Why writing West Michigan Apocalypse is fun

I am not a weirdo (yes, you are), or a doomsayer. I am not a negative person. I am not some guy that feels down, full of despair, and desiring of bringing people to the pits of fear, anguish and loathing.

I AM AN ADVENTURER, fictionally. I write ADVENTURE FICTION.

Why is it I enjoy writing post-apocalyptic tales of action and adventure based in and around my home state, and old hometown here in West Michigan? Why? WHY? Because...

Because I know THIS PLACE. I know my old hometown, and my locale here in western Michigan. I know the nooks and crannies, the towns and out-of-the-way places. The woodlands and the concrete jungle.

I do not have to go far along the roadway to get thought and inspiration on new tales of epic adventure to bring to my little warped mind, and to paper or blank writing screen. There can be a whole shite ton of adventure right where you are sitting if you ponder it long enough.

But why, you ask, why do you write that END O' THE WORLD stuff?

I don't write END OF THE WORLD stuff. If you read my material you know the stories don't end. Humankind does NOT disappear. Yeah, we get roughed up a bit, a few not make it, but the survivors keep standing up and moving onward. It's never a real END, just another opportunity to rise up and keep fighting the good fight... sometimes after a little rest from getting beaten down.

Sometimes my post-apoc material doesn't paint a pretty picture. That's reality isn't it? Sometimes it's not pretty nor smells great, looks great, feels great. But somewhere in the midst of the mud and blood, there is a spark of HOPE. The main characters might not survive their travels, but they certainly will have fought the good fight for others to live a new day and a potential brighter future.

I'm going to keep writing adventure fiction, and most likely keep venturing in the West Michigan fictional apocalyptic world.

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I carry my own stock of my books. Contact me at: authorpeterwelmerink@gmail.com if you hanker for some adventure fiction.

TRANSPORT to IMAGINARIUM

My panelist and moderator schedule for the forthcoming IMAGINARIUM Convention in Louisville KY this September is here!

I am looking forward to meeting the Seventh Star Press team (my publisher) and SSP authors, other writers and all sorts of new people and new friends.

My IMAGINARIUM Schedule:

Saturday      11:00 AM     Cover Lovin'

Saturday      7:00 PM        The Zombie Horde

Sunday        9:00 AM        Lone Hero Vs. Heroic Group

Sunday        11:00 AM      Into the Wastelands (M)

I will also be at the Seventh Star Press table/booth, hanging with the SSP crew and signing books.

Hope to see you there.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

September 19-21 2014 Louisville, KY

at the Crowne Plaza Hotel

The Imaginarium offers a wealth of programming, events, and all kinds of fun for those who enjoy the world of creative writing!

The Imaginarium is open to all genres, and explores all kinds of creative writing, from books, to comics/graphic novels, screenplays, blogging, and much more!

The convention opens to the public at 4pm on Friday and runs through ...the close of the Awards Banquet on Sunday (which starts at 5pm). Programming begins at 9am on Saturday and Sunday, and for the most part panels end by 9pm on Friday and Saturday.

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TRANSPORT (Book One) can be found here:

AMAZON

Paperback

Kindle

BARNES & NOBLE

SCHULER BOOKS

Paperback

  

M213 Ridgerunner-class HTV (Heavy Transport Vehicle)

Hello All.

 

I would like to share some history and stats with you regarding the M213 Ridgerunner-class HTV. The in-story vehicle, the HURON, with CO Captain Jake Billet, is one of these massive beasts, and I thought you'd like some detail on this beautiful American-made monster.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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HISTORY

 

When the H7N9 pandemic first took solid hold, in the U.S., to get vital medicines, personnel and other hard and soft transferrable and transportable goods between infected lands, GDG&M Land Systems LLC (Grusnis, Dietrich, Gilmore & Myszak Land Systems LLC) offered the beleagured

U.S. DoD a new concept in HTV (Heavy Transport Vehicle) design.

 

A combination between a tracked APC (Armored Personnel Carrier) and wheeled HEMTT (Heavy Expanded Mobility Tactical Truck), the M213 HTV was offered as a workhorse vehicle that could be up-armored with a variety of small arms and weaponry, including larger turreted weapons like 25mm

chain-fed autocannons.

 

Initially the project was put on hold as there wasn't a need for a juggernaut land vehicle like the M213. Still, the first five vehicles were built at DATP (Detroit Arsenal Tank Plant) in Warren, Michigan. They rolled into service September 2013 as the pandemic worsened.

 

Further vehicle assembly was halted as Detroit filed for bankruptcy in December 2013.

 

With the global and national crisis strangling the United States, Canada bought Detroit and a section of the east side of Michigan, north to Mt Clemens, south to Rockwood, west to South Lyon and Ann Arbor. It was called the Detroit-Windsor Providence starting in May 2014.

 

The already-built and rolled-out M213 transport vehicles stayed in Michigan, stationed first in the Lansing area under the command of Major J. Golczynski and A. "Sonny" Saenz, then the full unit was transferred to Grand Rapids, the second largest city in Michigan. (Detroit had been the

largest.)

 

 

The M213 Ridgerunner-class HTV's were named after the five great lakes: MICHIGAN, SUPERIOR, HURON, ERIE and ONTARIO.

 

With room to seat 24 men, a CO, and supplies in the main body of the vehicle, plus a driver and navigator, it beat out APC's. Typically a commander, front gunner and rear gunner were part of the crew and held topside positions. With four roof-top hatches, these stations could be fully utilized as gun ports.

 

Towing capabilities rival its own weight, the M213 beats the HEMTT and the HET (Heavy Equipment Transport) vehicles when it comes to payload hauling requirements and needs.

 

With wheeled and tracked mobility available on the spot, the M213 is the prime armored transport for any tactical environment.

 

 

STATS

Weight:   72 tons

Length:   32 feet

Width:    14 feet

Height:   12.5 feet (from ground to roofline)

Speed:    Road 52 mph (83km/h) Off-Road: 30 mph (48km/h)

Engine:  Twin Cummins VTA-903T diesel, 1200 hp total

Fuel Capacity:   155 US gal (587 l)

Operational Range:   220 mi (354km)

Transmission (tracked):  XT-1410-5A cross-drive (3 speed forward, 1speed reverse)

                      (wheeled): Allison 4500SP/5_Speed automatic (can be synced with track transmission) 

 

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At the time of this writing, only the ONTARIO and the HURON remain in service.

 

(Illustrations by Tim Holtrop, Jason Conley and Google)

 

 

 

 

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Read about the HURON and her crew in the TRANSPORT Series.

TRANSPORT Book One is available now online and wherever books can be ordered.

 

Kindle

Amazon (paperback)

Barnes & Noble (paperback and Nook)

 

 

Interview in MAHLE NORTH AMERICA COMPANY NEWS MAGAZINE

As part of MAHLE INDUSTRY, they put out a company "newspaper" every quarter. Each facility picks an employee to interview and show what they do outside of work, hobbies, etc.

I was chosen for the April issue.

The interview article is below: (As found on the back cover of the magazine. How cool is that?!)