Newsletter No. 001 | 27 OCT 2026
News and updates from the world of Journeys of the Crew
Hello, Fellow Adventurer!
First, welcome!
This is my very first newsletter, and I'm glad you're here. Whether you've been following Journeys of the Crew for a while or have only recently discovered the series, I appreciate your interest and look forward to sharing the journey with you.
And what better way to kick things off than with some good news?
Book Three Is Finished!
After well over three months of writing, revising, second-guessing, and occasionally wondering what I'd gotten myself into, I've completed the manuscript for the third book in the Journeys of the Crew series!
Journeys of the Crew: The Other Side of Downhill
It joins the first two adventures:
Journeys of the Crew: The Adventure Begins
Journeys of the Crew: Beyond the Map
Three completed manuscripts, with Tommy, Nate, Adam, and Murphy finding themselves in one adventure after another.
Of course, a completed manuscript isn't quite the same thing as a published book. There's still plenty of work ahead, but this is a milestone I'm happy to have reached.
And if you're curious how Tommy went from an idea in my head to someone I've now spent three books writing about, I shared a little of that experience in a Field Notes article called The Day Tommy Stopped Being an Idea.
Meanwhile, There's Rusty Pickett...
The novels aren't the only things I've been working on.
Alongside the adventures of Tommy and the Crew, I've been developing Rusty Pickett: A Wild Guide.
For those unfamiliar with it, A Wild Guide is a compilation of entries from Rusty Pickett's adventure journals. It's a collection of outdoor knowledge, observations, lessons learned, and the occasional bit of wisdom acquired the hard way.
The guide exists within the world of the novels, connecting the adventures of the Crew with the experiences of someone who came before them.
So far, Journals #1 and #2 have been written, and there's still plenty of material to explore.
Interestingly, A Wild Guide wasn't always intended to become what it is today. That story is worth telling, and I did just that in The Book That Became Many Journals.
Why These Stories?
One of the ideas behind Journeys of the Crew is that adventure doesn't have to involve dragons, magic, or distant galaxies.
Sometimes it's waiting just beyond the familiar, provided we're curious enough to go looking for it.
I've always believed that the real world offers more than enough adventure to fill a lifetime. It's one of the reasons I started writing these books in the first place.
I explored that thought a little further in Why Adventure Doesn't Need Dragons.
Around the Next Bend
With three manuscripts completed and two of Rusty's journals written, there's quite a bit to think about as I look ahead.
Revisions, future stories, website developments, and, of course, the road toward getting these books published.
I'll be sharing news and progress through Join the Journey, along with the occasional behind-the-scenes story and maybe even a few hints about what's coming.
I'm keeping some things under my hat for now. After all, where's the fun in revealing everything before the adventure begins?
For those who want to explore a little further between newsletters, you can always visit Field Notes, where I share thoughts, stories, and occasional discoveries from the process of bringing this series to life.
Thanks again for joining me on this journey, especially at this early stage. There's still a long trail ahead, and I'm looking forward to seeing where it leads.
See You Down the Trail,
Jason
Creator of Journeys of the Crew
