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.