Finally, I can honestly report that I have completed the outline for what I am tentatively titling Counterstrike: The Last World War, Book II.

I'm planning to send it to my agent, along with the proposal for another Trek novel, at the same time I send her the manuscript for The Genesis Protocol. She'll present the outline to Pocket Books, who has the right of first refusal. If they pass on it, I already have another publisher lined up to take a look at it.

First, many thanks to all of you who have taken the time to offer comments on the first book, as well as for your continual pestering for me to get off my ass and get going on the follow up. For those who worry that this may become a sporadic, never-ending series, you can breathe easy. "Book 2" will wrap things up in fine fashion, at least so far as the war itself goes. Whether or not there's anything left over for any sort of additional stories, well...that remains to be seen.

After a marathon writing session this past week, I have finally completed a first draft on my current project, a science fiction novel called The Genesis Protocol. I'm writing this for John Ordover at Phobos Books, and it's currently scheduled to be out early in 2006. If you liked The Last World War, then you're the folks I'm gunning for with this book. Stay tuned!

After slipping into a coma late yesterday, I'm setting the manuscript aside for a week or so while I catch up on some other projects I want to work on before I head back to my dayjob. Among those:

• A short story that I plan to submit for the 2005 edition of Kansas City Voices magazine.
  
• Polishing an outline for a Trek novel I've been wanting to pitch for a couple of years now.
  
• Oh, and lest I forget...YES, finishing the outline for a sequel to the aforementioned Last World War. I'm --> <-- this close, really. No, honest.
  

In addition to all of that, Kevin Dilmore and I are in very early discussions and planning for some very exciting projects in the Trek realm. It's much too early to talk about anything, but suffice it to say that Bubba and I are very jazzed. More to follow...watch this space!

Issue #154 of the Star Trek Communicator Magazine should be hitting shelves any time now. It features a new article by Kevin and me, "Reflections on Reality," which traces the various takes on "alternate reality" stories that Star Trek has done over the years and includes interviews and quotes from writers of various episodes from all of the series. Enjoy!

I've started the process of moving my website from my AOL account to my new Road Runner account. Once all that's accomplished, I'll be bidding farewell to AOL. Say what you want about the 400 pound gorilla of online services, but it did everything I ever needed it to do (to say nothing of maintaining the same e-Mail address for more than 10 years....Man, is that gonna be a hard habit to break).

Anyway, my new e-Mail address will be daytonward@kc.rr.com. I'll be updating the links and other related stuff throughout the site as I make the migration, but the e-Mail is up and running now.

I know, you can't wait to SPAM me, right?