2025 comes to a close. It’s been a big year, with lots of challenges, successes and failures. I published, read, watched and gamed. I’ve written, drawn and programmed. I’ve met some goals, and missed others.
Overall, I’m glad with how 2025 turned out. Maybe I could have done a lot more, but I also could have done a lot less. So, I am a happy author-man.
As for 2026, I’m hitting the ground running with my suggestion to-do list already keeping me productive on a daily basis. I’m excited to see how much I can get done next year.
Projects
The big project news of 2025 was publishing Champion Bold, my first science fiction novel. I’ve heard some good reviews, and I’m working on two sequel books (one direct sequel, and one following a popular secondary character).
There isn’t a single project on my list that I didn’t work on this year. I world built or wrote important scenes. I developed characters and outlined plots. I’m looking forward to bringing more to print, and I’m hoping to get more of them to my readers soon.
2026 Goals
Major Project: Get the Colonel Lieutenant to print, or at least final draft
Major Project: Get Orcfyre to print, or at least final draft.
Major Project: Get 1st Minnesota story book 1 to rough draft
Minor Projects: Get each project to detailed outline, some scenes written.
Books
I fell short of my reading goal by a good number: I finished 14 books out of a goal of 36. But that’s largely because I’m still adjusting to not bussing anymore. In the summer I can read on the porch, but in the winter I have to make time.
Most of what I did read was fiction, either from my Tom Clancy re-read or from the Shanarra series I’m slowly working through. I most disappointed I haven’t finished more of my research books, particularly Seven Plots. But, we move on.
2026 Goals
Finish 24 books total
Finish audiobook of War and Peace
Finish 3 Research books
Finish 6 Non-Fiction books
Movies and Shows
I finished 18 movies and 11 seasons of TV shows in 2025. I’m happy with the number of movies I finished, but a bit disappointed I only for through 11 seasons. That’s less than one a month. My lists of both are long and getting longer, so this is definitely something I want to get better on.
2026 Goals
Finish 24 movies (2 a month)
Finish 18 seasons of shows (1.5 a month)
Games
I only finished 3 story games in 2023. Now, this isn’t a lot, but it doesn’t take into account open games (games without stories). those game I could replay multiple times without really finishing them.
For 2026, when I start an open game, I’m going to set myself a challenge. Something like ‘get these achievements’ or ‘win as this faction’. That way, I have a set goal that I can reach, and when I reach it I can move on, and always comeback to replay for a different challenge later.
The way I incorporated the games into my suggestion list (one day is story game, next day is open game, then back) helps immensely.
2026 Goals
Finish six story games
Finish ten open challenges.
Events
I managed to get to two conventions, two brewery events, and my launch party this year. That’s not bad. I’ve got one event for sure lined up in 2026, and several others I’ve got my eye on or I’m on waiting lists for. I’m considering bringing back Book and Beer, if only to keep myself going to events. We’ll see how that goes.
In the year since I last told myself the cake calories didn’t count, I have managed a number of steps forward. I published my third book, Champion Bold, and its three supplements. I did two conventions and one book event, all of which were successful. And I made progress on several other projects. It was a good year. One I’m hoping to continue into the next.
As I hit my birthday, I wanted to take a moment to consider my project list. What am I working on? How important is it? And what do I need to do to advance it before the next birthday?
Primary Projects
Primary projects are the major projects that I’m actively trying to get published. I have at least one completed draft and I’m rewriting or editing for publication.
The Colonel Lieutenant
Renaissance Army Book 3 * Dystopic Speculative Fiction * Renaissance Army Setting
Book Three of my main series, this book sees Sasha Small, now a commissioned lieutenant of the Renaissance Army, return to the Third Field Regiment in a moment of crisis. She is faced with a test of leadership and of her skills as a military officer.
I completed one draft of this book and I’ve been working on the next. I’ve got the first quarter or so done, and I know how I want it to end. But getting from A to Z and making sure the letters in between build it effectively is the real challenge. I’m making good progress. Now if I can make fast progress.
Orcfyre
Horus Book 1* Fantasy * Vi-World Setting
This first book of a planned trilogy. This book sees Horus, a human/orc warrior, and his adopted sister Ashlynn, on a quest. A quest that could save Horus’ life. Their adventure is interrupted by a civil war that forces both of them to face the truth about their relationship with the world.
I’ve gone through several drafts of this story, slowly working out my problems with each iteration. Do I have it this time? I think so, but if not, then I think I’ll be closer to the last draft.
Secondary Projects
Secondary Projects are projects that I want to publish. These ones I’m writing to get a rough draft ready, looking to get feedback on.
1st Minnesota (Untitled)
Historical Fiction
This project is the story of a soldier who enlists in the 1st Minnesota Regiment at the start of the American Civil War and fights through its three-year service. The character experiences Bull Run, the Peninsula and Seven Days, Antietam, Fredericksburg and Gettysburg, and so much more.
I’ve got lots of research notes and books on the subject. I know it’s going to be more than one book, though I haven’t worked out the exact divisions. I’ve got everything ready to start writing. What I need to figure out is first person or third. Or some hybrid of the two.
Tertiary Projects
Tertiary Projects are projects where I have the idea developed and I’m focused on running through the PBRG process and writing key scenes.
Champion Impact
Champion Book 2 * Science Fiction * Light Star Universe
The sequel to Champion Bold, this story follows Augustine de Zama in his adventures. Since the first book was funded through Kickstarter, I need to get info from some backers on aliens and characters, then I can slip them into my outline and start hammering out the story.
Dress Reds, Inc.
Champion Series Spin Off * Science Fiction * Light Star Universe
A spin off from Champion Bold, this book follows Genevieve Wright, a fan favorite. Genevieve is hired to go to a region under an emerging threat. But in addition to warfare, she finds herself dealing with the politics and cultures — and alien species — of the region.
Light Star Short Story Anthology (Untitled)
Science Fiction * Light Star Universe
This anthology is a collection of short stories from the Light Star Universe. If this works the way I want it to, it’ll include three stories from myself, and two stories from the LSU co-creator. But we’ll see how it goes.
Retirement (Untitled)
Fantasy * Unique Setting
Retirement is a fantasy story set in a world where the gods must choose mortal replacements every century. The hero has been chosen to be a god, a distinction he does not want. But since he’s been chosen, he now has to deal with the consequences or face the annihilation of his soul.
Quaternary Projects
Quaternary Projects are projects that I developing. I’ve got more than a basic idea, but short of an actual story. I’m doing some light PBRG work to help flesh out the details.
Commonwealth War
Speculative Fiction * Renaissance Army Setting
A book or books about the Commonwealth conquest of Atlantic America, set well before the story of Sasha Small. In the same style as Tom Clancy’s Red Storm Rising, with multiple characters showing different aspects of the war. I know the history, but I need to work on the characters and plot lines.
Conarth Story
Science Fiction * Light Star Universe
A story of the Light Star Universe, this book involved the Conarth, one of my major alien races in the universe. I don’t want to go into too many details right now, but this will be an interesting project because it’ll be largely a political story with a military backdrop. Looks like I’ll be watching a lot of West Wing.
Contrition (Untitled)
Dystopic Science Fiction * Contrition Setting
This is a setting where I’m looking for a story. The setting is thousands of hears in the future, after an alien race has devastated humanity and left it in ruins. The aliens declared that humanity had ‘reached Contrition’, but never told humans what they had done. I have some ideas, but trying to come up with a story that isn’t repetitive of what I’ve done before has proven difficult. Plus, I want a story that explored the setting.
First Knights (Untitled Project)
Fantasy * Vi-World Setting
This is a story of how the knightly or paladin orders of the Vi-world started. I’ve had to build and really flesh out the mythology of the world to set this one up. Now, I’m outlining and plotting.
General of the Pen
Fantasy (I think)
This is the project I’m building as part of the PBRG blog series. It’s a fun project and maybe I’ll turn it into an actual book. Or maybe not. At this point, it’s just for fun. As for the genre, it is 19th Century tech level, but no magical elements, so I’m unsure if it is fantasy or not. Something more to research.
Resurrection (Untitled)
Science Fantasy * Apex Setting
This project is set in a world where some humans have developed special powers. The main character has been resurrection after his execution because it turns out he was innocent, and the powers that be need his help finding the real culprit. But being executed while innocent doesn’t do much for one’s dedication, and he begins to plot his escape. I’ve got the beginning written, and I know where this ends. Currently, I’m plotting out the middle.
Tales of the Templars
Speculative Fiction * Short Story Anthology * Renaissance Army Setting
This is a project I come back to every now and then; a collection of short stories about the other Templars from the Renaissance Army series. About how they came to be part of the project, and their experiences as apprentices. I’ve got one story done, several others started, and the rest plotted out or at least outlined.
Quintenary Projects
There are projects that I have as ideas. I sometimes work on them, but largely they’re waiting for time, or for more inspiration.
RPG Lit: Stories of role-playing games stuck in their characters.
Battle Stories: Narratives of famous battles (such as Jutland and Operation Pedestal).
Good Generals: Narrative biographies of good generals many people don’t know about (such as George Thomas and Winfield Scott).
Bad Generals: Narrative biographies of bad generals (such as Charles Townsend and Rafael Cardones).
Campaigns: Narratives of famous or not famous campaigns throughout history (Burma campaign, or the Winter War).
War Stories: Narrative of not so famous wars (such as the English Civil War or the Seven Years War).
Ship Stories: Stories of the history of famous warships (USS Enterprise, HMS Warspite).
Wars of the Renaissance History: Various histories of the Iron Republic, or the Imperial Commonwealth
Special Action Force Vanguard: A World War Two story I ran as an RPG a long time ago; I’d like to bring it back as a story, but I’m working out how. Cthulhu-horror? Straight military history?
Other Vi-world fantasy stories: various stories set in the same fantasy world as Orcfyre and the Firt Knights project.
As we close out 2024, I look back and consider the year. How did I do? Where did I succeed? Where did I fall short?
This review is not about recrimination or blame; it is about acknowledging what I did well and what I did not and approaching the next year with a sense of how I can improve.
Projects
I am on the verge of publishing my next book, delayed only because of my last-minute move, which was time consuming and exhausting. Champion Bold is almost ready; I’m at the point where I’m calculating the book cost so I can assign ISBNs and then orders proof copies. The supplement books are right behind them.
I am about a third of the way through the re-write of Renaissance Army Book 3, The Colonel Lieutenant. This is my next big project after I finish Champion Bold. I’ve got other projects I’m working on as secondary or tertiary projects, each of which I’ve picked at sometime during the year. None of which I’d really announce as a primary project at this time.
My other big project work is how I’ve been revising my writing process. There’s a whole blog series I’m working on, but essentially I’m doing as much world building and planning as I can, to cut down on post-draft corrections. The idea is to make writing an easier and quicker process.
Books
By my count, I finished 27 books in 2024, both reading and listening. These were heavily weighted towards fiction (22 out of 27). Short of my goal of 36 books, but still a good showing.
2025 is going to be a little more difficult because I’m losing my bus rides, which is where I do most of my reading. Instead, I’m going to have to find time elsewhere to sit down and read.
Also, as part of my move, I made a list of all the books I own that I haven’t read and came out to more than a hundred. So clearly in 2025, I’m going to want to whittle that number down.
Movies and Shows
I watched a surprisingly little amount of new content this year. I only knocked 10 movies and about 15 seasons of TV shows off my watch list. That’s not great. Part of the issue is that I no long have new stuff playing while I’m writing or playing computer games; I try to sit down and watch it fully. Which is hard to do, because I have so many other things to do. I did get into reactor videos, which has also influenced my watching habits.
I want to knock more things off my to -watch list, and part of doing that is going to be doing some minor world building and brain storming while I’m watching new things. I might also incorporate one new episode of a show as my ‘you just got home spend half an hour relaxing’ routine. Whatever I can do to knock things off my watch list faster than they get on there.
Games
I played a fair number of games this year, but I didn’t really finish a whole lot of them. I did end a couple, but many of the games I was playing through at the start of the year I’m still playing through at the end. That’s not good. These are great stories to play through and I need to focus on finishing them and moving on to new ones.
So, I’ll be spending more time playing video games now that I’m done moving. Enough time that I can make progress on the games, but not enough that I fall behind on my projects.
For 2025
For 2025, now that I’m in a new place and I’ve got space to spread out (and I’ve shed a lot of excess crap) I’m looking forward to hitting the ground running. With a revised writing process, and 100 ISBN’s purchased, I’ve got room to write and create. I want to be efficient in knocking things off my lists, and with some effort I think I can be.
It’s the July Update, a little later than usual thanks to a busy but amazing July 4th Weekend. I got a lot done this month, and still have a lot to do.
Writing
As I said last month, Book 3 is not about word counts right now; it’s more about processing the story and trying to streamline what I have planned. I did add a good number of scenes to the story, and I’m working out the flow, but I’m having difficulty nailing the exact sequence of events. I’m working hard on it, and I’m optimistic I can get the books finished, if not published, this year.
My Science Fiction Novel went from 2nd Draft Writing to 2nd Draft Ironing, which means I’ve got a continuous story that I like, and now I’m going through it to make sure things match up, that chapters are not too long or too short, things of that nature. I could very well have the 2nd Draft done and ready for review by the end of the month. Then I can move on to figuring out publishing details, like finding a title.
I did not do too much with the fantasy novel this month. I got some writing done, and some planning. But it was not high on my list as it is the furthest project from completion.
I did spent a decent amount of time last month planning other projects. I expect to go into details in a future blog post, but I’m looking at how I work on projects and how I can bring them to fruition faster. Most of it focuses on world building and advanced outlining.
July Goals
Get through middle section of Book 3
Get Science Fiction Novel to Beta Reader status
Add 5,000 words to Fantasy Novel
Movies and TV Shows
The first new movie I got into in June was The Lego Batman Movie. This had been on my list for a long time. It was fantastic. Will Arnett’s angsty Batman was a hilarious caricature of the superhero. The movie itself made fun of the absurdity of Batman, Gotham City, and the numerous villains that Batman faces in fighting crime. I was glad to finally sit down and watch it.
I started two new seasons of shows in June: Marvel: Secret Invasion and Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Season 2. I’m only one episode into Secret Invasion, so I don’t really have much to say about it, other than I’m anticipating Olivia Colman to pull off her usual amazing stuff. I’m two episodes into Strange New Worlds Season 2 and the second episode was one of those episodes I know I’ll be watching for a long time. Between those two shows and The Witcher Season 3, I think July will be a pretty heavy TV months.
July Goals
Watch two new movies
Finished two TV shows
Books
I finished reading Book 3 of the Burton House Saga, Double the Trouble, about musical twins Beatrice and Cecelia. As I said last update, the book is much more amusing than the first two books, and that continues to the end of the story. In addition, the author has clearly planned out the rest of the series, as this book makes several comments about future events that will be appearing in future books (along the lines of a character looking at an atlas and dreaming of travel, not knowing how far she’ll go.).
I then sped through the next Philippa Gregory book, Taming of the Queen, about Kathryn Parr, last wife of King Henry VIII. I don’t want to give too much away until I do the book review, so I will simply say that I continue to enjoy the series.
Lastly, I started a book called The Automaton, written by Ian Young, a local author I met at Minicon this year. This book tells the tale of humanity’s move to a cloud consciousness through a series of short stories. These stories are experienced by an automaton, for a purpose that has yet to be really understood. It’s certainly an inventive book, one that feels like real science fiction.
July Goals
Finish three books
Write two blog posts
Games
I finished Last of Us 2 this weekend (technically not June, but whatever). I made the point to my sister that I don’t think I’ve ever gone into a final battle not wanting to fight it as much as that one. That game series is a masterpiece of storytelling. I know a lot of people didn’t like the second one, and I kind of see why, but I don’t agree. If they just did a re-hash of the first game, it would have been boring.
Still working through Gears of War Tactics, which I am enjoying. The end of the first act had a brumak fight. Imagine a rancor with machine gun arms and rockets on its back. It was fun, even if it did take me eight tries to get through. I’m into the second Act, which is teaching me the more complex rules of the game before the story gets moving again.
I’m starting to get into a game called Strategic Command: American Civil War. This is one of those games that has a steep learning curve, so I’m giving myself time to get used to it. The nice thing about this game is that they keep releasing new campaign DLC of other wars of the late 19th and pre-First World War 20th Centuries.
My characters in Hot Springs Island and Quest for the Frozen Flame are still alive, which is good. The Delta Green interlude is also moving along, and so far we’re all still alive. But it is Delta Green, so I don’t expect that to last too much longer.
Also, in gaming news, my sister has asked me to run an introductory RPG campaign for her and her friends. I’m excited to do so, and I’ve spent some time the last few weeks planning that out. Not just the story, but how one does and introductory game. It sounds like it’ll be a few months before that really gets going, but you know me. As soon as there’s something to start planning, I start planning.
July Goals
Finish one more video game
Don’t lose another character
Don’t guy another game
What’s next
July will be focused on getting the Science Fiction novel ready to publish and advancing Book 3. I’ve got a lot of other, smaller projects to work on, but those are the big two. I’ll let you know how they go.
Instead of thinking back of all the missed conventions, books events, and time spent not writing, I’m going to look forward at 2021 as a chance to continue my journey as a writer. So I’m setting myself some goals.
1. Blog More Often
I’ve come to believe that a blog is not just about putting yourself out there. It’s a chance to be a writer in those times between books and events when there isn’t too much to feel like a writer. My goal is to blog at least once a month; a monthly update, an article about writing, a book report. Just something to do with writing.
2. Get a book ready for publication
I’ve got a fantasy novel that could be ready to publish sometime in 2021, I just need to finish the re-write and see if it works. I’m also getting into Book 3 of the Renaissance Army Series, and I want to get that ready to go either late 2021 or sometime 2022.
3. Send a Short Story to a Magazine
I’ve actually written some good short stories over the last few years. I’m looking to send them out to some publications, see if I can get them published and my name out there.
4. Run a Books and Beer Event/Attend Conventions
This one is dependent on when things get back to normal, but I’ve been wanting to attend more conventions to get my books out there. Also, once the breweries open up again, I’d like to get the Books and Beer Pop-Up Bookstores running. Those were fun.
Here’s hoping 2021 goes more our way than 2020 did.
The Tales of the Templars is a collection of short stories I’m working on. The idea comes from my second book, Templar Scholar, in which Sasha Small joins the Templar Project, a group of young men and women being trained by the Renaissance Army as leaders of the new Renaissance. Including Sasha, there are twelve Templars, each with their own stories and backgrounds.
The Tales of the Templars will include stories that follow Templars other than Sasha. It will allow me to explore not only new characters, but aspects of the world that Sasha has not experienced. One character grew up stealing to survive; how did he end up a Templar? Another character fought in a battle Sasha only watched from afar. What was that battle like to those involved?
I have sixteen potential stories, with each of the eleven Templars involved in at least one. Some of them are pre-Templar Stories, which is to say they occur before the beginning of Templar Scholar, some of them during the events of Renaissance Calling. Others are Templar Stories, which take place during Templar Scholar.
Will Tales of the Templars include all sixteen stories? No. And here’s where my readers come in. I have a page on my website (linked here) where readers can vote for their favorite story ideas. Each of the sixteen stories is listed with a synopsis, and at the bottom you can vote for up to five of the stories you want to read.
If you’ve read Templar Scholar you’ll know the characters and some of the events, and you’ll probably have characters you want to know more about. If you haven’t read the book, then hopefully some of the stories sound good anyway. And if you want to buy the book, you can do so here.
I am excited to announce Templar Scholar, Book 2 in the Renaissance Army series.
Templar Scholar
Templar Scholar follows Sasha Small as she joins a group of future leaders of the Renaissance called the Templar Project. Taking the name Scholar, Sasha works to become the best officer she can be, as the war of the Renaissance Army continues to heat up.
Amazon has ebook and hardcover already available for pre-order. Paperback should be coming soon.
Want signed copies? Both Renaissance Calling and Templar Scholar are available for order off my website’s store page.
When I was younger, I heard someone say that an artist is never satisfied with their work. They know what was in their mind when they began, and they see the final project, and it always falls flat in one aspect or another. It’s just something that all artists feel.
That saying has been on my mind as I’m working through the final stages of Book 2. As publishing gets closer and closer, I find myself battling anxiety about what is in the book and what is not. Have I stressed this point enough? Does this relationship get enough space? Will the reader take away what I want them to, or am I too vague?
There’s no way to get rid of these anxieties. They can even be helpful. The anxiety forces me as a writer to keep working, to pay attention to what is bothering me. Rewrite, research, revise, and continue.
Accepting the imperfection of my work is a part of the process. I really like Book 2. There are plenty of things I wish I could put in, but size constraints and the flow of the story keep me from doing so, and that’s okay. No story tells everything.
And when the anxiety and worry starts to grow, I remind myself that I’ve had six people read through the various drafts. All of them said they liked the book. If I trust them to advise me on editorial matters, I should trust them to tell me the truth on the quality of the book. An outside viewpoint carries weight against an inside doubt.
Ultimately, I will always feel that anything I’ve written is imperfect, and I’m okay with that. It doesn’t have to be perfect. It just has to be good enough that I feel comfortable with other people reading it. The stories I tell are of imperfect people in an imperfect world. Imperfection is part of the game.
As 2018 comes to a close, I spend some time looking back at what I’ve done and what I’ve not done. What I wish I did better and what I regret not doing.
The main take away is that I would liked to have done more conventions, and I’m annoyed I didn’t publish anything in 2018. With those in mind, I want to make some commitments to myself and my readers for 2019.
One: Publish Renaissance Army Book 2
This one is going to happen. I’m heading into the Beta readers section, finalizing the cover art and text, and preparing for printing. Slow and steady wins the race.
Two: Finish Rough Draft of Renaissance Army Book 3
The third book is already in the works. I’ve got some key scenes written down and I’m working on the outline. I’ll need to do some research and reading, but there’s a whole year to play with.
Three: Launch my database website
I’ve been building a database website for the Renaissance Army series. Its a website that includes rank insignia, history of the nations, and timeline of events. It will let readers who want to learn more know more, and help me keep information on the world in a place where I won’t lose it.
Four: Get a non-Renaissance Army book ready for publishing
I have a lot of book ideas, so I want to get something else ready for publication. There are plenty of possible stories that I could go with, and it is unlikely they would be as long as the RAM books.
Five: Write more short stories
I’m trying to look at short stories as a way to test out mechanics of worlds, debut characters, and just practice things I’m not used to writing. So in 2019 I’m going to write more short stories.
Six: Blog and Post More
Essentially I want to be more sociable on social media. I feel it is one area of the whole self-publishing author that I have not been successful at.
Seven: Get an Audiobook out for Renaissance Army books.
I may have a lead on a female voice to bring Renaissance Calling and its sequel to audibook. If that doesn’t work out, I have some other options. I aim to have both recorded when Book 2 is released.
So that’s my seven goals for 2019. Looking forward to writing as much as I can, and I hope you reach your own writing goals as well.
Man, it’s been a while. I always tell myself ‘this time I’ll keep blogging’, and then three months pass by. Obviously, I’m not much of a blogger. I hope to do better, but if I’m going to write, I’m more likely to write books and stories than blog posts.
Alas.
Anyway, I wanted to send out some quick updates on where I am with various projects.
First, Book 2. The editor is almost through her first review, and she thinks it’s very enjoyable. So that’s a huge relief. There’s still a lot of work and notes to go through, but probably no huge re-writes.
Second, also for Book 2, the cover artist is aiming to get the cover art done by October 1st. This is just the front cover, not the whole outside (that can’t be done until I have a word count). But it does mean that in a few weeks I should be able to display the artwork in all its glory.
Three, I’ve already started writing Book 3, in an effort to get ahead of the curve. The story is in excess of 12,000 words so far. Don’t have a final word count in mind, and I’m trying not to come up with one. Let the story write and see where it ends up.
There are a lot of other things I want to talk about right now, but they all deserve their own posts, or they’re not ready for discussion yet.
