PROGRESS REPORT: WEEK ENDING NOVEMBER 22, 2025

TURKEYS AWAY!

 The start of another week is upon us, and it will be a busy one for me with all the Thanksgiving
preparations I have to do so I can celebrate the holiday with my friends and family later this week.

Depending upon how you look at it, today—November 23—is either the anniversary of the world still reeling over then US President John F. Kennedy being assassinated November 22 or the debut episode of Doctor Who being transmitted by the BBC.

In any event, I have made an editorial decision concerning HUGH MONN, PRIVATE DETECTIVE: PRIVATE BATTLES.

The original version of Chapter 6 was only two manuscript pages long, so I've folded it into Chapter 5, which consequently lowers my Chapter count by one at the moment.

That puts me on Chapter 7 instead of 8 right now, but I'm still well over 11,000+ words into the novel and starting to hit my stride despite outside world interruptions and the fact that I've never actually written a prequel novel before.

NEXT SUNDAY A.D.?

Like I said, with Thanksgiving, not sure how this week is actually going to turn out writing wise, but the family comes first.

Yet there are a couple of things past that I miss concerning Thanksgiving.

Like the annual showing of WKRP In Cincinnati's "Turkeys Away" episode and the Mystery Science Theatre 3000 Turkey Day Marathon.

And of course my mom's turkey stuffing and watching football 🏈 on TV with my father, even though I'm more of a baseball⚾ fan.

So I hope that despite all the hassles and other problems in the world right now, you and yours have a good week regardless of how or if you decide to celebrate Thanksgiving.

Got to get back to writing now.

Take care.

STAY SAFE!

And I'll see you around the Internet.

Lee Houston, Junior

23 November, 2025

PROGRESS REPORT: WEEK ENDING NOVEMBER 15, 2025

 Managed to finish Chapter 8 and start Chapter 9 of the HUGH MONN, PRIVATE DETECTIVE PREQUEL NOVEL: PRIVATE BATTLES.

Everything went well with my personal doctor's appointment and the pets received a clean bill of health from their vet.

Other than the usual routine of housework, errands, etc; there is nothing on the horizon this coming week besides preparing for Thanksgiving the week after, so hopefully I'll get more writing done.

In any event, I better get back to it now.

Take care.

STAY SAFE!

And I'll see you around the Internet.

Lee Houston, Junior

16 November, 2025

PROGRESS REPORT: WEEK ENDING NOVEMBER 8, 2025

 Have made it into Chapter 7 of the HUGH MONN, PRIVATE DETECTIVE PREQUEL NOVEL: PRIVATE BATTLES.

Wish I could say more, but at least there has been some progress since last week.

I know some of the slow writing pace is having to deal with all of life's other responsibilities.

For example: I have two different doctor appointments this upcoming week, although one of them is just chauffeuring the dog and a cat to their vet.

Yet I (only being human) reluctantly realize that part of it is procrastination on my part.

And a lot of that stems from still trying to figure out who exactly HUGH MONN was before he became a private detective.

Not that I don't know at least some of the character's backstory.

It's just that I never really had to sit down and think about, let alone develop all the details of it before now.

We all have things we have to figure out in life.

Who you are now, compared to who you want to be.

It's the same for fictional characters, just that most of the time, they're already past that point when you first meet them.

But because HUGH's original publisher went out of business and I'm having to start all over again, I figured to start fresh with some new material instead of just reworking the existing words.

And of course I've still have to either develop my self-pub game or find another publisher when the time comes.

Definitely sometime by Spring 2026.

So with all that in mind I better get back to writing now.

Take care.

STAY SAFE!

And I'll see you around the Internet.

Lee Houston, Junior

9 November, 2025

PROGRESS REPORT: WEEK ENDING NOVEMBER 1, 2025

 Someday I might actually get my balancing act together😉, but another busy week on the personal life front means I'm still only on Chapter 6, but the HUGH MONN, PRIVATE DETECTIVE PREQUEL NOVEL now has a subtitle!

PRIVATE BATTLES.

Considering HUGH's past and the fact that he was just recently Honorably Discharged from the service after fighting in Universal War 1 (and everyone is praying there is never a sequel), there are still some issues that the new Veteran who wants to become a private detective has to deal with.

But I'll save what those are for the novel.

With that in mind I better get back to writing now.

Take care.

STAY SAFE!

Have a great week and I'll see you around the Internet.

Lee Houston, Junior

2 November, 2025

PROGRESS REPORT: WEEK ENDING OCTOBER 25, 2025

 October 25 would have been my father's 89th birthday. Although he passed away Spring 2024, he outlived my mother by about six and a half years. To say I miss both of them is a serious understatement. 😢

I'm hard at work on Chapter 6 of the HUGH MONN, PRIVATE DETECTIVE prequel novel, but find myself having to go back and tweak details of Chapter 5.

It's kind of hard to explain without giving away plot details, but basically I'm writing what turns out to be HUGH's first case as he works to obtain his Private Detective License.

Being my own worst critic😉, I know I'll get everything write/right eventually to my personal satisfaction in time, but I'm not sure how much of that I'll have available this coming week.

On top of all my regular errands, housework and other personal responsibilities of life; I also have my annual examination with the cardiologist💓 this week and that usually turns into practically an all day event just because of the long drive to and from their office.

My prerequisite fasting blood work tests all came back good, but it doesn't hurt to have a professional confirm that in person.

In any event, I better get back to writing now.

Take care.

STAY SAFE!

And I'll see you around the Internet.

Lee Houston, Junior

26 October, 2025

PROGRESS REPORT: WEEK ENDING OCTOBER 18, 2025

 It's been another busy week behind the scenes on the personal front, but at least I'm on Chapter 5 of the
HUGH MONN, PRIVATE DETECTIVE prequel novel.

Still don't have a subtitle for the book, but it's early yet.

Hopefully something will come to me in time.

Afraid there's not much else to say at the moment, so I better get back to writing now.

Take care.

STAY SAFE!

Have a great week and I'll see you around the Internet.

Lee Houston, Junior

19 October, 2025

PROGRESS REPORT: WEEK ENDING OCTOBER 11, 2025

 I'm posting a very familiar image with today's PROGRESS REPORT because once again, it has been one of those weeks.

Besides all the housework, errands and other personal matters that needed attending to; my short story was eliminated from the writing contest I submitted it to.

While disappointed, not a major problem. I have absolutely no idea how many actual entries there were and the apologetic email I received did say "competition was fierce".

Better luck next year.

Still trying to finish Chapter 4 of the HUGH  MONN, PRIVATE DETECTIVE prequel novel but a lot of other stuff that had to be dealt with kept getting in the way. 😕

But for those interested, there is absolutely NO AI in any of my stuff!

It is all 100% ME!

And that does take time.⌛

Hey, if DC Comics can announce they are and will remain AI free, figured I could and should make the same statement.

Yet if any AI would like to help me with all my housework, errands and other personal matters that need attending to so I have more time to write...

In any event, I better get back to HUGH now.

Take care.

STAY SAFE!

Have a great week and I'll see you around the Internet.

Lee Houston, Junior

12 October, 2025