Time Again for Another Update!

 

Happy Friday! 

It's one week since I returned from Illinois and the inaugural Working Draft Summer Camp organized (a feeble word for the monumental effort involved in putting together that kind of creative enterprise) by Gregory Ashe. 

A few words about the retreat. I thought it was well worth the price of admission. It really is a writing retreat versus a conference, with plenty of built-in blocks of writing time as well as daily lectures on topics including improving craft, optimizing social media, and managing the stages of your career. VERY REFRESHING. I came home energized and inspired--that's not an exaggeration. 

Would I go again? Absolutely. Not every year--not next year--but yes, I would go again. So yes, RECOMMENDED.

While I was away, the SO phoned to say the library ceiling had fallen in -- pretty tense conversation because I kept saying ARE THE DOGS OKAY??, and he kept talking about the flipping drywall, and finally I screamed at him and he yelled back "Yes, the dogs are fine!" NOW YOU TELL ME WHO WAS IN THE WRONG THERE?

Now I'm back and operating at full capacity again.

If you are a member of Patreon, this month you'll be receiving the previously promised I Spy coda and the character interview with Adam Darling and Rob Haskell from Winter Kill, and perhaps a couple of other little things, but my main focus will be on finishing The 12.2 Per-Cent Solution so that we can then dive into The Haunted Heart: Spring as well as Jack's POV on Body at Buccaneer's Bay.  

I'm working on several things right now. Not in a linear or particular efficient fashion, but I am working and I am enjoying a burst of creativity.  Like an absolutely insane 1950s treasure hunt caper romance. And a new FBI trilogy -- But I don't think I'll share any more on that one at this time. 

(I'll also be working on the logistics for putting together some kind of writing seminar--that would ideally be in the fall, although if it starts to feel super complicated, we might be looking at early next year.)

And, like everyone else, I'm working on my little author direct shop.

Once I've got Kit and JX safely stowed away, the plan is to jump into The Medicine Man Murders. Will it be completed by the end of the year? That's the goal, but as we've all seen, life has a way of crashing through those fragile barriers. 

Hope you're enjoying these last weeks of summer! 

 

2026 WINTER UPDATE

TIME FOR MY BIANNUAL UPDATE!

I'd like to think I'm kidding, but my last general update was in June 2025, so maybe not. It's just hard to be everywhere all the time these days. I bet you know exactly what I'm talking about.

Anyway, in the end, I only managed to write one full-length novel last year, and that was Kill Your Darlings. I managed two of the Jack's POV Secrets and Scrabble novellas: Rough Water (Secret at Skull House from Jack's POV) and What Lies Beneath (Mystery at the Masquerade from Jack's POV). The S&S novellas were written for Patreon but are (with the permission of my patrons) available through my Fourthwall shop.

I did not manage to finish writing the final Holmes & Moriarity, The 12.2 Per-Cent Solution, or the not-final Art of Murder, The Medicine Man Murders, OR the next Bedknobs & Broomsticks, Hex in the City.

However, I still plan to write all three books.

And I'm hoping to get them done this year.  

I haven't given up on these books. They are still in the works. It's just difficult to commit to a hard and fast date, which is why I'm not doing that. The best I can do is let you know what the plan is. What I hope to accomplish. I'm hoping this year will be less challenging than last year, but there are no guarantees. 

And I'll be starting a new novel for Patreon: Murder Takes the Night Train. 

I'm not doing any conferences this year, but I am attending Gregory Ashe's Working Draft Summer Camp in Chicago as an instructor. I'll be talking about how you build a writing career for the ages. But I mean, after (ahem) decades, I've seen a lot of ages. 

I'm also planning to conduct an online writing workshop about, well, writing. I KNOW. CRAZY, RIGHT? That will probably be in the fall because see above. A minimum of three four novels.

It is beyond weird that one year not that long ago (or maybe it was that long ago?!)  I did fourteen--14--F-O-U-R-T-E-E-N books in one year, including 3 for mainstream publishers. 

HOW?

You just can't underestimate how complicated life gets as you grow older. But also, we all underestimate physics. Time takes a toll on energy and focus. And on the people around us. The people we love and are responsible for. It's not unique to writers or artists; these are challenges everyone deals with sooner or later. But the impact is real. 

And of course, priorities change as goals are met. The goals change too. 

Anyway, not to get overly philosophical.

Just letting you know what the plan is right now at this moment in time. I'll try to do a better job of keeping you posted.

AND NOW (BELATEDLY) OUR WINNERS!

 

Well, no point pretending that I didn't TOTALLY FORGET about this part of the Advent Calendar. I apologize for that, but better late than never.

First, I want to thank everyone who bothered to pop in over the always hectic holiday season. In particular I want to thank those of you who took the time to comment on the lovely contributions of our guest talent. Sure, art is it's own reward, but it's still nice to have those efforts acknowledged.

This was probably the final Advent Calendar. I might change my mind--a lot can happen in a year--but it's just as well to be up front. I don't think blogs are really much of a thing anymore. Or maybe they're just not a thing for me now.

I do need to post a general update, and that will follow in a separate post. 

Okay! Let's get to our giveaways:

Advent Calendar Day 9

The prizes here were 10 giveaways of The Dickens with Love, a small decorate throw pillow, and a coffee mug.

In the end I've decided to just make a link available for 10 downloads from BookFunnel. 

I've also thrown in 10 downloads of The 12 Days Ultimatum.  

This is strictly first come, first served.

The adorable ocelet pillow goes to Karin.

The mug with the new book cover art goes to Jax.

Contact me through the email on my website www.joshlanyon.com so I know where to mail your gifties. (NOTE: Reaching me through Facebook is problematical at this time) 

Advent Calendar Day 11 

Before we talk prizes, I just want to say I found all of your responses so funny. Thank you for a good laugh! I feel like you all deserve the prize.

That said, I should have thought this one through a little more carefully. I said I'd come up with some kind of book-related ornament, and then flitted away and completely forgot about that. 

Now, I have the technology and I can absolutely create a book-related ornament for the six people who participated. But it does seem a bit complicated what with shipping and all.

I could instead give everyone who participated a $10.00 discount to my Fourthwall shop?  Or I can randomly pick someone and send that person an ornament?

Suggestions are welcome on this one. 

Advent Calendar Day 15 

The gorgeous sherpa blanket with Art of Murder artwork by Yooishi Kadono. 

I opted to give away two blankets in the end. Those go to Little Pandora and Ash3094. 

Let me know where to send your gifts, peoplez! 

And finally, Christmas Eve

Patreon membership for a year. at the $5.00 tier.

So... Rin left a comment on an earlier post and one person claimed membership on the link I accidentally left live LOL. (I always appreciate initiative.) And that was pretty much it. I was going to gift Rin and leave it at that, but in fairness, I made very little effort to promote this--or really the calendar at all. If I'm honest, I was kind of dreading the holidays this year, but in fact, once I took a few days off, they were actually really nice. 

So in the interests of making a little more effort, here's the link, and if there are five of you out there who love my work, are paying attention, and have been wishing for a while you had the money to spare...here's your chance: CLICK TO CLAIM. 

Like the book downloads, it's first come, first served. 

. 

Okay! I think that's it. Once again, I'm sorry this took so long. I hope you all had the happiest of holidays and that your new year is off to a brilliant start.