PROGRESS REPORT: WEEK ENDING MARCH 26, 2016

At this point, I need to go over the final chapter and write the back cover copy before submitting PROJECT ALPHA, BOOK 2: WAYWARD SON to Pro Se Press for eventual publication.
When that's done, I'll be resuming work on my Sherlock Holmes story for Airship 27.
In the meantime, I'm taking today off for obvious reasons.

HOPPY EASTER EVERYBODY!

See you around the Internet.
Lee Houston, Junior
27 March, 2016 (Easter Sunday)

PROGRESS REPORT: WEEK ENDING MARCH 19, 2016

Well, today I thought I'd be talking about my visit to Victorian England, Sherlock Holmes, and my personal opinions on Basil Rathbone versus Jeremy Britt in regards to who portrayed the original consulting detective better.

Instead, I was pleasantly surprised to find the edited manuscript for PROJECT ALPHA, BOOK 2: WAYWARD SON in my in-box from my friendly neighborhood beta/proofreader Nancy Hansen.
Obviously, I've been working on that this past week.
IF (big word for just two letters) all goes well, I should be submitting it to Pro Se Press for eventual publication by the end of this week.

But Nancy must of REALLY liked the novel, because she posted this on Facebook:

"Today I finished editing Lee Houston Junior's next Alpha book. I have to say, this is one of the best stories I've read in a while. I'm not a big comic book fan but this book has everything a superhero geek enthusiast would love. It's filled with action and adventure, but it's also got heart. You find yourself sucked right into that tale and rooting for this guy as he battles everything that gets thrown at him—and there's plenty of that. So proud to have been able to play some part in getting this one out. I think anybody who loves a good adventure tale told well is going to enjoy it. Can't wait to see it in print!
Kudos to you Lee!"

Well, that's one happy fan. Hopefully the rest will be joining her when the book sees publication release.
All of this, and to greet the first day of Spring, freezing temperatures and a prediction of possibly up to 8 INCHES of snow by morning!

See you around the Internet.
Lee Houston, Junior
20 March, 2016

PROGRESS REPORT: WEEK ENDING MARCH 12, 2016

OKAY... my friendly neighborhood beta/proofreader Nancy Hansen is making her final pass on the manuscript for PROJECT ALPHA, BOOK 2: WAYWARD SON.
As I post this, she was planning to start Chapter 12 of 20 today.
So far Nancy says she loves the book.
Don't know how many changes/corrections/whatever she's done to it, let alone where the word count stands at the moment.
That I will discover when I get the manuscript back (presumably) later this week to start my FINAL review.

I have finished formatting and reviewing the manuscript for Nancy's next anthology.
Definitely an interesting take on the concept of someone being sent on missions to right wrongs, whether they want to or not.

NOW, at least until I'm either done writing it or get the ALPHA 2 manuscript back, I will be resuming my trip to Victorian London to work on the Sherlock Holmes story I promised Ron Fortier at Airship 27.

I'll admit, I found it a bit daunting coming up with an enigma "worthy" of the world's first consulting detective, but now that I have that, the story is coming along fine.
The only thing I'm uncertain of now is if I'm picturing Basil Rathbone or Jeremy Britt in the classic role.
But more on that in my next Progress Report.

Have a great week everybody.
Hope those participating remembered to set their clocks forward one hour to start Daylight Saving Time, and I'll see you around the Internet.
Lee Houston, Junior
13 March, 2016

PROGRESS REPORT: WEEK ENDING MARCH 5, 2016

Well, yesterday was my birthday, but I gave myself a present.
I finally finished going over the manuscript for PROJECT ALPHA, BOOK 2: WAYWARD SON!
I trimmed it from 71,041 words down to 68,996 words, not counting the 243 words on the Acknowledgements page.
At the moment, my friendly neighborhood beta/proofreader Nancy Hansen has it to go start her final pass.
After I get it back and make THE final review, then I'll be submitting it to Pro Se Press.
Then you folks can start asking Pro Se's Editor-In-Chief Tommy Hancock when the book will be released.

I have to return the favor and go over Nancy's latest anthology project, at least to make sure the four short stories are assembled properly without any formatting errors.

After that, I'll get back to that Sherlock Holmes short story I started and owe Ron Fortier at Airship 27.

Then...?
It will be time to start coming up with a mystery/adventure worthy of being the third book in the HUGH MONN, PRIVATE DETECTIVE series!

So, it looks like I've got a busy (and hopefully warmer) Spring ahead of me, so I better get back to "work" now.
See you around the Internet.
Lee Houston, Junior
6 March, 2016