Hi, friends! Thanks for stopping by. My name is Allie Cobb and Iām a literary agent. I grew up in the rustic southern Indiana community of Rushing Creek but traded in the small-town life to pursue my career in the publishing capital of the world, New York City.
Iām an early bird, so my day begins when the alarm goes off at 5:30 a.m. That is, if my kitty cat Ursula doesnāt wake me up, begging to be fed, earlier than that. She can be so demanding, but I love her, so itās okay. Anyway, after a quick breakfast and a cup of coffee, I leave my apartment and catch the subway for a ride to the office.
The time on the subway is perfect for catching up on work email, so by the time I ease into my seat at the office, usually about seven, Iām ready to hit the ground running. My morning hours are spent doing three thingsāreading, reading, and more reading. As an agent, you have to LOVE reading, which is good, because, to me, itās one of the top three things in the world.
By the time the noon hour rolls around, my eyes are ready for a break. If the weatherās good, that means popping outdoors for a quick bite from one of the ubiquitous food carts. While you can never go wrong with a slice of New York-style pizza, I usually aim for something that ends with salad. After lunch, I take a walk around the block and then get back to work.
Afternoons are always an adventure, since thatās when Iām in contact with clients and editors, either via email or phone, and sometimes both. Itās a bummer when I have to break bad news to a client that an editor at a dream publishing house wasnāt interested in their manuscript. On the other end of the spectrum, nothingās better than telling a client an editor said yes!
Those are the moments that truly make doing what I do so fulfilling. Itās a little bit like making someoneās dream come true.
When the workday comes to an end, I head home, and use the time on the subway to unwind a bit. While I love my job, it can be stressful, so I make it a point to eat a healthy dinner and exercise. My favorite workout is kickboxing. Itās got cardio, strength, and balance training all in one. Plus, Ursula likes to watch me pound the bag, so thatās fun.
After dinner, Iāll usually settle down for another couple of hours working on clientsā manuscripts. I want them to be as sharp as can be when itās time to send them to editors for consideration. When thatās finished, I wind down with a cup of tea and then get ready for bed.
If it sounds like Iām working non-stop, I probably am. Thatās okay. Iām young, unattached, and absolutely love what I do. Maybe someday, when I meet that someone special, Iāll ease off the career gas pedal. Until then, I can always go home to Rushing Creek when I want to stop and smell the roses. Not a bad day in the life, donāt you think?
Giveaway: Leave a comment below for your chance to win a digital copy (Kindle or Nook) of A Literal Mess. The giveaway ends January 10, 2019. Good luck everyone!
You can read more about Allie in A Literal Mess, the first book in the NEW āAllie Cobbā mystery series, released January 8, 2019.
The first book in a new series featuring Allie Cobb brings the New York literary agent back to her Hoosier home town where a mysterious death keeps everyone on spoiler alert . . .
Allie Cobb left home for the literary circles of Manhattan to make her name out from under the shadow of her legendary father. Now his death brings her and her rescue cat Ursula back to the southern Indiana town of Rushing Creek, population: 3,216. But a tragic new chapter hits the presses when the body of her fatherās hard-drinking, #1 bestselling client is found under the historic town bridge. The local police suspect foul play and their prime candidate for murder is the authorās daughterāAllieās longtime friend.
Determined to clear her bestie, Allie goes into fact-checking amateur detective mode while trying to ignore the usual rumormongers. Those with means, motive, and opportunity include the vicās ex-wife, his rejected girlfriend, the mayor, and a rival agent trying to mooch clients. With a rugged genealogist distracting her and the imminent Fall Festival about to send tourists descending on their once-peaceful hamlet, Allie needs to stay alive long enough to get a read on a killer ready to close the book on a new victim: Allie . . .
Purchase Link
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Meet the author
J.C. Kenney writes cozy mystery stories set in small towns in his home state of Indiana. A Literal Mess, book one in his Allie Cobb Mysteries series, is his first cozy.
He lives in Indianapolis with his wife, two sons, and a kitty cat. J.C. dreams of one day retiring to a place where the water is warm and the beaches are soft. He loves motor sports, so when heās not writing, you can probably find him checking in on the latest from IndyCar and Formula 1.
J.C. is a member of Sisters in Crime, as well as his local SinC chapter, Speed City Sisters in Crime. You can find him at www.jckenney.com, on Twitter at @JCKenney1, on Facebook, and on Goodreads.
All comments are welcomed.
Oh wow this sounds fabulous. I love the plot. Ursula is a perfect name for a Kitty…and I have read nothing set in Indiana.
Marilyn ewatvess@yahoo.com
Thanks visiting, Doward!
Now’s your chance, Marilyn! lol Ursula is named after the trailblazing sci-fi/fantasy author Ursula K. LeGuin. It was important for me to have Allie’s kitty named for a female literary figure. Hope you get a chance to get to know Allie, Ursi and the rest of the gang. Thanks for commenting!
Sounds interesting and I can certainly identify with a character who has a cat!
I’ve lived with a cat most of my life, Sharon. First, there was Shadow, then Ching, followed by Jake, and now Maria. There was no way I was going write a mystery without having a kitty! Thanks for coming by!
Iām looking forward to reading this one!
Thanks for the kind words, Christi! Hope you like your visit to Rushing Creek! And thank you for leaving a comment!
Definitely a must-read for me…..
Thank you for the giveaway…..
Thanks a bunch, Cyn! Hope you enjoy it and thanks for coming by!
I love trying out new series, especially when I can start on the first book but n the series. Thanks for the giveaway opportunity.
A Literal Mess is the first in the series, Linda. Book 2, A Genuine Fix, is scheduled to come out in July. Thanks for visiting today!
Nice. Something new and different.
Thank you. Libby. That’s very kind of you to say. I hope readers enjoy the peek behind the scenes of a literary agent’s life in The Allie Cobb Mysteries. Thanks for being here!
I want this book, too. If I’m honest, I want them all.
I hear ya, Amy. So many books, so little time! Thanks for coming by!
Sounds like a great read. Thank you for the chance to win a digital copy of A Literal Mess!
I’m thrilled to report, Peggy, that so far people really are enjoying it. Lots of positive reviews are popping up on both Goodreads and on Amazon. That has me over the moon, that’s for sure. Have a great afternoon!
Thanks for letting Allie share her day with your readers, Dru Ann. She and I appreciate it!
thank you
Sounds like a good read. Thanks for the giveaway.
Appreciate you coming by, Doward. Have a great afternoon!
I love the idea of a small-town woman making it in New York City. Sounds like a great book.
Thank you so much, Rochelle. Allie certainly found her niche in New York. One of the questions the story delves into is whether one can really go home again. It was a fun topic to write. Thanks for visiting!
This sounds like a great read. Thank you for this chance.
Thank you for visiting, Carolyn. Appreciate you taking the time to read about Allie’s day. Have a great afternoon!
This sounds like an exciting first in series (and first cozy for the author)! Thanks for the chance to win!
I sure hope readers think so, Jeanie! It was really fun and exciting to write. Thanks for paying Dru Ann and Allie a visit today!
Sounds like a great start to a new series. Looking forward to reading.
Thanks a bunch for your kind words, Barbara! Appreciate it!
Appreciate it, Dianne! š
What a nice change of pace to have a small town girl move to NYC and thrive! She seems to have a good idea how she should be doing things (even though she does sound a bit workaholic) and making time for everything she likes. I am excited to learn about this new series and the give-away! Thank you so much, J.C.!I can’t wait to read this!
Thanks for your kind words, Barbara. Yes, Alie is definitely a workaholic, at least in the early stages of A Literal Mess. She knows what she wants, but circumstances do lead her to eventually question her goals. It all works out in the end, though! Have a great day!
What an interesting book! I have wondered what it is like in the publishing business. Mixed with murder, who could ask for anything more?
One of the interesting things I realized as I got into the book, Tricia, is how both investigators and literary agents and editors need to be very detail-oriented. That trait sure comes in handy for Allie. Thanks for visiting!
Sounds like a fun book! I’m looking forward to reading this.
That’s so kind of you, Ashley. Thanks much!
**** WINNER ****
A Literal Mess is Linda Kuzminczuk
Congratulations!
Congratulations!
Can’t wait to read this! Been waiting forever!!! LOL