The Black Glove

Where I’ve Been – Writing Updates

The latest writing news from P. H. Solomon.


Hey everyone!

Just taking a bit of time to share some updates today. First, what’s happened – I’ve been dealing with my maladies for the last several months and making slow progress. There’s too much to discuss here other than saying I’ve gotten one diagnosis that got me into some therapy which is helping. I’ve also pursued some other treatments which may bear some fruit soon too.

Lately, I’ve re-organized my catalog into four main series: The Bow of Hart Saga, The Cursed Mage Case Files, Doors of Fantasy, and The Bow of Hart Saga Cycle Bundles. Additional series are waiting in the wings for publication as soon as I can further develop them. Here’s more about my recent work.

Doors of Fantasy

Regarding books, the end of February saw the latest edition of Doors of Fantasy published entitled What Lies Beyond. It’s a short fantasy and science fiction anthology. I’ve re-organized my short fiction so you can start the series for free with The Black Bag which has an updated cover.

Door of Fantasy Short Fiction Series

Website Updates

What’s going on now? I’m in the process of a site upgrade that will continue in several phases. At the moment, I’m adding pages to match how I’ve re-organized my book catalog which is currently in four main book series: The Bow of Hart Saga, The Cursed Mage Case Files, Doors of Fantasy, and The Bow of Hart Saga Cycle Bundles. In the future, I plan to update the theme as well as do some behind-the-scenes clean-up of the site. You should see some improvements over the next couples weeks that are noticeable.

The Cursed Mage Case Files

What’s coming up? I’ve been held up with new publications for The Cursed Mage Case Files. The series has had a few changes while I’ve been slogging away between health issues and editing. Soon there will be a new release entitled, Assassin’s Dark Rose (also known as ADR, no cover yet) which will be a short, misadventure case which should prove rather dramatic. I also plan to include some bonus content to this book which readers will like.

The Unseen Hand will arrive as soon as possible after this short book is published (I’m hoping for the next few weeks with this one). I intended ADR to arrive by the today but I’ve been delayed with some all day appointments. Anyway, the hope is to complete work on TUH by the end of March thought it’s more likely it will be in April.

I hope another short case will arrive in April with a working title of The Lost Palace which presages The Nine Jewel Heist to finish out the first set of volumes for CMCF. NJH is on-tap for May.

When I get a chance, I’ll get all the upcoming covers together and show them off, but I think I may look into a full overhaul for series artwork. Overall, it’s important to complete publication of CMCF volumes since it’s been in a holding pattern with the post-Covid issues since late 2020. It’s time to push these books into publication.

What’s Waiting for Publication

Beyond those titles, it’s well known I have several drafts of series starters hanging around. While those books are in solid shape for release this year as long as I improve, I want to take time to work on each series so there are at least a prequel, a series starter, and a second book ready for release.

Series titles include:

  • The Black Glove Assassin – Book 1 is entitled: A Charm in the Hand
  • Treasure Stolen – Returned: Book 1 is entitled: All Things Forgotten
  • The Broken Shield Chronicles: Book 1 is entitled: The Hopeless Knight

I also intend to complete some additional short stories for several more volumes to add to Doors of Fantasy.

I’ve been making plans for the next series saga for The Bow of Hart Saga Cycle. There’s nothing written for this yet, but I want to start outlining in the coming months and begin some composition ASAP.

I’ll take time to write more about specifics of each upcoming book and series. There’s even more than these rattling around my head that need writing too.

Other Changes

A few months back (I don’t know exactly when) my job situation changed while I was on leave. Now that change is official so I’m now a full-time author whether I’m ready for it or not. What it means is dedicating as much time as possible to writing projects. It also means publishing as much as I can this year just to attempt to make a living from writing.

This change of employment also means I’m pushing some other elements of my writing career to the forefront as I’m able. Archer’s Aim Press will become a reality in the coming months. This will be my publishing imprint and serve as my writing flag ship in all things. The fun part will be the opportunity to distribute print bookstores and libraries.

I’m also looking at running a Kickstarter campaign or two this year. I just haven’t decided what I’m going to use for the campaign. I’m able to create special print editions as well as look into funding my work for the next year or so with all the books and series mentioned further up this post. Word about this likely event will be forthcoming as soon as more is decided. If you have input, feel free to leave a comment or contact me with your ideas.

Aside from those considerations, I’m currently developing premium content fans. I’m using Buy Me A Coffee at the moment and building in all the special content. If you’re interest in what that looks like, the link is just below by clicking on the logo image.

That’s all for now. I’ll try to be a little more timely with posts, but I’m putting a priority on books and other related projects. If you have a chance, please share about my books and such. Please leave a comment in the section below and I’ll get back to you ASAP.

Books by PH Solomon

About the Author

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Archer’s Aim Weekly Progress Report – Thru 5/23/2022

Read about this week’s progress by P. H. Solomon with The Unseen Hand and other projects.


Hello and Happy Monday to everyone! PH here with a weekly progress report. This weekly post is meant to keep me honest about how much I’m doing as well as keep readers informed. As such, the post format may change as some projects progress or roll off the active list due to completion. Regardless, my intention is to keep everyone informed of progress on various items, especially new books up to release. Let’s get started!

Last week was better in terms of amount of work done on projects. One aspect of my revision and editing was going back to a tried and true process I use with spreadsheets in order to better track what I want to change and how in manuscripts. It seem like a lot of extra work, but it allows me to go through a survey and then put the plans into action quickly. One of my main problems remains my odd symptoms, especially fatigue and brain fog. Sometimes, I have insomnia so I just work which helps me get tired and push toward my goals. I’m working with my issues as best I can.

The Unseen Hand

The Unseen Hand continues to more forward. I made substantial progress editing newer content for the epilogue adventure/case. There were some newer ideas about presentation that came to me and I worked a long time to implement them. This portion of the book is taking solid shape and I expect to complete it later this week.

The remaining content from the manuscript has been edited previously and only needs to be fully revised for consistency with the new epilogue and other series arch developments. I expect to start working thoroughly through these portions of the book next week and make solid advances toward the self-imposed mid-June deadline.

A Charm in the Hand

I’ve made significant progress through the end of the manuscript this week. I’m not quite to the end, but expect to finish this phase of the draft tonight or tomorrow. Using my editing technique as well as working in Word helped me review the draft much better than I had been. Separating the remaining content gave me more focus. I look forward to sending this one off to my editor soon and letting the book begin to take shape.

Update: I’m rather exhausted so I won’t complete this tonight. Tomorrow is better, then moving on to work on All Things Forgotten.

Added Project: All Things Forgotten

Some progress was made on this project during last week. However, I made a decision to make a major push with on during this week. I’ll rely heavily on my editing process to make as fast a survey of the draft as possible and then make changes. If I don’t see that I can complete it, I’ll try to make as many changes as I can and look to having the best consistency possible throughout the book while touching up main issues.

The primary goal for this book is getting it in the best possible shape for the promo submission, then completing the work over the summer for an October release. If the book is not accepted in the promo, then it will be just that much further along and I’ll probably slide the release day to a later time so I can work on the other books and The Cursed Mage Case Files.

Miscellaneous Projects

The same projects remain on my radar:

  1. Upgrading Archer’s Aim (this site) to a newer theme. My intention is upgrading this site using a service depending on funding. I’m still in flux about scheduling the work, but this is in the works as I progress with the various details of the business and the imprint development.
  2. Archer's Aim PressThe imprint is well underway at this time:
    • ISBNs should be purchased this week.
    • The website may be built by a third party, it just depends on my funding (see below).

I’ve taken steps over the last week to taking myself more serious from the business side of things. Doing this will allow me more flexibility with marketing, business funding, and actually being an imprint. I feel this is important so I’m working on the imprint from a different angle and will making more specific announcements when the time comes. However, the intention is to soon have print editions available for marketing to bookstores during the summer.

Still no word from Podium and I’m not surprised. However, I will probably contact someone directly to gauge interest as some point during June when I have more concrete details about the release of the next two books.

Here’s the past post about the subject for those who are interested:

The Unseen Hand submitted to my audio publisher, Podium Audio

That’s all for the week that was. I hope readers get an idea of what it’s like for a self-publishing author, let alone any author. It’s always busy since this post doesn’t cover the rest of what needs my attention, as well as my health concerns.

Thanks for stopping by the site today and reading this post. Please leave your thoughts in the comments section. Like what you’re reading? Feel free to follow this site, you can even view the site from the WordPress reader app. Looking for more information? I’m growing a text club for faster, shorter announcements and exclusive specials. You can also join me in Marston’s Station, my private fan group on Goodreads where you can read about more non-public development news and additional exclusive special deals. Look for me at these additional sites too. There are plenty of ways to follow and I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Archer's Aim Press

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Archer’s Aim Weekly Progress Report – Thru 5/16/2022

Read about this week’s progress by P. H. Solomon with The Unseen Hand and other projects.


Hello and Happy Monday to everyone! PH here with a weekly progress report. This weekly post is meant to keep me honest about how much I’m doing as well as keep readers informed. As such, the post format may change as some projects progress or roll off the active list due to completion. Regardless, my intention is to keep everyone informed of progress on various items, especially new books up to release. Let’s get started!

Apologies for last week’s missed post, but there was an unforeseen issue with an incident on the highway. Just to be brief, my car was struck by a pick-up truck bed-liner which came out of the truck bed in the wind. There was a spool of weed-trimmer line inside the liner so the windshield was smashed along with a nice dent in the hood. I was blessed to walk away with hardly a scratch. That incident could have been worse. The car is in the shop for who knows how long.

The previous week was rather up and down because I wore myself out with a busy prior week writing as well as other events. My brain fog and fatigue shifted me into low gear. I’m trying to pace myself otherwise and stick to my tried and true revision format.

The Unseen Hand

Work on The Unseen Hand has been uneven. I’ve taken measure to work on pacing myself and shifting back to a familiar revision format that keeps me on track (maybe at some point I’ll discuss the specifics). With a slight shift in approach and taking breaks, I’m back to making steady progress.

I expect to make good progress this week and stay on track with the schedule which is completing the revision by 6/15 and publication by mid-August. This is my main priority, but I’m willing to let the date slide due to fluid developments (see more below).

Pushing this series forward is a big deal since so much content has been written already. I also want to free up time to begin work on additional books in each series I have in flight.

A Charm in the Hand

Work on this manuscript sputtered with my up and down life of late. However, I’m using my revision approach on this phase of the book to get it to my editor ASAP. There’s really not that much left to completing the current phase, so I want to get this off my plate this week, if possible.

There, I set that goal and we’ll see if I can make it or not.

I’ll need a cover soon, regardless. I need to brainstorm ideas for my artist.

Added Project: All Things Forgotten

A sudden opportunity has crossed my path through SFWA. I can submit a book to a promotion starting in October. Since the planning is months in advance, the submission deadline is 5/31.

All Things Forgotten is a draft I’ve had in my back pocket for a couple of years, but the plot fits the promotional theme. Since I have a fit, I’m going to give the book a chance and try to complete a whirlwind revision for the submission. It won’t be the final version, but it will get my foot in the door for the promotion. I’ll still have time to complete the book for publication by no later than 10/22. I’ll give it a whirl and see if I can make the deadline. If I do, this will be injected into the publishing schedule and I’ll order a cover for it (requiring another brainstorm).

More news about this one next week if it’s going to make it or not.

Miscellaneous Projects

The same projects remain on my radar:

  1. Upgrading Archer’s Aim (this site) to a newer theme. However, I want to really take the site to a new level, so with the  other priority, I’m considering a business upgrade…
  2. Archer's Aim PressThe imprint is well underway at this time:
    • I delayed my ISBN purchase due to some business decisions.
    • Business cards did arrive.
    • Design plans for the imprint website are decided.
    • Print editions will be in preparation rather soon (depending on the ISBNs)

However, I’ve decided I need to improve my business along with the creation of the imprint and upgrading this site. To that end, I’m considering either crowdfunding or securing a small business loan to better cover expenses for the business including marketing and book production. It would mean having the chance to hire out the upgrade to this site as well as the creation of the imprint site. Contracting work on the sites and some other details would create a large time savings allowing me to produce the books while not taxing my available energy. It’s a consideration for taking the next steps forward. If I move into crowdfunding, I’ll share the details and how anyone can lend a hand.

There’s no update from Podium at this time. I don’t know how long the evaluation will be, but it could be several weeks before I know something. If the result is positive, I’ll share ASAP.

Here’s the past post about the subject for those who are interested:

The Unseen Hand submitted to my audio publisher, Podium Audio

I might also mention that I’m looking into a few other changes including production of a few more short books including another anthology, a few prequels for each series and some bundles of these in different combinations, plus some extra Cursed Mage cases for fun. Regardless, I do have a total of 4 new series underway with more to come from The Bow of Hart Saga Cycle. Moving to a larger business model will help me get back to mainly writing rather than spending so much time on other details. It’s time for a change!

That’s all for the week that was. I hope readers get an idea of what it’s like for a self-publishing author, let alone any author. It’s always busy since this post doesn’t cover the rest of what needs my attention, as well as my health concerns.

Thanks for stopping by the site today and reading this post. Please leave your thoughts in the comments section. Like what you’re reading? Feel free to follow this site, you can even view the site from the WordPress reader app. Looking for more information? I’m growing a text club for faster, shorter announcements and exclusive specials. You can also join me in Marston’s Station, my private fan group on Goodreads where you can read about more non-public development news and additional exclusive special deals. Look for me at these additional sites too. There are plenty of ways to follow and I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Archer's Aim Press

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