PROGRESS REPORT: WEEK ENDING JULY 18, 2026

 Once again, it wasn't one of my better weeks. 😐

I'm still on Chapter 22 of the HUGH MONN, PRIVATE DETECTIVE prequel novel PRIVATE
BATTLES, but at least I'm closer to the 41,000+ word mark than I was last time.

Haven't gotten into that neighborhood yet, but some progress is better than none.

I will admit to not being a fast writer.

I take my ideas as they come.

Sometimes I'm "in the zone" as they say, trying to get everything down on the computer file as fast as I can, and other times the only "zone" I'm in seems to be the one with Rod Serling.

I will admit to not being a quick typist either.

The last time I was ever officially timed, my typing speed was about 40 words per minute and that was well over a decade ago.

Even if I was in a position to get my typing speed tested again, I'm not sure I want to find out because it's probably slower now than it was back then just because of the passage of time.

I've spent way too many past PROGRESS REPORTS talking about errands, chores, life, the universe and everything versus the fact that the only ones on Team Houston are me, myself and I.

Yet above all else, I AM A WRITER!

Come what may, I will get this and all future projects completed as soon as humanly possible.

With that in mind, I better get back to writing now.

Take care.

STAY SAFE!

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

Lee Houston, Junior

19 July, 2026

PROGRESS REPORT: WEEK ENDING JULY 11, 2026

 FIRST AND FOREMOST, MY MOST SINCEREST APOLOGIES FOLKS.

With everything going on lately, I forgot to mention in my previous PROGRESS REPORT that my second Last Kiss contribution was published on July 3.

This time I co-wrote a Fourth of July based gag with series creator John Lustig.

I do have a couple of more submissions pending and am always thinking of other possible gags, so will try to keep everyone posted as to when my next joke will appear there.

But everyone can enjoy John Lustig's Last Kiss feature either on Go Comics or his website.

And as for the reason a lot of people check out my writer's blog every week, I have finally made it to Chapter 22 and past the 40,000+ word mark on the HUGH MONN, PRIVATE DETECTIVE prequel novel PRIVATE BATTLES.

Besides all the usual obligations and hassles of life, there have been times when this manuscript has been a real emotional ride as it dives into HUGH's past to (re)establish the character as he tries to obtain his private detective license.

Once it's finished and accepted for publication, this novel is both a jumping on point for new readers while restarting the series that was orphaned when HUGH's previous publisher went out of business.

But to get this book done and restart the series so HUGH's past and future adventures can be told, I better get back to writing now.

So with that in mind, take care.

STAY SAFE!

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

Lee Houston, Junior

12 July, 2026

The 4/FOUR links used were active at the time of posting.

PROGRESS REPORT: WEEK ENDING JULY 4, 2026

 THIS IS THE 700TH POST OF MY WRITER'S BLOG!

I hope those who celebrated America's 250th anniversary of Independence yesterday had a good Fourth of July despite the excessive heat in some areas.

The heat wave is supposed to end today in my neck of the woods but herald a lot of rain off and on over the next several days.

I'm still on Chapter 21 of the HUGH MONN, PRIVATE DETECTIVE prequel novel PRIVATE BATTLES, but at least I'm now past the 38,000+ word mark, so there has been some progress this past week.

And I would also like to thank all my readers and fans for granting this humble writer's blog 24,231 page views during June 2026.

My very first post was September 28, 2013 and we all have come a long way since then, so thanks for sharing part of the journey with me.

This coming week is the usual plethora of chores, errands and other household duties. Nothing major on the horizon until a doctor's appointment the next week.

So with that in mind I'm going back to work now.

Take care.

STAY SAFE!

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

Lee Houston, Junior

5 July, 2026