Well, things were somewhat decent, given the time constraints I had in 2025. Working to get more done in 2026. Here are my goals:
1. Publish the final Aston West series novel, Before the Dawn.
2. Complete the first draft of Tempted, the second title in my new Demonkiller series.
3. Re-publish and re-brand my two short story collections, Dead or Alive and Dirty Dozen.
Well, it seems as though I forgot to put any goals for 2025 this past January, but since I hadn't completed anything in 2024, I've just been working toward those. I didn't get everything done, but one big project is now completed. Hoping to keep the momentum going in 2026 (new goals post coming a little later), but here is how things compared to my goals for 2025 (from 2024):
1. Complete the first draft of my fifth Aston West series novel, Before the Dawn.
I was actually able to buckle down on this novel, which will in fact be the final in the Aston West series of novels. I was able to complete the final draft, and expect to be able to publish this sometime in the new year.
2. Complete the first draft of Tempted, the second title in my new Demonkiller series.
Progress on this novel was put on hold due to my focus on finishing Before the Dawn. I was able to get another 10K words completed for a total of 43K. I do plan to focusing on this one in the coming year.
3. Re-publish and re-brand my two short story collections, Dead or Alive and Dirty Dozen.
With all the focus on finishing Before the Dawn, I still didn't get this worked.
4. Write four new Aston short stories (one per quarter).
Didn't get anything written on these, and given my focus next year on Tempted, I don't anticipate much work getting done in the new year either.
Here's hoping I can keep the momentum going on the coming year.
Well, things didn't go so well through 2023. Working to get some things done in 2024. Here are my goals:
1. Complete the first draft of my fifth Aston West series novel, Before the Dawn.
I am currently at about 35K words. I have a good idea of the path I
want the story to take, so now it's just a matter of getting the writing
done. However, this will likely take a back seat to my Demonkiller novel below (unless I run into blocks on that one).
2. Complete the first draft of Tempted, the second title in my
new Demonkiller series. I am now at 33K words on this one, and the plot is coming together nicely. This will likely be my primary focus for this year, since I only have the one title in this series (sorry, Aston fans).
3. Re-publish and re-brand my two short story collections, Dead or Alive and Dirty Dozen. Have not looked ahead to the convention schedule for this year (some ended their runs this past year, so things may look a bit different), but hoping to have them available soon.
4. Write four new Aston short stories (one per quarter). Wanting to work these back into the goal rotation, so that I can get some accomplishments (hopefully) completed.
Here's hoping I can work to complete these goals this year.
Well, 2022 was a fairly productive year, although with two novels in work, not a lot was completely finished. Combine that with work stresses and several items around the house that needed to be addressed, it was good that I could get some work accomplished on the goals that I did. Here's the recap for how things went against my 2022 goals.
1. Complete the first draft of my fifth Aston West series novel, Before the Dawn.
Didn't finish the first draft of this novel, but I have been working on it throughout the year. Now up to around 30K words and have a good handle on the direction I want to take it, including the ending!
2. Complete the first draft of my second title (Tempted) in my new Demonkiller series.
Didn't finish the first draft of this novel, but like Before the Dawn, I have been working on it throughout the year. Will be interesting to see which of these novels ends up finished first. Now up to around 20K words.
3. As the rights from Dead or Alive have been returned to me, it's time to re-publish and re-brand my two short story collections.
Didn't get this finished this year. No excuse, just didn't.
A follow-up post for my new goals will be coming soon. Hoping to gain a little momentum and have 2023 be an even better year.
Mila pursed her lips and squirmed, unable to find a comfortable position in the chair. She looked around, seeing peaceful digital artwork by artists with names she didn’t recognize. The distinct stench of fresh paint spilled off the walls. They’d gone to great lengths to liven up the facilities over the past few months. There was no sense in it. Putting a friendly, pleasant face on the surroundings didn’t hide the fact there was only one reason to come here.
To visit the dead.
He couldn’t pull it out from the front, so reached back. The beast’s mind finally gave up hope as soon as his fingers felt a stone tip emerging from the back of his neck. His eyes rolled up into his skull, then he fell backward.
The corpse splashed down and huge waves pushed against me. I jerked my head around and stared at the opposite bank. There, a bow in his left hand and a quiver of arrows strapped to his back, stood the man who’d just saved my life.
Elijah Cassus.
* * *
I shot awake, drenched in sweat and breathing heavy. The ship was rapidly decelerating, and something was definitely wrong. My ship’s computer usually gave me advance notice before we dropped below the hyperspeed threshold.
I flipped over and faced my attacker as his cold, dark shadow enveloped me. Milky-white foam oozed over his lower lip, dripping long strands toward the water below.
“Prepare to meet your maker!”
He raised the mallet high above his head. At least my death would be quick, but I couldn’t say much for painless. I shut my eyes tight and waited for the crushing blow.
A sharp whistle passed overhead and the giant beast gasped and choked. My eyes flashed open as the beast dropped his weapon into the river behind him.
Only one object stood between me and oblivion, a homemade arrow buried in his neck, with feathers fashioned into rear fins.
His makeshift mallet towered above his head, a boulder strapped into the fork of a tree branch. I jumped aside just before the weapon crashed down.
One of his eyes grew crazy-wide, while the other glazed over. Saliva dribbled from his lips. “I am King of the Wooded Realm! You dare invade my territory?”
This wasn’t a fight I planned to stick around for. This beast was obviously psychotic, and they were always the worst type of violent.
“Funny, those were the last words you said to me. ‘Hunt me down’ or something to that effect.”Hope you enjoyed it! (And if you don't know who Elijah and Lars are, why not pick up a copy of Friends in Deed? Sorry about the spoiler in this snippet about a major plot point from that one, though...) If so, pick up a copy of All Good Things from the link above. And of course, be sure to check out all of the fabulous SFFS snippets through the link at the top of this post.
“Time has a way of changing things, Aston. Besides, I have a little surprise for you.”
I wasn’t sure I wanted to find out what sort of surprise he had in store, but if it meant I’d survive this, I couldn’t complain. “And that is?”
“Aston...” Warm breath eased past my ear. I hadn’t heard that voice in forever, but there was no mistaking it.
Chills raced up and down my spine as I muttered, “It can’t be. You’re dead.”
I turned on my heels and saw Lars Cassus standing right in front of me, living and breathing, and carrying a disintegrator cannon of his own. I stumbled back, trying to scramble away from the man I’d killed. The corner of his mouth curled up. “I’m back.”
I kept my focus on Elijah. “So, it’s come down to this. Gunning me down in cold blood on some random planet?”Hope you enjoyed it! (And if you don't know who Elijah is, why not pick up a copy of Friends in Deed?) If so, pick up a copy of All Good Things from the link above. And of course, be sure to check out all of the fabulous SFFS snippets through the link at the top of this post.
He snorted, leveling the barrel at my chest. “Cold blood would insinuate you’re innocent, which you aren’t.”
“Aston?” Rione repeated, this time more forceful.
Elijah interrupted, “He killed my brother.”
Rione knew the background, but now reality was hitting her right in the face. She turned to face Elijah, but didn’t say a word.
I insisted, “Do with me what you will, but leave her out of this. She has nothing to do with our past.”
He laughed. “Despite what you might think, Aston, I’m not here to kill you.”
I turned my head this way and that, trying to catch a glimpse of my nemesis. Then he stepped out of the corner shadows between us and the doorway, a disintegrator cannon in his hands.Hope you enjoyed it! (And if you don't know who Elijah is, why not pick up a copy of Friends in Deed?) If so, pick up a copy of All Good Things from the link above. And of course, be sure to check out all of the fabulous SFFS snippets through the link at the top of this post.
“No...” I muttered beneath my breath.
The minimal light from the main corridor illuminated him like an angel, which I knew for certain he wasn’t. He hadn’t changed in appearance at all, wearing that same baggy white shirt buttoned halfway up his chest which did little to hide his muscular chest. Bristly blonde stubble adorned the top of his head. His face was hard and unmoving, as if chiseled in stone. A pair of tan pants and dark brown boots made him look like an extra in an old medieval holo-movie. They didn’t use disintegrator cannons in those, though.
“It’s been too long,” he muttered.
Rione was understandably confused. “Aston?” She hadn’t known Elijah Cassus, and given my choice, I would have kept it that way. Apparently, fate had other plans.
I followed, keeping an eye on Rione, but also trying to look off into the darkness for any sign of trouble. If I saw a piece of dust floating in the air wrong, I planned to grab Rione and race out of here. She reached the huddled mass on the ground, kneeling down beside her.Hope you enjoyed it! (And if you don't know who Elijah is, why not pick up a copy of Friends in Deed?) If so, pick up a copy of All Good Things from the link above. And of course, be sure to check out all of the fabulous SFFS snippets through the link at the top of this post.
“Are you okay?” She gently pushed the figure to no avail. I saw a small pool of blood below the woman’s head as Rione pressed fingers against the woman’s throat. She bowed her head. “She’s dead.”
I looked at the pool of blood again, and my gut instinct screamed. My eyes went wide and I grabbed Rione’s arm. “It’s a trap!”
“Right you are...” A familiar voice carried in from elsewhere in the room. My skin crawled.
“Elijah?”
Rione turned and looked down the corridor opposite the one that we’d used earlier. I knew what she was going to do, and wanted to object since we had no weapons and didn’t know what we were getting into. Unfortunately, I didn’t have the chance before she sprinted off, leaving me no choice but to follow.Hope you enjoyed it! If so, pick up a copy of All Good Things from the link above. And of course, be sure to check out all of the fabulous SFFS snippets through the link at the top of this post.
I wasn’t sure if the corridor we ran through was being built, or in extreme disrepair, but half of the lights were out overhead. Several panels were removed along the walls, and resting next to their openings. My infamous gut was screaming at me that we needed our weapons for heading into the unknown like this. Rione apparently didn’t have those same qualms, as she kept up her sprinter’s pace until she came to a stop near an open doorway.
I finally caught up to her, while I huffed and puffed from the exertion, and peered inside into near darkness. The only light came from the corridor, which barely gave enough to see some sort of huddled figure on the floor.
“We have to help her.”
Rione stepped toward the doorway, but I grabbed her arm. “Something doesn’t feel right about this.” That was an understatement, as far as my gut was concerned.
“Stay here if you want, but she needs help.” She broke free and continued into the room.
We stepped toward the doors to the landing pad, which opened a moment before something clanged, echoing around us. I peered out at our ship, but saw nothing out of the ordinary. Six containers were all lined up neatly underneath the ship. A yard technician was driving his tracked vehicle toward the ship, dragging along three more containers behind it as columns of smoke bellowed out of its vertical exhaust shafts. Another vehicle with huge wheels grabbed the first container with some sort of claw-like attachment on its front. Then, the second yard technician moved rapidly from the container drop-off point over to the first of the twelve bay loading platforms that were resting on the ground. Dropping it off, he went back for the next container while the lift pad began a quick trip up into its respective cargo bay. The tracked vehicle dropped off its load, and sped off toward its final load beyond my line of sight.Hope you enjoyed it! If so, pick up a copy of All Good Things from the link above. And of course, be sure to check out all of the fabulous SFFS snippets through the link at the top of this post.
“Think it could have been the cargo containers?” Rione asked.
“Maybe,” I said with a grimace, “but I haven’t heard it again since we opened the doors.”
Yet again, I found myself debating the rationale behind leaving our weapons on the ship. Since that couldn’t be helped this time, I decided discretion was the better choice. “Let’s get back to the ship.”
Before we had a chance to make a move, a woman’s scream filled the foyer.
A new ship. A new love. A new life.
An old nemesis could end it all.
Space pirate Aston West never truly came to grips with the death of his friend, Leah Jordan. He’s tried to move on, falling in love with his best friend, Rione Sc’lari. But the memories of Leah’s murder at the hands of twin brothers Lars and Elijah Cassus still linger, gnawing at Aston’s soul as he blames himself for her death. Even though he exacted fatal vengeance on Lars, Elijah has promised revenge for his brother’s demise.
Elijah finally reveals himself, and Aston believes his life is over. But rather than carry out his prior threat, Elijah, possessing a new miracle drug, promises to bring Leah back to life if Aston goes along with his latest diabolical plan. Will Aston risk his newfound love and join forces with the ultimate evil, just to find absolution?