What is Julia Kent's Writing Cabin and is the coffee any good?

A new way to hear from me, lots of books you get to preview, and why I'm sick of doing things the old way.

Why, you’re wondering, am I calling this my “writing cabin?”

Because for so, so many years (30+), long before my book Random Acts of Crazy made me a USA Today bestseller (and later a New York Times bestseller), before other books like Her Billionaires and Shopping for a Billionaire took off, before I quit my job and began writing full-time ten years ago, before I found myself the unwitting CEO of a small publishing company (aka self-publisher who expanded) — my dream was to have a writing cabin.

A small abode in the woods, silent and surrounded by nothing but woods. Squirrels, leaves, twigs, bushes, mossy ground, and a wind that would inspire me as much as it hushed me into a sense of calm and serenity.

Which would allow my mind to slowly unfurl, like a blossom, and produce words.

Well.

I have my writing cabin now, in real life.

And let’s just say reality really does match up with my imagination.

With a few caveats.

1. I thought mine would be way more rustic, and include a wood stove. Our city’s zoning won’t allow for one, so I heat with a space heater from WalMart. I am miles away from being Thoreau (though only a 30 minute drive from his actual cabin!).

Thoreau’s cabin at Walden Pond.

2. My writing cabin is bigger than I expected (see that second story?) because I didn’t build from scratch. We took an old, but sturdy, 2-story shed and had it finished.

3. It looks more like a tiny home than a rustic cabin on the inside, which gives it more of a “she shed” feel.

Then there is that unfurling business.

Words come easier out here – I’ll give it that. Living full-time plus during a pandemic with eighty percent of my family (one kid’s in college and lives on campus) and getting a puppy (named Walter No) last year…

Obligatory Walter No picture

…means dealing with noise.

So much noise.

Which is also why I’m calling this newsletter a “writing cabin.”

Noise.

Online noise, to be specific.

Social media has its place, and I inhabit my fair share of it on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram (haven’t done TikTok yet, though I have an empty account…).

Tiktok is fascinating, and feels like that hot guy you can’t stop watching but if you approach him he’s either going to be the exhilarating ride of your life or he’ll humiliate you publicly, leaving a scar so deep your nerve endings will never regenerate.

You just learn to live with the numb.

Over time, though, I found all forms of social media lacking. Functional and useable, of course, but…

Lacking.

First, algorithms bury my writings, so that followers don’t even get to see them, and forget I exist. I interact most on Facebook, with a group of 6,000+ readers. My posts are absolutely hidden and buried there, which means readers who WANT to interact with me can’t.

Second, people I don’t even know (not readers… just random trolls) can come into my social media home and take a big old word salad dump on my porch, grin at me, and leave the steaming pile of negativity right there, and I can’t do anything about it other than hide or delete their comment and block them.

But the damage is done.

Third, social media doesn’t lend itself toward long-form pieces. Sometimes I want to write 2,000 words about a topic of interest, or tell a funny story about my life, or even serialize a new book I’m writing that is experimental. I might have 42,000 followers on Facebook, but many people can’t see what I write – unless I pay for advertising, but Facebook even censors what we can advertise even when we’re paying for it!

Fourth – I can’t say whatever I want on Facebook. “Fine, Julia,” you’re thinking. “Get whiny. Who needs to use the F-word?”

Well – no, technically, I don’t have to. But Facebook won’t even let me say “I will fight you” without giving me a 30-day block.

Right. Can’t even say THAT f-word.

Fight.

Not making this up. I couldn’t invent what actually happened.

Summer of 2021, Kendall Ryan posted a comment about my new puppy, saying she wanted him. I literally only wrote the words “I will fight you” in a joking response, and within hours Facebook BLOCKED me from advertising for 30 days, and restricted me from posting on my own profile page and in groups.

THAT is when I began to realize social media is not my home.

Long-form writing is.

Direct relationships with my readers matter so much to me. I don’t want Facebook or TikTok or Instagram hiding my communications from you, or your communications from me!

Sitting in my physical writing cabin, then going to my online writing cabin, is a life I prefer over the noise of my house and the noise of social media.

And controlling what I do with my time, my words, my mind… that’s the most empowering benefit of all.

You can expect to read a lot from me here at Julia Kent’s Writing Cabin. See more of me (videos mostly, eventually). Hear from me and my husband, Clark, as much of the content here will be audio from us, talking about my books.

So – welcome to my writing cabin. Have a seat in a comfy chair. Smell the virtual woodsmoke (we’ll imagine I heat with a wood stove here ;) ). Have a nice cup of coffee or tea. Need a lap blanket? Some fuzzy, warm slippers?

Get comfy. Settle in.

Let’s have fun together.

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Reader-supported fiction

So what’s the deal with this newsletter?

You get the same newsletters you’ve gotten from me in the past for free, about 4-6 times a month. In fact, my new newsletter is BETTER than the old one, because I let loose, get very personal, write more, have the added value of my audio interviews with Clark and friends, and this is so much cooler than the way things used to be.

But you can pay for some fun extras, if you choose to support my fiction.

I thought about doing a Patreon, but then I realized something: I really, really wanted to write, make podcastlike listening things (oh, you’ll see what I mean…), and do a bunch of stuff that defies categorization.

I also wanted it to be easy for readers like you. Super easy.

You’re already on my newsletter list, as a free subscriber (and if you aren’t yet, subscribe for free!).

Let’s talk about money, though.

You’ll notice you can have a paid subscription to this newsletter. Why the heck would I charge for anything?

If you pay, you have some options:

• For $45/year (going up to $55 soon), you get a special “paid subscribers only” swag pack mailed to you, with a tote bag, various stickers, buttons, and a car air freshener that’s coffee scented (ahhhhhhh):

and your choice of 1 signed, personalized paperback (you choose which one). You also get a signed, personalized card on your birthday from me and my husband, Clark. <3

All shipping included! Want to get in on the fun? Click the red button below and start. I already have quite a few paid subscribers, and reading their reactions to getting my new “Welcome to the Writing Cabin” packages has been a blast!

$45/year is the U.S.-subscriber rate, and all the items combined, including shipping, are worth about $55. You get all this cool stuff every year you subscribe (new stuff every year, of course!).

Non-U.S. subscribers pay $65/year (going up to $75 soon) to cover increased shipping costs. You get the same swag pack, personalized paperback, and cool birthday card! Value of about $75USD for everything.

(Me and Clark in Paris, 2019)

Paid subscribers will have access to special giveaways and online events (like live chats!) as well. I already gave away a signed hardcover copy of Diana Gabaldon’s Go Tell the Bees That I am Gone!

When you become a paid subscriber, you get cool stuff from me, and you also create a reader-supported environment for me to continue writing the fiction you enjoy, to write more non-fiction pieces, to have Clark and friends involved in talking about books and life, and so much more.

Being an “indie” author for the last 11 years has been a huge blessing. I literally could not have done it without you. You’ve helped me to sell nearly 3 MILLION BOOKS, all starting with my Her Billionaires series back in November 2012.

Times are changing, and the publishing world is changing, too.

Supporting my work directly with a paid subscription means I can continue to write more, do more, be quirky and author books that aren’t “mainstream.” Random Acts of Crazy was 100% “unsellable” back in 2013. No publisher would touch it.

I took a huge chance and released it myself.

And look where it got me. On the New York Times and USA Today bestseller lists!

There’s a freedom in my writing when I don’t have to worry about whether Retailer X will block a cover, if Retailer Y will put it the wrong category, or if Retailer Z will label a book “erotica” because I used too much profanity (yes, this can happen).

I love freedom. I love giving readers more innovative work, and having you be part of the worlds I create. It’s so much fun. I’m grateful to all of you for letting me have a job that is nothing but pure frolic.

The writing part, at least!

As you know from hanging with me on social media, or reading my newsletters, I’m all about low drama, low stress, maximum fun and laughs.

Funs and laughs are free. Always.

Cracking open my mind and seeing the filthy pandemonium within is gratis.

Mavis the Chicken at Stonehenge, 2018. Mavis gets around!

Back to long-form writing

I love, love, love longer-form writing. Exploring ideas. Looking at themes.

When I create a series, I create a world. There are so many stories behind the story.

Welcome to many of those. <3

You’ll get a lengthy newsletter from me every 7 days (sometimes sooner if I’m geeked out about something), depending on my life, my writing and editing schedule, and how much cool stuff I randomly need to write about.

So stick around and let’s have fun. My goal is to delight you.

Or at least make you Google super obscure stuff, then shake your fist at me for putting that detail in your head.

:)

It’s what I do best.