Halloween Challenge 2011 Edition

by **chrisbishop** » Fri Jul 15, 2011 5:08 am

Hello everyone, and welcome again to the Spectrum HQ updates announcement!

This week is a very special week! Right in the middle of the summer, the Spectrum HQ website is now officially inviting you to participate to its...

ANNUAL HALLOWEEN CHALLENGE!

This is the 10th Edition of the Halloween Challenge, and it coincides with the Spectrum HQ 10th Anniversary. The Halloween Challenge was the first challenge ever to be launched on our website - and remains our most popular! Each year, it offers to writers a chance to submit wonderful stories (written in a mix of Captain Scarlet and horror theme) and to readers to read these stories, and to discover new, very stranges tales and the talents of our established authors - and new writers alike!

You are all invited to participate in great number to the Halloween Challenge, and to participate at the same time to our 10TH ANNIVERSARY! This ought to be a special occasion to participate, isn't it? So we are hoping to see many NEW talents emerge... as well as former collaborators to the Spectrum HQ website or former fans of the Captain Scarlet universe to make a very welcomed come back. And of course, we hope to our very talented band of established writers will also be of the celebrations!

To know how to participate, visit this page:

http://www.spectrum-headquarters.com/halloween.htm

And contact the webmaster for more information and for submission at spectrum_hq@hotmail.com

We are waiting for you!

by **chrisbishop** » Sun Oct 02, 2011 2:27 pm

Hello everyone, and welcome to another update of the Spectrum Headquarters website!

Today, for those who are regular visitors, you just KNOW that it's the start of one of the big yearly events of the website. Yes, this is it: the first postings for the Halloween Fan Fiction Challenge! And this is not just any Challenge: this is the 10th Edition!

So this week, we start with one brand-new story - and one special reposting. Both by the same author!

TORPENHOW HALL, by Marion Woods. The Mysterons aren't the only ones out for revenge.

http://www.spectrum-headquarters.com/fa ... w_hall.htm

And a reposting of Marion's first EVER story to the website, which was originally posted on October 6, 2002 - the first year of the challenge!

TRICK OR TREAT, by Marion Woods, Captain Scarlet is not too happy about all the Halloween celebrations, but everyone else is having a good time. Until...

http://www.spectrum-headquarters.com/fa ... _treat.htm

New week, we'll have new stories to offer to you!

If you wish to participate to the Challenge, there is still some time in front of you! Just consult the page for the rules of participation (there are not so many and they are simple to follow!) and contact the webmaster at spectrum_hq@hotmail.com

Rules of participation: http://www.spectrum-headquarters.com/halloween.htm

To read other fine Captain Scarlet stories for Halloween, go to the Halloween stories page:

http://www.spectrum-headquarters.com/ha ... tories.htm

And oh yes, you can ALSO submit pictures of your own creation, instead of a story or WITH a story! For example of such pictures, you can visit the following page:

http://www.spectrum-headquarters.com/ha ... images.htm

There's something for everyone!

See you on the next update!

by **chrisbishop** » Mon Oct 10, 2011 6:25 pm

Hello everyone, and welcomed again to our regular updates news!

This week, our Halloween Fan Fiction Challenge continues, with a new story added to our collection. This time around, we have a 'New Captain Scarlet' story, written by Cat 2.

THE AISLE SEAT, by Cat 2. A new recruit of Spectrum meets someone who shouldn't be on the shuttle for Skybase.

http://www.spectrum-headquarters.com/fa ... e_seat.htm

Cat 2 has been a regular provider of 'New Captain Scarlet' stories since 2008. 'The Aisle Seat' is the 8th story posted, and her 3rd Halloween submission, the other two being "An Original Revenge" and "The Night Stairs".

The Halloween Challenge continues all month long, until October 31st, Halloween night! You ALL invited to participate to this most popular challenge, but contacting the webmaster and submitting your own stories. You have until October 25, so to provide with enough time to beta-read your story (if required), and prepare the pages for online posting.

There might be a Captain Scarlet/Halloween related story you want to show us, so don't be shy! And don't forget: you can also provide with pictures/images/montages of your creation, instead of writing a story - or to be posted with your story!

You can contact the webmaster at spectrum_hq@hotmail.com

Rules to the challenge could be found here:

http://www.spectrum-headquarters.com/halloween.htm

And stories from this year and all the previous years, could be accessed here:

http://www.spectrum-headquarters.com/ha ... tories.htm

See you all next week for another posting!

by **Cat 2** » Fri Oct 14, 2011 7:07 am

Didn't know I was a regular provider

thanks as ever Chris

by **Marion** » Sat Oct 15, 2011 10:37 am

It was a good idea for a story - suitably spooky for the Halloween Challenge!
Captain Scarlet does seem to lend itself to the creepy side of things.

by **chrisbishop** » Wed Oct 19, 2011 4:41 am

The posting for this week's selections for the Halloween Challenge is a little late, considering that we're in the middle of the week. However, I come bearing gifts, as we have two postings this week.

First, we have a brand new story to offer you, which considering the subject was also listed in the Multiverses stories listing:

THE FINAL MYSTERON MESSAGE, by Caroline Smith. A possible ending to the War of Nerves. ff 471

http://www.spectrum-headquarters.com/fa ... essage.htm

and by the same author, a re-posted story, which was originally posted during the 2004 Halloween Challenge:

THE SCULPTOR, by Caroline Smith. When her car breaks down in a thunderstorm, Symphony seeks help from an isolated house...

http://www.spectrum-headquarters.com/fa ... ulptor.htm

Caroline's association with the Spectrum HQ website started in 2003, and "The Sculptor" was the first story she presented for the Halloween Challenge. Up to this day, this story remains one of the best Halloween/horror related stories posted on this website, so it makes it perfect for re-posting, with a brand new presentation, in honour of Spectrum HQ's 10th Anniversary!

"The Final Mysteron Message" is the 20th story submitted by Caroline to Spectrum HQ, and she also submitted other projects, such as the always excellent Captain Scarlet Calendar, as well as the occasional "Halloween Costume Party" presentations.

Now a call to all those writers out there who are still hesitant to participate to the Challenge! If you read these lines, know that you still have some time to participate! Make your submission of a Captain Scarlet / Halloween related story before October 25, and be part of the celebration. This is the website's 10th Anniversary, and it would be fun to hear from you! Don't be shy, we don't bite!

You can also provide Captain Scarlet Halloween or horror related pictures to be added to our collection too! They could come with a story or be posted as a stand-alone illustration! We accept montages, wallpapers, drawing, comic strips, etc.

For more information on the Halloween Challenge, visit http://www.spectrum-headquarters.com/halloween.htm or contact the webmaster at spectrum_hq@hotmail.com

Come back soon for another updates on our Halloween Challenge!

by **Carrie** » Fri Oct 21, 2011 1:26 pm

Just finished reading Torpenhow Hall, and really enjoyed it! 8M-M)

Marion has written a suitably creepy and tension filled story, with a couple of surprises I certainly didn't see coming, and a well crafted premise.
Marion is well known for her superlative character driven stories, but she is becoming quite an adept with the horror genre, from the amazingly gory 'Cordyceps' to this one.

Go read it, you won't be disappointed!

by **Carrie** » Fri Oct 21, 2011 1:28 pm

Just read Cat2's story, and would like to say I enjoyed it very much too. An excellent idea!
I also loved the visuals, title etc, they really add to the atmosphere of the tale.

by **Marion** » Fri Oct 21, 2011 4:46 pm

Thank you, Carrie. I am very glad you enjoyed the story. :-D

I was equally as impressed with your story too! Oh, those naughty Mysterons... :wink:

by **Cat 2** » Fri Oct 21, 2011 6:00 pm

can't take credit for the visuals, that's all chris and her wonderful team. But I'm glad you enjoyed it. Enjoyed yours too. A classic.

by **chrisbishop** » Sun Oct 23, 2011 6:28 am

Hello everyone, and welcome to yet another week-end in our Annuall Halloween Challenge, 10th Edition.

This week, it's my turn to offer you a new story. Actually, the first instalment of a three-parts story, which last part will be posted on October 31st.

APOCALYPSE - BOOK ONE: WANDERINGS, by Chris Bishop. 2108: 40 years after the Mysterons declared war to the people of Earth - and it looks like they're winning. In a now devastated world, Captain Scarlet finds the first clue in years of research, that might lead him to his former comrades in arms. First of a three-parts story. ff 472 HALLOWEEN and MULTIVERSE story.

http://www.spectrum-headquarters.com/fa ... erings.htm

What can I say about myself? "Apocalypse" is the 36th Captain Scarlet story I posted on this website. I like to write multi-parts stories, in which I am the more at ease, but sometimes, I will also produce relatively short stories. My first story, "All the Colours of the Rainbow", which was the very first posted on this website, is presently being revised, now that I learned better English (oh yeah... English is not my mother tongue.)

Part Two of "Apocalypse" will be posted during the week, while I'm working hard to have Part 3 ready for October 31st!

If you want to present your own story - or pictures of your creation - you still have some little time, as I have pushed the deadline to October 27 for stories, and October 30 for pictures. Just write to spectrum_hq@hotmail.com to submit your projects!

Visit the Halloween page for the rules of the Challenge:

http://www.spectrum-headquarters.com/halloween.htm

See you during the week!

by **chrisbishop** » Thu Nov 03, 2011 6:17 am

Hi everyone! Sorry for the tardiness in posting the last stories for the Halloween Challenge! I had a kind of technical difficulty, that prevented me from putting online the last submissions for this year. Fortunately, although with a couple of days late, the stories in question are now available. So to continue the tradition, here's the last postings, for the 10th Edition of the Halloween Challenge:

SEEING IS BELIEVING, by Marion Woods. Mirror, mirror on the wall, who's the scariest of all?. ff 473.

http://www.spectrum-headquarters.com/fa ... ieving.htm

APOCALYPSE - BOOK THREE: UNVEILING, by Chris Bishop. At the Spectrum camp, At the Spectrum camp, secrets are revealed and discovered, as Scarlet meets up with an old friend. ff 472 - Third of a four-parts story.

http://www.spectrum-headquarters.com/fa ... eiling.htm

APOCALYPSE - BOOK FOUR: RECKONING , by Chris Bishop. With the fate of Earth in the balance, Scarlet meets his destiny in a final confrontation with the Mysterons. Last of a four-parts story. ff 472

http://www.spectrum-headquarters.com/fa ... koning.htm

The Challenge is now officially closed! Thanks to everyone who participated, in any way they could!

COMING SOON: The Christmas Challenge!

by **Marion** » Thu Nov 03, 2011 8:21 am

Thanks for posting the conclusion to your wonderful story, Chris! 8M-M)

I am looking forward to having the time to read the final version. And more thanks for the spiffing art work on my fluffy short story... :-D