Brand New Year

2026 has arrived. A new year means a fresh start in so many ways.

Happy New Year. (Yes, it's the middle of the month, but it still counts!)

There are some projects that were started last year that continue to demand my attention. Others were completed and are in the next steps of the process.

This is also a time to make a few changes, try things out and see if they work. Meanwhile, it's time for my latest thoughts on writing, current projects, upcoming events and music. Can't imagine how quiet and boring life would be without music.

Ready?

Let's go!

Writing

It used to be that I would focus all of my writing time, all of my energy and efforts on one project. Sounds pretty straightforward. Especially when I'm a tried and true pantser.

If you're unfamiliar with that term, that means someone who operates by the seat of their pants. Outlines and I have never gotten along. I find that process too restrictive. Now I have nothing against plotters. These are people who will diligently lay everything out in their stories before they settle down in front of the computer and actually write. Some will just set the basics, such as "John and Marcia talk about their marital problems in this chapter." Then when they get to the chapter, the creativity kicks in. Others will take it much further. They will map out the actual confrontation, the dialogue, the reactions and the setting before transforming it into a part of the manuscript.

Writers need to find whatever method works best for you. For me, it's thinking about my characters, the story and what should happen in one particular scene. That's it.

This might occur anywhere. It could be while I'm driving, at the gym or the grocery store, running errands or cutting the grass. This time of year, that includes shoveling the snow!

Here's an example. Recently I had an idea for a scene in the fourth Jefferson Chene novel. A supporting character who appears in several of the books is Father Dovensky. This is the priest oversaw the church and orphanage where Chene was raised. The relationship he and Chene share is a little odd, but it works well. The idea was to have these two in a conversation, a little kibbitzing, a little bantering and then Dovensky weighing in with the comment "Violence is never the answer." To which Chene replies "Depends on the question."

Taking just those few lines, I wrote over 1,500 words developing that scene and using those two sentences as a closer. I shared segments of that exchange with the writer's group. The reaction was very positive and encouraging.

Another part of my process is that I don't write the story chronoligically. When I'm inspired with a scene or an exchange of dialogue, I'll get that down on the computer. Later on, when more than half the story is written, I'll move things around. This also helps me understand what scenes need to be written to bring the story smoothly together.

Somewhere along the way several years ago, I began to work on two projects simultaneously. I've tried jotting down notes in a ledger. The intent was that whenever the first story was completed, I could dust off the ledger, review my notes and jump right into writing mode.

Yeah, that didn't work. Those snippets just wouldn't get out of my brain until I committed them to a new file on the computer. Only then could I get back to the primary book.

Working, working, working!

I was pleasantly surprised to learn that many authors take this same approach. It requires discipline to focus on a single project. Or maybe it's a talent for organization. Maybe someday I'll learn it.

The Sneak Peek

Last month I shared a scene that was used for a Story Hour presentation. That particular bit was something that is part of "Your Turn to Die", the second Jefferson Chene mystery. After receiving some great reactions from readers about it, I decided to add this section to the newsletter. Each month, I'll include a scene from one of my books. So you can take a sneak peek at the work.

Here's a scene from the award winning "Chasing Favors" book five in the Jamie Richmond series.

“You’re telling us that this part of your story?” I asked.

          “Yeah. This is background. We’ve been so busy, what with my job and hers, that we’ve sort of overlooked a few things.” Randy’s face took on a sheepish expression. “And a few people. Like my mom. She lives back on this side of the state, over in West Bloomfield.”

          “You forgot your mom?” I asked, a note of incredulity slipping in. “What kind of a son are you?”

          “I didn’t forget her! I just couldn’t visit her as often as in the past.”      

Linda made a disapproving clucking sound with her tongue against her teeth. “You’re a sorry excuse for a son. Ignoring your own dear mother. After all she went through, giving birth to you and everything.”

          “I wasn’t ignoring her. Geez, I forgot what it was like with the two of you. You can pummel a guy like a tag team in a wrestling match.”

          Linda reached over and patted his arm. “Relax. We’re just teasing you. Go on with your story.”

          Randy explained that his mom had met Liz and Gracie several times and loved them both. She was delighted that he was getting married ‘at long last’ and that she would already have a granddaughter to spoil.  In the last three months, every time Randy tried to plan a visit with her, she would give him a reason why she wasn’t available. But something didn’t feel right. 

          “Mom has been on her own for a long time now,” Randy said. 

          “But you think she’s avoiding you? That’s your story?” I asked.

          “There’s more to it,” Randy said. “Just give me a chance.”

          “Patience has never been one of Jamie’s strengths,” Linda said with a smirk.

          Ignoring her, I folded my arms and leaned back. I can be patient. Sometimes. Randy caught the look on her face, took a breath and continued the tale.

          “I surprised her two weeks ago on Saturday. Didn’t call. Just got in the car at five in the morning and started driving. Got to the house a little before eight, rang the bell and banged on the door.  But nothing prepared me for what happened when the door opened.”

          Randy drained the rest of his coffee. “It was a guy. He was wearing pajamas and a robe. Mom showed up right behind him. When I came in, he scurried down the hall and went into her bedroom. Her. Bedroom!”

          “Holy shit,” Linda gasped.

          “Exactly. The fact that she hadn’t told me about him made me wonder what was going on,” he said quietly. “It’s been eighteen years. She was forty when Dad passed away. I didn’t expect her to wrap herself in the shawl of widowhood and never get involved with another guy. But she could have told me. I would have understood.  It was more upsetting that she’d been dodging me for three months than the fact that she’s met someone.”    

          “Do you want to tell us more?” I asked softly.

          Randy nodded. “His name is Nicholas Bellamy.”

          “How did the rest of that morning go?” I asked.

          Randy started to laugh. “It felt like I was the parent and caught them sneaking in after curfew.  Or making out on the family room sofa. They got dressed and we went out to breakfast at one of our old favorite haunts. Mom kept blushing. Bellamy was very attentive.  Asked me all the right questions. I can’t explain why, but something about him set my nerves on edge.” Randy gave us a reluctant shrug. “Maybe it’s all perfectly innocent. Do you think I’m overreacting?”

          “Nobody wants to see their parents get hurt. Especially when she’s been on her own for such a long time,” Linda said.

          “So, what is it you were hoping for here?” I asked. “Why do I get the feeling you were thinking this little family drama would trigger my interests?”

          Randy covered his mouth. His eyes widened and he had difficulty looking at me. Busted!

          “You cute little shit!” Linda said with a laugh. “You figured this would get her spider senses going and she’d want to get to the bottom of this!”

          Randy knew curiosity ran thickly through my veins. Digging for information, whether through research or interviews, is part of what made me so good at my job as an investigative reporter. But I wasn’t going to let him off the hook. I rested my chin on my hands.

          Randy cleared his throat. His eyes went to Linda, then shifted to me. Now he turned serious. “It’s my mom.  Beyond Liz and Gracie, she’s the most important person in my life. I just don’t want her to have her heart broken or get swindled by some guy.  I want her to be happy.”

          “What if she’s in love with Bellamy?” I asked.

          He swallowed hard but didn’t answer.

          “What if he feels that way about her?” Linda asked quietly.

          Still no response.

          Linda turned her head to look right at me. I shifted my gaze in her direction. Linda’s expression was empathetic. Randy wasn’t just some stranger we’d bumped into. He was a guy from my past. A guy I liked. Could I blame him for being concerned about his own mother?

          “I’m not a cop or a private detective. What exactly do you expect me to do?”

          “I don’t know!” Randy’s face showed his exasperation. “It was a stupid idea. Just talking about this with the two of you has convinced me. I’m an idiot!”

          I reached across and grabbed his hand. “No, you’re not. You’re a son who is concerned about his mother. There’s nothing idiotic about that. Stop beating yourself up.”

          “What if I’m making something out of nothing?” he mumbled.

          “Then taking a closer look at this guy will give you peace of mind,” Linda said. “And that’s better than worrying about her.”

          “I don’t even know where to start,” Randy said.

          I squeezed his hand. “Just leave that to me.”      

Works in Progress

"Man plans and God laughs!"

That's an old expression a number of famous people, including Hollywood icon, Mel Brooks like to use. It often comes to mind when, despite my best strategies and efforts, plans change.

Last month I described my plans to get back to work on the fourth Chene novel and if time allowed, do some review and writing on the Young Adult novella that's been on my mind. I had a few weeks off from school, so there was no reason not to follow that plan. It would have been just that easy.

Yeah, right!

Until I noticed something. Five years in a row, I've had a brand new book in print on my table for what I refer to as 'the festival season'. That describes the various events I participate in as a vendor. "Stealing Haven" was published in 2021. "The Wayward Path" was published in 2022. "Chasing Favors" debuted in 2023. "Rules of Desperation" was published in 2024. "Part-Time Criminal" debuted in 2025.

That's a good streak. And it would be a shame not to keep it going. Even if I finished the new Chene novel and it was accepted by the publisher, it would be 16 to 18 months before it would see the light of day. The YA novella would probably take 12 months. So from that perspective, I wouldn't have a new book for 2026.

Which would be wrong.

But I had the plan to work on the two new projects. (If you listen carefully, you can hear Brooks laughing behind me.) Plans! We don't need no stinkin' plans!

That's when I remembered an old story I'd written and listed on Amazon as an e-book a long, long time ago. It's called "Fade Away" and predates Jamie Richmond and Jefferson Chene. So I decided to remove it from Amazon, dust it off and rework it. My writing style has changed dramatically over the years. I like to think it's improved significantly.

Anyway, I spent the semester break focused on "Fade Away". Third draft is done. It's a novella, about 50,000 words. The story is now in the hands of my trio of beta readers. I'll probably get their feedback within a couple of weeks. Then it's off to the editor to work their magic. I have an idea in mind for the cover. If all goes smoothly, I'll self-publish this and have it on my table this Spring. Now I can get back to work on Chene.

Events

Yes, it's only January but I'm already booking events in my calendar. As Jackie Gleason would say "And Away We Go!

The first one this year will be The Cozy Market at the Portage (MI) Parks & Recreation office on Sunday, February 1from 11 to 3.

Then it's off to Cornwell's Turkeyville in Marshall, MI. for the Indoor Craft Show.

This will on Saturday, February 7 from 11 to 4.

I'm also registered for three shows in March. That includes: Grad Bash in Paw Paw on Saturday, March 7 from 9 to 4, Booked Up in Kalamazoo on March 14 from 11 to 1 (tentatively) and The Third Coast Author Festival in Grand Haven on March 21. Time and specific location TBD.

Music

Jesse Cook is a Canadian acoustic guitarist. He is a multi award winner who mixes flamenco, jazz and world music into his own style.

Cook is also a talented videographer. He films, edits and directs his own music videos.

Here's my top five favorites from Jesse Cook.

Mario Takes a Walk: https://youtu.be/c_X0KET2gh0?si=LY4GSZr6FSjL69Lm

Double Dutch: https://youtu.be/hOjctd1mNME?si=j2KHAfNJRD8U-Qem Hey!: https://youtu.be/bR9ukpP3X3Q?si=6ka1ADaBh0Nxdndv Hembra: https://youtu.be/i9srZFMhCZU?si=Q6UzAM9JMCXuVBLc

That's Right: https://youtu.be/ZQqyfCGB5mo?si=Br7KBKMZxStbmOrZ