Tag Archives: eliseu gouveia

Hey, Where’d I Go?

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An extremely belated Happy New Year to all you loyal Pan-atics. I apologize for the lack of updates in the last weeks, but I imagine you’d rather have me focusing on getting the second Pan novel, Blood Reign, into your waiting hands than spend time blogging. I’m trying to find a way to balance the two, though, so this site doesn’t fall too far behind in passing along the latest Pan news.

Anyway, what’s been going on since you last heard from me? Well, there was my December appearance on the Veterans Radio show At Ease, hosted by New York Times bestselling author/historian Dwight Jon Zimmerman, where I talked up Blood Feud, Pan’s character background, and how a guy with no military experience was able to write fairly accurate combat scenes (it’s all in the research).

And in January, Diamond Comics Distributors—the U.S.’s premier comic book and pop culture merchandise distributor—accepted StarWarp Concepts’ solicitation for The Saga of Pandora Zwieback Annual #1, a 48-page full-color special that goes on sale May 8, 2013. It’ll be listed in the March edition of the Diamond Previews catalog; I’ll let you know when you can pre-order your copy of the annual.

What’s in it, you ask? How about a story of Pan and her boyfriend Javi on their first date by me and artist Eliseu Gouveia (The Saga of Pandora Zwieback #0)? Then there’s a short tale of the Paniverse by writer Sholly Fisch—who’s been providing the backup stories for DC Comics’ Action Comics series (as well as writing the 2012 Action Comics Annual #1)—and comics legend Ernie Colon, co-creator of Amethyst, Princess of Gemworld and artist of characters as varied as Magnus, Robot Fighter and Green Lantern to Casper the Friendly Ghost and Richie Rich. And rounding out the contents is an exclusive Pan short story by me involving Pan and her “Fiend Club” friends clashing with Elegant Gothic Lolita vampires at a shopping mall, with title page art by Elizabeth Watasin, indie comics creator of Charm School and the author of the Dark Victorian series of steapunk adventure novels.

And just take a look at this great cover art by Henar Torinos, the Madrid-based artist/creator of the graphic novel series Mala Estrella (Bad Star):

Have you ever seen a better portrayal of Pan as a happy Goth? On the other hand, her best friend, Sheena McCarthy, doesn’t look too happy—but how would you feel if you had a bunch of monsters with skunk breath crowding you in?

Stay tuned for more exciting news!

StarWarp Concepts Webstore Opens!

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It’s true— the SWC webstore is finally up and running! Now you can spare yourself the frustration of hunting down Pan’s adventures, and order them—as well as other StarWarp Concepts titles—directly from her publisher.

Currently available are print editions of Blood Feud, the classic vampire tale Carmilla (with illustrations by Saga of Pandora Zwieback #0 comic artist Eliseu Gouveia), and The Bob Larkin Sketchbook (which features Pan on the cover). And since the sketchbook is an SWC exclusive not available in stores, the webstore’s the only place you’ll be able to get it—not counting when we sell it at conventions, of course.

Also:

The official Pandora Zwieback T-shirt! You asked for it (repeatedly) and now you’ve got it! Available in both men’s and women’s sizes, it’s the same devil-girl T that Pan wears on the cover of Blood Feud, and an essential piece of clothing for every budding Goth adventuress.

The Blood Feud Art Print! It’s Bob Larkin’s cover art for the first Pan novel—as you should be well familiar with by now—presented on 11” x 17” cardstock without text, and limited to 100 copies.

So, head on over to the StarWarp Concepts site and start ordering already—I gotta clear some space in this office!  😉

The Queen of Queens

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Well, this is a nice way to start off 2012—with further praise for Blood Feud: The Saga of Pandora Zwieback, Book 1! This time it’s from D. W. Jones of the online horror magazine Blood Moon Rising:

“Roman brings horror to NYC and spins a tale that keeps the reader enthralled….  I recommend this book for all horror readers and especially to young girls.”

The fact that Blood Moon Rising’s offices are based in Queens, NY—Pan’s home borough—makes the positive reaction all the sweeter. I mean, who doesn’t love a monster-fightin’ hometown girl?

You can read the entire review—as well as a review of Carmilla, StarWarp Concepts’ first classic reprint (with illustrations by The Saga of Pandora Zwieback #0 comic artist Eliseu Gouveia)—by clicking on the cover. Don’t forget to check out the rest of the magazine!

Blood Moon Rising is also the sponsor of The Institute of Horror, Fantasy & Science Fiction, a one-day gathering being held this March at the main branch of the Queens Public Library, which is located in Flushing—a neighborhood that is immune to all your petty, childish jokes about toilets, so don’t even bother!  😀  Click the link in the Events listings for more information on the show.

When the (Internet) Radio Is on

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Last Thursday I appeared on the Scifi Diner podcast to promote Blood Feud: The Saga of Pandora Zwieback, Book 1, but that’s not all we discussed! It turned into an hour-long, freewheeling conversation that spanned my writing and editing careers, my fanboyish obsession with Doctor Who, the state of young adult fiction, praise for Pandora Zwieback artists Eliseu Gouveia and Bob Larkin, and even a plug or two for some StarWarp Concepts releases.

A big shout-out to hosts Scott Hertzog and Miles McLoughlin for allowing me to ramble on as much as I did, but once they got me started on a topic it was hard to shut up.  😀

Grab yourself a snack and a favorite beverage, then click on the Scifi Diner logo to head over to the show’s site and download the new episode. It’s a Pan-tastic interview!

We’ve Got E-books!

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That’s right! Available for purchase right now from DriveThru Horror is the PDF edition of Blood Feud: The Saga of Pandora Zwieback, Book 1!

Well, no, you can’t buy it for a dollar, but the low, low price of $4.99 is just as good, isn’t it? Of course it is!

Also available is J. Sheridan Le Fanu’s vampire classic Carmilla ($3.99!), which features six beautiful illustrations by resident Pandora Zwieback artist Eliseu Gouveia.

It’s a baby step into the 21st century for StarWarp Concepts, but we are working on other platform editions (Kindle, Nook, Kobo, etc.); I’ll have news on each one as they become available. For now, just click on the DriveThru logo above to check out the first two SWC releases!

13 Days of Pan-demonium: A Break From the Action

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Day 8 of The 13 Days of Pan-demonium has arrived, and we’re still celebrating the publication of BLOOD FEUD: THE SAGA OF PANDORA ZWIEBACK, Book 1, on sale right now from StarWarp Concepts and all fine online bookstores.

Hey, look, everybody! It’s our resident Pan artist, ELISEU “ZEU” GOUVEIA!

I Internet-met Zeu through the kindness of a mutual fan, Richard Boom, the Netherlands’ premier good-girl art fan. I was looking to revive my Lorelei comic-book character, and I knew that Richard was well connected with plenty of artists who could draw sexy women. Zeu was at the top of his list, and after seeing his gallery at DeviantArt I knew he was perfect for the job. The results of our collaboration will appear in Lorelei: Sects and the City, a Mature Readers graphic novel from StarWarp Concepts that’ll be on sale soon enough.

(BTW, European comic fans have already had a sneak peek. The first four chapters were serialized under the title “Lorelei: Une Marée de Sang” [A Pool of Blood] in the comic magazine Strange, from French publisher Organic Comix.)

In the midst of his Lorelei work, I approached Zeu with a new project: The Saga of Pandora Zwieback #0—a comic book giveaway that would introduce readers to Pan’s novel series. He jumped at the chance to draw Pan and Annie, and I was blown away by his art and coloring—and you can be, too. See that “Download Free Comic” link to the right? Go click it and check out Pan in full hype mode. Zeu followed that by agreeing to provide b&w frontispiece illustrations for the novels; you’ll find the first one in Blood Feud. And then I asked him about drawing a 13 Days pinup of Pan in a New York subway car…

But wait, you say, if she’s a budding young monster hunter, then where are the monsters? And who the hell is she playing tongue hockey with?! Well, even Pan needs a day off from all the world saving, and who better to share it with than her new boyfriend, Javier Maldonado.

Don’t know who Javi is? Well, then grab yourself a copy of Blood Feud and experience Pan’s first meeting with the new man in her life. And talk about drama! She’s a New York Mets fan, he’s a Yankees fan, and neither of their fathers is thrilled. Dealing with that conflict might be even more dangerous than facing down monsters!

The 13 Days of Pan-demonium keep rolling along! What’s in store tomorrow? Here’s a hint: “Good? Bad? I’m the girl with the chain saw.”

Hmm…I wonder what that could mean…?  😉

CALLING ALL VAMPIRE LOVERS!

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As the ad copy over at StarWarp Concepts says: Before Edward and Bella, before Lestat and Louis, even before Dracula and Mina, there was the tale of Carmilla and Laura.

CARMILLA is the classic, 19th-century novella of vampiric seduction by J. Sheridan Le Fanu that influenced Bram Stoker’s Dracula, and The ’Warp’s special edition features gorgeous black-and-white illustrations by Eliseu Gouveia, artist of the Pandora Zwieback e-comic. Here’s a sample:

Nice, huh? Carmilla is on sale right now at StarWarp Concepts, so head on over there for more information.

Carmilla has served as the inspiration for hundreds of novels, animated tales, comic books, and horror movies. Don’t believe me? Then check out the films The Vampire Lovers, Blood and Roses, Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust, The Batman vs. Dracula, even The Asylum’s schlockfest Vampires vs. Zombies!

(Actually, don’t check out that last one—it’s awful!)

Before You Ask…

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Yes, I know about the Canadian dark-fantasy TV series Lost Girl, soon to debut on the SyFy Channel. Thanks for bringing it up.  😉

Actually, I didn’t know about it until earlier this year, when Eliseu “Zeu” Gouveia, artist of the Pan e-comic, made me aware of the show’s existence (apparently it’s already aired in Portugal). To quote the show’s Web site:

“Lost Girl follows supernatural seductress Bo, a Succubus who feeds on the sexual energy of humans…. With the help of her human sidekick, Kenzi, and Dyson, a sexy police detective, Bo takes on a challenge every week helping a Fae or human client who comes to her to solve a mystery, or to right a wrong.”

Huh. Sounds like what you might get if you teamed Pan with Lorelei, the succubus character I created back in 1988—and who’s starring in StarWarp Concepts’ soon-to-be-published Mature Readers graphic novel Lorelei: Sects and the City (also drawn by Zeu)—instead of Pan’s shape-shifting mentor, Sebastienne “Annie” Mazarin.

(BTW, Annie and Pan were copyrighted in 1994 and 1998, respectively, in case you’re wondering. Although Pan’s history goes much further back than that…)

Odds are good I won’t watch the series—sorry, the only genre TV I pay attention to these days is Doctor Who—so all I can say is, good luck to Lost Girl. Considering how lame most of the shows on the SyFy Channel are, you’re gonna need it.  😀

Now where’s my Pandora Zwieback TV series…?

What Are…The 13 Days of Pan-demonium?

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Can anything prepare you for the mind-blowing awesomeness of a dozen fantastic artists (plus me) presenting their unique interpretations of the one and only Pandora Zwieback? Okay, probably yes, but it works better (for me, that is) if you say no!

What are the “13 Days of Pan-demonium”? It’s a celebration of the release of BLOOD FEUD: THE SAGA OF PANDORA ZWIEBACK, Book 1, on sale now from Pan’s publisher, StarWarp Concepts. (Just click on the Blood Feud cover at the top of the sidebar for more information.)

Which artists are involved? Here’s the lineup: Neil Vokes (Doctor Strange: From the Marvel Vaults); Louis Small Jr. (Vampirella); Uriel Caton (JSA Annual and Pan’s co-creator); Elizabeth Watasin (A-Girl and Charm School); Teresa Challender (Wandering Star); Dave Hoover (Charmed); Eliseu Gouveia (the Pandora Zwieback e-comic); Chris Malgrain (Stan Lee’s Alexa); Henar Torinos de la Torre (Mala Estrella); Caanan Grall (contributor to Comic Book Resources’ “The Line, It Is Drawn” feature) Jim Coon; and Ciaran Lucas.

Ah, but in what order will these stunning pieces of art appear? The only way you’ll find out is if you check this blog each day for the latest masterpiece. A devious attempt to draw the attention of all you potential readers, you say? I call it genius!

Prepare yourselves! The hour of Pan-demonium approaches!

(That didn’t sound too hype-y, did it? … Naaaah.)

Welcome, Boils and Ghouls, Fiends and Nayboars!

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Hey, there! Welcome to the Interwebs home of fictional full-time horror fangirl and part-time monster hunter Pandora Zwieback.

I’m author Steve Roman, and THE SAGA OF PANDORA ZWIEBACK is my first attempt at a dark-urban-fantasy book series. This isn’t my first time writing, however—if you check out the author section you’ll get all the background on my novel, short story, and comic book writing credits. (X-Men, Final Destination, zombies, succubi—I’m a reg’lar idea factory!)

 

 

As for the star of this book series…

Pandora Zwieback is a 16-year-old Goth who’s just discovered the world is brimming over with monsters, and a lot of them are fixed on either ruling humanity… or eating it! But with the help of an immortal, shape-shifting monster hunter named Sebastienne Mazarin—Annie, to her friends—Pan will learn how to stop them…hopefully. That’s the idea, at least…

(FYI, it’s pronounced ZWY-back, not “zwee-back.” Yes, both pronunciations are correct, but I prefer the long-I sound. In fact, at last year’s New York Comic Con I met two women with that very name—and that’s how they pronounce it, too.)

Pan’s story kicks off with BLOOD FEUD: THE SAGA OF PANDORA ZWIEBACK, Book 1, in which competing vampire clans seek the key to unleashing hell on earth—and the only people who can stop them are a teen Goth and her monster-hunting mentor. (And trust me, not one of these vampires is of the sparkly variety!) Click on the Blood Feud book cover at the top of the sidebar for more information.

The print edition of BLOOD FEUD will be available through the Starwarp Concepts webstore, as well as online stores Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble.com, WH Smith in the UK, and Angus & Robertson in Australia, among others. And I (and everyone at Starwarp Concepts) would certainly appreciate it if you helped spread the word and got your local indie bookstore to order it, too.

And don’t worry, e-readers! There are PDF, Kindle, Kobo, Nook, and iPad editions in the works, as well. I’ll keep you updated as each version becomes available.

But that’s not all the good news! To whet your appetite for my Goth girl’s weirdsome tales, check out the online schwag:

• The Saga of Pandora Zwieback #0! It’s a full-color e-comic—with sample chapters from Blood Feud—in which Pan herself gives you the lowdown on her book series. Story by me, art and color by Eliseu “Zeu” Gouveia, the extremely talented artist of such comics as The Phantom and Infiniteens. You’ll find the comic link in the sidebar.

• Downloads! Give your computer the fiendish makeover it’s always wanted with action-packed wallpapers of Pan and Annie, and print out your very own copy of the Pan bookmark that I hand out at conventions. Just visit the Downloads page to get started, and you’re sure to become the envy of every ghoul in the nayboarhood!

• A Blood Feud trailer! Animated by Web designer extraordinaire Dave De Mond, using Zeu’s artwork from the Pan e-comic, it’s a fun little intro to Pan’s world.

And starting next week, we’ll be unleashing The 13 Days of Pan-demonium! It’s an artistic celebration of Blood Feud’s release in which thirteen artists present their unique interpretations of our resident Goth girl, with a new piece of art posted each day on this blog. More news on that in the next blog post!

That’s all for now. Thanks for stopping by, and…pleasant screams!