PROGRESS REPORT: WEEK ENDING JUNE 29, 2024

 Things are going as well as can be expected right now on SOLITAIRE 2: THE AGENDA.

I'm "floating", "bouncing" or whatever word you prefer, between Chapters 28 and 29 because to do the latter properly, I've got to go back and make some changes to the former.

Overall, still in the early numbers of 50,000+ words but until I have 28/29 settled, can't give you an exact figure yet but don't worry.

I'll have it all worked out in time and will be going on to Chapters 30 and beyond before you know it.

In any event, take care.

STAY SAFE! 

And for those celebrating Thursday, a HAPPY...

Lee Houston, Junior

30 June, 2024

PROGRESS REPORT: WEEK ENDING JUNE 22, 2024

 😀GOOD NEWS EVERYBODY!😁

I have finished proofreading the existing chapters of SOLITAIRE 2: THE AGENDA post computer crash and am back to writing new material in hopes of finishing the novel!

At this point I obvious can't say exactly when that will be, but I am in the middle of Chapter 29 and well over 50,000+ words into the project.

So I better get back to writing now.

Take care.

STAY SAFE!

And I'll see you around the Internet.

Lee Houston, Junior

23 June, 2024

PROGRESS REPORT: WEEK ENDING JUNE 15, 2024

 I am past the halfway point reviewing the existing 29 chapters of SOLITAIRE 2: THE AGENDA post computer crash.

I have added an additional 171 words to the manuscript at this point, mostly from either expanding upon or inserting more detail to select sections as needed.

Hopefully by this time next weekend I will be able to pick up where I left off writing wise before the computer crash in the middle of Chapter 29.

Then again, life has had other ideas lately, and household chores like fixing meals and doing laundry still need to be addressed on a regular basis.

As I've said before,

this writer's entire household staff consists

of me, myself and I.

In any event, take care.

STAY SAFE!

And for those celebrating today→→→→→→→

Lee Houston, Junior

16 June, 2024

PROGRESS REPORT: WEEK ENDING JUNE 8, 2024

 With all work completed on "Operation Colossus" for the third volume of Robert J. Mendenhall's CODE NAME INTREPID CLASSIFIED ANTHOLOGY, my rereading of SOLITAIRE 2: THE AGENDA is proceeding apace.

I've added about 35 words to the overall manuscript since page 1 and am in the middle of Chapter 10 (of 29, to date) as I post this.

Once I get through Chapter 28, I can pick up where I left off before the infamous computer crash of Boxing Day 2023 and finish writing Chapter 29, let alone the rest of the novel, before I go on to my next project.

"But what will that be?" I had a fan recently ask me.

There are three possibilities.

1. There is MY SCIENCE FICTION NOVEL that I finished writing last year and still have yet to find a publisher for.

Once SOLITAIRE 2 is finished, I could reread that to make sure everything is as good as it can humanly be before trying it on the Submission Trail again.

2. There is the story I wrote for what would have been the sequel to Jim Beard's Super Swingin' Hero 1968 Special that was set in the 1970s. It needs to be rewritten before it can make its initial trip on the Submission Trail because the 1970s book was going to be a homage to the Marvel Comics magazines of that time, so there are a couple of Interlude scenes as well as some footnotes referencing what would have been the other tales in that volume that need to be removed so the story and featured character that I created can stand on their own.

3. The most obvious, of course, would be getting started on what will eventually become SOLITAIRE 3, subtitle to be determined as the novel progresses.

I would like to do at least #1 before moving on to #3, but in any event I should finish SOLITAIRE 2 first.

So with that in mind I'm going to get back to writing now.

Take care.

STAY  SAFE!

And I'll see you around the Internet.

Lee Houston, Junior

9 June, 2024

PROGRESS REPORT: WEEK ENDING JUNE 1, 2024

 THIS AND THAT.

While not the official galley, for that won't be sent until closer to publication, I have gone back over my "Operation Colossus" story and made a few tweaks and corrections at Robert J. Mendenhall's request.

For those interested, the new word count is now at 9,579; so I remain well above the 7,500 minimum and below the 10,000 maximum.

The adventure is still on track for inclusion in the third volume of his ongoing CODE NAME INTREPID CLASSIFIED anthology series, which will be available sometime after Labor Day 2024.

Other than the brief INTREPID pause, I have started going back over SOLITAIRE 2: THE AGENDA in preparation for picking up where I left off to finish writing the second novel in the Mysterious Samaritan's ongoing series from Airship 27.

I'm only in the middle of Chapter 2 at the moment and the word count has just changed by 3 words, but I'm not worried about its total length at the present time.

I just want SOLITAIRE'S latest adventure, like all my writing efforts, to be the best I can create.

In any event, I better get back to it.

Take care.

STAY SAFE!

And I'll see you around the Internet.

Lee Houston, Junior

2 June, 2024

PROGRESS REPORT: WEEK ENDING MAY 25, 2024

 While I celebrated completing my short story "Operation Colossus" for Robert J. Mendenhalll's upcoming third volume in his ongoing CODE NAME INTREPID CLASSIFIED anthology last week, I still had to give it a final review before submitting the adventure for publication.

After a little tweaking and sweating over everything from the first word to the last punctuation mark, the submission came in at 9,688 words.

At some point there will be a galley review before the book is released this fall, but there is no point in resting on my laurels, or my hardys.😉

(Private joke for fans of Stan and Oliver.)

So what's next?

It's back to SOLITAIRE 2: THE AGENDA!

Unfortunately, between the time involved creating "Operation Colossus" and the computer crash that tried to keep me from writing for almost 2 months before that, I'm going to have to go back and reread the entire manuscript from the beginning before I can pick up where I left off.

Especially considering that I do not have a complete version of Chapter 29 saved anywhere, which is what I was in the middle of when my previous computer crashed to begin with.

But like The Beatles sing... ♫Ob-la-di, ob-la-da. Life goes on.♫

So on that note♫, take care.

Have a great week.

I'll see you around the Internet.

And for those celebrating... HAPPY MEMORIAL DAY!

(There is no visible white "ink" for the middle word.)

Lee Houston, Junior

26 May, 2024

PROGRESS REPORT: WEEK ENDING MAY 18, 2024

😀 I FINISHED!😁

I have completed "Operation Colossus", my short story adventure for the upcoming third volume in Robert J. Mendenhall's CODE NAME INTREPID CLASSIFIED anthology series.

I still need to do one more, overall rereading edit of the tale from start to finish to make sure there are no formatting errors or other mistakes as well as ensure that it is as great a story as possible.

Therefore I cannot post a final word count yet.

But I can say that I did break 9,000, but am in no danger of coming near the 10,000 word maximum limit.

So what do I do for an "encore"?

I'll let you know next week.😉

Until then, take care.

STAY SAFE!

I'll see you around the Internet, and who do I notify that Blogger's Text coloring functions aren't working right now?

Lee Houston, Junior

19 May, 2024