The Dogs of Banality

Just today, I “wrapped up” a novel with the working title N3(Novel 3). By “wrapped-up,” I mean, I have the ending framed, I know I have 46 chapters all safe on a separate little zip-drive and 100K words. N3 is a sequel to Lostine, which is launching via Sterncastle Publishing of Newport, Oregon in May 2026. Even though it is full of crime and punishment, N3 has been termed “a sweet, nostalgic love story.” Suddenly, as I type this and I am looking back at my previous sentence, I am thinking I will change N3’s working title to “A Sweet, Nostalgic Love Story.” Before I risk into a next revision, I will read Jane Austen again. The dogs of banality will eat anything, and writers insisting on sex scenes are satisfied to feed them, while Jane Austen is read with fascination.