PROGRESS REPORT: WEEK ENDING JUNE 27, 2015

I'm still on Anthology Avenue this week.

For all intents and purposes, my work on the SUPER SWINGIN' HERO 1968 SPECIAL is done, leaving the rest up to James Palmer at Mechanoid Press.
Jim Beard and I gathered ten titanic writers (including our humble selves) to contribute to this anthology that will thrill comic book and prose readers alike.
More on this as it gets closer to a release date.

Meanwhile, I got to help out my friendly neighborhood beta/proofreader Nancy Hansen with the plot to one of the stories on an anthology she is working on. It's nice to have a writing buddy that you go to and bounce ideas off of when needed.
Of course, the ideas that weren't fully worked out do make a bit of a mess when they're thrown at you.

Then there is my contribution to the Tommy Hancock benefit anthology at Airship 27. Because of needing to work on the 1968 SPECIAL, that story got set aside for a bit, but it should be finished this week.

Overall, pretty active writing wise.

Hoping to have the upcoming Independence Day weekend free and clear (except for taking care of my duties as Editor-In-Chief of The Free Choice E-zine), and then by Monday of next week, return to ALPHA, BOOK 2: WAYWARD SON and finish that project up.

After that?

We'll see.

But meanwhile, I'll see you around the Internet.

Lee Houston, Junior

28 June, 2015

PROGRESS REPORT: WEEK ENDING JUNE 20, 2015

ANTHOLOGIES, ANTHOLOGIES, AND MORE ANTHOLOGIES

This past week's creative output has all been on anthologies.

FIRST, I proofread the last story for the Super Swingin' Hero 1968 Special, coming soon from Mechanoid Press, that I have been helping Jim Beard out with.
A prose homage to the late Silver Age of comic book history, this anthology will feature the creative talents of Lisa M. Collins, Chuck Miller, Robert Kennedy, Thomas Deja, Sam Grafford, Bonnie Sterling, Mark Halegua, Jim Beard, myself, and the legendary DAVID MICHELINIE!

No, you did not misread that last name.

SECOND, I am currently working on my contribution to the Tommy Hancock benefit anthology from Airship 27: The Legends of New Pulp.
As far as I know, and Captain Ron Fortier at A27 can correct me if I'm wrong, while enrollment on the project is closed, there are over 60 people signed up to contribute their creative talents in a benefit anthology to help Tommy and his family out with his medical bills.
At this point, I am a little beyond the half way point of the 4000 word minimum requirement. While I don't know what the exact final total will be (yet), I will definitely be finishing the story under the 8000 word maximum.

Afraid I don't know the release dates for the above books yet, but when I do...

Meanwhile, there was a third possible anthology that I might have contributed to in order to help someone else, but the person behind it has a narrow set of submission parameters for that project, and unfortunately I don't have anything that currently qualifies.
I wish both the project and the person it is supposed to benefit well.


So what does the week ahead hold in store?
Other than the fact that today's both the Summer Solstice AND Father's Day, the only thing I know for sure is that I'll be continuing work on my story for the Hancock benefit anthology.

Hope you have a great week, and I'll see you around the Internet.
Lee Houston, Junior
(Not counting the subtitle, Anthologies was used once, anthology 5 times)
21 June, 2015

PROGRESS REPORT: WEEK ENDING JUNE 13, 2015

ON CONGESTIVE HEART FAILURE AND OTHER ANTHOLOGIES...

I've started subtitling these Progress Reports, when appropriate.
Meanwhile, I'm sure that this will come as no surprise, but I am temporarily suspending work on ALPHA, BOOK 2: WAYWARD SON.

WHY?

While I would of had to pause long enough to proofread the last short story for the superhero anthology at Mechanoid Press I've been helping Jim Beard with, I have promised to contribute a story to the benefit anthology for Tommy Hancock.

Tommy Hancock, in better days

Now, in case you missed the news when I posted it Friday, Tommy has taken ill.
My Editor-In-Chief at Pro Se Productions has a worse case of Congestive Heart Failure than I suffered back in late 2003.

For those unfamiliar with the term, Congestive Heart Failure occurs when fluid builds up in the chest cavity, compressing the heart and making that precious organ work harder to keep you alive.
A healthy heart should (obviously) be at 100%.
My heart was forced down into the low 30s.
Tommy's heart is currently somewhere in the 20s.

With this being a seriously life altering event, even though the patient can get (somewhat) better in time, the heart will never be 100% ever again.
I managed to get back into the mid-30s, but things are vastly different now than the way they used to be.
I can't lift more than 10 pounds, which is significant considering I worked for over 20 years in nothing but physical labor jobs. I have to stay as low sodium, sugar free, and caffeine free as possible; and there is even the occasional day when I still have to take an afternoon nap.

Now, why am I talking about my situation and not Tommy's in more detail?
Basically because I have already shared what little I do know and can with you, while the rest is between Tommy, his family, and his doctor(s).

HOWEVER, I can repeat and expand upon what I mentioned in Friday's post. That the call has gone out to every creative person in the New Pulp (a term that Tommy coined) community if they would like to pitch in and contribute to a benefit book to help cover Tommy's medical expenses, because unless you're lucky enough to have a regular job and decent insurance, those bills mount up fast!

At last count, according to Ron Fortier at Airship 27, there have already been over 60(!) people who have answered the call to help, including me.
Everyone is working for free, and ALL proceeds from both hardcover and Kindle sales of The Legends of New Pulp (working title) anthology will go to the Hancocks to help them out with their expenses.
The deadline for submissions is September 1. Actual release date of anthology to be announced.

I must admit, I find it quite nice when a community can rally around a common cause.
I just wish the rest of the world could do so more often.

Well, I better get back to writing.
See you around the Internet.
Lee Houston, Junior
15 June, 2015

A BENEFIT ANTHOLOGY FOR TOMMY HANCOCK

Okay folks, Tommy Hancock, my friend and Editor-In-Chief at Pro Se has taken ill. Details below, but the call is going out to all writers and artists in the New Pulp community to pitch in and lend the man a hand.
If you qualify and are interested, keep reading.
If not, please wish Tommy well and go on about your day.

LEGENDS OF NEW PULP FICTION

A benefit anthology for Tommy Hancock

Airship 27 Productions is extremely happy to announce their newest project will be a very special New Pulp Fiction anthology to benefit New Pulp publisher/editor/writer Tommy Hancock.  Tommy was recently hospitalized and diagnosed with having congestive heart failure.  In a recent to letter to friends and colleagues, Tommy elaborated on his condition and the challenges ahead on his road to recovery.

Within hours, writer Jaime Ramos approached Ron Fortier, Managing Editor of Airship 27 Productions about the possibilities of producing a one-of-a-kind New Pulp anthology that would benefit Tommy and his family and help defray some of the medical bills they will be accruing in the weeks and months ahead. Fortier was immediately receptive and the two will share co-editing credits on the project.

CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS TO BOTH WRITERS AND ARTISTS.

If you are a published New Pulp writer or artist and would like to contribute to this benefit anthology, you are asked to contact Fortier and request the book’s guidelines and set deadline for both story and artwork.  Note, this being an Airship 27 Production, it will feature interior illustrations for each and every story in the anthology.  Also important, this is a call for new stories, not reprints.  Once the book is assembled, it will be available at Amazon in both hard copy and on Kindle.  All profits from the sale of the book will go directly to Tommy and his family.

This is an opportunity for the entire New Pulp community to come together as a family that truly cares for one another.  Again, interested creators should contact Fortier at (Airship27@comcast.net) to sign on and request the official guidelines.

PROGRESS REPORT: WEEK ENDING JUNE 6, 2015

Not really all that much to say at the moment.

"On my way!"

I AM hard at work on the concluding chapters to ALPHA, BOOK 2: WAYWARD SON.

While I will give the overall manuscript a complete, final review before submitting it to the publisher, Chapters 1-15 are done. Just haven't sent anything to my friendly neighborhood beta-proofreader yet because I haven't decided yet where Chapter 16 will end and 17 will begin.

Well, I better get back to work now.

See you around the Internet.

Lee Houston, Junior

7 June, 2015