For a Few Gold Pieces More Kickstarter Launches

FaFGPM_cover_preview-288x300It’s a special day for fans of fantasy adventures, as bestselling author Richard C. White (Gauntlet: Dark Legacy: Paths of Evil, Star Trek: SCE: Echoes of Coventry) launches a Kickstarter campaign to crowdfund the publication of his upcoming short story collection, For a Few Gold Pieces More: Tales of the Rogue With No Name!

For a Few Gold Pieces More: Tales of the Rogue With No Name stars a mysterious, unnamed wanderer with a penchant for getting into trouble…if the price is right. If you’re thinking Sergio Leone “spaghetti Westerns” mashed up with epic-fantasy adventures, then you’re definitely on the right track. And if you read my “State of the StarWarp Concepts Union” address at the start of this year, you know that Rich has already selected SWC as the publishing house he wants to handle the book’s release; the Kickstarter is being used to pay for production costs, such as the print-and-digital designer’s fees and the ten illustrations and cover art provided by digital painter Shane Braithwaite. If all goes well, we’re looking at a summer release this year—probably in June or July. Go check it out, and if you like what you see, then feel free to contribute to the fund before the window closes on March 14—Rich has some nice rewards to offer for the various donation levels.

Speaking of Rich, the release of For a Few Gold Pieces More will make this his fourth ’Warp-published title—and of course the other three are still available for purchase!

terra_ingoc_lg_coverIn Terra Incognito: A Guide to Building the Worlds of Your Imagination, Rich takes fantasy writers and gamers through the step-by-step process of constructing a world for their 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. Terra Incognito was not just the hottest #1 title when it made its debut last October at e-book distributor DriveThru Fiction, but it then held the #1 position for weeks as DTF’s hottest title for nonfiction books and writers’ reference guides!

“I think 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

troubleshooters_lrg_coverThe graphic novel Troubleshooters, Incorporated: Night Stalkings is perfect for superhero fans, and involves a supernatural team of superfolk-for-hire, consisting of a wizard, a sorceress, a female ninja, a high-tech-armor-wearing rock concert lighting designer, and a werewolf. Not every superhero team has Tony Stark’s billions to play with, you understand, and the Troubleshooters are just looking to earn a living while fighting the monsters that have always lurked in the shadows. Makes sense, right? Of course it does! Written by Rich and his wife, Joni M. White, and illustrated by Reggie Golden and Randy Zimmerman, Night Stalkings presents the TSI members on their first mission: protecting a multimillionaire from a trio of Middle Eastern demons out to raise a little hell!

“A very good spin on the tried and true ‘good-guys-for-hire’ formula. All in all, an enjoyable read that I would recommend to anyone.”Word of the Nerd

seadragon_lrg_cov_revThe Chronicles of the Sea Dragon Special is a one-shot digital comic created and written by Rich. Drawn by Bill Bryan (artist of Caliber Press’ Dark Oz and DC Comics’ House of Mystery), and featuring cover art and color by Eliseu Gouveia (SWC’s The Saga of Pandora Zwieback Annuals), it’s 48 pages of high-seas adventure for just 99¢!

Terra Incognito and Troubleshooters, Incorporated are available in print and digital formats; The Chronicles of the Sea Dragon Special is a digital exclusive. Visit their respective product pages for ordering information. And don’t forget to visit For a Few Gold Pieces More’s Kickstarter page!

Posted in StarWarp Concepts | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on For a Few Gold Pieces More Kickstarter Launches

Happy Birthday, Gahan Wilson!

gahanwilsonIf you’ve never heard the name Gahan Wilson, then you don’t know macabre cartoons—and you’ve been missing a lot of great ones. For sixty years, Wilson has been drawing creepy one-panel gags for magazines like The Twilight Zone, Playboy, National Lampoon, and The New Yorker. He’s the cartooning soul mate of Charles Addams, whose equally low-key cartoon horrors brought us The Addams Family. And today’s the day he turns 86!

I got to work with Wilson a couple of times, back in my editing days for publishing house ibooks, inc. Ibooks’ publisher, Byron Preiss, was a longtime friend of his, and one day Byron got the idea to put together a small trade paperback collection of Wilson’s cartoons (not the first publisher to do this—there’ve been many Wilson collections). This one would be called Gahan Wilson’s Gravediggers’ Party, and not only would Wilson come to the office to discuss it, but I was going to be the editor working with him to select the cartoons.

gravediggers_partyExcept that’s not how we met. That happened when I stepped out of my office to do something (I forget what) and practically walked into him. And then he uttered his memorable first words to me:

“Excuse me, can you tell me where the men’s room is?”

It took a second to process what he’d said—my mind was too busy thinking, Oh my God, it’s Gahan Wilson! But then I pointed him in the right direction and he hurried off.

From then on—after Byron had formally introduced us—Wilson always remembered me as that guy who showed him where the bathroom was. 😀

monster_partyWorking with him on Gravediggers’ Party, and its follow-up volume, Gahan Wilson’s Monster Party, was a joy, because I got to drool over five decades’ worth of incredible images (don’t worry, my lobster bib kept me from damaging anything). And Wilson agreed with about 85 percent of my choices, which made me even happier.

The last time I crossed paths with him was at the 2011 Boston Comic Con, where he was taking a break from signing copies of another (and massive) collection: Gahan Wilson: Fifty Years of Playboy Cartoons. He stopped by my table in artists’ alley and I reminded him of our collaboration on the two ibooks volumes. He smiled and said:

“I remember you! You’re the one who showed me where the men’s room was.”

For more information on Wilson and his work, check out the 2014 documentary Gahan Wilson: Born Dead, Still Weird. It features appearances from such notables as comedians Stephen Colbert and Lewis Black, director Guillermo del Toro, Playboy publisher Hugh Hefner, writer Neil Gaiman, and even comics legend Stan Lee.

Happy birthday, Mr. Wilson!

Posted in Birthdays | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

It’s Take Your Child to the Library Day 2016!

library-something-wicked-5

Today is the fifth annual celebration of Take Your Child to the Library Day. Founded in 2011 by children’s librarian Nadine Lipman, the event is held the first Saturday in February and encourages librarians to reach out to their communities and show folks just how wonderful reading can be.

Before the Internet, libraries were the source for information and reading, and these days they can use our support. So head out tomorrow, introduce your children to that big brick building with all the free books to borrow, update the library card that’s been stuck in the back of your wallet for all these years, and renew your acquaintance with a vital partner in the ongoing literacy campaign.

For more information, including the list of participating libraries, visit the TYCLD Facebook page.

Posted in Events | Tagged | Comments Off on It’s Take Your Child to the Library Day 2016!

Lady Demon Review at Comics for Sinners

LadyDemonTPOver at the news site Comics for Sinners, you’ll find my review of Lady Demon: Hell to Pay, currently available from Dynamite Entertainment. Written by Aaron Gillespie (Purgatori: Hell and Back, The Bionic Man), with art by Mirka Andolfo (Chaos: Highway to Hel, DC Comics Bombshells) and Juanan Ramirez (Altered States: Red Sonja, Chaos: Smiley the Psychotic Button), it collects the 2015 four-issue miniseries that follows the adventures of the archduchess of Hell as she flees the netherworld for the safety of…Arkansas? It’s an enjoyable nod to 1970s Southern Gothic horror movies that you might want to check out. Head over to C4S to learn more.

Speaking of hell-powered bad girls inspired by 1970s horror movies, have you met Lorelei, StarWarp Concepts’ resident soul-stealing succubus? 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 Ghost Rider, 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.

Posted in Comic Books, Reviews | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on Lady Demon Review at Comics for Sinners

Guardians Review at Comics for Sinners

Guardians-cvrOver at the news site Comics for Sinners, you’ll find my review of Guardians, a graphic novel currently available from Zenescope Entertainment. Written by Ralph Tedesco (Grimm Fairy Tales), and illustrated by Carlos Granda (Pirouette, Escape From Monster Island), it’s sort of a buddy-action-comedy about a down-on-his-luck guardian angel named Tabbris and his dopey sidekick, Nathaniel, as they get drawn into a conspiracy between heaven and hell to wipe out humanity. Think of it as a celestial version of the 1980s’ Eddie Murphy/Nick Nolte vehicle 48 Hours, and you have a pretty good idea of what you’ll find in the pages of Guardians. Head over to C4S to learn more.

 Speaking of supernatural buddy-action-adventures, have you met Sebastienne “Annie” Mazarin, the 400-year-old, shape-shifting monster hunter who 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 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 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 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!

pan_annual_1_large_coverThe 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).

Blood Feud, Blood Reign, and the Pan Annual 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.

Posted in Comic Books, Reviews | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Guardians Review at Comics for Sinners

Lorelei Has a Wikipedia Page!

Lorelei1Okay, actually it’s a Lorelei SuccuWiki page hosted by Succubus.net, and it’s been around for a few years, but I bet you didn’t know it existed. And when I stumbled across it about two years back, I was pleasantly surprised—to think that someone took the time to fashion a page dedicated to a small-press character I created back in 1989…well, it’s certainly an honor!

But even more exciting than the page’s existence is that last year I had the opportunity to work with Succubus.net site owner TeraSuccubi to completely update Lori’s entry, so that Lori’s fans can have the most up-to-date background information on their favorite flame-tressed temptress. It has a more detailed publishing history, an explanation of her soul-stealing powers, and even a bibliography—all in one handy location. And what better time to spread the word about The ’Warp’s first leading lady of horror than during Women in Horror Month!

In case you were unaware, Lori 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 Ghost Rider, 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.

Posted in Lorelei, Publishing | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on Lorelei Has a Wikipedia Page!

Happy Women in Horror Month 2016!

WiHM2016Girl-WhiteOnBlack-mediumIt’s February, and that means it’s time again for Women in Horror Month, the annual celebration that shines the spotlight on the contributions of all the female creators—writers, artists, movie directors, producers, special makeup artists, special effects experts, etc.—who’ve brought thrills and chills to generations of fans around the world. And the Women in Horror Month website is the place to go to find out all about the events scheduled for this year. To quote the organization’s most recent press release:

Women in Horror Month (WiHM) is an international, grassroots initiative, which encourages supporters to learn about and showcase the underrepresented work of women in the horror industries. Whether they are on the screen, behind the scenes, or contributing in their other various artistic ways, it is clear that women love, appreciate, and contribute to the horror genre.

WiHM celebrates these contributions to horror throughout the year via the official WiHM blog, Ax Wound, The Ax Wound Film Festival, and with the official WiHM event/project database in February. This database—in conjunction with the WiHM social media fan base—actively promotes do-it-yourself annual film screenings, blogs/articles, podcasts, and any other form of creative media with the ultimate goal of helping works by and featuring women reach a wider audience.

This inclusive and positive movement is open to everyone, just as we believe the horror genre should be.

For more information, visit the WiHM site.

Posted in Events | Tagged | Comments Off on Happy Women in Horror Month 2016!

Terra Incognito E-book at Scribd

terra_ingoc_lg_coverHey, e-book lovers, you can now find the ePub edition of Terra Incognito: A Guide to Building the Worlds of Your Imagination—Richard C. White’s how-to reference book for writers and gamers—at digital subscription library Scribd!

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, Troubleshooters, Incorporated: Night Stalkings) 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.

You’ll find Terra Incognito: A Guide to Building the Worlds of Your Imagination here at Scribd. Add it to your queue today!

Scribd joins our other digital distribution partners for Terra Incognito: Amazon’s Kindle Store; Barnes & Noble’s Nook Store; Apple’s iBookstore; Kobo; Smashwords; and DriveThru Fiction, where Terra Incognito was not just DTF’s hottest #1 title when it made its debut, but then held the #1 position for weeks as DTF’s hottest title for nonfiction books and writers’ reference guides!

For those of you who prefer holding physical copies of our titles, Terra Incognito: A Guide to Building the Worlds of Your Imagination is also available in print, so visit its StarWarp Concepts product page for ordering information.

Get started world building today!

Posted in e-books, e-tailers, Publishing | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on Terra Incognito E-book at Scribd

I, Reviewapalooza

DW12th-Vol1As some of you may be aware, since 2014 I’ve been a comic and graphic novel reviewer for the news site Comics for Sinners, giving my opinion on some of the latest releases for bad-girl fans and general readers alike. Here are the titles I reviewed in January 2016:

Dark Horse Books
Rex Mundi, Book 1: The Guardian of the Temple: Written by Arvid Nelson, art by Eric J

Titan Comics
Doctor Who: The Twelfth Doctor, Vol. 1: Terrorformer: Written by Robbie Morrison, art by Dave Taylor

Valiant Entertainment
Faith #1: Written by Jody Houser, art by Francis Portela and Marguerite Sauvage

Zenescope Entertainment
Escape From Monster Island #1: Written by Joe Tyler, art by Carlos Granda

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

The Ghost of Reviewapalooza: an overview of 2014 titles
Mary Shelley’s Reviewapalooza: an overview of 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.

Posted in Comic Books, Reviews | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

Terra Incognito E-book at iBooks, Kobo, Smashwords

terra_ingoc_lg_coverIt took a bit of wrangling, but at last the e-book edition of Richard C. White’s reference book for writers, Terra Incognito: A Guide to Building the Worlds of Your Imagination, is now available at Apple’s iBooks store, Kobo, and digital distributor Smashwords!

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.

You’ll find Terra Incognito: A Guide to Building the Worlds of Your Imagination here at iBooks, here at Kobo, and here at Smashwords.

Apple, Kobo, and Smashwords join our other digital distribution partners for Terra Incognito: Amazon’s Kindle Store; Barnes & Noble’s Nook Store; and the SWC store at DriveThru Fiction, where Terra Incognito was not just DTF’s hottest #1 title when it made its debut, but then held the #1 position for weeks as DTF’s hottest title for nonfiction books and writers’ reference guides!

For those of you who prefer holding physical copies of our titles, Terra Incognito: A Guide to Building the Worlds of Your Imagination is also available in print, so visit its StarWarp Concepts product page for ordering information.

Get started world building today!

Posted in e-books, e-tailers, Publishing, Writing Reference Books | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Terra Incognito E-book at iBooks, Kobo, Smashwords