Christopher Farnsworth's Blog, page 4

Preorders and Precognition

So I’ve decided to do something fun. Anyone who preorders a copy of my next book, KILLFILE — about a psychic soldier for hire — can get a free, personalized psychic reading* from me.

If you order KILLFILE before its U.S. release date on August 9, 2016 through Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Books-A-Million, iBooks, Kobo, or your local independent bookstore through IndieBound, just email me the proof at killfilepreorder@gmail.com. I will email you back with a personalized and signed psychic reading* like one of these samples.

*For amusement only. Absolutely worthless. No monetary value whatsoever. Guaranteed to be at least as accurate as a fortune cookie or horoscope, which is to say, not at all.

(By the way, this idea was shamelessly stolen from Glen Weldon, author of THE CAPED CRUSADE, which is a great book about Batman that you should read.)

The Legendary Beau Smith

It has taken far too long, but my friend Beau Smith‘s creation has finally made it to TV. The premiere of WYNONNA EARP hit SyFy last week. I’ve been ready to see Wynonna kicking demons in the teeth onscreen since 2010, when I wrote an introduction to Beau’s graphic novel WYNONNA EARP AND THE YETI WARS.

I wrote then that one of the highlights of publishing my first novel was an email I got from Beau telling me how much he liked it. He has been a relentless advocate for my work ever since, has offered advice when I needed it, and has even pushed my books into the hands of complete strangers he thinks might enjoy them.

From what I hear, he does this for all his many friends. That’s just the kind of person he is. He’s genuinely one of the good guys.

But even if I didn’t owe him — and I do, believe me — I would tell you that Wynonna Earp is the kind of smart and fun action we need on TV, in comics, and in our lives in general. Wynonna, a direct descendant of Wyatt Earp, is an agent with the U.S. Marshal Service’s Black Badge division, which deals with supernatural crimes against humanity. She’s faced down vampire drug dealers, werewolf bikers, cannibal body brokers, mad scientists, truly abominable snowmen, and other things too hideous for the general public to believe.

Beau has an enthusiasm for life — an authentic interest in everything — that I envy, and it comes out in his work. I wrote this in the intro, and it’s still true:

In our current excuse for a culture, the dominant pose is that of the been-there, done-that, too-cool-to-care hipster. Way too many of us – including myself – stand behind a protective sneeze-guard of irony, afraid to commit to anything for fear of the withering snark that’s sure to follow in the comments section. Too many of us are embarrassed by our enthusiasms. (Hence the term “comics geek.”)

Beau’s not ashamed to love comics, and he’s not afraid to stand up and cheer for them, even when other people might roll their eyes. He gives us a chance to stop being that hipster douchebag and simply enjoy ourselves again.

Emily Andras‘ adaptation of Beau’s work shows how Wynonna got into the monster-hunting business, and how she first picked up the demon-killing sixgun from her famous ancestor. It’s the secret origin of Wynonna Earp, and if you missed the first episode, you can check it out here. (The actors — especially Melanie Scrofano and Shamier Anderson — are great, and Andras has a real knack for Wynonna’s smartass lines of dialogue.) Set your DVR for the rest of the season.

You should also pick up the comics written by Beau, now thankfully back in print at reasonable prices. WYNONNA EARP: STRANGE INHERITANCE, out April 26 from IDW, includes THE YETI WARS and all of Wynonna’s early adventures. You can also pick up the new comics, which bridge the gap between the show and Wynonna’s later career.

It’s never too late to jump on the bandwagon. You’ll be glad you did.

And Beau would thank you for it. He’s a gentleman that way.

 

New Year, New Book

I’m pleased to announce my next book, KILLFILE, is available for pre-order now. Here’s the description:

John Smith possesses a special gift that seems more like a curse: he can access other people’s thoughts. He hears the songs stuck in their heads, knows their most private traumas and fears, and relives their most painful memories. The CIA honed his skills until he was one of their most powerful operatives, but John fled the agency and now works as a private consultant, trying to keep the dark potentials of his gift in check — and himself out of trouble.

Unfortunately, John is plunged into dangerous waters when his latest client, billionaire software genius Everett Sloan, hires him to investigate a former employee — a tech whiz kid named Eli Preston — and search his thoughts for some very valuable intellectual property Sloan is convinced he’s stolen. But before John can probe Preston’s mind, his identity is compromised and he’s on the run for his life, along with Sloan’s young associate Kelsey Foster.

Hunted by shadowy enemies with extensive resources and unknown motives, John and Kelsey must go off the grid. John knows that using his powers to their fullest potential is their only hope for survival — even if it means putting his own sanity at risk.

I know I’m not supposed to have favorites among my books, but this was the most fun I’ve had writing since my first novel, BLOOD OATH. I hope you enjoy it just as much.

KILLFILE will be released August 9, 2016 in hardcover and ebook from William Morrow. You can pre-order through Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Books-A-Million, or from your local bookstore through IndieBound.

New Year, New Book

I’m pleased to announce my next book, KILLFILE, is available for pre-order now. Here’s the description:

John Smith possesses a special gift that seems more like a curse: he can access other people’s thoughts. He hears the songs stuck in their heads, knows their most private traumas and fears, and relives their most painful memories. The CIA honed his skills until he was one of their most powerful operatives, but John fled the agency and now works as a private consultant, trying to keep the dark potentials of his gift in check — and himself out of trouble.

Unfortunately, John is plunged into dangerous waters when his latest client, billionaire software genius Everett Sloan, hires him to investigate a former employee — a tech whiz kid named Eli Preston — and search his thoughts for some very valuable intellectual property Sloan is convinced he’s stolen. But before John can probe Preston’s mind, his identity is compromised and he’s on the run for his life, along with Sloan’s young associate Kelsey Foster.

Hunted by shadowy enemies with extensive resources and unknown motives, John and Kelsey must go off the grid. John knows that using his powers to their fullest potential is their only hope for survival — even if it means putting his own sanity at risk.

I know I’m not supposed to have favorites among my books, but this was the most fun I’ve had writing since my first novel, BLOOD OATH. I hope you enjoy it just as much.

KILLFILE will be released August 9, 2016 in hardcover and ebook from William Morrow. You can pre-order through Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Books-A-Million, or from your local bookstore through IndieBound.

Required Reading

You can read the first chapters of THE ETERNAL WORLD for free at Wag The Fox or on my Facebook page.

I also wrote a couple new blog posts:

At The Page 69 test, I wrote about what happens on page 69 of the novel, and what it means. Fortunately, it’s a pretty important page.

For SF Signal, I named a few of my other favorite immortals.

After reading all that, if you agree with the New York Post and decide you must have the book, you can get it at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, iBooks, or from your local bookstore through IndieBound.

Required Reading

You can read the first chapters of THE ETERNAL WORLD for free at Wag The Fox or on my Facebook page.

I also wrote a couple new blog posts:

At The Page 69 test, I wrote about what happens on page 69 of the novel, and what it means. Fortunately, it’s a pretty important page.

For SF Signal, I named a few of my other favorite immortals.

After reading all that, if you agree with the New York Post and decide you must have the book, you can get it at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, iBooks, or from your local bookstore through IndieBound.

Today's the day: THE ETERNAL WORLD on sale now

Today’s the day: my latest book, THE ETERNAL WORLD, is on sale everywhere from William Morrow. If you haven’t already, you can get your copy from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, iBooks, or from your local bookstore through IndieBound.

But if you prefer the personal touch, you’re in Los Angeles tonight, come on by Barnes & Noble on the 3rd Street Promenade at 7:00 p.m. and you can get your very own hand-signed copy.

Here’s a brief synopsis:

Five hundred years ago, a group of Spanish conquistadors searching for gold, led by a young and brilliant commander named Simon De Oliveras, land in the New World. What they find in the sunny and humid swamps of this uncharted land is a treasure far more valuable: the Fountain of Youth. The Spaniards slaughter the Uzita, the Native American tribe who guard the precious waters that will keep the conquistadors young for centuries. But one escapes: Shako, the chief’s fierce and beautiful daughter, who swears to avenge her people—a blood oath that spans more than five centuries. . .

When the source of the fountain is destroyed in our own time, the loss threatens Simon and his men, and the powerful, shadowy empire of wealth and influence they have built. For help, they turn to David Robinton, a scientific prodigy who believes he is on the verge of the greatest medical breakthrough of all time. But as the centuries-old war between Shako and Simon reaches its final stages, David makes a horrifying discovery about his employers and the mysterious and exotic woman he loves. Now, the scientist must decide: is he a pawn in a game of immortals. . . or will he be its only winner?

And here are the early reviews:

Kirkus Reviews: “A fantastical witch’s brew of Spanish conquistadors, biotechnology, and hubris . . . with cinematic pacing and colorful action scenes, Farnsworth blends a unique premise into fun summer reading . . . entertainingly explores the border where science fantasy meets reality.”

Publishers Weekly: “Excellent fantasy thriller . . . The realistic approach is one of this inventive novel’s major strengths.” (Starred review)

Luxury Reading: Marcus Hammond gave the book an incredible review, saying “Farnsworth has blended history, espionage, suspense, science, and even a bit of romance so well that it’s hard to place this novel within a specific genre and even harder to put it down…. Farnsworth’s characterizations are perfect.”

If you want to know what was going through my head when I wrote the book you can check out this interview I did with PW. Or you can read this piece I wrote for THE BIG THRILL.

Finally, to all my friends and family, everyone who’s already bought the book or spread the word, thank you. I am a very lucky man, and I appreciate you more than I can ever say.

Today’s The Day: THE ETERNAL WORLD On Sale Now

Today’s the day: my latest book, THE ETERNAL WORLD, is on sale everywhere from William Morrow. If you haven’t already, you can get your copy from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, iBooks, or from your local bookstore through IndieBound.

But if you prefer the personal touch, you’re in Los Angeles tonight, come on by Barnes & Noble on the 3rd Street Promenade at 7:00 p.m. and you can get your very own hand-signed copy.

Here’s a brief synopsis:

Five hundred years ago, a group of Spanish conquistadors searching for gold, led by a young and brilliant commander named Simon De Oliveras, land in the New World. What they find in the sunny and humid swamps of this uncharted land is a treasure far more valuable: the Fountain of Youth. The Spaniards slaughter the Uzita, the Native American tribe who guard the precious waters that will keep the conquistadors young for centuries. But one escapes: Shako, the chief’s fierce and beautiful daughter, who swears to avenge her people—a blood oath that spans more than five centuries. . .

When the source of the fountain is destroyed in our own time, the loss threatens Simon and his men, and the powerful, shadowy empire of wealth and influence they have built. For help, they turn to David Robinton, a scientific prodigy who believes he is on the verge of the greatest medical breakthrough of all time. But as the centuries-old war between Shako and Simon reaches its final stages, David makes a horrifying discovery about his employers and the mysterious and exotic woman he loves. Now, the scientist must decide: is he a pawn in a game of immortals. . . or will he be its only winner?

And here are the early reviews:

Kirkus Reviews: “A fantastical witch’s brew of Spanish conquistadors, biotechnology, and hubris . . . with cinematic pacing and colorful action scenes, Farnsworth blends a unique premise into fun summer reading . . . entertainingly explores the border where science fantasy meets reality.”

Publishers Weekly: “Excellent fantasy thriller . . . The realistic approach is one of this inventive novel’s major strengths.” (Starred review)

Luxury Reading: Marcus Hammond gave the book an incredible review, saying “Farnsworth has blended history, espionage, suspense, science, and even a bit of romance so well that it’s hard to place this novel within a specific genre and even harder to put it down…. Farnsworth’s characterizations are perfect.”

If you want to know what was going through my head when I wrote the book you can check out this interview I did with PW. Or you can read this piece I wrote for THE BIG THRILL.

Finally, to all my friends and family, everyone who’s already bought the book or spread the word, thank you. I am a very lucky man, and I appreciate you more than I can ever say.

Publishers Weekly

THE ETERNAL WORLD got a starred review in Publishers Weekly :

The discovery of the fountain of youth kick-starts this excellent fantasy thriller from Farnsworth… Each man is obsessed with living forever, yet exhausted from the lies and hiding they’ve done for centuries and bored by life’s pleasures. “To live forever, you have to have something to live for,” one of them thinks. The realistic approach is one of this inventive novel’s major strengths.

 

This is a pretty huge deal for a book nerd like me. And this was only the third or fourth best thing to happen in the past few days. So, yeah. Having a pretty good week, thanks for asking.

Publishers Weekly

THE ETERNAL WORLD got a starred review in Publishers Weekly :

The discovery of the fountain of youth kick-starts this excellent fantasy thriller from Farnsworth… Each man is obsessed with living forever, yet exhausted from the lies and hiding they’ve done for centuries and bored by life’s pleasures. “To live forever, you have to have something to live for,” one of them thinks. The realistic approach is one of this inventive novel’s major strengths.

This is a pretty huge deal for a book nerd like me. And this was only the third or fourth best thing to happen in the past few days. So, yeah. Having a pretty good week, thanks for asking.