October 23, 2026
There's something about autumn that makes coffee taste better.
Maybe it's the cooler mornings, the changing leaves, or the fact that wrapping your hands around a warm mug suddenly feels less like a caffeine dependency and more like a perfectly respectable seasonal ritual.
Whatever the reason, it seems like an appropriate time to release a book about coffee.
Of course, that wasn't exactly the plan.
Actually, there wasn't a plan at all.
Yesterday, I published What We Brew, a satirical fantasy novella that has been sitting on my computer, almost finished, for nearly a year.
Why did I wait so long?
Excellent question.
I have absolutely no idea.
I'm sure I had a perfectly rational explanation at some point. Maybe I wanted to give the manuscript another pass. Maybe I was distracted by the sprawling interstellar conflicts of my other novels. Maybe I just kept telling myself I'd get around to it eventually.
Whatever the reason, yesterday I looked at the manuscript and thought, Why the hell am I still sitting on this?
So I finished what needed finishing, got the publishing pieces together, and hit the button.
Just like that, another story was heading out into the world.
Coffee, Gods, and the Absurdity of Modern Life
What We Brew is a bit of a departure from the science fiction worlds I typically inhabit.
There are no starships. No galactic civilizations teetering on the edge of catastrophe. No ancient alien technologies threatening to unravel reality.
Instead, there is coffee.
And gods.
And a young woman named Maya Grounds, who's trying to figure out where she belongs in a world that seems determined to tell her who she should be.
At the heart of the story is an ancient conflict between Kaffara, the Bringer of Dawn, and Charblax, Lord of Ash and Syrup.
Yes, you read that correctly. Lord of Ash and Syrup.
The book takes a decidedly irreverent look at coffee culture, corporate conformity, consumerism, and the ways we sometimes lose sight of the things that make life meaningful.
But beneath the satire is something more personal: a story about finding your identity, questioning expectations, and having the courage to choose your own path.
And perhaps recognizing that not everything wonderful in the world needs to be optimized, monetized, or served in a cup with a corporate logo.
Sometimes a good cup of coffee should just be a good cup of coffee.
The Stories That Refuse to Stay Quiet
One thing I've learned about writing is that stories don't necessarily follow a convenient schedule.
Some demand years of worldbuilding, intricate plotting, and endless revisions.
Others show up unexpectedly, make themselves comfortable, and refuse to leave.
What We Brew was one of those.
I enjoyed writing it. I liked the characters, the absurdity, and the opportunity to poke fun at some of the things we accept as perfectly normal in modern life.
And then, for reasons that remain mysterious even to me, I put it aside.
Yesterday was apparently the day it decided it had waited long enough.
I suppose there's a lesson in that somewhere. Maybe about perfectionism, procrastination, or the importance of knowing when something is finished.
Or maybe I just needed another cup of coffee.
A Good Season for Something Different
As the mornings get cooler and the days grow shorter, this feels like exactly the right season for What We Brew to find its readers.
It's funny, occasionally ridiculous, a little philosophical, and ultimately a story about the choices that define us.
It's also a reminder that inspiration doesn't always arrive with a carefully prepared publishing schedule.
Sometimes it arrives without warning, looks you straight in the eye, and says, Well? What are you waiting for?
And sometimes, you listen.
What We Brew is now available on Amazon, with additional editions and retailers on the way.
So find yourself a comfortable chair, pour something worth drinking, and settle in.
After all, there's more brewing in that cup than you might imagine.
Cheers,
Robb
Explore What We Brew and my other books at robbwetmore.com.