The Lance Star: Sky Ranger interviews - iPulp Fiction’s Keith Shaw

Keith Shaw

With the announcement of Lance Star: Sky Ranger joining the iPulp Fiction Library, we wanted to introduce readers to some of the Honorary Sky Rangers involved with making these stories happen. First up is iPulp Fiction's Keith Shaw.

LSSR: Tell us a little about yourself and iPulp Fiction. Where readers can find out more about you and your work?

KS: The iPulp Fiction Library started out as a section of my educational site, SPECTRUM Home and School Network [IncWell.com]. It was a response to the growing gender gap in reading. I felt a part of the problem was the lack of material that would appeal to a young reluctant male reader. So I decide to try to create a site that would make short, plot-driven fiction available that was both accessible and affordable. My effort was noticed by The Chronicle of Higher Education
[http://chronicle.com/blogs/brainstorm/what-should-boys-read/5730].

The site has grown into its own domain, iPulpFiction.com ~ Where the short Story Lives, and has expanded to embrace stories of all genres for readers of all ages. Orson Scott Card, Hugo Award-winning author of Ender's Game, and an iPulp contributor said: "Cheap short fiction--it's the lifeblood of literature." iPulp is like iTunes for literature where an anthology/series is like an album, and a individual story can be acquired like a song.


Attack of the Bird Man - Available 6/17


LSSR: How did you become involved with the Lance Star: Sky Ranger series?

KS: MOONSTONE BOOKS (The Spider, Captain Midnight) is a valued content provider. Moonstone's publisher, Joe Gentile, suggested that I talk with AIRSHIP 27 about offering their works through iPulp. When I saw the quality and range of their titles, I knew they would be a perfect fit. Ron Fortier and Rob Davis offered Lance Star and Secret Agent X as their inaugural fare.

LSSR: Who is Lance Star? What makes pulp characters like Lance and the Sky Rangers appeal to you as a publisher and a reader?

KS: The Lance Star is a prototypical pulp here. The plot-driven stories are action packed popular fiction. iPulp's primary mission is to get a new generation -- the mobile generation -- interested in genre fiction. That makes Lance Star: Sky Ranger double appealing because it is the type of story that a dad, granddad, uncle, or friend can share with a younger reader.


Where the Sea Meets the Sky - Available 07/07


LSSR: What other types of stories can readers look forward to from iPulp Fiction?

KS: In short, whatever their heart desires. Science Fiction -- we have original work from Ben Bova. Mystery -- iPulp is the only place you can find the collected short stories by New York Times best-selling author J. A. Jance. Classic Pulps -- we have partnered with Keith Alan Deutsch and Black Mask Magazine to bring stories from Black Mask and ten other classic imprints such as Astonishing Stories and Terror Tales, to online readers.

Readers will also find horror, fantasy, crime, adventure, westerns, and literary fiction. We also publish top-notch children's author like Bruce Coville, Davidi Lubar and Vivian Vande Velde. Something for every member of the family. Our bookstore and personal libraries even sort themselves to offer material appropriate to the age of the read who is logged in.

We offer both classic and contemporary fiction and our own line of original works by award-winning authors such as Ed Gorman, Bill Crider, Robert Weinberg, and Robert Randisi as well as exciting new talent.

LSSR: Digital content has changed the publishing landscape. As a creator, what excites you about digital content? As a reader?

KS: I love books. I like the idea of my personal library filled with the stories I've read. I never though I'd read ebooks. Then I got an iPad, and my life has changed. I read more now than I did before, because my bookstores and my library are always with me. The screen quality is so good that I can enjoy almost the same experience as reading a hardcover book.

As a publisher and a writer, ebooks still don't excite me because of piracy issues. Dan Brown's The Lost Symbol was the first book where the digital edition out-sold the hardcover edition on Amazon when it was released. Within 48 hours, the digital rights management was cracked and more than 100,000 pirated copies were downloaded. iPulpFiction.com solves that problem. We don't sell ebooks. iPulp is a cloud-based reading service. Stories are streamed to readers and there are no files that can be pirated.

What all this means for readers is extremely affordable reading (as low as 25¢) and the ability to sample a wide range of writing and discover new authors. Readers can share their library with up to four other friends and family members. Since iPulp only requires an up-to-date browser, our stories are available on almost every computer, tablet, or smart phone.

Talons of the Red Condors - Available 07/27

LSSR: Any upcoming projects you would like to plug?

KS: We have just kicked off our summer reading celebration where we promise a new story every day in June and July,

LSSR: What are the release dates for the Lance Star: Sky Ranger Vol. 1 stories?

KS: 06/17: Lance Star: Sky Ranger - Vol.1 #1: Attack of the Bird Man by Frank Dirsherl
07/07: Lance Star: Sky Ranger - Vol.1 #2: Where the Sea Meets the Sky by Bobby Nash
07/27: Lance Star: Sky Ranger - Vol.1 #3: Talons of the Red Condors by Bill Spangler

LSSR: Thanks, Keith.



For more information on iPulp Fiction's offerings, please visit http://www.ipulpfiction.com/
For more information on Airship 27 Productions' offerings, please visit http://www.gopulp.info/

Just A Hint Of What's To Come