My interview in The Science Of Stephen King on Mr. Mercedes and more: The book is out now, and I am proud to have been a part of it. Meg Hafdahl and Kelly Florence do a phenomenal job presenting what is both a fun read and a deeply introspective one in The Science Of Stephen King: The Truth Behind Pennywise, Jack Torrance, Carrie, Cujo, and More Iconic Characters from the Master of Horror. Personally, I feel the research and science that Stephen King adds to nearly all of his fictional works is often lost in the thrilling and beguiling tales of the master storyteller. For an author, there is a great deal of science throughout the vast body of work from Sai King, especially considering he is not a science-fiction author. Meg Hafdahl and Kelly Florence interviewed field experts, cite scientific studies, and through an open discussion they explore the scientific perspectives of their interviewees, while dialing into the science of the King. This makes for some compelling reading. There are also quotes and extensive comparisons to other works that help give weight to where scientific philosophies can shape any tale, including that of the macabre, Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein is an example of this that is used in the chapter I was interviewed for: on technology. In the book, my interview resides in the chapter aptly titled “Mr. Mercedes,” and that is on page 198 through page 203. I will not spoil it for you, but one quote from the authors is: “It’s haunting to think that subliminal messaging is still used.” I had a lot of fun with this interview, and we discussed quite a few of King’s books, including End of Watch, The Waste Lands, Cell, The Gunslinger, and Different Seasons. I may have rambled on about Ray Bradbury and a few other works, as well. As King frequently warns his readers about the potential for the ill use of science and technology, this book is littered with fun science, some of which will be instantly recognizable to the Constant Reader of King’s and some of which may open a few eyes. Thank you, Meg and Kelly, for crafting this great work and for having me play a small role. P.S. In other news regarding my larger works, a children’s book has come together and though nothing more can be said at this time . . . it’s close! The infamous Cyberwar sequel is also nearing fruition (I know I have been saying that for a few years now but a car accident and family matters have delayed it, but no more), and as it is nearly twice the length of its predecessor, the arduous editing continues. I believe it will be well worth the wait, folks. This one will make Cyberwar a prequel (call it Book .5 in the Cyberwar Series) and starts to open a much wider world in the Cyberverse. Possibilities become endless as does the terrain that is traversed by Waltz, Sheetrock, Fae, and Xera. While that is ongoing, another unrelated novel of mine enters its final chrysalis as well, and I think it is really special. Really, really special. That is all I will say on my writing, and I will leave you with this: though the darkness covers the lands in a pandemic – in the form of a virus, in the effects of climate change, and in the polarizing and divisive forces running amuck across the globe – nature is change. Constant change. I work toward change for the better, alongside so many. And I feel change for the better is coming. Be well, my friends. Sincerely, R.J. Huneke
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I am swimming in words . . . and I am not going to lie I am a little overwhelmed. I had scribed about 50000 words of a fantasy work that I tossed (it had to be done) a little over a year ago. More recently, I wrote 70000+ words of an epic novel, then I sat revising, I started its screenplay/graphic novel ms based off of the novel, I wrote another 20000+ words of a sequel to said novel, revising again, and then I halted pitching it when I took up a brand new story that has me more invigorated than I've ever been. But there's a problem: The last revisit of the completed novel's opening brought me to a crossroads, and a couple of my close proofreader friends (two wonderful, patient, and saintly people for putting up with me and not murdering me with my keyboard) convinced me, and 100% rightly, to alter my protagonist's back-story and family history, which accounts for much of her character. I started to scrap the very unnecessary and overly dramatic portions of her past/present life that had swallowed and watered down who she actually was. This drastically alters her very makeup and in a good and frightening way for me. The first couple of chapters I rewrote make for a completely different story, and it both thrills me, makes me happy because of the improvement, but also pains me deeply becasue of the time and sweat (sorry about the hygiene, folks) that I put in to craft the book that I love as a child. By changing the whole protagonist, the entire story needs to be ripped down and renovated from the ground up, and the truth is, that's a bitch (to coin a phrase). I love my story as it is now but cannot bring myself to pursue publishing it as a novel before I redo it, and it might make for a great graphic novel and/or movie (or so a few people have said and I have dreamed), but these too would need a drastic reset, and I have not gotten there yet. I debate and on some days I feel that I want this as a book first and foremost and I'll find the time for the revision that will really be a rewrite, and on other days, today for instance, I think this thing was meant to be a visual noir-esque thriller of a 2020's America that we may be headed for and I can probably find my character's rhythm and life essence easier and quicker in a film and comic ms format... If anyone wants to help me out here and lend an opinion based on my hints and meanderings, I'd be grateful. What I can say for my fans looking forward to a new published novel of mine in the near future is that my newest work is nearly at the 20,000 word mark in a few short and busy weeks and this is going to be oh so HUGE when it hits. All I will admit to now is that it is straight up futuristic storytelling like there has never been and this will be my first attempt at going beyond the realistic and the fantastical of speculative literature and delving (loosely) into the thriller science-fiction genre. I hope it will be worth the wait, my friends. Nothing is stopping me from fulfilling this tale, because I know that is the case. I am compelled with a feeling similar to the compulsion to write feverishly whenever I can, so I know that this will come to fruition . . . and soon. I am going to go write some more of it and enjoy the ride, but I am thinking of you my friends, and I cannot wait to share this thrill with you as well. ~RJH I have to write every day, but that is sometimes extremely difficult to do when sleep drives my head to the top of my desk. For this writer, writing is often on the mind, and it becomes a suppressed primal force, like the need for sex or food, that does battle hour after hour to win out over all other activity that has been vying for the single most valuable entity in the known universe (that I know of, anyway) . . . time. I do not expect that every writer or even the majority of writers feel the same compulsion that I do to write every single day, no matter the circumstance. Though I think the practice does help to improve and hone the writing. That said each day I exercise my chops with reading, writing, and editing. The editing can be very minimal at times, but I am OCD and every new thing I write plus every past written word that my eye happens to stray over even while just finding a place to take up in a manuscript has to be edited there and then or . . . or . . . my head will explode? Maybe. More likely I would not let the potential for an improved line out of my skull and at some point would drop all else - the current writing, various cooking functions of which I am very fond - to go and play around with the line and/or words in question. I love to play with words. Work and a commute involve writing at times, but nearly every weekday I am faced with sitting to write sometime after a delicious dinner and before I pass out for the night. I like structured chaos and improvisation and do things when I feel them, so sometimes the first thing I do after munching on an oh so rare steak is write and other nights it is not until the midnight dreary (and a terrific rain storm if I am lucky) that I sit down, at last, to play with those tricky words. I work hard and enjoy that, and as a result my energy can wane as the day’s end draws nigh and as much as my heart and soul want and need to write I can find myself having drunk a cup of dark coffee and putting my head down on the desk to get things straight. WAKE UP! What is the essence of the passionate scene that you’re writing about? What dark and grim view of the world are you trying to depict vividly on paper? Thinking of what drives you, what drives your writing, does wonders for scaring off the gnomes that incessantly try to feed you their sleeping powder. Personally, a trick I am happy to share is to GET ANGRY! Find something that your character feels strongly about, or find some travesty that the world is feeding instead of healing and get pissed off about it! Your blood runs quicker when you’re pissed off. Do whatever it takes . . . Get mad & write. by R.J. Huneke I know it has been a while, readers, but I am back! And what is more, I am going to keep my promise to speak more often to you all, here, on my personal soapbox, because many exciting things are in the works and 2013 is going to be a revolutionary year! For starters, I have this fancy new domain name - RJHuneke.com - so as to shorten the typing load of, well, everyone, and my production company Rune Works has its own brand spankin' new web site - at RuneWorks.net. My finished manuscript is currently being shopped around to agents - it's a whopper of a dystopian thriller with one of my all time tenacious female protagonists - and a graphic novel version, as well as a screenplay of it has already been undertaken by yours truly. While that might not be new news, I can tell you that the polished ms and the art will be seen in 2013 in the not too distant future and these pieces will be impactful! As head of Rune Works, I can tell you that the production company's second published novel will be released in 2013, and we are proud to announce that it will be a first-of-its-kind Poetry Journey Through Graphic Comic Art - Cassandra DeMario's finely tuned words will meet R.J. Huneke's intriguing artwork in a way that takes the reader on a visual journey through a story that is told by poetry and visual art. More works from other writers are in the works too! And we have not forgotten about the dream either...full feature-length film will be coming to Rune Works! As you can see, the behind-the-scenes aspects of numerous projects have been worked on furiously over the past year, and they will see fruition very soon, folks! Stay Tuned! ~RJ So here it goes: I recently won a contest online and received a custom painted coffee mug with a quote on it, and the quote has become one of my all time favorite inspirations and it is from one of my all time favorite bad-ass, innovative, and revolutionary authors of the 20th Century. Can you guess who wrote this? "You must stay drunk on writing so reality cannot destroy you." The Answer can be found on the RUNE WORKS blog. That's right, the Capitol book goes! HAPPY CINCO DE MAYO!
The newest novel has crossed over the 40K word mark and soared on into exciting typeset-entrails woven, like a battlefield incision skillfully tying purple ropes to a sharp blade and slowly extending them for many fathoms. I guess what I'm trying to say is that writing at length - while keeping the characters, real, observant, engaging and deep - is very difficult, and is in many ways every bit as tedious as the sadist warrior ensuring that his enemy lives to see his body cross paths with his own intestines. For all of that horrific and arduous labor, however, there is the well deserved feeling of a remarkably well done job, whether the warrior's tool be a short sword, a typewriter, or a pen. Persistence, regardless of entanglements, is key. Persist, my friends. |
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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