PROGRESS REPORT: THE LAST ONE FOR 2019!

As noted in the title, this is the last Progress Report for 2019.

The tradition WILL continue in 2020, but I wish I actually had some writing progress to report for the week ending December 28.

As predicted with the holiday week, other than being able to honor my blogging commitments between here and The Free Choice E-zine, not much got done beyond enjoying the company of family and friends.

I expect another "hiccup" in my writing efforts this week with the impending New Year fast approaching, but otherwise things should be relatively back to "normal", whatever that means. 😉

For whatever reason(s) though, my Muse is now telling me I should go back and at least attempt to finish writing that Sherlock Holmes story I was working on ("The Adventure of the Unimaginable") before I resume work on SOLITAIRE.

Then again, considering she interrupted Holmes to present me the SOLITAIRE idea to begin with...

Hey, no one ever said being a writer was easy, but it is definitely a lot more fun😀 than a lot of jobs I've held or have heard of.

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

Take care everybody!

Please party responsibly Tuesday night and I'll see you around the Internet.

Lee Houston, Junior

29 December, 2019

DECEMBER 26, 2019

WHICHEVER
IS YOUR
DECEMBER 26...

ENJOY! 😀

CHRISTMAS 2019

REGARDLESS OF HOW YOU CELEBRATE THE DAY...

HAPPY HANUKKAH 2019

For those among my readers and fans who celebrate the Festival of Light... 🕎

HAPPY HANUKKAH!

PROGRESS REPORT, WEEK ENDING DECEMBER 21, 2019

♫Da hoo dorais fa hoo dorais.♫—The Whos down in Whoville.

Well, as I feared, while what writing time I did have this past week was split between my blogging commitments and my prose work, I unfortunately didn't make much progress on the SOLITAIRE novel.
Still in the opening paragraphs of Chapter 14.
Don't know how much writing I'll accomplish before December 25, although from the 26 on should be relatively back to "normal", whatever that means. 😉
BUT, as a special holiday treat, I'd like to present🎁 to you the opening paragraphs of that novel!

He ran, darting and weaving across the crowded sidewalks as fast as he could without drawing too much attention to himself. Afraid of every shadow and person he passed, the man never stopped looking over his shoulder, no matter how many times he saw nothing there.
He zigzagged and recrossed his path at every opportunity while avoiding all forms of public and private transportation, keeping his head turned toward the buildings at intersections so his face wouldn’t be noticeable on any close circuit traffic cameras.
Jesse Frost felt like a hunted animal being relentlessly pursued through the concrete jungle of New York City.

That should whet your appetite and give you some idea of what I am planning with this suspense thriller-adventure.

In any event, it's time to say goodbye for now.
So take care, and I'll see you around the Internet.
Lee Houston, Junior
22 December, 2019

PROGRESS REPORT: WEEK ENDING DECEMBER 14, 2019

♫Deck Us All With Boston Charlie...♫—Walt Kelly.

Even if I had a lot more done than I already do, which at the moment is absolutely nothing, Christmas

IS coming! 🎄
As we get closer to December 25, I have no idea how much, if any, writing will be accomplished between now and then outside of my online commitments to this blog and
The Free Choice E-zine.

But as of today, I am on Chapter 14 and 34,000+ words into SOLITAIRE, the novel.
Definitely looking at it being a 2020 submission.
And for those wondering, no, I unfortunately still do not have a release date on HUGH MONN, PRIVATE DETECTIVE, BOOK 3: FEMME FATALE yet. 😕

In any event, got to get going now.
See you around the Internet.
Lee Houston, Junior
15 December, 2019

PROGRESS REPORT: WEEK ENDING DECEMBER 7, 2019

This past week was more research than anything else.

Daytime view of Tokyo, Japan.

After all, if you're going to set part of your story someplace you've never been, you still want to be as accurate as possible even if what you're creating is basically a work of fiction.
SOLITAIRE is still in Tokyo, Japan and Chapter 13.
I HAVE passed the 31,000+ word mark though.
Hopefully will at least finish the current chapter this week, especially since the writers' group is scheduled to meet again soon.
How long the Tokyo section, let alone the overall novel will go though...
With the holidays🎄 approaching, will have to take it all one day at a time but any writing time I do get outside of honoring my blogging commitments will be spent on this novel.

In any event, have a great week, and I'll see you around the Internet.
Lee Houston, Junior
8 December, 2019

PROGRESS REPORT: WEEK ENDING NOVEMBER 30, 2019

Well, I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving and aren't being haunted too much by the poultry-giests of leftovers! 😉

In any event, what writing time I did have this past week went either to my responsibilities as Editor-In-Chief of The Free Choice E-zine or the SOLITAIRE novel.

NYC at night

I'm on Chapter 13 and just past the 30,000+ words point at the moment.
The first 12 were all spent in New York City, and the writing group I belong to loved each one when I read them, but the adventure has now gone International as the scene shifts to Tokyo, Japan!
Of course I've never set foot in NYC, or left the Continental United States to see the exotic sights of foreign shores, so there is a lot of research involved.

Tokyo at night

Wish I could afford to go to such exotic places, but the Internet's Travel Service is the best I can accomplish on my limited resources.
Hmmm... I wonder if I can get Frequent Web Surfing🏄 Miles, or whatever the computer equivalent of Frequent Flyer Miles is.

In any event, I better get back to writing now.
Have a great week, and I'll see you around the Internet.
Lee Houston, Junior
1 December, 2019