Iris Kain

Florence update: Today, I received the telescoping ladder I ordered, climbed onto Florence's roof, and removed several sticks and branches, along with approximately 6 inches of leaves, from the crux of the roof.

I also disrupted several thousand ants, who I can only assume are presently drafting tiny, strongly worded letters regarding my failure to provide an eviction notice.

The fact that you're reading this post means the ladder held, I didn't tumble off a 125-year-old Victorian, and the operation went according to plan.

Today was one of those days that reminds you that people can be really incredible.

I had the privilege of being part of a fundraising event at Hippie Butterfly to support Carolyn as she faces her cancer journey, and the amount of love in that space was remarkable.

People showed up. They donated. They shopped. They hugged. They checked in on one another.

When the Alabama weather decided to do its thing, we held each other's canopies against the wind, chased down anything that tried to become airborne, and moved tables, books, and treasures out of the rain. Quite literally everyone jumped in.

There was a lot of talk about magic today, which feels fitting for a metaphysical shop, but the magic wasn't just in the crystals or candles. It was in the kindness of strangers, the generosity of friends, and the readiness to carry someone else's burden for a little while.

The vibes were immaculate. The community showed up. And I left with such a full heart.

Thank you to everyone who made today possible, and especially to Carolyn: may you carry all of this love and support with you in the days ahead. ❤️

October 3rd, 2026, Huntsville is hosting its first Rocket City Lit Con at the Westin in Huntsville, Alabama!

To learn more, head to https://rocketcitylitcon.com/

Apparently, y'all like haunted houses.

The House That Hates is sneaking up on 1,000 downloads, which is wild to me!

Thank you to everyone who has grabbed a copy so far. Every download is another reader willing to spend a little time in a house that absolutely does not want visitors.

If you're curious about the Murphy Blackwell universe but haven't picked up the books yet, this is a great place to start. The House That Hates is a standalone introduction to Murphy and her world—and it's completely free.

You can grab your copy here:

The House That Hates by Iris Kain

The parade may have been small, but the welcome was anything but. 🌈

One of the strange things about being an author is that books keep moving forward even when life gets complicated.

While I've been dealing with a few personal things behind the scenes, Bitter has continued to inch toward release day. It's hard to believe we're this close.

How's everybody doing out there? Surviving? Thriving? What are you reading right now? Better yet, what is your favorite book so far this year?

I've read some excellent books so far in 2026. My favorites, in no particular order, are

Literary:
* The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue, by V.E. Schwab
* Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden

Genre Fiction:
* Twelve Months by Jim Butcher

Indie Authors:
* Laying Autumn's Dust by Mark L. Brooks
* Southern Gothic by John Ryland
* The Confessions of Saint Christopher: WEREWOLF by WJR Miller

What about you?

Just got back from GalaxyCon Nashville, and the cosplay game was STRONG.

There were heroes and villains and way too many characters I probably should have recognized but didn't. The creativity on display was incredible. Here are some of my favorites from the weekend!

Also, a huge shoutout to my fabulous booth neighbor, Crevan Gray, a talented fantasy artist from Tennessee. Con weekends are always better when spent with creative people, and it was a pleasure sharing the vendor hall with them.

To everyone who stopped by my booth, adopted novels, and made the convention such fun time, thank you.

One month until Bitter releases.

In 30 days, I get to drag y’all back to Gryphon for more witches, magic, questionable decisions, and people trying very hard not to die in new and creative ways.

This book changed so much from the story I planned to write that I’m a little afraid of my own brain at this point.

June 27th. We’re getting close.