Christmas, Another Review, and Some "Stormy Weather"

A belated Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays, from Challenger Storm and MARDL (and me, naturally).  I hope the holidays were truly joyous and filled with wonder for you and yours.

Another review of "The Isle of Blood" is up over on Amazon.com, this time from reader Michael Brown.  So far, I haven't heard anything too negative about the book... I guess I've done something right, and I'm glad to hear all the positive feedback for my debut work!  Work continues (somewhat slower than it should be) on the follow-up...

Meanwhile, here's a tidbit for you: the version of "Stormy Weather" that Storm is listening to during the book's epilogue.  Now, I didn't set out to make a pun or anything with the song's title, I just needed a song that would be popular and new during the year it was set (late 1933, to be exact) and wanted something with that melancholy feel that only old-records can provide.  A quick search or two later and voila! I had my song.  And I've loved the song from the first time I heard it.

"The Isle of Blood" Gets a Review

‎Bob Besco, Challenger Storm fan extraordinaire and an adventurer in his own right, has posted his review of "The Isle of Blood" on Amazon.com I am humbled and happy that he enjoyed it as much as he did. If you've read (or will be reading) my book, consider reviewing it yourself. I thank you!

My Adventure in The Book Cave

Another interview, this time with Art Sippo and Ric Croxton of The Book Cave.  I may have rambled a bit but I had an absolute blast chatting with them about pulps, Challenger Storm, and some of the other projects I've got cooking...

I've Been PULPED!

The podcast of my interview with PULPED! is up:http://pulped.libsyn.com/webpage/pulped-the-official-new-pulp-podcast-challenger-storm-debuts-on-first-radio-broadcast-of-pulped- . And don't forget that they're now broadcasting the show on TMVcafe.com!

Storm and Crew Spotted in the Amazon...!

... Amazon.com, that is!

"Challenger Storm: The Isle of Blood" is available there now!

You've seen that beautiful cover... now here is a peek at the interior illustrations, all done by legendary illustrator Michael Wm. Kaluta!

"Challenger Storm: The Isle of Blood"... now available in print edition!

For those of you who have been waiting for a print edition of "Challenger Storm: The Isle of Blood", then wait no longer! It's now available on IndyPlanet.com!

Fan Art- Danny Kelly

My buddy over on Facebook, Danny Kelly, did this swell rendition of Challenger Storm.  Originally part of a collage, it stands alone here but more of his art can be seen by clicking on that link.  Great job!

2012 Pulp Ark Awards Nominations

For your consideration...

If you've read my book and enjoyed it, please give it a vote!  I'm eligible for "Best New Author", and of course the book is eligible for a few too.  I thank you for your humble considerations.

http://allpulp.blogspot.com/2011/11/nominations-now-open-for-pulp-ark-2012.html

It's Time...!

PRESS RELEASE

Move over Doc Savage and Captain Hazzard, here comes America’s newest pulp hero -

CHALLENGER STORM

Airship 27 Productions and Cornerstone Book Publishers present another new pulp hero crafted in the mold of the classic 1930s adventurers. The sole survivor of a senseless tragedy, the heir to a massive fortune devotes himself to a life protecting the innocent and punishing the guilty. From his base of operations at the Miami Aerodrome Research & Development Laboratories, he and his colorful associates brave any danger to bring justice to those in need.

His name is Clifton Storm... the world will call him "Challenger".

THE ISLE OF BLOOD

When a wealthy aviation tycoon asks Storm to help return his kidnapped daughter, the MARDL crew is plunged into a rescue-mission on the tiny island-nation of La Isla de Sangre.   From the sunny streets of Miami to the assault on a guerrilla enclave & the ruins of a lost-city deep in the jungle, the action is non-stop in this debut pulp thriller.  Can Storm rid La Isla de Sangre from the vicious warlords known as the Villalobos Brothers and defeat the mysterious Goddess of Death?

Join Challenger Storm and his loyal band of adventurers as they fly off on this, the first of a brand new series of pulp thrillers.  Writer Don Gates and legendary graphic artist, Michael Kaluta join forces to unleash this exciting and original new pulp hero guaranteed to provide pulp fans with explosive thrill-a-minute entertainment. All brought to you by the always ground-breaking crew of Airship 27 Productions; Pulp Fiction for a New Generation!

---

ISBN:  1-613420-23-4

ISBN 13:  978-1-613420-23-2

Produced by Airship 27

Published by Cornerstone Book Publishers

Release date: 11/15/2011

Retail Price: $16.95

Digital Download Now Available for $3 –

(http://homepage.mac.com/robmdavis/Airship27Hangar/index.html)

11/20/2011 @ (www.IndyPlanet.com) for $15

All Pulp Interview from March 2011

Just a quickie post: to those that missed it and want to read it, here's an interview I did with All Pulp earlier this year.  My first interview... I think I'll bronze it and put it on my mantle.  First I have to get a mantle, though...

Who is Challenger Storm?

Name: Clifton Storm

Alias: "Challenger" Storm

Birth: 07:53 AM EST, March 21, 1906

Zodiac sign: Aries

Height: 6'1"

Weight: 185 lbs.

Eyes: slate grey/blue

Hair: black/dark brown highlights

Distinguishing Marks: three long scars on left side of face: longest extends down jaw and onto throat

Nationality: citizen of the United States of America

Occupation: independently wealthy troubleshooter, engineer, scientist, adventurer, aviator

Group Affiliation: the Miami Aerodrome Research & Development Laboratories (MARDL); The Eye

Place of Birth: Jackson, Michigan, United States

Base of Operations: Miami, Florida, United States

Marital Status: single

Known Relatives: Gerald Storm (father; deceased), Margaret Storm (mother; deceased)

Preferred Weapon of Choice: The C96 “Broom-handled” Mauser pistol (customized, magazine-fed, extended clip)

Additional Gear/Equipment Info: Utility harness- besides housing the Mauser's holster, this harness also contains extra ammo-clips, small tool kit, various small utility items, and a combat/throwing knife.  Additional gadgets of note include smoke-bombs, specialized goggles, and acidic "tangler bolos".

Skills: Besides being an accomplished scientific and engineering whiz, Storm is a highly-skilled pilot and dabbles in numerous other sciences and fields of knowledge.  Clifton Storm is adept at the more martial-skills as well: marksmanship, archery, fencing, martial arts (including some training in the mysterious discipline of Jiu-Kudo), etc.

Known allies: MARDL scientists and troubleshooters including (but not limited to) Willy Avis, "Skids" Gerard, Brock Thurman, Diana St. Clair, Peter Horne.  Has allied with secret US government group The Eye (further info classified).  Various team ups with other heroes (information forthcoming...)

Known enemies: Count Zodiac, Simon Crowe and the Black Brigands, the Villalobos Brothers, Poseidon, Professor Elias Coltrane, the Black Kirin, the Scarlet Owl, Dieter Von Holle.

First Appearance: "Challenger Storm: The Isle of Blood", written by Don Gates and illustrated by Michael Wm. Kaluta. Coming soon from Airship 27 Productions...

Deja Vu All Over Again...

For those who came in late...


This is actually the second blog I've used to discuss my writing projects.  I took the first down after I realized there was a lot of information regarding my creations on it that I didn't want out there yet (spoilers, etc).  Plus, much of the details on that blog were outdated and certain aspects of the characters and ideas have since been revised, dropped, or enhanced.

A short history: in 2007 (roughly... the original date has been lost), I decided to finally take friends' and family's advice and actually try to write some of my ideas and concepts.  A longtime fascination with pulp magazines and the adventure of the pulp-era led me to conceive several ideas for characters that I believed could actually fit in with the new pulp-movement.  With the help and feedback of my friends Luis Gabriel Leal, Tom Floyd, Dave Flora, and "The Retropolitan" (and later Manny DeJesus), I was able to streamline the concepts into workable ideas, and thus began working on the first of them: the adventures of Challenger Storm (more info about Storm to come in a later post).

Between work, my continued schooling, and family obligations it took me about 2 years to write the first (of hopefully many more) Challenger Storm novel, "The Isle of Blood".  A few days before Christmas of 2009, I submitted the book to publishers and shortly thereafter it was picked up for publication by Airship 27 Productions, a company whose pulp-works I had been enjoying for some time.  This was the first lifelong dream-come-true that I experienced.

The second came sometime months later, when comic art legend (and my personal favorite artist of all time) Michael Wm. Kaluta signed on to produce the interior and exterior artwork.

The book's release seems to be looming ahead.  I cannot comment on the exact date yet, but I can say it looks like it'll be before the end of the year.  In the meantime, and from that point on, I'm going to try to make this Challenger Storm's home on the internet.  Not sure exactly what will be posted here but I'm open to suggestions, comments, etc.  For those folks new to Challenger Storm, the next post should be a little bit of an introduction to my adventurer.

And to fans new and old: I thank you for your interest.  And welcome aboard The Adventures of Challenger Storm.

PS: The site is still under construction, so you may notice more links added, design changes, etc.  Make sure you wear your hardhat while this period is under way.

Origin: a fragment

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This is only a test...  more coming soon?  Perhaps...