://lovelit.com/ Be sure to use my author-spe...

Balancing working on a revision while heading into full-blown celebratory release week, having good friends coming to join in, and dealing with related fire drills. Also, a peek at the audiobook of NEVER THE ROSES! Book Tour for NEVER THE ROSES information here! https://us.macmillan.com/tours/jennifer-k-lambert-never-the-roses/ Buy LoveLitCon tickets here https://lovelit.com/ Be sure to use my aut...

I'm going on book tour! Lots of burbling about that and this Cinderella ticket. Also a deep dive into how we decided on book titles (Spoiler: don't get attached!) and fun insights into yesterday's editorial meeting.  Book Tour for NEVER THE ROSES information here! https://us.macmillan.com/tours/jennifer-k-lambert-never-the-roses/ Buy LoveLitCon tickets here https://lovelit.com/ Be s...

My revision process: how I estimate how long a revision will take, the metrics I use to track progress, how I approach making changes, etc. Also, working with a great editor, the danger of perfectionism, and wishing for rain. Buy LoveLitCon tickets here https://lovelit.com/ Be sure to use my author-specific code for a $10 discount! LOVE8368 STRANGE FAMILIAR is live! https://www.jeffekennedy.com/st...

On titles and why authors have to resist being clever and remember SEO rules. Also where the reign of social media influencers is taking us, the trad-wife fetish, and how to retain your humanity through it all.  Buy LoveLitCon tickets here https://lovelit.com/ Be sure to use my author-specific code for a $10 discount! LOVE8368 STRANGE FAMILIAR is live! https://www.jeffekennedy.com/strange-familiar...

The challenge of writing Romance - and really earning the reader's belief in love overcoming obstacles. Also, the #NoKings protests over the weekend in the US, power and corruption, and love conquering hate. Buy LoveLitCon tickets here https://lovelit.com/ Be sure to use my author-specific code for a $10 discount! LOVE8368 STRANGE FAMILIAR is live! https://www.jeffekennedy.com/strange-familia...

Talking to you all - but especially writers! - about the perils of seeking external validation, how the publishing industry is particularly challenging this way, and why "moving the needle" is a useless metaphor. Buy LoveLitCon tickets here https://lovelit.com/ Be sure to use my author-specific code for a $10 discount! LOVE8368 STRANGE FAMILIAR is live! https://www.jeffekennedy.com/stran...

Sending out love to all you listeners I'm getting to meet in person! So great! Also, on boundaries, how you don't have to be mean to protect your writing time, but that you do have to hold your feet to the fire. Buy LoveLitCon tickets here https://lovelit.com/ Be sure to use my author-specific code for a $10 discount! LOVE8368 STRANGE FAMILIAR is live! https://www.jeffekennedy.com/strang...

On a few recent bruhahas regarding Generative "AI" in the writing world, author chat groups, writing as "grunt work," and why it's so significant for all creators that Taylor Swift bought back her masters and owns her catalog now. Buy LoveLitCon tickets here https://lovelit.com/ Be sure to use my author-specific code for a $10 discount! LOVE8368 STRANGE FAMILIAR is live! h...

I'm suggesting creators reframe our expectations for success and the sense of urgency to *make* things happen - instead we can bide our time while we continue to create and let the world come to us. Buy LoveLitCon tickets here https://lovelit.com/ Be sure to use my author-specific code for a $10 discount! LOVE8368 STRANGE FAMILIAR is live! https://www.jeffekennedy.com/strange-familiar   You c...

Why I think this minor celebrity cis het white guy getting a Romantasy book deal is actually a good thing - certainly not a new thing. Also successful furniture shopping and a good long weekend for me! Buy LoveLitCon tickets here https://lovelit.com/ Be sure to use my author-specific code for a $10 discount! LOVE8368 STRANGE FAMILIAR is live! https://www.jeffekennedy.com/strange-familiar   You can...

An annoying tussle with Findaway Voices flagging my very human narrator as digital for STRANGE FAMILIAR, with no recourse to object. It is live on Audible and Kobo though! Also, I may be reversing my insistence on writing with discipline and instead embracing the creative urge and writing what you want to!  Buy LoveLitCon tickets here https://lovelit.com/ Be sure to use my author-specific code for...

Thoughts on taste, classism, wealth and how some books and authors are elevated by the social elite, deliberately creating an atmosphere of exclusivity. Also on why some books are phenoms and what is art. Buy LoveLitCon tickets here https://lovelit.com/ Be sure to use my author-specific code for a $10 discount! LOVE8368 STRANGE FAMILIAR is live! https://www.jeffekennedy.com/strange-familiar   You...

My very exciting news on Never the Roses: a starred Library Journal review! Also, about the latest news around "AI" and some writers using it to generate books. My thoughts on art, creativity - and what we can do to "prove" we're not among them. Buy LoveLitCon tickets here https://lovelit.com/ Be sure to use my author-specific code for a $10 discount! LOVE8368 STRANGE FAMI...

I'm back from travels and writing hiatus, and mulling what it feels like to have not written anything in all this time, what it means to aggressively refill the well, and becoming familiar with the odd sensation of feeling less stressed. Buy LoveLitCon tickets here https://lovelit.com/ Be sure to use my author-specific code for a $10 discount! LOVE8368 STRANGE FAMILIAR is live! https://www.je...

My office rehab is done and I am THRILLED! I've discovered my intuition led me to solidify this aspect of my creative life while on hiatus. Also: Why We Write. Musings on having a creative career and balancing love and business. STRANGE FAMILIAR is live! https://www.jeffekennedy.com/strange-familiar   You can preorder MAGIC REBORN at https://www.jeffekennedy.com/magic-reborn RELUCTANT WIZARD...

My non-paradisical experience at the Container Store (not their fault), my ongoing tribulations with purging and reorganizing, and also burbling about how awesome the Bramble team is and the ups and downs of this business. STRANGE FAMILIAR is live! https://www.jeffekennedy.com/strange-familiar   You can preorder MAGIC REBORN at https://www.jeffekennedy.com/magic-reborn RELUCTANT WIZARD is out now...

I'm a featured author at Columbus Book Festival July 12-13! And the Closet of Doom is NO MORE. Also, I'm talking about the lack of control in creative careers and how that leads to toxic desperation - along with thoughts on dealing! STRANGE FAMILIAR is live! https://www.jeffekennedy.com/strange-familiar   You can preorder MAGIC REBORN at https://www.jeffekennedy.com/magic-reborn RELUCTAN...

More of me NOT writing. Reflections on purging, reorganizing, and thinking about my office space in terms of what *I* need from it. Also, responding to a comment, writers letting go of screen adaptations doesn't mean readers have to love the show! STRANGE FAMILIAR is live! https://www.jeffekennedy.com/strange-familiar   You can preorder MAGIC REBORN at https://www.jeffekennedy.com/magic-rebor...

My week of well-refilling and alternate-achieving. Being a career creative and balancing that output with business decisions/responsibilities and keeping ourselves healthy and happily creating. STRANGE FAMILIAR is live! https://www.jeffekennedy.com/strange-familiar   You can preorder MAGIC REBORN at https://www.jeffekennedy.com/magic-reborn RELUCTANT WIZARD is out now and the audiobook is live!! h...

All about Apollycon and how I finished A ROSE IN THE MIRROR on the plane and working in the atrium on site. I had a great time at the event and got to fangirl and hang with some of my longtime author idols. STRANGE FAMILIAR is live! https://www.jeffekennedy.com/strange-familiar   You can preorder MAGIC REBORN at https://www.jeffekennedy.com/magic-reborn RELUCTANT WIZARD is out now and the audioboo...

About how I bought a new car! And struggling to decide what to do with my museum piece... Also catching up on finishing A ROSE IN THE MIRROR, getting bills paid, and being impatient with recovery from illness. STRANGE FAMILIAR is live! https://www.jeffekennedy.com/strange-familiar   You can preorder MAGIC REBORN at https://www.jeffekennedy.com/magic-reborn RELUCTANT WIZARD is out now and the audio...