PROGRESS REPORT: WEEK ENDING JULY 25, 2015

Work is proceeding well on the manuscript for what will be ALPHA, BOOK 2: WAYWARD SON.

Sixteen complete chapters at 52,000+ words.

Not sure what the final chapter and word counts will be at the moment, let alone what else I can say right now without risking major spoiler alerts, so I better get back to writing now.

See you around the Internet.

Lee Houston, Junior

26 July, 2015

PROGRESS REPORT: WEEK ENDING JULY 18, 2015

Hard at work on the concluding chapters to ALPHA, BOOK 2: WAYWARD SON.

Granted, haven't started sending them to my friendly neighborhood beta/proofreader yet, but that time is coming.

All the whys and wherefores as to all the hard work and detours/delays that have affected the novel are well documented in previous Progress Reports on this blog.

Think Labor Day weekend I might be typing "THE END" at the bottom of the last page of the manuscript, but that date isn't set in stone. Who knows what else might happen between now and then?

Meanwhile, better get back to writing.
See you around the Internet.
Lee Houston, Junior
19 July, 2015

WORK IN PROGRESS: A NEW EXCERPT FROM ALPHA 2: WAYWARD SON

Alpha

Between the more recent Progress Reports I've posted and the actual work I've done on the book, it's occurred to me that it's been a mighty long time since I've actually posted any teasers from the manuscript.

Therefore, the following excerpt is from much further along in ALPHA, BOOK 2: WAYWARD SON than any previous Work In Progress post.

ENJOY!

When Alpha first opened the side door, he was surprised to see the small group of beings in a helpless state. They were all bond and gagged against their will. Their eyes started to light up with hope when they spotted him, regardless of how oddly their rescuer was dressed. He wanted to pause and set them free, but was uncertain how much time remained to complete his mission. Leaving the chamber door open as he turned away was the best compromise available.

At the end of the corridor was another door identical to the one he was forced to slice open. Sensing others outside the barrier, Alpha floated invisibly above the main control room's rear portal, his back against the ceiling. He then created a minute force shield, and manipulated it with just a thought against the entrance way’s control panel to attempt remotely opening the threshold. A few moments of trial and error finally resulted in success as the small globe pushed the proper buttons to unseal the door.

As the portal slid open, several armed guards rushed in. Alpha waited until the last one passed underneath him before silently flying out of the room.

PROGRESS REPORT: WEEK ENDING JULY 11, 2015

CHECKING OFF THE SUMMER TO DO LIST

I have finally left Anthology Avenue, for now.
Submitted my story for the Legends of New Pulp, Tommy Hancock benefit anthology to Airship 27 and A27 Captain Ron Fortier absolutely LOVED IT!

It's great to have feedback from a publisher, let alone such enthusiastic comments. I feel like a rookie baseball play who hit a home run during his very first at bat in the majors!


I will be returning to Anthology Avenue later this year, when I honor my original two short story commitments for 2015. Thankfully neither of them have actual deadlines attached but (barring anything unforeseen) I should have both stories written and submitted before the winter holidays.

Marc Guerrero art

Meanwhile, am back at work on ALPHA, BOOK 2: WAYWARD SON.
Want to finish this manuscript before I tackle anything else.
Between seriously over extending myself with short story commitments in 2014 (although I did meet EVERY deadline!) and the fact that I hit a couple of dead ends and was forced to restart a couple of times on the novel, I owe it to the fans of this fledgling superhero to finish chronicling his second adventure and send it on to the publisher.

We've discussed the above and the following before, but it all bears repeating.
I know there must be some suspension of disbelief in (superhero) fiction, but such works must also have some basis in reality.
You want to believe that a man can fly, and create force shields, etc.
But if he starts doing something really impossible, like juggling planets one handed; then where's the conflict, action, drama, adventure, struggle to survive and thrive, etc?

I'm striving for such a degree of realism in ALPHA 2 not only for the reason(s) stated above, but also because WAYWARD SON lays the foundation for the future of the series. Book 1: Project Alpha was the origin story and first adventure.
Book 2 basically answers the question: "What next?"

So to answer that question, I better get back to writing.
See you around the Internet.
Lee Houston, Junior
12 July, 2015

PROGRESS REPORT: WEEK ENDING JULY 4, 2015

I hope that everyone who celebrated America's Independence yesterday did so safely and had a great time.

While I did manage to get some work done on ALPHA, BOOK 2: WAYWARD SON this past week, most of my creative time was spent on Anthology Avenue.

I'm almost finished with the short story for the Tommy Hancock Benefit anthology to be released from Airship 27, but something is just not quite right with it in my opinion, so I want to tweak it a little more and hope to get the tale as perfect as humanly possible and turned in later this week.

Otherwise, back to ALPHA 2, barring anything unforeseen.

Take care, and see you around the Internet!
Lee Houston, Junior
5 July, 2015