One of the odd things about being a writer is that readers usually only see the finished book.
They see the novel on the shelf, the ebook on their device, or the latest serial episode in their inbox. What they don’t see are all the projects sitting behind it—some being written, some being edited, some waiting patiently for their turn.
At any given moment, I usually have several books in various stages of completion. Some are moving forward quickly. Others are simmering in the background while I work on something else. Since it’s been a while since I shared a proper update, I thought I’d pull back the curtain and show you what’s currently sitting on my desk.
The first project is The Summer Garden, my Sunday serial on Substack. What began as a fairly simple story about a widower discovering a community garden after retirement has turned into something much larger than I originally planned. Readers have connected with Bill Scotsford in ways I hadn’t anticipated, and the story has continued to grow as I’ve explored themes of grief, friendship, purpose, and the surprising ways life can still change after sixty. Watching readers react to each new episode has been one of the highlights of my year so far.
At the same time, I’m re-releasing Credible Threat as a serial. This has been a fascinating experience because it allows me to revisit a story from a completely different perspective. When a novel is released as a book, readers can consume it at whatever pace they choose. A serial forces both writer and reader to slow down. Moments that might pass quickly in a binge read suddenly have a week to breathe. Cliffhangers have time to do their work. It’ll be enjoyable watching new readers discover the story one episode at a time.
My primary novel project remains Fall From Grace, the second Thomas Billings thriller. If Saving Grace introduced readers to Thomas and Grace, this book expands their world considerably. The stakes are larger, the dangers are greater, and several questions left hanging at the end of the first novel begin to find answers. Every series eventually reaches the point where the author can stop introducing the world and start exploring it. That’s where this book lives, and I’m having a great deal of fun writing it.
Not everything on my desk belongs to me. Part of my time is currently devoted to editing The Consorts: Pleasures of the Flesh by Morgan Pearce. Switching between writing and editing keeps me honest. Writing reminds me how difficult it is to create a story from nothing. Editing reminds me how much stronger a story can become through revision. The two disciplines support each other in ways that continue to surprise me, even after all these years.
And waiting patiently in the wings is The Book of Alice, the next Sister Jacobine novel. Readers familiar with The Narrow Gate already know that Alice has unfinished business. Her story is ready to be told. The challenge isn’t finding something to write next—it’s deciding when to set aside the current project and give Alice the attention she deserves.
Looking over that list, I’m struck by how fortunate I am. There was a time when finding the next idea felt difficult. These days, the challenge is finding enough hours to work on all the ideas already waiting for me.
Still, that’s a good problem to have.
As long as there are stories demanding to be told, I suspect I’ll keep showing up at the keyboard each morning and seeing what happens next.
— Mark.