I have been trying to write a sequel to my historical novel Once A Knight for months now. In fact, I’ve written the first two chapters four times…and put them aside each time.

Finally, while showering the other day, I realized why I just couldn’t get into the story. It should have been easy. After all, I thoroughly enjoyed writing Once A Knight. So why couldn’t I write its sequel with my usual ease?

For some reason, it no longer seemed enjoyable.

I have said just about all I care to say about Everett Ross — Texas Ranger turned WW I Sopwith Camel pilot — and don’t really care to revisit that environment.

The next question I had to wrestle was just what I do want to write. That proved easy to answer. I’m working on a new collection of short stories with my favorite protagonist, Chief Orin Cage of the Rather, Texas, police department. Small town crime. Laid-back Chief Cage. Lighthearted tales that are fun to write.

You can check out my first Chief Cage collection, titled Rather Shorts, at most eBook outlets — Amazon, B&N, Kobo, iBooks, etc. The second collection will be released next month. Then I’ll move on to a full novel about Chief Cage and his trials and tribulations in a small Texas town.

I could have sucked it up and written the Once A Knight sequel, but it would not have been fun. And if I couldn’t enjoy writing it, why would you want to read it?

Sometimes, we just have to put a project behind us and move on to something else. This proved to be one of those times.