PROGRESS REPORT: WEEK ENDING MARCH 26, 2016

At this point, I need to go over the final chapter and write the back cover copy before submitting PROJECT ALPHA, BOOK 2: WAYWARD SON to Pro Se Press for eventual publication.
When that's done, I'll be resuming work on my Sherlock Holmes story for Airship 27.
In the meantime, I'm taking today off for obvious reasons.

HOPPY EASTER EVERYBODY!

See you around the Internet.
Lee Houston, Junior
27 March, 2016 (Easter Sunday)

PROGRESS REPORT: WEEK ENDING MARCH 19, 2016

Well, today I thought I'd be talking about my visit to Victorian England, Sherlock Holmes, and my personal opinions on Basil Rathbone versus Jeremy Britt in regards to who portrayed the original consulting detective better.

Instead, I was pleasantly surprised to find the edited manuscript for PROJECT ALPHA, BOOK 2: WAYWARD SON in my in-box from my friendly neighborhood beta/proofreader Nancy Hansen.
Obviously, I've been working on that this past week.
IF (big word for just two letters) all goes well, I should be submitting it to Pro Se Press for eventual publication by the end of this week.

But Nancy must of REALLY liked the novel, because she posted this on Facebook:

"Today I finished editing Lee Houston Junior's next Alpha book. I have to say, this is one of the best stories I've read in a while. I'm not a big comic book fan but this book has everything a superhero geek enthusiast would love. It's filled with action and adventure, but it's also got heart. You find yourself sucked right into that tale and rooting for this guy as he battles everything that gets thrown at him—and there's plenty of that. So proud to have been able to play some part in getting this one out. I think anybody who loves a good adventure tale told well is going to enjoy it. Can't wait to see it in print!
Kudos to you Lee!"

Well, that's one happy fan. Hopefully the rest will be joining her when the book sees publication release.
All of this, and to greet the first day of Spring, freezing temperatures and a prediction of possibly up to 8 INCHES of snow by morning!

See you around the Internet.
Lee Houston, Junior
20 March, 2016

PROGRESS REPORT: WEEK ENDING MARCH 12, 2016

OKAY... my friendly neighborhood beta/proofreader Nancy Hansen is making her final pass on the manuscript for PROJECT ALPHA, BOOK 2: WAYWARD SON.
As I post this, she was planning to start Chapter 12 of 20 today.
So far Nancy says she loves the book.
Don't know how many changes/corrections/whatever she's done to it, let alone where the word count stands at the moment.
That I will discover when I get the manuscript back (presumably) later this week to start my FINAL review.

I have finished formatting and reviewing the manuscript for Nancy's next anthology.
Definitely an interesting take on the concept of someone being sent on missions to right wrongs, whether they want to or not.

NOW, at least until I'm either done writing it or get the ALPHA 2 manuscript back, I will be resuming my trip to Victorian London to work on the Sherlock Holmes story I promised Ron Fortier at Airship 27.

I'll admit, I found it a bit daunting coming up with an enigma "worthy" of the world's first consulting detective, but now that I have that, the story is coming along fine.
The only thing I'm uncertain of now is if I'm picturing Basil Rathbone or Jeremy Britt in the classic role.
But more on that in my next Progress Report.

Have a great week everybody.
Hope those participating remembered to set their clocks forward one hour to start Daylight Saving Time, and I'll see you around the Internet.
Lee Houston, Junior
13 March, 2016

PROGRESS REPORT: WEEK ENDING MARCH 5, 2016

Well, yesterday was my birthday, but I gave myself a present.
I finally finished going over the manuscript for PROJECT ALPHA, BOOK 2: WAYWARD SON!
I trimmed it from 71,041 words down to 68,996 words, not counting the 243 words on the Acknowledgements page.
At the moment, my friendly neighborhood beta/proofreader Nancy Hansen has it to go start her final pass.
After I get it back and make THE final review, then I'll be submitting it to Pro Se Press.
Then you folks can start asking Pro Se's Editor-In-Chief Tommy Hancock when the book will be released.

I have to return the favor and go over Nancy's latest anthology project, at least to make sure the four short stories are assembled properly without any formatting errors.

After that, I'll get back to that Sherlock Holmes short story I started and owe Ron Fortier at Airship 27.

Then...?
It will be time to start coming up with a mystery/adventure worthy of being the third book in the HUGH MONN, PRIVATE DETECTIVE series!

So, it looks like I've got a busy (and hopefully warmer) Spring ahead of me, so I better get back to "work" now.
See you around the Internet.
Lee Houston, Junior
6 March, 2016

PROGRESS REPORT: WEEK ENDING FEBRUARY 27, 2016

Well, another "fun" (note sarcastic quotes) week has come and gone!

Wound up spending most of Tuesday at the local DMV, but at least I got out of there the same day I went in!

Thursday was mostly errands, and it seemed like I didn't sit in my desk chair for more than five minutes in any given stretch before I had to take care of something that pulled me away from the computer this weekend.

What all this is leading up to is that there is still two chapters left in my review of the manuscript to PROJECT ALPHA, BOOK 2: WAYWARD SON, before I send it on to my friendly neighborhood beta proofreader.
Word count has been reduced from 71,041 words to 69,589 words, making the book 1,452 words tighter than it was.

Hopefully, it WILL get done this week.
Famous last words? I hope not!
Meanwhile, take care, and I'll see you around the Internet!
Lee Houston, Junior
28 February, 2016

PROGRESS REPORT: WEEK ENDING FEBRUARY 20, 2016

Well folks,  as I celebrate the 150th post on this blog, another interesting week has passed for me.

Was actually going pretty good until a water line came loose in the basement, instantly making that area an indoor pool and, considering how cold it was outside at the time, I temporarily had to join the Polar Bear Club if I wanted to fix it.

Shut off the water. Reattach the disconnected section because the pressure caused it to work loose. Reattach everything else. Turn the water back on and be thankful I got it right the first time.

Gene Kelly at his finest!

All the while trying to stay warm while thinking that under better circumstances, I could have restaged the title number from Singin' In The Rain.
Fun. Fun. Fun. (Note the sarcasm.)

Yet, I did manage to get some serious work done too.
There are only five chapters left to proofread on PROJECT ALPHA, BOOK 2: WAYWARD SON!
Have pared my word count down from 71,041 words to 69,792 words; making the manuscript 1249 words leaner and better.

Barring anything unforeseen, like I plan all these <censored> interruptions to begin with, I SHOULD have the rest of the novel gone over this week before sending it to my friendly neighborhood beta/proofreader for her final pass.
HOPEFULLY I will be totally done and on to other projects by Saint Patrick's Day.
Then it will just be a question of when Pro Se Press publishes and releases it.
In the meantime, have a great week, and I'll see you around the Internet.
Lee Houston, Junior
21 February, 2016

PROGRESS REPORT: WEEK ENDING FEBRUARY 13, 2016

ALPHA!

Despite the weather interruptions, still working on the final edit of PROJECT ALPHA, BOOK 2: WAYWARD SON.
Completed reviewing the first ten chapters while fighting power outages and trying to keep the wood stove going to stay warm.
Started with 71,041 words.
Have currently reduced it to 70,431 words.

Now, 610 words may not seem like a lot to some, but doing my best to tighten up the manuscript and make it even better than it originally was.
Of course, I still need to let my friendly neighborhood beta/proofreader go over it too before I submit the novel to Pro Se Press, but I am getting closer to doing that!

Meanwhile, HAPPY VALENTINES DAY to those celebrating, and I'll see you around the Internet!
Lee Houston, Junior
14 February, 2016

PROGRESS REPORT: WEEK ENDING FEBRUARY 6, 2016

Well folks, I kept trying to work.

At least on writing, if not continuing the final edit on PROJECT ALPHA, BOOK 2: WAYWARD SON, before submitting the manuscript.

However, errands and other life commitments took away most of Tuesday and Wednesday this past week.

Then the bad snowstorm and the lack of electricity took away Friday and Saturday.
Did some more handwriting on a rough draft for what will eventually be my Sherlock Holmes story for Airship 27, but ALPHA is strictly a computer task and without power...

Hoping for a better week ahead, despite the weather predictions for the next couple of days being more snow just as bad as what I've already had.

In any event, see you around the Internet.
(I hope.)
Lee Houston, Junior
7 February, 2016

PROGRESS REPORT: WEEK ENDING JANUARY 30, 2016

STILL wearing my editor's hat going over PROJECT ALPHA, BOOK 2: WAYWARD SON.
Have trimmed some sentences, and even moved a few paragraphs around here and there.
Started at 71,041 words.
Currently at 70,855 words after four chapters; for 186 less words.
Still 16 chapters to go as I post this.
Will the work be done by next weekend?
I honestly don't know.
But what I have gone over is now reading much better than the first draft.

See you around the Internet!
Lee Houston, Junior
31 January, 2016

PROGRESS REPORT: WEEK ENDING JANUARY 23, 2016

Still wearing my editor's hat, but have finished going over the second Lazlo Dragon volume of Companion Dragon Tales for my friendly neighborhood beta/proofreader Nancy Hansen.

There are some pretty funny tales in this volume, as anyone who has read Lazlo's debut in A FAMILIAR NAME can attest.

Once Nancy finishes going over my work, she will be sending it on to Pro Se Press for future publication. When exactly that will happen remains to be seen, for at that point it's out of our respective hands.

Have started going over the completed manuscript for PROJECT ALPHA, BOOK 2: WAYWARD SON!

Alpha

Besides wanting to make sure the novel reads well as a coherent whole, I wanted to see if I can tighten up my prose any. It started at 71,041 words and at the end of the first chapter, I have only trimmed 12 off so far.

I'll admit, it's kind of hard to edit your own work, but it's a task that must be done to make your creative endeavors the best they can possibly be. Which is why after I make my "final" pass, my friendly neighborhood beta/proofreader will be going over it one last time as well.

As for what actually happens in Book 2...
Well, it does pick up events shortly after the conclusion of Book 1: PROJECT ALPHA.
Otherwise, you folks will just have to wait and see for yourselves when it (hopefully) comes out later this year from Pro Se Press.

But to make that happen, I better get back to work now.
See you around the Internet!
Lee Houston, Junior
24 January, 2016

PROGRESS REPORT: WEEK ENDING JANUARY 16, 2016

I spent this past week in Victorian England, working on the Sherlock Holmes story that I promised Airship 27.

I freely admit that it did take me a while to develop a plot that would be worthy of the famous consulting detective created by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, for I have read and seen both good and bad adventures featuring the English sleuth, and certainly do not want my tale to be amongst those in the latter category.

My Editor's Hat ;)

However, while that adventure is far from finished, this week I must return to the present and will be wearing my Editor's hat for the foreseeable future.

First, I am going over the stories within the second Lazlo Dragon volume of Companion Dragon Tales for my friendly neighborhood beta/proofreader Nancy Hansen, then I shall be making my last pass over the manuscript for PROJECT ALPHA, BOOK 2: WAYWARD SON to make sure it reads as a coherent whole and tighten what I can, for the first draft came in at over 70,000 words; and I didn't even get to do everything I originally had planned for that novel!

Any way you look at it, I've got a busy week ahead of me.
See you around the Internet!
Lee Houston, Junior
17 January, 2016

PROGRESS REPORT: WEEK ENDING JANUARY 9, 2016

O FRABJOUS DAY!

CALLOOH! CALLAY!

PROJECT ALPHA, BOOK 2: WAYWARD SON IS DONE!

I still have to go over the entire manuscript to make sure the novel reads as a coherent whole before submitting the book to Pro Se Press, but otherwise...

With some personal events scheduled for this coming week through Wednesday, I have decided the best use of what time I will have available is to start writing my Sherlock Holmes story for Airship 27.
Therefore, the final edit of PROJECT ALPHA 2 will begin in earnest on Thursday.

Either way, I better get back to work now.
See you around the Internet!
Lee Houston, Junior
10 January, 2016

PROGRESS REPORT: WEEK ENDING JANUARY 2, 2016

HELLO, and welcome to the start of a brand new year!
I sincerely hope the third day of 2016 finds everyone safe and sound.

Now then, exciting news! I have FINISHED Chapter 20 of PROJECT ALPHA: BOOK 2, WAYWARD SON!
Of course, it is now in the capable hands of my friendly neighborhood beta/proofreader, and once it's settled, I still have to go over the entire manuscript to make sure it reads well as a coherent whole; but I should finally be submitting the novel to Pro Se Press by the first of February!

Project Alpha 2 IS coming!

Despite the false starts, mistakes, and life interruptions I've faced over this past year; a LOT of hard work has gone into the creation of this novel, and I'm happy to be so near completion now.

So, what ELSE did I accomplish in 2015?



Last year saw the following short stories published...

*IT ALL STARTED INNOCENTLY ENOUGH in the Judson & Gardner anthology as part of the Charles Boeckman Presents project for Pro Se Press

*THE SOUND OF OBEDIENCE published in Ghost Boy, Volume 2 from Airship 27; my first contribution to Captain Ron Fortier and Loyal Airman Rob Davis, but far from my last

*THE SUBSTANDARD QUINTENT: COME TOGETHER, and I co-edited Jim Beard's Super Swingin' Hero 1968 Special from Mechanoid Press; which was truly a great honor in and of itself and I look forward to working with Jim again...

AND
*THE UNFAIR FARE in Legends of New Pulp Fiction, the Tommy Hancock benefit anthology, Airship 27; which was truly a labor of love for all involved to help out one of our own.

You already know my immediate plans for the beginning of 2016. After PROJECT ALPHA 2, I still owe Ron and Rob a SHERLOCK HOLMES story, and then I'll start work on whatever will become HUGH MONN, PRIVATE DETECTIVE, BOOK 3.

Beyond that? Let's see what the new year brings.                Lee Houston, Junior

3 January, 2016

Note: All book links are active, although for some reason Amazon doesn't always list both print and Kindle editions in the same screen.