PROGRESS REPORT: WEEK ENDING SEPTEMBER 12, 2026

 Even if not on the novel in progress, it has been a long but productive week.😎

As far as the HUGH MONN, PRIVATE DETECTIVE prequel novel PRIVATE BATTLES is concerned,
while I'm still on Chapter 27, I have broken the 49,000+ word mark.

That may not seem like much compared to last week, but this time it isn't because of the never ending battle of housework, errands, chores and other life commitments.

It's because I've been working on a HUGH MONN MARKETING STRAGETY!

When I finally finished cursing out the universe and pulled myself back together after the demise of his previous publisher in 2025, I've been trying to figure out how to get HUGH back into the public eye.

While writing the PREQUEL NOVEL as the beginning of a new series of books is a good start, there is still a long way to go.

Once I've finished the PRIVATE BATTLES manuscript and find a new publisher, I'll need to reintroduce HUGH to a new audience as his existing fans welcome back the Private Detective of the Far Flung Future.

So I've taken "DINEENA'S DILEMMA", the very first short story from the previous HUGH MONN collection (Book 1 from the original publisher) and have reread, amended and reformatted it for magazine submission consideration.

It has already been sent to the first possibility. If they say no, then I'll send it on to the next.

If they say yes, then I'll prepare "SHORTAGES", the next short story in the original collection and the debut of fan favorite Big Louie, for possible submission.

More on the short story front when I hear something.

Yet whatever happens with the short story submissions, at least I'll have already done some preliminary work preparing them for eventual inclusion in BOOK 2: EARLY DAYS of HUGH's new continuity.

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

13 September, 2026

PROGRESS REPORT: WEEK ENDING SEPTEMBER 5, 2026

Good and Bad in Balance

 Depending on how you look at it, I have good news and bad news concerning the writing front.

Last week I did manage to get some writing done, and even broke the 48,000+ word count doing it on the HUGH MONN, PRIVATE DETECTIVE prequel novel PRIVATE BATTLES.

However (you knew that was coming, didn't you?), after I finished rereading what I wrote yesterday, I decided that instead of being the start of Chapter 27, most of the material worked better as the new latter half of Chapter 26 instead.

Hey, it happens.

Sometimes writing is like working on a jigsaw puzzle.

You move the pieces around and think you've got them in place only to discover the proper arrangement later.

Of course in this case, I'm working on everything from scratch and making all of it up as I go along.

Now on to some other business.

FIRST, I would like to thank everyone for granting my humble writing blog 46,460 page views during August 2026!😎

SECONDLY, Monday is Labor Day here in the United States. So for those of you who actually have the day off, enjoy the break!

THIRD, 2026 has a lot of 60th anniversaries this year. We've already had the Adam West-Burt Ward version of Batman in January while Dark Shadows celebrated in late June.

Now Star Trek turns 60 September 8 as the franchise holds its annual STAR TREK DAY while The Monkees hit the big 6-0 Saturday September 12.

All of these and the rest that lie ahead are kind of bittersweet since most of the original casts are no longer with us, but us First Generation fans have our memories while new generations discover what is so amazing about some of our favorites.

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

6 September, 2026

LIVE LONG AND PROSPER.

PROGRESS REPORT: WEEK ENDING AUGUST 29, 2026

 After such a great week writing completing TWO chapters, things are back to "normal".

I'm still on Chapter 26, but at least I've moved into the 46.000+ word neighborhood on the HUGH MONN, PRIVATE DETECTIVE prequel novel PRIVATE BATTLES.

Not sure what lies in the week ahead yet. Errand Day will be sometime within the next 72 hours and there's the never ending battle of housework and other chores like making meals, so we'll just have to see how things go.

And for those of you interested, while I'm somewhere between the halfway and three quarters point in my plot at the moment, I have no idea how long PRIVATE BATTLES will turn out to be.

I can tell you that while there is no actual limit, because my plot looks more like a cross between an outline and a story summary, all the previous HUGH MONN novels wound up in the 30s, chapter wise.

Then again, I'm trying to restart the series from basically scratch to find a new audience with a new publisher (identity to be determined) since the old one folded and delisted all their offerings (including my works) from Amazon.

Yet to achieve that fresh start I better get back to writing now, so take care.

STAY SAFE!

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

Lee Houston, Junior

30 August, 2026

PROGRESS REPORT: WEEK ENDING AUGUST 22, 2026

 I actually had a good writing week last week despite all the errands and household chores I had to do!

I not only managed to finish Chapter 24, but also completed Chapter 25 and started Chapter 26 of the HUGH MONN, PRIVATE DETECTIVE prequel novel PRIVATE BATTLES!

Which also now leaves me somewhere at the beginning of the 46,000+ word count area!

I hope I have another good writing week within the seven days before me, but we'll just have to wait and see how it goes.

With that in mind 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

23 August, 2026

PROGRESS REPORT: WEEK ENDING AUGUST 15, 2026

 Really not much to say at the moment.

I'm still on Chapter 24 and within the 42,000+ word neighborhood on the HUGH MONN, PRIVATE DETECTIVE prequel novel: PRIVATE BATTLES.

I have a doctor's appointment tomorrow and errands day later in the week as well as the never ending battle against housework and other chores.

However I do have a couple of photos to share with everybody that I took with my cellphone while dog walking.

Monarch Caterpillar

This first one was taken on a walk with Belle the Dog Friday afternoon.

On the left is an actual Monarch Caterpillar that will hopefully someday become a Monarch Butterfly.

On the right is the lady Belle, expressing her opinion on the winter weather we experienced this past January 2026.

On the left is a baby(?) field bunny Belle and I saw Saturday.

The weather has been wonderful the last couple of days in my neck of the woods, so you have to take the time to enjoy the moment, and let the dog do what the dog needs to do 😉, whenever you can.

Of course, if Belle had her way, we'd be out there all day long when the weather is good and I'd never get any writing done.

Speaking of which, I better get back to it now so take care.

STAY SAFE!

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

Lee Houston, Junior

16 August, 2026

PROGRESS REPORT: WEEK ENDING AUGUST 8, 2026

 There WAS some actual progress this past week!

I have finally made it to Chapter 24 of the HUGH MONN, PRIVATE DETECTIVE prequel novel PRIVATE BATTLES, and entered the 42,000+ word mark doing so!

Hopefully this coming week will be better (famous last words😉) because all I have scheduled is errand day and the never ending battle against housework.

Considering it's just me, myself and I; I think the three of us can handle it.

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

Take care.

STAY SAFE!

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

Lee Houston, Junior

9 August, 2026

PROGRESS REPORT: WEEK ENDING AUGUST 1, 2026

 Well, as I suspected in my last PROGRESS REPORT, this past week was not very productive writing wise. 😒

Between the Cardiologist appointment (and for those interested, everything went fine. I'm as healthy as a 64 year old man with a heart condition can be 😀) along with all the regular ins and outs, ups and downs and every other imaginable directions of life; I just didn't get much writing done.

I'm still on Chapter 23 in the 41,000+ word count neighborhood on the HUGH MONN, PRIVATE DETECTIVE prequel novel manuscript PRIVATE BATTLES.

Plot wise I'm approaching the halfway point of the overall story. HUGH is about to resolve one major portion of his first case in hopes of obtaining his private detective license but the initial mystery that started everything has yet to be taken care of.

Of course, the series title does reveal HUGH gets his license.

After all, there were three existing novels in this series before the original publisher went belly up.

But I never said how that happened, nor answered a lot of other questions concerning his background.

PRIVATE BATTLES will have the answers, once I finish writing it and find a new publisher.

With that in mind 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

2 August, 2026

PROGRESS REPORT: WEEK ENDING JULY 25, 2026

MY MUSE, Internet estimate

 Another busy week is behind me.

About all I really had time to do most days was just take notes of whatever my Muse had to say to me.

Hope I can read my own handwriting when the time comes to use them.😉

In any event, I HAVE made it to Chapter 23 and past the 41,000+ word mark on the HUGH MONN, PRIVATE DETECTIVE prequel novel PRIVATE BATTLES.

I've got a long way to go yet considering I'm only about at the halfway point, plot wise, of HUGH earning his private detective license.

If it was the halfway point in the manuscript, then I'd be looking at an estimated 46 chapters and 82,000+ words but the longest HUGH novel from his now defunct publisher was about 35 chapters and close to 68,000+ words.

Not sure how this coming week is going to turn out because I have to see my cardiologist Monday July 27 for my bi-annual (twice a year) physical and that's usually a most of the day event with travel time and I'll still have to have errand day (more hours away from the computer shopping for groceries and other stuff) sometime later this coming week.

But to get any writing done this week I better get back to it so take care.

STAY SAFE!

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

Lee Houston, Junior

26 July, 2026

PROGRESS REPORT: WEEK ENDING JULY 18, 2026

 Once again, it wasn't one of my better weeks. 😐

I'm still on Chapter 22 of the HUGH MONN, PRIVATE DETECTIVE prequel novel PRIVATE
BATTLES, but at least I'm closer to the 41,000+ word mark than I was last time.

Haven't gotten into that neighborhood yet, but some progress is better than none.

I will admit to not being a fast writer.

I take my ideas as they come.

Sometimes I'm "in the zone" as they say, trying to get everything down on the computer file as fast as I can, and other times the only "zone" I'm in seems to be the one with Rod Serling.

I will admit to not being a quick typist either.

The last time I was ever officially timed, my typing speed was about 40 words per minute and that was well over a decade ago.

Even if I was in a position to get my typing speed tested again, I'm not sure I want to find out because it's probably slower now than it was back then just because of the passage of time.

I've spent way too many past PROGRESS REPORTS talking about errands, chores, life, the universe and everything versus the fact that the only ones on Team Houston are me, myself and I.

Yet above all else, I AM A WRITER!

Come what may, I will get this and all future projects completed as soon as humanly possible.

With that in mind, I better get back to writing now.

Take care.

STAY SAFE!

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

Lee Houston, Junior

19 July, 2026

PROGRESS REPORT: WEEK ENDING JULY 11, 2026

 FIRST AND FOREMOST, MY MOST SINCEREST APOLOGIES FOLKS.

With everything going on lately, I forgot to mention in my previous PROGRESS REPORT that my second Last Kiss contribution was published on July 3.

This time I co-wrote a Fourth of July based gag with series creator John Lustig.

I do have a couple of more submissions pending and am always thinking of other possible gags, so will try to keep everyone posted as to when my next joke will appear there.

But everyone can enjoy John Lustig's Last Kiss feature either on Go Comics or his website.

And as for the reason a lot of people check out my writer's blog every week, I have finally made it to Chapter 22 and past the 40,000+ word mark on the HUGH MONN, PRIVATE DETECTIVE prequel novel PRIVATE BATTLES.

Besides all the usual obligations and hassles of life, there have been times when this manuscript has been a real emotional ride as it dives into HUGH's past to (re)establish the character as he tries to obtain his private detective license.

Once it's finished and accepted for publication, this novel is both a jumping on point for new readers while restarting the series that was orphaned when HUGH's previous publisher went out of business.

But to get this book done and restart the series so HUGH's past and future adventures can be told, I better get back to writing now.

So with that in mind, take care.

STAY SAFE!

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

Lee Houston, Junior

12 July, 2026

The 4/FOUR links used were active at the time of posting.

PROGRESS REPORT: WEEK ENDING JULY 4, 2026

 THIS IS THE 700TH POST OF MY WRITER'S BLOG!

I hope those who celebrated America's 250th anniversary of Independence yesterday had a good Fourth of July despite the excessive heat in some areas.

The heat wave is supposed to end today in my neck of the woods but herald a lot of rain off and on over the next several days.

I'm still on Chapter 21 of the HUGH MONN, PRIVATE DETECTIVE prequel novel PRIVATE BATTLES, but at least I'm now past the 38,000+ word mark, so there has been some progress this past week.

And I would also like to thank all my readers and fans for granting this humble writer's blog 24,231 page views during June 2026.

My very first post was September 28, 2013 and we all have come a long way since then, so thanks for sharing part of the journey with me.

This coming week is the usual plethora of chores, errands and other household duties. Nothing major on the horizon until a doctor's appointment the next week.

So with that in mind I'm going back to work now.

Take care.

STAY SAFE!

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

Lee Houston, Junior

5 July, 2026

PROGRESS REPORT: WEEK ENDING JUNE 20, 2026

 There IS actual progress to report this week!

I have made it into Chapter 20 and the 37,000+ word count on the first draft of the HUGH MONN, PRIVATE DETECTIVE prequel novel PRIVATE BATTLES!

I freely admit that it took far longer than normal to get to this point, but I've been busy over the last couple of weeks helping to finalize the galley for publication and then promoting the release of JAIME RAMOS' STREETS OF GOLGOTA, the memorial anthology realizing my friend's final creative dream and making it a reality.

COVER BY ADAM SHAW

Teel James Glenn, Nancy Hansen, Wayne Carey, Bobby Nash and myself; along with Ron Fortier, Rob Davis and Adam Shaw at Airship 27 all worked on seeing this project through to publication because unfortunately Jaime passed away while it was still in production. 😢

I like to think we did him and his family proud, but the final say on that lies with the readers.

If you haven't already acquired a copy yet, it's available from Airship 27 via Amazon in both print and e-book format at 

https://tinyurl.com/y7zvmmbr

I'm going back to my own writing now.

Take care.

STAY SAFE!

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

Lee Houston, Junior

21 June, 2026

PROGRESS REPORT: WEEK ENDING JUNE 6, 2026

 HELLO EVERYBODY!

There's a lot of ground to cover this week so let's get right to it.

There isn't much progress to report in regards to HUGH MONN, PRIVATE DETECTIVE's prequel novel PRIVATE BATTLES. Still within Chapter 19 and the 35,000+ word count.

But this time it wasn't because of life, the universe and everything else that usually gets in my way.

Early last week I, and all the other contributors to the project, received the PDF galley from Airship 27 to proofread and make any corrections concerning the Jaime Ramos Tribute Anthology.

The book's back cover

Jaime's last writing endeavor before his untimely passing on September 30, 2025 was a new noir project entitled Streets of Golgotha.

Part mystery. Part horror. All Jaime, who was kind enough to open the mythical Wisconsin city to his friends and fellow contributors.

Jaime has the first tale "The City of Skulls" and introduced his latest character, John Normandy. A reluctant TV personality and psychic.

Then Teel James Glenn, Nancy Hansen, Wayne Carey, Bobby Nash and myself all explore those unforgiving streets before a round robin adventure closes out the anthology.

As he wrote in the introduction back in 2023:

"I wanted my city to be hard-core, filled with dirty cops, the Mafia, corrupt religious figures. I wanted the city to be laid out with French catacombs underneath and urban Gothic design on the surface. I set the landmarks of the city and had a friend of mine make me a map. I decided to place it in upper Wisconsin. And I decided it always seemed to be raining or snowing or both. Crime would be mixed with mysticism and darkness."

He was even hoping to work on a second volume once the first was published, but life and health issues had other ideas.

The anthology is due out soon from Airship 27 in print and e-book formats via Amazon and everyone involved has done Jaime proud.

I'll have more about this upon publication but before I go, I would just like to thank all my readers and fans for granting this blog 32,120 page views during the month of May 2026.

Now I better get back to writing.

Take care.

STAY SAFE!

And I'll see you around the Internet.

Lee Houston, Junior

7 June, 2026

PROGRESS REPORT: WEEK ENDING MAY 30, 2026

 OVERALL, IT HASN'T BEEN A BAD WEEK.

Another busy one, but not a bad one.

Got more done on the writing front than I thought I would.

While I'm still on Chapter 19 of the HUGH MONN, PRIVATE DETECTIVE prequel novel PRIVATE BATTLES, I am now over 36,000+ words into the manuscript!😎

My main problem writing wise at the moment, besides the ongoing never ending battle of time versus professional and personal responsibilities, is that I'm not quite sure where/when to end this chapter and start Chapter 20.

I wish all my problems in life were that minor.😏

I've been asked before "What do writers do for fun?"

While I can't speak for everyone else in the literary world, among my other assorted hobbies and pastimes, I like to draw.

I'll give you a moment to reread the previous four words.

⏳

Now then, it's mostly during commercial breaks and when the opposing team is at bat during Red Sox baseball⚾ games, but I kick back with my colored pencils and sketch, doodle, draw or whatever the right word to describe what I'm doing is.

I'm certainly no "master artist" and my work will never be in any gallery or museum.

It's just for my own amusement and relaxation.

PHOTO AND ART BY YOURS TRULY.

I recently completed my latest project.

Entitled "Belle: The Queen on Her Throne", it's an image of the dog on her favorite recliner, although technically the chair belongs to someone else.😉

PHOTO BY ME.

On the left you can see the model out in the snow on a morning walk back in January of this year, expressing her opinion of the weather.

While I didn't work on it every single night, it took me almost a full month and any glare in the art picture is because I put it in a frame for safe keeping upon completion.

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

31 May, 2026

PROGRESS REPORT: WEEK ENDING MAY 23, 2026

 Today is the middle of the Memorial Day weekend here in the United States, when one should pause to remember those past and present who defend the freedoms citizens in this country have. Despite what others might believe, it is not a time to buy mattresses or shop other sales.

In any event, while I'm still on Chapter 18 of the HUGH MONN, PRIVATE DETECTIVE prequel novel PRIVATE BATTLES, I have broken the 34,000+ word mark in the process.

For those who (fondly) remember the previous Pro Se Press books before that company went out of business, HUGH is a private detective on another planet in the far flung future as the series mixes two of my favorite genres: science fiction and mysteries.

Hugh's original first cover by David L. Russell 

But like some private detectives of literary history, HUGH is also a military veteran. In this case of Universal War 1, where the Allied Worlds fought the Purists who hated and wanted to wipe out all "aliens" in the universe.

Just remember folks, this series originally started back in 2010 and I'm working hard on trying to get the reboot relaunch up and running today. I was originally thinking of those who either hid themselves within white sheets or followed one man's nightmare of wanting to conquer the world back in the 1940s, not current events.

I have added some details to HUGH's backstory, as seen in the following snippets...

“On one hand, Major Hugh Monn, recently honorably discharged from military duty with several accommodations and medals as part of a very distinguished service record.”

“Hugh…” she began, collecting my medals off the floor from accidentally knocking their case off the dresser. “I didn’t know,” Cynthia added, studying the one’s in her hand. “I recognize the Purple Heart and the Bronze Star from human history. But what are these others?” she wondered, looking at what resembled a blazing comet, along with a star going nova and an iconic representation of the known universe.

"Acknowledgements of doing things that needed to be accomplished, no matter what the consequences," I replied, collecting them from her.

Of course there is a lot of unpresented and in some cases, as yet unwritten material between those two passages, so with that in mind, 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

24 May, 2026

PROGRESS REPORT: WEEK ENDING MAY 16, 2026

 It was another long week of having to do everything and then some as things unplanned popped up on a regular basis, so I won't bore you with the ongoing saga of errands, chores, life, the universe and everything, etc.

HOWEVER, while I am still on Chapter 17 of the HUGH MONN, PRIVATE DETECTIVE prequel novel PRIVATE BATTLES, I'm at least in the 33,000+ word count neighborhood now. 😐

Some weeks are definitely better than others and alas they can't all be winners, but I keep plugging away as time permits any writing to be done and hope to have the first draft of the manuscript completed as soon as humanly possible.

With that in mind, 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

17 May, 2026

PROGRESS REPORT: WEEK ENDING MAY 9, 2026

 I managed to get some serious writing time this past week!😎

Not only did I complete Chapter 16, but am well into both the 31,000+ word count and Chapter 17 of the HUGH MONN, PRIVATE DETECTIVE prequel novel PRIVATE BATTLES!

I would love for this trend to continue, but the coming week does not look favorable between a doctor's appointment and a few other personal items on top of the usual housework, errands, chores, etc.

In any event, I will try to accomplish what I can in the days ahead but before I sign off, for those celebrating today:

Take care.

STAY SAFE!

And I'll see you around the Internet.

Lee Houston, Junior

10 May, 2026

PROGRESS REPORT: WEEK ENDING MAY 2, 2026

 OF WRITING AND PASSINGS...

Another busy week of everything under the sun and then some has passed, but at least I did get some writing done.

While I'm still on Chapter 16 to the HUGH MONN, PRIVATE DETECTIVE PREQUEL NOVEL: PRIVATE BATTLES, I am now past the 30,000+ word mark!😀

I was also saddened to hear of the passing of two of my favorite comic book writers last week.😢

Gerry Conway is noted for many things, including creating a lot of popular characters as well as authoring the very first Marvel/DC crossover and several episodes of various television series.

Len Strazewski had great runs on The Flash, The Justice Society of America and a few other titles I've read over the years.

To say both gentlemen will be missed is an understatement.

In any event, I better get back to working on my own humble contribution(s) to the literary world.

Take care.

STAY SAFE!

And I'll see you around the Internet.

Lee Houston, Junior

3 May, 2026

PROGRESS REPORT: WEEK ENDING APRIL 25, 2026

 I have FINALLY made it to Chapter 16 and am past the 29,000+ word mark in the HUGH MONN, PRIVATE DETECTIVE prequel manuscript PRIVATE BATTLES!

Nothing's changed on the personal front. In fact, I have a doctor's appointment later this week on top of all the usual chores, errands and other aspects of life.

But perseverance finally paid off, despite the fact that these past couple of weeks trying to finish Chapter 15 felt like I was trying to climb a mountain bare handed while blindfolded with a semi tied to each leg.😝

In any event, I'm hoping to have the manuscript completed and ready to submit to whoever Hugh's new publisher will be sometime this summer.

But to do that, I better get back to writing now.

Take care.

STAY SAFE!

And I'll see you around the Internet.

Lee Houston, Junior

26 April, 2026

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