Star Roamer 1962

I was going through my photos of days gone by and found this black and white photo of the original Star Roamer Shortwave Radio that I built in 1962.  That project helped to inspire the chapter about Kansas in 1960. This is the only known photograph of MY radio.  I will keep looking.

Blackbird Artifacts

The past weekend was a tremendous opportunity to present Blackbird to many of my ham radio colleagues who also have had interest in the space program over the years.  The HamCon 2011 in Torrance, California was a huge success for all who attended, but for me it was the first time I could see how important my passion for ham radio and the space program is shared by so many others.  The South Bay area of Los Angeles played a major part in the space program over the past 50 years.  There is no more fitting place to launch the story Blackbird then here in the heart of that space technology boom.  It was a joy to speak with many hams who purchased the novel, and I am truly honored to have autographed the book for them. 

Here is another blast from the past that contributed to the chapter that begins: Kansas 1960

This is a page from the Allied Radio Shack Catalog that carried the advertisement for the Star Roamer Kitset Shortwave radio that was the trigger to the whole idea of shortwave listening and amateur radio as a lifelong interest.  The description of the assembly of the radio in the Blackbird story is accurate as I remember it.  The radio traveled with me to college, had a BFO (beat frequency oscillator) constructed as an addition later to allow resolution of sideband ham radio transmissions, and continued to be a source of world news for me right through my college years in Nebraska.  The fictional part of the Star Roamer story is the part about Major Tom helping repair the radio.  I actually repaired the radio myself, and my real father had no particularly good understanding of electronics at all.  His primary hobby interest was Model Railroading.

You never know how close to the truth a novel may get.  These entries are designed to be small windows into the background of the story as it has evolved over the past 50 years.  Enjoy the ride!

Blackbird flies

Here we are, nearly 4 months after publication of BLACKBIRD, and I continue to be totally amazed as the response to the story.  For those of you who read the book here are some comments:

There is a little bit of the author in every one of the characters.

I am 83 years old, and thought all of my adventures were over. But now I renewed my ham radio license and dusted off the old ham radio equipment for the start of the rest of my life!  Thanks for the motivation!

Where did you get all of that technical detail?

I told my wife to read the last line:  "Are you ready for another adventure?"  When is the next one coming?

This weekend is the HamCon 2011 Amateur Radio Convention in Torrance California at the Marriott Hotel on Fashion Circle in Torrance.  I will be there with my books, and a lot of stories to tell.  You can also read about the book in the Beach Reporter, September 8, 2011 edition. 

I am looking forward to the next adventure, too.  Who knows? We may see it on the big screen one day!

John