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

CODE NAME: INTREPID CLASSIFIED VOLUME 3 NOW AVAILABLE

 IT'S HERE!

I've talked about it from the start of writing my contribution through the submission and editing process and now at last everyone can read it for themselves!

CODE NAME: INTREPID CLASSIFIED VOLUME 3

HAS BEEN RELEASED ON AMAZON!

Cover art by Jeffery Hayes of Plasma Fire Graphics

And check out this amazing line up!

The anthology opens with Intrepid bracing against a “Storm Front” by series creator Robert J. Mendenhall.

Then John L. French has the team facing an enemy they never confronted before in “Operation Wayback” .

After that, Brian K. Lowe reveals something mysterious happening in “The Alpine Affair”.

Next comes my contribution to the anthology: “Operation Colossus”.

The sky's not the limit in Brian K. Morris'  “Heavenly Unbound”, before the anthology concludes with James Palmer revealing a  “Feat of Clay”.

And for those hopefully few out there sadly unaware of who Code Name: Intrepid is, in Robert J. Mendenhall's own words...

"The team is comprised of highly-trained individuals from the Army and Navy, as well as exceptional professionals from the civilian community. INTREPID’s sole function is to investigate incidents and situations which threaten the security of the United States that are OUTSIDE THE REALM OF NORMAL OCCURRENCE. Since these “incidents” are of extraordinary or UNNATURAL order, team leader Lieutenant Colonel Rick Justice of the  U.S. Army Air Corps and INTREPID will receive top priority.

"This also leads to Intrepid encountering on a regular basis the Sonderstaffel: a shadow unit “special squadron” of the Nazi Party under the direct control of Adolf Hitler. Their mission is 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."

The stakes are high. The risks great, and failure is NOT an option!

Exciting Thrills! Chills! Action! Adventure! Espionage! Drama and more await in the pages of CODE NAME: INTREPID CLASSIFIED VOLUME THREE, now available from Amazon in both print and e-book formats!

HAPPY READING!

Lee Houston, Junior

25 August, 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