PROGRESS REPORT: WEEK ENDING MAY 28, 2022

 This is the Memorial Day weekend here in the United States.

Usually at this point we honor those past and present who served to defend their country from all threats foreign and domestic.

But I cannot stop thinking about incidents like the recent Robb Elementary School Shooting. 😢

Yet this is a place to discuss writing.

I'll save further discussions about the news for my responsibilities as Editor-In-Chief of The Free Choice E-zine.

In any event I have been working on SOLITAIRE 2: THE AGENDA.

Currently on Chapter 3 and well over 3,200+ words into the manuscript.

Not sure how much globe hopping there will be in this novel compared to the first, which went from New York to Japan to Australia before returning to New York and ending in Paris.

It's far easier to travel via the Imagination in this age of COVID and Monkey Pox, but not as fun.😷

Of course, even if I could rack up "frequent flier miles" surfing the Internet with as much research as I do, how could I cash them in and where would I go?😕

I will be writing inbetween spending time with my family, even if some of some of those moments are only via the telephone.📱

I hope you get to spend time with yours too and please remember those we have lost.

ESPECIALLY those who did not have to die.

Lee Houston, Junior

29 May, 2022

PROGRESS REPORT: WEEK ENDING MAY 21, 2022

Last I heard on the subject, Ron Fortier and company were less than $200 American to achieving their Kickstarter target to publish BEYOND THE STARS, with today being the final day for contributions.

I'm hard at work on what will eventually be SOLITAIRE 2.

I even have a subtitle now. THE AGENDA.

Not going to say who's agenda toward what, but I really think everyone who reads action/thrillers will enjoy the novel when they eventually get to read it.

Truthfully, I'm guessing 2023 at the earliest but good things come to those who wait. 😉

Speaking of which, I'm still waiting for an opening in My Friendly Neighborhood Beta-Proofreader's schedule so she can go over my SCIENCE FICTION NOVEL.

Then again, between writing, other responsibilities and currently attending heart rehab three days a week until I've completed 36 sessions, I've yet to finish my second pass on the manuscript so it's ready whenever MFNBP is ready to review it. 😒

But ♫Ob-la-di Ob-la-dah.♫

At least I'm still here to begin with! 😁

In any event, I better get back to writing now.

Take care.

STAY SAFE! 😷

And I'll see you around the Internet.

Lee Houston, Junior

22 May, 2022

BEYOND THE STARS BY RON FORTIER

Normally I post a PROGRESS REPORT but there really isn't much to say this week so I'm devoting the space to help a friend...

Art by Andrea Bormida

Fan favorite comic writer Ron Fortier (Green Hornet, Terminator, The Boston Bombers, Mr. Jigsaw) brings epic science fiction story to Silverline Comics. Fortier teams up with Italian artist Andrea Bormida for Beyond The Stars, a six-issue mini-series.

“The concept originated with Andrea,” says Fortier, who saw pages on a social media board where Bormida was seeking feedback from industry professionals. “They were completely penciled, inked, colored and incredibly beautiful.” 

Fortier reached out to Bormida and working together, crafted an outline for the six-part cosmic adventure. Shortly thereafter, Fortier reached out to Silverline editor Roland Mann. 

“I’m a big science fiction fan anyway,” says Mann, “but when I read Ron’s pitch and saw Andrea’s art…well, we jumped on it right away! Even more impressive was that Ron had assembled his entire team so quickly. I’m a big fan of Mike W. Belcher’s work, and Ron already had him lined up to do lettering and design.”

“I love good comics,” says Belcher, “From top to bottom this is what I look for in a good read. Imaginative art by someone who puts their heart and soul into it. As well as a story that pulls me in and gives me characters I can care about.”

Variant cover above by Dean Zachary,
Thomas Florimonte & Mickey Clausen.

“It’s my first crowd-funded project,” adds Bormida. “Will it work? Shall I be able to reach out to new fans? Such a new adventure.”

Beyond the Stars is the primal good versus evil tale. At its core is a group of unique Science-Warriors called upon to save all of mankind from an unimaginable horror. Beyond the Stars #1 will be 1/3 of a Silverline Sci-fi Extravaganza for the initial crowdfund campaign. The other comics are Obsoletes #1 by Wes Locher, Aaron Humphres, Jose Fuentes, and Haley Martin, and with Krey #1: RemiX by Roland Mann, Steven Butler, Ken Branch, and Jeremy Kahn. The giant-sized comic will come in at almost 70 pages of story and art.

A Kickstarter campaign is slated to run from May 5 through May 22. Original art and retailer bundles are available as part of the campaign!

Link to the kickstarter: https://tinyurl.com/SilPRbts

 

Beyond the Stars is trademarked and copyright 2022 Ron Fortier. The Obsoletes is trademarked and copyright 2022 Wes Locher. Krey is trademarked and copyright 2022 Roland Mann. All rights reserved.

“Classic, ripping stuff that's rich in ideas and concepts but doesn't forget to bring us a cast we can relate to."   

Chuck Dixon: Batman, Nightwing, Punisher 

"Mind-blowing space adventure with brilliant art.” 

Mike Baron: Nexus, Badger, Punisher

For more information, contact Roland Mann

1305 Andes Drive,
Winter Springs, Florida, USA 32708
roland@silverlinecomics.com

PROGRESS REPORT: WEEK ENDING MAY 7, 2022

Well, although I will still have to stop at some point and make my second pass on the SCIENCE FICTION NOVEL before I send it to My Friendly Neighborhood Beta-Proofreader if she ever gets an opening in her busy schedule, I have started work anew on what will eventually become the second novel in the SOLITAIRE series! 😀

Or in other words, I've finally come up with an alternate plot!

Despite what Harlan Ellison always told people, there is no man in Schenectady, New York, USA that you can buy ideas from.💡🚫

Then again, I've also heard that ideas come from the ether and are brought by the Ether Bunny.🐰😉

But the truth is that regardless of how they materialize, ideas are products of the imagination.

Everyone's works differently, which is part of what contributes to such wide and varied titles within any given genre, let alone having such a vast plethora of genres to begin with.

But before I close this week's PROGRESS REPORT, although I lost mine back in 2017, I hope that those who could have enjoyed a HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY with their maternal parent(s).

In any event take care.

STAY SAFE! 😷

And I'll see you around the Internet.

Lee Houston, Junior

8 May, 2022

PROGRESS REPORT: WEEK ENDING APRIL 30, 2022

Here we are at the beginning of a brand new month and I'll be the first to admit that I'm kind of stalled.

Last week I wrote that I was well into Chapter 3 of what will eventually be SOLITAIRE 2 and 4,500+ words into the manuscript.

Well...

Somewhere along the way I've missed the proverbial Left Turn At Albuquerque. 🐰

The main plot is okay but the subplot seems to be lacking something, and I'm not quite sure what is missing at the moment.

Hey, it happens.

In any event I've been going back over the first three Chapters from scratch and must be doing something write right this time because while I originally ended at 5,700+ words, I've already broken 6,000 and still haven't finished my personal review of Chapter 1 yet! 😲

So while it may not be how I originally envisioned it, there IS progress this week.

All that, and I've got a busy week ahead on both the personal front AND I still have to stop at some point and do my second pass of the SCIENCE FICTION NOVEL before I can send it on to My Friendly Neighborhood Beta-Proofreader for her review!

Which means I better get back to it now so with that in mind...

Take care.

STAY SAFE!😷

And I'll see you around the Internet!

Lee Houston, Junior

1 May, 2022