Ken Fite

I wanted to give you a quick update on the writing front.

I’m now about 10,000 words into the new series centered around Jami Davis—and it’s finally starting to feel real.

It’s a psychological thriller, which is a little outside my comfort zone. Different tone. Different pacing. Different kinds of twists. There are days where it feels exciting… and days where it feels like I have no idea what I’m doing.

But I keep showing up.

And that’s made me think a lot lately about the difference between wanting something and wanting the lifestyle that comes with it.

Because they’re not the same thing.

A lot of people want to write a book. But they don’t want to spend months or years sitting alone in front of a blank page.

A lot of people want to get in shape. But they don’t want to wake up early, eat differently, and stay disciplined.

A lot of people want success. But they don’t want the repetition, boredom, sacrifice, and consistency that success usually requires.

We all want the reward.

The hard part is wanting the responsibility that comes with the reward.

There’s a quote I came across recently by author James Clear that stuck with me:

“It doesn’t make sense to continue wanting something if you’re not willing to do what it takes to get it. If you don’t want to live the lifestyle, then release yourself from the desire.”

That one hit me.

Because everything we want has a lifestyle attached to it. And a cost.

Writing has a cost.
Business has a cost.
Relationships have a cost.
Peace has a cost.

And the price we pay is living the lifestyle that supports the dream.

The gap between where we are and where we want to be usually isn’t luck.

It’s habits.
It’s consistency.
It’s doing the work when it stops being exciting and starts being hard.

10,000 words down.

And a lot more to go…

Because everything has a cost.

Most people just aren’t willing to pay it. -Ken

There’s a lot happening right now.

Open your phone and it’s headlines. Turn on the news and it’s one crisis after another. It feels never-ending. It’s loud.

And the loudness makes everything feel urgent.

But not everything urgent is important.

Something I’ve been thinking about lately is the difference between an opportunity to be seized—and a temptation to be resisted. Because they can look surprisingly similar.

Both demand attention.
Both promise significance.
Both feel like they matter right now.

But only one moves you closer to who you’re trying to become.

The other just pulls you sideways, away from your goals.

As writers, this tension shows up constantly. The craft requires focus. Deep work. Time alone with the signal… the quiet, steady work of getting better sentence by sentence.

But the noise is always there. The news cycle. Social media. The next thing everyone is reacting to. It’s easy to convince ourselves that engaging with it is productive. That it’s staying informed. That it’s necessary.

Sometimes it is.

But often, it’s just a distraction dressed up as urgency.

Not every open door is an opportunity. Some are just tests. Tests of whether we can tell the difference between what advances our craft and what merely consumes our focus.

The hard part isn’t finding opportunity. The hard part is having the discipline to resist temptation.

To choose the signal over the noise.

To close the browser.
To silence the phone.
To sit down and do the work.

Whatever your craft is—writing, building, leading, improving—it deserves your focus. And focus is a finite resource.

So this month, I’m asking myself a simple question:

Is this an opportunity… or just a temptation?

Maybe it’s a question worth asking more often. -Ken

January has a reputation.

It’s the month of fresh starts, bold promises, and packed gyms. New shoes. New planners. New versions of ourselves.

And then February shows up.

The parking lots thin out. The routines fade. The big goals start to feel heavy. Somewhere along the way, a lot of people quietly decide they missed their chance. That if it didn’t stick in January, it probably never will.

I don’t think that’s true.

Most dreams don’t fail because they’re too big. They fail because we expect them to move too fast. We look for proof right away—on the scale, on the page, in our bank account, in our lives—and when it doesn’t show up, we assume we were wrong to try.

But progress doesn’t usually announce itself. It shows up quietly. In small choices. In showing up again tomorrow.

You don’t need a new year to begin again.
You don’t need a perfect streak.
You don’t even need a clean slate.

You just need the next step.

So if January didn’t go the way you hoped, that’s okay. The calendar doesn’t decide when you’re allowed to try. Today does.

Here’s to starting again—on a random day, in the middle of the month, without an audience or a countdown.

Sometimes that’s when the real change begins. -Ken

I love New Year’s Eve… not only because it’s my wife Missy’s birthday, but it also marks the end of the year and the start of something new (which we’re all ready for).

But December is also when I like to reach out to my readers to ask a few questions…

What do you love about the Blake Jordan series? What do you want to read more of? Last year’s survey responses were so helpful to me. Like TV shows that listen to their fans, your feedback helped me write a story this past year that many of you loved.

Would you please take a moment to complete this year’s reader survey?

I consider your input invaluable to help me write the best stories possible for you in 2026… and you’ll enjoy many hours of reading in return. It’ll be quick, I promise!

Just click here and give me your thoughts. Thank you so much. -Ken

I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving with the people you love. Ours was one for the books. I smoked another turkey on the pellet grill (which has become a tradition at this point), and we had my mom and my in-laws over for a house full of food, laughter, and a lot of gratitude. It was one of those days that reminds you how rich life already is.

On the writing front, I’ve officially started my new psychological thriller centered around Jami Davis, and I’m several thousand words in. I’m excited… and if I’m honest, a little scared, too. Trying something new always feels that way but I’m excited to see where the story goes. At the same time, my cover designer has delivered the first draft of the cover for Blake Jordan #12—and it looks fantastic. The story is coming, I promise. It’s just simmering on the back burner for now while I lean into this new writing challenge.

Which brings me to something that’s been on my mind lately: self-worth and value.

When was the last time you thought about how much a bottle of water costs? Honestly, I never thought about it much until someone pointed out that:

A bottle of water costs a dollar at the store.
That same water costs two at the gym.
Four at the airport.
And seven on a flight.

Same bottle. Same water. Different value.

Why? Because value isn’t just about what something is—it’s also about where it is.

Sometimes when we feel stuck, overlooked, or unsure of ourselves, it’s tempting to believe that the problem is us. That we’re not good enough. Not ready. Not worth more. But often, it’s not a worth issue at all—it’s a placement issue.

The same person who can’t get ahead in one environment can thrive in another.

Trying to write in a new genre has reminded me of that. It’s uncomfortable. It’s uncertain. But it’s also a reminder that growth often requires us to move to a new place—mentally, creatively, or even professionally—where our potential has room to expand.

Thanksgiving is all about gratitude, and I truly am grateful for where I’ve been and for every reader who’s walked this road with me. But gratitude doesn’t mean we stop growing. Sometimes the most thankful thing we can do is trust that there’s more in us—and have the courage to go where that “more” can breathe. Wherever it may take us.

So if you’ve felt underestimated lately—by others or by yourself—don’t assume your value has changed. Ask instead if you’re in the right place. And don’t be afraid to move.

Here’s to growth.
Here’s to knowing our worth.
And here’s to the courage to believe that the best chapters are still ahead of us. -Ken

Happy Halloween! My boys are excited to go trick-or-treating tonight. And dad is excited to collect his annual “dad tax” on candy later—after they eventually fall asleep.

I don’t have a major update to give on my writing this month. Other than to share that trying to do anything big, like write a new kind of book in a new genre is harder than I thought it’d be. Partially because I don’t want to fail. Mostly because change is hard…

Change is one of those things we all say we want—until it shows up.

Whether it’s a new season, a new job opportunity, or a new story, the moment it arrives, it always has the same question: Are you willing to let go of what’s familiar?

That’s the part that gets me every time.

Because we like the comfort of the known—the patterns we’ve built, the certainty that comes from staying in our lane. But life doesn’t grow there. Growth waits at the edge—beyond what we can see. Beyond what feels safe. Beyond what’s within our control.

Writers feel this deeply. Every blank page feels like stepping into the dark. You can plan all you want, but eventually you just have to start typing—not knowing where the story will go. That first line is a step into the unknown. It’s a choose-your-own-adventure story as you type, not knowing if you’re going in the right direction or not.

And maybe that’s what life is, too.

I keep thinking about autumn—how the trees never fight the change. They don’t cling to what’s dying; they trust the process. They let go. And in doing so, they make room for what’s next. They know that what’s old has to die to make room for something new.

Maybe that’s what courage really is. Not pretending we’re fearless, but walking forward with the fear—one shaky step at a time—using it as a reminder that while what comes next might be wrong it could also be great. And better than what we could’ve imagined.

So if you’re standing at your own edge right now—starting something new, closing a chapter, or just sensing a shift that you can’t quite name—know that you’re not alone. We’re all out here trying to find our way along the darkened path, trusting that if we can just have the courage to take one more step, we’ll end up where we’re supposed to be.

Here’s to letting go.

And for having the courage to begin again. -Ken

Hey Ken, I just got back from the annual writer’s conference that I go to at St. Pete Beach and had a blast as usual. It was great seeing so many familiar faces. I got so much out of the break out sessions, too. But I’ve learned over the years that where you learn the most is in the side conversations… in the lobby, at the tiki bar, at dinner. Tips and tricks we share with each other on how to take our writing to the next level. Things that I know are going to transform my writing and my author business.

One of my good friends, R.J. Patterson (pictured above, left) writes thrillers similar to mine. This photo was taken before dinner on the last nite. While I like to tout that I’ve written eleven novels, R.J. likes to remind me that he’s written 100. If you’ve never read one of R.J.’s novels, give one a try. Click here to check out his books on Amazon.com.

I left St. Pete Beach with so much inspiration, so many memories, and so many ideas—I can’t wait to work my to do list and get started to see what I can do in the next year.

A quick update on my writing: I got started on a new series centered around Jami Davis, a prequel of sorts, set in the Blake Jordan universe a few years before the events of THE SENATOR. As I mentioned in last month’s newsletter, I’m going to try writing in a different genre for this story, writing this one as a psychological thriller. While I’m a little nervous about it, I think writing a different kind of story is going to help me grow as a writer after close to ten years of only writing political thrillers.

And because I still love that series, I’m also planning a new Blake Jordan next year, alternating between the two whenever I get stuck. I’m excited to see how it goes!

I’ll share an update on my progress next month. I hope you have a great October! -Ken

Well, school is back in session. Our boys are now in 8th and 11th grades and started at a new school this year. We’re sad that summer’s over but glad to be getting closer to the ‘ber months. In a few weeks I’ll be headed to the annual writer’s conference at St. Pete Beach and meeting up with my author friends. I think this is year #7 going to it.

I’m still toying with writing a series around Jami and have spent the last month doing research. What’s exciting—and a little scary—is that I’m thinking of switching genres slightly if I’m going to do it. Sure, I could write a political thriller like the Jordan novels. But I’m leaning towards a psychological thriller for Jami’s story. I think that’ll push me to try something different and the change could help me become a better writer. There are a ton of authors who write similar books at the conference so I’m excited to pick their brains so that if I write the book I make the story the best that it can be for Jami.

In case you missed it: I’m excited to share that my new release, PRIME SUSPECT, is out now in paperback! This was was a fun book to write, taking Blake Jordan back to where it all started in the first book in the series—at DDC, Chicago—working alongside Morgan, Chris, Jami, and a new character I’ve introduced, Allie Hunt. It’s about a relentless pursuit of truth in the face of danger, deception, and a web of lies. I hope it keeps you on the edge of your seat from the first page to the last. I know you’ll love it.

I’m excited to share that my new release, PRIME SUSPECT, is out now in paperback! As always, the first copy in print is sitting in my office along with the rest of the series, and I’m thrilled to announce that your copy is ready for you to pick up and read, too.

PRIME SUSPECT was a fun book to write, taking Blake Jordan back to where it all started in the first book in the series—at DDC, Chicago—working alongside Morgan, Chris, Jami, and a new character I’ve introduced, Allie Hunt. It’s about a relentless pursuit of truth in the face of danger, deception, and a web of lies. I hope it keeps you on the edge of your seat from the first page to the last. I know you’re going to love it.

Thank you for being part of this journey with me. Your support means the world to me. As the summer winds down and the back-to-school rush kicks in, I’m taking some time to reflect and decide which writing project I’ll take on next. I have a few ideas that I’m really excited about! Whether you’re diving into PRIME SUSPECT during these final days of summer or pushing toward your own goals, I hope you find the strength to finish whatever it is you’ve started and keep moving forward, one step at a time. -Ken

We’re quickly approaching one of my favorite times of the year—Independence Day. Around this time, I like to take a step back to reflect on the year so far. So many of us set goals on January 1st, but few pause halfway through to ask: How’s it really going?

Are the goals you set in motion coming together? Did you lose the weight? Write the book? Start the business? Chase the dream you told yourself you’d go after this year?

Maybe you haven’t accomplished everything you planned. That’s okay. This moment isn’t just about reflection—it’s an opportunity. A reset. A do-over. The second half of the year is still unwritten. But it requires a mindset shift. We have to believe it’s possible.

It reminds me of a story about a man named Nicholas Sitzman. He worked on refrigerated boxcars in a train yard many years ago. One day, after his coworkers left, he accidentally got locked inside a freezer car. He screamed, he pounded on the walls—but no one heard him.

As the hours passed, Sitzman used a knife to carve messages into the wooden walls:

I’m becoming colder…
Still colder now…
Nothing to do but wait.
These may be my last words.

By morning, his coworkers found his lifeless body. He’d died of hypothermia.

But here’s the part that always sticks with me: the freezer car wasn’t on. It had no power. While the temperature dropped overnight, it wasn’t cold enough to kill him.

Sitzman didn’t die from the cold.
He died from what he believed was happening to him.

Our minds are powerful. What we tell ourselves, we start to believe.

So what are you telling yourself? That you’ll never lose the weight? Never write your book? That you haven’t made any progress so far this year—and probably never will?

The stories we tell ourselves matter. They shape how we act—and who we become.

So let’s change the narrative. Let’s focus on what is possible. Not that the year is halfway over—but that we have a full second half to become who we’re meant to be.

Let’s hit July with momentum. Let’s put in the work and make the kind of progress we’ll be proud of when the year comes to a close and we look back at the impact we made.

We’ve still got half a year left.

Let’s make it count. -Ken