PROGRESS REPORT: WEEK ENDING MARCH 29, 2025

 I've made it to Chapter 23 of 34 proofreading SOLITAIRE 2: THE AGENDA. Even with all the revisions, additions and other changes I'm still a hair under the 60,000 word mark but it's the quality of the work not the quantity that matters most.

I've also been thinking about my future projects past SOLITAIRE 2.

Next will definitely be finishing that SHERLOCK HOLMES story I was working on concurrently until I decided to concentrate entirely on SOLITAIRE 2 when I had the writing time available.

Beyond that?

At some point I will obviously start working on what will eventually become SOLITAIRE 3, no subtitle at the present time.

There's always ZEPHYR LILY to get back to but horror/fantasy adventure takes time to get "just right" without being cliche or repetitive of everything else out there in that genre.

I still have that SCI FI NOVEL I wrote whose manuscript needs another review before I consider sending it to any potential publisher

AND I've been kicking around some other ideas that unfortunately haven't been developed/grown enough yet to start devoting writing time to them.

All of the above PLUS my first of two semi-annual trips to the Cardiologist this week, my weekly Errands Excursion and taking care of The Free Choice E-zine when I'm not "working" on my own writing.

So I better get back to it now.

Take care.

STAY SAFE!

And I'll see you around the Internet.

Lee Houston, Junior

30 March, 2025

PROGRESS REPORT: WEEK ENDING MARCH 22, 2025

 I'm about to start proofreading Chapter 20 of SOLITAIRE 2: THE AGENDA

I know. It seems like a slow long drag, and you wouldn't be wrong in your assessment from some perspectives of the overall project.

It takes time to make sure all the I's are dotted and the T's crossed and all the other grammatical cliches that apply, but it's worth it.

I've corrected a couple of mistakes—Hey, I'm only human—and added about another 300 words to the overall manuscript so far to flesh out a thought here and a sentence there.

With all the other commitments of life I have to deal with, time is still a precious commodity when your entire "staff" is me, myself, and I but I will have this manuscript completely proofread and off to the publisher.

Hopefully by the end of April at the latest.

So I better get back to it.

Take care.

STAY SAFE!

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

Lee Houston, Junior

23 March, 2025

PROGRESS REPORT: WEEK ENDING MARCH 15, 2025

 I've made it to Chapter 18 of SOLITAIRE 2: THE AGENDA, which now puts me at the halfway point of the manuscript since it has 34 chapters.

I only had one decent writing day, time wise, this past week.

Otherwise it was catch as catch can.

A moment here. A couple of minutes there. You get the idea.

You have to understand that when I proofread any manuscript, I go word by word by line by sentence by paragraph by scene by page by chapter until I've reread the entire manuscript from its first word until the very end.

Had family over today, so nothing got accomplished professionally except this blog post and The Sunday Funnies on The Free Choice E-zine.

Not sure how the coming week will turn out but I am going to bed now.

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

Lee Houston, Junior

16 March, 2025

For those celebrating, HAPPY SAINT PATRICK'S DAY🍀, but please party responsibly.

PROGRESS REPORT: WEEK ENDING MARCH 8, 2025

My editor's hat 😉

 Although my time was divided between the usual responsibilities and commitments versus what I would have preferred to be doing (writing), I at least managed to get a couple of more chapters proofread in the SOLITAIRE 2: THE AGENDA manuscript.

Still not even at the halfway point of double checking the novel before submitting it to the publisher yet, but at least there was progress!😀

And for those interested, if you haven't had a chance to do so yet, time is running out⌚⌛⏰ on voting because the polls close tomorrow night for the 2025 Pulp Factory Awards Ballot.

Lots of worthy contenders in five different categories and plenty of good reading available, regardless of who wins.

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

9 March, 2025

PROGRESS REPORT: WEEK ENDING MARCH 1, 2025

 I honestly don't know all the whys and wherefores, but it was another week of getting everything done except the stuff I really wanted to do.😕

I did manage to get another page or so proofread on SOLITAIRE 2: THE AGENDA, but absolutely no work on my SHERLOCK HOLMES story.😞

I'm thinking it might be for the best to concentrate all my writing time, whenever it comes along, on finishing the proofreading so I can finally get the SOLITAIRE manuscript to the publisher for eventual release.

And if you haven't done so already, please don't forget to vote in the 2025 PULP FACTORY AWARDS. One vote per person with the March 10 deadline just over the horizon.

Have a load of laundry about to finish the dryer cycle.

Still have to cook dinner.

Grocery hunting tomorrow and my birthday is this coming Wednesday.

Otherwise, my week looks pretty open right now.

I wonder how much I'll get accomplished?

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

Take care.

STAY SAFE!

And I'll see you around the Internet.

Lee Houston, Junior

2 March, 2025

PROGRESS REPORT: WEEK ENDING FEBRUARY 22, 2025

 WELL...

Another week of endless interruptions and other life commitments kept me from getting much writing done.😟

One whole page of proofreading on SOLITAIRE 2: THE AGENDA and two more paragraphs added to my work in progress SHERLOCK HOLMES story.

That's it!

On the other hand, as its Editor-In-Chief I've been super busy with The Free Choice E-zine. It has seriously increased activity since January 20, especially The Week In Review feature that gets posted every Saturday.

I have grocery hunting tomorrow. Household chores on Tuesday and a doctor's appointment Wednesday.

Beyond that, here's hoping I get something creatively accomplished between SOLITAIRE and SHERLOCK this coming week.

In any event, take care.

STAY SAFE!

I'll see you around the Internet and if you haven't done so already, please vote in the annual Pulp Factory Awards.

Lee Houston, Junior

23 February, 2025

THE 2025 PULP FACTORY AWARDS BALLOT

 HEY EVERYBODY!

Each year, that august body known as the Pulp Factory (whose page you can access on Facebook) gets together and accepts nominations from everything published the previous year before selecting finalists to compete in the annual Pulp Factory Awards.

And I'm actually a contestant this year!😀 My short story from Codename Intrepid Classified Volume 3 is competing against some other worthy contenders in the Best Short Story category, among the other topics to consider.

The full list below and ballot are here: https://forms.gle/iaamnrY3EVhCRCy9A

They even include copies of the Cover Contenders in case you might have forgotten what they look like.

ANYONE CAN VOTE ONCE, BUT YOU ONLY HAVE UNTIL 11:59PM EASTERN TIME MARCH 10 TO DO SO!

The best of luck to all the nominees.

Best Novel

    • Captain Hawklin at War by Charles F. Millhouse - Stormgate Press

    • Lance Star: Cold Snap by Bobby Nash - Airship 27

    • Not Born of Woman by Teel James Glenn - Macabre Ink

Best Short Story

    • The Extrasensory Connection by Nancy Hansen - CNI Classified Vol. 2 - Blue Planet Press

    • Murdoch by Jaime Ramos - The Blood Runs Deep - Valhalla Books

    • Operation Colossus by Lee Houston - CNI Classified Vol. 3 - Blue Planet Press

    • The Rose of Madrid by Teel James Glenn - Zorro: Swordplay & Romance - Bold Venture Press

    • The Strand Magazine Murders by I.A. Watson - Sherlock Holmes, Consulting Detective Vol. 20 - Airship 27

Best Anthology

    • The Blood Runs Deep - Valhalla Books

    • CNI: Classified Vol. 2 - Blue Planet Press

    • Sherlock Holmes Consulting Detective Vol. 20 - Airship 27

Best Interior Illustrations

    • Clayton Murwin - Lance Star: Cold Snap - Airship 27

    • James Lyle - Towers of Metropolis Vol. 2 - Airship 27

    • Rob Davis – Sherlock Holmes Consulting Detective Vol. 20 - Airship 27

Best Cover

    • Rob Davis – The Devil You Know - Airship 27

    • Ted Hammond – Jezebel Johnston Vol. 9: Captain Johnston – Airship 27

    • Jeffrey Hayes - CNI: Classified Vol. 2 - Blue Planet Press

Remember voting is open to all, so feel free to share this with other fans of pulp, thrilling action adventure and readers in general!