2026 Has Arrived, Happy New Year!!!

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The GIF above was basically me last night as we welcomed in the new year. I gave 2026 a warning that we would not tolerate any of the shenanigans we've experienced in 2025 and to behave itself and straighten up right off the bat. I guess we'll all have to wait and see if it listened to me or not. 

But in fairness, it wasn't just the new year that I'm being firm with. I'm also kind of cracking down on myself. Over the last few weeks, I've really been looking at myself and what I have and have not gotten done over the last couple of years. Although, in fairness to myself, a LOT went on. Between trying to adjust to my continuing fight for SSDI, my mom suffering dementia and eventually passing away in 2024, then starting 2025 with me and Helen struggling with our apartment and having to get stuff moved out of it and into a storage unit because the landlord didn't like our place having a lot of boxes in the living room. Then of course, looking for and buying a house last year. And yes, we're still kind of settling in and unpacking in many ways. There's been a lot of adjusting, including getting onto Medicaid here in Washington, and getting lined up with new doctors, etc. So, it's not like I haven't been sitting around doing nothing. But still, my lack of doing more creative projects, and actually FINISHING a bunch of projects that have been in the works for a year or several, has been getting to me.

Which leads me to want to really get down to tackling that backlog this year. And for the record, I'm being serious about this!


Ha-ha, very funny Mr. Stewart. But I really mean it. There are a few things that I really want to get done this year, and they are important to me.

First off, I'm already working on an art project for my wife, and cohort in crime, Helen. She's currently cleaning up the draft of her latest novel for her "Forever Detective Series" titled, "Forever on Broadway". And believe me, she's taking her 1940s vampire detective on one heck of a journey as he discovers more about the world of the fantastic and supernatural. I won't give you too many hints, but this tale not only has him investigating a mystery on Broadway, but also a really deep dive into one of the world's that William Shakespeare touched on in one of his famous works.

I'm hoping to have this cover completed by the end of this month if not sooner. 

Next, I'd like to finish the 2nd edit of a collaboration I'm working on with my old high-school friend Richard Caminiti, of book two of our ongoing project "The Pass". We lost the artist we had for the first book, the very talented Gabby Callan (who has moved on to more artistic adventures and is doing a phenomenal job at them). And I'm going to be taking a crack at some pen and ink work myself, hoping to emulate her style and expand with some of my own, to help enhance our ongoing tale.

I'm also determined to finish the re-edits of my first novel "The Bridge" and get it back out there in publication once more. For those who already have an e-copy of the book, it is my understanding that Amazon will automatically upgrade the copy you have with the new edition. And don't worry, the story is still the same. Just, easier on your eyes and brains (or that is my hope).

I also am aiming to release a 2nd anthology involving my Para-Earth vampire Nathan and company. Like the 1st anthology, this volume will contain a number of stories that have appeared on our other blog "The Vampire Blogs - Private Edition" (link: THE VAMPYRE BLOGS--Private Edition) 

NOTE: We have written like over 50-70 short stories that have actually shown up on the blog itself. But we also have a number of tales that have never been published as well.

The 2nd anthology will be titled "The Vampyre Blogs - Two for the Road". If all goes well it will come out late this year, just in time for the Thanksgiving and Christmas holiday season. I could do it sooner, but I have other obligations that I wish to take care of first. What are they? Well, you'll find out in my next blog entry, which will be coming very soon. 

And yes I'm being serious about the "SOON" part.

Until then. Happy New Year and stay safe everyone. And keep writing too!

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