An amusing review of an audio book from the dirty part of the publishing pool, a funny story about GRRM vs JRRT and the perception of one's own success, including how perplexing it can be to become a phenom.
Splitting hairs on subgenres - what does historical fantasy mean and what are the expectations? - and how those labels affect marketing and discoverability. Also, marketing your backlist and writing consistently FTW.
Some insights from interviewing Melinda Snodgrass at George RR Martin's Jean Cocteau Cinema the other night. Also about my writing community and how great they are - and when it's a Vile Book.
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I'm head-down in writing THE FATE OF THE TALA. Talking about that and interviewing Melinda Snodgrass tonight at George RR Martin's Jean Cocteau Theater/Beastly Books.
First Cup of Coffee is part of the Frolic Podcast Network. You can find more outstanding podcasts to subscribe to at Frolic.media/podcasts!
A report today on how I got mauled by a wild animal in the night, and also thoughts on pre-plotting vs. "pantsing," and why I prefer the metaphor of gardener vs. architect - springing from musings on George R.R. Martin's storytelling in A Song of Ice and Fire and Game of Thrones. Also how and why the show just isn't the book and it only hurts us in the end to try to make it be that.
Reporting on Mary Robinette Kowal and John Scalzi at George RR Martin's Jean Cocteau theater, on my lovely birthday spent with wonderful friends. I also discuss SHOOTING STAR - why I changed the cover and what a cover is supposed to do in the first place. Guest post I mention is here https://twimom227.com/2018/08/author-guest-post-jeffe-kennedy-5.html
Not all desires are shiny and sweet—and the dark ones might change you forever…
It’s not the kind of obsession a tough Army guy can admit to—a jones for Ava, the pretty-princess pop star. Not just her body, the perfect product that sells all those magazines. Her music.
The critics call her human lip gloss, all style and no substance. To Joe Ivanchan, Ava is the exact blend of reality and fantasy that he can tolerate, the closest he’s willing to get to giving his heart after the injury and breakdown that got him out of the service.
But Ava is real. She’s a flesh and blood woman with a publicity machine and an album deadline, along with a whole team of handlers paid to shellac a pristine sheen over a damaged, desperate soul. A woman with fears, with secrets, with desires.
When Joe finds himself in an interview to join her security team as her driver, his instinct is to get away. But the woman behind Ava’s carefully focus-grouped image is even harder to walk away from. The angry needs tormenting her speak to something within Joe. Something empathetic, protective—and primal…
Besides, even a falling star can light up the darkest night.