The month long sprint ends today and I'm happy to say I WIN!!!! 

Okay, so, I'm not sure yet about the winning. Each person that takes part in NanoWriMo is declared a winner at 50,000 words. I did indeed hit the target, but since I have not 'finished' the novel as of yet, I really can't say I've won anything. the only thing that matters to me are finished novels.

So, what's the status? 

LITTLE BLACK BOOK sits at 51,500 words and I do have the last few chapters mapped out in my mind. I estimate the final first draft total will be 62-65k words. So, even though the contest is won, I will keep going as if I DIDN'T win, because I haven't. Must finish!

The end is in sight and does set up the next book THE CITY. (title tentative)

I'd like to thank those that helped me through the intense sprint that is NaNoWriMo.  There are many to thank, but three stand out:

Joshua Neary aka @jdude988
@duchessshire

and last, but not least...I have to thank my beautiful wife, Maggie. She gave me inspiration and support. I couldn't have hit 50k words without her. 

thanks to the readers that stopped by the blog this month. I hope you found the bits of the new novel I posted entertaining. 

I'll post another sample tomorrow. 

Until then, have a nice weekend

Stephen Moran 

We reach the final week of National Novel Writing Month and my manuscript LITTLE BLACK BOOK word count is 41000. 

The novel progresses and I start the day with 33,000 words on LITTLE BLACK BOOK. 
I posted a sample THE KILL on the stories page, be sure to check it out. Yes, violent content and all that. 

The story so far--- Ella meets another serial killer, dances around an affair with an FBI agent and has a trial at the mansion, putting 'justice' up for open debate.  

Thank you to all that have helped role play and provided feedback/comments. I can't do it without my readers. 

Also, please give a read to Joshua Neary's first story in over a year, to be found here...

HEY BEAUTIFUL http://absolutebraintrust.blogspot.com/2013/11/hey-beautiful.html

Various thoughts on the marathon month of sprint called NaNoWrimo---

I hit a milestone- 30k words. Though I can't say I'm on solid ice with the plot of LITTLE BLACK BOOK, the word count keeps rising. 

You need to write 1667 words over the 30 days of National Novel Writing Month to finish a 50k word manuscript in the time allotted. For the first time, I am back on pace. However, as I read over the draft to date, I see it's quite likely that 50k words will not be enough to complete this story. What happens then? I'll return to that question. 

LITTLE BLACK BOOK could be my tenth finished novel. That fact occurred to me as I prepared for my morning writing session. A problem with that tally? Some of the novels are lost/destroyed. Do they still count? You be the judge. 

To all the writers taking part, don't give up on your vision and keep slamming the keyboard. Write and write and don't stop to take prisoners. 

Back to my question--- 50k words won't finish this novel---what then? I don't know the official protocol, but here is what I'll do- 

I will finish, trying to keep the same pace established during this month. I'll simply figure out how much more it will take to finish and arrive at a new target date. Perhaps two weeks will be needed. I'll let you know when cross that bridge. 

Hello to all from Las Vegas! This site is still under construction, but welcome to the new blog and website, just in time to give all the breaking news on the status of ELLA as that book approaches publication. 

As of this moment, the novel is in the editing stages and I am waiting for a design artist to deliver a cover. Much work needs to be done, but I am quite excited with the progress.