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 27, 2023

Please remember the fallen.

 WELL...

Despite another busy week on the personal side of my life, I did manage to get some actual writing done! 😀

I am 33,500+ words and on Chapter 22 into SOLITAIRE 2: THE AGENDA. 😎

The release of Book 1 (no subtitle) is pending from Airship 27, and there will be more on that as soon as I can share the news.

Otherwise, I wish those celebrating a happy Memorial Day, and hopefully someday no one will have to die in battle or be a fatality in some mass shooting.

But that's a topic I'll be discussing in greater detail tomorrow as Editor-In-Chief of The Free Choice E-zine.

Until then, take care.

STAY SAFE! 😷

And I'll see you around the Internet.

Lee Houston, Junior

28 May, 2023

PROGRESS REPORT: WEEK ENDING MAY 28, 2022

 This is the Memorial Day weekend here in the United States.

Usually at this point we honor those past and present who served to defend their country from all threats foreign and domestic.

But I cannot stop thinking about incidents like the recent Robb Elementary School Shooting. 😢

Yet this is a place to discuss writing.

I'll save further discussions about the news for my responsibilities as Editor-In-Chief of The Free Choice E-zine.

In any event I have been working on SOLITAIRE 2: THE AGENDA.

Currently on Chapter 3 and well over 3,200+ words into the manuscript.

Not sure how much globe hopping there will be in this novel compared to the first, which went from New York to Japan to Australia before returning to New York and ending in Paris.

It's far easier to travel via the Imagination in this age of COVID and Monkey Pox, but not as fun.😷

Of course, even if I could rack up "frequent flier miles" surfing the Internet with as much research as I do, how could I cash them in and where would I go?😕

I will be writing inbetween spending time with my family, even if some of some of those moments are only via the telephone.📱

I hope you get to spend time with yours too and please remember those we have lost.

ESPECIALLY those who did not have to die.

Lee Houston, Junior

29 May, 2022

PROGRESS REPORT: WEEK ENDING MAY 29, 2021

This is the Memorial Day weekend here in the United States, when we pause to remember everyone who has served to defend this country and its freedom(s) past, present, and future.

It would be WAY too easy for me to hop upon my soap box and share my opinions with you on a variety of pertinent topics; but other than a humble request to please remember those brave men and women who fought for so much more than just a three day weekend, that's not why either of us are here.

I'm still wearing my Editor's Hat right now going over SOLITAIRE. The main issue at the moment is trying to trim the manuscript's word count. The original final score was a whopping 67,562! Clearly the biggest novel I've ever written in my life, to date.

However, most publishers prefer any book to be between 60-65,000 words to help ease production issues and give both them and the readers a break price/cost wise.

My Editor's Hat 😉

I am seriously going back over everything with a fine tooth comb trying to eliminate the "unnecessary" wordage, but it's not fun.

I have managed to get the novel down to 66,366 words at the moment and am about halfway through the Second Act/Japan again.

Sometimes it was easy, rephrasing a sentence here or cutting out a word there.

Other moments were more difficult.

One scene in New York/Act One got totally rewritten to make it go quicker. Hated to lose a couple of the "bits" I had there, but maybe someday they can reappear somewhere else.

In any event, I hope everyone has a happy and safe 😷 Memorial Day.

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

Lee Houston, Junior

30 May, 2021

PROGRESS REPORT: WEEK ENDING MAY 23, 2020

Still on SOLITAIRE.

Remember the fallen. Past, present, and future.

37,000+ words as of the middle of Chapter 16 and trouble in Tokyo.
The novel started in New York City for the first 12 Chapters, and there are at least two more stops planned after the Japanese leg of this International adventure concludes before the mission is over.
But who is this Clandestine Crusader jet setting around the world?
That will have to wait until the novel is published to be discovered.

Tomorrow is Memorial Day here in the United States.
Times have been tough of late, especially because of the pandemic, but I hope no one forgets that Memorial Day is for remembering the fallen. Not only those who have fought for and defended the freedoms and civil liberties you enjoy, but also those we have unfortunately lost to this {censored} COVID-19/Coronavirus Crisis.

In any event, take care.
Please rejoice that you're still alive and STAY SAFE!
Lee Houston, Junior
24 May, 2020

PROGRESS REPORT: WEEK ENDING MAY 25, 2019

It's the Memorial Day weekend here in the United States, and I hope everyone takes a moment out of
their day to remember those who are either currently or have served their respective countries so that you can enjoy the freedoms and liberties you enjoy today.

With that said, work is proceeding apace on my Sherlock Holmes story for Airship 27.
There isn't a day that doesn't go by when I have to pause what I'm doing to look up something.
At times it can be frustrating, especially the longer it takes to acquire the answer to something obscure.
Yet sometimes it is the small details that could trip up a writer and throw a reader completely out of a story if you're not careful.
After all, Sherlock Holmes was a walking encyclopedia of knowledge without the benefit of a computer or tablet.
How would it look if he got something wrong?😕

In any event, I better get back to writing now.
See you around the Internet.
Lee Houston, Junior
26 May, 2019

PROGRESS REPORT: WEEK ENDING MAY 27, 2017

REMEMBER THE VETS!

Truthfully, there isn't really all that much writing actually getting done over a holiday weekend, for tomorrow is Memorial Day here in the United States of America.

HOWEVER...
After going over my friendly neighborhood beta-proofreader's hard work on the previous chapters of the current HUGH MONN, PRIVATE DETECTIVE adventure, I am well into Chapter 8 right now, but will have to pause and put on my editor's hat soon to review the first story submission received for Jim Beard's 1970s project! 😀

Please stop and remember the veterans past and present who have helped to make the world safe and free, and I'll see you around the Internet!

Lee Houston, Junior
28 May, 2017

PROGRESS REPORT: WEEK ENDING MAY 28, 2016

Well, once more life had other ideas while I wanted to write.
This time, it was more along the line of the usual appointments and commitments one faces to exist; but overall I'm as healthy as can be post congestive heart failure/aortic aneurysm.
I've actually LOST weight!
If found, please DON'T return!

Meanwhile, have managed to break 9000+ words on my Sherlock Holmes story for Airship 27, so life's good.

HAPPY MEMORIAL DAY
and I'll see you around the Internet.
Lee Houston, Junior
29 May, 2016

PROGRESS REPORT: WEEK ENDING MAY 24, 2014

Hello Everybody.
It's the Memorial Day weekend here in the United States of America. A time of warmer weather, outdoor activities, plenty of sales, and somewhere along the way we should also be remembering those past and present who served in this country's military branches to protect the freedoms that we enjoy today.

In any event, I did finish Chapter 9 to Alpha, Book 2: Wayward Son and have a good start on Chapter 10.
Unfortunately my friendly beta/proofreader Nancy A. Hansen is still working on the last short story I gave her to go over (after she finished reviewing the galley PDF to her next book), so I'm not sure when she will get to that, let alone Chapters 7 and 8.

Meanwhile, New Babel Books is getting closer to publishing the Singularity: Rise of the Post Humans anthology. More details on that as they develop.

I still have one more short story that I am committed to writing in 2014 (so far) that will be done long before its current October deadline, and I have been jotting down some ideas for what will be Book 3 in the Hugh Monn, Private Detective series! Work on that will start when Alpha 2 is done.

Wish I could say more besides the above and brag about the fact that The Free Choice E-zine has already reached 3000+ page views again this month!
I do have a few other things on the creative back burner, but they are nowhere near ready to start working on.

In any event, have a great week folks and I'll see you around the Internet.
Lee Houston, Junior
25 May, 2014