During this time of woeful confinement, folks have requested my reading recommendations. With sincere eagerness, I've granted them examples (suited to each's disposition), suggesting works by Ray Bradbury, Roald Dahl, Clive Barker, Richard Matheson, Anne Rice, David C. Smith, Ron Fortier and Ruby Jean Jensen.
However, do keep in mind that on occasion, I must spout my own humble, promotional spin. In case folks have forgotten, I'm a novelist, as well as a blogger.
With that said, my latest Airship 27 paperback, "The Persona: Green-Fleshed Fiends" is available for absorption (and adorned no less by an amazing Chris Rawding cover and astounding Kevin Paul Shaw Broden illustrations). In addition, one can buy a Radio Archives "Green-Fleshed Fiends" unabridged, audio book, performed by the expressive Paul Curtis.
"Green-Fleshed Fiends" spotlights my New Pulp hero, Michael Mansford, aka the Persona, who was inspired by the likes of Doctor Strange and the Shadow. The surreal story and its uncanny characters (including those eponymous "fiends") should keep one occupied, while wiping away the doldrums, at least for a few isolated hours.
Please do give either version a whirl. I sure would appreciate the patronage and believe that all readers/listeners will be quite pleased with the escapist results.
The paperback can be purchased at
https://bizarrechats.blogspot.com/2020/04/farewell-julie-bennett.html and the audio book at
https://www.radioarchives.com/The_Persona_Green_Fleshed_Fiends_p/ra784.htm.
Kevin Broden's progress on "The Persona, Vol 2: Green-fleshed Fiends" continues, with the novel's remaining illustrations in development.
Above is another example of Broden's warm-up work: an image of Carl Clive, the diligent newspaperman featured in the first book and now its sequel.
Clive is one of my favorite characters. He has a Perry White/Tony Vincenzo quality about him, though he's nowhere near as cantankerous. In fact, he's quite supportive of Michael Mansford, aka the Persona.
I'm excited to see the details that Broden builds around the old editor.
Until then, here's another homage to "The Persona'"s striking Stacey Standish to keep one nice and warm for the interim:
(Standish's resemblance to a certain, famous actress isn't, of course, coincidental.)
Keep visiting "bizarrechats" for further "Green-fleshed Fiends" news...
Kevin Paul Shaw Broden is designing some intriguing interiors for "The Persona, Vol 2: The Green-Fleshed Fiends". For now, they stay concealed, but I can at least share another teaser.
It's Broden's test run of Professor Tarr, a significant character in the Airship 27 Productions sequel. I consider Tarr one of my most fascinating figures. He'll sure give Michael Mansford, the Persona, a run for his mystical money.
The esoteric Tarr exhibits a dash of Beethoven and Tarzan in his looks. Yeah, that trace of Johnny Weissmuller isn't coincidental, though this cat is no jungle inhabitant, let alone a great musical composer. He's more a super-mentalist maestro with powers that twist reality's confines. (Pardon the humble appraisal--ha, ha.)
In addition, "Green-Fleshed Fiends" offers other characters to delight Persona fans, including sweet Stacey Standish, who just so happens to mirror a certain screen siren.
Indeed, things continue to progress in a most positive way. (Oh, btw, Airship 27 publisher Ron Fortier has confirmed that Chris Rawding's Vol 2 cover is nearing completion. Hot diggity!)
As Kevin Paul Shaw Broden sketches away on my Airship 27 Productions novel, "The Persona, Vol 2: The Green-Fleshed Fiends" (shortened from "Enter the Green-Fleshed Fiends"), I decided to share (if only to clinch my readers' interest) another test-run sample of his wondrous work.
It's an amalgam of the sequel's seductive competitor to virtuous Stacey Standish: a raven-haired beauty of eccentric and mystical means named Melody Montorto.
I won't reveal any more on the character here, except to say that I believe folks will be drawn by her, as much as I'm drawn to Broden's beautiful queue. (I also believe the above could act as a blueprint for some cute, cut-out dolls, if ever my novel went the big-time, merchandising route.)
For those still smitten with the stunning Standish, fear not, for she's still the apple of Michael Mansford's transcendent eye. (Say, isn't that a photo of sweet Stacey below? Nah, too sultry and yet...)
As always, stay tuned for more details. Little by little, "The Persona Vol 2" is reaching fruition.
I can't share Kevin Paul Shaw Broden's intended-for-print illustrations for "The Persona, Vol 2", but here's a swell warm-up of one of its characters:
These test-run images represent Mister Good, a significant costar in my Airship 27 Productions sequel. Does Good live up to his name? Sorry, but I can't share that tidbit, either, but I'm amazed how Broden captured the character's precise presence. (To my eyes, the rendering has a Malcolm McDowell aura about it. Yeah, McDowell would be well cast as Good.)
In addition to having finished a Disney-esque "green-fleshed fiend" scene, Broden has illustrated the novel's fantastic club sequence, with detail that's nothing short of hypnotic. The dear man possesses immense patience to have pulled it off; I know I'd have been a nervous wreck trying to tackle it. (Also, Broden's tests for the story's vixen, Melody Montorto are beyond enchanting. Hot-cha-cha...)
More updates are to come, and remember "Persona Vol 1" is available through Amazon (in paperback and audio form), for those who wish to catch up:
https://www.amazon.com/Persona-Enter-1/dp/0997786817
Kevin Paul Shaw Broden continues to illustrate my New Pulp/Airship 27 Productions novel, "The Persona, Vol 2: Enter the Green-fleshed Fiends".
His latest images must be kept secret, so as not to spoil their impact upon the novel's release, though below you'll find his marvelous test run of my eponymous, masked crusader. Of what I can't show, I'm likin' lots. In fact, Broden has nailed the distinct veneer of at least one green-fleshed fiend in a old-time, Disney way. He's also fashioned a new, full-page view of two of the story's magical leads. Yippee!!!
Just for the fun of it, below is an example of Broden's prior (though still recent) work, as featured in All-Star Pulp Comics Vol 4 (see Oct '18). In this instance, Broden emulates a striking, Golden Age style for his Veiled Avenger revival. Stunning, don't cha think?
Airship 27 publisher, Ron Fortier has assigned Broden to create nine illustrations in all, so it'll be a spell before the set is complete. Also, Fortier has yet to assign a cover artist for the novel, which of course, must occur well in advance of a publication date. Still, I'm pleased with the progress so far and remain confident that my sequel will grace print sometime in 2019.
For those interested, "The Persona, Vol 1: Enter--the Persona!" can be purchased in print or audio form via Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Persona-Enter-Book/dp/B06XY26F1T/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1537909074&sr=8-1&keywords=enter---the+persona. (Renowned voice actor, Mark Barnard contributes the Radio Archives reading.)
As for "Persona, Vol 2", it'll stand as its own exciting adventure, so it's safe to say that readers will feel comfortable wherever and whenever they enter my ethereal saga...
More details to come...
Progress on my New Pulp sequel, "The Persona, Vol 2: Enter the Green-Fleshed Fiends" continues, with Airship 27 publisher Ron Fortier assigning an interior illustrator.
The chosen one is none other than accomplished artist/author, Kevin Paul Shaw Broden of "Clockwork Genie"; "Midnight Horror School"; and "Flying Glory and the Hounds of Glory" fame!!! (For the record, Broden illustrated Airship 27's latest release: Chuck Miller's "The Bay Phantom, Vol 2: Feast of the Cannibal Gild".)
Above is a test image Broden fashioned of my character, Michael Mansford (the Persona). To say, the least, I'm pleased to a tee.
The Persona sequel takes our affluent, masked crusader on another ethereal sojourn, where little, green men enter our dimension, but for what bizarre cause?
The sequel reintroduces old friends and enemies, along with some new ones, all impacted (to some degree or another) by the weird, wee creatures. As with the initial book, there's plenty of magic and adventure at play.
BTW: "The Persona, Vol 1: Enter--the Persona" is available through Amazon in paperback and audio form. The latter is produced by Radio Archives and performed by Mark Barnard.
I'll post developments on the sequel as they surface. Indeed, Broden's recruitment is a most promising and exciting sign...
