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When we review another author’s work, many of us might suggest that it could have been longer, or in the case of anthologies, a particular story might work as a novel. When fellow author Barbara Speake reviewed Shadow: and other stories, she hoped that a particular story would get such attention.

That time has come, and I’m pleased to announce that, after much procrastination, my new story, McLennan is underway. I reread Resettlement to refresh myself on the main character. I wrote the first chapter of the new book rapidly, not stopping to change anything so that I could maintain my creative flow.

I reread the chapter, moved the third paragraph up to make it the intro, and introduced some dialogue to break up the narrative. After that session, I left the story and did some baking. On my return, I reread the chapter and amended the dialogue. It’s probably not close to where it will be in two months. However, where I ended it had catapulted me into the second chapter, so the story will now be with me during every waking minute until I write passages and snippets of dialogue as they occur to me.

There will be a brief foreword in the book to explain that it’s fictional and that the first chapter is loosely based on recent history. If you’d like to read and comment on the first chapter, please click The Invisible Man.

I sincerely thank my regular readers for choosing and supporting my brand. If you’re new to my writing, I hope you’ll soon become one of my valued readers. Thank you for checking out my blog.

This year I will concentrate on two stories; McLENNAN and SELENA: SEA NYMPH, which, unsurprisingly, are poles apart in content.

McLENNAN features a male vigilante, and was inspired by my short story, Resettlement. Fellow crime thriller writer, Barbara Speake suggested that the idea in the short story could be expanded. That tale can be read by clicking on the title or it can be found in my anthology, Shadow: and Other Stories. Research into locations and certain areas of society will keep me occupied when I’m not actively writing the story.

SELENA: SEA NYMPH will be my other main task. It has been a work in progress over the past couple of years, but I’m confident that I’ll finish the job this year.

As a non-swimmer and, therefore, someone who’s never been keen on waterspouts or travel by boat, I will be literally out of my depth in some parts of the story. In my favour, many years ago I tried my hand at canoeing, and I attended a two-week swimming course, so I’m not without experience when it comes to spending time underwater. My imagination, coupled with a lifelong interest in natural history and a nod to conservation, will play their parts in the storytelling.

In the background, I’ll work on A Life of Choice: The Retail Years when the other two stories are resting between drafts. This story stems from the idea that we relate anecdotes and say things like, ‘I could write a book about it.’ It was as recently as November 2024 when I decided I’d aim to do just that. I chose the title to fit with A Life of Choice, my five-eBook series loosely based on my military career. As with my military memoirs, I’ll be in no rush with this story, but I foresee it being a single volume and written in a different format. When I eventually have something to offer for feedback, I’ll post it here.

I will, of course, be reading a lot, beta reading for fellow authors, and I’ll continue to produce short stories for submission to the amazing quarterly Connections e-Magazine produced by fellow indie author, Melanie P. Smith.

I sincerely thank my regular readers for choosing and supporting my brand. If you’re new to my writing, I hope you’ll soon become one of my valued readers.