J. Kenner's Blog, page 8
June 4, 2021
J. Kenner’s Featured New Releases for June 4, 2021
Nine new releases from fan favorite and best selling authors, including Skye Warren’s 1001 Dark Nights love story Finale and E L James’ Freed.
Don’t forget to scroll down for the video!

“This was an instalove story, and I loved it”! – Amazon reviewer

“The perfect combination of great characters and a heart warming connection.”– The Overflowing Bookcase

“Jennifer L. Armentrout’s intoxicating new fantasy is her best yet!” —New York Times bestselling author Gena Showalter

“Once again Shayla Black creates characters that we are quick to love and storylines that are impossible to put down.” – Amazon reviewer

“What do you want me to say? THIS WAS EVERYTHING! I’m a huge fan of Christian’s POVs! This book is over 13 THOUSAND kindle ‘pages’ long and I wanted a million more.” – Amazon reviewer

“I loved this book so much that I am ready to read it again already!” – Amazon reviewer

“I absolutely adore this book…love story begins slow—like a delicious lowcountry boil—but heats up to the perfect ending.” –Kathleen Y’Barbo, bestselling author of The Black Midnight

“Deliciously inventive…This red-hot romance is a winner.” – Publishers Weekly STARRED Review

“Your very breath will be stolen, and you will willingly give her your heart long before the journey is over. She is a true literary genius!!” – Amazon reviewer
https://youtu.be/mZmwN5Qh63EAUTHORS:
If you’d like your title to be considered for the Friday New/New-ish Release blast, just fill out this form. Don’t hesitate to send your title in early!
CLICK HERE FOR TO SUBMIT A FEATURED NEW OR NEWISH RELEASE
If you’d like your title to be considered for the Tempting Tuesday Steals & Deals, then this is the form you want:
CLICK HERE TO SUBMIT A TEMPTING TUESDAY “STEAL OR DEAL”
The post J. Kenner’s Featured New Releases for June 4, 2021 appeared first on J. Kenner.
June 2, 2021
THEREFORE … the story moved forward…

Today, I’m mining past posts that I don’t want you to miss! If you’re struggling with structure and story movement, this should help you out! (This was originally published on the blog a few years ago!)
Enjoy:
I’ve been on a craft kick lately, as in I’ve been attending a lot of workshops, watching a lot of videos, reading books on craft, etc.
Partly because I’m actually writing some short books on various aspects of craft (yeah, you’ll hear more about that later!), and so it’s a good way to get into that headspace. But mostly because craft is the architecture of story, the piers and beams, concrete and rebar, that keep your story from falling over and trapping your poor characters under a pile of rubble.
Also, even after 100+ books (holy freak that sounds like a lot), I constantly learn something new that I can apply to a current project. More than that, thinking about craft gets the juices flowing, and inevitably some new story concept will come to me in the process.
Craft is sort of like riding a bicycle. You can just learn. And what you learn will become ingrained. Get your story-telling chops and you’ll be able to hop on and start pedaling and come up with a solid, satisfying story. But if you want to really kick it up, you’ll want to understand more about what you’re doing and why it works–you’ll want to dig deeper into cadence and power and all that good stuff. You’ll want to grow and push yourself. (Why, yes. I did recently set a cycling goal…funny you should ask.)
When I first started writing, one of the first books I read was Scene & Structure by Jack M. Bickham, a title that never sticks with me because I always think of it as Scene & Sequel, because the concept of stuff happening after a scene was one of those things I sorta kinda innately got … but when I read that book, it was an aha moment. There’s a scene in which stuff happens. And as a result other stuff happens. Pretty basic, right? Cause and effect.
But you would be surprised how many times an author will write a story where something happens. And then another thing happens. Then something else. Almost as if the author (or screenwriter–you see this a lot in unsatisfying movies) has checkbox style list of set pieces and is dutifully going through and marking Xs.
But here’s the thing: Stories aren’t about a string of events. Stories have movement. Stories have choreography. Forward motion toward a goal (and obstacles along the way). And that motion is driven by action followed by reaction. A scene, then a sequel. A cause, then an effect.
That’s how I’d thought of it for the nineteen years of my career. And I stand by that analysis. But I recently saw a very short video of Trey Parker and Matt Stone speaking to a class, the creative minds behind South Park, and I absolutely love the way they summed it up. Simply. Brilliantly. What did they say? Well, basically, if your story is “and then” you need to go back to the drawing room. You want your story to be full of “therefore” and “but.” Seriously, check out their video below. (Really. It’s not even three minutes. Go on. I’ll wait.)
I absolutely love the simplicity of their explanation of this aspect of story structure. And thanks so much to (one of the White Collar co-creators) for sharing the video.
And you know what? That’s how I want my life & career to be, too. Not a random string of events. But forward motion.
Don’t you?
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June 1, 2021
J. Kenner’s Tempting Tuesday Steals & Deals for June 1, 2021
Six amazing reads — including fan favorite and best selling authors — for prices that are too tempting to pass up!


“Rowen hits the nail (or is it the stake?) on the head with her feisty debut novel…a true modern girl’s guide to (vampire) life.” – Publishers Weekly

“This book is like drinking a warm cup of hot cocoa. It’s sweet and satisfying, and hits exactly the right spot.” -Christine on Goodreads

“It’s a lighthearted, refreshing, romantic, emotional, and sexy read.” –Tanya, Get Your Book On

“I loved loved loved it! Can’t wait for the next! – Becca Steele, bestselling author of The Lies We Tell

“Another wonderful page turner in the series, a captivating read.” – Amazon reviewer

“Compulsively readable…a compelling Victorian paranormal with heart and soul.” (Publishers Weekly (starred review)
AUTHORS:
If you’d like your title to be considered for the Friday New/New-ish Release blast, just fill out this form. Don’t hesitate to send your title in early!
CLICK HERE FOR TO SUBMIT A FEATURED NEW OR NEWISH RELEASE
If you’d like your title to be considered for the Tempting Tuesday Steals & Deals, then this is the form you want:
CLICK HERE TO SUBMIT A TEMPTING TUESDAY “STEAL OR DEAL”
The post J. Kenner’s Tempting Tuesday Steals & Deals for June 1, 2021 appeared first on J. Kenner.
May 28, 2021
J. Kenner’s Featured New Releases for May 28, 2021
Six new book from fan favorite and best selling authors, including Darcy Burke’s Phoenix Club romance Improper and Deanna Chase’s supernatural romance Witching for Moxie. I had the pleasure of reading Improper early, and it is so, so fabulous!
Don’t forget to scroll down for the video!

“Improper in all the best ways. I loved this book.” – Amazon reviewer

“Great collection! So many obstacles between Zeke and Siren to get to their HEA. (…) Their story is action packed, suspenseful, filled with twists and turns, and a definite page turner. This was a great series.” – Amazon reviewer

“This is a second-chance, friends-to-lovers, small-town romance with all the feels.” – Reviews by Tammy and Kim

“Savage Ending is a blend of passion and suspense that brings the best closure to this series. Jones is a master at her craft and continually blows me away with her inventive stories. I cannot get enough!” -A Midlife Wife

“I love a storyline that pulls you into it’s world so completely you don’t even come up for air. That’s when you know it’s good!” – Amazon reviewer

“I am so loving this new genre of paranormal women’s fiction!” – Amazon reviewer
https://youtu.be/AkOcPe5JIIMEmbedded video not working? Just click here: https://youtu.be/AkOcPe5JIIM
AUTHORS:
If you’d like your title to be considered for the Friday New/New-ish Release blast, just fill out this form. Don’t hesitate to send your title in early!
CLICK HERE FOR TO SUBMIT A FEATURED NEW OR NEWISH RELEASE
If you’d like your title to be considered for the Tempting Tuesday Steals & Deals, then this is the form you want:
CLICK HERE TO SUBMIT A TEMPTING TUESDAY “STEAL OR DEAL”
The post J. Kenner’s Featured New Releases for May 28, 2021 appeared first on J. Kenner.
May 26, 2021
Check it out: Tools for Writers!

While a writer can get by with only a pen and paper — or a manual typewriter and a ream of heavy bond — why would we want to? One of the fun things about writing is all the gadgets and software and resources available to writers these days. (Not that I procrastinate with software or gadgets … ahem.)
The hard truth is that it is all too easy to go down a rabbit hole of “resources” that can help you write. But at the same time, there are some legitimate tools that can not only be fun and fascinating, but can also (yay!) help you be more productive.
Here are just a few, culled together from my own computer and office, not to mention asking a few other author friends what they utilize and like – and I am totally going to dive in and check out their recommendations.
So dig in, explore the list, and feel free to drop your favorites in the comments because I am only scratching the surface here!
NOTE: For the most part, these are links related to getting your story written. I’ll do another post with resources for marketing and promoting your story later, including cover design, keywords, and all that jazz!
For Story and Character Ideas
The truth is that pretty much anything can spark a story idea or give you insight into your characters. For the last year, hanging out in coffee houses and watching people hasn’t been much of an option, but one of my favorite things to do is to watch obscure documentaries. And, of course, watch television shows, movies, and read books (no, it’s not cheating! it’s filling your well!)
Another fun place to find ideas is Atlas Obscura. I subscribe to their mailing list and always find buzzy ideas! Same goes with other interesting mailing lists and websites!
For WorldbuildingIf you like to plan out your world (especially useful if you write Fantasy), check out these awesome sites suggested by author Marlayna James!
World Anvil – (I haven’t played here much yet, but Marlayna says: “incredible, versatile platform with tons of added features, stories, manuscripts, images, videos and sounds. You can choose to share your work for free or add a paywall to make yourself some extra cash!”

Other recommendations from Marlayna:
Inkarnate – map, dungeon, and world-building software.
Eldritch Foundry (JK note: I think I NEED to do this for Damien Stark and Devlin Saint! And maybe for some of the demons in the Demon-Hunting Soccer Mom series!)
Flowscape – create 3D landscapes for your worlds!
For visualizing your charactersFolks in one of the rooms where I hangout in Clubhouse are having a fabulous time building characters with FaceApp – AI Face Editor.
And Artbreeder does something similar in that it creates character images by blending two characters together! (This is not a tool I use personally, but it sounds like oodles of fun!)
For PlottingScrivener – I write in Scrivener and love it so much. I probably only use about 2% of this very versatile writing software, but I like it because each chapter can be it’s own file (for that matter, each scene can be its own file) and yet you can read it all in one document (and search as one document). You can set target word counts, color code files, and do soooooo much more. (I often keep an entire series in one file). I’ve been using it as a WordProcessor+ for years, but others get even more out of it. It will even format your eBooks, though I don’t know how to do that (I use Vellum, which I’ll talk about in our follo.
If you already use Scrivener and want to dig deeper – or if you’re thinking about it but are nervous – Author Gwen Hernandez has some terrific classes about onboarding and best-utilizing Scrivener. Check them out here!

Plottr – I’ve just started using this, and I think it’s going to be great. Best part for me — it integrates with Scrivener! (Warning, the beta of newest addition of Act Structure keeps cashing on me, but if you don’t turn that beta on, it is working great. YMMV)
Aeon Timeline – lots of folks swear by this software that can help you keep track of your timelines and your plotlines. I am not one of those people because it totally overwhelms me. But check it out and decide for yourself!
Campfire Blaze – another super-fun site that I had a great time playing with (though I haven’t yet made it part of my process).
For tracking progress and staying on track with writing, I use Pacemaker.press, which lets you put in your estimated word count and how many days you have to hit it, and it creates a daily schedule with a word count goal based on how you want to parce out the words (i.e., every day the same or starting slow and building…). I’ve also heard good things about Writetrack which is a similar program.

Aside: I’ve been told about a word count app that has you killing monsters with the words you write. I think that is AWESOME but I can’t find it! If anyone knows, please share!
For Craft and WordsmithingOf course, you’ll also want to make sure your words are spelled right, you’re using interesting words, and your grammar is correct.
Check out Prowritingaid.com for so much info (it will tell you about grammar, overused words, spelling, etc. etc. etc.). It also integrates with Scrivener. I’ve only recently discovered this tool and it is truly fabulous. It’s in the same ilk as Grammarly, but I prefer ProwritingAid. Check them both out and see what works best with your process!
For that perfect word, check out onelook.com!
For Getting Started and Honing Your StoryOf course, the above tools are only useful when you have a story! That’s too much to go into in one post, but be sure to follow my Writes-and-Wrongs Wednesday posts where we go deep into the craft of story.
In the meantime, though, here are some great starting points for helping you dive in and learn about story structure:
The Save The Cat series is a terrific place to start for plotting and structure help. Originally written for film/TV the same storytelling principles apply to books, too.
If you write romance, Romancing The Beat by Gwen Hayes is a great place to start, and a fast and fun read!
Michael Hauge has so many terrific articles at his story mastery site! Check them out!
For Formatting (for print and/or eBooks)My go-to for formatting is Vellum, which just gets better with each update. It, however, is currently only available on Mac.
Scrivener does do formatting, though I can’t speak to how easy it is.
It is possible to format in Word, but I would suggest doing a search for sites to learn how. (If you can afford it, I recommend getting Vellum!)
I have heard of Atticus, which I believe recently launched, but haven’t yet spoken with anyone who has used it yet, though I’ve seen some really solid reviews! Especially if you don’t have a Mac, it’s worth check out!
Formatting wraps up this blog post … we’ll check in on promo & marketing (and getting that cover!) in another post soon!
A final note: Check out my Author Resources http://jkenner.com/links on my Links page to see updates and more! (scroll to the bottom of the links page for writing resources!
Thanks to Rachel Grant, Toni Anderson, Marlayna, and the authors who hang out in the Writers Craft + Career room on Clubhouse for helping me gather these suggestions!
What do you have to add? Drop a comment below!
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May 25, 2021
J. Kenner’s Tempting Tuesday Steals & Deals for May 25, 2021
From best selling and fan favorite authors, here are nine amazing reads sure to tempt you!


If you want to read about a badass BBF and you love mafia story lines, one click this now! — The Rockstars of Romance

“The chemistry sizzles off the page! Tempting the Player will make you laugh out loud and stay up long into the night.” —Katee Robert, New York Times bestselling author

“If you want hot, sexy, dangerous romance…this series is for you.”—Paranormal Haven

“Really well written book. The author is a genius.” – Amazon reviewer

“Laura Pavlov managed to steal my heart with this college and rock star romance combo. Jade and Cruz made me soft from the get go.” Elsa Gomes, Bookish Aurora

“Great book and I’ll be checking out others in this nanny series.” – Amazon reviewer

“I loved the cat and mouse game this couple had going on it made for some really funny moments with the teasing, dirty talk and playfulness that both exhibited.” – Angels with Attitude Book Reviews

“Boom! What a book!”- Goodreads Reviewer

(Nook free download requires Code BNPJOEYFREE)
A standalone in the Vampire Queen series
If you’d like your title to be considered for the Friday New/New-ish Release blast, just fill out this form. Don’t hesitate to send your title in early!
CLICK HERE FOR TO SUBMIT A FEATURED NEW OR NEWISH RELEASE
If you’d like your title to be considered for the Tempting Tuesday Steals & Deals, then this is the form you want:
CLICK HERE TO SUBMIT A TEMPTING TUESDAY “STEAL OR DEAL”
The post J. Kenner’s Tempting Tuesday Steals & Deals for May 25, 2021 appeared first on J. Kenner.
May 21, 2021
JK’s Featured New Releases for May 21, 2021
What are you in the mood to read? Here are six new selections from fan favorite and best selling authors, including the latest book in my Fallen Saint series, My Cruel Salvation, and Mari Carr’s Making His Play. Enjoy!
Don’t forget to scroll down for the video!

“This series was my most anticipated read, and now added to my favorites TBR list. #2021BookRec” – Crystal’s Book World

“I really enjoyed this story. The ending was great! There is a bit of intrigue, action, and if course a little steamy romance. I can’t wait to see what happens next.” – Amazon reviewer

“As with all of Blair’s books, it is beautifully written, with an ending that will leave you breathless, and I know you will enjoy it!” – Amazon reviewer

“Deliciously sinful! The Devil’s Deal is twisty and sexy and leaves you on a gasp worthy ending. Great start to a new series!” Laurelin Paige, NYT bestselling author

★★★★★ “This book sizzles right from the start! I lost track of how many times I genuinely laughed out loud.”
—Goodreads reviewer

“Loved this LOL, heart warming, steamy, friends helping friends romance that will warm your heart with laughter, tears and love.” – Amazon reviewer

If you’d like your title to be considered for the Friday New/New-ish Release blast, just fill out this form. Don’t hesitate to send your title in early!
CLICK HERE FOR TO SUBMIT A FEATURED NEW OR NEWISH RELEASE
If you’d like your title to be considered for the Tempting Tuesday Steals & Deals, then this is the form you want:
CLICK HERE TO SUBMIT A TEMPTING TUESDAY “STEAL OR DEAL”
The post JK’s Featured New Releases for May 21, 2021 appeared first on J. Kenner.
May 19, 2021
For Writers: The art and craft of writing dialogue – PART 3

This week I’ve posted the final part (3) of my writing dialogue workshop, Beyond He Said, She Said. Click here for the YouTube link or scroll down for the embedded video … and then come back next week for the final installment!
Did you miss the first part? You can find that video here, then follow through all of them: https://youtu.be/N3chOeyaDQo
Got questions? Post them in the comments here or on YouTube … or email me at jkennerinfo@gmail.com
Happy writing … and happy writing dialogue!
https://youtu.be/JtsI6-SZw_sThe post For Writers: The art and craft of writing dialogue – PART 3 appeared first on J. Kenner.
May 18, 2021
Wow! The final chapter of Ellie & Devlin’s steamy trilogy is HERE!!!
[image error] My Cruel Salvation⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ “..calm before the storm…action filled…steaminess…heartache…joy…heart pounding chapters…all the emotions are still racing through me as I wrap my head around this story …
Just a few things that were expertly sprinkled and woven into this amazing read… Control. Passion. Fears. Wishes. Problems. Secrets. Desires. Wit. Grief. Anger. Chemistry.”
Mom’s Guilty Pleasure Blog

To say that I loved writing Ellie and Devlin’s story would be an understatement, and I am beyond thrilled that My Cruel Salvation is now available!
I can’t even begin to tell you how much I adore these two strong people, what they’ve overcome, and the love they found. Writing this third and final book in the story of their romance was a rollercoaster ride, but I think what I loved the most was getting the pieces of Devlin’s past down on the page and truly getting a look at the circumstances that formed the man.
I hope you fall as hard for this couple as I have! Devlin and Ellie’s trilogy is now complete!
Let me know what you think! I’d love your feedback!
You can email me at jkennerinfo@gmail-com
The Fallen Saint Series

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May 14, 2021
JK’s Featured New Releases for May 14, 2021
Twelve amazing new releases from fan favorite and bestselling authors including Darynda Jones’ 1001 Dark Nights book The Gravedigger’s Son, Lexi Blake’s story collection Taggart Family Values, and Kristen Proby’s steamy Off The Record. Which will you choose to read first?
Don’t forget to scroll down for the video!

“The story is very cute, sweet and down to earth. Slow burn romance very fun to read.” – Amazon reviewer

“Absolutely loved this story and can’t wait to delve deeper into the world of this family.” – Amazon reviewer

“This is a must-read for any paranormal fan and any fan of Darynda Jones and the world of Charley Davidson.” – Amazon reviewer

“There are many laugh out loud moments, some that will bring a tear your eye and there’s even a glimpse into the future. Absolutely fantastic reading!” – Amazon reviewer

There are so many moments that make your head spin, your heart race and absolutely swoon at the connection between these two. Their banter and wit but also that chemistry! It was hot and passionate!”
-Suzanne, The Witchy Bibliophile

“Eve Langlais is wonderfully entertaining!” – Amazon reviewer

“Good to Be Bad will leave you feeling a little flushed, and your heart super happy! I devoured this book in one sitting because it is simply yummy perfection!” ~ Jodi on Goodreads

“The Seattle series is one of the best series and I love that it keeps getting more people involved. Kristen Proby is one of the best.” – Amazon reviewer

“I absolutely adored this funny, fierce, big-hearted book.”
—Morgan Matson, New York Times bestselling author of Save the Date

“Read it, you can thank me later.” – Amazon reviewer

“What a fun, entertaining and heartwarming new series. I’m so excited for future books with the other characters.” – Amazon reviewer

“This office romance is one in the making that you do not want to miss out on. I really could not put this one down and loved every moment of Olivia and Mark. GO ONE CLICK THIS ONE NOW!!!” – Amazon reviewer

Click the image to play the video
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