I Was a Teenage Reviewapalooza

Posted on October 30, 2015 by Steven

WW77Special-2As some of you may be aware, when I’m not running things here at ’Warp Central, I can be found over at the news site Comics for Sinners, giving my opinion on some of the latest comic book and graphic novel releases for bad-girl fans and general readers alike. Here are the titles (plus one movie!) that I reviewed in October 2015:

DC Comics
Wonder Woman ’77 Special #2: Written by Marc Andreyko, art by Drew Johnson, Cat Staggs, Jason Badower, and Richard Ortiz

Dynamite Entertainment
Vampirella Annual 2015: Written by Nancy A. Collins, art by Aneke

IDW
Fistful of Blood #1: Written by Kevin Eastman, art by Simon Bisley and Kevin Eastman

Interested in seeing what else I’ve reviewed? Then check out these most-recent lists and head over to C4S to read the entries:

The Curse of Reviewapalooza: July 2015 titles
Reviewapalooza Conquers the World: September 2015 titles

And be sure to bookmark Comics For Sinners to keep up-to-date on my opinionated ramblings about bad-girl (and other) comics.

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Terra Incognito Extras

Posted on October 28, 2015 by Steven

terra_ingoc_lg_coverBased on the reaction it’s been receiving, writers and gamers seem to agree that Terra Incognito: A Guide to Building the Worlds of Your Imagination, SWC’s first how-to book on the particulars needed to create detailed fantasy worlds, is a hit!

In Terra Incognito: A Guide to Building the Worlds of Your Imagination, bestselling fantasy author Richard C. White (Gauntlet: Dark Legacy: Paths of Evil, The Chronicles of the Sea Dragon Special) takes you through the step-by-step process of constructing a world for your characters, from societies and governments to currency and religion. Included is an interview with New York Times bestselling author Tracy Hickman (Dragonlance) that discusses his methods of world building, as well as his creative experiences during his time as a designer for gaming company TSR, the original home of Dungeons & Dragons.

However, as often happens in nonfiction publishing, sometimes editorial cuts are made to manuscripts when there’s material that either deviates from the book’s focus, or runs the risk of making the final book too long. Terra Incognito is no different. In the case of the Tracy Hickman interview, he and Rich began discussing a Batman novel that Hickman had completed in 2012 for Warner Books, which led to a discussion about working in licensed publishing. A fascinating subject, to be sure, but a deviation from world building, so I made the decision to excise it.

But fear not! That portion of the interview was saved as bonus material, and now appears at Rich White’s blog, where you can read that part of the discussion in its entirety.

And it’s not just that extra Hickman material that you’ll find on Rich’s blog. He’s also posted the first section of a two-part reminiscense about how he applied his knowledge of world building to a steampunk fantasy project called “The Dark Codex,” for another publisher.

But that’s not all! Just recently, Rich White has started “World Building 101,” a brand-new column on the subject, at online magazine Black Gate! Check out his first entry: “The Village.”

Terra Incognito: A Guide to Building the Worlds of Your Imagination is available in print and digital formats, so visit its product page for ordering information.

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Chaos…in the Halls of StarWarp Concepts!

Posted on October 27, 2015 by Steven

Tonight is Game 1 of the 2015 World Series of baseball, in which the National League Champions, the New York Mets, battle the American League Champions, the Kansas City Royals, in a best-of-7 series. And that’s caused a bit of tension here at ’Warp Central, between die-hard Mets fan Pandora Zwieback, the teenaged Goth adventuress who stars in my Saga of Pandora Zwieback novels and comics, and Nightstalker, the lycanthropic member of the supernatural superhero team Troubleshooters, Incorporated!

Now, being a werewolf who’s trying to make a living, Nightstalker (real name Alex Johnson) hasn’t really shown much interest in being a baseball fan, but when he realized that his co-creator, Richard C. White (author of the recent Terra Incognito: A Guide to Building the Worlds of Your Imagination), is a Royals fan, he immediately threw on a KC shirt so that Maryland-based Rich would have some representation in SWC’s New York offices. That, as one would expect, hasn’t been well received by Pan and her best friend, Sheena McCarthy…

BaseballRivals

How will it end? Only the Mets and Royals can determine that outcome. Of course, since we at ’Warp Central are all Mets fans, like Pan, we’re pulling for the home team. But we wish Rich and the Royals all the best.

Riiiight…

Oh, and in case you’re unfamiliar with the participants in this major league rivalry:

Blood FeudThe Saga of Pandora Zwieback is about 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-shifting mopnster hunter named Sebastienne “Annie” Mazarin 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 and Annie battling evil in the following titles:

The 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-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!

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 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).

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, the werewolf Nightstalker, 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 Rich and his wife, Joni M. White, and illustrated by Reggie Golden and Randy Zimmerman.

Blood Feud, Blood Reign, the Pan Annual, and Troubleshooters, Incorporated: Night Stalkings are available in print and digital formats. Pandora Zwieback #0 is a digital exclusive. Visit their respective product pages for ordering information, as well as sample pages and chapters.

Let’s go, Mets! (And Royals, too, of course.)

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Fistful of Blood Review at Comics for Sinners

Posted on October 26, 2015 by Steven

FistfulBlood01Over at the news site Comics for Sinners, you’ll find my review of Fistful of Blood #1, written by Kevin Eastman (co-creator of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles) and illustrated by Simon Bisley (Judge Dredd, Lobo) and Eastman, and available from IDW. A mashup of the zombies-vs.-vampires trope with the sort of 1960s “Spaghetti Westerns” made famous by Italian director Sergio Leone and his leading man Clint Eastwood in their “Dollars trilogy” (A Fistful of Dollars, For a Few Dollars More, The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly), it features a scantily clad Bad Girl With No Name stumbling into a run-down town and becoming a gunslinger, in time to get caught in the middle of the ongoing conflict between gangs of vampires and the walking dead. Head over to C4S to learn more.

Speaking of bad girls starring in adult-themed adventures, have you met StarWarp Concepts’ resident soul-stealing succubus, Lorelei? Making her comics debut in 1993, Lori has remained SWC’s first leading lady of horror, and currently stars in two critically acclaimed projects:

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 Satana, the Devil’s Daughter, it’s written by yours truly, Steven A. Roman (Stan Lee’s Alexa, X-Men: The Chaos Engine Trilogy), 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), a frontispiece by original Vampirella artist Tom Sutton (Ghost Rider, Man-Thing, Werewolf by Night), and a one-page history of succubi illustrated by Ernie Colon (Vampirella, The Grim Ghost).

“I can honestly say that I enjoyed the hell out of this book…. The art is solid, the story is full of lots of things that make the horror genre so great, and the overall quality of the book is top notch.”—Die-Screaming

“Kudos to Roman for capturing the essence of 1970s fare like Vampirella. Filled with ghouls, chicks, and some strong artwork, this is a title that might’ve piqued Hammer Studios’ interest back in the day.”—Dread Central

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

  • “The Old, Dark Manse” is written by me and illustrated by Uriel Caton (JSA Annual, The Ex-Mutants, Heartstopper: The Legend of La Bella Tenebrosa) and “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 (She-Hulk, 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?

“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

Both titles are available in print and digital formats, so visit their respective product pages for ordering information, as well as sample pages.

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You Want to Talk Immortal, Supernatural Hunters?

Posted on October 23, 2015 by Steven

Today is the U.S. release date for The Last Witch Hunter, a film in which Vin Diesel (Riddick, The Fast and the Furious, Groot of Guardians of the Galaxy) plays an immortal hunter battling witches (hence the title) in present-day New York. An immortal hunter battling supernatural creatures in New York City? Why, it just so happens that StarWarp Concepts is the home of such an adventurer!

pandoracomic-1Her name is Sebastienne “Annie” Mazarin, and for more than four hundred years she’s been going toe-to-toe with some of the Big Apple’s baddest monsters this side of Pitch Black! These days, Annie acts as mentor to teenaged Goth adventuress Pandora Zwieback in my young adult novel 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 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 Annie battling evil with Pan’s help in the following titles:

The 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 two 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!

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 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 #1Heartstopper: 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, written by me and illustrated by Uriel Caton (JSA Annual), Holly Golightly (School Bites), and David C. Matthews (Satin Steele). 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 are available for free from this very website, so download them today!

Blood Feud, Blood Reign, and the Pan Annual are available in print and digital formats. Heartstopper and Pandora Zwieback #0 are digital exclusives. Visit their respective product pages for ordering information, as well as sample pages and chapters.

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Terra Incognito Available at Barnes & Noble

Posted on October 21, 2015 by Steven

terra_ingoc_lg_coverFollowing its debut at Amazon.com, DriveThru Fiction, and the StarWarp Concepts webstore, Richard C. White’s reference book for writers, Terra Incognito: A Guide to Building the Worlds of Your Imagination, is now also available in both print and ePub versions at Barnes & Noble!

In Terra Incognito: A Guide to Building the Worlds of Your Imagination, bestselling fantasy author Richard C. White (Gauntlet: Dark Legacy: Paths of Evil, The Chronicles of the Sea Dragon Special) takes you through the step-by-step process of constructing a world for your characters, from societies and governments to currency and religion. Included is an interview with New York Times bestselling author Tracy Hickman (Dragonlance) that discusses his methods of world building, as well as his creative experiences during his time as a designer for gaming company TSR, the original home of Dungeons & Dragons.

Head over to B&N to order or download a copy, and get started reading today!

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Gothic Horrors Abound On Screen…and at ‘Warp Central!

Posted on October 17, 2015 by Steven

CarmillaYesterday, Crimson Peak, the latest gothic tale of horror from acclaimed director Guillermo del Toro (Pan’s Labyrinth, The Devil’s Backbone, Pacific Rim) made its box-office debut in the U.S. Starring Tom Hiddleston (Loki of Marvel’s Avengers and Thor), Jessica Chastain (Interstellar), and Mia Wasikowska, this thriller is populated with ghosts, haunted houses, and a creepy brother-sister relationship. Here at ’Warp Central, we’re all fans of del Toro’s work, and can’t wait to see his latest masterpiece!

Speaking of gothic horror, are you familiar with the tale of Carmilla? Written by J. Sheridan Le Fanu (Uncle Silas, In a Glass Darkly), this 19th-century vampiric romance has influenced generations of writers from Bram Stoker to Laurel K. Hamilton, and has been adapted for the screen many times, including Hammer’s The Vampire Lovers and Roger Vadim’s Blood and Roses. The StarWarp Concepts edition features exclusive illustrations by Eliseu Gouveia (The Saga of Pandora Zwieback Annual #1, Lorelei: Sects and the City). Here’s what it’s about:

Before Edward and Bella, before Lestat and Louis, even before Dracula and Mina, there was the tale of Carmilla and Laura.

Living with her widowed father in a dreary old castle in the woods of Styria, Laura has longed to have a friend with whom she can confide; a friend to bring some excitement to her pastoral lifestyle. And then Carmilla enters her life.

Left by her mother in the care of Laura’s father, Carmilla is young, beautiful, playful—everything Laura had hoped to find in a companion. In fact, the lonely girl is so thrilled to have a new friend that she is willing to overlook the dark-haired beauty’s strange actions…which include a disturbing, growing obsession for her lovely hostess.

Carmilla, it seems, desires more than just friendship from Laura….

Fans of gothic literature have certainly enjoyed it:

“The way Le Fanu blends together desire and predation is spellbinding. A true Gothic story, Carmilla is great fun.”—Gothic Beauty Magazine

“Carmilla is a must-read for any true fan of vampire fiction.”—LoveVampires.com

“Like many vampire romances, Carmilla and Laura’s love is doomed and unhealthy, but glorious.”—io9

“Carmilla is an enthralling wonderland ripe with blood and death. Curl up with this little sleeper if you like your creatures of the night with just a little dash of pixie dust and wolfsbane.”—ClassicHorror.com

Carmilla is available in print and digital formats, so visit its product page for ordering information.

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Are You a Fan of Spooky Tales?

Posted on October 15, 2015 by Steven

This Friday, October 16, is the U.S. release date for Tales of Halloween, a horror anthology film from Epic Pictures that boasts the directorial talents of eleven directors, including Neil Marshall (Dog Soldiers, The Descent), Darren Lynn Bousman (Saw II–IV), Lucky McKee (May, The Woods), and Mike Mendez (Big Ass Spider). I’ve been a fan of Marshall’s since Dog Soldiers, all the way up to his direcdtorial gig on the pilot for NBC’s gone-but-not-forgotten series Constantine, so I’ll definitely be checking out this one.

Speaking of horror anthologies (he said, putting on his publisher’s/marketing director’s hat), perhaps you might be interested in a pair from this very publishing company, starring two of our critically acclaimed leading ladies: the succubus Lorelei Munro, star of the graphic novel Lorelei: Sects and the City; and monster fighter Pandora Zwieback, of the novel series The Saga of Pandora Zwieback.

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

• “The Old, Dark Manse” is written by me and illustrated by Uriel Caton (JSA Annual, The Ex-Mutants, Heartstopper: The Legend of La Bella Tenebrosa) and “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 (She-Hulk, 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?

“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

pan_annual_1_large_coverThe Saga of Pandora Zwieback Annual #1: A spinoff from the novel series, this 56-page, full-color comic special—with cover art by award-winning artist Henar Torinos (Mala Estrella)—finds the teenaged Goth adventuress battling vampires and a jealous, man-stealing siren. It features three original stories of what I’ve termed the “Paniverse”—tales that take place within the fictional universe of The Saga of Pandora Zwieback.

• “Song of the Siren,” written by me and illustrated by Eliseu Gouveia (The Saga of Pandora Zwieback #0, Lorelei: Sects and the City), involves Pan and her boyfriend, Javi, attending one of his family’s picnics in Central Park, and running into an ex-girlfriend of Javi’s. An awkward situation, to be sure, made even worse by the realization that with her monstervision, Pan can see the girl is really a siren: a creature from Greek mythology that can hypnotize men with its voice!

• “After Hours” is by writer Sholly Fisch (Scooby-Doo Team-Up) and comic-art legend Ernie Colon (Amethyst, Princess of Gemworld), and involves a working-class demon dropping by his favorite bar.

• “Shopping Maul” is a short story written by me, with title-page art by Elizabeth Watasin (writer/artist of Charm School). Pan, Javi, and their friends stop by a Queens mall to do a bit of window-shopping—only to find themselves caught in the middle of a fight between Gothic Lolita vampires and Pan’s monster-hunting mentor, Annie!

“Steven A. Roman demonstrates yet again his ability to write in the voice of a teenage girl without resorting to the petty whining and needless angst that seem to plague a lot of the female teenage characters in books today… I would readily and heartily recommend this comic to anybody.”—Word of the Nerd

“Roman mixes young adult fantasy with themes like ‘young love’ but also with equal parts of ‘female empowerment’ and lets Pandora be a real and true voice. The art by Eliseu Gouveia is just stellar and makes a perfect match for the main story.”—Comics For Sinners

Both titles are available in print and digital formats. Visit their respective product pages for ordering information, as well as sample pages.

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It’s Those Damn Zombies Again!

Posted on October 11, 2015 by Steven

ZombieTales2Tonight’s the night when the mega-popular television series The Walking Dead makes its season-six debut on AMC. And as long as we’re talking zombies, are you aware that I once wrote my own take on the zombie apocalypse, in the form of a short story?

“Laundry Day” is the tale of a not-so-loveable guy named Josh Kosinki who, late one night, decides to take his growing pile of dirty clothes over to the local Laundromat—only to become an eyewitness to the start of a zombie uprising. It first appeared in 2007, in the Padwolf Books anthology The Dead Walk Again!, then was reprinted in Books of the Dead Press’s 2010 anthology, Best New Zombie Tales, Vol. 2. It garnered quite a bit of praise from reviewers:

“Laced with a brutal humor and some seriously gory violence, this one is a slaughter-fest crowd pleaser for sure. Action from the get-go, with a surprising twist ending that I really didn’t see coming.”—Paperback Horror

“‘Laundry Day’ puts a nice twist on the ‘folks are the worst of all monsters’ trope.”—Necroscope: The Australian Zombie Review Blog

“I friggin’ love that story!”—James Roy Daley, author of Terror Town and 13 Drops of Blood

Best New Zombie Tales, Vol. 2 is still on sale, so follow the link to its page at Amazon. Along with “Laundry Day,” you’ll find stories by such notable horror writers as Mort Castle, Tim Waggoner, Nate Kenyon, and Cody Goodfellow. Order a copy today!

And speaking of The Walking Dead, the final stop on the SWC 2015 convention tour just happens to be at the WD-themed Walker Stalker Con, being held December 4–6 at the Meadowlands Exposition Center in Secaucus, New Jersey; visit their site for more information. Hope to see you there!

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SWC Author Richard C. White at Rocket City Lit Fest

Posted on October 9, 2015 by Steven

terra_ingoc_lg_coverTomorrow, October 10th, sees the kickoff of the inaugural Rocket City Lit Fest, a celebration of writing being held in Huntsville, Alabama—and bestselling fantasy author Richard C. White (Gauntlet: Dark Legacy: Paths of Evil) will be there! When not participating in author panels, Rich will be promoting his three StarWarp Concepts projects:

Terra Incognito: A Guide to Building the Worlds of Your Imagination is SWC’s latest release: a reference book for writers, in which Rich takes you through the step-by-step process of constructing a world for your characters, from societies and governments to currency and religion. Included is an exclusive interview with New York Times bestselling author Tracy Hickman (Dragonlance) that discusses his methods of world building, as well as his creative experiences during his time as a designer for gaming company TSR, the original home of Dungeons & Dragons.

seadragon_lrg_cov_revThe Chronicles of the Sea Dragon Special is a digital pirate-fantasy comic created and written by Rich, drawn by Bill Bryan (artist of Caliber Press’ Dark Oz and DC Comics’ House of Mystery), and features cover art and color by Eliseu Gouveia (SWC’s The Saga of Pandora Zwieback Annual). It’s 48 pages of high-seas adventure perfect for fans of the Pirates of the Caribbean movie franchise, as well as classics like The Crimson Pirate, Against All Flags, Captain Blood, and The Sea Hawk—and it’s available for download for just 99¢!

Troubleshooters, 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 Rich and his wife, Joni M. White, and illustrated by Reggie Golden and Randy Zimmerman.

troubleshooters_lrg_coverHe’ll also be launching the Kickstarter campaign for his next project, For a Few Gold Pieces More: Tales of the Rogue With No Name, a collection of fantasy stories he wrote that star a mysterious wanderer with a penchant for getting into trouble—if the price is right. Once the funding has been secured, the book will be packaged by Rich’s NightWolf Graphics company, then published in spring 2016.

Terra Incognito and Troubleshooters Incorporated are available in print and digital formats. Chronicles of the Sea Dragon is a digital exclusive. Visit their respective product pages for ordering information, as well as sample pages.

Rocket City Lit Fest runs Saturday, October 10, to Sunday, October 11, at the Von Braun Center in Huntsville, Alabama. For more information, visit the Rocket City Lit Fest website.

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