The picture above is of Kate Morgan, an American spy during World War II and my latest
comic book hero. She is featured in a new 16 pg. story called LA FEMME LIBERTE and all the artwork on the project, including this pin-up, is being done by an amazing newcomer named John Polacek. Believe me, you are going to be hearing a lot more from this dude.

Since this is Free Comic Book Day across the country and in a few minutes I’m heading out to visit my good friends over at the Paperback Bazaar here in town, I figured I’d use this week’s log entry to tell you about a few comic projects I’ve in the works. I didn’t want folks to think, since the debut of my first pulp novel, that I’d left the world of graphics. No way, no how! I’ve quite a few cool comics in the works.

Besides the LA FEMME LIBERTE, I’ve also got
a 48 pg crime drama that revolves around an oriental jewel thief called SATIN’S WAYS. The first half of the book has been pencilled by Gonzalo Martinez, a brilliant South American artist who is a joy to work with. Inks are being handled by another new kid on the scene,
Terry Staats. We are now shopping around for a publisher. Wish us luck.

This past week I finished a five page EC type sci-fi horror story called ROBOT LOVE which is
being drawn by a Mexican wonder named Jesus
Hernandez. Are you getting an international feel here? God Bless the internet, it truly has made our comics community an intimate world neighborhood where creators from all over can join together to do what they love. This particular story will pop up in an anthology to
appear later in the year by my good friend,
Stacie Ponder.

My 98 pg graphic novel DAUGHTER OF DRACULA is now half way completed, the art chorse on this one being handled by the amazing Rob Davis. Again, when done, this one will blow you away.
And if any of you Hollywood types are reading this, let it be known I have a film script version of this self-same drama, so give me a call.

And last but not least, Ed Dukeshire over at
Digital Webbing Presents was so happy to be
presenting MASK OF THE GARGOYLE to the world in
his June issue #24, he asked for more. So, to
answer that request, artist Dario Carrasco and I have put together two more Gargoyle adventures for the next couple of issues of DWP..ergo #25 & #25. All of which, like the first one in June, will be in full color. You do NOT want to miss these, its pure old comics action the way they use to do’em!

So there you go, Airship 27 fans, lots of comic goodies on the way. Keep stopping by the Hangar not to miss anything. Till then,
over and out..Ron.

The contractors wrapped up there work on my den last weekend and for the past couple of days Valerie and I have been busy PUTTING all my books, DVDs and toys back. The new room is spacious, open and a true joy to work in. Happily the new 50″ Panasonic TV was all wired up when I received my Errol Flynn boxed set of movies, part of the new WB Signature collection. This afternoon I popped in the 1939 DODGE CITY and watched it in all its glorious Technicolor. The set also includes CAPTAIN BLOOD, THE SEA HAWK, ELIZABETH & ESSEX and THEY DIED WITH THEIR BOOTS ON. The films have been marvelously cleaned up and restored to their original, theatrical lengths. I’ve been a Flynn fanatic since a teenager and watching these remastered gems is like seeing them for the first time.
If you like old classics, I can’t recommend this set enough.

Kudos to editor/publisher, Charles Ardai, and all the good folks over at Hard Case Crime. It was announced today that three of their first releases have either won or been nominated for
prestigious awards. The Mystery Writers of America gave their Edgar to Dominic Stansberry’s
THE CONFESSION, while the Private Eye Writers
have nominated both FADE TO BLOND by Max Phillip and LITTLE GIRL LOST by Richard Aleas for their coveted Shamus Award. Not bad for a
little outfit that’s not even a year old. I’ve
had the pleasure of reviewing several HCC titles
in my Pulp Fiction column and have several more
waiting in the wings. If you enjoy good,
solid, crime fiction, Hard Case Crime is your
cup of joe. Check them out and tell them, Ron
sent you.

Several visitors to the Airship 27 Hangar have questioned why I don’t have a forum like
lots of other similar sites operated by various
comic writers. My answer is simple, I sincerely
don’t have the time and most of the real work
maintaining this operation is done graciously by my son, Scott. Whereas, I spent all my socializing on my pal Chris Mills’s
wonderful boards. So, if you’d like to talk with me, that’s usually where I hang out. It’s a really friendly corner of the internet populated by a great bunch of folks. So stop on by, if you’ve a hankering. Simply go
to (http://AtomicPulp.com) hit the forums button
and sign on.

That’s it for April, amigos. Be back next
week when hopefully I’ll have some news on my
latest pulp book. Till then, stay happy.
Ron..over and out.

Several weeks ago I was invited by the good folks at Blinding Force Pulps to create a new series character for a project they were putting together. The idea was to produce stories of people who live in a place called Federal City circa the early 1940s. What I came up with is a Catholic priest named Michael Ryan, home from a two year stint in the South Pacific as a chaplain for the Marines. How he adapts to peace time and
the mean streets of Federal City are the themes of his stories. MESSENGER 13, the first of these, is now up at the BFP site. Go on over to my links page and click their icon. While there be sure to read the Knuckles stories too. You’ll be glad you did.

A while back I also mentioned my latest comic venture being a Gargoyle story appearing in the
July issue of Digital Webbing Presents. Well, that particular issue is now being solicited in the Diamond Previews catalogue. Please take note, there are two covers to this one issue.
One is by Dario Carrasco and features his rendition of the Gargoyle in all his glory. The other is for something else. So, if you want the Gargoyle cover, be sure to specify that when
ordering. And according to the latest from Dario, there will be other Gargoyle appearances in future issues of DWP. Now that’s cool.

Finally, on a somber note, a friend of my died this week, he was 90 years young. He was a retired psychiatrist and he lived one truly amazing life. I’d known him for just about two years now and his friendship taught me a whole lot about life and aging with dignity. I know he’s now with his beloved wife, with whom he shared 52 years and for that I’m happy. But I’m also going to miss him..a lot. God Bless, Dr.Bill.

Over and out, Ron.

Last Friday, as part of my ongoing medical condition, I had a PETscan taken. Monday Valerie and I met with the lung specialist and learned he was not happy with the results. Now a quick of update for those of you just coming on board here.

In Jan I had pneumonia. My doctor sent me to have X-rays, the X-rays founds two spots on my lungs, one on the right and one on the left. I was then sent for a CATscan, which enhanced the anomaly and thus got me sent to the lung specialist. He had me undergo a bronchoscopy whereby he took a sample from one of these so-called lesions. It proved to be absent of cancer. Still, he wasn’t satisfied that the results were conclusive and scheduled the PETscan. Which is now showing cancerous activity. Ergo he sends me to a surgeaon. Oh yeah.

I just came back from my first visit with the surgeon and he was a mystified as everyone else has been from the start. And he tells me he is uncomfortable performing a very invasive
surgery on something he is not 100% sure is the
big C. Duh. So what now? After an hour of back and forth, we agreed to schedule another
CATscan sometime at the start of May. Why? Because we can then compare it with the one take in March and pray we find a difference in size.
Smaller, will indicate its some kind of virus or
whatever and is going away. Larger, even by a miniscule, will add to the evidence it is cancer, and then he’ll talk surgery. So, it’s the old hurry up and wait. I’ll keep you all
posted. Please keep those prayers coming, they do make this bareable.

Spent last Sunday at the Chelmsford show with the Johnny Raygun crew of Matt Talbot and Rich Woodall, and we all had a ball. Larry Dougherty, who put on the show, is an old friend from way back, and all the local fans who stopped by to get books autographed were great. I really like one day shows like this.

I’ve a new review column up, click on to the PULP FICTION banner above and check it out.

Lastly, am getting antsy for the season wrap up of LOST on TV. It’s the one show that nailed me from the start and I confess to being addictd. Loads of fun.

All for this week, gang, take care one all,
Ron.

Looks like Spring has sprung at long last. We’ve had an amazing week of wonderful, sunny weather. Always good for the spirit. Yesterday,
the world saw an amazing event, the burial of our beloved Pope John Paul II. Now 117 cardinals of the church have the daunting task of electing a man to follow in his footsteps. I don’t envy them. But I do trust in the Holy Spirit to guide their votes and send us the right man for the job. That’s what faith is all about, folks.

Went back to the hospital yesterday for a follow-up PETscan. Was a long, slow process, but painless. Will have results by start of the week and hopefully can put finis to this chapter of my life. If not…

And while I was being radiated, our contractor arrived at the house and began the renovation of my basement den. Going to paint the walls, tear down the ceiling, add more lighting and built wall-to-wall bookcases for my library, both of books and DVD movies. Amidst these will be built a new entertainment center for my new 50″ Panasonic LCD High Def TV and across the room, a customed made writing table. Oh yeah, the Batcave is getting its very first face-lift. Meanwhile, I am pecking away at this in the small guest-bedroom like the Prisoner of Zenda. But with the work begun, there is a light at the end of the tunnel.

And tomorrow, April 9th, I’m off to my first
con of the new year, down in Chelmsford, Ma. to be hosted by an old amigo, Larry Dougherty. Howard Porter of DC will be the big guest, with yours truly and the gang from Johnny Raygun adding local spice. Looking to be a great show. So if any of you reading will be in the Chelmsford area tomorrow, come on down and say hi. I’ve got a huge stack of BROTHER GRIM novels to move.

Finally, the Red Sox, after losing the first two games of the season, are on a winning track.
They took the third from the Yankees, thanks to
Tim Wakefield on the mound and the Sox bats finally coming to life. While last night Bronson Arroyo was really terrific in his first pitching start of 2005. Our only grouse was how closer Keith Foulkes nearly blew a 3 run lead in the bottom of the 9th! I have never seen him looked so rattled. Man, that was just plain scary!

Airship 27 Over & out! Ron.

I was trying to come up with a theme for today’s posting. April,2,2005. A few things came to mind. Small, but relevant things. My pulp novel, BROTHER GRIM, went on sale at Amazon.com this past week. Hopefully lots more readers of the fantastic are going to find it now.

With any luck and no snafus, Ralph D is going to post the second installment of my review column,
PULP FICTION. Hit the link above and see me rant on paperback noir thrillers.

Wrote a new 5 page sci-fi horror comic strip called ROBOT LOVE, this past week for my good friend, Stacie Ponder. It will appear in an new EC like anthology she is editing. The art is by some new Phillipino who has tons of talent. I’ll keep you posted. The first of my Father Michael Ryan stories for Blinding Force Pulps is completed and now being edited. A few more weeks and this should be available for your perusal.

Again, items of interest, but nothing you would label as monumental stuff. Until this afernoon, when two things of interest to me seemed to collide in my thoughts. One has made me deliriously happy the past few weeks while the other just happened and has left me reflective and sad.

I am the biggest KING KONG fan in the entire world. Have been since my dad took me to the theater at the age of nine (a 1955 re-release)to see this 1933 classic fantasy adventure. What can I say? The big gorilla imprinted himself on my imagination and I’ve been a devoted fan ever since. Naturally I was thrilled when Peter Jackson took on the new remake which he’s now whipping up in New Zealand. I’ve been following his video diaries weekly on the net and feeling like a little kid again. Last week they were shooting the sequence when the Navy Hellcat planes attack Kong atop the Empire State Building. Of course there’s no gorilla yet. He’ll be added later by the magic of CGI. The film’s release is scheduled for this coming December. I predict it’s going to be an amazing blockbuster.

Then, in the midst of this fun stuff, I
was informed that our beloved Pope John Paul II
had finally passed away this afternoon. It was
sombering news, not unexpected, as we’d all been
serving one kind of vigil or another sense his
health began to deteriorate yesterday. Still,it comes as a blow. I’m a Catholic. This man was more than just a pope, he was an exceptional
human being who lived his mission in life, bringing the message of God’s love to the world.
A world very much secular and in need of that
message. Now he’s gone to his glorious reward,
leaving this world so much better for his having
been in it. I’m praying now, when I think about
him, and will do lots more of that in the next
few days. Movies are cool, even our favorite ones. But the passage of a great man, is what
resonates in my heart.

The roller coaster of my life was at full speed today, both in its highs and lows.

God bless you all, over out, Ron.

First up thank you one and all for your gracious responses to my last log entry detailing my recent medical scares. We aren’t completely out of the woods yet, but with your continued prayers, Val and I have no doubts things will be back to routine soon.

Okay, since I wanted this log to be used primarily to keep you all up to date with my latest writing projects, let’s get to it. The comic book atop this column is Digital Webbing Presents #24 dated July, 2005. The cover feature is a Gargoyle story written by yours truly and wonderfully illustrated by the character’s creator, Dario Carrasco. This is the second Gargoyle story Dario and I have done together and both of us were thrilled when Ed Dukeshire at DWP asked to run it in his full color anthology. The book will be solicited in
next month’s Diamond PREVIEW, so if you want a copy, you know where to look. I’d love to do more of these, but that will depend on how well this first adventure is received.

The week before last I announced the start of my new book review column, PULP FICTION. Well, it is officially up and running over at
the Paperback Bazaar site (see the link above)
and soon to be featured at Casablanca Comics.com and Modern Pulp.com, sort of my own web syndication if you will. My first column has been up a week and already received dozens of letters telling me how much it is enjoyed. Thank you and please keep, reading. Also a big-big thanks to Bill Thom over at Coming Attractions for announcing the birth of
PULP FICTION to pulpdom at large. I hope to post new reviews weekly if humanly possible, bi-weekly if not. Ha.

Finally my newest amigo, Anthony Schiavino over at Blinding Force Pulp (see my links page) has invited me to join his dynamic operations and create a brand new pulp series. Today he posted a press release concerning MESSENGER 13 –
the Father Michael Ryan Stories. As I’ve not finished my first story (..almost), I’ll hold off any more on this new and exciting venture until next time around. Needless to say, my plate is very, very full these days, but I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Hope you all had a great Easter holiday, take
care till next time.

Over and out, Ron.

For the past few months I’ve been dealing with some serious health issues. They were series enough to keep private and only share with my immediate family. Up to now. Now, with some good news under my belt, is the time to come clean to all of you, my fans, readers and good friends.

Back in Jan. I came down with a bad case of pneumonia that really tore into my lungs in a bad way. After an extended period on antibiotics, and a good doctor’s care, it looked like things were starting to clear up. All but a very nasty and persistent cough. Eventually, Valerie, my better half, got me to see the Doc one more time. I did. He suggested an X-ray to
determine the pneumonia was gone. I went and had the X-rays taken. Sure enough, the X-rays showed no more pneumonia. Hooray. They also showed some anomalies, ala two spots on my lungs. Bad.

At this point, my doctor recommended I go for a catscan. Obviously he was concerned the spots were cancer. When the catscan results came in, they only confirmed that I had two lesions of unknown matter on my lungs. I was then sent to a pulminary specialist. You can guess that by now things were getting very tense in the old Fortier household. Last week, this specialist stuck a tube down my throat and took a biopsy from the lesions. Then it was time to come home and wait. Lung Cancer is still the number one cause of death in adults in our country. At 58, I am candidate for this malady. Wisely, I am not a smoker. This past week was one of deep soul searching and prayer for this particular Christian. I didn’t so much pray for some miracle, as much as the strength to deal with whatever would come at me. Good or bad. I’ve always been a person of faith, thanks to my loving parents. It kept me sane this past week.

A few hours ago, Valerie and I were in the specialist office being told the result of the biopsy. I do not have cancer. Just like that, in just so few words, my heart skipped a beat.
I, with the grace of God, had dodged a bullet.
What I do have seems to be a really weird infection that the doctor was still at a loss to explain away. I’m now on a two week severe antibiotic treatment to flush this out of my system. In 3 months I’ll be going back for a second catscan. If the spots are gone, then we close the book on this chapter of my life. If not, then there will be more test to take. I understand that, but for right now we are just celebrating some awfully good-good news. And I am so looking forward to Easter Sunday like you
wouldn’t believe.

So there you go. Ron’s brush with the big C and mortality. Please, learn from this. Get regular check ups and don’t ever put yourself in
harms way needless. Life is too sweet a miracle
not to cherish and cling to. HAPPY EASTER one and all.

Till next time, ha, over & out, Ron.

Those of you who have been following my log entries on a weekly basis will know that last week I mentioned I was about to start a new review column. This being predicated by certain paperback companies sending me review copies of their latest pulp thrillers.

I mentioned this to Tom Floyd, the brilliant artist who did the covers to my BROTHER GRIM book and he generously allowed me to use the above logo he had designed a while back. Only now customized it to fit my needs. Thanks,
amigo, I owe you one.

So what is PULP FICTION by Ron Fortier? Well, hopefully it is going to be a regular column wherein I look at various new and old books that fall under the designation of pulp. Books filled with action, drama, suspense, horror, fantasy and always high adventure. As of right now two sites will be carrying the column. I’ll post a list once the reviews start being posted. If you are a site manager and would like to run PULP FICTION, drop me a line. I’m not charging a dime for this, just my way of sharing my love for pulps with other readers.

So there you go, Airship Crew, another new project takes to the internet air. Wish us luck, Ron.

The cover to the left is part of a brand new line of paperback thrillers that harken back to the glory days of the pulps. In the months ahead Hard Case Crime will be bringing readers the best of the old and new noir writers.

Pulp is back and I for one couldn’t be happier. As a kid growing up in the 50s & 60s,
I was lucky enough to see a truly unique media
evolution. The old, garish pulp magazines of the pre-war years were quickly vanishing to be replaced by the new and glossier paperbacks.

All the major companies realized that these cheap, inexpensive books, sold primarily through the small drugs stores of America, were attractive because people could easily slip them into a back pocket or a purse. It was fast and quick reading for a mobile society. And for the most part, they covered all the major genres.

Chief among these were the self-same topics that had popularized the pulps themselves; horror, science-fiction, fantasy, historical romances, mysteries…and the crime thrillers.
Somehow no other single genre ever meshed so perfectly with these mini-books than the noir
inspired crime books. Writers like Mickey Spillane, Richard S.Prather, Brett Halliday, Ed McBain and hundreds of other tough-guy penmen flourished. And the covers, on those magnificently trashy covers of the sexy dames wtih the smoking guns in their hands. Totally the stuff that dreams were made of.

There is a resurgence of “pulp” in our culture today, as clearly evidence in such movies as SKY CAPTAIN & THE WORLD OF TOMORROW and the forthcoming SIN CITY. Whereas a brand spanking new paperback company has appeared on the scene as the true heir to those wonderful old drug-store series, HARD CASE CRIME. So far they’ve released a half dozen titles, all winners. And their lists of coming titles reads like a whos who of crime fiction masters.

Learning of my love for pulps, the good people at Hard Case Crime were decent enough to put me on their review list and I feel like I’ve just won the lottery. Expect to see my reviews here and on other sites in the near future. People, happy days are here again!

Have a great week, Ron.