PROGRESS REPORT: WEEK ENDING DECEMBER 14, 2019

♫Deck Us All With Boston Charlie...♫—Walt Kelly.

Even if I had a lot more done than I already do, which at the moment is absolutely nothing, Christmas

IS coming! 🎄
As we get closer to December 25, I have no idea how much, if any, writing will be accomplished between now and then outside of my online commitments to this blog and
The Free Choice E-zine.

But as of today, I am on Chapter 14 and 34,000+ words into SOLITAIRE, the novel.
Definitely looking at it being a 2020 submission.
And for those wondering, no, I unfortunately still do not have a release date on HUGH MONN, PRIVATE DETECTIVE, BOOK 3: FEMME FATALE yet. 😕

In any event, got to get going now.
See you around the Internet.
Lee Houston, Junior
15 December, 2019

PROGRESS REPORT: WEEK ENDING DECEMBER 7, 2019

This past week was more research than anything else.

Daytime view of Tokyo, Japan.

After all, if you're going to set part of your story someplace you've never been, you still want to be as accurate as possible even if what you're creating is basically a work of fiction.
SOLITAIRE is still in Tokyo, Japan and Chapter 13.
I HAVE passed the 31,000+ word mark though.
Hopefully will at least finish the current chapter this week, especially since the writers' group is scheduled to meet again soon.
How long the Tokyo section, let alone the overall novel will go though...
With the holidays🎄 approaching, will have to take it all one day at a time but any writing time I do get outside of honoring my blogging commitments will be spent on this novel.

In any event, have a great week, and I'll see you around the Internet.
Lee Houston, Junior
8 December, 2019

PROGRESS REPORT: WEEK ENDING NOVEMBER 30, 2019

Well, I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving and aren't being haunted too much by the poultry-giests of leftovers! 😉

In any event, what writing time I did have this past week went either to my responsibilities as Editor-In-Chief of The Free Choice E-zine or the SOLITAIRE novel.

NYC at night

I'm on Chapter 13 and just past the 30,000+ words point at the moment.
The first 12 were all spent in New York City, and the writing group I belong to loved each one when I read them, but the adventure has now gone International as the scene shifts to Tokyo, Japan!
Of course I've never set foot in NYC, or left the Continental United States to see the exotic sights of foreign shores, so there is a lot of research involved.

Tokyo at night

Wish I could afford to go to such exotic places, but the Internet's Travel Service is the best I can accomplish on my limited resources.
Hmmm... I wonder if I can get Frequent Web Surfing🏄 Miles, or whatever the computer equivalent of Frequent Flyer Miles is.

In any event, I better get back to writing now.
Have a great week, and I'll see you around the Internet.
Lee Houston, Junior
1 December, 2019

PROGRESS REPORT: WEEK ENDING NOVEMBER 23, 2019

OKAY...
Short version—
Been busy with some personal stuff over the last day or so, which kept me from posting until now, but I'm still working on SOLITAIRE.
On Chapter 13 and the adventure has gone INTERNATIONAL!
Not sure how much writing I'll get done this week with the impending holiday but

And I'll see you around the Internet.
Lee Houston, Junior
25 November, 2019

PROGRESS REPORT: WEEK ENDING NOVEMBER 16, 2019

♫Second verse. Same as the first.♫—Henry the 8th by Herman's Hermits.

Or in other words, still working on the SOLITAIRE novel.

Am currently on Chapter Twelve, 28,000+ words into the project.

The first half of the novel takes place in New York City.

The second half???

We'll see...

"And now for something completely different."—Monty Python's Flying Circus.

Every other Thursday night (or thereabouts, because I don't know yet how or if we'll be doing the next one since it should be the week of Thanksgiving) I gather online with a few friends.

We hang out, discuss writing, and read what we've worked on since our last meeting.

Writing a lot of times can be a singular, solitary occupation so it's great to have a chance to discuss doing so with others who actually know what I'm talking about.
Their enthusiasm, encouragement, and advice helps too.

So here's to Jaime Ramos, Teel James Glenn, Wayne Carey, and Nancy Hansen.

I'm honored to be your friend.

Better get back to writing now.

Take care, and I'll see you all around the Internet.

Lee Houston, Junior

17 November, 2019

PROGRESS REPORT: WEEK ENDING NOVEMBER 9, 2019

WELL...
Despite my lack of time last week, when I got the chance to do so, I DID WRITE!
Am currently on Chapter 11 and 26,000+ words into the SOLITAIRE novel.
Wish I had more to talk about concerning the above, but why spoil surprises before they're ready to be revealed?

For those interested, I have yet to hear anything from Pro Se concerning a scheduled release date for either HUGH MONN, PRIVATE DETECTIVE, BOOK 3: FEMME FATALE nor the project I wrote that emergency short story for.

The Jim Beard Project "Zephyr Lily" was written for has been pushed back to at least 2020.

And Sherlock Holmes in "The Adventure of the Unimaginable"?
I DID work on it a little this past week, but SOLITAIRE still seems to be "THE" project of the moment, so...

Hey, between everything else and my responsibilities to The Free Choice E-zine, at least I AM WRITING!
So on that note♫, I better get back to it now.
Take care, and I'll see you around the Internet.
Lee Houston, Junior
10 November, 2019

PROGRESS REPORT: WEEK ENDING NOVEMBER 2, 2019

Well folks, it's been a bit of a rough week for yours truly, as evident by the fact of exactly WHEN I'm actually posting this Progress Report, but I have managed to get some writing done off and on since my last Progress Report.
The main focus continues to be my new novel SOLITAIRE.
Am in the middle of Chapter 11, 26,000+ words and going strong.
Unfortunately the week ahead doesn't look that promising.
Two different doctors' appointments scheduled, and still not a TARDIS in sight! 😉
PLUS there's a possibility of the first snow🌨 fall of the "season" (AND IT'S ONLY EARLY FALL!🍂) happening this coming Friday.
Thankfully nothing scheduled that day but staying inside and keeping warm.
Don't get me wrong though.
Snow❄❅❆ IS beautiful to look at as it drifts down a few flakes at a time here and there.
But anything more severe, let alone having to deal with it afterward... 😝

In any event, back to writing after a good night's sleep.
Take care, and I'll see you around the Internet.
Lee Houston, Junior
4 November, 2019