First Draft Finished

The marathon--that began with a request to help a Mansfield University Professional Writing course in January 2023--is over.

Last week, I finished the first draft of Return to Ryland Creek: Book V of the Ryland Creek Saga. I'm pleased with where this tale took me--my first new novel since the fall of 2022--and a 'return' to the main storyline with the Ernst family following the release of The Master of Hounds in 2020. ​​
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I'll set this story aside for a week or so to clear my head. After that, there will be many days and nights of editing before I finally send the manuscript to my fabulous copy editor, Joyce Mochrie, in mid-September. Look for an official release later this fall.

For now, though, I'll continue to work on some summer projects by day, and take some very special pups (who remind me of their father, Seth, in many ways) to the woods by night. Just my sort of a reward, I suppose.

The forests of Painted Post are calling.

Hoping all's well with you and yours.

Joseph Gary Crance

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