“Maker of Flight” wins another contest – Jotspeak
Posted on September 16, 2010 Leave a Comment
"Maker of Flight" Wins at Jotspeak
Check this out!
I WON! For my story “Maker of Flight” that also won at ChiZine.com last year. It is based on the novel Filaria by Brent Hayward. I beat out 200 other stories, WOW! I figured, since you could enter previously published work, that MOF was a good story to send in. Good call, I guess!
I found Jotspeak via Facebook, they approached me about joining a couple of months ago. Seems like a real good community, and I hope to get more involved. Looks like I’ll be a featured artist/author for a month too! Always good to get new eyes on my work.
Shivers VI Announced – Stephen King, Peter Straub and ME!
Posted on August 26, 2010 2 Comments
Shivers VI - Cemetery Dance
Wow, got the announcement tonight, and Shivers VI, which I knew was coming (produced by Cemetery Dance) will have a novella by Stephen King and Peter Straub in it. WOW. My story “Stillness” will be in such great company, I mean, these are the guys I grew up reading, my idols. I’m floored. It’s a huge book, 400 pages, and they’re issuing it as a limited lettered, limited edition, and paperback. While they last.
This could really win a Bram Stoker award.
Table of Contents:
“Serial” by Blake Crouch & Jack Kilborn
“The Crate” a novella by Stephen King
“The Last Beautiful Day” by Brian James Freeman
“Cobwebs” by Kealan Patrick Burke
“The Old Ways” by Norman Prentiss
“Waiting for Darkness” by Brian Keene
“Like Lick ‘Em Sticks, Like Tina Fey” by Glen Hirshberg
“Ghost Writer in My Eye” by Wayne Allen Sallee
“Palisado” by Alan Peter Ryan
“Stillness” by Richard Thomas
“In the Raw” by Brian Hodge
“I Found A Little Hole” by Nate Southard
“Fallow” by Scott Nicholson
“Last” by Al Sarrantonio
“Mole” by Jay Bonansinga
“The Shoes” by Melanie Tem
“Bits and Pieces” by Lisa Tuttle
“Trouble Follows” by David B. Silva
“Keeping It in the Family” by Robert Morrish
“It Is the Tale” by Bev Vincent
“A Special Place: The Heart of A Dark Matter” a novella by Peter Straub
Interview at Oxyfication (with Justin Holt)
Posted on August 16, 2010 Leave a Comment
Justin Holt spent the last week interviewing me about Transubstantiate, and other things too – how I got started, what my influences were, my thoughts on various genres, and what my plans are for the future. Be sure to check it out.
Intro:
Richard Thomas is a busy man. He’s a husband and father of twins. He’s a graphic designer. He helps moderate a writing workshop at The Cult, one of the most popular author websites in the world. He’s helped edit zines and magazines alike. He’s pursuing his MFA in Fiction. He’s part of a group of up-and-coming writers who each year help each other through the hardships of writing a novel. And yeah, he’s also a writer whose debut novel, a neo-noir thriller called Transubstantiate, was published in July 2010, the flagship novel of the upstart independent press Otherworld Publications. High on life and hell-bent on sharing in the revelry of being part of a new movement of fresh voices to the literary world Richard stopped by Oxyfication to share a little bit about himself, how his debut novel Transubstantiate came to be, and what it’s like when one of your literary heroes tells you that your writing reminds them of their literary heroes.
Amazon Bots Giving Me Some Love
Posted on August 13, 2010 Leave a Comment
So, I got an email from Amazon yesterday, and it kind of caught me off guard. It wanted to know if I was interested in some other thrillers, some books. Of course I’m interested, let me open that email and see what you’ve got for me today. And what was it?
Wow. There’s my own book. How many people did this email go out to? I actually haven’t bought my OWN book on Amazon yet (believe it or not) but I’ve thought about it. It might generate some links to “other books” of a similar nature, other books I’ve bought. Other authors that I love – King, Straub, SGJ, Baer, Clevenger, Palahniuk, Mieville, etc. So I’m not really sure how or why I got this email. But I LIKE IT!
And, I’m in pretty good company. Kristopher Young, I know this guy, have actually read Click, it’s a good book. But Brian Evenson? I mean, he’s a GIANT. I’ve seen him at several panels at AWP, have talked to him a little bit, he’s larger than life. I’ve read a lot of his stories, and strangely enough, have Fugue State in my “wishlist” at Amazon, been meaning to read it, that and Last Days. And then there’s Audition, a very dark movie, and I can only assume, a very dark and strange book. But it’s nothing like Transubstantiate, as far as I know. Except they’re both dark, and thrillers, I guess.
But, whatever happened here, I’m happy that Amazon has done something for me, sent out this email to I’m hoping MILLIONS of people. Okay, maybe dozens, but I’ll take it. I even heard from some friends of mine that they got the same email. So, it wasn’t just me.
It’s one of those little things, like chatting with people at GENCON, answering their questions, signing books. I sold THREE signed/limited editions! At $40 a pop! To total strangers. That’s kind of cool (and a bit intense). Or getting a random IM on Facebook from somebody that just says LOVING YOUR BOOK, and then POOF, the guy is gone. A fan in the UK, happy with the book, but maybe too shy to actually talk to me about it. Guess I’m BIG TIME now.
Not really. I’m as humble as ever, thrilled to see so many people enjoying the book. Busy with Disintegration, the next one. And loving every minute of it.
Thanks Amazon, spawn of Satan, giant book beast, my crack cocaine addiction. Thanks for spreading the word, giving me a little love. I’ll take it.
Epic review of Transubstantiate at Oxyfication
Posted on August 6, 2010 Leave a Comment
Jason Kane reviews Transubstantiate at Oxyfication
Jason Kane has written a fantastic review of my novel Transubstantiate up at Oxyfication. THIS is my audience, he gets it, and he really likes it. Such an elegant, insightful review. WARNING: There are mild spoilers throughout, but nothing that will detract from the novel, but purists may want to read it after the book.
OXYFICATION REVIEW OF TRANSUBSTANTIATE
Here’s a snippet:
Casual brutality, sex, and disorder: the heroes of noir have never been terribly endearing to the heart, but the seven nihilistic souls of Richard Thomas’ Transubstantiate seem like they were born ruined, and are likely to die that way. The story draws heavily on all the beloved accouterments of the neo-noir tradition—fractured narratives; cynicism; disorientation; ruthless beatings—but the story branches out into other areas, exploring themes of mysticism and the unknowable, even broaching the peripheral terrors of Lovecraftian horror.
Richard Does Wicker Park
Posted on July 24, 2010 7 Comments
Wicker Park used to be the third largest artistic community in the USA
So I took the day to run down to Wicker Park, my old neighborhood in the city of Chicago. I’m about 35 miles N/NW in the suburbs, where I live now, but I try to get back to my old haunts whenever I can. Ah, it was so much fun to run around. I went back in order to distribute about 200 postcards and about 20 posters. Most of the shops were very cool about letting me post up and drop off.
My first stop was Bongo Room, to get some food. One breakfast burrito and I was set. Great potatoes too.
Bongo Room, 1470 N. Milwaukee
Next, it was off to Myopic Books, one of my favorite used bookstores in all of Chicago. Tacked up a poster and then went hunting.
Myopic Books, 1564 N. Milwaukee
What did I find? Well, I got LAST EXIT TO BROOKLYN, THE BIRD IS GONE (A MANIFESTO), DEMON THEORY, some William T. Vollman, 13 STORIES & 13 EPIGRAPHS, and two copies of THE PARIS REVIEW (both with stories by Ben Percy, one with Aimee Bender). No Baer or Clevenger.
Then it was Reckless Records, where I put up a poster RIGHT THERE the right of the front door in the window (both sides). They still sell vinyl there.
Reckless Records, 1532 N. Milwaukee
I hit Untitled, Urban Outfitters, dropping off cards.
The Siver Room (1442 N. Milwaukee) is always cool, they’re having a big party tomorrow.
Metamorph Tatoos (1456 N. Milwaukee) was a really cool tattoo parlor and piercing salon. Great art on the walls. I think this guy was there when I walked in. He was pretty intense.
Micah Greenlay
Una Mae’s (1528 N. Milwaukee) is another really great shop. Used to be called Una Mae’s Freak Boutique. They put up a poster for me, very generous. This is their old sign but it brings back memories, so I posted it up anyway.
Brooklyn Industries is very cool, has this awesome art on the brick wall outside of their space, I shot some dust jacket shots there, but they didn’t make the final cut for Transubstantiate.
Found this little head shop called Dude, I Forgot, some really awesome hand blown glasswork and fantastic incense.
Then I headed over to Quimby’s, my other favorite bookstore in Chicago.
Quimby's, 1854 W. North Ave.
They have a ton of edgy stuff – comics, graphic novels, art books, you name it. I’ll be reading here October 16th with some Otherworld Publications authors. Time and details TBD.
What did I get? Well, after 45 minutes, I walked out with these:
The latest issue of Juxtapoz, an edgy art+culture mag I love:
And some new comics/graphic novels that looked good Couldn’t find The Last Days of American Crime.
Unwritten:
Unwritten (1) by Mike Carey & Peter Gross
Transmetropolitan:
Transmetropolitan (1) by Warren Ellis, Darick Robertson
So after that it was time to head home. Made two stops on the way back. Dropped off some cards at a really great Tattoo Parlor up in my neck of the woods, Lucky Seven Tattoo Studio (229 Peterson Road, Libertyville, IL) and my old buddies at Dreamland Comics (105 West Rockland Road, Libertyville, IL). They both helped me out by letting me take some counter space at Lucky 7 and inserting postcards into the sales at Dreamland.
One last stop. Goodwill. They have BOOKS! And for $13 I got some good stuff:
Tim O’Brien THE THINGS THEY CARRIED (love the short, now I have the collection)
Ayn Rand, THE FOUNTAINHEAD (never read it!)
Ray Bradbury, Farenheit 451 (don’t own a copy!)
George Orwell, 1984 (also don’t own a copy)
Robert Heinlein, THE PUPPET MASTERS (classic SF)
Kurt Vonnegut, SLAUGHTERHOUSE-FIVE (another I don’t own)
Thomas Harris, RED DRAGON (great book, didn’t own it)
Augusten Burrough, DRY (HC 1st)
Clive Barker, THE DAMNATION GAME (HC 1st)
Clive Barket, THE GREAT AND SECRET SHOW (HC, 1st)
Quite a haul.
Had a great time, thanks everyone for your help and support.
Reading at Archie’s this Sunday
Posted on July 14, 2010 Leave a Comment
I’ll be reading this Sunday from my new novel, Transubstantiate. If you’re in the area, come on out.
PFR DIVE READING
Date: Sunday, July 18, 2010
Time: 8:00pm – 11:30pm
Location: Archie’s Iowa Rockwell Tavern
Street: 2600 W Iowa
City/Town: Chicago, IL
Here’s the link to the Event page on FB too:
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=130679203628854
Signed, limited of Transubstantiate are…signed!
Posted on July 10, 2010 Leave a Comment
Here are some pictures from the signing of my 100 S/L. Mailed back to OWP today, Fed Ex, so if the CDs are all ready to go, then they should be in the mail in a week or so:
Review of Transubstantiate at Rotten Leaves
Posted on July 10, 2010 Leave a Comment
Rotten Leaves Review
Fantastic three-headed review of Transubstantiate at Rotten Leaves, by Axel Taiari, Christopher Dwyer and Nik Korpon (Otherworld Publications label mate).
Axel: “…while other authors could easily struggle with unleashing multiple points of view at such pace, Richard manages to make it all fit together, make sense, build characters, craft a vivid world, each new chapter giving you an additional piece of the puzzle, changing the whole picture, again and again, until the epilogue where everything falls into place and the reader is allowed to breathe once more.”
Christopher: “It’s not just well-written and beautiful. It’s the ambition behind the style, the scope; it’s the way Richard blends sci-fi with noir with thrills with horror with a cherry-tip drop of literary goodness…”
Nik: “One of the things that really struck me…was this seamless melding of multiple genres while still retaining what sycophants would say is a literary voice, meaning it’s a very well-written novel while still having the constant clicking of impending doom in the background.”
For the full reviews go to the link above or click on the picture.
Five star review for Transubstantiate is up now at Bitten By Books
Posted on July 3, 2010 2 Comments
5/5 for Transubstantiate at BBB
BITTENBYBOOKS.COM – 5/5 tombstones
I’m very excited that I just got my first post-release review at BittenByBooks.com and she really loved it. She actually went out and bought a copy too.
“The calculated gestures, gasps and sighs, or the cold blooded neck snaps and shanking – all were beautifully written and crafted with clever lunacy…This is Richard Thomas’s debut novel, and if this is the norm for him, I will be eagerly awaiting his next novel with dark fascination.”
- Richard Thomas - 