Contra Alliance Poised for Pop Culture Rise

LOS ANGELES, Feb. 8, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- The Contra Alliance Universe debuts to a nationwide audience with the hardcover and e-book release of Book I: Shadows of the Past. The first novel of two trilogies is now available through Barnes & Noble, Amazon, and Apple iBooks. Developed by Tom Kolega, an independent creator and writer, all production elements feature professionals—a testament to new book publishing models.

Distributed by America's two largest wholesalers, Ingram Book Company and Baker & Taylor, the deluxe hardcover edition of Shadows of the Past retails at $22.95 showcasing cover artwork by celebrated comic artist Joe Benitez (Lady Mechanika). The novel is 376-pages long, with an e-book version available on Kindle, iPad, and Nook for $3.95.

Contra Alliance begins in 2035 amidst superpower conflict between the United States and China. The story follows a NATO Special Forces unit that uncovers a galactic conspiracy and secret invasion on Earth while engaging a militant group called The Revolution. Since the NATO mission is Counter-Revolutionary, the strike force is codenamed CONTRA.

"Contra Alliance is a national security adventure that features international combat fused by an alien twist. Steeped in mythology originating from a galaxy 50 million light-years away, revelations will surprise readers," Kolega disclosed. "It took nine years to develop the universe bible containing the integrated timeline, character origins, and two trilogy arcs which span over 1700 years."

Book I: Shadows of the Past takes readers from Colombian jungles and occupied Taiwan, to secret Russian military installations and the unified streets of Jerusalem. The protagonist, a CIA operative codenamed Battlestar, reels from controversial decommission and journeys from despair to reinstatement—discovering along the way his astounding heritage is Earth's final hope.

"A compelling attraction of Contra Alliance is the future realism on Earth," Kolega explains. "An ancient space conflict weaves its way into the storyline and that seamless fusion is what makes this franchise special."  

Contra Alliance #0, the comic book, is slated for a Summer 2011 release. Designed as a visual movie trailer, the book highlights key events from the Contra Alliance timeline, including scenes from Book I: Shadows of the Past, Book II: Blue Star, and the prequel trilogy—War of the Star.

"Bringing visual life to Contra Alliance has been a primary objective since the universe flashed through my mind nine years ago," Kolega confides. "Issue #0 introduces the scope of the space opera and lays the foundation for an ongoing, monthly comic series. I've taken Contra Alliance this far independently, it's time for infrastructure."

The Contra Alliance Universe is online at http://www.ContraAlliance.com where a portal into multiple social media networks (Twitter, Facebook, WordPress) and distribution channels (iBooks, Barnes & Noble, Amazon) provide fans an opportunity to follow and engage the franchise as it unfolds.

Contra Alliance PR Kit: http://www.contraalliance.com/contraalliance/prkit/prkit.pdf

SOURCE Contra Alliance