(2/19/26)

For over a year now I have been plugging away on a sequel to my second book, the fantasy novel. The manuscript is a hot mess, and still far from alpha, but the bones are laid to the end for the parts still awaiting flesh.

It’s about two-thirds done (with the rest at least an outline) and going to be another big book like the first, surely at least 100K words.  

To our surprise this past August we received an extended visit from the story’s spirit animal; “Pia” and two other foxes set up housekeeping right in our suburban backyard! Lest a neighbor accuse me of harboring wild animals I can confirm that they only stayed about a fortnight. I’m sure it was our wicked Big Bend drought that finally chased them off. That’s probably why they came in the first place, passing through on an expedition for water.

I did slip her a couple of eggs. How could I not? But I drew the line at a water bowl that would only attract dread mosquitoes.

It really was amazing having foxes in our yard. Sorry the pictures suck. I had to take them from inside the house for fear of chasing them off; at one point there were three of them all out sunning in the yard. We’ve had hawks, owls, buzzards, bats, turtles, snakes, possums, and bunnies, along with unwelcome coons, but this was the very first time we’ve ever seen a fox, never mind three.

Usually it was just the one probable vixen. She’d wake up around nine in the morning and poke her head from the boxwood, then yawn and stretch and scratch before a peaceful lounge in the grass.

Pia’s of course in my sequel along with all of the other heroes off on another epic adventure.

I have a new working title—“Even Further South: Another Southern Fried Fantasy Adventure Story.” It did have another name for a while after a certain McGuffin, but this one makes more sense overall and has a better ring to it. I still use mostly real geography, so you might imagine where they are going. Why, though? Not sure if I’m ready to spill, but suffice it to say they’re leaving the country—off to a wild, lawless volcanic jungle where Saurians and ancient Elves dwell.

If it seems odd that I would write a sequel to a book that doesn’t even have a review on Amazon, remember, it’s my policy to never solicit or buy spurious reviews. Because it isn’t published by Amazon I’m not allowed to run a Goodreads Giveaway, which was how I got such interest as I did upon the release of Maybeth. One thing I am able to do, however, is keep apprised of when my books are checked out. Participating libraries seem to confirm my second book is actually my most popular.

This confirmation of a steady readership is more than enough for me. I’ve wanted to write a fantasy sequel anyway despite my confusion on how to promote it. I hope to have some good marketing ideas by the time the book is done. One idea under consideration is to re-release the first as an Amazon exclusive, or I might do something on Substack instead. We’ll just have to see. In any event, I just wanted to confirm today that a sequel is definitely in the works.

In the meantime, please enjoy the foxes along with my poor photography. And keep praying for peace. Nothing wrecks my writing more than the antics of those warmongering dipshits in Washington!        

(5/19/25)

It’s been a while since I’ve made a post. This spring has been busy, with all sorts of things going on, including horrible distractions.

First off, respecting my title, I thought I’d provide a comprehensive update on where you can check out and read my latest book for free.

Here are the counties with libraries in Florida: Calhoun, Dixie, Franklin, Gilchrist, Jefferson, Leon (at the State Library), Lafayette, Levy, Madison (2 locations), Pasco, Polk, Suwannee, Taylor, and Wakulla.

And here are the counties in Georgia: Decatur, Grady, Miller, and Seminole.

In Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, Maybeth’s in the Chapin Memorial Library, and up in Indiana she can be found in the Crawfordsville District Public Library.

Thanks again very much to all the librarians supporting my work! I’ll continue to try and put out only the best that I can manage.

As a reminder, if you don’t live in any of these areas, you can still ask your local librarian to consider stocking one or all of my titles. There’s also inter-library loan, of course, as well as free library eBooks. I’m now in both the Overdrive and Hoopla networks.  All you need is a library card and a participating local institution.

In other news, I’m on something like chapter nine of the first draft of my sequel to the fantasy story I released in 2023. I know, slow going, right? I was on chapter two in January! But remember, I was in the midst of a fight with one of my distributors—a fight I’ve since won, but it didn’t come cheap!

So, it will be a while yet before my next book. But I’m still really happy with how it’s progressing. 

From here on out I’ll try and do a better job of keeping you posted.

As for the “horrible distractions” I mentioned, I really probably shouldn’t say anything, but I’ve been so disgusted lately that I’ve got to get this out… CLICK HERE for that separate post.

(1/20/25)

Maybeth’s “down upon the Suwannee River…”

Thanks to the enduring support of the librarians of the Suwannee River system, Meet Maybeth: A Confederate Girl can now be checked out in Lee, Live Oak, and Madison, Florida.

In other news, I’m already on chapter two of the sequel to my fantasy novel. It’s going to take quite a while to finish, but plot lines and ideas are coming together nicely.

(12/24/24)

…and Happy New Year! (2025 couldn’t get any worse, right? The wretched world remains on fire.)

Things are proceeding apace here at Two Goats Press. Meet Maybeth is now on Hoopla, an eBook service I absolutely love. It lets you check out books electronically from hundreds of participating libraries! If you’re socked-in somewhere snuggled up from the cold, please check out my book.

My friends in Southwest Georgia have also recently added me in Decatur, Miller, and Seminole Counties.

I’m still hopeful I’ll show up in a few more places yet. I sent out quite a few promotional copies this time.

Two other pieces of news I have to report:

The planning stage has begun on my fourth book. I’m gonna write a sequel to my fantasy story. What I’ve got planned is epic with lots of surprises, but don’t expect even a sniff of it for at least a year and a half.

Also, you may remember when I mentioned someone messing with my book. Well, that outfit persisted in spite of my warnings, so they’ll soon be getting the horns. (More on this bit later. And I’m no Kris Kringle, but I do now have representation. Those punks should beware.)

Though it may not be where you are, the weather here in Florida has been wonderful lately. Lesly and I recently attended an evening celebration in Monticello, and with the almost full moon it couldn’t have been any more perfect.

Pray for Peace.

D.W.

Oh! P.S. Check out Dragons Down. It’s a new 2024 mega adventure board game. We just cracked it open and it’s been a blast. I used to own its inspiration (Magic Realm) back in the day.

(12/7/23)

Merry Christmas! Though this season hasn’t been very “merry” at all so far. Must be something about all the wars, and the rumors of more yet to come…  

Since the last update and my speaking engagement in Perry, I’ve been steadily pecking along, slogging through a pesky edit. Here’s where we are (including the new details revealed back in September at the library):

Project #3, a historical novel set in Jefferson County, FL in the 19^th Century, featuring a ten-year-old protagonist named “Eunice”* is well under way. The first draft was completed some time ago, and first author edits are over half way done. The wife is pokin’ behind a bit at around chapter six, but there are only fourteen (including the epilogue) in the whole thing. Once I get done, I will need to do quick passes to tune voices and the history, but I can’t see that lasting beyond the end of winter at the latest.

It’s not a very big book, more a novella; weighing in fewer than 50K words, it’s still pretty substantial for its audience. Originally conceived as a middle-grade work, it might skew a tad over that.

*The title was picked at the outset, which is why I’m cagey about her name. Her nickname is what will be on the cover—definitely not Eunice. Speaking of the cover, for art, I currently have no idea. I’m hoping something will come to me in the next few months. I can’t say much more now than that the theme is upbeat; you’ll know it, instantly, the moment you hear the full title.

In other news, physical copies of A Southern Fried Fantasy Adventure Story are now in two more libraries (technically, one here recently, since it’s been in the other for a while (I missed it)).

Library patrons here in Florida, in Sarasota and Jefferson Counties, can check me out from these two fine institutions:

The Jefferson County R.J. Bailar Public Library in Monticello, and the Shannon Staub Library in North Port, on Career Lane there by the interstate. Thank you, librarians, for your enduring support of this independent author! I will continue to work very hard to put out a high quality product.

Lastly, I’ll mention, mainly for my own benefit (since this blog helps me accurately mark certain times), that a central plot has coalesced on what will be my fourth project, when this current one is finished. Unless, amid the next year when I hope to release my third book, I come up with something else, I’ll be returning to my adventurers. I even have a title: “The XXXXXX XXXX: Another Southern Fried Fantasy Adventure” (redacted to prevent astute readers from prematurely guessing).

This next book will have more everything, including more lore and character backstories. I’m one of those authors who thinks readers should first come to care, before they’re hit with a life story.

Anyway, that’s all for now. Again, have a Merry Christmas!

Pray for peace or, even as I, the failure of warmongers.     

Romans 12:18-20