One From The Road
In which I post a few quick updates on words written, read, and spoken.
After a restful week at home in Baltimore with family for Thanksgiving, this week we are on the road to Indianapolis to spend some time with the extended family.
So just a few quick updates this week. I plan to be back to my usual ramblings on some subject or another next week.
Alan
Other Stuff
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Brabazon Bits
No real updates on the Brabazon book this week as it continues to go through the production process at the publisher.
If everything goes to schedule “Bristol Brabazon: The Ocean Liner of the Skies and its Ongoing Legacy” will be published on 30 MAY, 2025 in the UK and 30 JULY, 2025 in the US.
It’s also available for pre-order on both Amazon UK , and Amazon US sites.
Word Slinging
I recently received the proof copy for an essay I wrote a couple of years ago which will be included in a TV series-related anthology scheduled for early 2025. It was fun to reread it after a long break. I'm glad to say it still seemed fresh, and according to the feedback from the beta reader, it was a fun read with a neat ending. I'll share more on this as and when things are officially announced.
Even with a few days off for the Thanksgiving holiday, overall it’s been a a good writing week with
1000+ words on the Musketeers short story
Long overdue updates to the James Bond Lexicon website.
Finding a bunch of research sources for an upcoming essay
Final edits to script for new podcast project.
Podcast Procrastinations
Now live on your favorite podcast platform, episode 7 of THE FORGOTTEN BEATLES in which we shine the spotlight on drummer Bobby Graham, the Quarrymen’s guitarist Eric Griffiths, and one-off bass player Johhny Gustafson. - You can check it out right HERE.
Comics Crusade: Episode 06 - Marvel's "The Further Adventures of Indiana Jones!"
I had fun visiting this Indiana Jones adventure for the first time for this podcast - go give it a listen. Available on all Podcast Apps, Spotify, and on You Tube.
Pages and Screens
Books Read in 2024 - “Santorini” by Alistair McLean
I was feeling a bit under the weather the other weekend and wanted an easy light read so grabbed this off the To Read Stack in the bedroom.
This was Alistair McLean’s last novel and it is definitely one of his weakest. After the intrigue of the opening set-up - a secret US bomber carrying nuclear weapons mysteriously crashes into the Aegean Sea and a nearby Royal Navy ship ends up investigating the incident - it devolves into a lot of talking head dialog with several conjecture-driven leaps of logic by the main cast.
A lot of the action takes place off-page, including the villain’s final fate, and you never really felt the outcome was in doubt.
But having said all that it was just what I wanted at the time. An easy fast-paced adventure that didn’t need too much brain power. Ideal when snuggled under the comforter.
Our online bookstore at Bookshop.org is fully up to date with the books read so far in 2024, so you can pick up copies of any that interest you, while also helping out local independent bookstores.
Weekly Web Round-Up
Forest Comics & Book - We had a good run on Funko Pops and Batmobile sales over the last couple of weeks. But there is still a good selection of both available.
Batman On The Cover - The journey through Batman’s comics publishing history continues as we move into September 1969 with comics published in Italy, Lebanon, Mexico, and the Netherlands.
The winner for cover of the week this time around has to be the Dutch edition of Superman en Batman #9, in which a tiny Superman seems to be catching a falling giant Batman.
Where on the Web is Alan?
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See you next time
Alan J. Porter
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