Jenn McKinlay's #36
April 27, 2020
Book News: PUMPKIN SPICE PERIL is out TOMORROW!!! Can you believe it? This marks one DOZEN titles in the cupcake bakery mysteries. Incredible! I really hope we get to keep this series going, but times are weird (understatement) so we'll have to see how the sales go and hope for the best. No matter what happens, I have loved every second with the Fairy Tale Cupcake crew and I hope you have as well.
Next, I have some really tremendous news about my first stand alone novel PARIS IS ALWAYS A GOOD IDEA coming July 21, 2020. Are you ready? Here goes...Publisher's Weekly gave Paris is Always a Good Idea a starred review and said, "This flawless rom-com is sure to delight." Not gonna lie, I cried a bucket full of happy tears over that one. Click HERE for the full review, which made me Snoopy dance all over the house, much to the chargin of the Hooligans and, no, there is no video, no one needs to see that!
Lastly, One for the Books comes out in September and (OMGosh) the cover is the most beautiful one in the series to date. I know I say that with every book cover in this series but this one is a legit stunner! Click the title for a peek. Truly, it's gorgeous!!!
Events: Obviously, book tours and signings and conferences are a no-go but I am going to be live on Facebook, streaming from the The Poisoned Pen's Facebook page at 2 pm PST on Tuesday the 28th! Do a virtual pop in and say "hello"!
Contests: There are so many giveaways happening right now with several books coming out on top of each other, there's much to share! I recently hired a dynamo assistant, Christie C., who keeps the party rocking!
Here are several ways to be in the loop with all of the shenanigans:
McKinlay's Mavens - hosted by Christie, this is a reader page for all things Jenn McKinlay! It's where you can get all the latest info and help spread the word about my books! It's a street team of super readers bonded by a love of stories, sugar, and laughter! Plus, lots of giveaways!
Fans of Jenn McKinlay - hosted by readers Kelly, Risa, and Heidi, this is a super social group of book lovers, who frequently have guest authors like Miranda James and Ellen Byron! They talk about the books they love, celebrate birthdays, and are wonderfully supportive of each other. A happy place to be, for sure. Plus, there's lots of giveaways and I do live chats with them once a month!
Not a group person? I get it. Just follow me on social media or my website and you'll still get updates on the latest news and giveaways!
What's On My Mind: Well, I'm pretty sure we all know what's is going on in the old hamster wheel in my head, because we're all thinking about the same things, I imagine. And, yes, my brain does feel like a hamster on a wheel - running, running, running, but not really getting anywhere.
Every day goes something like this:
Me, talking to myself -- because that's a new thing, too!
"What is the status of the ____?" (insert eggs, flour, or the universally shortaged toilet paper).
"Okay, we have enough TP for a few more days. Should we put in a delivery order? Nope, no availability until next week and by then we'll be forced to use coffee filters to...you know. We're going to have to go out there."
Now, of course, I spiral into a long mental debate about how much protection (mask or no mask, gloves or no gloves) is required to go to the store and which store has the best odds of having butt paper. This alone can take hours.
Once out there in the world, a new respect and appreciaiton fills me for all of the people who have to be out there EVERY DAY! Healthcare workers, first responders, store clerks, postal workers, and all of the essential employees who can't shelter in place but instead are out there taking care of the rest of us. Clearly, not all heroes wear capes! I don't know about you, but I thank each and every one of them and tip heavily.
Arriving home from the store is another journey. The washing of hands, the unpacking, the wiping down of everything I've touched since coming home and rounding it out with another hand scrubbing. When this is over, if anyone sings "Happy Birthday" to me ever again, I might slap them. Kidding...mostly.
Here's some trivia (librarian) I learned during the quarantine. Did you know the melody of the Happy Birthday song was written by two sisters, Patty and Mildred Hill, in 1893 and even though it is the most widely recognized song in the English language, they never received a dime for it? Crazy, huh?
One thing I have come to understand about this time is that while we hear the refrain "we're all in it together, but separate" -- we're not. Not really. Every person's experience with the pandemic is different. Some people are bravely on the frontline, taking care of the sick and dying, others are nestled snuggly in their mansions, while some are stretched as thin as humanly possible, working full time as an essential worker while having to homeschool their kids, and there are many for which the virus is just one of a truckload of worries as they live in fear that they'll lose their business or their job and soon they won't have enough money to put food on their tables or pay their rent.
Hub and I have been most worried about this last group - we remember the recession, we remember some dark days of not knowing how we were going to survive it. So, we've begun donating to our local food banks and buying books and items online from small businesses, hoping to help those who need it the most. And as the world reopens, we'll do our best to support small businesses. Because, truly, the only way we can really be "in it together, but separate" is to look out for each other as much as we can and, above all, be kind.
I hope this newsletter finds you and yours doing well.
Much love,
XO Jenn