McKenna Jeffries - Essence of a Writer

I've moved

2007-12-15T05:09:00.000-05:00

I've moved to my new blog: Check me out here: http://mckennajeffries.com/blog/

Come to my celebration….

2007-12-14T20:00:00.000-05:00

McKenna Jeffries.com new site design is live.

You will also see what I have been working on these last few month’s. I have been busy. Writing and writing. LOL.

Also come by and celebrate with me at my chat group http://groups.yahoo.com/group/McKennaJeffriesList. I will be posting lots of excerpts. Some exclusive meaning I haven’t put them on my site yet and they won’t be for a week or so. I also have some special guests who will be dropping by. Shhh… I won’t tell you who yet. You’ll have to come by to check it out. There will also be contests with a few prizes to be won. The celebration will be at my Chat Group, McKenna Jeffries List .

See you at the party.

Happy Thanksgiving!

2007-11-22T13:48:00.000-05:00

Wishing everyone a very Happy Thanksgiving! Enjoy time with your friends and family!!

If you don't celebrate Thanksgiving - I hope you have a wonderful day.

I'm going to a family members house and will be having fun.

The Memory…

2007-09-11T08:54:00.000-04:00

The memories of 9/11 are still fresh and raw to me and many others. I work really close to the World Trade Center and was there that day. I survived and am grateful each day for it. There are no more words I can say to express how I feel. It is still to fresh.

Remember and pray for all those lost.

Site redesign and catching up…..

2007-09-06T10:04:00.000-04:00

I’ve been absent these last few month’s and with good reason. I have been busy writing and editing.

I mentioned I would be having a site updates. Well I decided to take it a step further and have a complete redesign done. It’s time for a change. So if you do go by my sites you probably won’t find some pages as they have been removed. This redesign will take a little while so please be patience.

I do have something special planned to commemorate the launch of my new site design. Until then you can find me at my chat group http://groups.yahoo.com/group/McKennaJeffriesList or here at my blog for what is going on with me.

I will be posting a few exclusive sneak peeks of some of what I have been working on at my chat group and a few other things.

So catch me up. What has been going on with you?

Updates...

2007-08-01T14:30:00.000-04:00

I am going to have some long overdue updates done on my site real soon. So my site will be down for a few weeks. I'll let you know when I do.

McKenna

Family and friends

2007-07-28T15:27:00.000-04:00

My family and friends are wonderful. I love them all and they are so supportive. They understand when I can't talk because I am writing. They give me quite space when I need. They listen when I need to bounce ideas. They are wonderful.

McKenna

Summer coming....

2007-06-28T12:26:00.000-04:00

Summer coming I can't wait. I am taking a breif trip home. It should be fun.

Writing update. Still writing. I will be having a free read later this year so stay tuned.

McKenna

Still writing...

2007-05-10T14:23:00.000-04:00

I'm still writing. So my posts are sporadic. Sorry. Ideas are flowing fast and furious. I'll check in again soon.

McKenna

Working and Kaitlyn Newsletter

2007-04-17T13:20:00.000-04:00

Another quick note. Working on my novels and other things.

The Kaitlyn St. James Newsletter is getting a makeover. Look for next issue in 2008.

McKenna

Quick Update...

2007-03-23T12:19:00.000-04:00

I’ve been busy writing and writing. So been mostly offline. So a quick update. Still working on my various books and other projects. Did minor updates to my site.

Check back in soon.

McKenna

Newsletter name Change

2007-02-03T20:13:00.000-05:00

I've changed my newsletter name and group address has changed. The new group address name is McKenna Jeffries Newsletter and the new address is http://groups.yahoo.com/group/mckennajeffriesnewsletter.

Please update your bookmarks. Also the newsletter format has been changed. The newsletter will be released on a quarterly basis.

McKenna

A New Year

2007-01-13T21:07:00.000-05:00

This year I have lots of plans. Including writing and subbing to various places. I'm working on more edits for Conquering Jazz.

I'll be streamlining and changing the name of my newsletter ROM Insights. So stay tuned. That's it for now.

McKenna

A Month in the Writer’s Life ~ December 2006

2006-12-31T13:26:00.000-05:00

Posting December's Writer's Life early.

It's been a hectic time and I'm working on a novel and edits for Conquering Jazz. My plan is to have both done early 2007. The Muse is working well. Back to work. No ROM Insights newsletter in December. Next newsletter will be in Janaury 2007. I will have a 2006 recap of what happened with me in January 2007

Look for what is going on with my alter ego Kaitlyn St. James under the blog’s usually titled Kaitlyn St. James Happening’s. That’s all for my A Month in the Writer’s Life until next month.

McKenna

Kaitlyn St. James Happening’s ~ December 2006

2006-12-31T12:32:00.000-05:00

Crazy time

Working on some novels. No St. James Chronicle newsletter posted in December 2006.
Next issue is a January/February 2007 issue/

Until next time, look for the unexpected!
Kaitlyn St. James
For delivery of the St. James Chronicle directly to your email Inbox Sign up today: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/stjameschronicle

For News about Kaitlyn St. James Sign up today: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/kaitlynstjames

A Month in the Writer’s Life ~ November 2006

2006-12-07T19:32:00.000-05:00

November still can't chat. Story going well. Edits for Conquering Jazz going fine. Muse stil in control. Back to work. No ROM Insights newsletter this month.

Look for what is going on with my alter ego Kaitlyn St. James under the blog’s usually titled Kaitlyn St. James Happening’s. That’s all for my A Month in the Writer’s Life until next month.

McKenna

Kaitlyn St. James Happening’s ~ November 2006

2006-12-07T17:38:00.000-05:00

Busy, busy with some novels. No St. James Chronicle newsletter posted.

Until next time, look for the unexpected!

Kaitlyn St. James

For delivery of the St. James Chronicle directly to your email Inbox Sign up today: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/stjameschronicle

For News about Kaitlyn St. James Sign up today: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/kaitlynstjames

A Month in the Writer’s Life ~ October 2006

2006-11-08T22:28:00.000-05:00

October still under the control of the muse. Can't chat. Gotta go. No ROM Insights newsletter this month.

Look for what is going on with my alter ego Kaitlyn St. James under the blog’s usually titled Kaitlyn St. James Happening’s. That’s all for my A Month in the Writer’s Life until next month.

McKenna

Kaitlyn St. James Happening’s ~ October 2006

2006-11-07T14:34:00.000-05:00

Working and working...

No St. James Chronicle newsletter posted.

Until next time, look for the unexpected!

Kaitlyn St. James

For delivery of the St. James Chronicle directly to your email Inbox Sign up today: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/stjameschronicle

For News about Kaitlyn St. James Sign up today: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/kaitlynstjames

A Month in the Writer’s Life ~ September 2006

2006-10-01T16:38:00.001-04:00

September I was happily enjoying my break when bam I was taken from it. This darn muse would not leave me alone. LOL. Now you know I couldn’t keep away from writing. It is too much in my blood. I had to go and do some little bit of writing here then there and before I knew it I was back to writing everyday. Shoot I don’t have the concept of taking a break down.

So since my mind was still working out the kinks of how to execute the edits for Conquering Jazz I decided to work on something fresh. I did and the results were phenomenal and it also helped me figure out what I want to do with Conquering Jazz. Yippeee!!!

The ROM Insights~ August/ September 2006 issue is available on the site and yahoo group. There are many announcements in it. I will be posting the info in the next blog entry about it. Check it out here.

Look for what is going on with my alter ego Kaitlyn St. James under the blog’s usually titled Kaitlyn St. James Happening’s.

That’s all for my A Month in the Writer’s Life until next month.

McKenna

Kaitlyn St. James Happening’s ~ September 2006

2006-10-01T16:38:00.000-04:00

The break I planned to take was not happening so I wrote on a new novel I am working on. I have an except ion the upcoming newsletter.

The St. James Chronicle ~ May/June 2006 issue of my bi-monthly newsletter is available. The St. James Chronicle ~ September /October 2006 issue of the newsletter will be available shortly.

Until next time, look for the unexpected!

Kaitlyn St. James

For delivery of the St. James Chronicle directly to your email Inbox Sign up today: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/stjameschronicle

For News about Kaitlyn St. James Sign up today: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/kaitlynstjames

A Month in the Writer’s Life ~ August 2006

2006-09-01T10:31:00.000-04:00

August is my birthday. Whaoo Hooo!!!! I love my b-day. I’m planning to have fun and relax. I’m taking off from my writing from my b-day in August until mid September to rest and rejuvenate. I need to recover from my family visiting and the day job.

Before I started my rest I did my read through of Conquering Jazz. When I went back to do the edits I was stuck on how to work in what my agent suggested. I’m still stumped. No it’s not writer’s block. I can thankfully say I don’t usually have that problem. I’m stumped on the best way to execute the suggestions. This rest will hopefully help me also.

The ROM Insights~ July 2006 issue is available on the site and yahoo group. The August issue will be a joined with September. I will be posting it in early Sept.

Look for what is going on with my alter ego Kaitlyn St. James under the blog’s usually titled Kaitlyn St. James Happening’s.

That’s all for my A Month in the Writer’s Life until next month.

McKenna

Kaitlyn St. James Happening’s ~ August 2006

2006-09-01T10:29:00.000-04:00

Taking a break from August – September in celebration of my birthday and I need the rest.

Before my break began I worked on Johannes a little. There is a blurb and excerpt on the Kaitlyn St. James site for Johannes.

The St. James Chronicle ~ May/June 2006 issue of my bi-monthly newsletter is available. There is no July/August 2006 issue of the newsletter.
Until next time, look for the unexpected!

Kaitlyn St. James

For delivery of the St. James Chronicle directly to your email Inbox Sign up today: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/stjameschronicle

For News about Kaitlyn St. James Sign up today: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/kaitlynstjames

A Month in the Writer’s Life ~ July 2006

2006-08-01T18:28:00.000-04:00

July has been hectic. I have family visiting and am distracted from my writing. Still covering for many other co-worker’s.

I’ve put aside Turning the Tables, the next Hamlin family & friends at least temporarily. I’m working Conquering Jazz. I had a discussion with my agent and she made some edit suggestions. I edit on paper. First I plan to do a read through from beginning to end without any stops for edits. Then I plan to do another read through and edit as I go. Then I will do another read through to see what the changes look like and do some more edits if necessary. Then I will go on the computer and do the edits then print it out again and read through again. That’s a lot of reading through. Thank god I love the characters. LOL. I’ll let you know how things are going.

The ROM Insights~ July 2006 issue is available on the site and yahoo group.

Look for what is going on with my alter ego Kaitlyn St. James under the blog’s usually titled Kaitlyn St. James Happening’s.

That’s all for my A Month in the Writer’s Life until next month.

McKenna

Kaitlyn St. James Happening’s ~ July 2006

2006-08-01T18:25:00.000-04:00

The work on Johannes has also slowed down. Still working but slower. . I plan to pick back up speed on this hopefully in. There is a blurb and excerpt on the Kaitlyn St. James site for Johannes.

The St. James Chronicle ~ May/June 2006 issue of my bi-monthly newsletter is available. There is no July/August 2006 issue of the newsletter.

Until next time, look for the unexpected!

Kaitlyn St. James

For delivery of the St. James Chronicle directly to your email Inbox Sign up today: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/stjameschronicle

For News about Kaitlyn St. James Sign up today: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/kaitlynstjames

A Month in the Writer’s Life ~ June 2006

2006-07-02T14:19:00.000-04:00

June had a lot happening so I didn’t get much writing done. I went out of town and when I came back it was the summer vacation in my day job. So I was covering for many other co-worker’s.

Work on Turning the Tables, the next Hamlin family & friends novel has slowed down to a crawl. I plan to pick back up speed on this hopefully in September. I’m still writing but slower that I usually do.

The ROM Insights~ June 2006 issue is available on the site and yahoo group.

Look for what is going on with my alter ego Kaitlyn St. James under the blog’s usually titled Kaitlyn St. James Happening’s.

That’s all for my A Month in the Writer’s Life until next month.

McKenna

Kaitlyn St. James Happening’s ~ June 2006

2006-07-02T14:16:00.000-04:00

The work on Johannes has also slowed down. Still working but slower. . I plan to pick back up speed on this hopefully in. There is a blurb and excerpt on the Kaitlyn St. James site for Johannes.
The St. James Chronicle ~ May/June 2006 issue of my bi-monthly newsletter is available.

Until next time, look for the unexpected!

Kaitlyn St. JamesFor delivery of the St. James Chronicle directly to your email Inbox Sign up today: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/stjameschronicle

For News about Kaitlyn St. James Sign up today: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/kaitlynstjames

A Month in the Writer’s Life ~ May 2006

2006-06-01T13:35:00.000-04:00

May brought a lot of happenings. I was on a rollercoaster ride of writing and being under the weather.

I’m still working on Turning the Tables, the next Hamlin family & friends novel. The characters Jermaine Hamlin and Rhonda Carrington are very intense and volatile. There history is complex. I’ve been doing more plotting on various writing projects that I have.

Look for what is going on with my alter ego Kaitlyn St. James under the blog’s usually titled Kaitlyn St. James Happening’s.

That’s all for my A Month in the Writer’s Life until next month.

McKenna

Kaitlyn St. James Happening’s ~ May 2006

2006-06-01T13:26:00.000-04:00

Working on Johannes. I am still having problems with hating to see Johannes end. I don’t want it to end. LOL. The other characters are screaming at me for there turn but I still keep finding things to do on Johannes. Since Johannes is the first in the series I want to capture as much of the world I am creating as I can. So many discoveries. There is a blurb and excerpt on the Kaitlyn St. James site for Johannes.

The next issue of the St. James Chronicle my bi-monthly newsletter will be posted soon. Until the next issue us out you can check out the St. James Chronicle ~ March /April 2006 issue here.

Until next time, look for the unexpected!

Kaitlyn St. James

For delivery of the St. James Chronicle directly to your email Inbox Sign up today: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/stjameschronicle

For News about Kaitlyn St. James Sign up today: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/kaitlynstjames

A Month in the Writer’s Life ~ April 2006

2006-05-31T15:25:00.000-04:00

I meant to post this earlier….

April was a strange month. I caught up, got behind then had to play catching up again, and so on…..

I am still working on exploring Turning the Tables, the next Hamlin family & friends novel. Jermaine Hamlin and Rhonda Carrington has a diverse, intense, and sometimes voliatle history that takes even me by surprise. So many layers. So much wants, needs and expectations. I’ve also been working on various writing projects that I have. Plotting, character sketches and such.

Look for what is going on with my alter ego Kaitlyn St. James under the blog’s usually titled Kaitlyn St. James Happening’s.

That’s all for my A Month in the Writer’s Life until next month.

McKenna

Kaitlyn St. James Happening’s ~ April 2006

2006-05-31T15:19:00.000-04:00

I’m still hard at work on Johannes. Do you ever have a book that you hate to see end? That’s my problem with Johannes I don’t want it to end. LOL. Although the other characters are screaming at me for there turn I want to keep working on Johannes. Yes I know eventually I’ll reach a point when the book will be done but for now I can appreciate all the nuances that are coming out in the society and world around my Guardians. So many discoveries. There is a blurb and excerpt on the Kaitlyn St. James site for Johannes.

The next issue of the St. James Chronicle my bi-monthly newsletter will be posted soon. I’m planning for sometime in June around the 15th of the month or so. Until the next issue us out you can check out the St. James Chronicle ~ March /April 2006 issue here.

Until next time, look for the unexpected!

Kaitlyn St. James

For delivery of the St. James Chronicle directly to your email Inbox Sign up today: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/stjameschronicle

For News about Kaitlyn St. James Sign up today: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/kaitlynstjames

The Mystery Search

2006-04-10T13:01:00.000-04:00

Last week I introduced a feature to my chat group (McKenna Jeffries List) in which I explored a search I’ve been working on. I decided to share it with you. Come on and share in my search …

Before I became a writer I was of course an avid reader (and I still am). Nothing is more thrilling than the hunt for a good book. Although I love romance I read all genres. I also write work in most of them. I like to mix up my reading. My bookshelves are filled with anything from Laurell K. Hamilton to Brenda Jackson.

At the end of last year I picked up a book I had on my shelf for a while. It was a Nora Roberts novel The Villa. It was good and I was hooked. I love Nora Robert’s work. She can go from contemporary to suspense without blinking an eye. She also writes as JD Robb. The In Death series is phenomenal. Before the Nora I had recently read Janet Evanovich, Plum and Full series (they were a funny). With Nora I always find something different and since I love me some Nora Roberts she opened my appetite for some more. This led me to my search for more romantic suspense/ mystery books. I went through Julie Garwood, Linda Howard, Kay Hooper, Lisa Gardner, and Tami Hoag. This is just a few of the authors I found. I am still in the process of reading to catch up on their various series.

Although I had this great list of authors I was still on the hunt because if you notice there is not an African American mystery writer or a book that features a heroine/hero in the bunch at least not from the one’s I’ve read so far. Beside this being one of the markets that I write novels for I as a reader wanted to read more. So for sometime now I have been on the hunt to add to my already growing list of mystery/romantic suspense writer’s some good quality African American author’s or books that features heroine/hero.

With my search I checked my own to be read pile on my bookshelf and came up with a copy of Body of Truth by Deirdre Savoy. I read it in a day. It was good and I wanted more. I asked around to my friends who share my passion for great books and although I got a list of great authors (some I already had) none was what I was searching for. Since then I have been on the look out searching the book store for more. The other day I took my search to the web and stumbled on a site I wanted to share.

Mystnoir ~http://mystnoir.com/

Directly from the site:

MystNoir features mysteries, thrillers, and suspense novels written by or featuring African-Americans.

I was so happy to find this site and after exploring I came to find out the creator of the site is actually Angela Henry who is also a writer. I went out quickly to search for her book The Company You Keep which was released in May 2005 under BET Book's Sepia imprint. I took me a little time to find it but I have and am in the process of reading it. So now with the help of the info on the MystNoir site I have added to my already growing list (the authors I listed above) romantic suspense/mystery. What I love about the site is they also give you a breakdown of the Author’s and the characters that they write about. Yes there are a bunch of author’s who has continuing series that follow the same characters. I didn’t realize. For those of you out there who did why didn’t you share the wealth? LOL. Now onto my question.

I am still looking for more reads. Both with African American heroine/hero and without. As long as it is a good story I’ll read it. Yes it’s a miracle my shelf still has space.

Who are you favorite romantic suspense/ mystery author and why?

A Month in the Writer’s Life ~ March 2006

2006-04-07T15:14:00.000-04:00

March was my month of catch up. Catching up on my wirting, groups, email, and so on…..

I sent out Conquering Jazz to my agent and am now playing the waiting game. As a writer you learn to wait to here. Now I’m not saying that I am patience while I wait. I look at the phone and sometimes feel like yelling. “Come on and ring damn you.” I conatin myself. LOL. So now as I wait I am working on other projects I have. Another things about writing you shoud always be writing. Writing to build the amount of completed novels.With each book there are so many dynamic to explore and discover.

For now I’m working on exploring Turning the Tables, the next Hamlin family & friends novel. Jermaine Hamlin and Rhonda Carrington has a diverse, intense, and sometimes voliatle history. It is taking careful planning for me to lay the layers of who they are. There wants, needs and expectations. I know what I want to write. I alredy have the outline for Turning the Tables and the three novels in the Hamlin family & friends series. My work on Turning the Tables is very hot and emotional.Look for what is going on with my alter ego Kaitlyn St. James under the blog’s usually titled Kaitlyn St. James Happening’s.

That’s all so far in my A Month in the Writer’s Life until next month.

McKenna

Kaitlyn St. James Happening’s ~ March 2006

2006-04-07T15:09:00.000-04:00

I’ve been working on Johannes. Shifted some things around and cut some others. The time I am taking to build the society and world around my Guardians is paying off. Each day is another layer of discovery. They are coming clear and crisp from my head down onto my computer screen. My hope is that when it gets published (no dates yet I haven’t submitted it) it will come to life for you as it has for me. With eachj new thing I am surprised and pleased. There is a blurb and excerpt on the Kaitlyn St. James site for Johannes.
The next issue of the St. James Chronicle my bi-monthly newsletter will be posted around in April around the 15 th of the month. I’ve decided that it will be posted on a bi-monthly basis around 15 th of the month from now on.Until the next issue us out you can check out the January /February 2006 here.

Until next time, look for the unexpected!

Kaitlyn St. James

For delivery of the St. James Chronicle directly to your email Inbox Sign up today: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/stjameschronicle

For News about Kaitlyn St. James Sign up today: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/kaitlynstjames

Kaitlyn St. James Happening’s ~ February 2006

2006-03-14T16:53:00.000-05:00

Since I’ve been ill I’ve had time to sit, think and plan. I've gone back and re-read Johannes. Cut a lot out of it and added a lot to. I’m having a great time building the society and world around my Guardians. I can clearly see it in my head and want to make sure I get ot all down on paper so that when it gets published (no dates yet I haven’t submitted it) it will draw you in. I’m digging into the story and the surprises keep on coming. There is a blurb and excerpt on the Kaitlyn St. James site for Johannes.

Since St. James Chronicle is a bi-monthly newsletter the January 2006 issue was actually a January /February 2006 issue. Sorry for any confusion I have corrected the newsletter to reflect this. The next issue will be March/April 2006. It will be posted sometime before the end of March. For now you can check out the January /February 2006 here.

Until next time, look for the unexpected!Kaitlyn St. James

For delivery of the St. James Chronicle directly to your email Inbox Sign up today: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/stjameschronicle

For News about Kaitlyn St. James Sign up today: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/kaitlynstjames

A Month in the Writer’s Life ~ February 2006

2006-03-14T16:50:00.000-05:00

This month’s A Month in the Writer’s Life (explanation on what this is here) is a little late. I’ve been under the weather and battling a nasty flu.February was a month of evelaution. I was to sick to do anything else except sit and think. Think of all the new possibilities waiting for me. With my reevaluation of my writing plans in January I know where I am going and how I will be getting there. My organization of the books I want to write this year and the time frame I want to complete them has helped me a lot.

Due to my being sick I didn’t get to send out the edits on Conquering Jazz althought they are done I didn’t get to mail them but I will by this weekend to early next week at the latest.

For now I’m working on Turning the Tables, the next Hamlin family & friends novel. I’ve gone back to what I have written and made changes that now make the story flow better. The story is shaping up to be another hot and emotional.

My plan to write books to help build my various families I have created is right on schudule. Stay tuned as I introduce you to them.I’m also working on a few things for my alter ego Kaitlyn St. James. In this blog I will give you a monthly run down about what is happening with Kaitlyn St. James under blog’s usually titled Kaitlyn St. James Happening’s. I’m still getting another blog ready for my alter ego Kaitlyn St. James which will have more in deapth posting from Kaitlyn.That’s all so far in my A Month in the Writer’s Life until next month.

McKenna

A Month in the Writer’s Life ~ January 2006

2006-02-01T20:53:00.000-05:00

I’ve decided to try something different with this blog. Beside the blog’s I write whenever the mood or topic strikes me I will have A Month in the Writer’s Life. Basically this will let you know what I have been up to writing wise, a look into my life and various other things. Also this will make sure I post more regularly to the blog. LOL. So onto the first A Month in the Writer’s Life.

January a time to take stock on what you have planned for the new year. The time to make resolutions, to get so much you promised yourself last year and rebirth. When January 1 rolled around I was so happy to see it. As many of you know 2005 was a rough year for me with the loss of my mother and a lot of other things. My mom’s loss threw me in a tail spin that echoed into everything else. I was functioning but seemingly in a cloud. Christmas found me in bed curled up and unable to do anything. Afterwards I was mad at myself but then realized this was just what I needed. Grief comes in many forms sometimes all at once and other over time. Mine is over time and with the dawn of 2006 I knew it would be better. I would still be hurting with loss but with a new year there was so much new possibilities.

This January found me exploring those moments of possibilities. I reevaluated what was on my writing plans. In 2005 I got very little that I had planned done. But I don’t plan to make it up. I made revamped the old plans into new ones. I’ve organized the books I want to write this year and the time frame I want to complete them in. I won’t be giving you my goal now but at the end of the year I will let you know if what I planned worked.

One of the things that I’ve wanted to complete and couldn’t seem to be the edits on Conquering Jazz. I was working on it but another story kept nagging at me. So I finally had to sit down sketch out my thoughts in order to get my mind focused on Conquering Jazz. With that done I’m happy to report that the edits are done and I’ll be mailing the manuscript to my agent shortly.

As for that other novel (I still haven’t come up with a title yet). Now that the idea is down I can’t write it at least not yet it is to close to all I went through last year. So I’m waiting on that one.

For now I am working on Turning the Tables, the next Hamlin family & friends novel. I’m already half way through the book and it is shaping up to be another hot and emotional story.

A reader mentioned to me once that they like my work because I write about families. To me family is the corner stone of everything. No matter if you’re close or fight like crazy it’s all about the family dynamic. And not the typical one either. After all there are many types of families. Hmmm… I think I found a couple of future blog topics to explore. LOL. This year I am writing books to help build my various families I have created. Stay tuned for more on them.

I’m also working on a few things for my alter ego Kaitlyn St. James including a separate blog. (For now I blogged about what is happening with Kaitlyn St. James under the blog titled Kaitlyn St. James Happening’s ~ January 2006)

That’s all so far in my A Month in the Writer’s Life until next month.

McKenna

Kaitlyn St. James Happening’s ~ January 2006

2006-01-30T23:04:00.000-05:00

I've been working on Johannes. The delve deeper into the story has brought some new surprises. It's going to be interesting to see how it turns out. Check out the blurb and excerpt on the site.

I've posted the first issue of my Kaitlyn St. James newsletter ~ St. James Chronicle. Check it out here.

I've also started two yahoo groups for Kaitlyn St. James.St. James Chronicle ~ Newsletter

For delivery of the St. James Chronicle directly to your email InboxSign up today: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/stjameschronicle

News: Kaitlyn St. James Sign up today: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/kaitlynstjames

I have a few other things that I am working on.

Until next time, look for the unexpected!

Kaitlyn St. James

What makes a family?

2006-01-30T21:43:00.000-05:00

I’ve been thinking a lot about families lately. So today when I introduced a new feature to my chat group I started with family. Before I get into why I was thinking of family let me first give you the typical definition and my own.

The Typical Dictionary Definition of Family ~

A fundamental social group in society typically consisting of one or two parents and their children.

The McKenna Jeffries Definition of Family ~

Individuals who share ties either through blood or through a deeper bond that surpasses friendship that shares in each other’s lives to create a close knit unit of familial relations.

Some examples of family are what I have at my chat group McKenna Jeffries List. Another is the one that came out of the blue to me last week.

Last week I had something to celebrate and I was a little sad because my mom wasn’t here to share with me. I celebrated by phone with my sister who lives close to me (she was busy so we didn’t get together to celebrate) and my other family who is to far away to celebrate with me in person. I gave these two ladies I have lunch with everyday who I think of as good friends my news. Even now as I think about this I get teary-eyed. A couple of days after giving them my news they said we were going out to lunch to celebrate. When I said (since it more easy for me to give than receive) why and that wasn’t necessary. One of them said because if your mother was here she would do the same and since she isn’t we’re doing it. The other said because we want to. I was overcome and in that moment I realized that we had surpassed the bonds of friendship and became a family. Thank you P and T (you know who you are) for being there and showing me heck surprising me with a new family.

You see family isn’t about the blood it’s all about what is in the heart. There are millions of definitions you can have of family. Think of some moment in you life and give me what is your own definition of family?

McKenna

Strike Exodus before Christmas

2005-12-21T15:53:00.000-05:00

Nope I’m not talking about that great rush you do to finish up buying those last minute gifts. New Yorkers like myself are more concern red about finding a way to work or a way to get out to finish there Christmas s shopping. Oy. Yesterday like most of New Yorkers I held my breath hoping that the strike wouldn’t happen. Well it did and then there was the scramble to find other means to get into work. Yeah, yeah I could of done the sane thing and stayed home but heck I’m a New Yorker and if a little thing like a blackout wouldn’t stop me from going to work why should not having my regular transport stop me. I’m sure you figured out the punch line already but let me give you more insight into the workings of the great Strike Exodus.

I’ve been staying at a relatives house so I could get a ride to a train that was working if the strike was to occur. I’ve been without my computer which means no internet (except when I can sneak on at work shhhh…. don’t tell anyone). On Monday morning I was so happy there was service I did a little jig yes you heard me I danced to work on my merry way. Then on Tuesday came the strike. I went to the train I could take which is really out of my way. It was a Metro North and waiting on that platform I was feeling that cold air. Getting in to work wasn’t to bad. I even made a friend on the train and we talked to our stop. When I arrived at Grand Central it was okay and my new friend helped me find a bus that my job had set up to take us into lower manhattan. After a few almost crazy moments I got where I needed to be. Again it wasn’t so bad.

Then reality struck as I left to go home. My job transport was nowhere to be found for hours I was in the cold. I couldn’t feel my hands or feet. Finally I got on the transport and made it back to Grand Central at about 8 o’clock and let me tell you. I’ve never seen so many people. It was a mass of moving bodies all rushing to get out of the city. Now this was already almost 8 o’clock at night. And it was a mad house. An Exodus of people you would not believe. I was lucky enough to catch another family member on the phone and ask to get a ride uptown. Now I had to trek back through the crowd to get out. Got to the doors and found I was locked in they weren’t letting anyone in or out. It was crazy. Well after a few choice words I was able to get out and make my flight to meet my ride who was six blocks away coming uptown and would meet me at 42 street. I walked fast as I could.

But then the funniest thing happened. I took a glance around and slowed down and appreciated the beauty around me. If you have visited around Grand Central before especially at Christmas you realize what I mean. It was beautiful even though everyone was running around to get where they were going. The air was cold and crisp. The sounds of New York was alive and well. The people were being New Yorkers by dealing with what was thrown at us as best as they could. In that moment my love of New York came into me. Now don’t get me wrong I was still pissed at having such a crappy commute but I was in the heart of New York City and there is no feeling like it. I walked on appreciating the sight and sounds. I still made it in time to meet my ride, was stuck in traffic for hours but hey I came away with the beauty of what New York is.

This Strike Exodus is going on and no one knows how long it will take. I have to be to work no matter what anyway. So each day I’m waiting to see what experience I will come away with.

McKenna

The scent of Mama’s cooking

2005-12-12T13:03:00.000-05:00

Happy Holidays! I hope everyone is having a wonderful blessed season. Give thanks for all your blessings.

It’s been an interesting few months for me. My computer in October conked out on me. I’ve recently received the new one and still getting familiar with it. The long wait for a new one gave me a lot of time to think and contemplate about everything that happened in this last year.

When I thought about everything I was amazed and saddened how things changed. Not the day to day changes of life but the one that shake your core and change you irrevocably. My biggest change this year was the passing of my mother. And the holiday’s brings it out even more. I miss her so much. I’ve fought away the sadness and instead will celebrate as we usually do each year. Cooking and baking as we usually do.

Each time I bake or cook one of my mother recipe many things overcome me but there two things that stand out. The first is of course the memories of being in the kitchen with her. For as long back as I can remember I was always underfoot when my mom cooked and I wanted to learn. I remember my first time I baked a cookie on my own I was eight at the time. My mom was shocked when she came home to find the cookie. Did you catch that “cookie” in there? No It’s not a typo. I made a cookie with a recipe that should have made about a batch. Mine was one big fat cookie that covered an entire pan. It was soft and delicious. I remember that my Mom was so proud and barely got a bite before my brother ate it off. LOL. Ahhh…. The memories.

Comfort is the second thing that comes to me. To me cooking and baking gives me time to think. There is nothing like kneading dough to get all your thoughts in order. It is a therapeutic thing. The work brings me comfort and takes me to a place where I can experiment yet get my mind off of things. Hmmm… that bring a whole new meaning to the term “comfort foods”. Each person has that comfort food that no matter what is happening the thought of it brings a smile to your face and tummy. LOL. I used to call my Mom and say “make me a bowl of love”. This was our own little code for her to make a bowl of hot cereal (it’s didn’t matter which one). I call it love because I knew that is how she made it. With love. She used to kid and ask why don’t you make it (since she knew I could cook almost as well as she did). I told her that it doesn’t taste as good. Believe me when I made it for myself it just didn’t taste as sweet. I’m sure you know what I am talking about. Well Mom laughed and made it and she even turned the table on me a few times and asked that I make her a bowl of love. I did it since we are an equal opportunity “bowl of love” household. LOL. From generation to generation cooking has been passed down in my family.

Lately I find myself more and more in the kitchen just thinking. As I think I wondered about how the preparation of food then the cooking of it that is passed down in families. You can have many families preparing the same thing but the way they prepare it is what makes them different and unique. Uniqueness is the dynamic of the family. This led me to questions of families.

What is it about the preparation then the scent of foods made using mama or grandma’s recipes that invokes so much memories, feelings, and comfort? What about it that makes your family unique?

McKenna Jeffries List

2005-09-12T20:15:00.000-04:00

My chat group McKenna Jeffries List has a lot fun features, exclusive free reads and various things.

On August 1, 2005 I introduced to my chat group The Sloan Family Web Serial. For now (don’t know if I will eventually change this) this will be an exclusive set of interweaving stories that will be posted only to my chat group. You don’t want to miss out so sign up for the group. The group has many chat group only features. Some of the thing in the group are lots of excerpts (some not posted on the site) , exclusive to the chat group features like Between the Pages which is a look inside my novel, exclusive short stories (the first was New Wishes, a Kincaid family story), exclusive Sloan Family Web Serial, chat group contests, and lots of other things. In the upcoming months the group will be even busier with more reads, surprises and in January 2006 the exclusive to the chat group interweaving short stories series called Caramel Notes will start. There will be eight short stories and…. Well it’s a surprise even the chat group members do not know about yet. Sign up for McKenna Jeffries List so you don’t miss out.

Kaitlyn St. James

2005-09-12T20:11:00.000-04:00

My alter ego Kaitlyn St. James will also be getting a Web Serial called Dual Prophecy. It is based on the Legend family and is coming in December but before that there will be little tidbits posted on the family and web serial. The first issue of St. James Chronicle my newsletter for my Kaitlyn site will be posted in October 2005. This will have news just on Kaitlyn St. James. It will be posted on the site once a month. Updates will be coming to my site over the next few months so check back. Kaitlyn St. James will also have her very own blog so look out for that. Here is a little about the Dual Prophecy Web Serial.

Introducing the Dual Prophecy web serial featuring the Legend Family written by Kaitlyn St. James – the other pseudonym/pen name I write under.

A Legend is coming

By: Kaitlyn St. James

Copyright © 2005 by Kaitlyn St. James. All rights reserved.

Welcome to Rayne Cove. What you see is more than you can imagine. Rayne Cove, the residents, and especially the Legend family is not as they seem. I hope you enjoy your time spent in our town.
The Legend family have been resident’s of Rayne Cove since it became. Well actually before it came into existence. Since inception Rayne Cove has been called by many names. Names which were lost as time went by until it was settled that the name would be known as Rayne Cove. Originally created as a sanctuary or haven for the Legend family over time it slowly expanded and became more. So much more than anyone expected. Now Rayne Cove is a picturesque town with a close – knit community and many secrets to revel.

The community has always known the Legend family is different. Some even speculate on what they are. The closest term I can think of to describe them is witches. But even that falls short of what they are and what they are destined to do. There is really no accurate description for them. The Legend’s like the town are more than meets the eye.

For More check newsletter and site.

Jordis Warren: A Mystery Web Serial

2005-09-12T20:04:00.000-04:00

Another thing coming in 2006 to my website is Jordis Warren: A Mystery Web Serial. Jordis Warren is a very complex character and I am going to enjoy exploring her with you. A sneak peak of the first episode will be on the site and it was already posted in the newsletter. I'll included some below.

The Jordis Warren: A Mystery Web Serial is various serialized mystery stories featuring Lieutenant Jordis Warren. An new episode will be posted every month or if Jordis gets to unruly maybe even more often. With the first episode there will be an episode guide for reference so you can know the order of the stories. Enjoy the sneak peek.

False Impressions

A Jordis Warren Mystery

Episode 1

Unedited excerpt

Copyright © 2005 by McKenna Jeffries. All rights reserved.

The aroma was as distinct as it always was. Not many people realized that natural death and death by murder had different smells. Death by murder had a smell that could not be mistaken. A scent that was cloying, rich and robust coating the tongue like molasses except it was so bitter you wanted to cough it up so you could breathe again. The more violent the murder the more pungent the aroma.

With that first step inside newly promoted Lieutenant Jordis Warren knew from the smell knew that the murder that took place at 2982 Alpine Towers would be messy, bloody, and violent. In her eight year on the force - the last four and half in the Special Homicide Unit – she had seen many crime scenes and always thought the same thing. There were always too much people at the scene. This time was no exception. The various personnel required at crime scenes looked paler that usual. Their stiff faces turned to her as she walked deeper into the apartment. The stilted conversations trailed off with her passage across the room.

The unspoken accusations tinged with fear hung heavy in the air. She was fresh off of another particularly nasty case. The six week it had taken her to find and solve the Carver – as the press dubbed it – murders had cost them one of their own. One of their own that had vowed to protect and serve. Ignoring them Lieutenant Jordis Warren gave them her blank face. A look she had perfected over the years to keep all those who judged her at bay. Heading for the hallway that from the layout she had seen before entering the scene led to the back bedroom.

With each step she relived another scene. Another murder that she blamed herself for. A murder she felt she could have prevented if she had been a little quicker in finding the murderer.

For More check newsletter and site.

By Reader’s Design/ Beyond the Book

2005-09-12T20:02:00.000-04:00

Another exciting thing coming is two special features. Since January I’ve been posting hints on my Hush, Hush projects. I did plan to start the features in January of this year but due to my mom being ill then passing away I postponed it. It was hard to keep it a secret but I did. Coming in January 2006 By Reader’s Design will start. I can’t wait. For more on what exactly is By Reader’s Design check out the ROM Insights - August Special 2005 Issue and my site (I’m in process of posting more info on this). Before this I have another feature that is starting this month. Beyond the Book is a spin off of an exclusive feature I have in my chat group called Between the Pages which gives an inside look at my novel, excerpts, and such. This wonderful reaction to this made me decided to bring a similar feature to my website so Beyond the Book was born.

Kincaid Family

2005-09-12T19:59:00.000-04:00

The Kincaid's are such a wonderful family. When I created the Kincaid’s I didn’t know if I would write all of their stories however with the first story New Wishes (posted exclusively for my chat group only) and the posting of the first part of Just a Little Cyn I received such a flood of emails asking about the rest of the Kincaid’s that I knew that the Kincaid’s was a family that I would continue to write about. When I continued writing Just a Little Cyn (JALC) I tried to fit it into the a short story but couldn’t so it is now a novella and the first chapter will post on September 15, 2005. I’m also running a contest called Use my Name where you can be a part of Just a Little Cyn. After JALC is complete I already know that the next Kincaid 15 will be Cameron Kincaid. Her book will be called Simply Cameron. More details on her story are on my site and in the newsletter.

Muse in hyper drive

2005-09-12T13:04:00.000-04:00

Finally I’ve found a blog I’m happy with. I’d decided a few weeks ago to move my journal Essence of a Writer to become a blog so it can be more interactive allowing comments and such. With the move I plan to post more often but have no set times. I will post as the mood strikes me to post. Essence of a Writer is my thoughts and such so what better way to kick it off than letting you know what has been going on with my online things ie. Site, groups and such.

My muse has been in hyper drive and I’m so excited with the announcements I put in my ROM Insights - August Special 2005 Issue. There is so much coming to my site and in the chat group. Here is a rundown of what is happening and coming. I posted each item in a seperate blog since the post was too lenghty as one.

McKenna Jeffries List
Kaitlyn St. James
Jordis Warren: A Mystery Web Serial
By Reader’s Design/ Beyond the Book
Kincaid Family

That all so far that I have for things coming to my site. My next post will let you now what is going on with my various Works in Progress novels.

Back to writing.