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White Rocket Ep 20: Superheroes in Novels & Beyond, Pt 3: Just Cause!

White Rocket Ep 20: Superheroes in Novels & Beyond, Pt 3: Just Cause!

Superhero author Ian Thomas Healy joins Van for this week’s White Rocket Podcast, exploring superheroes in novels and beyond.  Ian discusses his “Just Cause” series and other works, as well as his seminars on writing better action scenes.  And there’s “Superfriends” music!

Find the show on iTunes or visit the White Rocket site at http://www.whiterocketbooks.com.

All the previous shows and descriptions are available at http://whiterocket.podbean.com

Visit Van’s site: http://www.plexico.net

SENTINELS: THE GRAND DESIGN– OMNIBUS PAPERBACK

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The First Trilogy of Van Allen Plexico’s Superhero Novel Series—At Last in a One-Volume Edition!

(August 8, 2012)  White Rocket Books proudly announces the release in trade paperback format of Van Allen Plexico’s SENTINELS: THE GRAND DESIGN, a one-volume collection of the first three novels in the famed cosmic superhero saga!

Weighing in at a whopping 624 pages and with a stunning painted cover by celebrated artist Mitch Foust, the “Grand Design” Omnibus also features no fewer than fifteen full-page interior illustrations by series artist Chris Kohler.

The book contains all three volumes of the first Sentinels trilogy (When Strikes the Warlord, A Distant Star, and Apocalypse Rising) in their entirety, introducing the heroes and villains (and those in between) that make up this fascinating and compelling superhero universe.

What begins as an attempted abduction of a young student from her college campus quickly spirals out to engulf a diverse collection of individuals, including billionaire inventor and hero-wannabe Esro Brachis, beloved national savior (and amnesiac) Ultraa, wisecracking daredevil Damon “Cavalier” Sinclair, and mysterious alien powerhouse Vanadium.  Can this motley crew come together as a team in time to save the Earth from conquest or destruction?

Through the eyes of central character Lyn Li, a Chinese-American teen that possesses amazing electromagnetic powers, we encounter aliens and androids, geniuses and demigods, megalomaniacal arch-villains, space-borne monsters, and everything else one would expect from a classic Bronze-Age comic series—in New Pulp novel form!

“For most of my life I’ve loved the concept of a superhero team made up of very distinct individuals who barely get along with one another,” says author Van Allen Plexico.  “The fun comes in watching them encounter mind-blowing menaces and have to find a way—some way!—to work together long enough to miraculously save the day.  Throw in the ability that a novel series provides, to allow characters to really change and grow (and even die!) along the way, and you get what I strongly believe is a saga every superhero comics fan will love.  And with Chris Kohler illustrating the whole thing, you can’t go wrong!”

Plexico’s Sentinels series has been praised by Kirkus Reviews for offering “a fresh take on the superhero theme,” and by Pulp Fiction Reviews as “spectacular, action-packed, imaginative and wonderful.”  Noted superhero novelist Ian Thomas Healy called them “Kirbyesque,” describing Volume One as “the first book that successfully translates the feel of a comic book into prose.”

White Rocket Books is a leader in the New Pulp movement, publishing exciting action and adventure novels and anthologies since 2005, in both traditional and electronic formats.   White Rocket books have hit the Amazon.com Top 15-by-Genre and have garnered praise from everyone from Marvel Comics Vice-President Tom Brevoort to Kirkus Reviews.

On sale as of August 8, 2012, SENTINELS: THE GRAND DESIGN (Omnibus) is a $21.95, 6×9 format trade paperback from White Rocket Books.  (The individual novels are already available as $2.99 e-books for Kindle and other e-readers.)

624 pages

ISBN-13: 978-0-98413-925-5 (6×9” Trade Paperback; 15 full-page illustrations)

On Amazon.com:  http://www.amazon.com/Sentinels-The-Grand-Design-Omnibus/dp/0984139257

BLACKTHORN: DYNASTY OF MARS Novel– Continues the Apocalyptic Saga!

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White Rocket Books proudly announces the release in trade paperback and Kindle e-book formats of I. A. Watson’s BLACKTHORN: DYNASTY OF MARS, a new novel that reveals the shocking secrets of Princess Aria while continuing the bold and exciting adventures of John Blackthorn, PulpArk Award winner for “Best New Character of the Year.”

Eldest child of her world’s ruling dynasty, Aria is also the daughter of the evil Black Sorcerer—one of the dreaded First Men of Mars—and has been imbued with his sorcerous might. Rebelling against her father’s tyranny, Princess Aria has joined forces with a human soldier and a savage Mock-Man, and now dares to challenge the First Men’s rule. Will Aria’s power be enough to tip the balance in John Blackthorn’s favor, and free her world—or will she betray the rebels to her father—or worse—and bring all they have fought for crashing down?

BLACKTHORN: DYNASTY OF MARS, by award-winning author I. A. Watson (Robin Hood; Sherlock Holmes) and with a spectacular cover painted by Adam Diller, takes the saga of John Blackthorn and his brave companions to the next level—and beyond—with a grand adventure stretching down the centuries and across the war-torn face of post-apocalyptic Mars!

Created by Van Allen Plexico (Sentinels, Lucian) in the spirit of “Thundarr the Barbarian” and “John Carter of Mars,” the Blackthorn Saga has already been nominated for seven PulpArk Awards and one Pulp Factory Award.  Now, says Plexico, “ Ian Watson has pulled back the curtain and given readers the chance to dig into the rich history of future Mars, and to witness the rise of Princess Aria from pampered aristocrat to powerful leader of a planet-wide rebellion—along with a couple of guys named Blackthorn and Oglok. If you thought you knew the Blackthorn story, you ain’t seen nothing yet!”

White Rocket Books is a leader in the New Pulp movement, publishing exciting action and adventure novels and anthologies since 2005, in both traditional and electronic formats.   White Rocket books have hit the Amazon.com Top 15-by-Genre and have garnered praise from everyone from Marvel Comics Vice-President Tom Brevoort to Kirkus Reviews.

On sale as of July 28, 2012, BLACKTHORN: DYNASTY OF MARS is a $15.95, 6×9 format trade paperback from White Rocket Books, and a $2.99 e-book for Kindle.

250 pages

ISBN-13: 978-0-61567-654-8  (paperback)

ASIN: B008NYCVLQ  (Kindle)

On Amazon.com:
Trade Paperback : http://www.amazon.com/Blackthorn-Dynasty-I-A-Watson/dp/0615676545

Kindle editionhttp://www.amazon.com/Blackthorn-Dynasty-Mars-ebook/dp/B008NYCVLQ

Rocket Raccoon and Groot to be Featured in Guardians of the Galaxy Movie

According to reports from San Diego Comic Con last weekend, the 2014 “Guardians of the Galaxy” movie from Marvel will feature the “new” version of the team–the Dan Abnett & Andy Lanning version– rather than the original lineup.

http://www.hitfix.com/news/guardians-of-the-galaxy-will-feature-star-lord-rocket-raccoon-groot-gamora-and-drax

Watson & Plexico Talk BLACKTHORN on the Book Cave Podcast

I. A. Watson and Van Allen Plexico joined Ric Croxton for a special episode of the Book Cave, discussing all things BLACKTHORN– characters, stories, backgrounds and influences–and the new BLACKTHORN novel coming soon from Watson and White Rocket Books, among many other interesting topics.

The podcast is here:   http://thebookcave.libsyn.com/webpage/ric-s-comics-episode-73-blackthorn

THE TOMB OF INCANTRUS VEIL: Blackthorn: Spires of Mars, Chapter Four, by I. A. Watson, now online!

THE TOMB OF INCANTRUS VEIL, Chapter Four of the ongoing online serial novel, Blackthorn: The Spires of Mars by I.A. Watson, is now available at http://www.whiterocketbooks/blackthorn .

Twelve puissant wizards were slaughtered for their component parts. One fell creature was built from their sundered spirits – and it waits for John Blackthorn!

Updates every Monday and Thursday! Next update 23rd July.

New Message Board for Pulps Old & New

There’s a new message board for Classic Pulps and New Pulp.  It’s just started up:

http://pulpforums.proboards.com/index.cgi

Adam Diller Signs On to do BLACKTHORN: DYNASTY OF MARS Cover

Adam Diller has held a wide variety of artistic positions within the video game industry, ranging from Concept and Production Artist through to Art Director, and has worked on everything from apps to RPGs to third-person shooters for the latest gaming consoles. When the realization hit that he hadn’t had the opportunity to draw nearly as many Martian Princesses as he would have liked–and despite being in high demand for his beautiful artwork–he became an easy mark to recruit for BLACKTHORN.

The result is a gorgeous painting of Princess Aria, destined to grace the cover of I. A. Watson‘s Blackthorn: Dynasty of Mars— coming very soon from White Rocket Books!

Read more and check out Adam’s portfolio at the BLACKTHORN page:  http://www.whiterocketbooks.com/blackthorn

BLACKTHORN: Spires of Mars–Serial Novel by I. A. Watson–begins NOW at WhiteRocketBooks!

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BLACKTHORN: SPIRES OF MARS Online Serial Adventure!

Continuing the Adventures of the Award-Winning New Pulp Warrior and his Allies!

(July 11, 2012)  A young man desperate to save his sister from the raiders who kidnapped her into slavery…  An ancient undead released after half a millennium… Four sorcerous First Men who will kill half a world to keep their darkest secret…  And three champions who will stand for Mars against horror and tyranny—or die trying!

Award-winning author I.A Watson’s online novel set in the futuristic Martian world of BLACKTHORN offers readers a serial adventure in the tradition of old-time pulps, showcasing the vibrant characters and lush settings of this popular and successful series.

Join Earth General John Blackthorn, Princess Aria of Mars, Oglok the Mock-Man and an ever-expanding cast of rebels, monsters, magicians, and villains as the mystery of the ancient Harmony Spires is explored.  Following on from BLACKTHORN:  THUNDER ON MARS and meshing with the upcoming BLACKTHORN: DYNASTY OF MARS novel, also by Watson, this stand-alone full-length serial adventure offers a glimpse of a future where magic and technology are one and humanity must face its ultimate challenge.

“This serial adventure gives readers everything they could ask for,” says White Rocket Books Publisher Van Allen Plexico.  “An award-winning character, written by an award-winning writer—and set in the fantastic world of post-apocalyptic Mars.  It’s an absolute grand slam!”

Jump in on the ground floor at www.whiterocketbooks.com/blackthorn with Chapter 1: “A Night in the Deadlands.”  A desperate young man must cross the wasteland where everything dies – but nothing stays dead!

Tune in for new chapters every Monday and Thursday!

White Rocket Books is a leader in the New Pulp movement, publishing exciting action and adventure novels and anthologies since 2005, in both traditional and electronic formats.   White Rocket books have hit the Amazon.com Top 15-by-Genre and have garnered praise from everyone from Marvel Comics Editor Tom Brevoort to Kirkus Reviews.

Find new installments of the series and links to buy copies of the original THUNDER ON MARS anthology by visiting www.whiterocketbooks.com

Ian Watson Visits the Nocturne Travel Agency; Talks BLACKTHORN!

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Ian (I.A.) Watson is the guest on this week’s installment of Thomas Deja’s Nocturne Travel Agency, and he tosses out lots of awesome tidbits about upcoming BLACKTHORN projects, among other items of interest:

http://welcometonocturne.blogspot.com/2012/07/elsewhere-in-multiverse-meet-ian-watson.html