Outland Entertainment is pleased to announce the acquisition of the North American rights to four novels from Argonautica Press, an independent publisher based out of Australia.
"Fisch (Jason Fischer) and I are thrilled to be working with Outland to bring these titles to a North American audience for the first time," said Jason Franks, one half of the pair of Jasons behind Argonautica. "Jason and I going into business together based on having the same name is a goofy idea, but it's built on many years of friendship and we're very serious about making a success of it. Publishing is a crazy business, and it's nice to have a bit of fun with it, but it's still a business."
"While we started Argonautica Press as a fun play on our names, we were deadly serious about putting our favourite books out into the world," said Fischer. "We are beyond thrilled to find a new home with Outland Entertainment, who share the same passions for storytelling and the love of genre works that we do. Our logo is the Argos, the infamous boat from Jason and the Argonauts, but even with such a mighty vessel at our command, there's only so much we can do from the remote isle of Australia. To quote Jaws, 'we're gonna need a bigger boat.'"
Last year, Outland published Fischer's Papa Lucy & the Boneman.
The list of titles involved in this deal includes:
Quiver (Tamsyn Webb Book 1)
By Jason Fischer
Tamsyn Webb has had to grow up fast. The dead walk, and they hunt the living.
One of the few safe places left in England is Gravesend, a small village turned into a fortress. Trapped with hundreds of starving, scared survivors, it’s getting harder to tell who the monsters are – the ones beyond the walls, or those huddled behind them.
When Tamsyn learns of a possible cure for the zombie virus, there’s only one option. She’ll have to jump the wall, with nothing but her bow, a quiver-full of arrows, and the terror in her gut. But even if she gets back to Gravesend in one piece, Tamsyn might just doom them all…
Go To Hell (Tamsyn Webb Book 2)
By Jason Fischer
Even hidden in paradise, Tamsyn’s fate is a dark thread that leads to doom.
When Tamsyn’s past comes knocking, she is forced to leave everything behind. Death and chaos dog her as she returns to the ruins of England on a mission of redemption. Discovering the conspiracy behind the zombie outbreak, Tamsyn learns the bizarre truth about who she really is. As she falls into a strange new responsibility, the zombies become the least of her problems.
Faced with a dangerous new enemy, Tamsyn can only do what she does best–dig in her heels and give ’em hell.
Bloody Waters
By Jason Franks
Is the Devil more trustworthy than a record executive?
Young guitar virtuoso Clarice Marnier is on the verge of success when she crosses the wrong A&R man. Suddenly, instead of being signed to the major label, she finds herself blacklisted. So Clarice makes a deal with the Devil: the soul of her enemy for a record deal and a second chance.
As Clarice and her band, Bloody Waters, begin their ascent to rock stardom they are beset by a strange array of enemies. Has-been guitar heroes, popstar succubi, spell-slinging DJs, angry divas and killer angels – every occult freak and music industry player in LA wants something from them, whether it’s a slice of their fame or a bite of their souls.
Clearly there’s more at stake than just a record deal – but what does the Devil really want, and how far will Clarice go to protect what’s hers?
Shadowmancy
By Jason Franks
On a mountain that does not exist, there is a school where they teach the impossible.
From his first day at the Academy, things are difficult for Quay. Though he has surrendered his name, like every other acolyte at the magical school, Quay is the son of a disgraced professor, and he finds that his father’s old enemies are already lined up against him–while the professor’s own faction is just as suspicious. Quay refuses to take a side, but as his powers grow it becomes apparent that the damaged young boy may prove a greater threat than his father ever was.
Deep in the Library of Shadows, Quay finds a way to survive his father’s treacherous legacy, but the price is high indeed.
About Jason Fischer
Jason Fischer is a writer who lives near Adelaide, South Australia. He has won the Colin Thiele Literature Scholarship, an Aurealis Award, and the Writers of the Future Contest. In Jason’s jack-of-all-trades writing career he has worked on comics, apps, television, short stories, novellas, and novels. Jason also facilitates writing workshops, is an enthusiastic mentor, and loves anything to do with the written or spoken word.
He also has a passion for godawful puns and is known to sing karaoke until the small hours.
About Jason Franks
Jason Franks is the author of the novels Bloody Waters, Faerie Apocalypse, and Shadowmancy and the writer of the Sixsmiths comics, which have variously been short-listed for Aurealis, Ditmar, and Ledger awards. His short fiction has been published in Deathlings, Aurealis, Midnight Echo, and many other magazines and anthologies.
If our upcoming publications with Argonautica Press sound exciting, you're going to love these books: