reported by Nigel Gimble, FictionFanatic.com

Pop culture fads may come and go, but certain trends have proven timeless in their allure. Modern society is undeniably fascinated with secrets and mysteries from worlds of the past. This summer, readers will find the excitement and intrigue that comes from searching for long-forgotten treasure and exploring the arcane roots of today's civilization in a new type of fiction that introduces knowledge-hungry characters to a modern adventure story with an escapist plot sequence.

Gold Eagle?, the adventure imprint deeply rooted in underground pop culture, launches a new series called Rogue Angel in July. Destiny, the first novel in the series, follows protagonist Annja Creed as she discovers her destiny and her role in the rebirth of a medieval urban legend, the Beast of Gevaudan. Geared toward readers looking for erudition along with escapism, the series introduces a unique combination of history, mystery, action, adventure and even supernatural elements in stories clearly designed for action enthusiasts of both sexes.

"These books will explore readers' fascination with lore and secrets," says author Alex Archer. "The Da Vinci Code whetted a lot of appetites for readers looking for thrillers with a solid foundation in history and conspiracies. Annja Creed is a smart and sexy heroine that will attract male and female readers of all ages. There's enough puzzle and history in the mix to get the problem-solvers involved, and enough over-the-top action to stress a summer blockbuster movie budget."

The movies starring Harrison Ford as Indiana Jones, the Angelina Jolie films about Lara Croft, The Da Vinci Code, Alias, Buffy, and National Treasure (which is spawning a sequel) have proven pop culture's infatuation with this kind of adventure story. In fact, even daytime television has caught on, with NBC's Passions planning a summer plot arc in which characters travel to Rome to unearth the secrets of the catacombs. Now, the Rogue Angel series presents a new view of the battle of good and evil and a clever mixture of genres -- and an intriguing, attractive, female lead.

"The Rogue Angel series is a sophisticated, contemporary form of escapism that channels the excitement of some of history's most fabled eras," says Marleah Stout, Senior PR Manager for Rogue Angel. "Our readers, especially males, are becoming increasingly savvy and selective when deciding what stories to read. Rogue Angel gives them an opportunity to push their interest in history a little further while meeting new types of characters and encountering new conspiracies."

Rogue Angel details a woman's transition from an independent archeologist who does guest appearances on an American television show (Chasing History's Monsters), to an action heroine with a surprising connection to Joan of Arc and a role in French mythology.

The plotline unites a group of classic but previously isolated characters ranging from monks (both Christian and occult) to ancient homicidal beasts to TV producers in Brooklyn. Readers, therefore, who may already be intrigued by the intellectual sub-plots that have been rapidly gaining mainstream popularity this year, will be ready for the style that Archer delivers.

Annja's story continues in Solomon's Jar, which will be on shelves in September 2006.