KIRI'S QUEST NOW AVAILABLE

Okay, same old same old on the Writing Front right now concerning the SCIENCE FICTION PROJECT I'm working on, so thought I'd talk about something else today instead.

A DETERMINED DRAGON ON A DANGEROUS QUEST

‘COMPANION DRAGONS TALES VOLUME SIX: KIRI’S QUEST’ DEBUTS!

A very powerful magical tool has been stolen. In the wrong hands, it could be used to conquer the Otherworld realms so it must be recovered at all cost. Only one special companion dragon has the experience and skills to take on this covert quest to bring it back.

Young Pulp! and Pro Se Productions proudly announce the release of COMPANION DRAGONS TALES VOLUME SIX: KIRI’S QUEST by Nancy A. Hansen and Lee Houston, Junior, now available in print and digital formats.

Under the cover of darkness, ruby scaled Kiri travels to Castle Umbra, the monster guarded and foreboding stronghold of Grewsum–a wicked wizard, wretched writer, and shoddy speller now turned thief. Kiri is determined to retrieve what was stolen before it can be used for evil purposes—providing she survives that long!

The journey to Grewsum’s fortress is fraught with dangerous perils and Kiri has nothing but her wits and unique dragon abilities to aid her. One misstep could not only end her quest, but alert Grewsum to the fact that his opponents on the side of keeping the Otherworlds free have invaded his private island. That would amount to a declaration of war.

Yet even if Kiri safely makes it all the way to where the magical item is hidden, she might still have to face Grewsum himself. How can one small dragon outwit such a power hungry fiend?

Book Six in one of the most imaginative young reader for all ages series ever-COMPANION DRAGONS TALES-KIRI’S QUEST by Nancy A. Hansen and Lee Houston, Junior. From Young Pulp! and Pro Se Productions.

Featuring an exciting cover by Larry Nadolsky and cover design and print formatting by Antonino lo Iacono and Marcia Marina, COMPANION DRAGONS TALES VOLUME SIX: KIRI’S QUEST is available in print and e-book formats at Amazon.com.

Also available to Kindle Unlimited members for free.

Truthfully I had a lot of fun writing this adventure, with Nancy mostly serving as My Friendly Neighborhood Beta-Proofreader and Companion Dragon Universe Continuity Coordinator.

Someday I will definitely have to post a list of all the Easter Eggs I put into the story.

The only thing it lacks is the kitchen sink, and that's only because I couldn't figure out how to squeeze it in!

I can guarantee you that you'll never think of what composes a BLT the same way ever again.😉

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

10 October, 2021

PROGRESS REPORT: WEEK ENDING JUNE 30, 2018

"LET'S SEE NOW... THIS WEEK WAS NEXT WEEK LAST WEEK..." — DAFFY DUCK.

Or in other words, I'm still working on HUGH MONN, PRIVATE DETECTIVE, BOOK 3: FEMME FATALE, while my friendly neighborhood beta-proofreader Nancy Hansen is working on a few of her other projects before making one last pass over "Kiri's Quest".
Then she will send it back to me for my final review.

PRO SE PRODUCTIONS, the home of HUGH and ALPHA the superhero, along with various short stories I have written for them, is having a big promotional push starting TODAY and lasting the WHOLE month of July, so feel free to check that out for some exciting new titles and maybe some great deals too.


And for those interested, Blogger is updating its features and other aspects of its blog hosting functions, so as its Editor-In-Chief, I've taken the liberty of updating the background appearance/look of THE FREE CHOICE E-ZINE, but I just haven't seen anything I like in regards to my writing blog here.
(Yet?)

In any event, I better get back to writing now, so take care and I'll see you around the Internet.
Lee Houston, Junior
1 July, 2018

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.