It’s been over a year since my last blog entry. I know I had said I was going to write an entry every month. Unfortunately, life got in the way. In that time, I’ve managed to get my latest novel successfully launched and marketed. But my wife took sick (bad sick) and we’ve been jumping through hoops to get her cared for, and it’s still not over. Her health is fragile at best, and is, shall we say, a “work in progress”. We’re hoping to make some real headway in the next few weeks on a lasting treatment plan (that will include surgery) for her.

Our youngest son moved up from the Tacoma area to be closer to us. He’s a wounded warrior, sustained a TBI while on active duty, and is a 100% disabled vet. So, it’s good for him to be closer. We’re also close to medical offices, labs, Xray, pharmacies, Urgent Cares, etc. So, it all makes sense. Added benefit, we get to visit with him much more than we did when he lived 50 miles away. We have him over, we got out for lunch, etc.

As for me, I’m still the crotchety, cantankerous bastard I’ve always been. Still dealing with chronic debilitations from all that cancer shit – Trigeminal Nerve Neuralgia, chronic Chemo Fog, PTSD, and all the typical aches and pains and decreased stamina that comes from the aging process. But rather than complain, I try to keep things in perspective – it’s either suck it up and deal with this or be dead.

I’ll suck it up and deal with this.

Since we last spoke, I have been attempting to “up my game” as a writer. In addition to my never-ending quest to push myself to hone my craft, sharpen my skills, and become and a better artist, I have begun appearing at horror, sci fi, and fantasy conventions. I sold books at a one-day appearance at the Grit City Comic Show in Tacoma last November. I was a panelist and a panel moderator on a variety of topics over four days at NORWESCON 47 back in April. This was at the Doubletree Hotel in SEATAC. Two weeks later (first weekend of May), I returned to the Doubletree as vendor at CRYPTICON SEATTLE. This was a wonderful experience. I met a lot of fans, colleagues, fellow authors, even a couple of cinematic horror icons, Doug Bradley -Pinhead from the HELLRAISER films, and Andrew Divoff – the Djinn from the WISHMASTER films. Both men proved themselves remarkably warm and approachable people.

Added bonus: I’ve already been invited back to Crypticon for next year.

In August, I will be signing in Bremerton at the Kitsap County Fairgrounds during the Kitsap County Fair. I will also be signing at the Bremerton Blackberry Festival all through Labor Day weekend.

As I alluded to above, on April 15, 2025, I published my fourth novel, ALPHA MALE, the second installment in my werewolf trilogy which I rather presumptuously refer to as “The Caleb Jacobsen Saga”. Hey, what can I say? I told you it was rather presumptuous. ALPHA MALE hit the Amazon bestseller lists almost right away. It climbed as high as #14 on one list before dropping back down and hanging steady in the mid-20s. All in all, ALPHA MALE was on that Top 100 list for five weeks. And book reviews have been glowing.

Now that I have all that in my rear-view mirror, it’s also time for me to look ahead. I have loose outline for the third and final installment and plan to begin the rough draft later this month. I’m hoping to have this next book, which I am currently calling CALEB’S REIGN as a working title (my wife hates it), in October 2026. This will be my fifth novel and will close the door on what I see as the first chapter of my writing career.

After that, I plan to write a couple of standalone novels before I even think about diving into another series or trilogy. I may have one more entry in my Vampire series to write, but the idea isn’t quite there and I am in no hurry. Since I officially retired from feature film screenwriting this year, like every screenwriter I know, I have a lot of unsold screenplays sitting in files on my laptop. And I have realized that those screenplays can serve as detailed outlines from which to flesh out novels. I have a LOT of unsold screenplays. I can be working from them for many years to come.

I really am serious about writing a blog entry at least every month or two. I will alter my approach and write my blog entries (like this one) whenever the mood strikes in MS Word so I can get them firmed up and edited before posting. My next post will be about the explosion of generative AI in the creative arts, especially in writing. I have some pretty strong opinions on this, but I want to give myself time to write it out so I make a cohesive argument when I post.

Take a minute to browse my updated website. I think you’ll find it more comprehensive than before. And as always, feel free to contact me if you feel so inclined.

UNTIL WE MEET AGAIN!