September: One Year, One More Book, and Pumpkin Spice Everything
September has always felt a little like a reset to me.
The mornings are cooler. The evenings arrive earlier. Coffee somehow tastes better when you’re drinking it while wearing a sweater. And, apparently, sometime between August 31st and September 1st, the entire planet decided that everything must now taste like pumpkin spice.
Pumpkin spice coffee. Pumpkin spice cookies. Pumpkin spice cereal. I’m pretty sure I saw pumpkin spice something-or-other at the grocery store that had absolutely no business being pumpkin spice.
And honestly? I’m not mad about it.
Because September also means something pretty special around here: Kalen Kory is officially one year old.
One year ago, Beginnings went out into the world. I had no idea what I was doing. (Okay… technically I still don’t always know what I’m doing, but I know considerably more than I did a year ago.)
In just twelve months, there have been four published books, a growing Emerson Grove story, characters who have developed opinions of their own, covers, formatting, distribution platforms, newsletters, social media, free promotions, websites, videos, ARC plans… and approximately 47,000 moments of: “Okay. How the hell do I do THAT?”
That’s the thing nobody really tells you about writing a book. Writing it is only part of the battle. Then you have to figure out how to get that book from your computer into the hands of someone who has absolutely no idea you exist.
That part? I'm still working on it. But I’m learning, and more importantly, I’m celebrating.
Enter: the Author-versary
I’ve spent September celebrating that first little milestone in ways that feel very Emerson Grove. (Proof is on YouTube, LOL!) There has been cake. There has been one lonely little candle. There have been forks. And there may have been some questionable marketing decisions involving a Roomba. Stay tuned for that video—it is hilarious. Apparently, this is what happens when you give an author a year to figure out marketing.
The important thing is that Beginnings made it to its first birthday. And to celebrate, it’s currently FREE!
If you’ve been curious about Emerson Grove but haven’t taken the leap yet, this is your formal invitation. Come meet DJ, Cory, Bandit, and the rest of the town. They've somehow become much more complicated than I originally intended. Once you step into Emerson Grove… well, you might never want to leave.
And then there’s Tethered...
While I’ve been celebrating Year One, I’ve also been quietly spending a ridiculous amount of time with Book Five.
Tethered is coming. And it has grown. And grown. And grown. At this point, I’m fairly certain the manuscript has developed its own postal code.
Shrink and Margo’s story has taken me places I didn’t originally expect to go. It is packed with secrets, danger, family, a child, a red thread, and the kind of complicated relationships that Emerson Grove seems to specialize in. And yes, there is still more to write—because apparently 108,000+ words just wasn't enough. Naturally.
I’m hoping to bring Tethered into the world this fall. That means the next little while is going to involve writing, editing, polishing, formatting, covers, ARCs, and all those other glamorous author activities that happen when nobody is looking.
So if you’ve been following along… thank you. Seriously. A year ago, Kalen Kory was just an idea on a computer. Now there are four books sitting on virtual and actual shelves, with a fifth one getting dangerously close. That’s pretty damn cool.
The Pumpkin Spice Cult of 2026
Outside of Emerson Grove, the real world is shifting gears. The mornings have that sharp little chill that makes you reach for a cardigan. Our coffee feels a bit more vital. The evenings feel quieter. And everywhere I look, there are pumpkins. Lots and lots of pumpkins.
Which brings me to an important question: When exactly did pumpkin spice become an entire personality?
I’m not complaining, I’m just asking. Because I have a feeling that before October even arrives, I’ll have encountered pumpkin spice everything at least twelve more times. And I’ll probably buy most of it.
An author who is up to her eyeballs in writing and edits still has time to join the Pumpkin Spice Cult of 2026. I have no principles.
So, what’s next?
More Emerson Grove. More Tethered. More characters getting themselves into situations I have to figure out how to rescue them from. More behind-the-scenes glimpses, more stories, and hopefully, more readers discovering this little world.
That’s really what this next year is about for me. It's not just about writing more books; it's about finding the readers who are looking for Emerson Grove.
If that’s you, I’m so glad you’re here.
Grab a coffee. Put on a sweater. Ignore the fact that pumpkin spice has completely invaded the grocery store, and come see what happens next.
Year Two is already underway, and I have a feeling it’s going to be interesting.
Don't forget to snag your copy of Emerson Grove - Beginnings - FREE until November 30/26 at available retailers and Book Funnel.
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