Still no word from St. Martin's Press. I assume, at this point, no news is good news.

As I wait, I move forward with novel #2 "The Golden Gate". With 25% of the first draft written, I estimate I'll be complete (with the first draft) sometime in late August. Statistics show that the average novel is rewritten at least five times. For me, the rewrites are the fun part. That's when the twist become twistier and the layers add a depth to the story that was not possible with the first draft.

For an update on "The Golden Gate": It's developing into a story of mixed genres: suspense, historical and mystery; and even has a touch of the metaphysical. It is a blast to write, and I even hired a writing coach to help me.

It's taken months to digest the many historical events that form the foundation of the villain's (Samael) motives. Although this story is fiction, it is set in real places and based on real events in history. I've heard it refered to as "fictional reality". I personally enjoy reading this type of novel, as you learn while being entertained.

When the hero, Derk Sage, discovers the demands of the villain, he realizes the truth of why his best friend and pilot (Bill Mercer) died in a tragic commercial airline disaster; a disaster that is about to repeat itself if Sage can't find a way to stop it.

The story is laced with universal themes that, hopefully, will resonate long after the last page has been read.