Publication Update

An Exceptional Hound—the Audiobook.

The second pass review for the audiobook of An Exceptional Hound: Book II of the Ryland Creek Saga is complete, with over half of the refinements already made.

I hasten to add that the creative collaboration of taking a book from print to audio is simply a magical process, and professional voice actor Wayne Thompson is (again) nothing short of awesome. It’s humbling and gratifying when your voice actor both “gets the story” and takes it on so personally.

One former Mansfield University classmate of mine, who’d read the first book and then listened to the audiobook version of The Last Coon Hunter (Book I, 5th Anniversary Ed.), said she felt the story’s emotional impact “deeper.” I tend to agree.

From here, the plan is for me to begin the final review of the audiobook on Monday, August 21, 2023. The target date for the project completion is August 31. Note: that “completion” is me giving the greenlight to Wayne (the actor who’s also considered the “producer”) to go forward to ACX (the Amazon subsidiary we work through) to begin their quality control process. Once that final review is complete, the audiobook is usually released within 10 business days or so.

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Introducing Remmie the Bear Dog!
Just a fun video (~1 minute long) with our latest newcomer, Remmie, who's a Faulkner cur. Summer projects have prevented me from actual hunt training with her (very soon, though), but she and I have spent a lot of time in the woods one-on-one getting to know each other. I think she’ll work out just fine.

Here's the video on YouTube:

Personal notes:

Our first grandchild. Our daughter entered her third trimester this week! So far, no problems with her pregnancy, although on Day One of the third trimester, she experienced her first set of Braxton Hicks! And the little one is quite active. (I’m saying the child will be a girl, but only Sam and our son-in-law, Luke, know for sure.)

Looking for a November arrival, as we continue to pray for Sammie, Luke, and the child and humbly ask for your prayers as well.

And (the real) Seth is set to become a father! Well, there’s no doubt now that Annie (Seth is the sire) will have pups. Looking at the size of her still two+ weeks out, I’ll be surprised if she has less than six puppies!

We’ve revised the estimated delivery date from September 2nd to August 31st.. Pictures to follow!