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James Kennedy @iamjameskennedy.bsky.social · 10/07/2026

"One of the most versatile, imaginative and prolific writers of his generation." Yeah, I said it. I wrote about Chicago writer (and recent Pulitzer winner) Daniel Kraus for the @wsj.com, unlocked article here: www.wsj.com/arts-culture...

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James Kennedy @iamjameskennedy.bsky.social · 05/05/2026

Congratulations to old friend @danielkraus.com, who just won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction for his masterful, headlong, swing-for-the-fences WWI novel-in-one-sentence ANGEL DOWN! Here we are hanging out in the old days - 2009!!

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James Kennedy @iamjameskennedy.bsky.social · 15/04/2026

Thanks to the 270+ people who came to Sunday's Chicago screening of The 90-Second Newbery Film Festival! It was a glorious, exuberant time! Thanks to all the filmmakers and the audience who cheered them on. Full recap on my blog: jameskennedy.com/2026/04/15/t...

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James Kennedy @iamjameskennedy.bsky.social · 10/03/2026

Matt Bird and @jonathanauxier.bsky.social had me on their podcast @agoodstorywelltold.bsky.social to discuss my “guilty treasure”—a book or movie that was a commercial or critical flop (or both!) that I liked anyway. I chose Ari Aster's BEAU IS AFRAID! Listen here: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/g...

podcasts.apple.com

Guilty Treasures: Beau is Afraid, with James Kennedy

Podcast Episode · A Good Story Well Told · February 26 · 1h 13m

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James Kennedy @iamjameskennedy.bsky.social · 31/01/2026

"Nietzsche said God is dead, but skimped on details of how we'd deal with the corpse." I wrote a review for @wsj.com of Van Jensen's sci-fi novel GODFALL. It's supposed to be about a 3-mile-long humanoid alien plopping down on Earth, but it's more like a small-town procedural: tinyurl.com/godfallwsj

wsj.com

‘Godfall’ Review: On Earth as He Was in Heaven

When an enormous being pummels from space, a small Nebraska town gets raided by scientists and cultists alike.

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Reposted by James Kennedy

Devil's Rock Books @devilsrockbooks.bsky.social · 08/12/2025

🎙️ New Writer’s Chair episode! I chat with James Kennedy ( @iamjameskennedy.bsky.social ), author of Bride of the Tornado, about surreal horror, small-town cults, and why horror should always break the rules. 🎧 pod.link/1829723468 📺 youtu.be/LONKqnqJL9Y

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James Kennedy @iamjameskennedy.bsky.social · 20/10/2025

Thrilled to be back in kidlit! My middle-grade BEHOLD! THE LEGEND OF FROGBOY, AND YOU SHALL READ IT comes out in 2027 on Norton Young Readers (+ another in 2028). Thanks to my great agent @johnmcusick.bsky.social at Folio Literary for making another dream come true. ODD-FISH fans will love this one!

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James Kennedy @iamjameskennedy.bsky.social · 05/10/2025

My latest book review for the @wsj.com is of Dan Chaon's carnival-freak literary horror ONE OF US. I liked it, but I also have stuff to say! "A compelling, blood-curdling, often funny delight." Unlocked link: www.wsj.com/arts-culture...

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James Kennedy @iamjameskennedy.bsky.social · 15/08/2025

I wrote another book review for @wsj.com! This one is about @jaysongreene.bsky.social's UNWORLD, a satisfyingly weird and emotionally resonant novel about AI. "Less I, ROBOT and more ORDINARY PEOPLE . . . humane and refreshingly idiosyncratic." Read it here: www.wsj.com/arts-culture...

wsj.com

‘UnWorld’ Review: Your AI Wants a Divorce

Jayson Greene imagines a world where digital clones of ourselves take on unwanted tasks—until they decide to go off on their own.

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James Kennedy @iamjameskennedy.bsky.social · 10/08/2025

I have an article in the weekend edition of The Wall Street Journal in which I chose 5 books that aren't horror books, but are scary nonetheless! (But the truly scary thing is my uncanny-valley author illustration.) Link: archive.fo/CfMy2

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James Kennedy @iamjameskennedy.bsky.social · 05/06/2025

Last Friday we did the 90-Second Newbery Film Fest at Tacoma's Grant Center for the Expressive Arts! Great kid-made movies based on Newbery-winning books, including Dave Eggers' "The Eyes and the Impossible" done in the style of "Bohemian Rhapsody"! Recap: jameskennedy.com/2025/06/04/t...

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James Kennedy @iamjameskennedy.bsky.social · 24/05/2025

Lucy's art! "The Dwellers lived on animals long after we left the Earth poisoned... they found a way to harness the animals' souls in their decaying bodies, at least until their flesh and bones decompose. The Dwellers live in the bones of their hosts until then."

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James Kennedy @iamjameskennedy.bsky.social · 20/05/2025

I enjoyed my interview on @whostherepc.bsky.social! I talk of my love of the demented trailer for Stephen King's MAXIMUM OVERDRIVE, ruining a double date with Cronenberg's DEAD RINGERS, what tech companies have in common with Charles Manson, & more. Listen here: whostherepodcast.com/podcast/ep-2...

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James Kennedy @iamjameskennedy.bsky.social · 12/05/2025

Congratulations Rita Williams-Garcia on a terrific graphic novel adaptation of your Newbery Honor winner ONE CRAZY SUMMER. One of my favorite Newbery books! Rita is a generous gem of a friend and an amazing co-host for the 90-Second Newbery film festival. Get this new graphic novel now!

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James Kennedy @iamjameskennedy.bsky.social · 09/05/2025

Had a blast last night at @storystudiochicago.bsky.social's Storyball, whooping it up with @anandalima.bsky.social, @mxfaylitahicks.bsky.social, @fulmerford.com, @kathleenmrooney.bsky.social, @rebeccamakkai.bsky.social, and more ... and won a fancy copy of THE WIZARD OF OZ in the costume contest!

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James Kennedy @iamjameskennedy.bsky.social · 05/05/2025

Saturday we did the San Antonio show of the 90-Second Newbery Film Festival at the Tobin Center! An audience of 100s of young filmmakers & friends & family WHOOPED IT UP! Our biggest show every year, thanks to Bibliotech and HEB Read 3. And thx to my cohost Claudia Villarreal!

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James Kennedy @iamjameskennedy.bsky.social · 27/04/2025

After a 6-year hiatus, the 90-Second Newbery Film Festival returned to Minneapolis on Saturday! Thanks to @jacquelinewest.bsky.social for being a tremendous co-host, and to all the talented young film filmmakers. Here's to next year!

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James Kennedy @iamjameskennedy.bsky.social · 19/04/2025

A decade ago, 9-yr-old Eian-Gabriel Sinclair made his 1st movie for my 90-Second Newbery Film Festival. He's made a movie for us every year since, & just *graduated* college at age 18! Here's an interview with Eian, plus all his stop-motion movies here: jameskennedy.com/2025/04/18/e...

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James Kennedy @iamjameskennedy.bsky.social · 11/04/2025

BOSTON! I'm doing a FREE screening of the 90-Second Newbery Film Festival tomorrow (Saturday) at the @bpl.boston.gov. Kids make short movies that tell the entire stories of Newbery-winning books! I'm co-hosting it with author @rebeccawriting.bsky.social. Tix: www.ticketleap.events/tickets/90se...

ticketleap.events

90-Second Newbery Film Festival 2025 - BOSTON SCREENING

The 90-Second Newbery Film Festival is an annual video contest in which young readers create short movies that tell the entire stories of Newbery award-winning books. Creative takes are encouraged: th...

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James Kennedy @iamjameskennedy.bsky.social · 09/04/2025

Floored when horror author @danielwillcocks.bsky.social included BRIDE OF THE TORNADO in his Top 10 Horror Novels of 2024. Now I'm on his podcast "The Other Stories" talking Ray Bradbury, my greatest fear, Twin Peaks, "that scene" in Stephen King's IT, & more. Listen: www.podbean.com/media/share/...

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James Kennedy @iamjameskennedy.bsky.social · 08/04/2025

Big crowd at @eastmanmuseum.bsky.social for the Rochester showing of the 90-Second Newbery Film Festival, hosted by me and @brucecoville.bsky.social! Kids made great movies: a stop-motion TALE OF DESPEREAUX, a claymation LINCOLN: A PHOTOBIOGRAPHY, and more! Recap: jameskennedy.com/2025/04/07/t...

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James Kennedy @iamjameskennedy.bsky.social · 03/04/2025

Hey Rochester, New York! Join the 430+ folks who have made their FREE reservations for this Saturday's screening of the 90-Second Newbery Film Festival at the @eastmanmuseum.bsky.social at 2pm! Hosted by me and legendary author @brucecoville.bsky.social. Tix: www.ticketleap.events/tickets/90se...

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James Kennedy @iamjameskennedy.bsky.social · 21/03/2025

I guess my Ricken theories have to wait another 3 years

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James Kennedy @iamjameskennedy.bsky.social · 17/03/2025

ICYMI, I reviewed MALORT: THE REDEMPTION OF A REVERED AND REVILED SPIRIT by @joshnoel.bsky.social for the Wall Street Journal! "This quirky, enlightening, unexpectedly poignant book isn't only for aficionados of the offbeat Chicago liquor, but fans of stubborn underdogs everywhere." archive.fo/Yng1d

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James Kennedy @iamjameskennedy.bsky.social · 15/03/2025

i'll be the death of her! (at indiana comic con)

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James Kennedy @iamjameskennedy.bsky.social · 14/03/2025

chicago writers 🤝 reading each other's books! this is the way! congrats again on the malört book, it's a pleasure to write an honest rave. see you around town!

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James Kennedy @iamjameskennedy.bsky.social · 14/03/2025

I wrote a rave review for the Wall Street Journal about @joshnoel.bsky.social's book about Malört! (For out-of-towners, Malört a notoriously nasty liquor, mostly imbibed only in Chicago, that we take a perverse civic pride in.) I loved it! Read: archive.fo/Yng1d

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James Kennedy @iamjameskennedy.bsky.social · 12/03/2025

For my birthday, the wonderful @kathleenmrooney.bsky.social commissioned Eric Plattner of #poemswhileyouwait to write this gem of a poem "Bride of Tornado, Per Verse"! Thank you Kathleen and Eric!

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James Kennedy @iamjameskennedy.bsky.social · 09/03/2025

A big, happy crowd of kid filmmakers (and lovers of weird cinema) at our Chicago screening of the 90-Second Newbery today!

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James Kennedy @iamjameskennedy.bsky.social · 28/02/2025

The latest movie for the 90-Second Newbery Film Festival I made with my kids and their friends: Wanda Gag's 1929 Honor Book MILLIONS OF CATS, adapted in the style of a shot-by-shot remake of Quint's U.S.S. Indianapolis speech in JAWS! Watch here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ef1j...

youtube.com

90-Second Newbery: MILLIONS OF CATS in the style of JAWS

YouTube video by James Kennedy

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James Kennedy @iamjameskennedy.bsky.social · 27/02/2025

The house was packed + the audience raucous at Saturday's screening of the 90-Second Newbery Film Festival at the Brooklyn Public Library, kicking off our FOURTEENTH season! Thanks to co-host Rita Williams-Garcia and all who made movies and came. The recap: jameskennedy.com/2025/02/25/t...

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James Kennedy @iamjameskennedy.bsky.social · 16/02/2025

Next Saturday 2/22, Newbery honoree Rita Williams-Garcia and I host the 14th annual 90-Second Newbery Film Festival at @bklynlibrary.bsky.social (10 Grand Army Plaza). Kids make short funny movies that tell the stories of Newbery-winning books! Get yr FREE tix: www.ticketleap.events/tickets/90se...

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James Kennedy @iamjameskennedy.bsky.social · 08/02/2025

Thanks so much @fuse8.bsky.social for featuring the 90-Second Newbery Film Festival on your blog today! We're doing screenings soon in NYC, Chicago, Boston, San Antonio, Minneapolis, Ogden UT, Rochester NY, and Tacoma WA... Come and catch hilarious and weird kid-made movies based on Newbery books!

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James Kennedy @iamjameskennedy.bsky.social · 05/02/2025

These are my books! BRIDE OF THE TORNADO is a "super-storm of psycho-sexual intensity" (Daily Mail), DARE TO KNOW is a "voraciously readable page-turner" (Cory Doctorow), and THE ORDER OF ODD-FISH is "hilarious" (Booklist). Learn more and get them here: jameskennedy.com/books/

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