Bill McSciFi's Blog

First off, I want to thank all the lovely people who took part in the last give-away. While no one is ever under any obligation to leave a review, as an author I can assure you those suckers are treasured. While Amazon can be a little bitch when it comes to sharing your thoughts, you can always leave a review at Goodreads.

Speaking of reviews, We are building single page electronic press kits (EPKs) for each novel I have written. The idea is to collect reviews, provide synopses, and show people enjoying my efforts. Come mid-July they will be used as part of an aggressive campaign to get my novels shelved in as many stores and libraries as possible. Think of it as “go big or go home.” Don’t get me wrong, over the last six years the Brittle Riders, and all the subsequent releases, have been steady sellers. Not great, not crap, just cruising along nicely. And there’s nothing wrong with that.

But, now, visual media companies have begun sniffing around and other licensing agencies have been asking for info. Basically, it’s time to up our game.

Although still works in progress, you can check out the pages for SPLICE: HIT BIT TECHNOLOGY and The Brittle Riders to get an idea of what we’re aiming for.

And, here’s the fun part, you, (YES! YOU!), can help. If you have a review, no matter how brief or eloquent, you’re wiling to share, I’d love to have it. Also, if you have a pic of you holding or reading one of my books, I’d really love to have it too. The more we can show that actual humans are enjoying the fruits of my loins … errr, labors, the more it benefits our cause.

One thing that’s not obvious to most readers is that I do a ton of research for my books. And one of my greatest sources of info has come from members of the United States military, and one member of the Sayeret Matkal. There’s a long and interesting story behind that last one. Anyway, thanks to their help my books have been able to portray battles, plus thanks to military doctors and nurses, the after effects of same, as realistically as possible. Even when they involve minotaurs and succubi.

For those who’ve asked, when you see the phrase “active duty” after a name by a review of my work, it means the reviewer is still in the military. I am allowed to use their comments but not their name since no active member of the military may endorse anything; not politically, not commercially, not anything. Not even me. Their job is to serve our country, not any commercial or political enterprise. So now you know. That being said, I have to admit I’m flattered that someone whose job it is is to dodge bullets and save lives has taken the time to peruse my scribblings and say nice things about them. If you want to brighten the day of our brave soldiers, just take a moment to donate to the U.S.O.

During their deployment, you can help provide troops with a connection to their families, along with entertainment and relaxation, like a good McSciFi book. After their service has ended, your efforts can continue to support them as they transition to civilian life. And you can help families stay strong and connected both during and after deployment.

The USO provides a wide range of programs that support the entire family every step of the way. Some troops return home with physical or invisible wounds. You can help provide therapeutic and reintegration services as they navigate the road to recovery. Your donation can also provide support to families of troops who have paid the ultimate price while serving our country. So it’s not just bands, dancing girls, and comedians. They provide vital services our troops, and their families, need.

Also, as we slowly ease out of the worst of the pandemic, allegedly, I have begun restocking my online store in the hope that I will also be able to participate in conventions. You can CLICK HERE to get autographed copies of your favorite McSciFi books and comics. I’ve held off ordering more Brittle Riders since the Omnibus edition is en route and I need to figure out price breaks. Printing and shipping costs have been all over the place and I need to find price points that will work for everyone.

Additionally, as you can see from the images below, I’ve been a busy little pixie adding new materials to my Gear Store. All you need to do is click on a design you like and then select from the over one hundred and fifty products you can purchase. While I’d love for you to buy them all I am pretty sure that would be cost prohibitive. Just grab one if you can and send me a pic once you get it. I love getting fan pics. If you want a better idea of what some of the gear looks like, just click on an image below.

Finally, as to the cryptic title of today’s newsletter, I am dealing with some health issues that may keep me offline for brief periods of time. As of now, they’re simply irritating, but if I let them fester I could be in trouble. Since I’m getting married in July, and Kim would like a healthy husband, I’m dealing with them now. So, don’t worry if I miss a week, I’m just making sure all my personal parts do the stuff they’re supposed to.

Until next time, stay safe and sane.

On February 1st, I sent out an email which allowed readers to gather some free stuff digitally. Unbeknownst to me, my server picked that exact moment to hork up a loogie and wipe out my inbox. As the week went on I found myself neck deep in tech support from three companies. All of this meant anyone who wanted to take advantage of my offer was unable to do so. Worse, they wouldn’t know that since no error messages had been generated. So, in an effort to not be a jerk, I’m going to make the offer again.

If you get my newsletter via email all you’ll need to do is reply as instructed in the next paragraph to claim your gift. If, however, you’re one of the thousands who read my updates via Twitter, Instagram, or Facebook then you’ll need to send an email to info@mcscifibooks.com, or BillMcSciFi@gmail.com if you still don’t trust my email server (I won’t blame you), with your choice of prize in the subject line.

Because I appreciate you, today I’m letting you choose between two super cool prizes. If you choose TBR you’ll get a PDF of the Omnibus edition of The Brittle Riders, all 948 pages of it. If, on the other hand, you choose LP then you’ll get a PDF of the trade paperback, an omnibus for comics, of Legends Parallel. 100 pages of joy featuring a photo shoot of Phystee Nicole Brown, the body model for Ms. Oshun in the comics. She’s not nude, but she doesn’t need to be.

This offer is valid only until 5:00 PM (CDT) February 21, 2022. One prize per human.

About The Brittle Riders.

“So, if I get this, you’ve got lesbians, poly amorists, Muslims, sorry Muslim cows, giant Christian cockroaches, and so on, fighting for the betterment of all who live? I’ll never admit this publicly, but I’m glad we’ve got a president who thinks you’ve got the right idea. Great story, kept me buried in it, and I just ordered hard copies for the den. Some day you can sign them. You’re a strange guppy, but you do write like a pro. Semper Fi, crazy stranger.”
– Brig. Gen. R (active duty)

“This is a story where old meets new, where religion meets science in an epic story of what happened ‘after’ our world changed. It is masterfully written with attention to detail and it sympathetically manages to bridge the gap between faith and technology.”
– L. L. Thomsen

About Legends Parallel.

There is much to ponder here in terms of thought-provoking issues of race, sexuality, culture and society’s attitudes to history and relationships.

You want anthropological context and sociological commentary? This has jugs of it.

But, yeah… BOOBS.
– Zak Weber – Sci Fi Comics Nexus

Legends Parallel has a bit of everything in it really; rich tech genius, meta humans with superpowers, and parallel universes. Most, if not all of these, are stand alone themes that can carry a book but McCormick has crafted a story that intertwines all of them together in a way that gives them all meaning to the story yet room to develop all aspects on their own terms. With the presence of a rich tech genius and parallel worlds it’s easy to guess who the hero is and where the bad guys came from but the writing isn’t predictable and the plot is intricate.
– Ian Yarington – Comic Booked Dot Com

You may notice I can delicately blend the scatological and the philosophical. It’s my thing.

With The Brittle Riders now being officially shopped to film and television production companies, and Legends Parallel making a long awaited come back, now seemed like a good time to share.

In, semi-related, good news, last year marked the first time my online store sold enough merch that I needed to pay taxes. I found that stupidly exhilarating. All those people running around advertising McSciFi and I’m getting paid for it. New times call for new paradigms.

So, in summation, reply to this or send an email to info@mcscifibooks.com or BillMcSciFi@gmail.com to claim your prize. You’ve stuck by me for years, you’ve earned it.

Until next week, stay safe and sane.

If you get my newsletter via email all you’ll need to do is reply, as instructed in the next paragraph, to claim your gift. If, however, you’re one of the thousands who read my updates via Twitter, Instagram, or Facebook then you’ll need to send an email to info@mcscifibooks.com with your choice of prize in the subject line.

Because I appreciate you, today I’m letting you choose between two super cool prizes. If you choose TBR you’ll get a PDF of the Omnibus edition of The Brittle Riders, all 948 pages of it. If, on the other hand, you choose LP then you’ll get a PDF of the trade paperback, an omnibus for comics, of Legends Parallel. 100 pages of joy featuring a photo shoot of Phystee Nicole Brown, the body model for Ms. Oshun in the comics. She’s not nude, but she doesn’t need to be.

This offer is valid only until 5:00 PM (CDT) February 7, 2022. One prize per human.

About The Brittle Riders.

“So, if I get this, you’ve got lesbians, poly amorists, Muslims, sorry Muslim cows, giant Christian cockroaches, and so on, fighting for the betterment of all who live? I’ll never admit this publicly, but I’m glad we’ve got a president who thinks you’ve got the right idea. Great story, kept me buried in it, and I just ordered hard copies for the den. Some day you can sign them. You’re a strange guppy, but you do write like a pro. Semper Fi, crazy stranger.”
– Brig. Gen. R (active duty)

“This is a story where old meets new, where religion meets science in an epic story of what happened ‘after’ our world changed. It is masterfully written with attention to detail and it sympathetically manages to bridge the gap between faith and technology.”
– L. L. Thomsen

About Legends Parallel.

There is much to ponder here in terms of thought-provoking issues of race, sexuality, culture and society’s attitudes to history and relationships.

You want anthropological context and sociological commentary? This has jugs of it.

But, yeah… BOOBS.
– Zak Weber – Sci Fi Comics Nexus

Legends Parallel has a bit of everything in it really; rich tech genius, meta humans with superpowers, and parallel universes. Most, if not all of these, are stand alone themes that can carry a book but McCormick has crafted a story that intertwines all of them together in a way that gives them all meaning to the story yet room to develop all aspects on their own terms. With the presence of a rich tech genius and parallel worlds it’s easy to guess who the hero is and where the bad guys came from but the writing isn’t predictable and the plot is intricate.
– Ian Yarington – Comic Booked Dot Com

You may notice I can delicately blend the scatological and the philosophical. It’s my thing.

With The Brittle Riders now being officially shopped to film and television production companies, and Legends Parallel making a long awaited come back, now seemed like a good time to share.

In, semi-related, good news, last year marked the first time my online store sold enough merch that I needed to pay taxes. I found that stupidly exhilarating. All those people running around advertising McSciFi and I’m getting paid for it. New times call for new paradigms.

So, in summation, reply to this or send an email to info@mcscifibooks.com to claim your prize. You’ve stuck by me for years, you’ve earned it.

BTW, congrats to the Bengals and the Rams for opening the seventh portal of the apocalypse and making it to the Super Bowl. I’m sure Cthulhu won’t even notice.

Until next week, stay safe and sane.

As many McFans know, SPLICE: HIT BIT TECHNOLOGY is destined to be a movie. I was hired to write a script by ©Watchdog Entertainment® before I wrote the book. They didn’t do that to kill some time. They did that to make a movie. And, now, as the world slowly gets back to normal, they can begin ascertaining viable options. There are people who write me weekly asking about the status. While annoying as hell, it’s also flattering. They’ve read it, loved it, and want more.

In December an agency reached out to me to discuss optioning out some of my work to a film production company. After some healthy back and forth, and a few fun international Zoom calls, we have decided to move forward with The Brittle Riders. Specifically, the Omnibus edition. Or, the thousand page doorstop version. Which, by the way, you’ll be able to purchase as a paperback starting next week.

As anyone who’s been in the entertainment industry knows, an initial option is slightly less binding than a pick up line at three A.M. in a bar. That said, there are some reasons for hope. First, unlike many agencies I’m encountered, they aren’t hoovering up content at random. They have a small roster, all in various stages of development. Second, I was given free access to that roster so I could discuss my concerns and get a feel for how they were being treated.

Barring someone having too much money and too little sense, this will be targeted at cable TV or a streaming platform. That would work best as some parts of the story are terse, allowing the reader to fill in the details as they please. As one author said, “McCormick says more in twelve words than others do in twelve paragraphs.” So, in the end, you have around a thousand pages of terse prose and that’s all going to need to be unpacked.

Anyway, they are in the process of creating a script. That’s not a job I’d wish on anyone, but they volunteered. When things get a little more concrete I’ll start sharing details. Until then, all I can ask is for you to wish me luck.

Until next week, stay safe, sane, and inside as much as possible. Oh, yeah, wear a mask and get vaxxed.

The McSciFi multiverse lost one of its brightest lights. Pidge, the literature loving pigeon – shown below reading SPLICE: HIT BIT TECHNOLOGY, passed away on January 6 after a brief battle with illness.

Pidge’s human, Bart Davis, seen holding the book so Pidge could read, is obviously gutted. Pidge had been his faithful friend for over a decade.

One of the bright spots of doing what I do is people share some very random stuff. And each and every one points out why what they’ve shared is special. So, if you can spare a prayer, or kind thought, send one up for Pidge.

More below.

As many of you know my novels are published by Azoth Khem and most of my comics come out on Hadithi Sambamba.

As 2019 came to a close we all ramped up our inventory stock. We’d had a great year at various conventions and were looking to go bigger and better.

That wasn’t magical thinking. We were getting invites from larger cons.

As you may have heard, the pandemic hit. Cons started closing left and right and people began locking themselves inside. Along the way I had dear friends die.

That’ll make you cautious.

As we stumbled into 2020-Too, I began checking out cons that had started opening up. I was less than pleased. While many of the creators were masked and practicing social distancing, many of the guests were not and there seemed to be no method in place to enforce anything.

Moreover, I have a buddy, vaxxed and boosted, who just spent a week and a half in the hospital over the holidays, thanks to Omicron. Not the gift anyone wants.

I’m getting married this summer and am not willing to risk my health, or the health of people I love.

Until things get safer, I’ll just keep manning my online store and praying for this nightmare to end.

Until next week, stay safe and sane.

Howdy Ho and welcome back. I hope you had a pleasant holiday season. Here in the McSciFi compound we had a wonderful time. Sadly, due to COVID related issues, we were unable to meet with family members. That means Christmas will be delayed for a bit. Which is okay, we’ll just leave the tree up with the gifts underneath until we can deliver them.

One thing that did get done was starting the year off right. Media legend, JoAnn Genette, interviewed me for her show, The Mightiest Nightiest Show. Unlike other interviews there were game show elements involved. From “who wore it better” to “name those boobs,” we covered a lot of ground in the half-hour I was there. Another first, I made it through the entire interview without dropping an F-bomb. We’ll see how long that lasts.

Now to the important stuff.

Last year, SPLICE: HIT BIT TECHNOLOGY was voted the Best Sci-Fi Novel of 2020 by the Critters’ Readers’ Poll. While Goptri of the Mists: Kitaab Ek, the fourth novel in the Brittle Riders Trilogy, didn’t get nominated this year, I’m still represented and would love for you to take a minute out of your day to vote for me.

ICC Magazine, which claims me as their assistant editor, is up for the Critters’ award for best non-fiction magazine. If you CLICK HERE you can cast a vote for all that’s good and holy in the world. Or, less dramatically, for ICC Magazine.

Sci-Fi Lampoon, which has printed several of my short stories and will be including my magnum opus, THE WRITER’S STUFF in their upcoming anthology, THE FUCKENING, is up for Best Fiction Magazine. If you CLICK HERE you can vote for them too, and you should.

Time, once again, for a reminder. Whenever the rights to my stories revert back to me I post them online for all to read for free. All you have to do is CLICK HERE to wallow in the awesomeness of it all. And, I’ll be honest, even if you never pay for anything I’ve had published I’m still happy if you enjoy these offerings. You’re not stealing from me. I’ve been paid, and I’d rather you enjoy them than just have them rot on my hard drive.

Finally, as you can see by the images below, people love wearing McSciFi gear or rolling around, scantily clad, in form fitting latex while reading autographed copies of my comics. Not to limit you in any way, I should also note you can roll around, scantily clad, in form fitting latex and read my novels too.

Really, if it makes you happy, it makes me happy.

Until next week, you do you. Stay safe, sane, and inside, and try not to catch COVID .. or the flu … or chlamydia … or … never mind, you get the idea.

Just stay safe. I’m getting kind of fond of you.

2021 started with a bang. SPLICE: HIT BIT TECHNOLOGY was voted Best Science Fiction Novel of 2020 by the Critters’ Readers’ Poll. As the name suggests, it is a poll based on what readers liked. As an author there’s not much better praise.

Also in 2021 we found out that some countries are allowing people to buy paperback versions of The Brittle Riders: Omnibus Edition. Which is cool, I’ll admit. However we have no idea which countries they are.

That’s okay, being clueless kind of works around here. For example, we know certain Walmart stores are carrying SPLICE: HIT BIT TECHNOLOGY on their shelves, but we have no idea which ones. So far we have one random confirmation from a fan in Northern Kentucky.

This is the year I was brought on board to write Marcie’s Marvels. While the real life story of Marcie is tragic, she killed herself after being sexually assaulted and bullied, her mother didn’t want that to be the final word. After a lengthy search we found Eko Prihanto to do the art. His brightly colored panels worked perfectly with the compelling story. Zak Weber, over in jolly old England, gave the resulting comic high marks.

In a completely different vein, I was hired to create a fictional universe for a very real, if I may use that phrase, new collection of NFTs known as Cat Punk. This is a prime example of the Internet working. The main team is based in Viet Nam, I’m in Chicago, and there was never a lag on getting stuff approved and published. In fact it all went so well we’re looking at possibly doing it again in 2022. Until then you can CLICK HERE to read what I hath wrought. The stories are short but the plot is epic.

A fun capper on the year was having the nationally renowned publicist Desirae Benson take pity on me and make me available to her many media contacts. I’ve already done one interview with, award winning blogger, Marc Polite. This looks like the beginning of a wonderful relationship.

Back in October of 2010 I was invited to join a wacky radio show called The Big Wakeup Call. What started as a fun way to kill some time on Friday mornings, at 9:10 AM (CDT), turned into a must hear event with over 40,000 listeners. Now, international bon vivant and man about town also known as the host, Ryan Gatenby has parlayed this into an international podcast hosted, in part, by I-Heart Radio. For Ryan this is his path to well deserved fame and fortune. For me it’s a way to annoy more people than ever before. I see this as a win win situation.

I, like you, have no clue what 2022 will bring. But I will admit to being kind of stoked to find out.

Thank you very much for hanging in there with, and supporting, me. If it wasn’t for you I’d probably be flipping burgers, on the late shift, in Utah. I’ll be the first to admit, this is better.

If you would like a complimentary SPLICE wearable bracelet, just email me to get my address so you can send me a self-addressed-stamped-envelope and I’ll fill it with a couple of bracelets. Great, if confusing, gifts for the holidays.

From all me to all of you, Happy Holidays!

Nationally renowned publicist, Desirae Benson, took pity on me and began telling her audience I was worth knowing. That prompted award winning blogger, Marc Polite, to interview me. If you click on his name it will take you directly to the interview which was brief, thorough, and fun.

In non-narcissistic news today, as you’re reading this I will be in the hospital having a through and through performed. For the uninitiated that’s an endoscopy, camera down your throat, and a colonoscopy, camera up your butt. If they meet in the middle I’m in trouble.

I have been having gastrointestinal issues since April resulting in my being briefly hospitalized in June. My doctor wanted to do this procedure by August but, thanks to COVID, beds for elective surgery have to be booked months in advance. So, after months of discomfort, I am finally going to start getting some answers.

Once we get these answers then my other docs can get started on a plan to strengthen my knees and hip, which are weaker than kittens at the moment, then, hopefully, I can go on a diet and lose weight so I’ll be hella sexy when I get married on July 9th.

While I used to be cavalier when it came to my mortality I find, now, I have reasons to live and I’ll be marrying one of them next summer. Plus, my writing is finally starting to get the attention we all hoped it would. Simply put, now would be an inopportune time to cash my final ticket.

Consider me greedy, but I don’t want to be posthumously famous. I want to live long enough to enjoy some good things in life. And that means I need to take better care of myself.

Next week I’ll dive into the holiday stuff everyone knows and loves. But, until then, stay safe, sane, and inside. Also, GET VAXXED!