Update 01/30/2025

If you’ve read this blog at other times of publishing, you know the story. I get a date in my head. I say it. When the date comes, I find out I need a few more months. Well, in case you don’t know, I’ve been writing a book of short stories. I said that March sounded good. Well, I’m not going to make March. I will make this year, but I’m not sure exactly when.

Here’s what happened. I had a rough draft of Quintet, the 3rd story. (Actually it was the 4th, but one story got universally negative feedback, so I tossed it.) That was in November. At that point, a March publishing looked doable. One night, I called a friend and I told him the plot. I like telling plots over the phone. In the middle of Quintet’s plot, I got lost. Really lost. Everything was so complicated! Every character was plotting something.

I had to take a blow torch to the story. It has been two more months of work. Only now do I have a solid draft. It’s got a different name — Instrument of Death And I like it much more. I think it’s pretty damned good. It’s about a killer marching after his prey.

The current line up

1. Silent Steps of Murder — a no-footprints problem
2. Where There’s Smoke, There’s Pazzuzu — a locked-room murder
3. Instrument of Death — a Dying message mystery

I’m already over 40,000 words. Five sounds like a good number of stories. How long will that take me? Dunno. Then, I need to do a final round of editing. Then, I have to do the cover. I’m not giving a date yet, but I should be able to announce it soon.

Anyway, I feel bad that I didn’t publish anything last year. This is going to be my 6th book in 8 years. The two years I didn’t put anything out were frustrating. I’m wondering if short fiction would allow me to write more consistently.

I’m sure you’ve noticed there haven’t been any reviews. I don’t think there will be. I’m not good at writing reviews, so I’m not going to do it anymore. I’ll post more as the release date approaches and after the book comes out. After that, I’ll go into hiding for months. Rinse/Repeat.

I hope you’re doing well. I’ll have something good for you later this year.