PROGRESS REPORT: WEEK ENDING DECEMBER 28, 2024

 Can you believe that this is the last PROGRESS REPORT of 2024? Where has the time gone? Just wish I had some actual progress to report. 😞

I managed to proofread about three more pages of the SOLITAIRE 2: THE AGENDA manuscript and that's it! Christmas🎄may be getting too commercial in my personal opinion, but it's also a hectic time of year as well, and I don't even work in the retail industry.

Hopefully things will slow down to a more normal routine soon.

The only New Year's Eve plans I have are dependent upon whatever is on television Tuesday night. Hopefully I can get a lot more accomplished this coming week because I haven't even touched the ZEPHYR LILY material since around the beginning of the month!

So with that in mind, take care.

STAY SAFE!

If you drink, please do so responsibly and don't forget: just before the stroke of midnight to raise your left leg so you can start 2025 off on the right foot.😉

Lee Houston, Junior

29 December, 2024

PROGRESS REPORT: WEEK ENDING DECEMBER 21, 2024

 So, how much "progress" did I manage last week?

TWO WHOLE PAGES PROOFREAD ON SOLITAIRE 2: THE AGENDA!😲

That's it. Period. Maybe my theory is correct about the end of the year not being a good time to attempt accomplishing anything creatively.

But, depending upon how you celebrate, the "Big Event" is coming up so...

Take care.

STAY SAFE!

And I'll see you around the Internet.

Lee Houston, Junior

22 December, 2024

PROGRESS REPORT: WEEK ENDING DECEMBER 14, 2024

 I'm afraid history repeated itself this past week because other than managing to proofread another chapter of SOLITAIRE 2: THE AGENDA, I didn't get anything done writing wise. Chapter wise, I haven't even gotten into double digits, let alone anywhere near the halfway point of the manuscript yet.

Maybe the last month of the year just isn't a good time to attempt accomplishing anything other what what you absolutely need to, especially with the holidays on the horizon. After all, depending upon what you celebrate, this is the last full week before Christmas, Hanukkah AND Kwanzaa!

In any event, I'll keep plugging away at least before and after everything else I have to do between now and the holidays.

Who knows?

Maybe next week I'll actually have some progress to report.

Until then, take care.

STAY SAFE!

Have a great week and I'll see you around the Internet.

Lee Houston, Junior

15 December, 2024

PROGRESS REPORT: WEEK ENDING DECEMBER 7, 2024

 If I ever find that "Murphy" guy, I'm gonna force him to repeal that infamous law of his—anything that can
go wrong will—immediately!

I'm probably far from the first person who ever said that, but it certainly happened a lot to me this past week.

I only got another chapter or two from SOLITAIRE 2: THE AGENDA proofread at the most with absolutely nothing else accomplished at all on the writing front, let alone anything on ZEPHYR LILY.

I accomplished plenty if you count cooking, cleaning, housekeeping, laundry, errands, et al and ectaras.

But writing?🤣

I hope this coming week will be better, but we'll see how it goes.

In any event, take care.

STAY SAFE!

And I'll see you around the Internet.

Lee Houston, Junior

8 December, 2024

PROGRESS REPORT: WEEK ENDING NOVEMBER 30, 2024

 Other than managing to finish getting all my handwritten material on ZEPHYR LILY transcribed into the computer, I unfortunately didn't get anything accomplished writing wise this past week. 😞

On the other hand, I had a great holiday weekend with my extended family! 😁😎

I've been trying to catch up on housework and other responsibilities today and my weekly grocery hunting trip is tomorrow, weather permitting.

So hopefully I can at least start my final proofread of SOLITAIRE 2: THE AGENDA after that because I'd like to get that done and the manuscript off to Airship 27 before the end of 2024.

In any event, take care.

STAY SAFE!

And I'll see you around the Internet.

Lee Houston, Junior

1 December, 2024

PROGRESS REPORT: WEEK ENDING NOVEMBER 16, 2024

 

After another involuntary absence, I'm back again.

At least this time I didn't lose any files, but it took quite a while to get the computer back online and 100% working again.

Not sure what happened.

The technician ruled out user/human error AND mechanical problems, but would never commit to an official diagnosis of what was actually wrong.

All I can tell you is that everything was working fine October 18 when I preposted the October 19 Puzzle Corner on The Free Choice E-zine before shutting down for the night.

Yet the next morning all I saw on the monitor when I turned the computer back on was the BIOS screen and no matter what I did, the display never changed.

Eventually the Operating System had to be totally reinstalled from scratch and then it was a couple of days of endless system updates before I could reinstall my personal files (backup everything EVERY day folks!) and declare myself back online and operational again.

In the meantime, while it was all handwritten on legal pad(s), I did finish SOLITAIRE 2: THE AGENDA and even started a new novel project, which I will discuss in more detail within the coming weeks.

Right now I've got to finish transcribing all those handwritten pages into a word processing document file and by then I can give SOLITAIRE 2 one last read through from start to finish before submitting it for publication.

In any event I better get back to "work" now.

Take care.

STAY SAFE!

And I'll see you around the Internet, including my new texting home on BLUE SKY!

Lee Houston, Junior

17 November, 2024

PROGRESS REPORT: WEEK ENDING OCTOBER 12, 2024

 Another busy week on both the personal and professional fronts.

Not much to say on the personal side that hasn't already said before about housework, errands and my entire "staff" consisting of me, myself, and I.

However Facebook now thinks that whenever I try to share one of my Filling Blank Spaces blog posts on their site that I'm guilty of spam and delete the attempt within moments of hitting ENTER.

Yet they run ads all over the place, even to the point of interrupting videos with them!

I'll figure something out on that front eventually, especially when there's important news to share with everyone.

I'm well into Chapter 33 and past the 57,000+ word mark on SOLITAIRE 2: THE AGENDA.

There will be at least another chapter or two for sure once I'm past the fight scene in progress because Solitaire hasn't completely finished her latest mission yet, but I better get back to writing now.

Take care.

STAY SAFE!

Have a great week and I'll see you around the Internet.

Lee Houston, Junior

13 October, 2024

PROGRESS REPORT: WEEK ENDING OCTOBER 5, 2024

 Another busy week on the personal side of my life.

Had a long drive to make the bi-annual round trip to see my Cardiologist this past week, but at least I'm still as healthy as a 62 year old man with (pre-existing) heart issues can be.  😁😎

I also got the results of my colonoscopy.

Unfortunately, there were three polyps, compared to only one from my previous test ten years ago.

The good news is they were all BENIGN! 😊😃

However, between them and my age, that doctor wants me back in five years instead of the ten that passed before the colonoscopy I just had.

I wonder what the prep liquid will taste like then?

Last time I thought it was like a liquified cheeseburger with extra onions.

Next time? 🤷

So you can imagine that there wasn't very much writing on SOLITAIRE 2: THE AGENDA accomplished this past week. 😢

Hopefully this coming week will be a different matter because the only excursion I have planned (at the present time) is the weekly Grocery Hunting Expedition at some point.

In any event I better get back to writing now.

Take care.

STAY SAFE!

And I'll see you around the Internet.

Lee Houston, Junior

6 October, 2024

PROGRESS REPORT: WEEK ENDING SEPTEMBER 28, 2024

 LIFE, OR SOMETHING LIKE IT.

WELL...

I did manage to finish Chapter 32 of SOLITAIRE 2: THE AGENDA.

I have all the physics finally worked out and it's a great action scene, if I do say so myself.

As it stands at the moment, I'm almost at the 57,000 word mark and figure there are at least another 3-5 chapters to create in order to finish the first draft of the manuscript.

UNFORTUNATELY, I haven't been able to accomplish much since then because I had to get ready for a colonoscopy at the end of last week and will be making my semi-annual pilgrimage to go see my cardiologist at the beginning of this coming week.

When you get to be "that age", on one hand you're seriously happy to still be around but are shocked over some of the things you have to go through to stay that way.

Especially when you have outlived the manufacturer's warranty. 😉

Take the colonoscopy for example.

This was only the second in my entire lifetime, but it was as enjoyable as trying to push a boulder uphill during a blizzard.

The Prep Liquid certainly tasted better than during the previous test a decade ago.

Last time I mixed this powder into a gallon of water and had to drink it all down within X amount of time.

Even the "flavor packets" the prep came with did absolutely nothing to help the situation.

Preparation now involved two prepackaged bottles that I had to drink at specific times in regards to when my colonoscopy was scheduled to be performed.

I swear the stuff tasted like someone liquified a cheeseburger with extra onions.

But regardless of my thoughts on the subject, when that stuff "hits"...

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

Take care.

STAY SAFE!

Have a great week, and I'll see you around the Internet.

Lee Houston, Junior

29 September, 2024

PROGRESS REPORT: WEEK ENDING SEPTEMBER 21, 2024

 I had to scrap most of what I had originally written for Chapter 32 of SOLITAIRE 2: THE AGENDA because when I had my Friendly Neighborhood Beta Proofreader and a few other friends go over that section, they discovered that the physics involved just wouldn't work despite what you see in the visual mediums of movies, television and comic books. 😟

Obviously I'm now in the middle of seriously rewriting that action scene into something much more viable while being at least just as exciting as the previous incarnation.

Hopefully I'll have all the bugs worked out within the next day or so and the first draft of the manuscript completed before the major fall/winter holidays that will be upon us at the end of the year.

Guess what I got in the mail this past week?

I was totally flabbergasted to receive a contributor's copy of CODE NAME: INTREPID CLASSIFIED

Volume 3 from Robert J. Mendenhall and Blue Planet Press because I've never been given a Contributor's Copy of anything before.

Granted, I've always been sent the PDF galley to review and correct any possible mistakes before publication of any book I written or project I contributed to, but this was a whole new experience for me.

THANKS ROBERT!

I hope those who have already purchased their print or e-copy of the anthology have enjoyed the adventures presented by John L. French, Brian K. Lowe, Brian K. Morris, James Palmer, Robert and myself.

And if you haven't had the opportunity yet, you are missing out on some seriously exciting stories.

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

Take care.

STAY SAFE!

And I'll see you around the Internet.

Lee Houston, Junior

22 September, 2024

PROGRESS REPORT: WEEK ENDING SEPTEMBER 14, 2024

 Maybe it's my age or flair for nostalgia, but I remember Saturday mornings past when all I did was just sit in front of the television and watch the various animated offerings between the three (yes, only three back then) networks of the day: ABC, CBS and NBC.

Times have seriously changed over the years. There are a LOT more channels than there ever used to be but far less cartoons to watch.

Then again, my Saturday yesterday was mostly housework when I wasn't trying to post THE WEEK IN REVIEW for The Free Choice E-zine.

In any event, I have managed to get some writing done on SOLITAIRE 2: THE AGENDA this past week when I wasn't addressing and dealing with other obligations.

Although I'm still on Chapter 32 at the moment, I'm well into the 55,000+ word neighborhood and another major action sequence.

Cover: Jeffery Hayes/Plasma Fire Graphics

Wish I could say more, but after my author's bio there IS a sneak peak of the work in progress at the end of CODE NAME: INTREPID CLASSIFIED, VOLUME 3, available in print and e-book on Amazon. (Nice lead in, huh? 😉)

With “Storm Front” by series creator Robert J. Mendenhall, John L. French's “Operation Wayback”, Brian K. Lowe's  “The Alpine Affair”, Brian K. Morris'  “Heavenly Unbound”, James Palmer's  “Feat of Clay” and my story “Operation Colossus”.

Lot of adventurous great reading there.

Better get back to writing now.

Take care.

STAY SAFE!

And I'll see you around the Internet.

Lee Houston, Junior

15 September, 2024

PROGRESS REPORT: WEEK ENDING SEPTEMBER 7, 2024

 HAPPY STAR TREK DAY EVERYBODY!

Work's proceeding apace on SOLITAIRE 2: THE AGENDA as I write Chapter 32 within the 54,000+ words neighborhood.

Not sure when I will be reaching actual end of the novel's manuscript because I've thought of a couple more twists and turns to put the Secret Samaritan through before the final paragraph.

And of course CODE NAME: INTREPID CLASSIFIED VOLUME 3 is still available on Amazon.

If you already have gotten a copy, I sincerely hope you enjoyed it.

If you haven't bought one yet, why?

Pre-World War 2 adventure at its finest as the fiendish Nazi Special Squadron "Sonderstaffel" taps into the occult, the supernatural, and border science to create super weapons and monster soldiers in Hitler's evil quest for world domination.

Only one force on Earth can oppose them: a team of military and civilian daredevils, Code Name: Intrepid.

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

Take care.

STAY SAFE!

And, considering what today is:

LIVE LONG AND PROSPER!

Lee Houston, Junior

8 September, 2024

PROGRESS REPORT: WEEK ENDING AUGUST 31, 2024

 FIRST AND FOREMOST: A HAPPY LABOR DAY WEEKEND TO ALL MY FRIENDS,
READERS, FANS AND EVERYONE ELSE WITHIN THE UNITED STATES.

Unless you're honorably serving within law enforcement, fire fighting, the medical profession or one of America's civil service  or military branches, if you're stuck working any part of this weekend: shame on your employers!

NOW THEN...

SOLITAIRE 2: THE AGENDA is proceeding apace. Almost finished with Chapter 31 and past the 54,000+ word mark as I post this Progress Report.

Still a few more chapters and plenty of action yet to go, but I'm writing as fast as humanly possible as time permits when life doesn't have other ideas.

I'm hoping to have the manuscript finished and ready for submission by the end of the year holidays, for I've already got ideas for my next project(s) that I'm itching to get started on.

AND A FRIENDLY REMINDER...

CODE NAME: INTREPID CLASSIFIED VOLUME THREE IS NOW ON SALE VIA AMAZON!😀

Cover: Jeffery Hayes/Plasma Fire Graphics

Featuring stories by series creator Robert J. Mendenhall, John L. French, Brian K. Lowe, Brian K. Morris, James Palmer and yours truly; it's another exciting addition to Mendenhall's ongoing series about an elite group of U.S. Military and civilian personnel investigating "incidents and situations which threaten the security of the United States that are OUTSIDE THE REALM OF NORMAL OCCURRENCE while fighting the Sonderstaffel: a shadow unit “special squadron” of the Nazi Party under the direct control of Adolf Hitler. Their mission: to exploit the occult and supernatural with the aim of creating new superweapons or finding ancient or mythological weapons that could help Germany and its allies win the impending Second World War."–Mendenhall.

A fascinating read that I'm honored to have been a part of.

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

Take care.

STAY SAFE!

And I'll see you around the Internet.

Lee Houston, Junior

1 September, 2024

PROGRESS REPORT: WEEK ENDING AUGUST 17, 2024

 The writing is going well on SOLITAIRE 2: THE AGENDA. 😀

That major action scene I'm still working on has extended into Chapter 30 and I'm on the verge of breaking the 53,000+ word mark, although there is still more in the overall novel to create before I can happily write "The End".

Of course family commitments, housework and other responsibilities play a part of my every day life, but I'm glad for the time I am able to sit down and just work on my creative endeavors.

We are drawing ever closer to the launch date for CODE NAME INTREPID: CLASSIFIED VOLUME 3; featuring the stories of John L. French, Brian K. Lowe, Brian K. Morris, James Palmer, series creator Robert J. Mendenhall and my own "Operation Colossus".

Cover: Jeffery Hayes/PlasmaFire Graphics

Even if I didn't have a story involved I would still recommend the collection, for the idea of a group fighting any threat "outside the realm of normal circumstances" while trying to prevent Adolf Hitler from gathering every possible item—regardless of its origin—that could help Germany win the upcoming Second World War is an interesting premise to begin with.

PLUS: Each author has a preview of either an existing or forthcoming project at the end of the anthology, which includes a sneak peak of S2: THE AGENDA in my case!

So with that said, I better get back to writing now.

Take care.

STAY SAFE!

And I'll see you around the Internet.

Lee Houston, Junior

18 August, 2024

PROGRESS REPORT: WEEK ENDING AUGUST 10, 2024

 Although it has extended into Chapter 30, I'm still in the middle of that major fight sequence I told you about last week for SOLITAIRE 2: THE AGENDA.

As long time readers and fans of both this blog and my work in general know, I try to make everything I write/create the best I humanly can.

No Artificial Intelligence at work here.

It's all 100% natural! 😉

I also spiced up the tightrope walking sequence a bit while making sure it was as accurate as possible.

Not that I personally have ever been on one.

Stuff like that should definitely be left to the professionals!

Like Solitaire.

But it's amazing what you can find on the Internet if you look hard enough.

Cover by Jeffrey Hayes/Plasma Fire Graphics!

In any event, other than a friendly reminder that CODE NAME INTREPID CLASSIFIED VOLUME 3 will be out soon featuring the work of John L. French, Brian K. Lowe, Brian K. Morris, James Palmer, series creator Robert J. Mendenhall and myself, I better get back to writing now so take care.

STAY SAFE!

And I'll see you around the Internet.

Lee Houston, Junior

11 August, 2024

PROGRESS REPORT: WEEK ENDING AUGUST 3, 2024

 IT'S BEEN A BUSY WEEK WRITING WISE, SO LET'S GET GOING.

First off, Chapter 29 to SOLITAIRE 2: THE AGENDA is turning out to be a major action chapter!

Have broken the 52,000+ word count on the overall manuscript and am not finished with this section so I can go on to Chapter 30 yet!

I did have to stop and do some research on tightrope walking and blackjacks in regards to Chapter 29.

What does one have to do with the other? 😐

You'll just have to wait until the novel is published to find out.

Secondly, I did have to pause SOLITAIRE work for a day because Robert J. Mendenhall sent out to all his contributors the galley draft for CODE NAME INTREPID: CLASSIFIED VOLUME 3, so I needed to go over what will be the final, published version of my story "Operation Colossus" to make sure everything was all right before the book is officially released sometime before the end of August.

And dig this great cover by Jeffrey Hayes of Plasma Fire Graphics!

That's U.S. Army Air Corps Lieutenant Richard "Rick" Justice squaring off against...

well, truthfully I'm not sure what he's facing at the moment because I haven't had a chance to read the other five adventures in the anthology yet but I'm sure that between John L. French, Brian K. Lowe, Brian K. Morris, James Palmer, Mendenhall and myself there won't be a dull moment anywhere in the book.

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

Take care.

STAY SAFE!

And I'll see you around the Internet.

Lee Houston, Junior

4 August, 2024

PROGRESS REPORT: WEEK ENDING JULY 27, 2024

 Unfortunately it hasn't been one of my better weeks writing wise. 😒

It just seems as if anything that could go wrong did.

A couple of times I wanted to ask "What else could happen?" or words to that effect, but I was afraid of the answer.

Anyway, I'm still on Chapter 29 of SOLITAIRE 2: THE AGENDA, but at least I'm closer to the 51,000 word mark than I was this time last weekend.

If I'm gonna go beyond that, let alone finish the manuscript, I better get back to writing now.

Take care.

STAY SAFE!

And I'll see you around the Internet.

Lee Houston, Junior

28 July, 2024

PROGRESS REPORT: WEEK ENDING JULY 20, 2024

 FIRST AND FOREMOST...

This is the 600TH BLOGGER POST for Filling Blank Spaces! 😀

When I made my very first post back on September 14, 2013, I knew I would be here for as long as I
could write, but just on the strength of a weekly PROGRESS REPORT alone, I didn't think I'd be achieving such a major milestone so soon.

Of course life's various and unwanted interruptions along the way (my mother's passing, being without a computer for awhile, along with the occasional interruption of Internet service or electricity) didn't help.

Yet here we are.

I said "We" because I don't post anything on this Blog just to hear myself talk.

If fame and fortune were my only career goals, I would have given up writing long ago.

Besides wanting to express myself creatively, I want to entertain all the readers, fans and friends I've gained along the way.

After all, if you're reading these words right now, you're at least in one of those three categories

In any event, work is proceeding apace on SOLITAIRE 2: THE AGENDA.

I'm well into Chapter 29 and over 51,000+ words in the manuscript, but there's still work to do before the novel is finished so I better get back to it.

Take care.

STAY SAFE!

And I'll see you around the Internet.

Lee Houston, Junior

21 July, 2024