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 The 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 next weekend 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