PROGRESS REPORT: WEEK ENDING FEBRUARY 7, 2026

 I've made it to Chapter 12 and am about to break the 21,000+ word mark on the HUGH MONN, PRIVATE DETECTIVE prequel novel PRIVATE BATTLES.

I admit that Chapter 11 took a little longer to complete than I first thought it would.

Part of it was trying to work things out.

Another part was going back to tweak stuff in previous chapters as the novel evolves to where it is now and what it might be by the time I finish.

The rest was the usual requirements of life that I've discussed before. Like cooking, cleaning, etc.

One aspect that I haven't touched much on lately has been the weather.

As I post this, there hasn't been a day or night ABOVE freezing in my neck of the woods so far in 2026!

And this streak extends into the last few days of 2025 before New Year's Eve!

The weather forecasts claim by this time next weekend it might be a different story, at least during the days. We might even make it to like 37 or 38 degrees Fahrenheit during the day.

However the nights will still dip back down below 32F.

On the plus side, I'm staying in more to keep warm, which does get me some extra writing time.

On the other hand, all I can think of is trying to stay warm and wondering when all this {bleep} will end?

Except for missing the holidays and my family, I always thought bears had the right idea about hibernating until Spring.

In any event, take care.

STAY SAFE!

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

Lee Houston, Junior

8 February, 2026

And still available from Amazon...

PROGRESS REPORT: WEEK ENDING FEBRUARY 7, 2015

With the passage of another week, you must be wondering how things are going on ALPHA, BOOK 2: WAYWARD SON since I posted here last?
The answer is: pretty good, actually.

ALPHA

Alpha is between the end of his second night and the dawn of his third day on whatever planet he finds himself on at the moment; and no, I still will not reveal where he is, because that's part of the excitement of the novel.
There are events happening all over that planet that will affect the overall outcome of the story.

I'm actually somewhere between Chapters 14 and 15 at the moment, because I'm writing several sequences out first and then will finalize the time line and the dividing point(s).

My friendly neighborhood beta/proofreader is running a bit behind, due to family commitments; so she's somewhere between Chapters 12 and 13 right now.
But don't worry, I'm a very firm believer of quality over quantity, and I want this novel to be the best book I can humanly make it.

On that note, I better get back to writing now.
Take care everyone, and I'll see you around the Internet.
Lee Houston, Junior
8 February, 2015