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

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

New books COMING including American Political Asylum, yes it is true!

It has been far too long, my friends.

Nearly five years after my car accident, I am not yet at 100% but my creative drive has never been stronger these past years, and so many new projects and art are coming very soon.

I, R.J. Huneke, promise: winter, I mean, art is coming!

What has been extremely difficult for me mentally and spiritually has been coping with the fact that I have not been able to write and work on art every day, as I have for many years.

It is a part of my soul and every day the compulsion is so strong that it can override the need for sleep, money, and even food (which for me is saying something).

But my brain has needed to rest and recover, as well as my body.

Regardless of this, I have been hard at work on some interesting goodies, invigorating pieces for me (and hopefully for you too), some of which I will spill the beans on here and some I will wait until the time is right.

My frustration is often paralyzing because when I can write, edit, and make art it is still taking me far longer to accomplish anything than it used to . . . most of the time.

I am happy to say that there are times where the magic comes back, full force, and there is that amazing indescribable storm of swiftness as things pour from my vessel to the medium.

And I have come a long way from having to teach my eyes to see straight again and scrawl or type without inverting letters and words.

I can also stand on one leg again.

This is unrelated but gives me infinite joy as I can stretch as I used to and jump on Dragon and go mountain biking through the walls of trees, the winding needle-strewn paths, and the steep peaks and valleys of the trails.

I get many of my best ideas this way, so I guess it is a little related. 

You see I do ramble on even more than I used to (also saying something for me).

Now to the art!

As of today I have been declared a finalist in the Local Gems Press NaPoWriMo Chapbook Contest and been offered a publishing contract for my first ever book of poetry titled American Political Asylum!

I had little hope I would win the contest outright, as there are so many gifted poets in the world, and my work, in this case, was largely political in nature.

But in writing a poem for every day in the month of April 2018, I met a challenge to myself to complete a themed compilation of poems, which I had never done before.

And, what is more, the difficulties surrounding the United States of America have had me either depressed, scared shitless, or enraged (or all three at once) nearly 24/7 and writing this book was a tremendous relief to my mind, body and soul.

I hope you, Eager Readers, enjoy it.

It is not all gloom and doom, nor is it all politics.

American Political Asylum is a theme based off of the title and so anything American, anything political, and anything needing asylum fell into my hands to carve into works.

There are some hilarious pieces, as well as one about my Dalmatian puppy Indiana Jones.

What else, do you ask?

Well, Rune Works Productions Ltd. will once again have a booth at New York Comic Con!

And for it, there will be a comic book written by yours truly based in the Cyberwar world, taking place before the tale in Cyberwar.

The artwork will be like nothing out there now and dark! Elizabeth Yoo is going to blow the doors off of the house!

There are also two children’s books, a wholly new mystery suspense maybe even a touch of science fiction or fantasy (who can say at this point) novel, and of course the refined next book in the Cyberwar Series, which is currently being perused by agents before, hopefully, going to the publishing houses.

This book will make Cyberwar a prequel and be the true launch of an interesting and twisted series that delves far more in-depth into the Cyber United States and Wangluo and everywhere in between, as only Sheetrock and Xera Finn and company can live it.

I have also relaunched a site for POWkabam Comics and artists, like myself, are writing their own views on any and all things comic books there so check it out: powkabam.com.

What else?

Sorry, you will have to stay tuned to that Bat Channel.

I can promise to try and communicate with you here and on Twitter far more often than I have the past few years.

I am healthier than I can remember and loving life, so be ready because this art is going to be special, all of it.

Thanks for tuning in. I will not tune out, and I suggest you do not either.

Art is coming!

​~RJH

R.J. Huneke Returns to NY Comic Con Rune Works Booth #1061 where he will be signing books!

2016 sees the Rune Works Productions Ltd. team flourishing and once again occupying the New York Comic Con Booth #1061 in the Small Press Section of the main floor on October 6-9, 2016.

There will be customized bookmarks and candy available for free to all of our fans (and certainly some more fun surprises).

R.J. will appear beneath an enormous sign bearing the temple and pen logo of Rune Works. Look for it over the aisles at the Javits Center!

Hours are forthcoming for R.J.'s signings of his science fiction thriller CYBERWAR, and the Ivan O'Neill graphic novel BACKWOOD STATE, of which R.J. was editor and a part of the art/writing work for the continually selling out premiere issues featuring notorious English major Gwen.

And new things - fantastic new works and pieces - are coming and to be oh so slowly teased and brought forth just for you, Eager Readers, at the New York Comic Con 2016.

Other comrades of author R.J. Huneke, such as Rune Works writers, promoters, media specialists will all be on hand, and specifically members of the Rune Works Gaming division, and its head Maria Sumoza, as well as media guru and fine artist Liz Yoo who will also be there touting new and exciting works.

Maria is kicking off her own Twitch Stream and continues to be a female force examining gaming from her innovative perspective. Check her out on the Rune Works Gaming Section and on her Twitter feed.

Liz is bringing the great works of, The Master of Suspense, Alfred Hitchcock to the canvas in ways like no one has ever seen! Her galleries have had enormous success in New York City and Long Island. Check out her site and Twitter feed here.

R.J. is proud to be a part of Rune Works as both a member of the media, covering all of pop culture art at its finest, and a publishing and promotion firm for artists.

The Rune Works® Productions Ltd. Mission​:  to give a voice to unique artists and bring their vision to the world at large. ​

Rune Works® began in 2007 as an outlet for innovative artists looking to thrive with their works. We now offer art, content, and business consulting for media, marketing, web design, and representation.

​Want to hear an artist's perspective on comic books, video games, art, or film? Check out our News & Reviews Section.

I am compelled to talk to you about some of the fun I have been having recently involving inventing not-so-subliminal messages in binary code for chapter breaks and typing the infamous words “[THE END]” on my next novel’s manuscript.

It has been sometime since I have opened up to you, Eager Readers, and that is why I felt the need to get in touch today to catch up.

I should have said more of myself, but I did not.

A bad car accident has had me in disarray over the last year and a half plus, but my health is improving and so too, I hope, my writing going forward.

It is not an excuse, but it was difficult to write my thoughts down and hard to get them out in the world.

What has been incredibly frustrating is a drastically altered ability to read, to see in general, and subsequently to write and edit.

All kinds of quality of life issues have stricken me down, but the acts of reading, writing and editing, which have been second nature for as long as I can remember, were crippled.

Fear not! Things should improve for me in the not too distant future.

I will get back to making art at a high level, and I am working oh so hard to get back there, and to a healthy state, every day.

But back to the fun I figured you would enjoy hearing about.

Reading and rereading some fascinating articles on translating binary code – and just where the hell those numbers come to have meaning – had me inspired.

This is one of the articles I read from math.grin.edu.

It is called “The Binary System: A pretty damn clear guide to a quite confusing concept by Christine R. Wright with some help from Samuel A. Rebelsky” (and it is quite fun, even for one who tries to ignore math regularly, as I am wont to do).

I will never be able to grasp the sheer math of it all, and the geniuses using this method and other in-depth ways for creating myriad works of art in the Cyberverse continue to have my utmost respect.

But trying to wrap my head around just what those numbers mean and how does so much meaning and information pass through them in the world today, invisible and yet visible at all times through the digitally dependent society that circumvents much of the globe.

Do not get me wrong: I simultaneously love and hate the digital Cyberverse that has infused itself into modern civilization; as much as I am fascinated and utilize the tech, I wish we were not so completely dependent on it.

But I digress, back to fun.

Being moved by the complexity and yet utter simplicity of binary, I decided it would be fun to make a different interconnecting message in binary code as a chapter break at the end of each section in the latest novel I have been writing to follow-up Cyberwar.

I am afraid I do not have a title to reveal just yet, but the book, which was largely complete before my car accident is inching nearer to its culmination.

The binary serves as a great visual break between parts of the book’s words, but also allows me to add in some of my own views on a level, a fun level, that requires a little research on the part of the reader to find the meaning hid in the 1’s and 0’s.

You may also be interested to know that this very week, I typed the words, “[THE END]” onto the ms.

Now there is a good deal of words on the page after those, and that will have to be addressed.

And there are numerous sections that need to be expanded upon, some that need to be chopped down to timbers, and others that no doubt need transplanting, either to other sections of this book or into another book entirely.

That will be the fun as the editing and the writing continues.

I can give no timeline, but want to say a hearty “Hello” to you all and hope that 2016 is a healthy and magical new year for us all.
 
Sincerely,
 
R.J. Huneke 


​"FUN: I wrote [THE END] and binary chapter breaks" was originally written for CyberwarSeries.com by R.J. Huneke

Be sure to sign up for the newest Giveaway of R.J. Huneke's Science-Thriller CYBERWAR, and you could win one of the three signed hardcovers that will be selected at random by the good Eager Readers over at Goodreads!

Read the details below:

Win a Signed Hardcover Copy of R.J. Huneke's Thriller Cyberwar!

When hackers seize the world governments everything changed for all of humanity. A new sense of hope arrived in the streets and young people everywhere embraced the new world order. However, what appeared to be a new found freedom soon turned out to be a new tyranny far worse than anything they imagined. 

William Waltz formed part of the new elite that guarded the regime, that is, until the regime turned on him.

The research on cyber warfare and political protest, as well as a strong female protagonist set this riveting story apart.

The book will be released to bookstores from Pentian, an imprint of Lantia, on May 5, 2015. Get it in hardcover, paperback and eBook. 

The book is being released on May 5, 2015, but you can start reading it before then!

Well it's 1 Day 13 Hours 50 Minutes away! The New York Comic Con! And Rune Works and Pentian will be at the Javit's Center October 9-12 at Booth # 1061!

Rune Works is the media production end of CMO Sync and will proudly be representing itself at the NYCC with both author R.J. Huneke and comic creator Ivan O'Neill on hand.

Will they be signing anything?

YES!

Author R.J. Huneke will be touting his upcoming novel from Pentian CYBERWAR and Rune Works comics division, POWkabam, is also showing up with its first release: Ivan O'Neill's BLACKWOOD STATE Issue # 0, a preview comic of the upcoming mini-series from Pentian Publishing.

What are they giving away?

Well bookmarks, posters, signed copies of EVERYTHING, FREE Tee's and of course copies of their works will be available.

PRIZES, booth babes, and more unforgettable things are in store for any fan dropping bye the Rune Works Booth # 1061!

Check out our official page on the New York Comic Con web site here and add it to your SHOW FLOOR MAP. 

Look for the GIANT temple backdrop and the HUGE calligraphy pen! 

We'll see you in 1+ DAY!

A slight hummmmmm sounded. The air behind Joshua trembled. 

“What the?” 

A blue glow dropped in front of his face. He jumped in fright. No one should have been able to get near him down there. Audio white noise played from the speaker that was duct-taped to the circular drone’s belly.

“How’s that possible?”

“I worked as a spy for Cyber,” said Waltz. “You might think your computers are locked down, but you seem to have forgotten who I used to be and what I used to do. What do you think a cyber warrior is anyway? Do you think it was hard to hack your security’s little air force?” asked Waltz with scorn.

The bolt struck Joshua in the chest and sent excruciating pain through his torso that spread out to the tips of his fingers and toes. Such totalic agony was wholly unknown to him. 

“Fuck you!” he said.

     “No you won’t,” said the loud voice of Waltz. “And just so you know: that little guy I sent down to you . . . let’s call ‘em Hulk . . . Hulk won’t stop until you’re dead . . . and I am free.”

     “STOP!” squealed Joshua. He swung clenched fists into the air, but his feeble attempts fell far short of the bobbing drone. His t-shirt burned. “STOPPPPPP!” 

     “This whole place will blow up,” he gasped, “and gas everyone with Ebola for twenty miles!”

“What did you say?” asked Waltz. 


READ THE REST HERE: http://www.cyberwarseries.com/news-blog/ebola-attack-a-part-of-cyberwar-an-excerpt

Come hear a live reading of excerpts from the upcoming Sci-Fi thriller Cyberwar by writer R.J. Huneke at Stony Brook University!


Never before heard or seen material will be read aloud at the event hosted by the Stony Brook Sci-fi Forum at 7 pm on September 24, 2014.  

R.J. will be signing posters, accepting pre-orders, and offering entry into exciting Cyberwar contests.

Those interested in attending can do so at the Stony Brook University Forum Union Building Basement, Room 047.

Feel free to sign up on the Facebook Event Page here: https://www.facebook.com/events/368341743343255/

It all went to hell when the world’s greatest cyber warriors chose to wage war for themselves and not on behalf of the politicians that hired them. Hackers, they used to be called. 

To Xera, William Waltz was a broken spy and a fugitive, manipulated by the Cyber Elite that ruled from Canada to Peru. If she helped him, the Cyberwar could be avoided . . . but the assassin named “Sheetrock” tracked them to use his bio-hacked body to delete them both.

The research on cyber warfare and political protest, as well as a strong female protagonist set this riveting story apart.

The book has been finished and is now a series.

See the investment opportunities at Pentian Publishing's site here, and if you want become a character in Cyberwar!