30-10-1
#130
The last few weeks have seen three significant anniversaries roll around for us as a family, and for a couple of creative endeavours
30 Years in the USA
At the end of April 1996, this crazy bunch got off a plane at Baltimore airport and headed to a hotel in Annapolis, Maryland, to start our American adventure.
And what an amazing adventure it’s been, exploring our new country from homes in Maryland, California, Illinois, Texas, and back to Maryland again. We’ve visited 45 states so far, and are still hoping to complete the set at some point.
In our travels over the last three decades, we’ve seen the good and the not-so-good sides of this young country, experienced its history and its natural beauty, been through tough times and the best of times, found life-long friends, and best of all, watched the family grow.
Thanks, America, for 30 years of memories, and more to come as we continue to live and love our ongoing adventures.
10 years of Batman on the Cover
A decade ago, I started a little background project on Tumblr called “Batman on the Cover” with the aim of building a chronological timeline of Batman’s publication history, starting with his first printed appearance - a house ad in Action Comics #12 that went on sale April 4th 1939
Well, it’s still ticking along with a few thousand regular followers, just under 2,500 covers posted, and we are currently up to December 1970.
1 Year of Lemon Hog Publishing
And how time has flown! Early May marked the first year of operations for our Lemon Hog Publishing imprint with the eBook release of Gill’s first novel, Trust Issues.
Have you picked up your copy yet? - The eBook is still only $2.99 and available from your favorite online book retailer. Plus, there’s a paperback for those who prefer a physical book.
We also published my collection of Victorian-era adventusre short stories, Saloons, Jungles, and City Streets. (also available in eBook and paperback formats).
There’s more to come from Lemon Hog in the coming year, including our first non-fiction title, plus the second installment of Gill’s Brightwater series, Trust Point.
Alan
Other Stuff
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Word Slinging
This week, the last few words of the manuscript for the Casino Royale 67 book were put in place. It feels good to have it completed. Now the next stage of the work starts, pulling together all the supporting material the publishers have requested, including selecting images to include in the book.
Shows Booked in 2026
I’m looking forward to our first appearance at the Chesapeake Regional Authors & Artists (CRAA) Fest the weekend of May 16 and 17th in Bel Air, MD. I’m starting the festivities with a reading from Saloons, Jungles, and City Streets at 11:00 am on the Saturday, and then for the rest of the weekend, you’ll find me in the Action Adventure & Thriller authors section of the event.
The list of events in 2026 where you will be able to find us is now looking something like this:
May 16-17 - CRAA Fest - Bel Air, MD
May 22-25 - Balticon - Baltimore, MD
May 29 - BOCNE - Boston, MA
July 29 - Aug 2 - PulpFest - Pittsburgh, PA
August 8 - Bookfair - Bel Air, MD
Buy Our Books Direct Online
You can now buy any of our books directly from us via our Forest Comics and Books store on eBay, where they are all listed with the same BuyNow prices that we charge at conventions and shows.
Thanks to the folks who have already purchased copies from us over the last few weeks.
Podcast Procrastinations
This Sunday (May 10), the latest Chronological Christie podcast episode drops, in which we will be covering Hercule Poirot’s adventure, Peril at End House.
Over on the Before They Were Beatles podcast, the latest episode covering the story of The Beatle’s enigmatic bass player Stuart Sutcliffe
Books Read in 2026
“The Hook and the Eye” by Raymond Benson
Raymond Benson returns to the world of Fleming’s Bond with this entertaining and fast-paced adventure that places, sometimes 007 ally, Felix Leiter front and center.
Set after the events of Live And Let Die that left Leiter maimed following his “mishap” with a shark, Benson delivers insight into the Texan detective’s adjustments to both living with prosthetics as well as his role in the law enforcement community.
Heavily researched, the story perfectly evokes the culture and zeitgeist of early 1950s America while telling a finely tuned adventure of secrets and betrayal.
A worthwhile addition to the prose Bond canon, and I hope the first of more Felix stories to come.
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Over at our online bookstore at Bookshop.org I’ve now added a new section listing books read so far in 2026, as well as previous years, so you can pick up copies of any that interest you, while also helping out local independent bookstores.
You can check it out HERE
Where on the Web is Alan?
You can now find links to all the places you can find me online, websites, newsletters, social media, and more in a single LINKS page on my personal website.
As always, thanks for joining me this week. If you know someone else who might enjoy the contents of this edition of the newsletter, or just my ramblings in general, please feel free to share by clicking the button below.
See you next time
Alan J. Porter
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