Current word count on the current WIP is exactly 47, 416. Also, the first eight chapters of The Dark Plaza (this could still be just a working title, so don’t get mad at me if it’s published as something else) were revised today to fit with what has been written of the prequel series so far.
We’re getting into the time of year when Paul is a lot busier at his day job, which means less time/energy for writing. He still hopes to finish this third book, at least, before storm season begins in late June, when he’ll have no time for writing. Ideally, he’d like to get the first drafts of all five books done this year.
And then… Paul said something a couple days ago about ‘starting on Fire Throne,’ but then he remembered (without me having to remind him) that he can’t write/publish Fire Throne until “that novel” is done, especially since he has expressed an intention to ‘get the band back together’ for Fire Throne, and some of the characters won’t be available until after “that novel” (and its immediate sequels, if there are any — it’s not as if Fire Throne is gonna be just one novel, either).