Jenn McKinlay's News #27
January 1, 2018
Happy New Year, my friends! Wishing you big laughs and loads of shenanigans in 2018!And if, by chance, you've made a resolution to laugh more this year, then might I suggest you start with EVERY DOG HAS HIS DAY! This romantic comedy is a TOP PICK and has received a STARRED REVIEW for being "practically perfect in every way"!
BOOK NEWS: EVERY DOG HAS HIS DAY comes out tomorrow!!! I am so excited for the entire Bluff Point trilogy to be available! Yay! What a fabulous way to ring in the New Year with friends, laughs, love, and loads of furry animals!
And coming in April is WEDDING CAKE CRUMBLE! Tate and Angie are tying the knot - or are they?! Pre-order now!
EVENTS: I'll be signing books at the Poisoned Pen Bookstore on Saturday, Jan 6th at 2 pm with the fabulous Jennifer Ashley and Paige Shelton (and I heard there will be cupcakes)!
CONTESTS: Every Wednesday, I hold a book and swag giveaway on my author page on Facebook. Check it out www.facebook.com/JennMcKinlayAuthor/
WHAT'S ON MY MIND: Recently, I was made to feel "less than" for the work that I do. If you know me at all, you have likely picked up on the fact that I have a hide like a rhinoceros, so it takes a special sort of persistent mean to make me realize that you are actually insulting me. Not everyone loves my work, I am one hundred percent okay with that. Personal reading tastes are subjective and that's wonderful as it gives us so many fabulous books to choose from. I am not okay with having my character as a person called into question just because a reader doesn't fancy one of my books, but we have become a society that really enjoys embracing its outrage, so I suppose I'll have to adjust.
Interestingly enough, on the same day that I was made to feel like the worst sort of bottom feeding hack with a questionable moral compass, a holiday card arrived in the mail. It was from a long time librarian friend, Beth, who was actually the model for Beth in the Library Lover's Series and who I haven't seen in a year or two because...life. Inside the card, she had included a hand written note that read:
Dear Jenn,
A story for you --- So...I'm traveling and I need a book to read before falling asleep at night. I pull up the Greater Phoenix Digital Library on my phone and download a recent novel that won some big prize for being so great. I read the first 30 pages and find myself depressed, crying , and wondering why we even bother to live -- YIKES! So, I go back to the library and download DEATH BY THE DOZEN. I lived happily ever after! (She put a smiley face here) What you do and write is so important! Thank you!!!
Isn't that lovely? Balance was restored in my world, and I am ever grateful that my friend took the time to send me such an uplifting note. She had no idea how much it would mean to me on that particular day. This episode made me realize that there will always be people who want to knock you down into the dirt, but there will also always be those who pick you up and brush you off and let you know that who you are and what you do matters.
Readers, I want to start this year by telling you that you matter to me. The fact that you enjoy my work means that you are my people and I will endeavor to always be there for you, even if it can only be in the pages of my books, to pick you up and brush you off and remind you that you are amazing!
Happy reading and may we all have a spectacular 2018!
XO Jenn