Publishing Update

Hi Folks,

     Quite a bit of news to share as there are many pokers in the fire here in Painted Post.

     To say 2024 was a roller coaster, personally and professionally, is an understatement. But taken on measure, I’m grateful for a good year.

 Shout out to the Ryland Creek readers--new and longtime.

In December 2024/early January 2025, the first two books of the Ryland Creek saga (both versions of Book I) hit their highest overall ranking ever on Amazon over the past two years (as far back as Amazon’s historical data reaches on my author dashboard).

In my recollection, though, these were the highest ratings ever.

Considering these books have been out for several years, I was ecstatic. Note: per one book marketing expert whom I deeply trust, Amazon adds ~300 new books/hour, making these rankings even more of an achievement.

Now, Amazon’s book ranking algorithm is shrouded in mystery, and there were a variety of factors that likely came into play for these high rankings. Algorithm or not, it’s the readers who took a chance to discover the saga to whom I’m grateful.

So, a heartfelt thanks to all who have discovered and have continued to support the Ryland Creek saga over the years--couldn’t do it without you. And a very special thanks to all who take the time to write thoughtful reviews as well!

In The Works


In a Place Called Painted Post: A Ryland Creek Saga

As previously announced, In a Place Called Painted Post: A Ryland Creek Story, has begun in earnest with word count at ~11K. This book’s main character is a raccoon, and who knew writing it from this perspective could be this much fun? Place’s storyline occurs during the same timeline as An Exceptional Hound (mid-1980s) and involves some of the characters from Exceptional’s storyline.

I’m co-authoring this book with Shanne Bowie, long-time reader of the Ryland Creek saga, who inspired the concept, and the incredibly talented local artist, Lee O’Connell, who will be illustrating this work. (See one of Lee’s illustrations below.)

We recently shared the first chapter of Place with a local writers group. After listening to the group’s feedback, Place’s genre “graduated” from a middle grade book to at least New Adult (18–25-year-old readers). I highly suspect this work will end up as a novel for adults (26-year-olds+).

I’ve never “written to market.” You go to where the story leads you and how you (both authors, in this case) want to tell it.

We won’t share more of Place with the writers group until at least late April/early May (if we share anything more based on our schedules) as Shanne and I continue to work out the plot.

Our deadline to world’s greatest copy editor, Joyce Mochrie, is August 2025 with a targeted publishing in Fall 2025.

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One of Lee O'Connell's illustrations for In a Place Called Painted Post

Return to Ryland Creek: Book V of the Ryland Creek Saga

Return to Ryland Creek: Book V of the Ryland Creek Saga is well underway with the draft approaching 70K+, up 10K words since last update.

After a prequel novel (The Forest Ghost) and a companion novel (The Time of the Backroads), Return to Ryland Creek--well, returns--to the Ernst family as we pick up their story soon after The Master of Hounds.

Here's the draft back cover blurb:

For a time, a bucolic calm has settled in the small town of Painted Post, the Land of the Three Rivers.

Carrying on his family’s tradition, Mead Ernst raises his coonhounds. Now Mead is joined with his ever-eager, ten-year-old grandson, Lance, to chase the wily ringtail with their dogs, Bella and Blaze, through the darkened forests of their hometown.

But good and evil share one thing in common—both abhor a vacuum, and tragedy arrives in previously unknown forms.

One terror arrives with a fanged blood lust unlike anything anyone has ever seen or heard, while another promises to rip apart the very heart of the Ernst family.

And the Ernsts and their hounds must face their greatest challenges yet—from enemies both within and without.


My beta readers have already completed seven chapters of this story, and I owe them another installment soon. Estimated publication date: Spring 2026.

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On Audiobooks.

The Forest Ghost: The Audiobook.

This project continues to cautiously inch forward, but I’m optimistic.

Wayne Thompson, the amazing narrator for the audiobook versions of The Last Coon Hunter and An Exceptional Hound, has suggested an equally talented voice actress to play the female roles in Ghost. I’ve heard some of her sample tapes, and she has an incredible range of voices and genres. I’ll keep her anonymous until the project gets fully underway, but I’m excited about the possibility of her playing these roles.

More to follow!

Mist Cornplanter and Arthur McCutcheon from a scene in The Forest Ghost.