Greetings loyal airmen.  By the beautiful cover above, you can see what the main topic of this week's log entry is going to be. Ha.  My third Captain Hazzard novel, CURSE OF THE RED MAGGOT, is now out and available to purchase from the on-line publisher, Lulu.com.  Please, go to the Air Fare page and you'll see the write-up and the link where the book is on sale.  Those of you who have already purchased my first two Captain Hazzard books are hopefully going to be picking this up as well.   There's a unique story to this particular story that I don't want to delve into here but let me just tease you with the fact this book was based on an original Captain Hazzard novel from 1938 that was never published.  In fact it was actually turned into another pulp character's adventure by the magazine publisher.  How, thanks to a wonderful tip from one of my fans, I discovered the bizarre history of this “lost” Hazzard and was able to unearth it after all these years is a fascinating tale that I recount in its entirety at the back of the book.

And if all this pulp action and adventure isn't enough to make you pull out your credit card and order a copy, you have got to love the art package here.  All interiors are by my partner, Rob Davis, who has done all the Captain Hazzard books.  Included in this volume is a special interview with Rob and a brand new portfolio highlighting Captain Hazzard and each of his team.  These are terrific pin-ups of the entire Hazzard crew done especially for this book.  And lastly, how could you not want to own this magnificent cover by artist Mark Maddox.  Mark is new to the Hazzard team but jumped on board when our regular cover painter, Tom Floyd, had to bow out of this particular project.   When we first learned Tom wouldn't be available, I thought we were really in trouble big-time and sent out a few inquiries to some of the artists now working with Wild Cat Books.  Out of the blue, Mark calls me all but begging for a chance to do this cover for us.   His enthusiasm blew me away and I let him run with it.  Well, when the finished product came in, all of us at WCB central, myself, book designer Anthony Schiavino, Rob and publisher, Ron Hanna, were in complete awe at just how beautiful this cover was.   Trust me, we have chained Mark in the our art dungeons and have absolutely no intentions of ever letting him free.  Ha.  Sincerely, Mark is lined up to do all the artwork, both interiors and covers for our forthcoming FLYING ACES anthology which will feature the return of Captain Midnight.  I'm already drooling imagining what Mark is going to whip up for that outing.

So there you have, three novels starring the Champion of Justice in just under two years.  All of which has been a true dream come true for this writer.  And before you ask, yes, I am now starting on Captain Hazzard #4, another all new pulp thriller.  I'll keep you posted.

On other fronts, TV was fun this past week.  Although HEROES stumbled with their episode, which was nothing much more than character development..i.e. spinning-their-plot-wheels and not getting anywhere, LOST more than amply made up for that.  This week's LOST was one of the finest episodes they've ever done.  Brilliantly written, with, as luck would have, a very tragic, romantic theme for Valentine's Day and a completely surprising end that would have made O'Henry proud.  Some folks had thought LOST had lost (no pun intended..groan) its spark.  Well after the last two episodes, that claim has been put to rest permanently.  The series is just as exciting and challenging as ever.  Yahooo.

Speaking of Valentine's Day, I hope all you airmen enjoyed that holiday with that specail person in your lives.  After, of course, digging out of the snow blizzard half the country was buried in.  Ha.  Happily it came and went and now things are getting back to normal winter stuff.   Going to be a busy weekend for your Hangar Chief.  Hope to get out to the movies this afternoon and catch the new Marvel super-hero flick, GHOST RIDER.  Then tomorrow I pack up my pulp novels and comics for the big Boston Comic Show on Sunday.  I mentioned it last week.  Any of you loyal airmen interested in stopping by, the show is being held at the Boston Radison Hotel, 200 Stuart St. Boston, way up on the 6th Floor.  Hope to see many of you there.  Looks to be a fun show.

And that wraps up this week.  Please, check out CURSE OF THE RED MAGGOT.  I'd want to sell hundreds of these.  As always, thanks for your continued support.  Ron, over and out.