PROGRESS REPORT: WEEK ENDING APRIL 29, 2023

 LET'S TAKE IT BY THE NUMBERS.😉

1. Still working on SOLITAIRE 2: THE AGENDA.

2. Have finished Chapter 20 and entered the 31,000+ word count neighborhood doing so.

3. About half way through both the manuscript and my plot.

4. Glad I finally got Chapter 19 finished because reality (the Florida landscape) didn't jive with what needed to be done, but I made the best of it.

Take care.

STAY SAFE! 😷

And I'll see you around the Internet.

Lee Houston, Junior

30 April, 2023

PROGRESS REPORT: WEEK ENDING APRIL 22, 2023

 Obviously I'm still working on SOLITAIRE 2: THE AGENDA.

Haven't quite finished Chapter 19 yet, but am writing when I get the chance between Life, The Universe, and Everything Else going on around me.

As I've said before, it can be tough sometimes to find the time to write.

The dog isn't going to feed and take herself out to the bathroom.

Chores and errands are incapable of doing themselves and I've still got to eat and sleep sometime.

For those wondering, Airship 27 is still preparing the first SOLITAIRE novel for publication!😀

Ron Fortier recently let me know that artist Chuck Bordell is working on the remaining interior illustrations and although I unfortunately cannot share it with anyone at this time, I have seen the front cover art and it is GORGEOUS! 😎

Besides the (sorry I can't name drop yet) artist doing a wonderful job, Airship 27's Art Director Rob Davis has designed a fantastic SOLITAIRE logo for the series!

When their work is finished and ready to go, I'll be getting a PDF to review in case there are any last minute corrections that need to be made. Hey, despite everyone bringing their A Games to this project, we're all still human.

Once I go over that and send it back to Rob, then the novel will be released in both Print and E-book formats.

My personal prediction on the subject is sometime after Memorial Day 2023, but whatever happens, I'll keep everyone updated as I can.

In any event, I better get back to writing SOLITAIRE 2 now.

Take care.

STAY SAFE! 😷

And I'll see you around the Internet.

Lee Houston, Junior

23 April, 2023

PROGRESS REPORT: WEEK ENDING APRIL 15, 2023

 ♫ONE IS THE LONELIEST NUMBER♫

Have finished Chapter 19 of SOLITAIRE 2: THE AGENDA and almost broke the 30,000+ word mark in the process. Considering the average manuscript nowadays is in the 60,000 word neighborhood, I'm roughly half way finished.

As I have previously stated, there may not seem to be much progress from one week to the next, but every word that I've added since the last time I posted a PROGRESS REPORT is important considering all the personal chores and stuff I take care of when I'm not writing.

Cooking, cleaning, errands, doctors' appointments (and still none of them involving a TARDIS! 😕) etcetera are all done for myself by myself because despite some people's idea of what writing entails, I am NOT sitting around doing "nothing" while others wait on me hand and foot.

Although I'm a 61 year old man with a heart condition💔, that last part is wishful thinking at best. So other than not always being as good at time management as I would like to, and never really having enough time to manage to begin with, I get by.

Of course when I write and a question arises that I need an answer to so I can continue what I'm working on, I turn to my vast and unpaid research department which consists of three loyal members that have been helpful since Day One: Me, Myself, and I.

In any event, I better get back to writing now before the next chore or task appears on the horizon.

Take care.

STAY SAFE! 😷

And I'll see you around the Internet.

Lee Houston, Junior

16 April, 2023

GUEST POST: FUND RAISER FOR BEYOND THE STARS ISSUE 2 (of 6)

 Hey Everybody! I've agreed to share some space with Airship 27's Captain Ron Fortier as he tries to schedule issue 2 of his six part comic book mini-series Beyond The Stars from Silverline.

In his own words...

After its spectacular launch last Fall, Silverline Comics is thrilled to announce the release of issue # 2 of

Ron Fortier’s sci-fi epic, Beyond the Stars. The six part series was co-created by Fortier, a fifty year comic veteran, and Italian pro graphic artist Andrea Bormida. Bormida has been drawing comics for the European market for the past thirty years. This is his first project with an American publisher and he is thrilled to be a part of Silverline comics. The team is finalized by popular comics writer/creator Mike Belcher coming on board as the book’s letterer.

Fortier and Bormida hooked up on a social media site and when Fortier saw samples of artist’s work, he immediately suggested they team up. “Andrea is such a wonderful visual storyteller,” Fortier applauds. “He brings the script to life with his great sense of composition and drama.”

“Super excited for # 2,” Bormida relates, offering his thoughts on the book. “This is where we can see how well #1 was received; if we managed to stir up curiosity and involve the readers.” He also hints at this issue’s details. “We have another great cliffhanger ending and a mystery is upon us.”

After wrapping the letters, Belcher had his own comments on the second issue. “Issue two picks up and

draws our heroes closer together to the fight of their lives. Ron and Andrea leave it all on the field for this one. Breathtaking landscapes and artistry with quick witted dialogue had me hanging on to the last page. And let me tell you, that next to last page takes your breath away as it is. Don’t miss it!”

If you love old fashion space operas with a touch of Flash Gordon, Stars Wars and Star Trek, Beyond the Stars will leave you cheering for more. Also note, those who participate in the new Kickstarter Campaign will be able to pick up issue # 1 should they choose to do so.

To keep informed of the launch, go to the link below. And as ever, thanks so much for your continued support.

(https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/silverlinecomics/march23/)

RF.

I sincerely hope that everyone who enjoyed the first issue, or just loves science fiction in general, can help out with issue 2.—lh,jr.

PROGRESS REPORT: WEEK ENDNG APRIL 8, 2023

TO BREAK, OR NOT TO BREAK A CHAPTER.

 Still working on the current action scene for SOLITAIRE 2: THE AGENDA.

Am hovering right above the 29,000+ word mark, although I've folded what was the start of Chapter 19 into the end of Chapter 18 and am uncertain when to officially start Chapter 19 now.

Granted there are no "carved in stone" rules one must always follow to end one chapter and start another, but at the same time you want such transitions to be as smoothly as possible.

A cliffhanger is okay, in regards to keeping your readers interested in what's going on and wanting to read the next chapter, even if it's well past their bedtime.😉

Yet you don't want the stop/break between the end of one chapter and the start of the next to be so jarring that you throw your readers completely out of the book.

In the end, while break placement is totally up to the author, how and when such changes occur do need to be thought out ahead of time in some instances.

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

Take care.

STAY SAFE!😷

I'll see you around the Internet, and before I forget: HOPPY EASTER!

Lee Houston, Junior

9 April, 2023

PROGRESS REPORT: WEEK ENDING APRIL 1, 2023

 Well, despite last week ending with April Fools Day, I had a good time writing when the time was available when not tackling life's other priorities.

While I am still on Chapter 18 trying to create that big action scene in SOLITAIRE 2: THE AGENDA, I have broken the 29,000+ word count.

Consider I was still within the 27,000+ neighborhood when creating the previous PROGRES REPORT, that's pretty dang good.

Now that may not seem like much, but considering that as I try to create this action scene, I am going back and forth between Google Maps, Google Earth and other points on the Internet because it's taking place somewhere I have never been...

Have heard from Ron Fortier at Airship 27 that artist Chuck Bordell has just completed the sixth (of nine) interior illustrations for SOLITAIRE'S DEBUT NOVEL.

No word on an exterior cover yet, but there will definitely be one when the book is released later this year by A27.

More news as things develop.

Now I better get back to writing.

Take care.

STAY SAFE! 😷

And I'll see you around the Internet.

Lee Houston, Junior

2 April, 2023