I Swapped My Career for Fictional Spice (and I’m Not Looking Back)

Grab a cup and join me for a short Coffee with Kalen vlog about chasing creativity!

Wow! 2026 - What the hell! 

If you’re feeling that "time-warp" sensation, you aren’t alone. I’ve always loved entering a new year by taking stock of the old, so let’s look at how I went from a career-focused non-reader to a small-town suspense author in the blink of an eye.

2025: The Year I Found My "Why"

Last year was a whirlwind for Kalen Kory. I didn’t just write a book—I wrote two and a half books.

Was this a lifelong dream? Nope.

Prior to Covid, my career was my entire life. I only read for "knowledge" or professional gain. But when the world slowed down, I fell in love with love—specifically, romance books with high spice.

But I quickly found a problem: many stories were... lacking. It was always Boy meets Girl, Boy loses Girl, Boy gets Girl back with some spice in between. Every time I finished one, I’d think, "I could do better than that."

After two years of my ‘reader’ friends teasing me with a "well, why don’t you?", I finally sat down one morning with my coffee, opened my laptop, and started writing. I haven’t stopped since.

The New Reality

I’ve officially retired from my career to pursue this "fun" full-time. I’ve graduated from reading about spice because it was missing in my life to writing about it for the exact same reason! Now, my mornings are for coffee, masterminding social media, and building the world of Emerson Grove.

What’s Lurking in 2026?

This year is all about the theme "Never Say Never." After moving toxic people out of my life in 2025 and setting firm boundaries, I am ready to focus on what matters:

• Shadows (Coming Soon): My newest release is almost ready for you.

• Book 3: Writing officially commences once Shadows hits the market.

• Emerson Grove: I’m falling deeper in love with this town. Where can we take it next?

Life is moving faster than I’d like to admit, so in 2026, I’m trying harder to enjoy the quiet moments and reflect on them. I’m always looking for love - in real life and on the page, but it has to be the right fit … in both circumstances.

Join the Journey

I’ll be here monthly to share more about who I am and where these wild ideas come from.

Tell me in the comments: Have you ever had a "life-switch" moment like mine, where you just decided to try something totally new? Or, what’s one trope you think I should definitely include (or avoid!) in Book 3?

Grab all my free goodies — stories, coloring pages, and more — on BookFunnel! https://books.bookfunnel.com/emersongrovebonus