PROGRESS REPORT: WEEK ENDING APRIL 11, 2015

First and foremost, this is my 100th writer's blog post.

I would like to thank all my readers and fans who have visited on a regular basis to see what I have been up to creatively from week to week.

Without you, this blog, let alone my writing, would be for naught.

Now then...

Art by Marc Guerrero

I finally got the latest attempt at Chapter 15 of ALPHA, BOOK 2: WAYWARD SON back from my friendly neighborhood beta/proofreader. The delays were not her fault, for there is a lot going on in her life as I type these words, but that is a subject best left for her to discuss.
As far as the chapter itself is concerned, I will be going over it this week. I do have Chapter 16 written, but felt it best to get Chapter 15 resolved before sending off the next one for her review.

I honestly don't know what the issue(s) have been with 15, especially since this my fifth attempt at it. Lot of research and locale investigating required too.
Considering everything that has happened so far and what will happen before the end of Book 2, I'm trying to make WAYWARD SON as believable as possible.

Remember, BOOK 1: PROJECT ALPHA was our hero's origin story and first adventure. BOOK 2 sets the foundation for the future of the series.

Promo poster for Book 1 by Sean E. Ali

Yes, I know there has to be some suspension of disbelief in a work of fiction, but if you ask the readers to do that too much, it will have the opposite effect on your work. They will put the book aside and go on to something else.

But I haven't been idle while waiting for Chapter 15 to come back. I'm now 6,000+ words (out of 15,000) into that invitational short story I've been asked to write, and should have it done before the end of the month.
People have been asking me for more details on that, but I'm not sure how much I can say at the moment.
I will admit that it's a period piece, and does involve a subject I know a lot about.
If that's not enough information, you'll just have to wait until I can speak more about it.

In any event, I better get back to writing now.
Thank you once again for being here, and here's to the next 100 posts and beyond!
Lee Houston, Junior
12 April, 2015

PROGRESS REPORT: WEEK ENDING JANUARY 31, 2015

Well folks, I'll be honest and admit that I'm not exactly sure what to tell you in regards to my progress this past week working on the manuscript for ALPHA, BOOK 2: WAYWARD SON.

As I wrote last time, there has been plenty of writing and editing done. I've solved most of my action versus exposition problems, resulting in an additional chapter of material in the process.

On the other hand, I'm about where I was in the overall story when the whole problem originally reared its ugly head, only now I'm starting with Chapter 15 instead of 14 since there is that new chapter of material.

I truly wish I could tell you more details about where Alpha is, what is happening to him now, and what comes next; but to do so would spoil the surprises when the novel is published.

Alpha art by Marc Guerrero

I can remind everyone that what I am attempting to do with BOOK 2 is lay the foundation for the future of the series, since BOOK 1 (Project Alpha) revealed his origin story and first adventure.
Now Alpha is trying to find his place in the universe. Will this strange new world he finds himself on be it?

Barring anything unforeseen, I should be finished with the manuscript sometime between late March/April. Then it will require a final beta/proofreading before the novel is submitted to the publisher. The actual publication date will be determined by them sometime after that.

But to do my part, I better get back to "work" now.

See you around the Internet!

Lee Houston, Junior

1 February, 2015

PROGRESS REPORT: WEEK ENDING NOVEMBER 22, 2014

Well, it's been a mixed week folks.

Had my every other year eye exam this past Tuesday. Reading glasses prescription needed a bit of tweaking, but otherwise my vision is still 20/20.
However, the exam entailed having my eyes dilated, which cost me the entire day writing wise.

Art by Marc Guerrero

But most of my time at the keyboard has been spent going back over Chapter 10 to ALPHA, BOOK 2: WAYWARD SON.
No, the chapter was not that bad.
However, my friendly neighborhood beta/proofreader wanted me to go back over my facts and make sure that all the details I used about thermal imagery were accurate.
While doing so, I found some exciting new information on the subject, which led to creating a couple of new scenes and rewriting a few others, which resulted in resubmitting the chapter back to Nancy Hansen for another review.

So you can see why I've always been pro-research.

Thermal image of a cat!

Not that my original data was wrong, but if I hadn't found the new information, I wouldn't have done the extra work and you the readers would not have a better chapter when the book comes out next year.

But what does thermal imaging have to do with superheroes?
The idea of using heat sensitive equipment to detect objects has some serious applications in the real world; like detecting lost people at night, discovering a missing person in the midst of a fire, possibly finding some forms of cancer within a patient sooner, etc.
The hotter the part, the brighter the color display on the scanner display.
So if someone were to go looking for an invisible superhero...

AH-HA! Now you get it!
The way I see it; a "plain" superhero, someone who just has a special skill like judo or archery, would probably show up on a thermal scan just like any other human being.
But someone who has actual power(s) would probably read a little higher.

Meanwhile, the plan for this week is to get as much as humanly possible done around the Thanksgiving holiday.
Monday and Tuesday should be productive. Wednesday is iffy and I'll be surprised if I accomplish anything writing wise Thursday beyond posting in my capacity as Editor-In-Chief of The Free Choice E-zine.
But the only place I intend to be on the dreaded shopping frenzy known as "Black Friday" is in a very deep conversation with my pillow until my normal wake up time that day.

So in any event, I better get back to work now.
Have a great week, HAPPY THANKSGIVING!
And I'll see you around the Internet.
Lee Houston, Junior
23 November, 2014

PROGRESS REPORT: WEEK ENDING SEPTEMBER 20, 2014

Okay folks, I'm going to be totally honest with you here.
I'm having trouble with the villains in ALPHA, BOOK 2: WAYWARD SON.

Not in regards to what I want them to do, but in trying to make them as believable as possible.
As I said in last week's Progress Report, I'm at a crucial juncture in the book.
Chapter 8 did not pass muster with either my friendly neighborhood beta/proofreader Nancy A. Hansen nor myself.
So because of the villains, I'm rewriting Chapter 8 once more and tweaking Chapter 7 accordingly.

No matter what their objective(s) and how they go about obtaining them, a villain's motives should make sense, at least to themselves if no one else.
After all, there are plenty of instances through (entertainment) history where the hero didn't figure out the villain's dastardly plan until right near the very end, before racing to the rescue while risking life and limb in the process.

A black hat today

Well, in this case, you also have to remember that in BOOK 2, Alpha has been <somewhere I'm not revealing yet> for less than a few hours as we measure time, so he obviously hasn't gotten the hang of the place yet. All the people there are as alien to him as he is to them.

And if that isn't bad enough, Alpha has to stop <???> from <???>, or else <something really bad>!!!

I'll have it all worked out in time.

Conalaric by Marc Guerrero

And for those wondering, Conalaric (Alpha's arch-nemesis from BOOK 1: PROJECT ALPHA) WILL be in BOOK 2 as well! But when and how are my secrets. For now.

I better get back to work.
See you around the Internet.

Lee Houston, Junior
21 September, 2014

PROGRESS REPORT: WEEK ENDING MAY 17, 2014

"Let's see now... This week was next week last week..."--Daffy Duck

I would love to say more has happened since last week, but that would be lying to you fine folks.

Alpha image by Marc Guerrero

I have made some serious progress on Chapter 9 to Alpha, Book 2; and the book is really living up to its subtitle Wayward Son.
Unfortunately, my friend and beta/proofreader Nancy A. Hansen just finished going over the galleys to her next published novel this past week, and will be back proofreading my latest short story this week. So it will be at least next week before she can look over Chapters 7 and 8.

Otherwise, my health is well,
The Free Choice E-zine received 2000+ page views again for the 9th straight month,
I will be finished with the other short story currently on my agenda looong before its actual October deadline,
and Spring is finally showing signs of arriving!
I may even get to start wearing shorts and light weight t-shirts before the end of the month instead of the winter wardrobe I've been sporting since last October!

In any event, take care everyone and I'll see you around the Internet.
Lee Houston, Junior
18 May, 2014