First Cup of Coffee with Jeffe Kennedy
Award-winning and best-selling author of fantasy and romance, Jeffe Kennedy shares her first cup of coffee of the day with listeners, giving a daily insight into the realities of being a career author.
First Cup of Coffee – September 30, 2026
An unboxing of... *drumroll* A SPECIAL EDITION OF AMONG THE THORNS! I'm also telling you all about my weekend at FanX Salt Lake City and the fab authors I was privileged to hang out with.
Among The Thorns
Indie Booksellers! You can buy my indie books direct from me at discount!! Submit a Request for an order here
New Releases ~
Blades, Books, and the Bandit
Love, Lies, and Ley Lines
MAGIC REBORN
Never The Roses
The posture correcting sports bra I love almost m...
First Cup of Coffee – September 23, 2026
A correction to last week's podcast (Aidan Quinn, *not* Liam Neeson!), along with a story about how my weird brain scrambles names. Also, on officially cancelling/postponing the release of PRINCES, POTIONS, AND PIXIE DUST. And thoughts on envious techbros and how their longing to be real creatives and disdain for genre led to them being genuinely evil in training their "AI" monsters.
Among The Thorns
Indie Booksellers! You can buy my indie books direct from me at discount!! Submit a Request for an order here
New Releases ~
Blades, Books, and...
First Cup of Coffee – September 16, 2026
My mixed (and spoilery) review of Practical Magic 2. Also thoughts on Ed Sheeran (TLDR: sigh). Otherwise I'm working away on Never the Roses 3 and happy for rain in Santa Fe! Special Cats and New Mexico weather episode :D
Among The Thorns
Indie Booksellers! You can buy my indie books direct from me at discount!! Submit a Request for an order here
New Releases ~
Blades, Books, and the Bandit
Love, Lies, and Ley Lines
MAGIC REBORN
Never The Roses
The posture correcting sports bra I...
First Cup of Coffee – September 9, 2026
How changing the name of New Mexico to New America is absurd on every level. (When did Monty Python start writing the script???) Also the Southern New Mexico Book Festival and a childhood story about why I learned it was bad to be a sensitive person - and how we affect people in our lives.
Among The Thorns
Indie Booksellers! You can buy my indie books direct from me at discount!! Submit a Request for an order here
New Releases ~
Blades, Books, and the Bandit
Love, Lies, and Ley...
First Cup of Coffee – September 2, 2026
How to read Publisher's Marketplace Deal Reports and other arcania of how traditional publishing finances work. Also my very cool appearances at Fan X Phoenix and people who do and don't (and why it isn't shocking at all).
Preorder ~
Among The Thorns
Indie Booksellers! You can buy my indie books direct from me at discount!! Submit a Request for an order here
New Releases ~
Blades, Books, and the Bandit
Love, Lies, and Ley Lines
MAGIC REBORN
Never The Roses
The posture co...
First Cup of Coffee – August 26, 2026
The utter nonsense of people claiming to be "thought leaders" and how they feed into an incestuous cycle of creating more nonsense with Generative "AI." Also, the basic common sense of being an author, especially an indie author, and why craft and financial competence matter. And: wine sleeves. Why?
Preorder ~
Among The Thorns
Indie Booksellers! You can buy my indie books direct from me at discount!! Submit a Request for an order here
New Releases ~
Blades, Books, and the Bandit
Love, Lies, and Ley Lines
...
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 that authors paying into events is the business model for so many of them.
Preorder ~
Among The Thorns
Indie Booksellers! You can buy my indie books direct from me at discount!! Submit a Request for an order here
New Releases ~
Blades, Books...
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. Also, an interesting story about "AI" tags and Bramble - another reason to love them!
Preorder ~
Among The Thorns
Indie Booksellers! You can buy my indie books direct from me at discount!! Submit a Request for an order here
New Releases ~
Blades, Books, and the Bandit
Love, Lies, and Ley Lines
MAGIC REBORN
Never The Roses
<...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. (Also, you can pry my em-dashes from my cold, dead keyboarding fingers.)
Preorder ~
Among The Thorns
Indie Booksellers! You can buy my indie books direct from me at discount!! Submit a Request for an order here
New Releases ~
Blades, Books, and the Bandit
Love, Lies, and Ley...
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.
Preorder ~
Among The Thorns
Indie Booksellers! You can buy my indie books direct from me at discount!! Submit a Request for an order here
New Releases ~
Blades, Books, and the Bandit
Love, Lies, and Ley Lines
MAGIC REBORN
Never The Roses
The posture correcting sports bra I love almost more than life itself...
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.
Preorder ~
Among The Thorns
Indie Booksellers! You can buy my indie books direct from me at discount!! Submit a Request for an order here
New Releases ~
Blades, Books, and the Bandit
Love, Lies, and Ley Lines
MAGIC REBORN
Never The Roses<...
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 between my Jeffe Kennedy voice and the Jennifer K. Lambert one, and my evolving understanding of the happy-ever-after.
Preorder ~
Among The Thorns
Indie Booksellers! You can buy my indie books direct from me at discount!! Submit a Request for an order here
New Releases ~
Blades, Books, and the Bandit
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 gratuitous.
Preorder ~
Among The Thorns
Indie Booksellers! You can buy my indie books direct from me at discount!! Submit a Request for an order here
New Releases ~
Blades, Books, and the Bandit
Love, Lies, and Ley Lines
MAGIC REBORN
Never The Roses
<...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 there may be a bit of a bookish opportunity embedded here!
The Romancing the Vote Auction is live! You can bid on my items here:
Writing Retreat in Santa Fe, NM
Signed hardback copy of Among the Thorns #1
Signed hardback copy of Among the Thorns #2
Signed hardback copy of Among the...
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. Also, appreciating the book deal that doesn't seem glam because it furthers those goals.
Indie Booksellers! You can buy my indie books direct from me at discount!! Submit a Request for an order here
New Releases ~
Blades, Books, and the Bandit
Love, Lies, and Ley Lines
<...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.
Indie Booksellers! You can buy my indie books direct from me at discount!! Submit a Request for an order here
New Releases ~
Blades, Books, and the Bandit
Love, Lies, and Ley Lines
MAGIC REBORN
Never The Roses
Preorder ~
Among The Thorns
The posture correcting...
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 the future of "AI."
Indie Booksellers! You can buy my indie books direct from me at discount!! Submit a Request for an order here
New Releases ~
Blades, Books, and the Bandit
Love, Lies, and Ley Lines
MAGIC REBORN
Never The Roses<...
First Cup of Coffee – June 9, 2026
Some tough love on losing sight of the joy of storytelling and the great privilege of being able to make a living doing this wonderful, creative effort and instead getting lost in a swamp of comparisonitis and striving for status. Especially on why bigger advances aren't necessarily better.
Indie Booksellers! You can buy my indie books direct from me at discount!! Submit a Request for an order here
New Releases ~
Blades, Books, and the Bandit
Love, Lies, and Ley Lines
MAGIC REBORN
Never The Roses
...
First Cup of Coffee – June 5, 2026
I'm back from retreat and pleasantly relaxed. Looking forward to the weekend events ahead - especially the RomCon at Books on the Bosque in Albuquerque tomorrow, June 6, 10am-3pm!
Indie Booksellers! You can buy my indie books direct from me at discount!! Submit a Request for an order here
New Releases ~
Blades, Books, and the Bandit
Love, Lies, and Ley Lines
MAGIC REBORN
Never The Roses
Preorder ~
Among The Thorns
The posture correcting sports bra I love almost more than life...
First Cup of Coffee – June 1, 2026
The (absolutely gorgeous) trade paperback edition of NEVER THE ROSES releases tomorrow!! Otherwise, I'm talking about friendships - working on them, forgiving what we can, drawing boundaries, and mulling the difficulty of having a relationship with someone who doesn't share your ethics about other people.
Indie Booksellers! You can buy my indie books direct from me at discount!! Submit a Request for an order here
New Releases ~
Blades, Books, and the Bandit
Love, Lies, and Ley Lines
MAGIC REBORN
Never The Roses
Preorder ~
...
First Cup of Coffee – May 29, 2026
On doing hard things - and recognizing that we're going to feel what we feel and that pretending otherwise is stressful. And a bit more on reading and how it can go from being an escape to being a source of pressure, like monetizing creative pursuits.
Indie Booksellers! You can buy my indie books direct from me at discount!! Submit a Request for an order here
New Releases ~
Blades, Books, and the Bandit
Love, Lies, and Ley Lines
MAGIC REBORN
Never The Roses
Preorder ~
<...First Cup of Coffee – May 27, 2026
On making time for reading, even though we don't all have the same 24 hours in a day, and other thoughts on tracking books read, competition, scheduling our lives, and why audiobooks rock.
This is Michael Ulloa, Personal Trainer & Nutrition Coach, who I follow on Instagram and really like for his practical advice and scathing debunking of "wellness" influencers. https://www.instagram.com/michaelulloapt/
Indie Booksellers! You can buy my indie books direct from me at discount!! Submit a Request for an order here
New Releases ~
Love, Lies, and Ley Lines
<...First Cup of Coffee – May 18, 2026
The Battle of the Roses and Gophers commences! Also, my weekend at the Santa Fe International Literary Festival and what I learned about writing from listening to Susan Orlean.
Goodreads Giveaway for AMONG THE THORNS goes May 4-25. Enter here. https://www.goodreads.com/giveaway/show/431710-among-the-thorns
Indie Booksellers! You can buy my indie books direct from me at discount!! Submit a Request for an order here
New Releases ~
Love, Lies, and Ley Lines
MAGIC REBORN
Never The Roses
Preorder ~
Among The Thorns
First Cup of Coffee – May 15, 2026
BLADES, BOOKS, AND THE BANDIT is out in the world! I'm celebrating that and also looking back over the last ten years of being on the self-publishing endless hustle - and what it means to step off of that hamster wheel and let it get a little dusty.
Goodreads Giveaway for AMONG THE THORNS goes May 4-25. Enter here. https://www.goodreads.com/giveaway/show/431710-among-the-thorns
Indie Booksellers! You can buy my indie books direct from me at discount!! Submit a Request for an order here
New Releases ~
Love, Lies, and...
First Cup of Coffee – May 12, 2026
What writing schedule works for you? I'm considering going to writing four days/week with a day for business - two days writing/business/two days writing or...? I'm also doing a deep dive into agents and busting a myth I loathe: that picking an agent is a till-death-do-us-part commitment.
Goodreads Giveaway for AMONG THE THORNS goes May 4-25. Enter here. https://www.goodreads.com/giveaway/show/431710-among-the-thorns
Indie Booksellers! You can buy my indie books direct from me at discount!! Submit a Request for an order here
New Releases ~
Love...
First Cup of Coffee – May 7, 2026
I have finished copies of the NEVER THE ROSES trade paperback and the foil is so shiny! I have also finished BLADES, BOOKS, AND THE BANDIT, releasing a week from today!! I'm also talking publishing industry predictions and the "stuff they aren't telling you."
Goodreads Giveaway for AMONG THE THORNS goes May 4-25. Enter here. https://www.goodreads.com/giveaway/show/431710-among-the-thorns
Indie Booksellers! You can buy my indie books direct from me at discount!! Submit a Request for an order here
New Releases ~
Love, Lies, and Ley Lines<...
First Cup of Coffee – May 4, 2026
I'm off tomorrow to the Mountains and Plains Independent Booksellers Conference for a cameo appearance to talk to them. I'm almost done with BLADES, BOOKS, AND THE BANDIT. And I'm talking about authors being idiots on social media and making business decisions about what in-person events to attend. Also, a bit of transparency on my traditional publishing deals. Finally, Lexi Ryan's NIGHT TIDE is fantabulous!
Goodreads Giveaway for AMONG THE THORNS goes May 4-25. Enter here. https://www.goodreads.com/giveaway/show/431710-among-the-thorns
Indie Booksellers! You can buy my indie books direct from me at...
First Cup of Coffee – May 1, 2026
The magic of habit-building and why I find my routines so helpful - and dealing with the chaos when they're disrupted! Also, the saga of Killian's brush with death. (Or so I was panicking would be the case, but he's okay!)
$3, $4, $5 audiobooks here!
Indie Booksellers! You can buy my indie books direct from me at discount!! Submit a Request for an order here
New Releases ~
Love, Lies, and Ley Lines
MAGIC REBORN
Never The Roses
Preorder ~
Among The Thorns
Blades, Books...
First Cup of Coffee – April 28, 2026
I'm back from Apollycon and cranking hard on Blades, Books, and the Bandit for the next two weeks. Also, how I've fallen in love with Mark Rothko and Project Hail Mary (Amaze Amaze Amaze!), a visit from Mary Robinette Kowal and Elsie, and continuing ruminations on multiple pen names.
$3, $4, $5 audiobooks here!
Indie Booksellers! You can buy my indie books direct from me at discount!! Submit a Request for an order here
New Releases ~
Love, Lies, and Ley Lines
MAGIC REBORN
Never The Roses
Preorder ~
<...First Cup of Coffee – April 21, 2026
How living in the world with insane politicians is a macrocosm of having crazy and toxic relatives - we're all along for the ride and have to do our best to maintain our own balance. Related: Taoism, Ursula Le Guin, the ups and downs of the publishing industry, and filter bubbles.
$3, $4, $5 audiobooks here!
Indie Booksellers! You can buy my indie books direct from me at discount!! Submit a Request for an order here
New Releases ~
Love, Lies, and Ley Lines
MAGIC REBORN
Never The Roses
...
First Cup of Coffee – April 17, 2026
On story ideas, where they come from, how we make them our own - including a funny story about my lovely friend Lexi Ryan and her upcoming, absolutely delicious adult romantasy: NIGHT TIDE. Also, enough of this self-care sh*t, I need to get to work! (And what getting myself back into the groove looks like.)
$3, $4, $5 audiobooks here!
Indie Booksellers! You can buy my indie books direct from me at discount!! Submit a Request for an order here
New Releases ~
Love, Lies, and Ley Lines
MAGIC REBORN
...
First Cup of Coffee – April 14, 2026
A recap of my weekend at the Jack Williamson Lectureship, including great conversations with Connie Willis and T. Kingfisher. I'm sharing some nuggets from our panels on leveling up craft, why we write retellings, what a pastiche really is, and a bit on fan fiction and filing off the serial numbers.
$3, $4, $5 audiobooks here!
Indie Booksellers! You can buy my indie books direct from me at discount!! Submit a Request for an order here
New Releases ~
Love, Lies, and Ley Lines
MAGIC REBORN
Never The Roses
...
First Cup of Coffee – April 10, 2026
A special podcast coming to you from Eastern New Mexico University in Portales, New Mexico, where I attended the Jack Williamson Lectureship. Steadfast podcast listener Jon Barr joins me for a conversation about teaching, voice acting, and audiobook narration, among other things!
$3, $4, $5 audiobooks here!
Indie Booksellers! You can buy my indie books direct from me at discount!! Submit a Request for an order here
New Releases ~
Love, Lies, and Ley Lines
MAGIC REBORN
Never The Roses
Preorder ~
Among The Thorns
Blades...
First Cup of Coffee – April 6, 2026
A story about putting your work out in the world and how that can further your writing career, along with a few cautions in that direction. Also, how traditionally published authors aren't a monolith and the Jack Williamson Lectureship!
You can find PETALS & THORNS here
$3, $4, $5 audiobooks here!
Indie Booksellers! You can buy my indie books direct from me at discount!! Submit a Request for an order here
New Releases ~
Love, Lies, and Ley Lines
MAGIC REBORN
Never The Roses
Preorder ~
Among T...
First Cup of Coffee – April 3, 2026
Lost toothbrushes and creative genius: are they linked? Yes, I have book brain so I'm babbling today on Romance, reader expectations, language, nuance, inflections, Equus, Now?, increasing word count and other Friday thoughts.
$3, $4, $5 audiobooks here!
Indie Booksellers! You can buy my indie books direct from me at discount!! Submit a Request for an order here
New Releases ~
Love, Lies, and Ley Lines
MAGIC REBORN
Never The Roses
Preorder ~
Among The Thorns
Blades, Books, and the Bandit
Socials ~ @jeffe_kennedy...
First Cup of Coffee – March 31, 2026
What makes something "good"? I seem to be always circling this question. Is entertainment enough or does a creative work have to change your life? And other thoughts on books as experiences. Also, a vague bit on events with poor business practices.
$3, $4, $5 audiobooks here!
Indie Booksellers! You can buy my indie books direct from me at discount!! Submit a Request for an order here
New Releases ~
Love, Lies, and Ley Lines
MAGIC REBORN
Never The Roses
Preorder ~
Among The Thorns
Blades...
First Cup of Coffee – March 27, 2026
Showing off my new tattoo to celebrate AMONG THE THORNS! I'm also talking option books and how no one deserves - or should count on - having their traditional publishing contract renewed. My villain origin story on why I don't like standing at signing tables and booths. Finally, my thoughts on using generative AI "only" for brainstorming. Spoiler: I think it shoots your creativity in the foot.
***
Romance fiction readers believe in Happily Ever Afters. 💛
That’s why I’m proud to support @VOWforGirls and the Every Girl Deserves Happily Ever After Sweepstakes.
Ente...
First Cup of Coffee – March 23, 2026
I went on a bit of a rant today about writers using generative AI, along with a deepish dive into the Shy Girl controversy and why it really annoys me that I might have to declare I don't use that shite to write my books. SPOILER: I DON'T.
The video breakdown of SHY GIRL is here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GbeKTa5xhZo
***
Romance fiction readers believe in Happily Ever Afters. 💛
That’s why I’m proud to support @VOWforGirls and the Every Girl Deserves Happily Ever After Sweepstakes.
Enter w...
First Cup of Coffee – March 20, 2026
In which I mainly squee about Star Trek: Starfleet Academy and why I think it's THE BEST. Also, Jeaniene Frost's new book, increasing my wordcount gradually to build endurance and output, and yes, Virginia, there are jaguars in Arizona.
The article I mention The United Federation of Planets Has a War College Now — Are We Gonna Talk About It? by Emmet Asher-Perrin is here.
$3, $4, $5 audiobooks here!
Indie Booksellers! You can buy my indie books direct from me at discount!! Submit a Request for an order here
New Releases ~
Love, Li...
First Cup of Coffee – March 17, 2026
A wrap-up of my time at Tucson Festival of Books - along with a cautionary tale for authors of how to behave like a normal human being when other authors ask what you write.
$3, $4, $5 audiobooks here!
Indie Booksellers! You can buy my indie books direct from me at discount!! Submit a Request for an order here
New Releases ~
Love, Lies, and Ley Lines
MAGIC REBORN
Never The Roses
Preorder ~
Among The Thorns
Blades, Books, and the Bandit
Socials ~ @jeffe...
