Greetings Loyal Airmen, this week we're talking about a few odds and end things we've been developing and want to share with you.  Earlier today, the Air Chief had the fun of visiting the Polaris Expeditionary School here in Fort Collins, Colorado and speaking with Mr. Ryan Grindel's class about writing comics.  We had a great time and the kids were wonderfully enthusiastic and asked a lot of great questions.  Hopefully we'll be able to do this again often. We do love sharing our love of comics with the next generation.

Mr.Jigsaw Man of a Thousand Parts #10 is now being drawn by Gary Kato.  It will have two stories in it, one which will feature the winner of our Zone 4 Podcast contest, “Git Jiggy With It,” Ms. Lisa Moore.  In having her name chosen, Lisa won the privilege of becoming a character in a Mr.Jigsaw comic story and so she appears in the book's second story, “A Helping Hand.”  We're always having cool contests like this on Zone 4 and you can follow the show by “liking” our Zone 4 Facebook page.  Fingers crossed the issue will be out by the end of March.

                             
                                            Cover by Rob Davis

On the pulp side of things, the Air Chief has been extremely busy with several different projects.  Many of our fans have been asking when we were going to do another collection of Brother Bones stories.  Last summer we wrote our first new Bones story in several years for Tommy Hancock and his Pro Se pulp magazines called “The Butcher's Festival.”  It hasn't been published yet.  We do love this character and this past week sat down to begin as yet another story, this one called, “The Bruiser From Bavaria.”  Our plan is to continue writing a series of Brother Bones short stories and having Pro Se publish them individually in their monthly magazine, “Pro Se Presents”.  When we have enough to fill a book, Airship 27 Productions will release a second volume as you've all been demanding.  Oh, and here's an exciting news flash, one of our new Airship 27 writers, Roman Leary, is currently in the process of writing a brand new, full length Brother Bones novel.  Stay tuned for further details.

                            
                                        Cover by Mark Maddox
Meanwhile, Airship 27 Productions has entered into a partnership with Broken Sea Audio out of Australia for them to produce audio versions of some of our titles.  They are now recording two of them; “Captain Hazzard – Python Men of the Lost City” by Chester Hawkes & the Air Chief, and “Witchifre,” again by yours truly and my recently deceased mentor, Ardath Mayhar.  When the audio versions are completed, they will be sold at our new Airship 27 Hangar website as digital downloads or on disc in an attractive plastic case.  We haven't determined what the cost will be yet.  Soon you'll be able to listen to our pulp books on your car stereos or PC or other listening devices.  We've heard the first there chapters of “Python Men of the Lost City,” as recorded by actor Joe Stofko and are blown away.  This is really amazing stuff.

Beside this the Air Chief has taken on several new writing assignments for both Moonstone Books and Pro Se productions.  Although we aren't at liberty to tell you what these projects are, we are extremely excited to be involved with both and a part of these writing teams.  One is of a classic pulp hero and other a brand new pulp type action adventure series.  So stay tuned.  As soon as we can divulge more, we'll gladly do so right here.

As you all know the convention season is also right around the corner.  Although the Air Chief will be unable to attend the second Pulp Ark happening in Batesville, Arkansas on the weekend of April 20th, our partner, Rob Davis will be there representing Airship 27 Prodcutions and having most of our great pulp books and some comics available at the table.  The very following weekend of the 27th, we'll both be in Chicago at the Windy City Paper & Pulp Show, this being our seventh trip back.  Wow.  Sure hope to see lots of you Loyal Airmen there.  And later in August it will be off to Columbus, Ohio and Pulp Fest 3. Again, looking forward to hooking up with all our great pulp amigos.  If you've never been to a pulp show, you really should give it some serious thought and start making plans to attend at least one. The Air Chief guarantees you'll have a blast.

Finally, as most Loyal Airmen know, we are major Red Sox fans and are excited to see the new 2012 team now in Fort Myers, Florida at their new Jet Blue park, which is a mini-version of their homebase in Boston, Fenway Park.  In eight more days the team starts exhibition games.  The beauty of baseball is no matter how bad the memories of last year are, Spring brings with it brand hew hope for a winning season.  It's a nice metaphor for life, eternal hope.  As ever thanks for stopping by and we'll see you back here next Friday.

Ron – Over & Out!