Birth, Books, NY Comic Con, Coffee, CYBERWAR SERIES Update is an apt description of my current life in less than 60 characters. That said: ‘Hel-LO!’ as Uncle Leo would enthusiastically say on Seinfeld. I have not enjoyed going MIA so often these past few months (and years), well for the most part I have not; sometimes solitude is truly bliss, and that is much harder to come across as this world grows more connected by the second. Please forgive my delays, but I have missed you, Eager Readers. And without further ado, the news! I had a baby girl, or rather my wife did with my help, not too long ago, and everyone is happy and healthy! I could not be happier. And that is not the sleep deprivation talking. I am a DAD! It is an indescribable feeling, all love, and she already makes me much more optimistic about the future of the earth she is inheriting. Her smile can move mountains. And since everyone always asks with concern, Indy, our Dalmatian, loves our baby girl. She guards her, attempts to play with her, and constantly alerts us to any unhappiness she seems to be having. I am still working, writing, editing, reading, scrawling, and who knows what else, because I damn well cannot remember. Largely because of coffee. Strong coffee. Ground Colombian bean and a french press and repeat. Do not thank me, thank the coffee, that any art is getting done this year. So the sequel to my novel, CYBERWAR, has been completed, but because of its massive size, 400-500 pages, it will need more time to be edited to as close to perfection as is possible. Thankfully, my publisher and I are looking to work with one of the most talented editors I know, and I am beyond thrilled. The only downside to making this a far better work is that it will not be coming out just yet and certainly not before 2020. But it will be worth the wait; it is a bold step forward for me and it makes CYBERWAR a prequel to a much larger storyline in the Cyberwar Series (meaning the new book will be acting as Book 1), and I have some very BIG plans. For the delay I apologize, but I hope this will make it up to you: SPY WOMAN SPY, my years in the making graphic novel, which had a brief appearance of its cover at New York Comic Con last year will be making noise at NY Comic Con 2019, as Issue #1 arrives. I can finally speak a little more about this. Rune Works small press is publishing SPY WOMAN SPY, initially, and for all of you CYBERWAR fans out there, this is a prequel to the novel starring Xera Finn and Fae Yu, and it will be first released at NYCC on October 3, 2019. Here is the premise so far: When a foreign agent named Xera Finn learns of her government’s involvement in human trafficking on Long Island, she goes rogue. Xera and her lover, a tech bootlegger named Fae Yu, race to Coney Island to free a truckful of young women. But their hacking and espionage skills are soon put to the test when Xera’s former handler tasks both the local authorities and an outlaw motorcycle gang to ruthlessly retrieve them before they can reach sanctuary. For those of you who have read CYBERWAR, this graphic novel series will be all about the backstory of the two badass rogue agents that were main characters of the novel. There will be lots of insight into the degradation of the Cyber US and the Wangluo society before and after hackers took over the governments for good. I will say no more, as the fun will be in the reveal on the page. But I will say that I love the further exploration of the world, this near future of ours, and this future continues to surprise me. I am thrilled to once again be at the Rune Works Productions Ltd. Booth in the Small Press section on the NY Comic Con main show floor to sign books and comics and to talk shop. The comic book will be a single-issue format to start off, and there are a few of these issues written already so more are coming after #1, with the plan to release a compilation trade paperback down the road. Cover artist Elizabeth Yoo will also be on hand to sign the comic book. Last, but certainly not least, my wife and I are hoping Rune Works Productions will have time to have on-hand a version of our new children’s book at New York Comic Con. We have an incredibly talented artist in Cheryl Huneke, and we are really looking forward to sharing this excellent and exciting book involving space and … I cannot say anymore just yet … but it is a TON of fun. And I hate rhyming poetry and still wrote ‘TON of fun’ – I must be tired. Speaking of poetry, if you have not kept up with my recent publications, I am thrilled to have been selected to have poems published in these 2019 anthologies: POETS TO COME: WHITMAN'S 200TH BIRTHDAY ANTHOLOGY, the 2019 Suffolk County Poetry Review, the BARDS ANNUAL 2019 anthology, and the National Beat Poetry Festival anthology We Are BEAT. Poetry is the most freeing form of art I know. No matter how frustrated I may be drawing, editing, writing, strumming a new tune on the guitar, I can always turn to poetry and release myself from all sense of structure and allow pure instinct and energy and strong of consciousness to take me to another place of bliss. If you did not know, I am a big fan of the beats. Feel free to check out the Bard’s Day or the National Beat Poetry Festival, as both are coming up next week, both will feature readings and fantastic books of poetry. I hope you are all well and your summer reading never falters. ~RJH
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2 Days To New Comic @ NYCC 2018 BOOTH 1061: RJ Huneke, Elizabeth Yoo, Fred Harper and more folks will be at the Rune Works Booth #1061 with THE comic, SPY WOMAN SPY, loads of art, free swag, and more at the NYC Javits Center!
Eager readers, I could not be more excited for 2018's NY Comic Con. I am beyond STOKED this year! Alongside my good friend and amazing artist Elizabeth Yoo, the very first preview issue of the CYBERWAR Series prequel graphic novel SPY WOMAN SPY will be available in extremely limited quantities. We will do our best to have these books out every day of the con and I am hopeful that the art is going to set the world on fire! This comic book features Xera Finn and Fae Yu from CYBERWAR. SPY WOMAN SPY takes place in the near future, in the CUSA, where the two disillusioned foreign agents, friends, and lovers struggle to cope with breaking ties to their past. As their birthplace, Wangluo, demands more and more heinous acts of allegiance from Xera and Fae in the Cold Cyberwar, a horrible act of government-sanctioned child trafficking is uncovered rattling the two spies to their core. Betraying orders will be costly! SPY WOMAN SPY written by (me) R.J. Huneke, and art by Elizabeth Yoo, will be premiering the first preview book of SPY WOMAN SPY Issue #0 at the 2018 NY Comic Con. It has been five years since my car accident, and I am not yet at 100% (getting close), but my creative drive has never been stronger, folks. Many new projects (children’s book series anyone? a few are in the works) and art are coming very soon, and though I have struggled to work as quickly as I would like, I have by no means been idle. You will be happy to know that I am currently pitching the follow-up to my novel CYBERWAR. I apologize for leaving you hanging at the end of that first novel, but from what I gather as I speak to fans of the book series, the next chapter will be something special that will make up for the wait. The book will be longer for one thing. And there will be many answers and more questions examining the entire world and Cyberverse as the Cyberwar is fully unleashed... That’s right! I will be signing books at NYCC 2018 Rune Works Booth 1061, but more on that later. I am thankful to have some great friends who happen to make amazing art and are going to be on-hand with me at Rune Works # 1061. The incredibly talented illustrator Fred Harper will be there – badass Hulk prints in tow – and he will be doing commissions throughout the Con as well as painting and possibly even taking a musical turn on his infamous cowbell. My longtime friend (and now) bookmate artist Elizabeth Yoo has been producing amazing cover art for novels and movie productions of late, and she is innovative (I do not use the word lightly). Her work is truly resonates deeply on many levels, and I am ecstatic that she is producing a deeply noir-esque and never-before-seen take on the comic book art form as a co-creator and the artist of SPY WOMAN SPY. I could not have imagined anyone who grasps the feel of the world of Cyber more than Elizabeth. And her art, from the Joker to Batman and Catowoman sharing a milkshake will blow you away. Along with Fred's prints, original art, and commissions, Elizabeth will have limited edition prints, as well as a host of other goodies on sale at NY Comic Con. Liz’s amazing “Joker” piece and “Pyscho” piece will be on a heavy-duty tote, for example, and the Mr. Romero’s Joker lips will be hand-colored by Ms. Yoo at the table! They are $10 a piece or $5 with any other purchase! There will be magnets and Comic Con-only discounts to Liz’s art prints! And yes, the author R.J. Huneke, yours truly, will have a limited number of copies of his book CYBERWAR and will be signing them. Now I recently uncovered a box while moving, so I will have a VERY LIMITED amount of the sold out hardcover in tow, and I have paperbacks left as well! Please check in at the booth for signing schedules for all of the artists, including author RJ Huneke (me). And be sure to talk to my friend Charles D. Chenet; Charles' Dare2Draw non-profit has brought comic books, published artists and aspiring artists together for education, amazing lessons, and fun exploration of the craft. From their site Dare2Draw.org: The Dare2Draw is a non-profit mentoring and networking platform for all comic book and creator artists, an opportunity to connect with each other, face-to-face, encouraging good health and business practices for cartoonists. Established artists and arts organizations meet in a supportive setting, putting the art back in sequential art. And, as always, there will be free candy, bookmarks, Joker playing cards, and fun swag galore! On behalf of the Rune Works / Cyberwar Series team, I’ll see you there, at NY Comic Con, in just 2 DAYS! ~RJ Huneke |
AuthorI have turned the tide and started on my journey. Words and Worlds hang in the balance and I am writing it all down before the RJ Tower! Read about my newest novel on CyberwarSeries.com Archives
March 2023
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