Richard C. White Discusses “Harbinger of Darkness”

Posted on December 11, 2017 by Steven

Rich-New-PicInterested in the creative-writing process? Then look no further than the site Experience Writing and its interview with SWC’s Richard C. White, author of our popular titles Terra Incognito: A Guide to Building the Worlds of Your Imagination, For a Few Gold Pieces More, Troubleshooters Incorporated: Night Stalkings, and The Chronicles of the Sea Dragon Special.

EW site owner and fellow author Maria L. Berg speaks with Rich about his background (both in and out of publishing), how he approaches writing, and what advice he has for budding writers. And on top of that, he finds time to pitch his latest SWC release, the fantasy novel Harbinger of Darkness.

Harbinger-of-Darkness-FinalCvrIn this original novel, a thief named Perrin steals an extremely valuable—and magical—gem from the evil king ruling her home country. With thugs and fellow thieves and the king’s assassins hot on her trail, Perrin finds just staying alive is becoming a full-time occupation, which directly conflict with her secret life—and identity—as a humble bookseller’s daughter.

Head on over to Experience Writing and give Rich’s interview a read.

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Holiday Gifts for Goths

Posted on December 7, 2017 by Steven

pandora_t-shirtHey, horror fans! With the holidays fast approaching and every mall in the world soon to devolve into full-scale replicas of Thunderdome as shoppers hunt for bargains, the time couldn’t be better for you to order presents for that special Goth in your life—from StarWarp Concepts, of course!

The Official Pandora Zwieback T-shirt: Now you too can be a styling monster hunter like Pandora Zwieback, in this official T-shirt featuring the full-color devil-girl image rendered by legendary painter Bob Larkin! Just like Pan’s, this combed cotton jersey is pitch-black—perfect for blending into handy shadows—with Lilitu (the daughter of Latte, the iconic symbol of the fictional coffee-house chain, Latte’s Inferno) sticking out her tongue at the creatures of the night that are hungering for your soul. Unlike Pan’s, the back is adorned with the Saga of Pandora Zwieback logo and the handy Web address so interested parties can check out all her adventures.

Blood FeudBlood Feud: The Saga of Pandora Zwieback, Book 1: This critically acclaimed novel is the beginning of Pan’s story, explaining how she, her parents and friends, and Annie are drawn into a conflict among warring vampire clans searching for the key to an ultimate weapon (or so the legend goes)—a key that just so happens to have been delivered to the horror-themed museum owned by Pan’s father. It’s a character-driven action-fest featuring the kind of gun-toting vampires that Selene would feel right at home among, and it leads immediately into the second novel:

Blood Feud full-color print by Bob Larkin: Have you ever looked at the cover of Blood Feud, the first novel in our exciting Saga of Pandora Zwieback novel series, and thought, “Man, that’s some awesome artwork. I would so buy a poster of that!” Well, now here’s your chance! Presented without logos or book-cover copy, this 11” x 17” cardstock print features the art of master painter Bob Larkin, and is limited to just 100 copies. Order yours today while supplies last!

Blood-Reign-FinalCvrBlood Reign: The Saga of Pandora Zwieback, Book 2: Pan and Annie face even greater challenges as the vampire clans draw up plans to go to war with humanity. Leading the charge is a fallen angel named Zaqiel, whose previous attempt at subjugating the world was stopped by Annie—who, back in the day, was Zaqiel’s lover! But Pan isn’t about to let some ancient monster win the day, not when the lives of her parents and friends—along with those of every human on the planet—are at stake, so she leads a charge of her own. Yes, there’s more vampire gunplay involved—the undead sure do like their firearms—but that’s only part of the dangers Pan has to contend with, as her adventures take her to a mysterious South Pacific island where monsters dwell.

The Saga of Pandora Zwieback Annual #1: A spinoff from the novel series, this 56-page, full-color comic special finds the teenaged Goth adventuress battling Gothic Lolita vampires and a jealous, man-stealing siren. It features stories by me and Sholly Fisch (Scooby-Doo Team-Up), art by Eliseu Gouveia (The Saga of Pandora Zwieback #0), comic-art legend Ernie Colon (Amethyst, Princess of Gemworld), and Elizabeth Watasin (Charm School), and cover art by award-winning artist Henar Torinos (Mala Estrella).

CarmillaCarmilla: The blood-drenched temptress of a 19th-century novella by author J. Sheridan Le Fanu, Carmilla Karnstein is a vampiress who desires not just blood but love from her victims, and when she enters the life of a young woman named Laura, Carmilla decides that her new friend will become her next great love—and won’t take no for an answer. Regarded as the one of the earliest lesbian vampire tales—if not the first—Carmilla was an influence on author Bram Stoker in the creation of the vampire brides in his seminal novel, Dracula, and remains a popular character in fiction to this day. The StarWarp Concepts edition features six all-new illustrations by Eliseu Gouveia, the artist of The Saga of Pandora Zwieback #0 and the Saga of Pandora Zwieback Annual.

Blood Feud, Blood Reign, Carmilla, and the Pan Annual are available in print and digital formats. Visit their respective product pages for ordering information, as well as sample pages and chapters.

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This Will Not End Well…

Posted on November 23, 2017 by Steven

thanks-axboy

Happy Thanksgiving to one and all from the SWC crew!

(Vintage holiday card art)

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Happy Halloween 2017!

Posted on October 31, 2017 by Steven

werewolf-pete-hawley

Art by Pete Hawley (1916–1975), probably from the 1960s.

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Spooky Tales From a Sexy Horror Hostess

Posted on October 30, 2017 by Steven

House_Macabre_large_finalTomorrow is Halloween, that perfect time of the year for spooky tales! So have you met Lorelei, StarWarp Concepts’ resident soul-stealing succubus who was inspired by classic macabre comics? Making her small-press comics debut in 1989, Lori is SWC’s first leading lady of horror.

Lori stars in Lorelei Presents: House Macabre. It’s her first outing as the hostess of a horror comic anthology, in this one-shot special that contains four tales of horror, behind the eye-catching cover art by fan-favorite artist Louis Small Jr. (Vampirella, Supergirl, Batman 80-Page Giant) that you see here.

  • “The Old, Dark Manse” is written by me, penciled by Uriel Caton (JSA Annual, The Ex-Mutants, Heartstopper: The Legend of La Bella Tenebrosa), and inked by “Chainsaw” Chuck Majewski (Harvey Kurtzman’s New Two-Fisted Tales), and has Lori welcoming readers to this special.
  • “All in Color for a Crime” is another tale from me, with art by Lou Manna (T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents, Young All-Stars). Two comic book collectors clash over a rare back issue—and only one of them will be adding it to their long boxes!
  • “The Basilisk,” from me and artist John Pierard (Graphic Classics: Horror Classics, My Teacher Fried My Brains), is a “Lori’s Feary Tale” that examines the history of a supernatural creature that’s a cross between a deadly snake and a…chicken?!
  • Wrapping up the special is “Requiem for Bravo 6,” by New York Times bestselling author and comic writer Dwight Jon Zimmerman (Marvel Fanfare, Steve McQueen: Full-Throttle Cool) and artist Juan Carlos Abraldes Rendo. A special-ops team goes on a life-or-death mission…but will they be prepared for what awaits them at mission’s end?

Critics have certainly enjoyed this special:

“This is like a cross between Elvira and House of Mystery, where you’ve got a very sexy hostess who loves the Macabre and tells you stories that are supposed to chill and thrill you…. This whole book is such a pleasant surprise, [and] something that should be sought out by everyone.”—Reading With a Flight Ring

“Any fans of the old-fashioned horror anthology comics (Eerie, Creepy, Tales From the Crypt, etc.) is gonna want to take a look at this one-shot from StarWarp Concepts…. If campy horror fun is your thing, this should be a hit for you.”—The Pullbox

Sounds perfect for some Halloween reading, doesn’t it?

Lorelei Presents: House Macabre is available in print and digital formats, so visit its product page for ordering information, as well as sample pages.

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SWC Comic Book Thrills and Chills for the Halloween Season

Posted on October 17, 2017 by Steven

Looking for illustrated tales of the supernatural to enjoy as you anxiously await the arrival of Halloween? Then look no further than StarWarp Concepts’ backlist of comic books and graphic novels that are perfect for horror fans young and old!

pandoracomic-1The Saga of Pandora Zwieback #0: A free, downloadable comic that serves as an introduction to the adventures of Pandora Zwieback and her monster-hunting mentor, Sebastienne “Annie” Mazarin, with an 8-page story written by me and illustrated by Eliseu Gouveia, and a preview of Pan’s first novel, Blood Feud: The Saga of Pandora Zwieback, Book 1. Pan is a 16-year-old Goth girl who’s spent the last decade being treated for mental health problems because she can see monsters. It’s only after she meets Annie that Pan discovers she’s never been ill—her so-called “monstervision” is actually a supernatural gift that allows her to see into Gothopolis, the not-so-mythical shadow world that exists right alongside the human world.

pan_annual_lgThe Saga of Pandora Zwieback Annual #1: A spinoff from the novel series, this 56-page, full-color comic special finds the teenaged Goth adventuress battling vampires and a jealous, man-stealing siren. It features stories by me and Sholly Fisch (Scooby-Doo Team-Up), art by Eliseu Gouveia (The Saga of Pandora Zwieback #0), comic-art legend Ernie Colon (Amethyst, Princess of Gemworld), and Elizabeth Watasin (Charm School), and cover art by award-winning artist Henar Torinos (Mala Estrella).

heartstopper_lg_cover_2013Heartstopper: The Legend of La Bella Tenebrosa: Long before she met Pan, Annie was the star of this short-lived “bad girl” comic book miniseries published in the 1990s. Here you’ll find Annie doing a bit of research for an article about gentlemen’s clubs in Times Square—research that includes actually performing as an exotic dancer (I did say it was a ’90s comic, didn’t I?). It’s that part-time gig that brings her into contact with Corum de Sade, a heavy metal singer with a deadly secret: he’s a soul-devouring incubus! All three issues—written by me, with art by Uriel Caton (JSA Annual), Holly Golightly (School Bites), and David C. Matthews—are available for free from this very website, so download them today!

Lorelei: Sects and the CityLorelei: Sects and the City is a Mature Readers graphic novel in which Lori battles a cult of Elder God worshipers attempting to unleash hell on Earth. Basically a love letter to 1970s horror comics like Vampirella, Tomb of Dracula, and Ghost Rider, it’s written by yours truly, and illustrated by Eliseu Gouveia (Vengeance of the Mummy, Lady Death), Steve Geiger (Web of Spider-Man, Incredible Hulk), and Neil Vokes (Flesh and Blood, Fright Night). It also features a cover by legendary artist Esteban Maroto (Vampirella, Zatanna, Lady Rawhide) and a frontispiece by original Vampirella artist Tom Sutton (Ghost Rider, Man-Thing, Werewolf by Night).

Lorelei_House_MacabreLorelei Presents: House Macabre is Lori’s debut as the hostess of a horror anthology comic. Behind that eye-catching cover by bad-girl artist supreme Louis Small Jr. (Vampirella, Vampirella/Lady Death), you’ll find stories by me and Dwight Jon Zimmerman (Iron Man, Web of Spider-Man). Art is provided by Uriel Caton & “Chainsaw” Chuck Majewski (Heartstopper: The Legend of La Bella Tenebrosa), Lou Manna (T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents), John Pierard (Graphic Classics: Horror Classics), and Juan Carlos Abraldes Rendo.

troubleshooters_lrg_coverTroubleshooters, Incorporated: Night Stalkings is a general readers’ graphic novel about a group of supernatural-superheroes-for-hire taking on their first case. The team consists of a wizard, a female ninja, a sorceress, a werewolf, and a rock ’n’ roll lighting designer wearing high-tech armor. Sure, they might not be on a power level with the Avengers or Justice League of America—they’re more like superpowered Ghostbusters—but they get the job done. The graphic novel is written by the husband-and-white team of Richard C. White (Terra Incognito: A Guide to Building the Worlds of Your Imagination, For a Few Gold Pieces More: Tales of the Rogue With No Name) and Joni M. White, and illustrated by Reggie Golden and Randy Zimmerman.

The Saga of Pandora Zwieback Annual, Lorelei: Sects and the City, Lorelei Presents: House Macabre, and Troubleshooters Incorporated are available in print and digital formats. Pandora Zwieback #0 and Heartstopper are digital exclusives. Visit their respective product pages for ordering information, as well as sample pages.

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Happy Teen Read Week 2017!

Posted on October 8, 2017 by Steven

teen-read-weekTeen Read Week 2017 is happening right now, October 8–14. What is it? Well, to quote the event’s website:

Teen Read Week is a national adolescent literacy initiative of the Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA). Its purpose is to encourage teens to be regular readers and library users.

Teen Read Week’s 2017 theme is “Unleash Your Story,” in which “library staff and educators are encouraged to leverage this theme to encourage teens to tell their own stories as well as find stories, biographies, autobiographies, folktales, and more in their local library.”

 For more information on this annual event, visit the Teen Read Week site.

The theme of “unleashing your story” for teen writers reminds me of “My First Published Story,” a blog post at the Pandora Zwieback website about a science-fiction story I wrote all the way back in high school. As I say in the post, looking back it’s a little cringe-worthy, but it proves something I always tell young writers: Everybody’s gotta start somewhere. Go give it a read!

And speaking of books for teens, are you familiar with my young adult, dark-urban-fantasy series The Saga of Pandora Zwieback? Pan is a 16-year-old Goth girl who’s spent the last decade being treated for mental health problems because she can see monsters. It’s only after she meets an immortal shape-shifter named Annie that Pan discovers she’s never been ill—her so-called “monstervision” is actually a supernatural gift that allows her to see into Gothopolis, the not-so-mythical shadow world that exists right alongside the human world. You’ll find Pan in the following titles:

Blood FeudThe Saga of Pandora Zwieback #0: A free, downloadable comic that serves as an introduction to Pan and Annie—with an 8-page story written by me and illustrated by Eliseu Gouveia—as well as Pan’s first novel, Blood Feud (via a pair of preview chapters).

Blood Feud: The Saga of Pandora Zwieback, Book 1: This critically acclaimed novel is the beginning of Pan’s story, explaining how she, her parents and friends, and Annie are drawn into a conflict among warring vampire clans searching for the key to an ultimate weapon (or so the legend goes)—a key that just so happens to have been delivered to the horror-themed museum owned by Pan’s father. It’s a character-driven action-fest that leads immediately into the second novel:

Blood Reign: The Saga of Pandora Zwieback, Book 2: Pan and Annie face even greater challenges as the vampire clans draw up plans to go to war with humanity. Leading the charge is a fallen angel named Zaqiel, whose previous attempt at subjugating the world was stopped by Annie—who, back in the day, was Zaqiel’s lover! But Pan isn’t about to let some ancient monster win the day, not when the lives of her parents and friends—along with those of every human on the planet—are at stake, so she leads a charge of her own. But whose side is going to emerge the victor remains to be seen…

Blood Feud and Blood Reign are available in print and digital formats. The Saga of Pandora Zwieback #0 is a digital exclusive. Visit their respective product pages for ordering information, as well as sample pages and chapters.

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Harbinger of Darkness Now On Sale!

Posted on October 3, 2017 by Steven

Harbinger-of-Darkness-FinalCvrOn sale today is Harbinger of Darkness, a brand-new fantasy novel by Richard C. White, author of Star Trek: Starfleet Corps of Engineers: Echoes of Coventry, Gauntlet: Dark Legacy: Paths of Evil, and the SWC titles For a Few Gold Pieces More, Terra Incognito: A Guide to Building the Worlds of Your Imagination, Troubleshooters Incorporated: Night Stalkings, and The Chronicles of the Sea Dragon Special.

In this original novel, a thief named Perrin steals an extremely valuable—and magical—gem from the evil king ruling her home country. With thugs and fellow thieves and the king’s assassins hot on her trail, Perrin finds just staying alive is becoming a full-time occupation, which directly conflict with her secret life—and identity—as a humble bookseller’s daughter.

Harbinger of Darkness is available right now in print and digital formats. To start, you’ll find it at the Kindle Store, the Nook Store, and at Smashwords, with iBooks, Kobo, and more to come. And then there’s the print edition! If you enjoy fantasy adventure, be sure to order a copy today!

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Harbinger of Darkness Press Release

Posted on October 2, 2017 by Steven

Harbinger-of-Darkness-FinalCvrFOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
A TALENTED THIEF BECOMES A “HARBINGER OF DARKNESS” FOR ONE FANTASY KINGDOM

Ravens are birds of ill omen—cross this one only if you’re willing to deal with the consequences…

Coming October 3, 2017 is Harbinger of Darkness, a fantasy-adventure novel by Richard C. White, author of the StarWarp Concepts titles Terra Incognito: A Guide to Building the Worlds of Your Imagination, For a Few Gold Pieces More, Troubleshooters Incorporated: Night Stalkings, and The Chronicles of the Sea Dragon Special.

In Harbinger of Darkness, White introduces readers to Raven and Perrin. One is an accomplished thief, and an enigma. Never seen in the light of day, no one is quite sure where she goes or where she hides the bounty of her crimes. The other is a bookseller’s daughter, trapped by expectations and circumstances but with dreams of exploring the lands she’s only read about. And both share a great secret: That Perrin and Raven are the same person.

A magic pendant allows Perrin to disguise herself, keeping her other life as Raven hidden from everyone, even her closest allies. But after the theft of a mystic gem, which unbeknownst to her is the lynchpin for a cruel king’s upcoming military campaign, both of her worlds are upended, with potentially fatal consequences for friends, family…and Perrin herself.

With bounty hunters and the king’s personal assassins pursuing her darker half, Perrin finds herself swept her into a conspiracy against the throne she despises. Add in the complication of an apprentice thief she never wanted to train, and the odds of Perrin living long enough to pursue her dreams are steadily shrinking!

Cover art is provided by fantasy painter John Stone.

Packaged by NightWolf Graphics, published by StarWarp Concepts, and distributed in print by Ingram Content Group, Harbinger of Darkness (ISBN: 978-0-9982361-2-4) goes on sale October 3, 2017, and can be ordered from brick-and-mortar bookstores and online retail sites, as well as from the StarWarp Concepts website. Ebook editions will be available for download from Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble, the iBookstore, and other online retailers.

For more information, please visit www.StarwarpConcepts.com.

Praise for the Work of Richard C. White:
“Richard C. White knows how to spin a yarn.”—Bobby Nash, author of Domino Lady: Money Shot, on For a Few Gold Pieces More

“A solid introduction to the subject of world building. The book succeeds in helping the aspiring writer in creating a skeletal framework on which to hang the moving parts required of a believable fictional setting.”—The Gaming Gang, on Terra Incognito: A Guide to Building the Worlds of Your Imagination

About the Author:
Richard C. White is the bestselling author of the novels Gauntlet: Dark Legacy: Paths of Evil and Star Trek S.C.E.: Echoes of Coventry; the writers’ reference book Terra Incognito: A Guide to Building the Worlds of Your Imagination; the fantasy-adventure collection For a Few Gold Pieces More; the superhero graphic novel Troubleshooters Incorporated: Night Stalkings; and the digital comic The Chronicles of the Sea Dragon Special. His short fiction has appeared in such anthologies as The Ultimate Hulk and Doctor Who: Short Trips: The Quality of Leadership.

About the Book:
Harbinger of Darkness
by Richard C. White
Published by StarWarp Concepts
336 pages, trade paperback (5.5” x 8.5”)
U.S. $14.95 (print edition) • $4.99 (digital)
ISBN: 978-0-9982361-2-4 (trade paperback)
ISBN: 978-0-9982361-3-1 (digital)

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‘Warped Week: October 1, 2017

Posted on October 1, 2017 by Steven

Reviews-SheDevil-CvrWelcome back to ’Warped Week, a recap of what we’ve been up to at ’Warp Central during the past seven days. If you missed anything, now’s the perfect time to catch up!

Monday was the 2018 celebration of National Comic Book Day, a holiday whose origin is shrouded in mystery—but it was the perfect time to remind you of the great comic titles we have to offer!

Tuesday, we told you about a late addition to our 2017 publishing schedule: Reviews of a She-Devil: A Look at Red Sonja Adventures Past and Present, an e-book collection of my Red Sonja comic book reviews that first appeared at the site Comics for Sinners, plus bonus material exclusive to this release. It’s our way of celebrating the 45th anniversary of Robert E. Howard’s redheaded She-Devil With a Sword, who debuted in Marvel’s Conan the Barbarian #23, way back in 1972.

On Wednesday, we let you know that Richard C. White—author of the SWC titles For a Few Gold Pieces More, Terra Incognito: A Guide to Building the Worlds of Your Imagination, The Chronicles of the Sea Dragon Special, and Troubleshooters Incorporated: Night Stalkings—would be appearing at the Archon 41 convention, which should be wrapping up this weekend even as you’re reading this post.

And for Thursday, we reminded you of Tales to Sorta Tremble By, the next release in our SWC Horror Bites imprint. This one’s a collection of long-lost mini tales that first appeared in the pages of 1950s horror comics, when publishers needed to insert text pages in their releases to meet U.S. postal requirements for mailing magazines (weird, right?).

And that’s the week. What’s coming next? You’ll have to keep checking this blog during the days ahead—or join us on Sunday for the next installment of ’Warped Week. See you then!

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