I mentioned last time that I would bring you up to date on the current WIP (Work In Progress, remember?) and how things are performing. How I’m performing, more like. Well actually, I’ve been performing very well this last week. We’ve spent the last 6 nights on Becky’s boat and it has been a time of inspiration for yours truly. By my estimation the new novel – a Blessham one – is about 10% written (first draft).

I managed to rattle off a whole chapter on Wednesday, in what was a most rejuvenating spell of writing. I felt like my own self again whilst I wrote that chapter. The words poured out of me like raindrops in a thunder storm and my fingers were but a frantic blur on the keyboard. Ok, ok, that might be over egging it a little but you get the picture – it was a prolific day.

I’m also rather excited about this one. I mean, I’ve been excited by all of them but the plot for this one is something else. Joe has not one but two adversaries in this one. It’s also where we see Joe at perhaps his most vulnerable in the series so far. We know he’s a resilient little chap but he’s pushed to the absolute limit in this one. Don’t get me wrong, there are laughs a plenty, it’s going to take all of Joe’s pluck to get through it.

Obviously, with only two chapters written, I can’t give too much away but this is very different to the other Blessham books whilst still retaining all of the charm that my readers have enjoyed since it all began in 2019 with Ah Boy!

There is all the usual madness and mayhem that normally surrounds Joe but there is, dare I say, a scarier tinge to this one. It’s not a horror by any stretch of the imagination but there will be several read-it-through-your-fingers moments. Yes, lets put it that way. Still the same old Joe, still the same old crazy characters, still the same old Blessham; just a teensy bit scarier.

In Joe’s last outing – Medicine Show – we saw a much more resourceful side to Joe and we’ll see even more of that this time. Gone are the days when Joe Wilkie was simply everybody’s punchbag (both verbal and physical), this time he shows true grit. Necessity dictates it.

As for the cover art, I’m going to draft my granddaughter Erin in to help me with that. She has turned into the most amazing artist and is currently in an apprenticeship to become a professional tattooist. I’m not into tattoos personally but I tell what, if I were then I would trust Erin implicitly. Her artwork is just fabulous.

But you would say that, I hear you say, you’re her granddad. To which I would answer, yes I am but I also know huge talent when I see it and boy has Erin got it by the boat load. You’ll see what I mean when the book is released and I shall have the deep-seated gratification of saying, “See, I told you so!”

Now, here’s the switcheroo bit.

For some time now I’ve been endeavouring to post on Substack three days a week – Monday, Wednesday and Friday. My weekends tend to be more family orientated so that only leaves Tuesday and Thursday for novel writing. Sorry, that was a bit obvious and I apologies if explaining the days of the week to you sounded like teaching Granny to suck eggs. Although, I can’t imagine for the life of me where that expression came from. My Granny certainly never sucked eggs. Well, not that I know of.

Where was I? Ah yes! The week days. The plan now is to restrict Substack to Tuesdays and Thursdays and leave Mon, Tues and Wed for the novel. I’m working on the assumption that if I can write a chapter in a day – some where between four and five thousand words – then it should only take a further 5 – 6 weeks at 3 days a week. Does that make sense? Well it does to me. Will I pull it off? Probably not, knowing me. My body will have a say in all of it at some point and life will get in the way on occasions but it’s something to aim for at least.

The new plan begins next week – Monday 16^th June – so there will be 2 chapters written this week and 3 Substacks, not forgetting this here blog post as well. So, it’s a rejuvenated Alan that signs off this post with hope in his little heart that in a month and a half he’ll be able to announce to the whole world that the first draft is done!

Here’s hoping x