writenews.com
|
Thursday, May 21st 1998 Amazing Stories Magazine Scheduled to Relaunch in July Wizards of the Coast Inc. announced an agreement with Viacom Consumer Products for the premiere issue of the relaunch of Amazing Stories, the world's oldest science fiction magazine, to feature cover art and original short stories from the Star Trek: The Next Generation. The cover of July's premiere issue will feature the USS Enterprise D from Star Trek: The Next Generation. The art was created by Hugo-winning artist Bob Eggleton. In addition, two Star Trek: The Next Generation short stories will be featured: "Last Words," by novelist A.C. Crispin, and "On the Scent of Trouble," by veteran Star Trek author John Betancourt. "The relaunch of Amazing Stories has been highly anticipated," said Wendy Noritake, periodicals publisher at Wizards of the Coast. "We feel the inclusion of Star Trek: The Next Generation stories and cover art will allow us to reach a wider audience. The science fiction short story has a long history and we are proud to continue and nurture this tradition." Other authors contributing to the first issue include Hugo award winner Ben Bova, current Hugo and Nebula awards nominee James Alan Gardner, and former Nebula award nominee Neal Barrett Jr. Science fiction fans will be the first to preview the "Gooses" excerpt from two-time Hugo and Nebula awards winner Orson Scott Card's novel Heartfire, and to read unique commentary from Bruce Sterling, author of the Hugo-winning short story "Bicycle Repairman." The premiere issue will also cover many facets of Amazing's 72-year history along with reviews of science fiction books, films and electronic games. Amazing Stories will be available at most mass-market retail outlets as well as most book, hobby, game and science fiction specialty stores. Women.com Secures Trademark Women.com Networks announced it has registered a trademark for Women.com, the URL for the home page of its network of websites and now the official company name. Formerly known as Wire Networks, Inc., Women.com is a leading network of branded content sites for women on the Web. Founded in 1992, Women.com Networks was the first online company to recognize the potential of women on the Web. Today, Women.com is attracting more than two million visitors each month. Since the 1995 launch of flagship site Women's Wire, the company has grown into a network, serving women at different life stages and with diverse interests. Women.com Networks has strategic alliances with such major communication companies as Media One, Rodale Press, Hallmark, Bloomberg LP and GeoCities. The company produces Women's Wire, Beatrice's Web Guide, Prevention's Healthy Ideas, Stork Site and MoneyMode. Expert Gamer Debuts in August With 175,000 Rate Base Ziff-Davis has announced that EGM2, its video game strategy magazine, has been graphically updated and renamed Expert Gamer, effective with the August 1998 issue. Expert Gamer will debut with a guaranteed paid rate base of 175,000 readers for the August 1998-July 1999 period, a circulation increase of 50,000. "The evolution of EGM2 to Expert Gamer is in direct response to how the core video game market has grown and evolved since EGM2 first launched in 1994," said Jon Lane, Group Publisher and Vice President of the Ziff-Davis Game Group. "In just the two years since we acquired it, EGM2's circulation has exploded from 75,000 to 175,000. Expert Gamer is a more apt descriptor for who this audience is and the information the magazine delivers. This move offers game vendors an even more effective way to access this influential market segment." EGM2 is geared towards avid core gamers, those categorized as active gamers who spend more than 14 hours on average per week playing games and who spend an average of $79 each month on video gaming. Launched as a complementary publication to Electronic Gaming Monthly during the height of 16-bit platforms, EGM2's primary mission evolved to helping readers get more from their games by delivering in-depth strategies; providing exclusive codes, tips, and tricks; and including comprehensive maps and walk-throughs of the latest games in each issue. Dove Entertainment Becomes NewStar Media Inc. NewStar Media Inc. is the new corporate name of Dove Entertainment, Inc., it was announced by Ron Lightstone, President and CEO. The current entities of NewStar Media Inc. include NewStar Publishing (NewStar Press and Dove Audio), NewStar Television and NewStar Worldwide. NewStar Publishing, helmed by publisher Geoff Hannell, former head of HarperCollins' audiobook and mass market paperback divisions, has made significant operational changes. Since January 1, 1998, Dove Audio product has been sold through the company's own sales force and shipped entirely from a company-controlled warehouse facility. Additionally, an arrangement with UAV Corporation, a major distributor, will enable Dove Audio to market a lower-priced product line at Walmart, K-Mart, grocery store chains and thousands of other outlets that have not sold audio books in the past. Dove Audio has published a number of popular audio books such as The Abuse of Power, a recording of the newly transcribed Nixon White House tapes. Forthcoming titles include the Titanic Disaster Hearings, produced in the Dove Audio studio with 25 readers; and President Jimmy Carter's reading of his Virtues of Aging for publication in October, 1998. NewStar Publishing will issue the lengthy Shadows on the Hudson by Nobel-Prize winning author Isaac Bashevis Singer in four installments. NewStar Press plans to publish printed books, concentrating on nonfiction books in the health and lifestyle, entertainment and business areas. Its newest title is False Prophets by Dale and Connie Jakes, freelance FBI undercover operatives with the Montana Freemen. The authors are scheduled to testify in the upcoming trial of 14 Freemen leaders on May 26th. Under Ron Ziskin, President of NewStar Television, the company has completed principal photography on the two-hour telefilm Futuresport for ABC. Wesley Snipes stars in the futuristic action thriller along with Dean Cain and Vanessa L. Williams. Earlier this year, the television division had a ratings winner with its two-hour original film on ABC-TV, Unwed Father, with Beverly Hills 90210 star Brian Austin Green. It also delivered 165 episodes of Make Me Laugh for Buena Vista Television and The Comedy Channel. Make Me Laugh has been The Comedy Channel's highest-rated game show for the past year. MindSpring to Distribute New York Times Headlines MindSpring Enterprises, Inc. announced it is distributing headlines from The New York Times on the Web on the MindSpring website and through The MindSpring Desktop, its interactive user interface. Readers can retrieve the full text of the articles from The Times' servers by clicking on the headlines. "The New York Times headlines are an important addition to our service," said Erika Jolly, vice president for product development at MindSpring. "Not only is The Times one of the most respected names in journalism, but its content is enticing and relevant." Click here to return to the homepage of The Write NewsTM Click here to subscribe to our free weekly email newsletter.  www.writenews.com Copyright © 1997-2011 by Writers Write, Inc. All Rights Reserved. |
