Doctor Who-Short Trips: Forever Fallen by Joshua Wanisko

I may have mentioned I have awesome neighbors.

We have lived next door to Joshua & Jen Wanisko since 2006. It took a little time to crack the ice (I blame this on my own social awkwardness) but once we got together it was clear we were in a very good position to be great friends...1) We had similar values and interests; 2) We share a passion for the coolest stuff ever; and 3) J&J's daughter, Lily and our son, Jonas are three years apart and have their own friendship independent of their parents which is just the best. 

I couldn't be more grateful for this ideal platform for friendship and while there are dozens of great things I can say about everyone in the Wanisko family, my post today is about Joshua and the big news I can finally talk freely about...Joshua, an incredible writer and published author, has reached a new level of deserved recognition...I could probably come up with an appropriate introduction to Josh's latest achievement but since Big Finish did such a stellar job of it already, I figured I would let the announcement speak for itself:

"We're delighted to be able to announce details for December's free Doctor Who Short Trip...
In May we announced the chance to write a Doctor Who Short Trip, in a memorial opportunity to mark the anniversary of the loss of our much-loved Big Finish colleague Paul Spragg.
Being released on the 29th December of this year (Paul's birthday) is Doctor Who - Short Trips: Forever Fallen, a Seventh Doctor story by American writer Joshua Wanisko, read by Big Finish Executive Producer and Doctor Who actor Nicholas Briggs, and produced by Ian Atkins."

I, for one, have been waiting for weeks to finally brag about my friend's accomplishment so I was thrilled when I saw Josh's Facebook post earlier (below) and knew the secret was finally out:

"I can finally announce some big news. 

Short version: I'm the author of a Doctor Who story.

Long Answer: I've been a fan of Doctor Who since I was Lily's age. I think it was Timothy Millheim who really got me hooked. I've always loved the show, but if if you ask someone what Doctor Who is *about*, you'll get a different answer depending on who you ask, because it's the longest running science fiction program of all time, and there are as many answers to this question as there are fans.

To me, the core of the show is about a man who goes up and down and to and fro in the universe, helping people for no other reason than the fact that it's the right thing to do.

Big Finish is the company that produces audio plays with the cast of the original series. I submitted a story to Big Finish as part of the Paul Spragg Memorial Short Trip Opportunity, something they established to commemorate the sudden passing of a friend and colleague at the studio.

They accepted my story, it's been vetted by the BBC and it's been recorded. I'm humbled and honored, because I love their work, and I'm very proud of what I've written."

Read the whole write up on the Big Finish website. Josh is also the creator of the best blog ever and everyone should read it!

I'm ridiculously proud of my friend and am honored to have been a part of the inner circle that got to read his story before everyone else gets to enjoy it. I can't wait to hear his story come to life in the Big Finish production.

To commemorate the occasion, I thought I would proudly display some pics from the (Re)Generation Who Convention we attended earlier this year in Maryland. Our crew came with various Doctor Who backgrounds and tenure and man, did we have a great time! I feel bad for anyone who will never have the opportunity to experience a road-trip with Josh & Jen, Dave & Jen, and Jeremiah & me...it was unforgettable in the best way. Plus, it was coming home from this trip that marked the first time I heard a Big Finish Doctor Who Story...since then I've been brainwashed by Cybermen to never look at percentages the same again!

Josh and me in the Tardis

Jen, aka Mrs. Josh, and me 'coming out of the Tardis'

My Dalek love interest who despite his plunger giving him away as a 'very bad Dalek', still captured my heart!

Congratulations, Joshua! I declare we should have an opening night release party to celebrate your success. Since December 29 is a day before my birthday, I can think of no better way to celebrate.