This coming weekend, book lovers and authors like will be gathering at Frightreads Book Festival, billed as “Maryland’s Number One Halloween Book Festival” and held at the Howard County Fairgrounds, in West Friendship, Maryland.
Among the attendees at this spooktastic get-together will be author Richard C. White, who’ll be promoting his latest SWC release, the sci-fi steampunk novel On Wings of Steel: The Darkside Chronicles, Book 1, in which Erica Halgrim, a member of the Angels of Steel courier service, finds herself drawn into a political plot—and possibly murder—at the risk of her own life.
Rich is the author of a growing list of StarWarp Concepts titles: the swashbuckling adventure novel Harbinger of Darkness; the fantasy-adventure story collection For a Few Gold Pieces More; the writers’ and RPG gamemasters’ aid Terra Incognito: A Guide to Building the Worlds of Your Imagination; the supernatural-superhero graphic novel Troubleshooters, Incorporated: Night Stalkings; the noir-fantasy story collection Chasing Danger: The Case Files of Theron Chase; and the pirate-adventure digital comic The Chronicles of the Sea Dragon Special.
Chasing Danger, in particular, may be of interest to you fans of supernatural tales. In this pulp fiction–inspired collection, a private eye named Theron Chase works the back streets of the city of Calasia on behalf of supernatural clients in trouble, and finds his hands full of danger, death, and femme fatales!
Frightreads Book Festival runs September 13–14. For more information on the show, visit the Frightreads website.
Where does the time go? That question immediately came to mind, as I saw a recent Facebook post from Crusade Comics’ owner/publisher Billy Tucci (creator, writer, and artist of Shi, the female warrior character he introduced during the 1990s’ “Bad Girl Era” in comics) that August 2025 marks the 30th anniversary of the publication of Shi/Cyblade: The Battle for Independents; according to the invaluable research site Mike’s Amazing World of Comics, it went on sale August 17, 1995.
Plotted by Tucci, scripted by Gary Cohn and Tucci, and drawn by Tucci, Nelson Ascenio, and Jimmy Palmiotti, Shi/Cyblade was the second half of a two-part crossover between Crusade and Image’s Top Cow Comics—the first half naturally titled Cyblade/Shi: The Battle for Independents (comic collector note: Cyblade/Shi features the first appearance of Top Cow’s most popular character, Witchblade).
In it, the two heroines awaken in a world blocked by a giant wall—according to the introductory note by Image executive director Larry Marder, the story is an allegory for the indie comics market trying to break through the wall built by bigger publishers (in other words, DC and Marvel) and the distributors that were all battling one another in a war that was destructive to the comics market. (The 1990s’ Distributor Wars in real life would ultimately end with Diamond Comics being the last company standing, after all its competitors had been wiped out—mostly due to Diamond cutting exclusive distribution deals with Marvel and DC, to start. And look what’s become of Diamond now…)
In order to defeat the forces of darkness and break down the wall, Shi and Cyblade call in the troops for backup. And the “troops” are a strike force formed from what seems like just about every indie comics character in print at the time—from Dave Sims’s Cerebus the Aardvark to Marder’s own Beanworld characters, to Don Simpson’s Megaton Man, Evan Dorkin’s Milk and Cheese, and Jeff Smith’s Bone…to my own creation, the soul-stealing succubus Lorelei!
Yes, Lori got to make an on-screen cameo, in a two-page spread that saw the indie force charging into battle. Lori and her unmissable red locks are on the left-hand page, surrounded by characters I don’t believe are around these days—according to the key printed in the back of the comic, they’re: Archangel (flying guy); Dark Prophet (blue ninja guy); Snap the Punk Turtle; and Bianca (in the white outfit). (By the way, Rich White’s werewolf character, Nightwolf, from Troubleshooters, Incorporated, is also on hand, toward the upper left-hand corner.)
How Lori got there—how any of those characters got there, really—is a mystery for the ages. Me, I like to think of it as the indie version of the original Marvel Super Heroes Secret Wars miniseries of the 1980s: some weird doorway device appeared in front of Lori one day and, curious, she stepped through to join in on the Comics War. (Hmm, there’s an idea…)
I had no idea she’d made the appearance, though, and only found out when a fan asked me how I’d managed to get Lori into the new Shi comic (whaaat…?). I’m pretty sure a bunch of other creators were just as surprised—and honored that they’d made the cut!
Curious about that massive crossover event? You can track down print copies of Shi/Cyblade cheaply enough (the Witchblade appearance makes Cyblade/Shi a bit pricier), and both it and Cyblade/Shi are available in digital form through DriveThru Comics. Go check ’em out, if you have a chance.
So, Happy 30th Anniversary, Shi/Cyblade, and thanks for including Lori. Maybe one day I can return the favor!
This coming weekend, fans of pulp-era heroes and authors like Doc Savage, The Shadow, and The Phantom, Tarzan creator Edgar Rice Burroughs, and Conan the Barbarian creator Robert E. Howard will be gathering at PulpFest, the annual pulp-fiction celebration being held at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Pittsburgh-Cranberry, in Mars, Pennsylvania.
Among the attendees at this get-together will be author Richard C. White, who’ll be promoting his latest SWC release, the sci-fi steampunk novel On Wings of Steel: The Darkside Chronicles, Book 1, in which Erica Halgrim, a member of the Angels of Steel courier service, finds herself drawn into a political plot—and possibly murder—at the risk of her own life. No doubt he’ll also be promoting his noir-fantasy story collection Chasing Danger: The Case Files of Theron Chase, in which a private eye works the back streets of the city of Calasia on behalf of supernatural clients in trouble, and finds his hands full of danger, death, and femme fatales!
Rich is the author of a growing list of StarWarp Concepts titles: the swashbuckling adventure novel Harbinger of Darkness; the fantasy-adventure story collection For a Few Gold Pieces More; the writers’ and RPG gamemasters’ aid Terra Incognito: A Guide to Building the Worlds of Your Imagination; the supernatural-superhero graphic novel Troubleshooters, Incorporated: Night Stalkings; and the pirate-adventure digital comic The Chronicles of the Sea Dragon Special.
Be sure to stop by Rich’s table in the Dealers’ Room and pick up any titles you might have missed, and to learn about the other projects he has in the works for 2025—including a very pulpy, two-fisted novella collection he has coming up that stars a trio of Golden Age heroines!
PulpFest runs August 7–10. For more information on the show, visit the PulpFest website.
James Warren at the Famous Monsters Convention (October 2023). Photo by Tedjalbert.
Born in 1930, James Warren is a name known to every horror fan who grew up in the 1950s to 1980s. He was the driving force behind the Warren Publishing Company; the man who thumbed his nose at the censorial limitations imposed by the Comics Code Authority to publish the entertainment magazine Famous Monsters of Filmland, the horror-comic anthology series Creepy and Eerie, the war-critique comic series Blazing Combat, the time-traveling adventures of The Rook, and—best known of all—the risqué adventures of Vampirella, the scantily clad outer-space vampiress that he cocreated with Famous Monsters editor Forrest J Ackerman (with the help of design artists Frank Frazetta and Trina Robbins).
And today’s the day when James Warren celebrates his 95th birthday!
I’ve never had the pleasure of meeting the man, but I did reach out to him in 2001, when I was about to launch a rebooted Lorelei comic book series (sadly, it lasted only two issues due to low sales). I mailed a copy of Lorelei, Volume 2 #1—which contained the prologue and first chapter of what would become the graphic novel Lorelei: Sects and the City—to his home (I don’t remember how I found the address), along with a cover letter expressing my admiration for his work and my thanks for being such an inspiration. And boy, was I surprised when he wrote back!
“You sure do pay Warren Publishing a nice tribute. I wish you good luck and good acceptance. I like the graphics, and the story is exciting!”
I couldn’t have asked for a better reception than that! And when Lorelei: Sects and the City was eventually published in 2012, it seemed I’d learned all the right lessons from those comics he published, because reviewers were united in agreeing that Lori’s succubus-vs.-Lovecraftian-cult adventure perfectly captured the Warren Publishing vibe!
So, how can you celebrate this special day? Well, around here, we recommend there’s no better way than by purchasing a copy of our popular and well-reviewed nonfiction comics history that’s all about James Warren’s most famous comic creation:
From the Stars…a Vampiress: An Unauthorized Guide to Vampirella’s Classic Horror Adventures, by Steven A. Roman (that’s me!), is the critically acclaimed nonfiction history of Vampirella that takes an extensive look at her early days, from the debut of her series in 1969 to the death of Warren Publishing in 1983. In it you’ll find an in-depth examination of the life and death of Warren Publishing; a guide to all of Vampirella’s Warren stories; a checklist of all her Warren appearances (plus the publications from Harris Comics and Dynamite Entertainment that reprinted her Warren adventures); an overview of the six novelizations by pulp sci-fi author Ron Goulart that were published in the 1970s by Warner Books; and the behind-the-scenes story of Warren Publishing’s demise, explaining how Vampirella survived the death of her original comic house. There’s also a foreword by Official Vampirella Historian Sean Fernald, a frontispiece by Warren artist Bob Larkin, and photographs from the personal archives of Forrest J Ackerman.
In addition to all that, I tell the tale of the unproduced film adaptation of the 1970s planned by legendary horror studio Hammer Films that was to star Barbara Leigh as Vampi and Peter Cushing (Grand Moff Tarkin of Star Wars) as her constant companion, the stage magician Pendragon. How the production came to be and how it ultimately fell apart is a complicated, somewhat convoluted story, but I did my best to put the events surrounding it into a chronological, logical order—for the first time ever! This overview includes a peek at Mr. Cushing’s personal copy of the ’70s Vampirella screenplay.
I also take a look at the awful 1996 direct-to-cable-TV movie that was made for the Showtime network, produced by Roger Corman, directed by Jim Wynorski (Dinocroc vs. SuperGator), scripted by Gary Gerani (Pumpkinhead), and starring Talisa Soto (Mortal Kombat) as Vampi and The Who’s front man, rock god Roger Daltrey as…Dracula! It’s a film so bad and so low budget, with such a godawful Vampirella costume, that even Wynorski hates being reminded of his involvement with it!
Today is opening day for San Diego Comic-Con 2025: four days in which hordes of comic and pop-culture fans descend on the San Diego Convention Center (and the nearby Gaslamp Quarter) to meet their acting and/or comic-creating idols, hunt down collectibles, attend panels, pose in their best costumes, crowd the aisles, and maybe (maybe!) even buy comic books.
StarWarp Concepts won’t be part of the festivities—it’s just too expensive to exhibit there, what with cross-country travel and shipping, not to mention exhibitor and hotel fees—but that doesn’t mean you can’t experience SWC’s sort of scaled-down version of the big show right here!
You want sales? A good number of our digital titles are currently available at discounted prices, as part of our annual involvement with Smashwords’ Winter/Summer E-book Sale and the Christmas in July Sale at DriveThru Comics and DriveThru Fiction. Both sales run until the end of the month, so click the links to check out the bargains!
Convention giveaways? Our Downloads page has a bunch of free stuff: Pandora Zwieback wallpapers for your smartphone and computer, and book samples. Plus we have free digital comic books you can download:
Lorelei #1: The 30th Anniversary Edition is a reprint of the comic that helped launch StarWarp Concepts in 1993. Wriiten and created by Steven A. Roman (that’s me!), and drawn by David C. Matthews (Heartstopper: The Legend of La Bella Tenebrosa), it introduced readers to celebrated professional photographer Laurel Ashley O’Hara, on the day that would change her life forever—a day when a major exhibition of her work was opening at a prestigious New York museum…and the day she unfortunately met the charming but dangerous Arioch—a lord of hell!
Heroines & Heroes is a collection of comic stories and pinups all drawn by Steven A. Roman (that’s me!), dating back to my days in the early 1990s small-press movement—that age of dinosaurs in which creators like me used to make our comics by printing them out on photocopiers and then stapling them by hand. In H&H you’ll find mainstream heroes and small-press heroines, and even a couple of anthropomorphic bikers. Leading off is “V-A-C-A-T-I-O-N (in the Summertime),” a three-page Wonder Woman vs. Harley Quinn story that I wrote and drew in the late ’90s as a sample for a DC Comics editor who thought I’d be a good fit for their Batman: The Animated Series comic (it didn’t work out). The WW/Harley matchup is followed by an adventure of small-presser Jeff Wood’s rabbit-eared superspy, Snowbuni; three pages from the long-canceled indie comic Motorbike Puppies; and an adventure of the indie superheroine The Blonde Avenger.
The Saga of Pandora Zwieback #0is a full-color introduction to the young adult novel series of the same name, hosted by Pan herself. Pan is a 16-year-old New York City Goth who’s not only a horror fangirl but someone with the rare ability to see the for-real monsters that regular humans can’t (she calls it her “monstervision”), and with the help of a 400-year-old, shape-shifting monster hunter named Sebastienne “Annie” Mazarin, she’s learning how to protect her family, her friends, and the world from the supernatural dangers out there—and maybe even have some fun while doing it. This 16-page comic features a seven-page story written by me, with art and color by Eliseu Gouveia (The Saga of Pandora Zwieback Annual #1, Carmilla, A Princess of Mars, Lorelei: Sects and the City), and includes two sample chapters from Blood Feud, the first Pan novel.
Heartstopper: The Legend of La Bella Tenebrosa #1–3. Before she became Pan’s monster-hunting mentor, Sebastienne “Annie” Mazarin made her debut in this short-lived, 1990s Mature Readers series from Millennium Publications. A nefarious heavy metal band has arrived in New York City, and its lead singer is more than just a sex magnet for his female fans—he’s a soul-stealing incubus! Will Annie put an end to his plans for worldwide chaos, or fall prey to his supernatural charms? Written by me (of course), issue 1 is drawn by Pan and Annie co-creator Uriel Caton (JSA Annual) and inker Alan Larsen (Femforce), and colored by Dan Peters; issue 2 is penciled by Uriel, Holly Golightly (School Bites, Archie Comics), and David C. Matthews (Satin Steele), inked by Larsen, and colored by Zeea Adams; and issue 3 is penciled by Holly, with four pages of inks by “Chainsaw” Chuck Majewski (Harvey Kurtzman’s New Two-Fisted Tales).
As a special bonus, issue 3 includes a brief look at the never-published Heartstopper/Trollords, a crossover special that would have had Annie meet Harry, Larry, and Jerry, the Three Stooges–inspired trolls created by Scott Beaderstadt and Paul Fricke for their popular comic series of the 1980s. H/T was to be written by me with pencils by Holly and Scott and inks by Bill Lavin (Troubleshooters, Incorporated: Night Stalkings), but unfortunately it just never got past the starting gate.
(Warning: Heartstopper is designated a “Mature Readers” comic for violent scenes and some sexual innuendo, so younger Panatics should avoid it.)
Artists Alley? Our Gallery area—think of it as an online artists’ alley—features two sections, The 13 Days of Pan-demonium and Visions of Lorelei, both containing original renderings of our two best-known characters by a host of artists from indie and mainstream comics, including such notables as Mike Mignola (Hellboy), Elizabeth Watasin (Charm School), Teri S. Wood (Wandering Star), Neil Vokes (Tom Holland’s Fright Night), Frank Thorne (Red Sonja), Louis Small Jr. (Vampirella), Dave Simon (Ghost Rider), Bill Ward (Torchy), and Joseph Michael Linsner (Red Sonja)!
So even though the StarWarp Concepts crew (and possibly you, as well) isn’t in sunny San Diego, at least you can have a con-like experience in the meantime from the comforts of your home!
This coming Friday, fans of genre fiction will be gathering in Billie Creek Village, Indiana, for the kickoff of The Time Traveler’s Weekend, in which (according to their site), the historic recreation of a turn-of-the-century village “will be transformed into a patchwork wonderland of steampunk, science fiction, and fantasy.”
Among the attendees at this cross-genre get-together will be author Richard C. White, who’ll be promoting his latest SWC release, the sci-fi steampunk novel On Wings of Steel: The Darkside Chronicles, Book 1, in which Erica Halgrim, a member of the Angels of Steel courier service, finds herself drawn into a political plot—and possibly murder—at the risk of her own life.
Rich is the bestselling author of the licensed novel Gauntlet: Dark Legacy: Paths of Evil, as well as a bunch of titles published by us: the swashbuckling adventure novel Harbinger of Darkness; the fantasy-adventure story collection For a Few Gold Pieces More; the writers’ and RPG gamemasters’ aid Terra Incognito: A Guide to Building the Worlds of Your Imagination; the supernatural-superhero graphic novel Troubleshooters, Incorporated: Night Stalkings; the noir-fantasy story collection Chasing Danger: The Case Files of Theron Chase; and the pirate-adventure digital comic The Chronicles of the Sea Dragon Special.
Be sure to stop by Rich’s table and pick up any titles you might have missed, and to learn about the other projects he has in the works for 2025—and beyond!
The Time Traveler’s Weekend runs July 25–27. For more information on the show, visit their website.
Hark! The herald angels sing, “E-books! Discounted e-books here! Get ’em while they’re hot! And have a merry freakin’ Christmas—in July!”
They sure can carry a tune, can’t they?
Anyway, as you probably know if you’ve made a visit to retail sites or cable channels these days, we’re smack-dab in the middle of the annual event that’s called Christmas in July, with all the sales you’d expect to go with it—including those for e-books and digital comics!
And if reading horror and dark fantasy and straight-up fantasy is, then you should head over to our e-book distributor DriveThru Fiction—and its sister site, DriveThru Comics—who’s definitely in the holiday mood with its annual Christmas in July Sale, during which you can purchase tons of digital books at special prices! It runs from now to July 31st—and yes, you’ll need to set up an account (it’s free) to take advantage of this promotion.
Included among the many participating publishers is StarWarp Concepts (of course), and among the titles we’re offering at a sweet discount, you’ll find:
On Wings of Steel: The Darkside Chronicles, Book 1 is our latest release: a sci-fi steampunk thriller from science fiction and fantasy author Richard C. White (Gauntlet: Dark Legacy: Paths of Evil, Star Trek SCE: Echoes of Coventry), in which Erica Halgrim, a new member of the Angels of Steel courier service, finds herself drawn into political intrigue, and her situation turns even more dangerous when she becomes a murder suspect—and a target for assassins!
From the Stars…a Vampiress: An Unauthorized Guide to Vampirella’s Classic Horror Adventures, by Steven A. Roman (that’s me!). Perfect for fans of old-school horror comics, this is a nonfiction history of Vampirella—the outer-space vampire who’s been in comics for over 50 years—that takes an extensive look at her early days, from the debut of her series in 1969 to the death of Warren Publishing in 1983. In addition to telling the tale of Hammer’s unproduced film adaptation that was to star Barbara Leigh and horror icon Peter Cushing, I provide an in-depth guide to all her Warren stories; a checklist of all her Warren appearances (plus the publications from Harris Comics and Dynamite Entertainment that reprinted her Warren adventures); an overview of the six novelizations by pulp sci-fi author Ron Goulart that were published in the 1970s by Warner Books; and a look at the awful 1996 direct-to-cable-TV movie that was made, starring Talisa Soto and Roger Daltrey. There’s also a peek at Mr. Cushing’s personal copy of the ’70s Vampirella screenplay; a foreword by Official Vampirella Historian Sean Fernald, a frontispiece by Warren artist Bob Larkin, and photographs from the personal archives of Forrest J Ackerman, Vampirella’s cocreator and the legendary creator/editor of Famous Monsters of Filmland.
Harbinger of Darkness is an original fantasy-adventure novel by Richard C. White in which 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. It’s sword-swinging adventure at its finest!
The Saga of Pandora Zwieback Annual #1 is a 56-page, full-color comic special that features cover art by award-winning artist Henar Torinos (Mala Estrella) and contains three original stories. In “Song of the Siren,” by writer Steven A. Roman and artist Eliseu Gouveia (Vengeance of the Mummy), the teenaged Goth adventuress matches wits with a man-stealing enchantress who’s set her sights on Pan’s boyfriend, Javier. It’s followed by “After Hours,” by writer Sholly Fisch (Kanga-U,The Batman &Scooby-Doo Mysteries), and comic-art legend Ernie Colon (Amethyst, Princess of Gemworld), in which a demon walks into a bar to unwind after a long day of scarifying. And rounding out the issue is “Shopping Maul,” a short story by Roman with title-page art by Elizabeth Watasin (Charm School), in which Pan and Annie, along with Javier and Pan’s best friend, Sheena, run into a group of Gothic Lolita vampires out to do more than a little window shopping.
Lorelei: Sects and the City is a Mature Readers graphic novel in which a soul-stealing succubus 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 Steven A. Roman, and illustrated by Eliseu Gouveia, Steve Geiger (Web of Spider-Man, Incredible Hulk), and Neil Vokes (Tom Holland’s Fright Night, Elvira, Mistress of the Dark). It also features work by three legendary Warren Publishing artists: Esteban Maroto (Vampirella, Zatanna, Lady Rawhide: Other People’s Blood), who provided the cover painting; 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).
And 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 the husband-and-white team of Richard C. White and Joni M. White, and illustrated by Reggie Golden and Randy Zimmerman.
You may have to check the sites over the coming days for availabilty, since it appears DriveThru does the discounts in waves, not all at once. So, if the reduced price isn’t in effect now, it might be later!
Again, the Christmas in July Sale runs now through July 31st, so head over to the StarWarp Concepts publisher pages at DriveThru Fiction and DriveThru Comics, and start your summer-reading shopping!
Hey, book lovers! Today’s the day when e-book distributor Smashwords launches its annual Summer/Winter Sale, during which you can purchase thousands of digital books at special prices! It runs from July 1 to July 31—and yes, you’ll need to set up an account (it’s free) to take advantage of this promotion.
As for why Smashwords gives this event such an unusual name: “Because Smashwords serves a global readership where it’s summer in the Northern hemisphere and winter in the Southern hemisphere. So whether you’re looking for a great beach read, or you want to curl up in front of a warm fireplace with a great read, we’ve got you covered!”
Included among the many participating publishers is StarWarp Concepts (of course), which means you can get the following digital titles at 25% off:
On Wings of Steel: The Darkside Chronicles, Book 1 is our latest release: a sci-fi steampunk thriller from science fiction and fantasy author Richard C. White (Gauntlet: Dark Legacy: Paths of Evil, Harbinger of Darkness), in which Erica Halgrim, a new member of the Angels of Steel courier service, finds herself drawn into political intrigue, and her situation turns even more dangerous when she becomes a murder suspect—and a target for assassins!
Terra Incognito: A Guide to Building the Worlds of Your Imagination is our popular how-to book for writers and gamers in which Rich White takes you through the step-by-step process of constructing a world for your characters, from societies and governments to currency and religion. A bonus feature 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.
Harbinger of Darkness is Rich White’s original fantasy-adventure novel in which 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. It’s sword-swinging adventure at its finest!
Blood Feud: The Saga of Pandora Zwieback, Book 1 is a young adult novel by Steven A. Roman (that’s me!) that’s perfect for lovers of dark urban fantasy. It introduces readers to Pandora Zwieback, 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 professional monster hunter 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. In Blood Feud, Pan, 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.
In 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…
And Chasing Danger: The Case Files of Theron Chase is Rich White’s collection of fantasy-noir, pulp-detective tales starring a private eye working the supernatural beat in the city of Calasia. From a sexy chanteuse who literally turns into a beast when the moon is full to a string of pearls that kills its owners, and from the ghost of a dead woman seeking justice to the Grim Reaper’s little girl seeking her stolen chicken, Theron Chase certainly has his hands full—of danger, death, and dames!
Again, the Smashwords Summer/Winter Sale runs July 1 to July 31, so head over to the StarWarp Concepts publisher page at Smashwords and start your summer (or winter) shopping!
If you’re a fan of role-playing games, then you probably know that today is Free RPGDay. If you’re not, it’s an annual event that’s sort of the gaming equivalent of Free Comic Book Day, intended to drive traffic to your local games shop and boost sales.
Launched by the organization Gaming Days in 2019, it involves over 700 stores around the world (according to their website) and “provides free exclusive content for a wide variety of tabletop roleplaying games.”
And what do you know? It just so happens that StarWarp Concepts has a book that’s perfect for game masters and gamers and fantasy fans alike. It’s not free, though, but it will provide the avid gamer and game master a wealth of information:
Terra Incognito: A Guide to Building the Worlds of Your Imagination is our popular how-to book for writers and gamers in which sci-fi and fantasy author Richard C. White (Harbinger of Darkness, For a Few Gold Pieces More) takes you through the step-by-step process of constructing a world for your characters, from societies and governments to currency and religion. A bonus feature 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.
What you’ll find in its pages is information that’s vital for just about any writer and game master, especially when it comes to world building, and Rich shows you how to do it:
Avoiding the pitfalls of naming characters, regions, and countries
Applying the technique of “outside in” to develop and then refine ideas for your world
Creating a world your readers can relate to, regardless of its technological levels
Identifying how to create backstories and conflict by observing how your world comes together
Adding details to make your story richer without overwhelming your readers
Identifying useful resources for research
From its first publication, the book has been a hit with both fantasy writers and role-playing gamers. In fact, it’s currently being used as a textbook in the Interactive Media & Game Development program at Worcester Polytechnic Institute in Worchester, Massachusetts!
“Terra Incognito is a solid introduction to the subject of world building. The book succeeds in helping the aspiring writer in creating a skeletal framework for which to hang the moving parts required of a believable fictional setting.”—The Gaming Gang
Terra Incognito: A Guide to Building the Worlds of Your Imaginationis available in trade paperback, hardcover, and digital formats, so visit its product page for ordering information. Order a copy for your favorite game master today, to show them how much you appreciate their work—or order it for yourself!
Born this day in 1930, Benjamin Franklin Thorne is best known to comic book fans (especially those who grew up during the Bronze Age of Comics, in the 1970s) as Frank Thorne, the artist who made Marvel Comics’ Red Sonja, She-Devil with a Sword, such a popular character that her adventures are still being told today, over 50 years later (via current publisher Dynamite Entertainment).
As visitors to this blog may be aware, as a reader and occasional artist I’ve been a longtime fan of Thorne’s work, from Marvel’s Sonja to Atlas Comics’ one-off Son of Dracula, to his own adult-themed creations: the sci-fi heroine Lann, Danger Rangerette, and the blond-haired Sonja stand-in, Ghita of Alizarr. Best of all, in 2002 I was able to commission a cover piece from Mr. Thorne for my Lorelei comic series.
(You can read about that, and his memorable one-day art class that I attended in 1988, “How to Draw Women the Frank Thorne Way,” in this post from 2014.)
Frank Thorne in his wizardly convention garb in the 1970s.
Frank Thorne passed away on March 7, 2021 just hours ahead of his wife, Marilyn; both were 90 years old, and were married almost 70 years. Marilyn, a graduate of the Julliard School of Music, had been the organist for the Willow Grove Presbyterian Church in Scotch Plains, New Jersey, for over 60 years.
Happy birthday, Mr. Thorne, and thanks as always for the brilliant, inspiring work you created!
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