the homestretch of writing

Yes, I'm close to finishing Book 21. The word count is currently just under 40K, but I am just getting into the climax on this.

I estimate 2-3 chapters to go, and a final word count of 45-47K. It'll be about average in length with much of the rest of the series. And I should be able to finish by the end of this month, which is about average for writing the books in this series. I published Book 18 on October 31 and would have started writing again about a week later. According to my blog posts, I started shortly after publishing Book 18. Three months to write like most of the others.

Then I'll go through the usual editing routine. I give the most recent book draft a read through and make notes for rewrites, or just go ahead with major rewrites right away. Then I go into editing the next book in line for publishing, which will be Book 19, ALL THE KING'S MEN. I'm eager to get back into that.

I'm also really enjoying rereading the series while on the treadmill. One chapter a day makes the exercise go faster and is reminding me what's come before. I'm really enjoying it and hope you do too. This is a series that I'll enjoy reading again and again.

Once I'm done reading book 5, I'll get a new version of the print omnibus edition (Collection 1: Books 1-5) available. The series needed another read-through and edit, at least for the first few books. I find little things here and there but mostly am adding notes to my wiki file for the series or verifying things that I might be addressing in current writing. I'll continue with the rest just because I do enjoy it that much.

That's where I am now... in the homestretch of writing Book 21. Then editing and publishing Book 19... Then back to writing for Book 22, and I have a timeline of events for the final books.

Somewhere in there, I also need to find or Photoshop a cover image for Book 21. There's always something.

Thanks for reading!