The Trail Keeps Going

Every finished page seems to reveal another waiting just beyond it. This quiet corner of the writing process reminds me that every adventure begins long before the characters ever arrive. A notebook, a map, a compass, and a new journal are all it takes to start exploring what comes next.

Why beginning the next journal feels like stepping onto a new trail.

Every now and then, someone asks how many books I have planned.

The honest answer is...

More than I can count on one hand.

For a long time, Journeys Of The Crew existed as a collection of ideas. There were maps with arrows pointing toward places that didn't exist yet, notebook pages filled with questions, and scenes that had nowhere to belong. I knew where the journey began, but much of what lay beyond that was still waiting to be discovered.

Lately, something has changed.

The world has become clearer.

Not because every detail is finished. Far from it. But because one story has started naturally leading to the next. As I finish one trail, I find another waiting just beyond it.

This week I officially began outlining and drafting what will become the fourth book connected to the series.

Interestingly, it isn't the next Journeys Of The Crew novel.

It's Rusty Pickett's second Field Journal.

That might sound unexpected, but it's exactly how I always hoped this world would grow.

Rusty's journals aren't side stories. They're part of the foundation. They quietly shape the adventures The Crew experiences, often long before the boys realize it themselves. Writing them has become one of my favorite parts of the project because they allow me to explore the outdoors through a very different voice and a very different pair of boots.

This journal also marks another milestone.

For the first time, Rusty's journey steps into a landscape beyond the familiar places you've already seen.

If you've spent time exploring Colorado, there's a chance some of the terrain may feel... familiar.

That's all I'll say for now.

One of the guiding principles of Journeys Of The Crew is that discovery should happen alongside the reader. I'd rather invite your curiosity than answer questions too early.

What I can say is this.

The journal is fully planned.

The adventure it supports is taking shape.

The next trails are waiting.

And that's a pretty exciting place to be.

Thank you for following along while this world continues to grow.

Stay curious.

Continue the Journey

If you're wondering why the outdoors continues to inspire both my photography and these stories, you might also enjoy Why I Keep Going Back to the Woods. 

New to Journeys Of The Crew? Visit the About the Series page to learn more about the world, the characters, and how Rusty Pickett's journals fit into the adventure. 

Curious about the man behind the journals? Meet Rusty Pickett and discover why his field notes continue to shape the adventures that follow.