"Shadow" (the Next Book)

     I've decided to take a few weeks off from writing and focus solely on the house - not this house, not the one I'm currently living in, but the one we're going to move to. Laura and I are looking at a place, and I'll tell you more about it after we've signed the papers. I don't want anyone coming in and swooping it out of our clutches! We'd be so devastated if that were to happen. We really want this particular place, so we're being really shush-shush about it. However, it does mean that I'm taking a break from writing to use my weekends to plan the move in its entirety. I'll start the new book, "Shadow," first thing after the new year begins.

    "Shadow" is a take-off of an old story, one we've all heard about. It's about justice, setting the record straight, but the way it's handled isn't exactly legal -- in fact, it's not legal whatsoever. It's murder. Several killers who have been acquitted by various juries in the country have been found dead. Mostly in the Southwest, but one or two up in Colorado and Wyoming. Their executed bodies hadn't gone completely unnoticed.

    When Nick Posh accepts the assignment to get to the bottom of it all, he's surprised to find that sitting judges, prosecuting attorneys, and even law enforcers are behind the contract hits. It won't be easy for him to work the case without tipping off those who are involved; his very life could be at stake. One of the most intriguing cases of Posh's career for sure; one where he's destined to make enemies and lose friends. 

    I won't be able to start until January, but I'm gathering information now to bring in a few cases in history where the issues Posh will be dealing with have already occurred in real life. I like to bring a little reality into my fiction when I can. It helps to make the book work - and it makes it easier to write too.  I must admit that when I created the cover, I had to laugh - I used a lamppost for the cover - and I love it; but then I realized I had used a similar type of light fixture (sort of) for the cover of "Stratford". It's a sconce, but still! Oh well! I love it.

    "Shadow" will be the first book of the year. I will write four Posh books in 2026, and possibly one drama — it's going to be a good year!  In 2025, I wrote "Stratford", "Dion", "Cask", and "Amicus Curiae", and I still have 2.5 months to go, so I think I can do 5 in 2026. 

Photo Credit: Me