Publication Update

An illustration by Lee O'Connell for In a Place Called Painted Post

Hi Folks,

    I wanted to give you a complete update on all my current writing projects/happenings, but the weather here this past week had me bouncing back and forth, shoveling snow in two locations.  Well, as the adage goes: It's Upstate New York--nine months of winter followed by three months of really bad sledding. 

    (But hey, it's a great workout!)

    So, I'll give you an update on the project that's closest to publication.

In a Place Called Painted Post: A Ryland Creek Story. This is turning out to be a crazy rewarding project. This week, we hit 20K+ words (and headed for 80K words easily, methinks). Not only do we get to follow a raccoon and her family around the woods (and some other key places), but there are also plenty of hooks into other parts of the Ryland Creek saga, specifically The Last Coon Hunter (Book I) and An Exceptional Hound (Book II).  While Place can be viewed as a standalone novel--and someone, someday, could begin the Ryland Creek series with this story--those who've already read (or listened to) Books I and II will have a lot of "aha!" moments.

   Importantly, Place has "graduated."  Shanne and I are no longer writing for the middle grade genre. As it's written to date, Place might fall into the new adult genre (18-29 year olds) if not simply end up as a general adult novel when all's said and done. Looking at the storyline, villains (yes--them, too), and the oftentimes harsh realities of life in the wild, we believe this decision is truly best.

    And the amazing Lee O'Connell continues illustrating this book. How it works: Once we're through with a chapter, we send it to Lee, who has free rein to choose a scene/theme from a given chapter, and she's knocking it out of the park! Above is her latest.
  
   Quick aside: I went to a store on Market Street in Corning, NY, to purchase one of Lee's greeting cards. (Told ya she was good.) When I asked the store owner where Lee's cards were, she showed me, then added (pretty sure I can recall the direct quote): "I can't wait to read that book about the raccoon that Lee's illustrating." 

   I said, "Me, too." (And then introduced myself as the co-author. )

   With any luck, we'll get the draft manuscript to our fabulous, world's bestest copy editor, Joyce Mochrie, by mid-August 2025 with a planned release date of Fall 2025.

    I'll provide a more complete update on all projects and happenings soon.

   Spring is almost here, folks! 

   Hoping all's well with you and yours.

   VR,

   JGC

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