PROGRESS REPORT: WEEK ENDING DECEMBER 7, 2013

Well the weather outside is frightful
But the keyboard is so delightful
So as long as the power's on
Let me write! Let me write! Let me write!

Not really much to report since last week.
It took a little longer than I thought it would to finish making corrections to that last short story. Some other authors and myself are contributing to a shared anthology, and I was trying to figure out how/when Character A could be with Character B when that character was actually somewhere else at the time.

But I am thankfully back at work on Alpha, Book 2: Wayward Son now.
That manuscript will definitely be finished in the early part of 2014, although I certainly can't make a more exact prediction at this point.
Otherwise, am trying to prepare for the holidays and winter while taking care of The Free Choice E-zine and a few other things.

I hope you and yours are doing well.
See you around the Internet!

PROGRESS REPORT, WEEK ENDING NOVEMBER 30, 2013

"I handed in a script last year and the studio didn't change one word. The word they didn't change was on Page 87."--Steve Martin, at the 2003 Academy Awards.

I hope everyone had a good Thanksgiving and/or Hanukkah. While the two holidays will share weekends again, they will not share the day again until 79,811!

I am almost done with the requested revisions to those two short stories I had to amend.
As I post this, there are no short stories currently on my agenda for 2014, but we're still a month away from the start of the new year, so who knows?

In any event, will definitely be back to work on ALPHA, BOOK 2: WAYWARD SON before the end of this week.

Meanwhile, have had another fun week as Editor-In-Chief of The Free Choice E-zine.

ALPHA

HUGH MONN

Wish I could say writing paid, let alone paid well, but let's be honest with each other.
If I was in this strictly for the money, I would have quit a long time ago!
Writing is not only an unique, creative endeavor, but it is a creative outlet that I happen to love and am good at.
I may not be the fastest writer in the world, but I do take great pride in my work.
I apologize to those of you who are waiting (patiently, I hope) for the next volumes in the lives of Alpha the superhero (at left) and HUGH MONN, PRIVATE DETECTIVE (at right); but in my mind it is a question of quality over quantity, and obviously I'm doing something right for these characters to be building the following(s) they are.

See you around the Internet!

PROGRESS REPORT: WEEK ENDING NOVEMBER 23, 2013

Lots of exciting stuff going on creatively this past week!

Revisions are continuing apace in regards to the short stories I have to go over. The corrections I'm making are more in regards to keeping in line with the continuity between the rest of the tales in their respective anthologies and what has already been established between their series more than anything else.

Posted a lot of articles on The Free Choice E-zine too. Besides the weekly features The Puzzle Corner (games), The Week In Review (news), and the Sunday Funnies (comedy); there is also the first half of an interview with author I. A. (Ian) Watson, and remembrances on the 50 anniversaries of the world losing United States President John F. Kennedy and gaining the BBC series Doctor Who.

In all honesty, not sure how much work will get done this week between Thanksgiving and preparing for the upcoming holiday season, for there are still Christmas presents to buy, let alone wrap and ship.
However I can tell you that the only place I will be on "Black Friday" is safe and sound asleep in bed!

See you around the Internet, and for those celebrating: HAPPY THANKSGIVING and/or HAPPY HANUKKAH!

HUGH 2 REVIEWED!

Cover art by David L. Russell

I would just like to take a moment and thank Ron Fortier, the sky commodore of Airship 27 for his glowing review of HUGH MONN, PRIVATE DETECTIVE: CATCH A RISING STAR.

You can read it for yourself  HERE, while the novel is still available from Amazon in both print and e-formats with the MP3 audio adaptation from Dynamic Ram Audio coming soon!

PROGRESS REPORT: WEEK ENDING NOVEMBER 16, 2013

Well folks, it has been a really great writing week for yours truly.

The good news is that I have completed the first five chapters to ALPHA, BOOK 2: WAYWARD SON.
The (sort of) bad news is that I have to temporarily pause work on that novel because I have gotten a couple of short stories back from their potential future publishers for revision requests.
And on another front The Free Choice E-zine, of which I am its (humble) Editor-In-Chief, has received over 1000+ page views from its loyal fans for the 28th straight month, and is on track to break 2000+ page views for the third straight month before the end of November!
I hope everyone visits that site as well, because Monday (November 18) I will be posting the first half of a two part interview with noted writer Ian Watson!

Have to get back to work now. See you around the Internet!

PROGRESS REPORT: WEEK ENDING NOVEMBER 9, 2013

Here we are once again, and there is good news on the writing front!
While it took me a bit of time to get back in the saddle again (had to reread everything I already wrote to figure out where I left off), I have made good time on ALPHA, BOOK 2: WAYWARD SON this past week!
Now, whether or not the manuscript gets finished and sent off to the publisher before the end of this calendar year remains to be seen.
Irregardless, the novel won't see print until sometime in 2014 at the earliest, but at least I'm writing!
What about you?

Of course, the above is not counting my efforts as Editor-In-Chief of The Free Choice E-zine.

See you around the Internet!
Lee Houston, Junior
09 November, 2013

PROGRESS REPORT: WEEK ENDING NOVEMBER 2, 2013

Well folks, I'm late again, but I can't blame baseball this time; despite the fact that the Boston Red Sox won the 2013  World Series!
The reason this time though, is two fold.
01. I realized there was no point in posting a progress report before the week was completely through, so these weekly progress reports for my fans and readership will now be aimed for Sunday posting.
02. But I missed doing it this Sunday because my parents celebrated their 56th wedding anniversary, so I did my best to attend via telephone because we live in different states.

ALPHA

With that said, my last short story for this year is in the capable hands of my writing buddy and friendly neighborhood proof/beta reader Nancy Hansen, which is only fair since I am still reviewing her latest manuscript for bugs and other glitches.

Meanwhile, I am back to work on the manuscript for ALPHA, BOOK 2: WAYWARD SON; as the fledgling superhero tries to find his place in the universe following events of book 1: PROJECT ALPHA.

When Nancy sends me back that short story for review, I will have to pause my Alpha work to put on my editor's hat and go over that, before finishing the prep work for Pro Se Presents issue 21, which is now scheduled for an early 2014 release since issue 20 will not be out until later this November.
Not sure what happened to cause the delay, but life is what happens while you're busy making other plans.

All this, plus Thanksgiving and Christmas are coming up as a new year begins to appear on the horizon.
In all honesty, with the winter months upon us, I'd rather stay inside at the keyboard where it's warm.

Have to get back to work now, so see you around the Internet!

And remember, besides here, I can also be reached through Facebook, Google +, my Amazon Author's Page, and in my capacity as Editor-In-Chief of The Free Choice E-zine.