Update 11-1-25
Greetings friends and curious neighbors!
I'd be lying if I said I'd made significant progress over the last 5-6 months. While my word count has skyrocketed to over 34-35,000 words, the progress has slowed to a near standstill while I strive to complete my MBA from Salisbury University in the Spring of 2026.
That, and I'm trying to build a business from the ground up. Juggling that, my Full Time job, the podcast you can find here at www.abbeypod.com, and more, I am extremely busy, even to just have time to relax on a given night. So please pardon my lack of progress; competing priorities can be a real struggle!
That being said, I am excited to bring my next piece to my alpha readers, to let them read and enjoy my work; having someone draw conclusions about your work which you yourself did not draw is a particularly gratifying experience, one that I'm looking forward to having again!
I imagine the tale will not be completed in its current draft form by any earlier than September of 2026. That's nearly a full year away, but my time is swept up elsewhere.
If your looking for a good story in the meantime, please check out my currently-running podcast, while in season, over at www.abbeypod.com, where the monks of the Abbey of Bitter Tea River strive daily to live their meager and habitual lifestyles. I hope you won't regret giving it a listen!
Who knows, I may be able to sink extra time into this tale during the Spring, while the podcast may be on a hiatus between seasons.
Thanks for reading!
-Matthew Zockoll
11-1-2025 3:15pm