I'm working on a new novel as yet unnamed. Decided to use the main character from the first novel and reintroduce him to a scene set about 6 years later. Also am adding some mystery along with some Navy pilot lingo and, (surprised?) some submarine lore as well. Recruited an old Navy submariner friend for the latter. Expect there will be another 25-30 chapters before THE END.

I'm finding writing and editing what I've written is a satisfying "time sink" too often interrupted by things I must do (like bills, etc.), or "honey do's". Discussing the craft with other authors reveals I'm not alone. It's frustrating when many say they can fit in 5 to 20 minutes of productive writing whenever they see a gap in their schedules. I need to warm up for a period of 10-30 minutes or so to really be productive. The exception is when I have a burning issue or problem solution that's dying to jump from my fingertips and I'm unable to do an immediate dump. Fortunately these don't come in the middle of the night.

The erratic flow of rejections into my mailbox continues. Most are impersonal and I appreciate the job of the agent/reviewer. What I've submitted does not seem to have "cut the mustard." I intend an intensive review of my query letters. Perhaps I'm not presenting the merits of my novel well. I've invested too much time in this novel to quit now, but my artificial deadline of 31 Dec for moving to the self-published family grows closer.

While waiting I've begun two new novels - that's right two. One, dealing with a United Nations escapade requires much more research than I realized at the outset. The second novel picks up on a new adventure for my protagonist from the initial novel, Navy related with some intrigue. That effort is through 8 chapters so far with another 25-30 or so to go I expect.

I'm always on the lookout for an interested agent or perhaps a small publisher who would entertain a tension-filled novel set in the bigger realm of the Korean War. My research has so far f ailed to identify ANY novel set at that time dealing with the contributions of the U.S. Navy surface warfare ships, and the men who made it happen. Submarines and minesweepers have been addressed. But not the men of the destroyer Navy. I don't want them to be the forgotten men of the forgotten war. Their contributions deserve much more.