The holidays are here, so what better time to curl up with your favorite e-reader and catch up on the doings of Goth adventuress Pandora Zwieback in her first novel?
Also available at DriveThru Fiction: J. Sheridan Le Fanu’s 19th-century vampiress novella, Carmilla—illustrated by Pandora Zwieback comic artist Eliseu Gouveia, and on sale for just $2.99.
Just click on the logos and start your last-minute shopping!
Grimm. Once Upon a Time. Beauty and the Beast. Cinderella. Jack the Giant Killer. Sleeping Beauty. Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters (seriously!).
See a pattern forming there? Yup, fairy tales have never been more popular in Hollywood than they are right now—those are all TV shows and movies currently in production or preproduction. And before that you had the Twilight-y Red Riding Hood. Fairy tales are the new black! The new vampires! People can’t seem to get enough of them… which is good, because 2012 has two film adaptations of Snow White on the way.
First out of the gate will be Mirror, Mirror, from director Tarsem Singh (Immortals, The Cell). It stars Lily Collins as Snow White, Julia Roberts as the evil queen, and Nathan Lane as… somebody. Not one of the Seven Dwarfs, I’m pretty sure. Then again, those dwarfs in the picture don’t seem especially fairy tale-y to me—could this actually be some kind of sequel to Time Bandits? 😉
Then you’ve got Snow White and the Huntsman, starring Kristen Stewart, Chris Hemsworth, and Charlize Theron as the evil queen. I gotta say, that is one mopey-looking Snow White. But, hey! It’s Thor and the vampire girl versus Aeon Flux—when does low-budget movie studio The Asylum make a mockbuster out of that?
Anyway, you’re probably wondering what all this has to do with The ’Warp. Well, it has everything to do with The ’Warp, because in February 2012 we’ll be releasing our first e-book-only title: Snow White—and just in time to also celebrate the first publication of her tale in the Brothers Grimm’s 1812 collection, Children’s and Household Tales!
Behind that spectacular cover design by our own Mat Postawa, you’ll find not just the timeless story of a young girl preyed upon by her insanely jealous stepmother (I mean, really insane—she start out wanting to eat Snow’s heart!), but also a collection of rare full-color illustrations that were first printed in 1883.
Snow White is the latest addition to our illustrated classics library, joining J. Sheridan Le Fanu’s Carmilla and Edgar Rice Burroughs’s A Princess of Mars on the shelves. This time, however, there won’t be a print version—Snow White will be strictly a PDF e-book available through our store at DriveThru Fiction.com. I’ll have more details for you as we get closer to the publication date.
Mirror, Mirror opens March 16, 2012. Snow White and the Huntsman opens June 1, 2012.
Snow White, the special StarWarp Concepts e-book, hits the Internet on February 21, 2012 for the low, low price of just $1.99.
Come celebrate Snow’s 200th Anniversary with us, and then go out and see her movies!
Last Thursday I appeared on the Scifi Diner podcast to promote Blood Feud: The Saga of Pandora Zwieback, Book 1, but that’s not all we discussed! It turned into an hour-long, freewheeling conversation that spanned my writing and editing careers, my fanboyish obsession with Doctor Who, the state of young adult fiction, praise for Pandora Zwieback artists Eliseu Gouveia and Bob Larkin, and even a plug or two for some StarWarp Concepts releases.
A big shout-out to hosts Scott Hertzog and Miles McLoughlin for allowing me to ramble on as much as I did, but once they got me started on a topic it was hard to shut up. 😀
Grab yourself a snack and a favorite beverage, then click on the Scifi Diner logo to head over to the show’s site and download the new episode. It’s a Pan-tastic interview!
“Here’s the real truth of it. I’d already changed it from A Princess Of Mars to John Carter Of Mars. I don’t like to get fixated on it, but I changed Princess Of Mars… because not a single boy would go.”
That’s John Carter movie director Andrew Stanton, in an interview at the site Bleeding Cool, as to why the title of the upcoming Disney adaptation of Edgar Rice Burroughs’s first “Mars” novel suffered a Hollywood princessectomy. He goes on to state that the title was shortened even further because “no girl would go to see John Carter Of Mars.”
Really?
Well, that’s just depressing, but not exactly unexpected. It’s the kind of head-scratching logic that always seems to be prevalent in Movieland. To be fair, Princess wasn’t the original title for John Carter’s first adventure, anyway—as a six-part serialized story that ran in All-Story Magazine back in 1912, it was called Under the Moons of Mars. It became A Princess of Mars when it was published in book form in 1917; the title refers to Dejah Thoris, princess of the Martian city-state of Helium—and John Carter’s love interest.
However, instead of going with a generic movie title that tells you absolutely nothing about the story, the folks at Disney should have focused their energies on making the public aware of the franchise’s history—you would not believe how many online message boards are filled with people who think John Carter is just some pastiche of Avatar and The Phantom Menace! (The recently released trailer, unfortunately, doesn’t help dispel that notion.) If anything, Burroughs’s Mars series influenced them.
You know what, though? We here at The ’Warp aren’t afraid of boys who think that princesses are stupid, or girls who regard trips to Mars as icky—we’re made of stronger stuff. And so is our readership! That’s why we’re publishing our own edition of A Princess of Mars, with no title changes whatsoever!
Just take a look at that cover by photographer Marc Witz and designer Mat Postawa (with a little help from a Mars photo courtesy of NASA). Nice, huh? And that’s not all you’ll find that’s new in this edition. Along with an introduction by John Carter of Mars aficionado John Gosling, there are six fantastic black-and-white illustrations by Eliseu Gouveia, the gifted artist whose art graces our previous classic reprint, Carmilla, as well as the Saga of Pandora Zwieback #0 introductory comic.
John Carter opens in movie theaters on March 9, 2012. StarWarp Concepts’ edition of A Princess of Mars hits bookstores (and the SWC shop) in February 2012—which also happens to be the book’s 100th Anniversary. Come celebrate this literary milestone with us!
Sorry about the lack of updates around here these past couple of weeks, but have no fear—the Hype Hearse is back on the road! First stop:
This past weekend I had the pleasure of appearing on the podcast Sci-Fi Saturday Night to promote Blood Feud: The Saga of Pandora Zwieback, Book 1 and, despite all my uhh-ing (Gah! I hate doing that!) as I stumbled through the conversation, I had a good time. Learn the history of Gothopolis, and the secret influence behind the Pan series, then howl with laughter as I recount my brief misadventure trying out as a Batman Adventures artist for DC Comics. Good times, good times…
Just click on the logo above to head over to the show and give it a listen.
But that’s not my only appearance this month! On Thursday I’ll be interviewed by the folks at Sci-Fi Diner Podcast, and there are Q&A’s in the works for Reading Bites—the blog for the book-review site Monster Librarian—and Books of the Dead Press, the publisher of Best New Zombie Tales 2, an anthology to which I contributed. I’ll let you know when those interviews run—and whether more are coming!
As a small-press publisher, the biggest struggle is in getting attention for your products. Without the kind of advertising budgets possessed by the major houses, and with most mainstream industry magazines and Web sites ignoring those of us who aren’t major houses, you have to find other promotional outlets in order to reach your audience. Here’s the story of my most recent attempt to get some attention for Blood Feud: The Saga of Pandora Zwieback, Book 1:
Last year I joined the Independent Book Publishers Association, an organization of… uh, independent book publishers (hence the name)—basically, small pressers like me, all of us vying for the attention of the book-buying public… and the storeowners who sell to them.
Being a member has worked well for The ’Warp—most notably in discount pricing at Lightning Source, the printing company I use—so this year I decided to take advantage of the IBPA’s appearances at a number of fall regional book-trade shows, and pay to have Blood Feud displayed at their booths. The idea is that the booksellers and librarians who attend these conferences may be intrigued enough by the material so that—in Blood Feud’s case— after the shows they’ll contact my wholesaler/distributor, Ingram Books, to order copies for their stores and libraries.
So, having been successful at comic book conventions and this year’s Brooklyn Book Festival in spreading the word about Blood Feud (did you know it’s on sale now?), how well did The ’Warp’s premier YA novel perform in other parts of the country?
The Southern Independent Booksellers Alliance (SIBA) trade show was held in North Charleston, South Carolina, in mid-September, followed by the New Atlantic Independent Booksellers Association (NAIBA) and Midwest Independent Booksellers Association (MIBA) trade shows, held in Atlantic City, NJ, and Minneapolis, MN, respectively.
As you can see in the photo, Blood Feud was definitely on display in South Carolina—although given its location three rows deep, it’s clear it would be difficult for booksellers to see anything more than the title. Great title design by Mat Postawa, but where’s the love for the beautiful Bob Larkin cover painting?
Unfortunately, since no orders came in following those three September shows, I can only assume that, as with its SIBA appearance, Blood Feud was lost at the other two conferences, placed behind books that blocked sellers from seeing the cover art and getting the full Zwieback Experience.
Okay, so that could’ve gone better, but there was a glimmer of hope. Mid-October brought the New England Independent Booksellers Association (NEIBA) and Mountains and Plains Independent Booksellers Association (MPIBA) trade shows, in Providence, RI, and Denver, CO. As you can see below, this time Blood Feud got face-out display at the Denver event.
According to order numbers, there was a sales spike that month. No doubt the upfront display of a Young Adult dark-fantasy novel, at an event held two weeks before Halloween, had a lot to do with that.
So, after all is said and done, would I do this sort of promotion again? Possibly. Since Halloween would be a great time for booksellers to stock up on Pan’s adventures, perhaps Blood Feud and its upcoming sequel, Blood Reign, will haunt Colorado and Rhode Island in 2012—as long as folks get to see the covers, that is!
It’s a new month, with a new outpouring of love for Blood Feud: The Saga of Pandora Zwieback, Book 1!
Over at the Web site for the weekly podcast Sci-Fi Saturday Night, reviewer “The Dome” has posted his thoughts on Pan and Annie’s first adventure:
“Equal parts Sorcerer’s Apprentice and 48 Hours, this is a mystic roller-coaster ride that glimpses a demonic past and uncertain future in the hands of two unlikely women who the fates have paired.”
48 Hours, huh? Hmmm… I guess Pan would be Eddie Murphy, with Nick Nolte as Annie. (How’s that for a weird visual?) Well, Pan could certainly sing “Roxanne” all high-pitched and off-key, so it might work… 😉
Bonus News! “Illustrator X,” the guest coordinator for Sci-Fi Saturday Night, contacted me about doing an interview for one of the podcasts—of course I said yes! Stay tuned for further developments.
Just in time for All Hallows’ Eve, it’s a sexy witch, courtesy of our pal, Bob Larkin (from the SQP Inc. pinup collection, Spellbound: Black Magic Women). BTW, have you checked out the Bob Larkin Sketchbook that we’ve published? It’s the perfect gift for all those older trick-or-treaters stopping by your house!
How best to describe Saturday, always the busiest day of any convention…?
Yeah, this. Thanks, Chuck.
The Chinese publisher’s cattle run was in full effect, with people racing back and forth, a lot of them in costume. I saw multiple Zatannas and Wonder Women, a pair of Leeloos from The Fifth Element, a couple of Dazzlers, a platoon of Spider-Men and Imperial storm troopers, a quartet of Supergirls (including one in Kara’s 1970s baggy blouse and hot pants look), and a boatload of manga and anime characters I could never identify.
Not too many people stopped to chat during the first few hours—except for one gothy girl who slowed as she passed the booth. Her eyes lit up as she pointed at my name badge.
“I know that name!” she said excitedly, and leaned forward to stare harder at the badge. Then she pulled back. “Oh, wait. I was thinking of Roman Dirge. Sorry.” And off she went.
Roman Dirge, by the way, is the creator of Lenore, the Cute Little Dead Girl. And unlike Tom Savini, we look nothing alike. Hey, but it beats the days when I’m mistaken at cons for Dave Roman (creator of the small-press comic Teen Boat) or Steve Remen (creator of Him from Lethargic Comics); at least this time I was in the same genre as the other guy.
Still, there was better news as the day progressed. Sales of Blood Feud: The Saga of Pandora Zwieback, Book 1 jumped, a woman who’d bought a Pan T-shirt dropped by to show she was wearing it, and Saturday came to a close with a teenage girl who’d purchased Blood Feud the day before returning to point an accusatory finger at me.
“What did you do to me?” she yelled with a smile. “I just bought it yesterday, and I’m already halfway through the book!”
“Yeah,” said the female friend accompanying her. “And she won’t let me near it until she’s done.”
But then the girl bought her friend her own copy, and all was right with the world again.
Day 4: “That Chick is HOT!”
So, you hear a comment like that and immediately think, “Well, of course a guy would say that about Pan when he sees the cover of Blood Feud. The lipstick, the eye makeup, the dyed hair and attitude—what guy wouldn’t be attracted to her?” Only you’d be wrong. I get that remark exclusively from women!
It started last October, at the 2010 New York Comic Con, and continued this year as well. This time, a twentysomething, gothy/punk-rocky woman walked over, attracted by the Pan banner high above the SWC booth (I saw her staring at it for a few seconds and mouthing the title), and stopped in front of the prints of Bob Larkin’s cover painting for Blood Feud.
She pointed at Pan. “Wow. That chick is hot!”
I laughed. “That chick is sixteen.”
She shrugged. “Whatever. She’s hot.” I gave her my sales pitch and handed her the giveaway Pan comic. “I’m definitely gonna go check this out,” she said, then happily strolled away.
Not too long after, another young woman came to a halt at the booth—honestly, next to shouting out “Free comic?” at passersby, that banner has turned out to be one of the smartest ideas I’ve ever had!
I gave the woman my regular Pan sales pitch: “It’s the story of a 16-year-old Goth who meets a 400-year-old monster hunter. The first two novels [that’s Blood Feud and Blood Reign, FYI] are about a vampire war; the third involves a werewolf stalking an author he hates.” Pause. “It’s like Ellen Page and Salma Hayek in a Hellboy movie.”
Her eyes grew wide. “Oh, my God, if you could get them together for real, you’d make so many lesbians happy!”
“Yeah,” I said. “And then I could go on the Jezebel Web site and count the number of girl-crushes!”
Her eyes got even wider—no doubt surprised that I even knew that Jezebel existed—and she laughed. And then she added her name to the mailing list.
After that, things began to quiet down, especially once I ran out of the freebie Pan comics. A few people stopped by long enough for me to make my pitch, but book sales were pretty much over for the show. Some folks even added their names to the mailing list because they were so intrigued by Pan’s story—including one gentleman who laughed uproariously at the pitch before heading off with his family. I happened to glance down at the sheet after he’d been swallowed by the crowd.
Paris Cullins?! Yes, longtime comic fans, the same Paris Cullins who used to draw the superhero comics Blue Beetle and Blue Devil for DC Comics has signed on to get the latest ’Warp news. Well, welcome aboard the Fun Hearse, Mr. Cullins!
Rich and I finished out the last day with a visit from Louis Small Jr.—a fantastic good-girl artist I’ve known since his days as Harris Comics’ top-level penciler of Vampirella and its countless spinoffs—and his son, Brandon. Louis had been at publisher meetings during the show, preparing to get back into the comics game after a too-long absence, and it looks like he’s got some projects lined up. I already know I’ll be buying them!
And then it was time to pack up and head home. NYCC 2011 was done—but who knows what 2012 will bring…?
Another year past, another pop-culture Thunderdome survived! So, what happened during The ’Warp’s return to NYCC, this time with actual printed books to sell, instead of promotional handouts to give away? Read on!
Day 1: “Are You Somebody?”
Thursday morning found my brother Frank, Mat Postawa—designer of Blood Feud and The Bob Larkin Sketchbook—and me driving to the Javits Center for the move-in. Setting up the booth didn’t take long, and after Frank headed off to work, Mat and I wandered the show floor.
After Mat left, my buddy Richard C. White arrived on the scene, fresh off the train from Baltimore. Rich helped me deal with Preview Night, which was open to the press and ticketholders who’d paid for the entire con run.
Traffic was certainly busy, but there was one major problem in the aisle where The ’Warp’s booth was located: a Chinese publishing company had installed the same eight linked booths that they use for Book Expo America (a bookseller and publisher gathering held the last few years at the Javits Center). This created a “cattle run”: a narrow corridor down which congoers were funneled, the end result being that, as they came out the end near the SWC booth, they just kept going.
It was even worse for the guys next to me from ComixTribe. The end of the cattle run put them up against one of the publisher’s booth walls, shoving them into a corner that nobody could see from the aisle unless you approached from the opposite direction. Eventually, they were forced to step out from behind their table to try and get some attention.
On the plus side, I was reacquainted with Red Stylo Media’s Enrica Jang, whom I hadn’t seen since the Big Apple Con in May. Enrica was promoting the second print issue and third online issue of Azteca, the comic she writes, about a vigilante serial killer trying to prevent the long-prophesied 2012 apocalypse from happening. (I bet she’s got my pitch committed to memory after hearing it all weekend, too!) 🙂
With an hour left in Preview Night, a man in his late fifties came to a halt as he was passing by, and stared at me. Hard. Like he was trying to figure out if I was the guy who’d stolen his lunch money once, or something.
Again with the staring! Then his eyes widened. “Tom Savini!”
Yeah, no. But I guess there might be a slight resemblance. You know how it is—all us guys with goatees look alike.
The rest of Preview Night passed rather uneventfully until just near the end, when a young couple stopped to hear my pitch for the Pan series. The woman seemed very interested, the guy less so, but no one was buying Blood Feud so they wandered away—until five minutes later, when the man came jogging back to purchase a copy. Seems that if he got the book for his lady, he was… er, going to get lucky that night.
My first sale of the show, and a great way to close out the day—thanks to the power of true love (or an acceptable substitute).
Day 2: Ashcans and E-books
Friday started with Matt McElroy, head of DriveThru Comics (where Blood Feud and Carmilla are sold as PDF e-books in StarWarp Concepts’ DriveThru Store), stopping by to chat with Rich and me. I showed him The ’Warp’s 2012 publishing catalog (which you can download if you look over to the right-hand sidebar).
Matt’s eyes lit up when he saw I was reprinting Edgar Rice Burroughs’s science-fiction novel A Princess of Mars—with brand-new illustrations by Carmilla and Pandora Zwieback artist Eliseu Gouveia—in time for the March release of Disney’s big-screen adaptation, John Carter. We talked about running a promotion on the DriveThru site for that, as well as a smaller one for the reprint of The Brothers Grimm’s Snow White—The ’Warp’s version will contain full-color illustrations first published in 1883.
(I’ll have more news on those projects in the coming weeks.)
Sales were better than Thursday’s (I even sold some Pandora Zwieback T-shirts!), although I can’t remember the last time I had to work so hard to give away a free comic. Lots of shaking heads and timid smiles and outright brush-offs. Whatever. On the other hand, I met some librarians on the lookout for young adult material, and Blood Feud was right up their alley. They all bought copies, so hopefully that will translate into orders for their respective libraries.
The day ended with a visit from Dezi Sienty, a talented small-press artist with whom I used to work at publishing house ibooks, inc., back when he was an art department intern and I was editor-in-chief. Dezi gave me an ashcan copy of his latest comic, One Last Step, a fully painted, touching story of dealing with loss. Well done, Dezi!
And then it was time to prepare for Saturday Madness…
(.mobi, ePub, PDF, RTF, Palm; .mobi, BTW, means it’s Kindle compatible)
(PDF)
According to order numbers, there was a sales spike that month. No doubt the upfront display of a Young Adult dark-fantasy novel, at an event held two weeks before Halloween, had a lot to do with that.
Paris Cullins?! Yes, longtime comic fans, the same Paris Cullins who used to draw the superhero comics Blue Beetle and Blue Devil for DC Comics has signed on to get the latest ’Warp news. Well, welcome aboard the Fun Hearse, Mr. Cullins!
It was even worse for the guys next to me from 
On the plus side, I was reacquainted with 
No events to show
