It's the Most Busiest Time of the Year

*Okay, before I launch into this month's newsletter, let me preface by saying, "Yes, I KNOW, that the title is not worded correctly." Before the grammar police come for me...it's a play on words for "It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year". It's intentional, folks! Because after all, I'm in full-on holiday mode already but it's a little too early to be titling my latest newsletter with Christmas monikers. Yes, I know but these days....

Oh well...you get the idea!

It's that time of year again. There's a chill in the air, leaves are turning (and starting to clutter yards), high school and college football is in full swing, and social media is rich in posts about fall, Halloween, and the holidays.

Now I'll be the first to say that I freakin' love this time of year! There's so much celebration, joy, and excitement that arrives as part of it. And anyone that knows me is well aware of that point! But I digress!

On the writing front, it is an especially busy time for me. Between decking the halls for fall and soon, the coming holidays, I have been hard at work writing, writing, writing like there's no

tomorrow. Some WIPs (work-in-progress) I've had in the works for awhile and finally finishing, while others like The Hauntings of Sarah Caine came barreling at me out of left field and interrupted my regularly scheduled programming. ICYMI - it released on 9/1 and apparently, people LOVE spooky, haunted stories about ghosts, mental asylums, and the paranormal this time of year. Can we say seasonal readers??? Seriously though, I couldn't be prouder of this book. It was not an easy one to write. I knew I always wanted to write a ghost themed novel but when I tell you I had no idea how that would come to be is no exaggeration! It stretched me in ways as a writer like no novel has before. Now Sarah Caine will have her own series (more on that later) which I am so excited about. This series is taking on a life of its own (as my characters so often do). So, if this type of story is your jam, get ready to be spooked and taken on a thrill ride of twists and turns. Now would be a great time to grab it and read it before the next installment in The Caine Hauntings drops! PS: Don't tell the author I told you....but you can save a few bucks if you order direct from my website or if you are a KU subscriber you can read it for FREE for a limited time! So go on and get your hauntings fix!

Next up on the release calendar is Finding Grace. Yep, you read that right! The next installment in the Oakmont Series drops on October 13th! Finding Grace will be Book 3 of 4 in the series. I don't know if authors can have a favorite book they've written, but I have to say, Finding Grace, just might be my favorite book in this series thus far. In this latest chapter, Carrie & Brad's love story continues with lots of questions as to what their future holds. If you have read The Dream That Didn't Die (Book One) & Saving Grace (Book Two), you might be thinking how the heck could Carrie & Brad possibly have more questions and more things to figure out?? But believe it or not, they do. This is a story of navigation - how to move forward in a new normal that no one sees coming. My biggest question for these two is how do they manage to remain a couple given everything that has been pitted against them in the first two books. And if you've read, Saving Grace, let's just say they aren't rid of Steve Robertson yet. (That's all the hint I'm giving you!) The good news is if you haven't dived into this series just yet, then it's not too late. Each book can be read as a stand alone but to get the full meaning of the story, it is much better to read the series. And the best thing is you can read The Dream That Didn't Die and Saving Grace for FREE if you're a KU subscriber. Finding Grace will also be FREE to read for a limited time.

Now, won't you join me as we shift gears and travel over to Lantern Ridge. The Lantern Ridge Mysteries is somewhat of a pet project that I loosely came up with one day. I really had no intention of writing children's books but as I started mapping ideas for this series, it just all started coming together. Then I got the idea for the first book in the series (The Mystery of the Missing Lantern) and the rest they say is history. Currently, I'm five books into this series (with more to come). The series follows Mallory, Tito, Jasmine and Reynolds, a group of 4th grade school pals, who are known as the Lantern Kids. In each book, they work together to solve mysteries in their town, Lantern Ridge and become quite well-known for their efforts in the process. Each book is perfect for 7-10 year olds and can be read as a stand alone.

The Case of the Glowing Pumpkin is Book 5 in the series.

Halloween is almost here in Lantern Ridge, and the town is getting ready for one of its favorite fall traditions. But just when everything seems perfectly spooky, something very important disappears. The giant glowing pumpkin is gone. Now Mallory, Tito, Jasmine, and Reynolds...the Lantern Kids...have a brand-new mystery to solve. With a trail of clues, a few suspicious discoveries, and plenty of questions, the four friends begin searching for answers. Who took the glowing pumpkin? Where could something that big possibly be hidden? And why would anyone want it gone in the first place? The closer the Lantern Kids get to the truth, the more they realize there may be more to this Halloween mystery than they first thought.

By the time you are reading this, the next book in the series will be out. The Case of the Missing Thankful Tree (Book 6 in the series) finds Mallory, Tito, Jasmine, and Reynolds on the hunt for the Thankful Tree that has disappeared from their school just days before their annual Thanksgiving program is set to be held. The Lantern Kids must race against time to try and locate the tree before it's too late. What they find instead is an outcome they don't expect that gives new meaning to what being thankful is really all about.

COMING 9/29/26! Just in time for the Christmas season, comes The Case of the Lost Christmas Letter (Book 7 in the series). Mallory, Tito, Jasmine, and Reynolds find a lost Christmas letter from a 7 year old boy written seventy years ago. The Lantern Kids are on a quest to find the letter's author before the annual Christmas tree lighting. What they find is a long, overdue wish and the true meaning of Christmas that lives inside it. This is a heartwarming story just in time for the holidays that kids will love!

To my surprise, this series is doing quite well here in the U.S. but is also taking off internationally and gaining quite a bit of interest in the UK and Mexico. Although the books are written for children, parents, grandparents, and adults alike will enjoy these special stories as they cheer the Lantern Kids on to help solve the mysteries they uncover. Each book includes fun graphics and interior assets kids will love.

As if this monthly newsletter isn't already chocked full of exciting news, I am very excited to share that coming next month, I will be revealing the cover and premise for my CHRISTMAS NOVEL that you are absolutely going to love! I wrote this book months ago. It was an idea I had for many years and one day as I'm driving to grab a coffee, the story just started fully forming in my mind. The title came to me before the story did. So, when I got home I sat down and started writing. The story poured out of me and before I knew it, I had it completely written. It was so funny writing a Christmas novel right as spring was about to kick off, but I did! I've been sitting on this story for months and about to bust to share it with you! I can't believe the time has almost come to share all the deets about it! So, stay tuned!

If you've made it this far, I THANK YOU! I am so blessed and honored that people are finding and reading my stories and enjoying them. I love writing. It's been one of my passions since I was a little girl. I've come a long way from that 10 year old girl writing letters to the Editor of my local newspaper once upon a time. (That's another story for another time.) But seriously, thank you for your support! It makes what I do so worthwhile. And somewhere along the way if one of my stories resonates with you, takes you back, makes you feel something nostalgic, wrecks you, or pulls at your heartstrings, I'd love to hear from you!

Until next time,

K. D. McIntyre