Looking at the 8 books in progress and 18 outlined, and 14 more Alexander books possibly shouldered by a decreasing writer, the over all goal is to get better at writing. Towards this end most of my fiction is collaborative, writing stories some fellow writers have not the time to execute.

The second tier goals for 2026 are:

-Complete Plantation America according to an updated series outline:

1) Stillbirth Of A Nation

2) America In Chains

3) Into Wicked Company

4) A Bright Shinning Lie at Dusk

5) So His Master May Have Him Again

6) So Her Master May Have Her Again

7) The Lies That Bind Us

8) Cracker-boy

9) The Greatest Lie Ever Sold

10) Sold: A Novel

11) Orphan Nation

12) Advent American

13) Cox & Swain: A Novel

14) Plantation American

15) Search For An American Spartacus

16) In These Goings Down

17) Ball Of Fortune

18) Bondage & Carnage, in progress

19) Planting America, in progress

20) In This New Isrаel, in progress

21) Of A Planted Land, in progress

22) Rise of A Notion, in progress

I never had a wish, an urge, or even a curiosity, to write American history. I will truncate 19 thru 22, rather than covering every source available, in order to get to the ancient history where passion is a sharp guide.

The Aryas Project, no books yet in print, will be completed in order to clear the mental decks for a proper treatment of Alexander. Bondage and Carnage sets the stage for both subjects, ancient history and modern slavery. Including 50 days of travel a year on the trains, I have been able to produce about 30 chapters/articles per month. I am once again writing on the train, in the wee hours in the deserted public car.

Monthly Scheme

To Complete Said Books in Said Month

January

-1. MRE: Footfall Pyreon, a novel, completed 1/9/26

-2. Bondage & Carnage: A Short History of Force, Fraud and Heroism: Prequel to the Plantation America Series, 2 chapters to go. To finish in California.

-3. Moonstruck Trails [contributions to TB Wright’s Moonstruck Tales, 1 article, 1 prequel, 1 epilogue and 4 chapters to go]. To complete in Missouri.

February

-4. Of The Naked Lands, a novel with Montius, to complete on train

-5. Norns of Aryas, final volume in the Aryas series, to complete in Portland

March

-6. Across the Face of A Notion:

Tramp Musings December 1, 2025 thru March 20, 2026, mere assembly while reading and annotating for Planting America

April

-7. Mortal: A Novel with Banjo

-8. Planting America, already over 70,000 words

May

-9. In This New Isrаel, already over 70,000 words

-9… Preparing the Alexander material, possibly generating a companion book, a glossary

June

-10. Beer Dealership, The: A Novel with Ghost Girl One

-10… prepping Alexander material

July

-11. Seven Sons: Prequel to the Areid, Paralyric to The Son of God

August

-12. Advent: The Son of God Book 1 on Alexander’s Expedition

-12… Alexander’s Context, a possible companion book, or end notes that dwarf the narrative?

September

-13. Complete Untitled travel journal while in Alaska

October

-14. Zoomtime, a novel with Steward of the West

November

-15. Of A Planted Land: Already over 100,000 words

December

-16. Scrapyard History Journal

-16… Finish reading and annotations on 1800s, so that Rise of A Notion may be completed in January 2027. That book is already some 100,000 words. A rereading and review of two period books are necessary for completion.

If I can manage to do the work above, the first order of business for 2027, is writing The Areid 1, The Son of God 2, and The Areid 2.

Of Ichor and War and Sons of Arete will be canceled, appended to Norns of Aryas, with the material, the stories of those heroes, folded into The Areid as fire side yarns recited by the Agriane poets.

Being Will White will be pursued at the pace of the coauthor, James Anderson, who is currently occupied defending his nation.

Thank you for your support.

From January 10 thru February 15 I will be traveling to Baltimore and back, by train, making brief stays, coaching, recording and visiting. Under these circumstances, any screen time available is dedicated to writing. So both of my email boxes will be neglected for that period.

James LaFond, Portland, Oregon, Friday, January 9, 2026