2011 CHRISTMAS FAN FICTION CHALLENGE

by **chrisbishop** » Fri Nov 11, 2011 3:56 am

On this Remembrance Day, we are officially launching the second most important Challenge of the Spectrum HQ website.

The CHRISTMAS CHALLENGE, 2011 EDITION is now announced! This is the 10th edition of this challenge, which corresponds as well to the 10th anniversary of the Spectrum HQ website, which makes it an ever more special occasion!

So if you are a long-time visitor, you know how it goes. If not, here's the drill:

the Christmas Challenge, which is mostly a Fan Fiction writing challenge, invites you to present a Captain Scarlet/Christmas based story, that will be posted between December 1st 2011 and January 31st, 2012. That's right, two whole month, during which stories will be posted on this website, that visitors will be able to read and enjoy!

The story could only be one page, or be as long as you wish. It must be about, or set in, the world of Captain Scarlet, and must contain elements related to the Holidays Season, although it doesn't have to be strictly confined as a Christmas story (a Christmas setting is sufficient).

The full rules and complete information for the Challenge can be found on the Christmas Page.

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

We hope that, for the occasion of the 10th anniversary, along with the regular team of talented writers, people who had already wrote in the past for the website, or other fans with writing talents who had made themselves known through other websites or medias, will take the occasion to return to the fandom... And offer to other fans the gift of yet another story! NNew writers are very much welcome as well!

You just need to contact the webmaster (me) at the following address:

spectrum_hq@hotmail.com

Submit your story - you have all of December and January to do so! And feel the pleasure and pride to see it online!

by **chrisbishop** » Sat Dec 03, 2011 4:00 am

Hi everyone, and welcomed to the first week of the 2011 CHRISTMAS CHALLENGE!

This week, we have one posting, but what a posting! Lieutenant Wisteria makes a much awaited return, and presents us her latest edition of BASELINES, Cloudbase magazine for Spectrum members (military and civilians...). We're just lucky enough to be presented with an exclusive online copy! Now called "Strictly Baselines", the offered issue is a Spectrum Christmas Issue:

STRICTLY BASELINES, Volume 3, Issue 4, by Lieutenant Wisteria. Newest issue of Baselines is now available online. Christmas Edition! ff 476

http://www.spectrum-headquarters.com/fa ... page_1.htm

Don't look for other issues except for the original Baselines, posted in 2007 (http://www.spectrum-headquarters.com/fa ... uction.htm). As I understand it, they might actually contain security-related information that civilians ought not to know about...

Next week, we'll have new stuff to offer you! In the meantime, enjoy your reading!

Ah, and don't forget - YOU can also participate to the Spectrum HQ's Christmas celebrations, by ALSO participating to the Christmas Challenge! It runs until January 31st. Check the Christmas page for information on how to participate!

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

We wait for your submissions!

by **chrisbishop** » Sun Dec 11, 2011 10:21 pm

Hello all! And welcome to this week's updates for the Christmas Challenge.

This week, we have our traditional re-posting. It was suggested to me (thanks Marion!) to post my very first Christmas story, in tribute to the website's 10th Anniversary. It just so happens that it's one of the stories I had the most fun to work on!

So here it is, with a new presentation:

MIRACLE AT 40,000 FEET, by Chris Bishop. Spectrum must find out what is 'the Spirit of Christmas' the Mysterons want to destroy, while Captain Scarlet discovers an intruder in his quarters. ff 90 Originally posted December 15, 2002.

http://www.spectrum-headquarters.com/fa ... 0_feet.htm

Hope those who never read it will enjoy it - and that others will re-discover it!

Come back next week for another update! And it's an important one, as we'll be celebrating Captain Scarlet's birthday!

by **chrisbishop** » Sat Dec 17, 2011 4:25 pm

Third week on our Christmas Challenge.

Today is December 17, and it's obviously a very special date! Yes, this is Capain Scarlet's birthday, and on this occasion, the Spectrum HQ website presents, within the Christmas Challenge, its traditional Captain Scarlet's birthday story!

Marion Woods provides - as she did the previous years - this much-awaited story. And for the 10th anniversary, this is a special one this year:

CELEBRATION, by Marion Woods. On a significant milestone in his life, Captain Scarlet learns the true meaning of 'many happy returns'. Christmas Challenge. ff 477

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

Happy birthday, Captain Scarlet!

For the occasion, although they're not officially announced as reposted stories, I have re-done the backgrounds of two other birthday stories, written by Marion and related to this one, so that they would adapt to the relatively new reality of widescreen viewing:

UISGE BEATHA
http://www.spectrum-headquarters.com/fa ... beatha.htm

and

A RACE AGAINST TIME
http://www.spectrum-headquarters.com/fa ... t_time.htm

Come back soon for more goodies!

by **chrisbishop** » Sat Dec 24, 2011 7:35 am

Christmas week-end... And this means, a new posting for our Christmas Challenge! And this time around, we have a 'New Captain Scarlet' story to offer you, written by Skybase Girl:

THE VIGIL, by Skybase Girl. On Christmas Eve, Captain Blue worries that Santa Claus might not deliver the one gift Spectrum needs. New Captain Scarlet story. ff 478

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

For Skybase Girl, this is the 9th story submitted to Spectrum HQ, and the 5th presented within the Christmas Challenge throughout the last four years. All of her fan fiction are 'New Captain Scarlet' stories.

The Spectrum Headquarters website and its administrators wish to take the opportunity of this post to wish a very Merry Christmas to all Captain Scarlet fans throughout the world. May all your wishes realised themselves, and may Father Christmas, or Santa Claus, depending where you're hailing from, brings you all the gifts you want... And most of all, have a SAFE and MOST JOYFUL holiday season!

Come back soon for more goodies for the Christmas Challenge!

by **Marion** » Sat Dec 24, 2011 3:38 pm

Thank you, Santa - and Skybase Girl and Colonel Chris :wink:

- for a lovely Christmas present in the form of a new story.
Let's hope there are even more delights to come before the end of Janaury.

I hope everyone has a jolly merry Christmas and a very Happy New Year, when that arrives. (0000000)

by **Skybase Girl** » Sat Dec 24, 2011 4:07 pm

Thank you Chris, for the beautiful art work on this story. As usual, you have done me proud!

Merry Christmas everyone, and I am looking forward to the stories still to come before the festive challenge ends.

by **chrisbishop** » Sat Dec 31, 2011 6:36 pm

Hi everyone! And welcome to our fifth week of the Christmas Challenge, 2011-2012 Edition!

We're rignt in the middle of our Challenge and this week, we offer you our much awaited Christmas Calendar!

For 2012, the creators of the Calendar made something special for you. Entitled "STAND BY FOR ACTION - A Captain Scarlet Calendar for 2012", the calendar offers you scenes of death-defying action, pitting our heroes against various threats!

So to get your calendar FREE, here's what you have to do:

- If you are a member of the Spectrum HQ Forum, follow this link:

viewtopic.php?f=22&t=3760

- If you are not a member, you have either the choice to become one (with no obligation to participate!) or to write at the following e-mail address:

the_mysterons_from_mars@hotmail.com

We'll then provide you with the link to get the calendar!

You can view the calendar online, or download either of the three copies: the Powerpoint presentation, the professional PDF printable version, or the printable Word version.

Tell all of your friends! The Spectrum HQ unofficial calendar is available for all - and it is always FREE!

by **chrisbishop** » Sat Jan 07, 2012 12:19 am

Hello everyone to our sixth week of posting for the Christmas Challenge, 2011-2012 Edition:

This week, a new story - and a wonderful treat for you:

STAR STRUCK, by Marion Woods. When the Stars shine down at Christmas... Follow up to "More important than substance". ff 480

Yes, you read that well! A "More important than substance" follow-up! That means a "Captain Starlight" story! And only that is a promise for lots of fun to read!

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

Another surprise you might have noticed. This is the 480th story featured on Spectrum Headquarters. Some of the stories from our Fan Fiction list are links, but this is a minimal number, compared to the sheer volume of OTHER STORIES you might find on this website! We're hoping that, in 2012, we'l reach number 500! And we might actually be able to do it. In 2011, we had a total of NEW TWENTY-TWO STORIES posted on Spectrum HQ!

So, the Christmas Challenge is still ongoing - up until the end of January, and there is still stories to be posted during this event. You still have time to submit your Christmas story and participate to the challenge. OR you can also present a picture of your creation (montages, drawings...) featuring a Captain Scarlet Christmas theme.

Go to the Christmas page for our rules:

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

And you can write us at spectrum_hq@hotmail.com for questions and submissions.

And of course, you don't NEED the challenge to produce a story of your own! The website invites each and everyone of you to submit your stories all year long, and to eventually see it posted and be part of our wondrous collection. There's a few stories waiting in the wing right now, which are not part of the Christmas Challenge, that will soon be presented to you soon!
The website is still within its 10th year anniversary and so far it has been a wonderful ride! On February 10, we'll reach our 11th year! And we don't intend to stop there!

Be here with us!

by **chrisbishop** » Sat Jan 14, 2012 4:12 pm

A new submission this week for the Christmas Challenge. And this time around, I'm presenting my own, short story:

GOODWILL TO MEN, by Chris Bishop. It's New Year's Eve... and Captain Black is in London, on a Mysteron mission. ff 481

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

There's still two weeks left... Still enough time for submitting your own story for the Challenge if you want. Or a piece of art that you would have made with the same Captain Scarlet/Christmas theme!

The rules for the challenge can be found on this place:

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

And of course, you don't have to write a Challenge story! All year long, we accept submission for Captain Scarlet stories, so don't be shy and contact us!

spectrum_hq@hotmail.com

by **chrisbishop** » Mon Jan 23, 2012 12:50 am

We're approaching the end of the Christmas Challenge with a little more than one week to go. And yet again, this week, we have another story to present you:

FOOL IF YOU THINK IT'S OVER, by Marion Woods. Symphony's past results in present danger and future menace. ff 482

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

We're unsure yet if this story marks the end of our Challenge for this edition, as there's still at least one known on-going project and that people are still invited to submitted their stories. So be sure to check before the end of January if something else will be posted on this space!

End of the challenge or not, the excitement continues in February as a new story has been submitted to us in the meantime, and a re-written project had been proposed to us as well. So stay tuned, everyone, and be there for what comes next - and remember that you too can join in the fun!

by **chrisbishop** » Tue Jan 31, 2012 3:14 am

Hi everyone and welcome to the last posting of the 2011-2012 Christmas Challenge!

This week, we have a New Captain Scarlet story to offer you:

THE FIRST CHRISTMAS, by Skybase Girl. Spectrum's first Christmas means different things to different people and unexpected emotions flood to the surface. The sequel to "Signals Through the Glass". ff 483

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

This is Skybase Girl's tenth submission to Spectrum HQ - and this tenth anniversary of the website. This is also number 483 of the website's list of fanfic! We're getting closer to 500!

I want to thank everyone who participate this year to this challenge: writers, beta-readers, readers, visitors, forum members - you all contribute to the challenge AND the website's everlasting success. If Spectrum Headquarters exists, it's because of you, and of all your involvement and encouragement! Many thanks!

Coming soon: The Spectrum HQ is heading towards the start of its eleventh year - and still more goodies are to come. This isn't the end! It's only the beginning!

Stay tuned!

by **Marion** » Tue Jan 31, 2012 11:14 pm

The website owes it's longevity to your dedication and resilience, Colonel Chris. We, the humble readers and fans of Captain Scarlet, thank you for your wonderful website, without which our fandom and the magic of sharing it with likeminded people, would be greatly reduced!
8M-M)

by **Skybase Girl** » Wed Feb 01, 2012 12:16 am

I would like to endorse Marion's comments ; this website owes everything to Chris and her skill and vision.

I would like to thank her for the wonderful artwork in the posting of "The First Christmas." I sent her a few pics and she photoshopped them into something I would never have imagined. They're gorgeous!

by **Skybase Girl** » Thu Feb 02, 2012 7:20 pm

I have come to this story rather late in the day, I'm afraid, along with its predecessor, "More than Substance".

All I can say is, better late than never. For those who haven't read them, remedy that as soon as possible. Both are quirky, original and absolutely hilarious in places! If you want an injection of something to lift the winter blues, look no further than "Star Struck".

Well done, Marion ( and also for the later submission "Fool if you think it's over"). The standard is amazing,as always. Keep them coming!