I have written at least 12 chapters since returning from the Altamaha River in March. The story has taken on a life of its own, and the quest for the Altamaha-ha has been a fruitful one. Only 2 or 3 chapters remain in the 1st draft. The second will take about a month to complete, as I will only be fleshing out characters and adding the historical and technical information that provide the science of the search. So many storylines are brought together, aided by new characters and the identity of old enemies. Ian has changed, over time. Chronologically, "The Cryptids Trilogy" has only spanned about a year in the life of anthropologist turned cryptozoologist Ian McQuade. He has endured so much since the childhood incident in which he saw a Bigfoot enter his parent's campground. He has travelled the Western Hemisphere in search of Thunderbirds, Bigfoot and Sea Monsters. Every quest has left its mark on him, both spiritually and temporally. He has changed over the course of these events, and yet could not forsee the destinay awaiting him. I don't believe anyone will realize his fate until they read it for themselves. "Wake of the Lake Monster" will be the last adventure ofr Ian and his Chimaera Foundation partner, Alma Del Nephotes. From his time with her in "Shadow of the Thunderbird", and without her on his own in "Track of the Bigfoot", Ian has been guided by forces beyond his control as a pawn to serve not one but three secretive organizations. One represents magic; another science, and a third a power that would throw down governments. I have greatly enjoyed his adventures, as they very much mirroed events in my own life. I have travelled to go where he has been; I went through many of the same kinds of trials and tribulations in my life, even as he endured them. I travelled for IBM, full of technical knowledge and ability, but not having travelled widely, before. I went from studying and writing about cryptozoology to becoming a moderately well-known researcher, lecturer and radio host. I left the road and its rewards to make a new life back home, struggling to set up my own company, in the process. There are many parallels between Ian and me. I am 5'10", blonde haired (now graying), bespectacled and love a good cherry coke when I can find one. I am also not at home in the wilderness, but I have slogged through many sites of reported big cat, Bigfoot and Lake Monster sightings. I am so glad that you have been there, every step of the way. I hope you enjoy "Wake of the Lake Monster", as it will complete the arc of stories begun with "Shadow" and continued with "Track". I love to write, although I have at times expressed my frustration with it. As a musician, I could write song in 125 words or less, and see my aydience as I performed it for them. With writing, we are through, in my case, with 160,000 to 200,000 words or more, and only then find out what our readers think. I have such great readers, who have expressed a level of enjoyment and support I would not have believed possible. I have always created with art, music, poetry, plays, a comic strip and nearly a thousand songs. Nothing moves me like writing novels. I am glad they have meant so much to you, as well. I have my next novel already in mind, and promise that it will be more of the same caliber of cryptofiction you have come to expect of me. I thought to venture elsewhere, but I feel I am needed here. Others are writing in this genre, but Lee Murphy, my brother-in-ink, and I were here first. We've staked our claim and will let others add to the foundation of what may yet be someday a great body of work. I appreciate you, and thank you for allowing my tales to become a part of your library, and your life. God bless, D.L.

As much as I enjoy the writing process, I'd be less than honest if I said that "Wake of the Lake Monster" would not be my last novel. The truth of it is, I need to release the 3rd edition of "Shadow of the Thunderbird", to silence the nitpickers who have yet to realize that small publishing houses don't have the massive resources available to big houses. By the time I release "Wake of the Lake Monster" later this year, I will have devoted over half a million words to the subject of cryptozoological fiction. I am very proud over the stir they have caused in academic and literary circles. The science is correct, and the stories are full of memorable scenes and characters. What I intend to do is to approach an agent about representing the complete trilogy, and move up to the world of mass fiction. I know that I am up to the challenge. I have other tales I want to tell, but to devote so much time for so little money in a smaller press has been defeating. I am grateful to those who read and enjoy my novels, and take the time to tell me so. Cryptofiction is a marginal genre at best, with a select but small audience. Occasionally, a big name will release a novel incorporating an animal out of place or time, but this is the exception rather than the rule. It is difficult to spend a year or more researching or writing a project, when the rewards are more personal than monetary. I am at a stage in my life where I have to do what matters, rather than what appeals. Not many authors have accomplished a third major release without some huge paycheck waiting at the end, but I will have completed the arc of stories. Next, I will want to put them out to see who may have an even greater interest in them. I feel that I am uniquely positioned to take advantage of having not one but three provened manuscripts. I would love nothing more than to write for the rest of my life, but the rub is that it has to pay for itself to be the substantial part of my life it has been the past five years. I use this blog to tell the truth about what I have experienced, and so it is this evening. I sit and write 5,000 word chapters in a single two hour sitting. I can create the imagery, and keep the story flowing. All I am looking for is the proper venue in which to continue that aspiration. I have worked hard for it, and I believe it will happen. When it does, I'll let you know. Until then, keep the faith and continue the journey with me.