Absolved status.

Well, once again Vanderboegh never fails to disappoint. While my Christmas present to y'all is not exactly a lump of coal, it is perhaps like getting an IOU instead of the thousand rounds of 7.62 NATO you wanted Santa to put in your stocking. Big stocking, I know.

What I had intended to do was give you a prequel chapter about Charlie Quintard's early years back in Winston County after the loss of his job and wife, some insights from his childhood, culminating in the terrible confrontation with the meth cookers that started him on the warrior path. You'll still get that, but trying to make it right (it had been written some time ago but left on the editing floor, so I thought it was an easy gimme) bogged me down and I ran out of time. It also got in the way of the Absolved final edit.

Having disappointed y'all often enough in the past, I make no more promises about Absolved. However, all plot devices have been re-artificed and as many factual errors as possible have been corrected so the final fisk for punctuation and minor errata begins tomorrow. The time away from the blog recharging batteries helped that process. I hope when you read the final product you will forgive the wait. When you see the prequel chapter posted here, you will know I have sent the final off to the publisher.

Have a blessed Christmas.

Mike
III