The Clockwork Coroner

I realize I’ve been a little quiet lately.
The stillness wasn’t a sign that I’d stepped away from writing — quite the opposite.

For the past several months, much of my creative energy has been focused on The Clockwork Coroner, my mystery/adventure novel set in 1886 Philadelphia. Late nights, early mornings, coffee mugs, legal pads, scribbled notes, crossed-out scenes, rewritten dialogue, and more research rabbit holes than I can count.

Today, I’m happy to announce something important:

The first rough draft is complete.

It now exists in three places simultaneously — on paper, on my laptop, and in the writing journal pictured here. Every scratched-out idea, scene adjustment, and chapter reshuffle helped shape the journey.

And speaking of that journal … special thanks again to Melanie and Mark for the thoughtful 50th birthday gift. It officially became part of this book’s history.

There’s still plenty of work ahead: revisions, tightening scenes, sharpening dialogue, continuity checks, and making the story stronger chapter by chapter. But reaching a completed rough draft feels like an important milestone worth sharing.

Back to the desk.
Back to the mystery.
Back to Philadelphia, 1886.