Lou Paduano | Urban Fantasy Novels | Sci-Fi Crime Series

Writing Update – April 28, 2025

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And just like that, two months slipped away… The calendar thief is getting way too good at his job. Anyway, welcome to the writing update for April 2035, I mean, 2025. Or do I?

Enough screwing around. Let’s go!

Writing Update

Greystone

I’ll open with the good news. Greystone Book 8 is DONE! Woohoo. Hooray. Thank goodness…

It’s called Legends and Legacies and is THE BIGGEST Greystone novel yet. This book is the lynchpin for the entire series really. Probably why it nearly killed me to put it together. Every character changes through the story. Friendships are broken. Relationships are forged. Secrets are revealed. And all set the stage for the final two books in the series.

So, what about the bad news? Hey, the book is done, right? It is. For now. I’m planning on revisiting it again in June for one last pass. Like I said, this book is too important to screw up and I think I’ve nailed things down pretty well, but one more pass never hurt anything, did it? We’ll see.

Suffice it say, my original plan to complete the drafts for Books 9 and 10 have fallen to the wayside. My schedule doesn’t allow for 100,000 word novels at the moment, so I’m pivoting to a few other things until the fall.

Like…

Coventry

I outlined the first of two Christmas adventures that will be available to read for free on Patreon this December. It’s called Endless Winter and is based on one of my favorite Marvel artifacts: The Casket of Ancient Winters. There’s more to it, of course. Warren tries to make amends for all the lore he’s handed to the very worst of humanity. This story plays heavily into the curse he’s afflicted with thanks to Anansi.

It’s been fun getting back to this world. I love how these short stories may feel small, but they really allow for seeds to be planted that will play out in big ways when I finally get to write the main series.

My plan is to work all next month to write and edit these two tales. Should be a nice diversion from everything else going on.

What else?

Too much really. If I had my way, I’d be writing all day, every day, and still have plenty to say by the end of it all. Right now, though, the family needs me more than my desk, so I’ve been walking away a bit more than usual. Exercise would be nice too, so that might start happening. (Should be alive to finish some of these stories, right?)

I’ve been adding Archive Books to Patreon. Be sure to head over there, subscribe, and start enjoying the hell out of all things DSA and Greystone.

Speaking of DSA: Season One is no longer exclusive to Kindle. I’ll be uploading it to all the major retailers this weekend, including my Payhip store. Season Two will be coming at the end of June.

Writing Update – October 30, 2024

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This writing update is brought to you the letter W, for What the hell happened to this year? Well, here we go again, I guess.

Writing Update

Greystone

I’ve been in the middle of a massive overhaul of the Greystone series. What does this mean exactly? Well, for starters, I took a deep dive into Signs of Portents. Some people–friends and family–think I’m insane for doing so. They love the book as it stands.

But it isn’t universally praised. Those critical of the book aren’t wrong. I would never write Signs the same way if I were to tackle it from scratch. I’ve changed over the years and my sensibilities have shifted. I wouldn’t say for the better, but I would like to think I’ve grown into the role of novelist respectably.

Anyway, I retooled the whole book. The narrative is the same. The mystery at the heart of the book remains intact. There are slight additions for pacing purposes. The most jarring changes are with POV. I switched POVs mid-chapter A LOT in Signs. I found ways around doing that for the revision, building up images in some cases and switching events around in others.

The book is vastly improved. VASTLY.

writing update
Look, Ma, the book number!

New covers!

The overhaul also entails new covers for the series. I tried–really, I did–to get on-brand, genre covers for the series. I hated every design sent my way. The characters models looked weird and the edge was lost on the monster angle. None of them felt right to me.

The original covers always made the series for me. So, I went back to the well and found someone able to update the original covers to include… THE BOOK NUMBER ON THE SPINE! (WOOHOO!)

Not only that, but hardcover editions are coming your way next year!

The Signs edit has been my life for the last two months. Now, it is time to turn my attention to Tales and the rest of the Greystone series to get the books prepped for a huge push in 2025.

Terminal Point

I’m doing my final lap on the DSA Season Two finale. I love this book, personally, which is not something I so readily say when it comes to my work. There are some great Ben-Morgan moments in the book as well as a cliffhanger that will have you screaming at me for quite some time.

Be sure to pre-order your copy now for only $0.99!

Coventry

Next month, I’m back to work on Coventry to get the two short stories already written into shape for release in December. I don’t usually like to play it this close, but this year has been a mess all around for me. Don’t worry about the tales, they’re a blast and you’ll enjoy them. I just wish I had more time to play around in the world before the launch.

Is that it? Come on, Lou.

I know, right? Pretty lackluster performance from me this year on the writing side. Next year, the game changes, hopefully. A little less worrying about what’s already out and more focus on building new narratives.

Writing Update – August 28, 2024

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How is the summer over already? It can’t be, can it? Well, we’re at the end of another month, so let’s get to the writing update!

Writing Update

DSA Season Two

Season Two updates still? What are you trying to pull, Lou? I know, I know. The books are done. They are ready for you to enjoy. I’ve just spent a little time going through them ONE MORE TIME, because I am completely and totally insane. I really am my own worst enemy. The books are fantastic, though. You’re going to love how the season closes out. Then curse me out when Season Three doesn’t come out right away…

DSA Season Three

Speaking of which, the draft for the opener to Season Three is complete. Utopia Protocol is the biggest DSA adventure to date and sets off a whole chain of events that will carry through the six-book season. Lots of work to be done on this one still, but it’s a strong start that will answer some long-standing questions.

Book Two is called Three Fates and is on the docket to be drafted in September. Will that happen? I hope so, but there is a lot going on at the moment that might cause me to shuffle things around. We’ll see. I will say, this book has a moment that completely surprised me in the outlining phase. It gives me chills just thinking about it. You’re going to lose your minds when you read it.

Coventry

I’ve been delving into a new series over the course of the summer. It’s called Coventry and is part myth-building and part urban fantasy. Two short stories have been drafted that you’ll be able to enjoy over on the Patreon page this December. The lore behind what will eventually be a series of novels has been keeping me up at night for weeks. It’s some of the most ambitious storytelling I’ve ever attempted, and I’m loving how it is all coming together.

More to share on these soon.

Miscellaneous Nonsense

I always shoot for the moon when it comes to my deadlines and writing goals. This summer was meant to be much more productive. It didn’t materialize for a number of reasons, not the least of which was the death of my laptop.

Losing my most essential tool was bound to happen. The laptop was ancient. I was simply hoping to eke out a few more months before replacing it. Then the “O” key stopped working. Then the battery stopped taking a charge. And then, and then… You get the picture.

Switching to a new unit has been more challenging than writing entire books in some respects, but I’m almost back up to speed. We’ll see if I’ve forgotten to transfer over any vital information and how much it will screw me over down the line.

Writing Update – May 20, 2024

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Welcome back to the writing update! This year has been a whirlwind, and it is only getting crazier. Let’s get down to business!

Writing Update

The Last King is out in the world! This freebie is now available in the Fates of Magic and Myth anthology. You should be able to find it on all major retailers.

Best of all, it’s FREE.

Eight incredible fantasy stories are waiting for you to enjoy. Dig in and let me know what you think of The Last King.

DSA

I finished the first pass on the dialogue for all of Season Three this past weekend. That’s right! 211 chapters of DSA goodness is ready to be scripted.

This season has already surprised me on a number of levels. There are some spectacular locales within the books and the characters really popped for me right out of the gate. I’m so excited to share what’s coming with you, but we still have half of Season Two to enjoy first!

I’m diving into the scripts over the next three weeks. It’s a little slower than I’d like to proceed but there are events to prepare for (and even some sleep to enjoy… maybe?) so I’m spacing things out a bit.

The plan is to have a workable draft for DSA 3.1 – Utopia Protocol by the end of June.

Events

Speaking of events: Totally Buffalo is this weekend! If you’re in the Buffalo area, you have to come to this incredible event. It is free to get in and there is fun for the whole family.

The following weekend is Fairport Canal Days. Another huge event for the area with hundreds of vendors to visit. There’s live music, eats galore, and more family fun than you can fit in the day.

Hope to see you at these incredible events!

Patreon

Thank you to everyone who has checked out the Patreon page, to those who followed, and especially to those who subscribed. Your support means the world to me.

I hope you’re enjoying Army in the Obelisk. Part IV arrives this Wednesday and features the Cult of Anubis. (One of my favorite villains from the series.)

The story is free for all followers of the Patreon, so join the fun and start reading!

Writing Update – March 25, 2024

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It’s been quite the month over here. While it has seemed like an eternity dealing with a potty-training, sleep-deprived toddler, time certainly has flown by. Let’s get to the writing update!

Writing Update

Greystone, Greystone, Greystone!

I closed out the script for Greystone 9 at the end of February. There was a lot of work involved, trying to reformat some of the action beats, while keeping all the main characters at the forefront for every major scene. I think it is a much stronger narrative now. We’ll see how the draft goes later this year.

Before I could jump into the script for the FINAL Greystone novel, an opportunity came up that required a brand-new story. That has been my priority for the last three weeks. It’s called The Last King, and it is a “lost tale” set in the Greystone universe. This standalone adventure is one of the best things I’ve ever put together. It was so much fun, from conception to execution, and I can’t wait for you to read it.

What it is and how you can get it are details coming your way in TWO WEEKS!

With the bonus tale out of the way, I am sitting down to script Greystone 10. It has been a crazy journey with these characters, and I will say there were tears when it came to dialoguing certain scenes. I don’t want to say goodbye yet, and thankfully won’t have to for the next year or so as I draft the final three books. What a joy it’s been to explore this world.

You’re going to love the second half of the series.

Reading List

Labyrinth by Shane Lee – I really enjoyed this novel. I met Shane’s wife at the McKinley Vendor’s Market and had to pick up the first book in his World of the Stone Maze series. The action was intense. The main characters were flawed yet extremely engrossing. I can’t wait to see where the story goes next.

Not much else going on over here. It’s been work, work, and more work to keep the trains rolling on time. During my bouts of insomnia, DSA has been creeping to the forefront of my mind. A lot of fun thoughts about what is coming in the series and where it is all headed.

I’m a little ways off from getting to Season Three, but I’m ready. Oh boy, am I ready.

Next month:

I’m figuring things out on the business side mostly. There’s some review for Cracked Chrysalis and the end of DSA Season Two, but beyond that a relatively lighter month writing-wise (I hope).

Thanks for reading.

Writing Update – November 27, 2023

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How are we already at the end of November? It’s not possible to consider 2024 is this close to a reality. Thanks for joining me on another writing update where I didn’t finish half of what I was hoping to.

Here we go.

Writing Update

Greystone 7

The draft for Errant Knight is DONE. I finished at the start of the month, hoping to jump right into the edit. Then life crashed hard. No-school November is a terrible month for me work-wise. I love my kids to death, but holy hell do they need to have a full week of school!

Anyway, the draft is fantastic. Right up there with some of my favorite Soriya/Loren adventures of the past. I’m going to read through it this week and start the cleanup process. Hoping to close out the book by the end of the year, which would be the perfect present to wrap up 2023.

Something New for the Writing Update?

Wait. You didn’t have time to jump into your edit, but you started work on a new series?

Yeah. My stupid brain disobeyed orders yet again. Finishing up Errant Knight somehow opened the floodgates in this wacky head of mine. I woke up out of a dead sleep with a fully developed series I’ve been calling Covenant for the moment. It’s urban fantasy fun and I’ve already scripted the first short story–a Christmas Adventure of all things–that I’m hoping to draft for next holiday season. It has a ton of potential, so I did take a few days to flesh out the world, including two great supporting characters and an origin story for our hero. It’s going to be a blast to build out this series when I can.

Where do we go from here?

Once Errant Knight is set, my publishing schedule is planned out through 2025, if you can believe that. I’ve been going back and forth with myself–because who else would put up with me at this point–about what to work on next. The smart move, and the initial plan, was to start Greystone 8 immediately so I can close out the series by the end of 2024.

Then I started reading the proofs for DSA Season Two and the next books started filtering through my thoughts. Ben and Morgan keep whispering in my ear for the next chunk of their tale to be told.

Of course, so are Nate and Aeris in my sci-fi space opera series, Red Epsilon. I went to Lil-Con in Lockport last weekend and brought Book One of that series. I wanted a refresher on the scripts I finished back in 2021, because I’m dying to live in that world for a little while.

The voices have been getting louder. Should I be worried?

The sky’s the limit for drafting next year to make as many of these books a reality. Whether that means simply drafting and editing later on, or jumping from one series to another, remains to be seen. I’m sure I’ll still be debating it come the first of the year. (Only a month away?! Crap!)

Reading List

All comics again for me lately. It helps me when it comes to dialogue, and the bite-size chunks are a nice escape when I’m drowning in work, or kids, or life in general.

This month has been B.P.R.D. central. Mike Mignola is an unparalleled talent. The level of world-building and the growth of the cast amidst the supernatural threats against them has been a treat to enjoy. I’m in the middle of the Hell on Earth saga and can’t wait to see where things go next. I’d be remiss in not mentioning John Arcudi on the writing side as well as Guy Davis, Tyler Crook, and so many other wonderful artists on the series.

That’s it for the updates in 2023!

Happy reading.

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