It’s difficult to believe that 2018 is nearing its end, but here I sit with the end of the year staring me in the face. It’s been a busy year sitting here at the keyboard. Since taking a little bit of a break writing, I’ve nearly worn out the seat of one pair of pants while pecking away at the keyboard. I noticed my “new” keyboard now had letters nearly rubbed off.  Apparently, I use the letters “a” and “n” the most.  Good thing I happen to know where they’re at.

At any rate, I’ve mostly been involved with the series, Lifting the Veil, with the goal of completing it by the end of the year.  It looks like I’ll be able to complete that goal.  What initially began as a two-book series quickly blossomed into four.  I recently received the third book, which is now titled Lifting the Veil: Emergence, from the first editing phase. So, this next week will be spent going through those.  Ugh.  Have I ever mentioned that I hate editing? No, well, I do.  I think I’d rather shove push pins under my fingernails. But, without it, the stories wouldn’t be what they are.  So, yay for this week.

The cover for Lifting the Veil: Emergence has been completed, with the exception of small details. Oh man is it a great one.  Dean Samed has entered new endeavors, so I had to seek out another cover artist.  Based on his recommendation, I selected J Caleb of J Caleb Design.  I can’t wait to show off the cover he designed.  Once I finish this first round and send the manuscript off for the second round, it will take about a month to finish that process. When it’s about a week from getting it back, I’ll do a cover reveal.

While waiting for the edits, I managed to get about one-third of the way through the rough draft of the fourth book, Lifting the Veil: Risen.  And as Emergence is in the next editing process, I’ll continue along with that.  So, hopefully Risen won’t be long following.  I have to say that it’s been an interesting series to write, as the forehead marks on my desk will attest to.  At times, it has been the most frustrating book to pen, and at others, the most fun.  I will both miss it and Snoopy dance with joy when the series is completed.

Once this series has reached its conclusion, I’ll start back on Red Team.  I’ll have to read through it to get my mind in synch with the team, but I have so many notes and ideas that need put into coherent sentences.  I’ve long thought about heading back to A New World, but I have a couple of new ideas about that one that are in a battle with one another.  So, I’ll let those thoughts battle with each other for a while longer.  Once one settles in, I’ll go back to wrap up the threads in that story.

As a last note, Lifting the Veil: Winter has been released as an audio book.  Mark Gagliardi has done another wonderful job and I’m so pleased that I found him so long ago as a narrator.

As always, I really appreciate the support you’ve given me over the years.  It really humbles me to think about where this has gone since I put the first word down on A New World.  So, thank you!

John