I write non-crime, non-fantasy books though I’ve not written much lately. This was where I started and stopped when work exposed me to so much tragedy I no longer found earnest tales of triumph over adversity entertaining. I couldn’t read it and I certainly didn’t want to write about it. I still derive little pleasure from stories of poverty, violence, addiction and despair.

I am currently editing a work I started a long time ago and set aside for several years. I dipped back into the well of real life and created Behind Closed Doors, a small family drama. The failing health of the family patriarch sends ripples affecting three generations. It is a story of decline, grief, endurance and resilience with a sprinkling of joy and a whole heap of love. I’ve edited it a few times and it’s resting now. Another edit pending.

As an contrast, I have also started The Making of a Curmudgeon: Standing Still While the World Disappoints (working title) which is a semi-autobiographical account of how I came to recognize and embrace my inner curmudgeon which is now my outer persona as well. This will be more comedic I hope and I work on it intermittently when other WIP become challenging.

With the tariff wars and disrespectful behaviour directed our way, I started a speculative fiction piece entitled Bordering on Crazy which I dust off when the news has made me particularly angry.

Finally, when the news became too overwhelming for Crazy, I started a stand-alone crime-adjacent novel, working title Book Club Confessions which is a joy to write, so far. There’s crime, fictional and real, and lots of quirky characters. I hope my vision for this work is attainable. I’ll be very disappointed if I can’t pull it off.