| E. M. Swift-Hook is one of those people who are embedded in the trenches, covered in mud, blood, and slime, who works tirelessly to ensure Sci-Fi writers like me have readers. But, when she’s not out helping others, she’s an author of some renown. Not content to write a trilogy, she wrote three, interconnected, trilogies under the Fortune’s Fools banner, as well as an ongoing series known as The Dai and Julia Mysteries which she co-authored with Jane Jago. That being said, she has finally wrapped up the Fortune’s Fools series with A Necessary End: Iconoclast Trilogy: Book Three (Fortune’s Fools 9). You can just call it A Necessary End and it’ll be just fine. “When it comes to the crunch point, all you can count on are your own wits, and the only person you can trust completely is yourself.” With the last strands of his grand plan meshing together, Durban Chola is beset by doubts about his own motives and identity. The consequences of his past actions make it difficult to persuade old allies to support him or to find new ones. His enemies have their plans well advanced. Then there is the price of his ultimate success to consider – a price that will be paid by all of humanity for good or ill. A Necessary End is the final volume in Fortune’s Fools. The last book of the third trilogy, Iconoclast. More below.  I recently was interviewed Jude Matulich Hall for JMH Writers & Illustrators. The Facebook page they use is private but she kindly agreed to let me reprint it here. Get a sense of Bill McSciFi’s wit, humor in the face of injury, and search for the truth in his stories! 1. What are some of the obstacles you have faced with your writing and how did you overcome them? “The biggest obstacle is thinking it’s not good enough. I wrestle with that often. After that, it’s assembling the bits and pieces of flotsam and jetsam floating in my mind into a linear tale.” 2. There is a movie coming out of Splice. Is Splice your creation? Is the movie based on the book or the book based on the movie? “Splice was created by Tye Feimster of Watchdog Entertainment. It was a minor character in a series of comic books he’d released. I pitched him a comic book based on it and ended up selling a movie. Then we circled back, and I wrote the novel. For the record, I never did sell the comic. This may be the best failure I’ve ever endured. One fun part of writing it was having experts check out some scenes so I ensured they rang true. So, I had a retired Army captain, with combat experience, review the military stuff, an Imam review the parts about a Middle Eastern character, and a member of the local mafia review my parts on the New York mob. I got high marks from all of them.” 3. You say that not selling the comic book for Splice might be the best failure you’ve ever endured. Now that there is a movie coming out, might there be a chance we’ll get to see that comic book? “Not now. If the comic gets done it will be a continuation of the story and not a new version.” 4. I think a question that is on everyone’s mind to everyone else on the planet is: How have you been staying sane during these isolating times of the Covid Pandemic? “I’m not sure I have. I shredded my meniscus last year and was unable to walk for a few months until they could schedule my surgery. In other words, I was a lump on a chair and not much else. I do know that writing helps. Being able to set my various demons and internal monsters free and give them life, instead of letting them fester in my mind, goes a long way to keeping me sane. Whether it’s far enough I’ll leave to the professionals.” Thank you, Bill, we look forward to seeing your works! +++++ I recently took part in a panel on World Building hosted by Phoebe Darqueling. If you’d like to check it out, just CLICK HERE to join the fun. Phoebe was our gracious host, and popular authors Andy Zach and Wesley Britton rounded out the quorum. I know I promised you exciting news for my books. Unfortunately, there was a minor mishap with the printer and one of the books was accidentally formatted to be almost six hundred pages long. It would have been a tiny, but incredibly thick, tome. While that’s being sorted out you can still get your copy of SPLICE: HIT BIT TECHNOLOGY, and digital versions of Goptri of the Mists: Kitaab Ek and The Brittle Riders: Omnibus Edition. For individual copies, either print or digital, of each book in The Brittle Riders trilogy just CLICK HERE and have fun. I think that’s enough for this week. Until next week stay safe, sane, and inside.    |
Good McMorning
Newsletter Posted on Tue, March 02, 2021 08:16:52| The nice people who keep me from dropping trou in public, a/k/a consultants, have asked me to be a little more personable with these newsletters. So, to bring you up to date; I’m 59 years old, happily engaged to a beautiful woman, and I’m a moron. That last statement is borne out with this story. I recently had knee surgery to repair a torn meniscus. It was torn worse than originally thought, the surgeon said it looked like origami, but I left the hospital on my own power and soon began therapy. A week into therapy we had that nasty snow storm which dumped about 18 inches on us in a couple of days. Our landlord sent over a family to shovel the walks but they needed access to the back door. So I bravely did the manly man thing and walked out into the snow, around the building, down a flight of snow covered steps with no railings, opened the door, twisted my recently repaired knee, and instantly wiped out any gains made by therapy. The good news is additional therapy got me back to a baseline, and I am now getting better. And, yes, my doctor told me not to do that again. In any case, I survived and that means I’ll be around for another meet and greet. You can hang out with not so bright me, along with actual cool people, at LitCon from March 5th through the 7th. If you’re a true masochist, you can watch live panels, including the one I’m in, on their Facebook Page. When it’s all over videos will be posted on LitCon’s YouTube channel. Silliness aside, there will be authors spanning multiple genres so you should be able to find something you like. Lastly, I wanted to note that two comic series I write for have been getting new, and laudatory, reviews. 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. – Sci Fi Comic Nexus AND Hybrid Zero: Juggernaut Brown’s art is an unrestrained explosion of Expressionist fervour, portraying hyper-expansive worldbuilding and surreal sensuality. He also created the characters and conceived the original story, so this is from the heart, and it shows. It’s not all cartoony spectacle, though, he also excels at vast, atmospheric futuristic cityscapes and complex exotic architecture and infrastructures. There is plenty here to delight the eye. – Sci Fi Comic Nexus I’ll be back next week with some exciting updates on my novels but, until then, please stay safe, sane, and inside.   |
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We Are McNailing It!
Newsletter Posted on Tue, February 23, 2021 07:53:01| Recently I have gotten a few emails from overseas fans who wondered if they could listen to my weekly guest spot on The Big Wakeup Call with Ryan Gatenby. The answer is a resounding YES as long as you tune in on Friday at 9:10 AM (CST), you can listen along with everyone else. Also, as long as we’re crossing the various ponds, when you access my Amazon Author Page you’ll be directed to a similar page in your country and you can order McSciFi locally. It has been brought to my attention that most countries have the print option available if you’d prefer a hard copy. So, go ahead, dive in, and spend mad money. As long as we’re mucking about in different countries, allow me to remind you that there is a McSciFi Shop in England. Just like the American version you can get everything from adult T-shirts to onsies for your toddlers. There are over one hundred options for each design. Hopefully you can find something you like. Returning to the USA, keep in mind that I have a wide variety of comic books available with more coming out as the year goes on. It is one of the fun parts of my gig, getting to work with artists from all over the world to bring wildly disparate visions to life. There’s a little something for everyone, so give yourself a few minutes to check them out. A quick reminder that SPLICE: HIT BIT TECHNOLOGIY and Goptri of the Mists are winning new fans every day. While you need not have read The Brittle Riders before tackling Goptri, it does enhance the experience if you have. Both books are extremely different from each other. SPLICE is a collection of terse chapters that propel the reader face first into the action. Three separate reviewers have called it a “non stop thrill ride.” I can live with that. Goptri, on the other hand, is a hundred thousand word chapter that explores multiple themes while still being laden with sex, violence, and philosophy. That’s enough for one day. Until next week stay safe, sane, and inside.   |
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My McFans are McFreaking Awesome!
Newsletter Posted on Tue, February 16, 2021 06:00:49| Last week I shared the scantily clad joy of Sabrina Zaremba and her love of Hybrid Zero and Legends Parallel. While I’m forced to admit that not every fan strips down and poses for selfies with my writing, it’s nice to know she’s not alone. Another superfan, who remains clothed when reading my stuff, as far as I know, is Ivan. Even so, that didn’t stop him from sending me a box set of hot sauces (image below). The, Phoenix based boutique company, Cutino’s Hot Sauces, makes a variety of hot sauces which are an absolute joy on your tongue. And mine! Another fan with a plan, the legendary sci-fi writer Eric Klein, took time out of his busy day to interview me for his blog. If you want to do a deep dive into the world of SPLICE this is your chance. Also, people seem to have figured out how to use my Gear Page and are now festooning themselves in McSciFi related merchandise (image below). From onesies for toddlers, to masks for the kids, to sexy T-shirts, there’s something for everyone. And, if you don’t see what you want, just reach out and ask. More often than not I can make it happen. I know, there’s a lot of pretty pictures today. I’ve been trying to have one topic, with one image, to keep things nice and clear. But, when you have this much awesome sauce you just have to ladle that stuff out. A quick reminder that SPLICE: HIT BIT TECHNOLOGIY and Goptri of the Mists are winning new fans every day. While you need not have read The Brittle Riders before tackling Goptri, it does enhance the experience if you have. Both books are extremely different from each other. SPLICE is a collection of terse chapters that propels the reader face first into the action. Three separate reviewers have called it a “non stop thrill ride.” I can live with that. Goptri, on the other hand, is a hundred thousand word chapter that explores multiple themes while still being laden with sex, violence, and philosophy. And, finally, FUN TIME AT THE APOCALYPSE A GO-GO, has been released in Sci-Fi Lampoon. This satirical look at the world of Riverdale, legendary home to Archie, Jughead, Betty, and Veronica (all with new names so I don’t get sued into the Middle Ages), is one of the most profane things I’ve ever written. And that’s saying something. I can always tell when someone’s read it. They will immediately greet me with “Police suspect foul play” and then laugh. That’s enough for one day. Until next week stay safe, sane, and inside.  |
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Ooooh, so McNaughty!
Newsletter Posted on Tue, February 09, 2021 09:20:08| It’s nice to have fans. One such fan is a young lady named Sabrina Zaremba is the kind of fan creators dream about, often with unhealthy outcomes. While many fans will write blogs, or share social media posts, or even post reviews, Sabrina shows her love of comics by stripping down to the barest of lace and latex and then draping herself in comics. Her two new favorites, Legends Parallel and Hybrid Zero fit well into that kind of promotion. Seriously, it was like a match made in heaven. Since I know that many, but not quite all, of my followers would like to see a scantily clad woman draped in comics, I have some links for you. Pic #1 Pic #2 Pic #3 Pic #4 And last, but certainly not least, Pic #5 Some of you missed the memo that SPLICE: HIT BIT TECHNOLOGIY was recently voted Best Sci-Fi Novel of 2020 by the Critters’ Readers’ Poll. Critters is a nickname given to literary critics. SPLICE is currently available at Walmart, Barnes & Noble, and Amazon. And, as cool as all that is, we are now seeing preliminary story boards getting completed in preparation for the movie. It’s still going to be a few months before they begin pre-production, but every thing’s moving towards that goal. Goptri of the Mists is also out now and getting some love. Just like with SPLICE, Azoth Khem did a digital soft launch. The idea is simple, we get to make a few bucks and if someone notices a mistake it can be fixed easily. In SPLICE, for example, I’d forgotten a postage stamp. It sounds like a little thing but it brought the story to a halt if you were paying attention, and several readers were. God bless them. So far no one has spotted any glaring errors in Goptri, but it’s always better to be safe than sorry. My latest short story, FUN TIME AT THE APOCALYPSE A GO-GO, has been released in Sci-Fi Lampoon. The Lampoon is built to offend, terrify, and amuse people. Often all at once. It has no effect on other species as far as we know. It’s a great magazine assembled by a world class editing staff. Your multiverse will be cooler the second you order your copy. In truly fun news, EDM legends, GO FIGHT are releasing a concept album entitled MekaDisko and have decided to include science fiction short stories, read by professionals, as a companion piece. It will go live in March but you can check out promo videos and music when you click on their name. My offering, TIKKA WANTS A LOLLY-CAT, will be one of the stories you’ll be able to hear. Lastly, I was interviewed by People Globally as part of their effort to discover what makes humans tick. It’s more of a look inside my squishy brain than anything to do with writing, but I enjoyed it. It’s brief so you can read it all in a couple of minutes. Fun fact, People Globlally is a wholly owned subsidiary of TNWTL (That’s No Way to Live). Check it out, it was fun to do and I’m happy to share. That’s enough for one day. Until next week stay safe, sane, and inside. |
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Too McCool Not To McShare
Newsletter Posted on Tue, February 02, 2021 06:00:34| Welcome to Black History Month. As an author who works with a variety of black owned businesses, like Hadithi Sambamba and Nerdanatix, this is an opportunity to remind people that diversity, in all its myriad forms, is the best way to build your brand. If everyone in your fan club looks like you, you have made some horrible life choices. Or, simply put, if you don’t think I’m a black lesbian, you haven’t read my stuff. Oh boy, oh boy, oh boy, I have oodles and oodles of neato stuff to share. Yeah, I know, I sound like a toddler. But I’m excited to share some fun, new, stuff with you. I was recently interviewed on CHAT AND SPIN, a U.K. radio show, and had a ball. CLICK HERE then scroll down to Part One, January 30, and you’ll find me at the 2:03:50 mark. That’s right kids, you can hear me talk about me with another guy who wants to talk about me and both of us are talking about SPLICE: HIT BIT TECHNOLOGY. Life doesn’t get much better than that. Or does it? My latest short story, FUN TIME AT THE APOCALYPSE A GO-GO, has been released in Sci-Fi Lampoon. If you’re not sure if a story that involves titanium cheese slicers skinning living victims is for you, I have some good news. You can CLICK HERE to hear me read an excerpt from it for free. I’m pretty sure that’ll get you to bust out the credit card. Or get a restraining order. It’s a fine line. SPLICE: HIT BIT TECHNOLOGIY, recently voted Best Sci-Fi Novel of 2020 by the Critters’ Readers’ Poll, is continuing to win new fans every day. Critters is a nickname given to literary critics. SPLICE is currently available at Walmart, Barnes & Noble, and Amazon. And, as cool as all that is, this week saw some preliminary story boards getting completed in preparation for the movie. It was supposed to film in 2020, but this silly pandemic happened and the cost of insurance for cast and crew went right through the roof, soared above the clouds and attained a stable orbit at the outer edges of the troposphere. But, now that vaccines are a thing, and sensible precautions are being enforced, it appears this can finally see the light of day. It’s still going to be a few months before they begin pre-production, but everything’s moving towards that goal. Now that we’ve got this whole email thing working like a champ a few of you felt safe enough to write me with questions. More specifically, a question. “Where can we get McSciFi T-shirts and stuff?” This one’s easy. Just CLICK HERE and wallow in all the coo coo coolness. It’s an easy page to navigate. You click on an image you like and you’ll be presented with over a hundred options that you can have it printed on. It’s not as daunting as it seems since there’s a menu that helps you sort things out. If all you want is a T-shirt, you can select that and everything else will go away. One important thing you might enjoy is the brand new website for Bill McSciFi. It’s got a nifty new landing page, new content, new promotional videos, and updated descriptions on most everything. Stuff that’s free to read is clearly marked now, and everything else has direct links for purchasing. You’d think that would have been the case all along, but it wasn’t. Just because I write sci-fi doesn’t make me smart. That’s enough for one day. Until next week stay safe, sane, and inside.  |
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I’m McBack Babies!
Newsletter Posted on Tue, January 26, 2021 08:46:55Apparently, for the last couple of weeks, my e-blasts have been sent out from an alien email address and gone straight to spam for most people. It also meant I didn’t know a bunch of new people had signed up to revel in the coo coo coolness which is McSciFi since I didn’t have access to this alien address. That’s all been fixed now and this baby’s purring like the naughty kitten it is.
Also, welcome aboard newcomers! You’re cooler than your neighbors just by being here.
So, for those who missed it, SPLICE: HIT BIT TECHNOLOGIY was nominated, by a person who bought the book, for a Readers’ Poll Award at Critters which is a website run by people who used to run the Nebula Awards. Much to my surprise (as in this never happens to me), fans shared links, told each other what an awesome hunk of man meat I am, and, honest to God, I WON! SPLICE was voted the Best Sci-Fi/Fantasy novel of 2020 by people who’ve read it. What’s even cooler is the announcement led to a spike in sales so more people are discovering what an incredible read SPLICE is.
Currently available at Walmart, Barnes & Noble, and Amazon.
Legends Parallel and Hybrid Zero are in the Top 12 comics distributed by Nerdanatix and continue to garner new fans every week. The ‘Rated “M” for Mature’ comics continue to get more rave reviews. Read the latest ones for Legends Parallel and Hybrid Zero: Juggernaut via the links. People really dig these titles.
Goptri of the Mists: Kitaab Ek is out and inspiring cult-like devotion. While it’s the prequel / sequel to The Brittle Riders some people are enjoying it on its own. Which is fine, if confusing. The only negative thing I’ve seen so far was a reader who was sad there wasn’t more tentacle sex. I reassured him Book 2 would address that lack and he seemed happy. Otherwise he enjoyed it.
While not all commerical sites post reviews, even if you leave one, you can always go to my Good Reads page and leave reviews for the appropriate book(s) there.
That’s enough for one day. Until next week stay safe, sane, and inside.
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More McFun Than Many Can Handle!
Newsletter Posted on Tue, January 12, 2021 08:00:13Last week I was proud as a peacock overdosing on cherry flavored pride pills to announce SPLICE: HIT BIT TECHNOLOGY was in the running for a Critter award as best sci-fi novel of 2020. If you click that link you can still vote up to January 14th.
The cool thing about a Critter award is that selections are nominated by fans and members and then voted on by readers like you. Think of them like The People’s Choice Awards for indie sci-fi.
In other SPLICE related news, The Independent Association of Science Fiction and Fantasy Authors is doing a cool promotion for military Sci-Fi, much of SPLICE happens while he’s a Marine, so, for a very limited time, you can get a, Kindle, version of the novel for free.
The final bit of SPLICE news is that I’ve been reading segments on McSciFi TV on YouTube. I will be having surgery this week to repair my knee so I can stand and walk again. But, until then, I wanted to share snippets from this amazing book.
Moving on, Goptri of the Mists: Kitaab Ek launched last week and people seem well pleased with that development. It has truly been a labor of love on my part. While, officially, the prequel / sequel to the The Brittle Riders many beta-readers found they could follow along without having read the original series. Publishers love to hear stuff like that.
Unlike traditional works Goptri has two timelines happening. One is hundreds of years in the past of the events in The Brittle Riders and the other stumbles into being shortly thereafter.
One fun part of this was coming up with a villain who would justify world wars and endless terror. According to beta readers, I nailed it. Or, as one said in a phone call (remember when people talked on phones?), “No, hell no, are you … oh my God, fuck, what did you do?” I get that a lot. Anyway, she later finished it and told me she loved it. So there’s that.
There’s a lot going on so I’ll leave you to it. Until next week, stay safe, sane, and inside. If you must go out just, please, wear a mask.
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