PROGRESS REPORT: WEEK ENDING JANUARY 24, 2026

😀 GOOD NEWS THIS WEEK!😁

I'm well into Chapter 11 and the 19,000+ word mark on the HUGH MONN, PRIVATE DETECTIVE PREQUEL NOVEL PRIVATE BATTLES.

Obviously I still have a long way to go to complete the first draft, let alone consider the manuscript ready to submit to whoever HUGH's new publisher will be, but at least there IS progress!

ALSO, I even got as good of a medical checkup as an almost 64 year old man can get from his cardiologist this past week.

While two bouts of pneumonia, congestive heart failure and an aortic aneurysm have taken their toll on my overall health, I'm still here AND my weight is even lower than my last visit.😀

While I have never been obese by any stretch of the imagination, I have been fighting the proverbial battle of the bulge since puberty, so it's wonderful to see a favorable scale reading.

AND FOR THOSE INTERESTED...

Please don't forget that the original SOLITAIRE novel and it's sequel SOLITAIRE 2: THE AGENDA are both on sale at Amazon from Airship 27.

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

Take care.

STAY SAFE!

And I'll see you around the Internet.

Lee Houston, Junior

25 January, 2026

All links were active at the time of posting.

PROGRESS REPORT: WEEK ENDING JANUARY 17, 2026

 I'm on Chapter 10 of the HUGH MONN, PRIVATE DETECTIVE prequel novel PRIVATE BATTLES and about to break the 18,000+ word mark.

For those who follow my PROGRESS REPORTS from one week to the next, I know that may not seem like a lot since last week's report, but from my perspective it is considering I also have to cook and clean as well as run errands and do a lot of other stuff in the course of an average day since my entire household "staff" consists of me, myself and I.

Speaking of which, I've got grocery shopping, laundry and an appointment with my cardiologist in the coming week around whatever writing I can get done.

See my point?

AND FOR THOSE WHO CAME IN LATE...

Besides SOLITAIRE 2: THE AGENDA, the original SOLITAIRE novel is also available from Airship 27 on Amazon in both print and e-book formats.

Ted Hammond covers and Chuck Bordell interior illustrations surround the opening adventures of the Secret Samaritan written and created by yours truly.

No matter what the quality of their prose, in the end the only true measure of a writer is the response of their readership, so I hope everyone enjoys my humble attempts to entertain you.

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

Take care.

STAY SAFE!

And I'll see you around the Internet.

Lee Houston, Junior

18 January, 2026

2025/2026

 For those expecting the weekly PROGRESS REPORT today, afraid there wasn't much progress to report.

Cover art by Ted Hammond

Been way too busy with household chores, errands and other personal responsibilities—including taking down all the Christmas decorations—and wound up with less than 100 words on the HUGH MONN, PRIVATE DETECTIVE PREQUEL NOVEL: PRIVATE BATTLES.

Hopefully this coming week will be better, but we'll see how it goes.

Despite my best efforts, 2025 only saw one book release, but it's a real winner.

SOLITAIRE 2: THE AGENDA is out from Airship 27 and available from Amazon in both print and e-book formats!

Featuring a cover by Ted Hammond, interior illustrations by Chuck Bordell and a terrific story by yours truly, it is a worthy sequel to the original SOLITAIRE novel without suffering from "sequelitis" like some second installments of popular media properties have experienced over the years.

You can read one or the other or preferably both, but you'll never find those dreaded words "To Be Continued" at the end of any of my novels.

I really do hope you enjoy the Secret Samaritan's latest adventure and when there is word on SOLITAIRE 3 I will share it with everyone as soon as I can, but first I've got to get HUGH back up and running since his original publisher Pro Se Press folded this past Spring.😢

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

January 4, 2026

2023 HOLIDAY SUGGESTIONS

 It's that time of year folks! Christmas is next week's Monday as I post this and thankfully, all I have to do at this point is wrap and deliver the presents to those receiving them.

Unfortunately others are not as well prepared.

So if you folks do not mind a few suggestions...

The first installment in my new SOLITAIRE series came out earlier this year from Airship 27 with a beautiful cover by Ted Hammond and interior illustrations by Chuck Bordell.

The murder of an innocent man sends the Secret Samaritan on a globe spanning adventure to stop a potential International but highly illegal surveillance operation while bringing the killers to justice.

I am hard at work on Book 2: The Agenda and have been piecing together possible plot points for Book 3 in what I laughingly call my "spare" time.

ALSO RELEASED THIS YEAR...

GOLGOTHA: WOLFE HUNT

A story based in Jaime Ramos' fictional Wisconsin city where almost anything can happen, and usually does.

No longer a ward of the court, Joseph Wolfe now has to make it on his own the best he can, but finding his parents killer(s) is still the first priority.

AND LET'S NOT FORGET MY PAST WORKS...

There's HUGH MONN, PRIVATE DETECTIVE, a Universal War 1 veteran now working as an investigator on the planet Frontera with three books to date.

HUGH MONN, PRIVATE DETECTIVE

HM,PD: CATCH A RISING STAR

HM,PD: FEMME FATALES

My own super-hero ALPHA in two novels to date.

PROJECT ALPHA

PA: PROVING GROUND

There's also KIRI'S QUEST and a host of short stories in various publications that you can find in greater detail on my Amazon Author's page; as well as helping Nancy Hansen finish our friend Mark Halegua's novel THE BLUE LIGHT.

Everything is available in both print and e-format on Amazon, and makes wonderful reading not only during the Christmas season, but the rest of the year as well.

PROGRESS REPORT: WEEK ENDING SEPTEMBER 23, 2023

 FIRST AND FOREMOST, MY APOLOGIES.

With Hurricane/Tropical Storm Lee (no relation) approaching the New England coastline of the United States last weekend, I prewrote and set the "Blogger Timer" to post every blog entry that would have been up during that time.

The Puzzle Corner, The Week In Review, and even the Sunday Funnies for last weekend all made it onto The Free Choice E-zine but for some reason, whether the fault was on my end or elsewhere, last weekend's scheduled Progress Report here never went online.

But I'm "live" posting this so without further adieu...

Still Available On Amazon

I'm well into Chapter 28 and past the 47,000+ word mark on SOLITAIRE 2: THE AGENDA.

There are still a few twists, turns, thrills and action left before I can officially finish the first draft of the manuscript.

Solitaire's second adventure will be different than her no subtitle debut novel, which is still available on Amazon for those interested, but just as exciting to read.

It's been hard work but a blast to write about the Clandestine Crusader. Sometime in 2024 is still the projected target date for publication, so to make it I better get back to writing now.

Take care.

STAY SAFE! 😷

And I'll see you around the Internet.

Lee Houston, Junior

24 September, 2023

PROGRESS REPORT: WEEK ENDING JULY 15, 2023

 Things are going great on the writing front at the moment! 😀

Especially since it's either been too hot 🌞 or too wet ☔ to do anything other than stay in lately. 😕

Still had housework and other chores to attend to throughout the week, but that's another matter.

In any event, I'm somewhere between Chapters 24 and 25 (because I haven't decided yet where to end 24 and officially start 25) on SOLITAIRE 2: THE AGENDA.

Regardless of chapter divisions, I have broken the 40,000+ word mark, which roughly makes the first draft of the manuscript about 2/3 complete as I post this, with 60,000 the minimum requirement to be considered a novel.

Twenty thousand words may not seem like much to some people, but a lot can happen within them. 😉

Of course after the first draft is complete, it goes to My Friendly Neighborhood Beta-Proofreader for review and then I go back over it again before submission, so Book 2 will be out about this time in 2024 at the earliest. But if you're anxious to see what all the fuss is about, SOLITAIRE'S debut novel (no subtitle) is still available in print and e-formats on Amazon from Airship 27.

Going back to writing now.

Take care.

STAY SAFE! 😷

And I'll see you around the Internet.

Lee Houston, Junior

16 July, 2023

PROGRESS REPORT: WEEK ENDING JULY 8, 2023

 Well, I finished the previously mentioned Chapter 23 to SOLITAIRE, BOOK 2: THE AGENDA; but
when I went back over it again before starting Chapter 24 I wasn't happy with it so I added a couple of new scenes while rewriting a few others to some extent and broke the 38,000+ word mark in the process!

WHY? The image above holds the answer.

I could have left the chapter alone as is and already be well into 24, or maybe even starting Chapter 25 by now, but I want to offer the readers the best I can humanly create each time, and the new version of 23 is much better in regards to plot, drama and decoys.

Can't say much more without giving things away so on that cryptic note♫, take care.

STAY SAFE! 😷

And I'll see you around the Internet.

Lee Houston, Junior

9 July, 2023

And for those who came in late, SOLITAIRE's debut novel is still available in print and e-book formats from Amazon.

PROGRESS REPORT: WEEK ENDING JULY 1, 2023

 LET'S GET DOWN TO BUSINESS...

01. First I would like to thank my loyal readership (and maybe their bots too) for granting this humble blog of mine 8,193 page views during June 2023.

That is the highest this site has ever reached.😀

Of course The Free Choice E-zine had 39,868 page views😲 during June, hence my comment about bots because somehow my work always gets "targeted", for lack of a better term, once or twice a year but as long as whoever is on the other end of the page view is actually reading my work...

Cover art by Ted Hammond

02. Sales of the first SOLITAIRE novel seem to be doing well.

Granted the only real indicator I have of this is that every time I visit the book's Amazon page, it's ranking has changed.

Not by any great leaps or bounds but there's enough of a modest alteration each time, especially in the sub-categories, to realize that folks are interested in the debut adventure of the Clandestine Crusader.😁

Whether or not you already have your copy, I hope you enjoy the book.

Which leads us to—

03. Writing is going good on SOLITAIRE 2: THE AGENDA.

About to have Chapter 23 finished and break the 37,000+ word mark in the process.

Obviously there's still have a lot of writing to do so I better get back to it.

With that in mind take care.

STAY SAFE!😷

I'll see you around the Internet and, for those celebrating Tuesday,

I hope everyone has a happy, safe and responsible

Lee Houston, Junior

2 July, 2023

PROGRESS REPORT: WEEK ENDING JUNE 24, 2023

 I'm conducting my midpoint review of SOLITAIRE 2: THE AGENDA at the moment.

Just something I do in the middle of every manuscript. Especially the novel size ones.

So far, besides catching either a misspelled word, a missing word or having to change a word outright to something better than what I originally wrote; I've also added about a 1,000 words between three new scenes scattered throughout the story.

I'm on Chapter 12 of the existing 23 at the moment and will resume writing when I reach where I left off.

A friendly reminder that the first SOLITAIRE novel (no subtitle) is available in print and e-book formats from Airship 27 via Amazon. 😀

I'm not usually one to toot my own horn, but I'm very proud of this novel and it opening a brand new series for me.

My personal thanks again to interior artist Chuck Bordell and cover artist Ted Hammond as well as Ron Fortier and Rob Davis of Airship 27 for helping to bring my manuscript into reality.

Seeing this book in print is a dream come true and if I want the dream to continue I better get back to writing now so

Take care.

STAY SAFE!😷

And I'll see you around the Internet.

Lee Houston, Junior

25 June, 2023

PROGRESS REPORT: WEEK ENDING JUNE 17, 2023

 😀"OH HAPPY HAPPY JOY JOY!"😁—Ren & Stimpy.

Cover by Ted Hammond

For those few out there who might not have heard the news yet, SOLITAIRE Book 1 (no subtitle) is now available in both print and e-formats from Airship 27 on Amazon! 😄😎

Nine fantastic illustrations by artist Chuck Bordell and my action packed prose are within a beautiful cover by Ted Hammond.

Like James Bond? Mission: Impossible? Artemus Gordon?

Then you'll love the Mysterious Samaritan known as Solitaire!

Afraid it's a little too soon for sharing reviews yet, but the initial feedback on word of the novel's release has been highly positive and of course I'm hard at work on writing BOOK 2: THE AGENDA.

About to start Chapter 23 and break the 35,000+ word mark in the process but to do, so I better get back to writing now.

Take care.

STAY SAFE! 😷

HAPPY FATHERS' DAY! 

This is my 550TH WRITING BLOG POST!😲

And I'll see you around the Internet.

Lee Houston, Junior

18 June, 2023

PROGRESS REPORT: WEEK ENDING JUNE 10, 2023

IT'S GOOD NEWS, BAD NEWS TIME.

 The bad news? 😒

Afraid I didn't get much actual writing done this past week.

The good news is why! 😎

Late Monday I received the Galley Draft for SOLITAIRE 1 (no subtitle) from Airship 27 and went over it line by line from start to finish in case there were any corrections that needed to be made.

While I did eventually get it done and sent back to Rob Davis to prepare the publication for print and e-book releases, that obviously took away from actual writing time.

Hopefully I'll make progress on SOLITAIRE 2: THE AGENDA this coming week and I will DEFINITELY let everyone know when Book 1's been released!😁

Until then, take care.

STAY SAFE! 😷

And I'll see you around the Internet.

Lee Houston, Junior

11 June, 2023

PROGRESS REPORT: WEEK ENDING APRIL 22, 2023

 Obviously I'm still working on SOLITAIRE 2: THE AGENDA.

Haven't quite finished Chapter 19 yet, but am writing when I get the chance between Life, The Universe, and Everything Else going on around me.

As I've said before, it can be tough sometimes to find the time to write.

The dog isn't going to feed and take herself out to the bathroom.

Chores and errands are incapable of doing themselves and I've still got to eat and sleep sometime.

For those wondering, Airship 27 is still preparing the first SOLITAIRE novel for publication!😀

Ron Fortier recently let me know that artist Chuck Bordell is working on the remaining interior illustrations and although I unfortunately cannot share it with anyone at this time, I have seen the front cover art and it is GORGEOUS! 😎

Besides the (sorry I can't name drop yet) artist doing a wonderful job, Airship 27's Art Director Rob Davis has designed a fantastic SOLITAIRE logo for the series!

When their work is finished and ready to go, I'll be getting a PDF to review in case there are any last minute corrections that need to be made. Hey, despite everyone bringing their A Games to this project, we're all still human.

Once I go over that and send it back to Rob, then the novel will be released in both Print and E-book formats.

My personal prediction on the subject is sometime after Memorial Day 2023, but whatever happens, I'll keep everyone updated as I can.

In any event, I better get back to writing SOLITAIRE 2 now.

Take care.

STAY SAFE! 😷

And I'll see you around the Internet.

Lee Houston, Junior

23 April, 2023

PROGRESS REPORT: WEEK ENDING FEBRUARY 18, 2023

 Well folks, unless the group decides to make a second inning or whatever you would call it to make the story longer, I've finished with the Round Robin I contributed to and am now back on SOLITAIRE 2: THE AGENDA.

Sketch by Chuck Bordell

Speaking of which, with the kind permission of Ron Fortier at Airship 27, I am able to share a preliminary sketch by artist Chuck Bordell for the first SOLITAIRE novel, no subtitle.

The action/adventure/thriller is to be published later this year by that august company.

The image on the right is of Solitaire's camouflage suit, a unisex outfit that gives absolutely no hint as to the identity of the wearer while being very useful in covert activities.

That outfit plays a prominent role in several chapters of the first novel and will be back again in other SOLITAIRE adventures down the road. Maybe even the one I still working on write right now.

Speaking of which, I better get back to writing or Book 2 will never get finished.

Take care.

STAY SAFE! 😷

And I'll see you around the Internet.

Lee Houston, Junior

19 February, 2023

PROGRESS REPORT: WEEK ENDING JANUARY 28, 2023

 THERE'S GOOD NEWS THIS WEEK FOLKS!😀

After several interruptions causing the process to take much longer than it should have, I am finally done with all the tweaking, tightening, rewriting, reviewing, etcetera on what I already had written of SOLITAIRE 2: THE AGENDA.

Which means I am now back where I left off and adding NEW material to continue the manuscript towards its inevitable conclusion!

Unfortunately, I just started this part yesterday so alas, there is no actual progress to report on this week.

But hey. Other than my usual Errands Day commitment later this week, hopefully there will be stuff to talk about next weekend.

Airship 27 Captain Ron Fortier has given the art assignment to the first SOLITAIRE novel to Chuck Bordell, who recently completed the art on the just released fourth volume of THE PURPLE SCAR anthology from A27.

So hopefully the first book of this brand new action-adventure-thriller title character's series will be out by the end of 2023!

With that in mind, I better get back to writing on Book 2.

Take care.

STAY SAFE!😷

And I'll see you around the Internet.

Lee Houston, Junior

29 January, 2023

MY 500TH POST! (Sneak Preview: SOLITAIRE 1)

 CAN YOU BELIEVE IT?

It seems like just yesterday I started this writing blog, but my first FILLING BLANK SPACES post was
actually September 24, 2013 and now I'm celebrating POST # 500! 😀😎

Naturally I wanted to do something special for this occasion than just another PROGRESS REPORT, so I'm sharing with you a sneak peek of the forthcoming FIRST SOLITAIRE NOVEL!

I still don't have a projected release date from the publisher yet, but I do hope everyone enjoys the book once it does come out for it's also the debut of the title character, who shall remain mysterious for a while longer.

ENJOY!

Lee Houston, Junior

10 July, 2022

He ran, darting and weaving across crowded sidewalks as fast as possible without drawing too much attention to himself. Afraid of every shadow and person passed, the man never stopped looking over his shoulder, no matter how many times he saw nothing there.

Avoiding all forms of public and private transportation, he zigzagged and recrossed his path at every opportunity. His head stayed down or turned toward buildings at intersections so his face wouldn’t be recorded by any cameras.

Jesse Frost felt like a hunted animal being relentlessly pursued through the concrete jungle of New York City.

In truth he was but, being unable to tell friend from foe any more, Frost had grown tired of the chase.

It felt like he’d been running forever, but a quick glance at his wristwatch revealed it to be less than an hour.

He wanted his life to be normal again.

Yet the moment he stopped moving, they would catch him and Jesse Frost would die.

The only thing keeping him alive was that they didn’t have the flash drive. He did.

However that was also why they wanted him dead.

It felt like a heavy weight inside his shirt pocket, pounding against his chest with every step.

Frost thought himself in good physical shape, but a lifetime of academic accomplishments and intellectual challenges against today’s events proved him wrong.

As his lungs fought for each precious breath, all Frost wanted was to be home with his wife and family.

Yet the less they knew and the farther away from them he was, hopefully the safer they were.

How could I have been so blind? Jesse asked himself.

There had been plenty of rumors and accusations about Megaplex over the years, but none were ever proven. After all, what big corporation or conglomerate didn’t have the occasional complaint or suspicion hurled against it? All Jesse ever cared about professionally was staying employed to maintain a roof over his family’s head and keeping the bills paid on time.

But now...

TO BE CONTINUED IN THE FORTHCOMING FIRST SOLITAIRE NOVEL.

PROGRESS REPORT: WEEK ENDING NOVEMBER 20, 2021

 Okay. Have another double header PROGRESS REPORT for you this week,

so let's get right to it!

WRITING WISE...

Went back and seriously revised Chapter 28 of my SCIENCE FICTION NOVEL, more than doubling the word count in the process!

Chapter 29 is in progress and Chapter 30 is planned.

Counting the Prologue and as yet unwritten Epilogue, how many chapters there will actually be remains to be seen, but I am approaching 53,000 words out of a 60,000 minimum requirement to be considered a novel.

SOLITIAIRE is pending at one publisher and I've gotten a request from another publisher to submit material for consideration!

Am I lucky to be "working" in a profession I love or what?😎

MEDICALLY...

Everything about the same health/heart wise at the moment.

Only around my armpits and slightly below them hurts chest wise post operation now. But while the pain is manageable, it is there and not fun!

The vertigo/dizziness/whatever it actually is issue seems to be confined to just either trying to lay down or getting up again at the moment. Once I'm either fully flat on my back to sleep or sitting/standing and up and about for the day, I'm fine. Otherwise...

Still wish my appointment with the Ear Specialist was sooner than December 21 so I can find out what's going on and get the issue(s) addressed/taken care of, but one step at a time.

In any event, that's how things are for me right now.

Hope you're doing good.

Take care.

STAY SAFE!😷

For those celebrating: HAPPY THANKSGIVING THIS THURSDAY!

I know I've got a lot to be thankful for.

And I'll see you around the Internet.

Lee Houston, Junior

21 November, 2021

PROGRESS REPORT: WEEK ENDING JULY 24, 2021

Afraid this one is going to be even shorter than last week's.

I'm still working on my SCI-FI NOVEL while My Friendly Neighborhood Beta-Proofreader continues reviewing SOLITAIRE between her other projects.

When I get the manuscript back, will make my final pass and go from there.

Until then,

Take care.

STAY SAFE!😷

And I'll see you around the Internet.

Lee Houston, Junior

25 July, 2021