Jeffe Kennedy's Blog, page 181
February 17, 2015
Stalking Tina Fey
So, I’ve heard through the grapevine that (@nottinafey) is here in town filming a movie. For those who don’t know – and why would you? – New Mexico is the site for a LOT of films. We’re relatively close to Los Angeles, have a variety of landscapes and there’s this whole infrastructure here set up to support movie-making. Word gets around that infrastructure and…
Now I know Tina is in town. And I want to stalk her and make her be my friend.
Right??
I mean, it’s not like I haven’t done this before. Carolyn Crane and Anne Calhoun used to be authors that I admired from afar, until I stalked them and made them be my friends. Now they’re among my closest friends? Why couldn’t this work with Tina? She’s my go-to choice when interviewers ask me what celebrity I’d like to have a meal with. I think Tina and I would have a lot to talk about – similar senses of humor and life perspectives. We’re both authors. I even used to write essays very like hers in Bossypants! We are practically soulmates. Remember in Notting Hill when Hugh Grant’s sister (played by the hysterical Emma Chambers) confides to Julia Roberts that she’s always suspected, from watching her in movies, that they’d be best friends?
EXACTLY.
I mulled this question on Twitter – as I do, you know – and received a number of suggestions for how to go about this. One was to don an outfit like the one from Mean Girls above and casually run into her. Which could work. However, the overwhelming suggestions were for me to simply tweet her, say hi and that I’d love to meet. One gal, who is now one of my favorite people ever, thought I could totally pull this off because, as she said, “After all, you’re famous, too!”
Heh.
Tell it to Tina, okay?
So this is my love letter to her. Perhaps inadvisably titled, but she’s got a spine of steel, right? And it’s accurate. Honest and straightforward, like me. No more neurotic than the average writer, which isn’t saying much, I know.
But seriously, Tina, lunch? Coffee? Cocktails? Come out to the house if you’d like a break and to take in the views! Or I can come to you. I know all the best bars.
Love,
Your New Best Friend,
Jeffe
February 15, 2015
Non-Human Antagonists (and I Don’t Mean Aliens)
I’m over at Word Whores today, talking about being a fraud as a writer – but also how I still think antagonists don’t have to be people.
February 13, 2015
The News You’ve Been Waiting For!
Been champing at the bit for Ursula’s book? It’s heeeerrre….
That’s right! I have ARCs (Advance Reader Copies, for those not in the know) of THE TALON OF THE HAWK, book 3 of THE TWELVE KINGDOMS. I’m really excited for you all to read this one. It gutted me to write and I’m still a more than a little obsessed with this one. (I may have faxed 94 pages of corrections on the galley proofs – my production editor actually called me “Nutbar,” which she insists it a term of affection. Fortunately she does love me and promised to make as many of the changes as seemed within the realm of sanity.)
ANYWAY.
So, I have ARCs! Want one? Let me know! Ping me in the comments or elsewhere. You all know where to find me. I’ve already got a growing list, so let me know soon! I don’t know if it’s up on NetGalley yet – can anyone tell?
ALSO!
I really thought I’d posted this already, at least as a news item, but when I found out I was focusing on the release of UNDER HIS TOUCH and so I guess I missed putting it here. All y’all who’ve written to ask about Dafne’s book??
YOU GET DAFNE’S BOOK!!
Yay!!!
(Apparently this is all caps day at JeffeKennedy.com)
Here’s the official announcement, which is not easy to read, I know:
If you don’t want to squint, it says:
Jeffe Kennedy’s THE PAGES OF THE MIND, the first in a new series set in the world of THE MARK OF THE TALA, a woman finds herself trapped in a foreign land by a warrior king who cannot understand her clever words, to Peter Senftleben at Kensington, in a two-book deal, for publication in Summer 2016, by Connor Goldsmith at Fuse Literary (World). Dramatic rights: Brandy Rivers at ICM Partners.
The “woman” in question there is, naturally, our favorite librarian. This story is going to be SO fun! You see, Dafne is going to have to go on a quest, because of all the shiz that goes down at the end of TALON. Because of what Ursula – oh, wait. That’s right. You guys haven’t read it yet!
Hee hee hee.
~waves to Ericka~
The point is, you CAN! So let me know if you want an ARC to read and review! Happy Friday everyone! 
February 12, 2015
Convention Report – Coastal Magic Con
Last week I attended the Coastal Magic Convention and had a fabulous time. As evidenced by this hysterical pic above, taken by lovely blogger Little Read Riding Hood, in which Damon Suede and Lucienne Diver look on in bemusement during our Flash Fiction Panel. You can read my convention recap on the Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers Blog.
Check back tomorrow because I shall have some exciting news about the Twelve Kingdoms books! Eeeee!!
February 10, 2015
Show Rayfe and The Mark of the Tala the Lurv!
Kensington is running a Hero vs. Hero Ultimate Showdown. They’re pitting the heroes from various books against each other for fans to vote on. For all of you out there who share my mad love for Rayfe, King of the Tala, then get ready to vote tomorrow, February 11! He’s up against some shaggy blond dude, so this is our chance to show that Rayfe rules supreme in our hearts.
Shapeshifting wizard kings FOR THE WIN!
(I nearly typed “wine,” which is accurate also.)
Here’s Rayfe’s dossier:
Feel free to share both the pic above and this dossier. And vote as often as you like!
THERE CAN BE ONLY ONE!
February 8, 2015
How to Build a Better Villain
I’m writing from the Coastal Magic Convention, right on lovely Daytona Beach. I’ve been doing sunrise beach walks each morning with fab book blogger Jen from That’s What I’m Talking About. Wonderful way to start the conference day!
I’m over at Word Whores today, talking about how the development of positive traits builds better villains.
February 4, 2015
How to Hate an Author
I’m over at the Contemporary Romance Cafe, examining the fraught and turbulent feelings of loving the work, but hating the artist.
February 2, 2015
Under His Touch Cannoli
The delightful and incredibly talented Elisabeth Lane has worked her magic and created the cannoli that Alec and Amber enjoy (somewhat lustfully) in Under His Touch. Warning: You Will Drool. But OMG! You *have* to check this out!
February 1, 2015
Why Mary Poppins Should Die
I’m over at Word Whores, talking about why I write flawed characters. Short answer: because OF COURSE.
January 26, 2015
Hot Reviews and WordSwag How To
A number of amazing reviews for Under His Touch came in over the weekend, so I’m doing a group post of them here.
Jennifer at Romance Novel News – who is @JenniferRNN on Twitter, tweeting live reads of smexy from fab to eye-bleeding (totally worth following her!) – gave the book such a lovely review. She says:
Under His Touch is one of the hottest books I’ve read of late. It also has a fantastic although angsty romance that made my heart happy. Alec is a bit of reluctant Dom, but one who falls fast and furiously. The age play scene could make some readers uncomfortable, but it fits Alec and Amber perfectly. This is one dirty book and I highly recommend it (as I do for all the books in this series).
Pansy Petal at the Jeep Diva, a first time reader of my books, said some amazing things in her review, like:
Amber had exuberance and was willing to go the extra mile to learn what Alec liked and wanted. Alec had the maturity and experience to handle her, the way she wanted to be handled. (And did he handle her! *sigh*) I loved their roll play. It was so hot! All of it.
This is not the typical erotic office romance. NOTHING happened in the office except professionalism and the job. I had to respect that. Outside of work however, once they got past the “this can’t work” thing, well . . . as I said, “HOT!”
To wrap up this trio, the Maldivian Book Reviewers, also first-time readers, called it a Great Read and said:
Alec is a hero that would drive most readers nuts, and all in a good way. His sexuality is one that is not all over the place, but yet the strength of it could be felt at the turn of every single page. Amber labeling his attire as suit porn was one I could definitely relate to. I couldn’t help but smile and fan myself a bit everytime Alec came into the picture. Yes ladies, he is that enchanting! And now imagine all that with a sexy British accent? Swoon!
Just love hearing the suit porn joy!
Finally, Angela Campbell asked me to visit her blog for her Marketing Monday feature. I’m talking about how to make WordSwag, so if you want to play, come on by!
