PROGRESS REPORT: WEEK ENDING APRIL 18, 2026

 I truly wish I had more to report than the fact that I'm still on Chapter 15 and within the 28,000+ word
neighborhood working on the HUGH MONN, PRIVATE DETECTIVE prequel manuscript PRIVATE BATTLES.

In past PROGRESS REPORTS I've detailed dealing with life, the universe and everything as a solo act while trying to take care of household responsibilities, errands, doctor appointments and the other assorted parts of life and also trying to make the best out of whatever writing time I might have available; so there's no point in going over old ground.

Suffice to say that I do have a couple of pages of handwritten notes I've jotted down over the course of the last few weeks, so I have a basic road map of how this prequel novel is going turn out, let alone an agenda of my plans to restart the series once the prequel novel is finished and I've found a new publisher for HUGH.

Those have also been discussed to some extent in past PROGRESS REPORTS too, but I will go over everything again in the future when appropriate.

With that I better get back to writing now.

Take care.

STAY SAFE!

I'll see you around the Internet and HAPPY EARTH DAY APRIL 22! 🌎

Lee Houston, Junior

19 April, 2026

PROGRESS REPORT: WEEK ENDING APRIL 11, 2026

 On one hand, I'm unfortunately still on Chapter 15 of the HUGH MONN, PRIVATE DETECTIVE prequel novel PRIVATE BATTLES.

On the other hand, I am now well into the 28,000+ word neighborhood.

Guess you have to take the good with the bad, and I have no idea how this coming week is going to turn out as I post this with errands tomorrow and a major expedition Thursday to help someone out.

Either way, I better get back to writing now.

Take care.

STAY SAFE!

And I'll see you around the Internet.

Lee Houston, Junior

12 April, 2026

SPECIAL TREAT: SNEAK PREVIEW!

 I've decided to give everyone a special Easter treat today and present the opening paragraphs to the forthcoming HUGH MONN, PRIVATE DETECTIVE prequel novel PRIVATE BATTLES for your reading enjoyment.

Lee Houston, Junior

5 April, 2026

CHAPTER 1

Most waiting rooms were all alike. Decorated in modern furnishings with a beautiful lady sitting behind the front desk.

The one I found myself in today was relatively the same. The only differences were the lack of anything on the walls beyond the standard dull white coloring most offices used and the tell tale hint of a surveillance camera over the entrance to the main office past the secretarial receptionist for, despite its relatively small size, technology still hadn’t fully resolved the classic light glare problem if you happened to view the lens at just the right angle.

After something on her desk chimed, the red haired woman looked up from her work to briefly smile at me. “He’ll just be a couple of more minutes at most. Would you like anything?” she asked, indicating whatever was behind the partitioned area between her position and the main entrance.

“No. Thank you,” I replied.

Despite having just survived what they were already calling the worst war in history, I was nervous. If he turned down my request…

Then another chime rang.

“Sir. You can go in now,” she announced.

“Thank you,” I replied while rising from the guest chair. After straightening my tie and double checking my appearance the best I could without a mirror, the door to the inner chamber silently but automatically slid open upon sensing my approach.

As I entered the office instead of saying hello, I slowly raised my hands with the open palms facing the room, for I was greeted by a weapon muzzle pointed directly at my chest.