Fall Greetings & Updates from MKA
A New Newsletter Look on a New Platform
Dear Friends:
If you’re receiving this, you’re a subscriber to my newsletter list. We have recently moved over to the Substack platform. So, beginning with this missive, things might look a little different. But my newsletters will still hit your in-box as always. Issues will be archived on my Substack account as posts which you can always go back and read on the Substack website or on their app. You can also leave comments and interact with other readers. I hope you like it here!
While walking laps in the park near Squirrel Hollow here in Atlanta recently, I saw a single golden leaf flutter to the grass. It was a signal, summer is waning, fall is coming—time to reconnect with your readers!
But as you know, my motto is Summer Never Ends with MKA. I want to thank everyone who came out to see me on the Big-Azz Summers at the Saint book tour, and who bought the book and put it on the bestseller list. Your support means the world to me.
A Milestone Birthday
I celebrated my 70th birthday in July. Yes! Don’t let the Botox and hair color fool you, I am now officially a septuagenarian. This milestone birthday loomed large for me because my mother, who was an energetic dynamo of a lady, who raised five children and always worked outside the home, died of a massive heart attack at this same age. Of course, she’d been a heavy smoker for fifty years, starting at the age of 13(!!) and she had several health concerns which I thankfully don’t have.
Still, I decided it was time to take stock. To take better care of myself and spend more time with family. And take actual vacations! Instead of a birthday party, Mr. MKA and I spent a fabulous week in Maine at the end of July.
Some News About What’s Coming Next
Also as part of that plan, I decided to step off the book-a-year hamster wheel I’ve been on for the past 33 years. To that end, I won’t have a book published next summer. But never fear, I’m hard at work on my novel for summer 2026. It’s a dual-timeline story, told from the alternating point of view of two very different sisters.
My Irish Idyll
Although my next book starts in Savannah, a lot of it will be set in Ireland, and by the time you read this newsletter, I’ll be back from a nine-day trip there that combined research for the book with my own urge to visit the places where my paternal grandparents grew up.
NYC Here I Come
I’m also planning a trip to New York in October, to visit Ellis Island and the Tenement Museum on New York City’s Lower East Side, so be on the lookout for my social media dispatches from the Big Apple.
A New Paperback
Speaking of New York City (see what I did there?) my New York Times bestselling novella Bright Lights, Big Christmas, which is set in Greenwich Village, releases in paperback on Oct. 1.
Join me in ATL Oct 1
If you’re in the Atlanta area that night, you can come help me celebrate at FoxTale Bookshoppe in Woodstock, where I’ll be in conversation with Kimberly Brock for the release of her new novel THE FABLED EARTH. Find details on that event HERE.
A Christmas Surprise
I’ll have a little Christmas surprise coming your way toward the end of October, so make sure you follow me on social media to get all the deets.
Friends & Fiction
Of course, I also have some exciting events coming up with my Friends & Fiction crew. In addition to our weekly author interviews on our web show and podcast, we also have four in-person F&F LIVE events coming up where I’ll be joined by my sisters in crime Patti Callahan Henry, Kristin Harmel & Kristy Woodson Harvey.
Friday, September 27, 4pm ET — Join us for “Toast to the Ta-Tas” at the beautiful High Point Country Club in High Point, NC to benefit Earlier.org. The Fab Four will share fascinating insider talk about publishing and writing and discuss our newest releases, all to raise funding for critical research to identify an earlier biological detection test for breast cancer. Books will be available for purchase care of The Country Bookshop with each author signing select books and proceeds benefiting Friends for an Earlier Breast Cancer Test®! Details & tickets HERE.
Sunday, September 29, 10am ET — An brunch event at the 19th Annual Bookmarks Festival of Books & Authors in Winston-Salem, NC. Close out the book festival with us at this super fun event to be held at the Benton Convention Center. Your ticket includes a seated program and book signing. Get tickets HERE.
Wednesday, November 6, 6pm ET — Join us at at the Grand Bohemian Hotel in Orlando, FL for a unique fundraising event benefiting the Florida Cancer Specialists (FCS) Foundation which will include a reception over cocktails and hors d’oeuvres, an intimate presentation, book sales, and an autograph session. Get tickets HERE.
Thursday, November 7, 12:30pm ET — Tim Ehrenberg of Tim Talks Books will serve as Master of Ceremonies for this lively and fun luncheon event hosted by the Amelia Island Book Festival at The Ritz-Carlton in Amelia Island, FL. Ticket includes tea fare: light lunch, snacks, and refreshments. Details & ticketing info HERE.
Hope to see you there!
Stay in Touch
And of course, don’t forget to follow me online to see what kind of good trouble I’m getting into!
Follow me on INSTAGRAM
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Visit my WEBSITE
Follow me on GOODREADS
That’s all for now! I hope you enjoy autumn cozied up with some great books and pumpkin spice everything.
Hugs,
MKA
Thanks for the update! I can understand stepping off that hamster wheel. I understand how much work goes into producing a novel, to do one per year is a lot. But, to be truthful, I will miss it next spring. I always know that summer is coming when there is a new MKA book to read. I'm just a little selfish! ☺️ Enjoy your time……I‘ll look forward to your next book.
Already waiting for 2026- Have a great year traveling and making some fun memories though. Will miss you though.