Red Light Bytes: 11-24-2022
Updates, Op-Eds, Culture, & More!
The News
FIRST OFF: This installment of Red Light Bytes will be our LAST before the Winter Edition, and will be on hiatus the remainder of December. That isn’t to say there won’t be announcements, however, nor is it to say we’re retiring the format full-stop. Stay tuned for them in the VERY near future.
As usual, revisions and editing on stories and exclusives continues. Four out of the five main-series stories are fully illustrated as of writing this, and written exclusives are in development alongside the brand-new audio adventures of Alan Firedale: Desert Delinquent, as well as the nascent stages of developing the annual collection.
Also, shoutout to the immensely talented Temiree for drawing this killer sketch of Lita
We even got the inside scoop on on the picture from the gal herself:
“Dig the vanity plate? Me and the Red Devil got it made down at the Station. Miracle what the cats’ll do for ya when you give ‘em the right motivation. Only had time to grab the one though. Big operations go up in some pretty big fireballs these days, don’t they?”
Tem has illustrated work for me in the past regarding other projects, and I was extremely grateful to see him try out this wild electric world of ours. Follow the links and support him where you can!
Battlefield Thoughts
This week, I’ll let myself and three fine fellows take the reins on “Battlefield Thoughts.”
I had the greatest pleasure to spend Friday night chatting with Richard of IronAge Media, author and literary coach Daniel P. Riley, and Royce of up-and-coming Iron Age YouTube channel A Drink with Crazy on their entertaining weekly live show “Iron Age Knights.” It’s a stream where fellow creatives in the movement come on to chat (and drink) the night away, covering every thing from their own work to a potpourri of hot-button topics and the art of storytelling in popular media.
I’ve come to regard this night as one of my best on a podcast. There’s a terrific chemistry among the hosts and their guests, a relaxed and inviting atmosphere, and it simply too much damn fun to pass up. I got to unchain my brain (to quote Gillan) and showcase my own knowledge of media and arts, as well as have a good time chatting with some great guys.
I thank all three for having me on and I look forward to returning real soon. Check their links and support them however you can.
Streetwise Caviar
This Week’s Set: Rock the New Wave
We’re sending off (for now) this special column with twenty tracks capturing the raw energy, peerless power, and sonic acrobatics of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal. A movement as defined by the idols it made as the idols it breathed life into. From launching the careers of Iron Maiden, Def Leppard, and Saxon, to seeing the rebirth of Black Sabbath, to the flourishing of Judas Priest and Motörhead, to the emergence of cult favorites like Girlschool, Angel Witch, Grim Reaper, and Tank.
Lots of crossover from past lists, but that’s the way it goes sometimes, and all of these tunes are favorites of mine that speak to the core energy of 365 Infantry; unbridled metallic electricity with room to slow down and savor the awesome power. And with our complimentary Spotify playlist in tow, hang on for dear life as the Brits show you how it’s done.
And as an aside, fellow fighters on the streaming platform may also dig our “Ride On!” Mix, a fully-loaded playlist standing 365 tracks strong. A blend of hand-picked heavy metal, AOR, hard rock, and synthetic asides to get you in the mood and groove for some desert driving and bot-slaying.
A Tale to Tell…
Our last pre-season slice of flash fiction is a quiet little capstone.
“She Digs ‘Em Wild” echoes previous story “The Hellioness” in that it tells of a woman with a bike to call her own. It’s not a grand, complex, or particularly exciting story, but as a character piece I think it expresses quite a bit on my mind right about now.
And whereas the latter is a myth in full flight, what you read here is perhaps the birth of a new legend, or a brand-new beginning unlike any other.
We’ll let you decide.
May God bless you and this Force. Happy Thanksgiving to our American friends!