First Cup of Coffee – August 19, 2026 I'm counting down the last few days of my 50s! Also, advice on not having the chops (yet) to execute an idea, thoughts (and history) on men taking up all the air in women-dominated spaces - especially during Romance events - and why it's an increasing problem...

First Cup of Coffee – August 12, 2026 Ego, really bad writing advice, and what I think Jeff Bezos has in common with creators who believe they're successful because they are just that special.

First Cup of Coffee – August 5, 2026 I'm addressing a listener question today about HM Wolfe's DAGGERMOUTH and the discourse around it regarding generative "AI" and other, similar situations and what I think about community policing. Basically I come down to listen to the experts and professionals.

First Cup of Coffee – July 29, 2026 Very exciting new gate installation today! Otherwise, I'm talking about drafting Never the Roses 3, how to identify the root cause of "writer's block," and approaches to resolving it. blog.jeffekennedy.com/2026/07/29/f...

First Cup of Coffee – July 15, 2026 I'm back from book tour for AMONG THE THORNS and telling you all about it! Also ruminations on seeing old friends (both in age and longevity - ha!) and the experience of going back to my childhood and teenage haunts in Denver. blog.jeffekennedy.com/2026/07/22/f...

First Cup of Coffee – July 15, 2026 AMONG THE THORNS is out in the world!! I'm burbling about the launch party, the lovely gifts and thank-yous from readers, and talking a bit about the book and writing a "love triangle with teeth." Also about the difference... blog.jeffekennedy.com/2026/07/15/f...

First Cup of Coffee – July 8, 2026 We are less than a week away from the release of AMONG THE THORNS! Amazing, really. I'm also talking about "easy" writing advice that really isn't useful because it's too pat. And what kinds of scenes and details truly are ...

First Cup of Coffee – July 1, 2026 Why everyone should read CONSENT by Vanessa Springora about her affair with pedophile Gabriel Matzneff when he was 49 and she was 14. Also, how very much I loved The Devil Wears Prada 2, with observations on how the writing was done really well. And...

First Cup of Coffee – June 24, 2026 Weird self-publishing takes that appear to be positive, but are truly toxic. What truly works to build a career as an author, having solid goals, and knowing that achieving them will be great, but won't make you happy forever because external validation never does

First Cup of Coffee – June 17, 2026 NEVER THE ROSES in ebook is on sale for $1.99! All of my other news is life-based: getting in-home care for David, setting up trusts, taxes, purging my bathroom, and generally feeling lighter getting over these big hurdles. blog.jeffekennedy.com/2026/06/17/f...

First Cup of Coffee – June 12, 2026 I'm getting weepy about Jane Yolen's passing on the podcast today, talking about how kind she was to me. Also about my hijinks attempting to use my new espresso machine, changes to the podcast schedule (yet again, but for the last time now, I think), and

First Cup of Coffee – September 12, 2025 My topsy-turvy, exhausting week, introducing exciting new changes to this podcast and my social media - welcome Sydney! - and why GRRM being at 70% now and 70% three years ago doesn't mean no progress. blog.jeffekennedy.com/2025/09/12/f...

First Cup of Coffee – September 5, 2025 Supporting creativity, creators, and their creations vs. demanding a product and how parasocial relationships have fostered a tension there. Self-love and self-care vs. self-indulgence. Also, I turned in AMONG THE THORNS! blog.jeffekennedy.com/2025/09/05/f...

First Cup of Coffee – August 29, 2025 How endings of books can't be changed by simply lopping off final chapters and adding new ones - the story must point toward the finale all the way through. Also, US politics to wade through at first, esp state vs fed rights blog.jeffekennedy.com/2025/08/29/f...

First Cup of Coffee – August 26, 2025 Things not to say to authors and how George R.R. Martin won't ever let someone else finish his books. Also, wondering if I'm on an uphill trajectory or a peak, and how I'm going to hire someone to do my social media. blog.jeffekennedy.com/2025/08/26/f...

First Cup of Coffee – August 19, 2025 Why finding where the story starts is *always* one of the most difficult challenges in writing, why I firmly believe you shouldn't get critiques from people who love you, and new developments on AMONG THE THORNS. blog.jeffekennedy.com/2025/08/19/f...

First Cup of Coffee – August 12, 2025 I'm going to WorldCon this week and will have copies of Never the Roses with me! Also: baby authors, midlist authors, writing full-time, ups and downs of the industry, and trying to coattail success. blog.jeffekennedy.com/2025/08/12/f...

First Cup of Coffee – August 8, 2025 All about the extraordinary thing that happened this week regarding NEVER THE ROSES - and about serendipity, bolts of lightning, what you can and can't plan for, and why I love working with smart women who also talk about skin care routines.

First Cup of Coffee – August 5, 2025 I have bookplates for all of you! Also, I'm FINALLY showing off the incredibly gorgeous, exclusive Owl Crate edition of NEVER THE ROSES - and giving some spoilery, insider tidbits about it. blog.jeffekennedy.com/2025/08/05/f...

First Cup of Coffee – August 1, 2025 My recap of San Diego Comic Con, including the amazing panel I got to be on there and what I learned about worldbuilding details from it. We talked about debt and finance in mind-blowing ways! blog.jeffekennedy.com/2025/08/01/f...

First Cup of Coffee – July 25, 2025 I'm coming to you from San Diego Comic Con with the third and final installment of my book tour recap for NEVER THE ROSES! All about New York City, including my big city gaffe and event at the B&N mothership! blog.jeffekennedy.com/2025/07/25/f...

First Cup of Coffee – July 22, 2025 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! blog.jeffekennedy.com/2025/07/22/f...

First Cup of Coffee – July 18, 2025 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! blog.jeffekennedy.com/2025/07/18/f...

First Cup of Coffee – July 8, 2025 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! blog.jeffekennedy.com/2025/07/08/f...

First Cup of Coffee – July 4, 2025 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. blog.jeffekennedy.com/2025/07/04/f...

First Cup of Coffee – July 1, 2025 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! blog.jeffekennedy.com/2025/07/01/f...

First Cup of Coffee – June 27, 2025 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. blog.jeffekennedy.com/2025/06/27/f...

First Cup of Coffee – June 24, 2025 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. blog.jeffekennedy.com/2025/06/24/f...

First Cup of Coffee – June 20, 2025 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. blog.jeffekennedy.com/2025/06/20/f...

First Cup of Coffee – June 17, 2025 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. blog.jeffekennedy.com/2025/06/17/f...