First Cup of Coffee with Jeffe Kennedy

My appliance-drama-filled weekend, pet-drama-filled Monday, a happy resolution to previous pet-drama, my great character flaw, and how a robust backlist not only is the best marketing, but continues to provide income in lots of ways. The Agatha Christie quote I read is: "There was a moment when I changed from an amateur to a professional. I assumed the burden of a profession, which is to writ...

A story about how an indie bookstore cheated me (if you didn't see it on Threads), my friend who died and people trying to dig for scandalous information, plus my excellent progress this week! RELUCTANT WIZARD is out now!! https://www.jeffekennedy.com/reluctant-wizard You can preorder STRANGE FAMILIAR at https://www.jeffekennedy.com/strange-familiar The posture-correcting sports bra I love al...

An exciting sneak peek of the interior design of NEVER THE ROSES! Also, a deep dive into author finances, how to manage income by maximizing tax-deductions, promoting your work, and when to DIY vs. paying an expert. RELUCTANT WIZARD is out now!! https://www.jeffekennedy.com/reluctant-wizard You can preorder STRANGE FAMILIAR at https://www.jeffekennedy.com/strange-familiar The posture-correcting sp...

Why so many authors end up "trunking" their first novel, why it's often not only a good idea, but inevitable - and how to know if you should. Also, garbage data, The Fall, and The Riddle Master of Hed (and why I think I bounced off of it as a kid). RELUCTANT WIZARD is out now!! https://www.jeffekennedy.com/reluctant-wizard You can preorder STRANGE FAMILIAR at https://www.jeffekenned...

The role of luck/serendipity in publishing success, how it's not who you know, but how you can know people. Also, the problems at NaNoWriMo, and why I believe being a writer and the process of writing is more important than having generated a book. RELUCTANT WIZARD is out now!! https://www.jeffekennedy.com/reluctant-wizard You can preorder STRANGE FAMILIAR at https://www.jeffekennedy.com/stra...

My mojo is back and my mother is doing well! Other than reports on that - and progress on A ROSE IN THE MIRROR - I'm talking about first names and surnames, feminism, women supporting women (or not), and Kamala Harris. RELUCTANT WIZARD is out now!! https://www.jeffekennedy.com/reluctant-wizard You can preorder STRANGE FAMILIAR at https://www.jeffekennedy.com/strange-familiar The posture-corre...

My wonderful weekend at Bubonicon and exciting news about next year's con. Also, thoughts on more experienced authors giving advice to newbies, how to be honest without stomping on their dreams, and a story of my own newbie dream-crushing. The preorder links for RELUCTANT WIZARD, out August 27, are here https://www.jeffekennedy.com/reluctant-wizard The posture-correcting sports bra I love alm...

My great news/bad news week, why I didn't podcast Monday, my mom's health crisis and my writing productivity in the face of it anyway. Also, keeping good relationships in the publishing business. The preorder links for RELUCTANT WIZARD, out August 27, are here https://www.jeffekennedy.com/reluctant-wizard The posture-correcting sports bra I love almost more than life itself is here https...

My thoughts on admiring and idolizing the creators of the art we love, meeting your heroes, being careful what we complain about online, my unexpected trip to Tucson and exciting news on NEVER THE ROSES! John Scalzi's essay that I reference is here https://whatever.scalzi.com/2024/08/15/please-dont-idolize-me-or-anyone-really/ The preorder links for RELUCTANT WIZARD, out August 27, are here h...

Why we, as adult creatives, must learn to overcome the well-meaning lessons we were taught as children - like recognizing daydreaming as a feature, not a bug. Also, practical approaches to self-care, nurturing our creative selves, and what happened to me yesterday. The preorder links for RELUCTANT WIZARD, out August 27, are here https://www.jeffekennedy.com/reluctant-wizard The posture-correcting...

Recent revelations on ghostwriting, using metrics for good, rain gauges, gardening, JD Vance's memoir, the real meaning of "bemused" and whether everyone has one great novel or flower arrangement in them. Ann Patchett's book The Getaway Car: A Practical Memoir About Writing and Life is here https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12471186-the-getaway-car The preorder links for RELU...

How traditional publishing deadlines work - and how I'm balancing one of mine with a self-published project. Also, homonyms and how you really need a human being to catch those errors for you. The preorder links for RELUCTANT WIZARD, out August 27, are here https://www.jeffekennedy.com/reluctant-wizard The posture-correcting sports bra I love almost more than life itself is here https://forme...

Envy and jealousy, especially professional jealousy and how to combat them. I'm talking negative emotions in general and offering my two go-to tips for how to diffuse professional jealousy in myself and make it a positive. The site on Tall Poppy Syndrome is here https://www.womenofinfluence.ca/tps/ The preorder links for RELUCTANT WIZARD, out August 27, are here https://www.jeffekennedy.com/r...

A peek at my "map scrap" for NEVER THE ROSES, updates on ARCs, and endorsement quotes as another new-to-me term. Also, not taking other people so seriously and the internet as a weapon against loneliness. The preorder links for RELUCTANT WIZARD, out August 27, are here https://www.jeffekennedy.com/reluctant-wizard The posture-correcting sports bra I love almost more than life itself is h...

Why I fell off the face of the earth (or at least, the internet) this week and what I've been doing. Also a peek at the gorgeous box and hardcover edition of BENEATH THESE CURSED STARS by Lexi Ryan! The preorder links for RELUCTANT WIZARD, out August 27, are here https://www.jeffekennedy.com/reluctant-wizard The posture-correcting sports bra I love almost more than life itself is here https:/...

How gardening is a great metaphor for life and creativity - accepting loss and treating that as an opportunity to plant anew, embracing change, and giving up control. Also, ways to be kind to ourselves. Stephanie Pui-Mun Law's special edition Tarot deck is here https://shadowscapes.com/Tarot/deckSE.php The preorder links for RELUCTANT WIZARD, out August 27, are here https://www.jeffekennedy.c...

On having shining boundaries to protect your sacred, creative spaces, even if it makes people angry, which it will. Also, gardening as an extended analogy for writing, how we keep learning and recreating. The preorder links for RELUCTANT WIZARD, out August 27, are here https://www.jeffekennedy.com/reluctant-wizard The posture-correcting sports bra I love almost more than life itself is here https:...

On knife-throwing and yoga - and why the process is the most important part, not the goal. Also, "rules" for submitting to traditional publishing, talent vs. discipline, gardening, and having the bandwidth to take on new projects. The preorder links for RELUCTANT WIZARD, out August 27, are here https://www.jeffekennedy.com/reluctant-wizard The posture-correcting sports bra I love almost...

My experience so far with putting a Romantasy series in KU and plan to have RELUCTANT WIZARD wide for preorder and into KU on release day. Also thoughts on patriotism, politics, and diverse reading. Last day to bid on Personalized Author Coaching with Jeffe Kennedy to benefit the Romancing the Vote fundraiser! https://www.32auctions.com/organizations/74830/auctions/164081/auction_items/5468317 The...

A round-up of my very fun weekend with visiting writers and local ones, our wide-ranging conversations, giving and valuing advice, being a caretaker and having friends care, and also coaching from me at Romancing the Vote! Bid on Personalized Author Coaching with Jeffe Kennedy to benefit the Romancing the Vote fundraiser! https://www.32auctions.com/organizations/74830/auctions/164081/auction_items...

I'm questioning why ANY of you watched the presidential "debate." On more interesting topics, I'm discussing Romantasy, Paranormal Romance, fantasy worldbuilding vs. vibes, and my ongoing lesson in writing more and faster. The Paste Magazine article on Romantasy I mention is here https://www.pastemagazine.com/books/fantasy-books/what-is-romantasy-fantasy-romance-genre-explained...

A discussion of the agent taking a querying author's idea and asking someone else to write it, on ideas in general, and why you still shouldn't worry about people stealing them. Also, a party at GRRM's and how even famous writers are still people. The preorder links for RELUCTANT WIZARD, out August 27, are here https://www.jeffekennedy.com/reluctant-wizard The posture-correcting spo...

Finally, the cover reveal for RELUCTANT WIZARD, along with the preorder links!! Also, some updates on Darynda Jones and her surgery, and thoughts on the six-figure book deal discourse and why traditional publishing isn't the enemy. The preorder links for RELUCTANT WIZARD, out August 27, are here https://www.jeffekennedy.com/reluctant-wizard The posture-correcting sports bra I love almost more...

Updates on edits on NEVER THE ROSES, the ups and downs of maternity leave, women supporting women, the amazing show UNBELIEVABLE that I want you all to watch, and the enduring pain of asking for endorsement quotes. The posture-correcting sports bra I love almost more than life itself is here https://forme.therave.co/37FY6Z5MTJAUKQGA You can buy tickets for Wild & Windy in Phoenix (February 202...

More cats-will-happen-drama in my life. Also, traditional publishing, why an agent is such a great asset, and how it never gets easier handing edits and critique, and how deciding how/if to incorporate suggestions is a spectrum. The posture-correcting sports bra I love almost more than life itself is here https://forme.therave.co/37FY6Z5MTJAUKQGA You can buy tickets for Wild & Windy in Phoenix...