R.J. Sullivan

R.J. Sullivan’s latest book, Commanding the Red Lotus, is a novel-length collection of three space opera tales in the tradition of Andre Norton and Gene Roddenberry. His novel Haunting Blue is an edgy paranormal thriller and the first book of the adventures of punk girl Fiona “Blue” Shaefer and her boyfriend Chip Farren. Seventh Star Press also released Haunting Obsession, a Rebecca Burton Novella, and Virtual Blue, the second part of Fiona’s tale. R.J.’s short stories have been featured in such acclaimed collections as Dark Faith Invocations by Apex Books and Vampires Don’t Sparkle. R.J. co-hosts the Two Towers Talk Show YouTube program with John F. Allen. He resides with his family in Heartland Crossing, Indiana. He drinks regularly from a Little Mermaid coffee mug and is man enough to admit it.

RJ’s OSI Files Appearances, All Links

by R.J. SullivanFebruary 25, 2020February 25, 2020Leave a comment

Last year I had a heck of a good time as a guest on the Facebook Live / Podcast The OSI Files, devoted to all things Six Million Dollar Man and The Bionic Woman. These two TV programs pioneered SF and superhero stories decades before it was practical. Both shows had a tremendous impact on little boy RJ, and I’m still an unabashed fan.

After my one-off appearance in December 2018, circumstances worked out a year later that I guest-starred three times in rapid succession in January and February 2020 (weellll…. rapid for me, though multi-shows-per-week host John S Drew may be having a good laugh at this comment). Now that those shows are out there, it’s time to recap and share all the Facebook Live links in a single easy-to-find blog post.

Haunting Blue Audible Preview

by R.J. SullivanFebruary 3, 2020March 6, 2020Leave a comment

As announced earlier, I’m excited to expand beyond the amazing first splash that is Danielle Muething narrating Haunting Obsession. (If you don’t know what I’m talking about, Click Here).

Now Seventh Star Press and my imprint DarkWhimsy Books have partnered to secure Danielle’s narration talents to bring the rest of the trilogy to audio! Danielle is already in the sound booth laying down tracks and voices for Haunting Blue, my first novel and the start of the paranormal adventures of punk girl Blue Shaefer and her boyfriend Chip Farren. Haunting Blue will likely be out on Audible and other popular audiobook options well before summer!

RJ Cleared to View Three More of The OSI Files

by R.J. SullivanJanuary 6, 2020January 6, 2020Leave a comment

The Six Million Dollar Man and The Bionic Woman were among my favorite shows as a kid. Certainly, they were the most successful SF /Superhero shows in an era when SF and superheroes had very little success on TV (I still remember so many favorite shows disappearing after a season, one after the other, but I digress). So I was excited in December of 2018 to appear on the Facebook Live / Podcast program The OSI Files with co-hosts John S. Drew and Jerry Lange. Not only could I let my Bionic nerd flag fly, but also discuss my first ever TV star crush Farrah Fawcett (because I was a boy and it was 1976, and it was kind of the law).

I had a heck of a lot of fun. You can read all about my appearance and view it in full here.

The OSI Files have continued to air new episodes roughly in order of the original run. So now we’re coming back to the next Farrah appearance, so I’ve been invited back to discuss The Golden Pharaoh on…*screech*

Okay, hold that thought.

Audiobook Trilogy to Go Forward

by R.J. SullivanDecember 28, 2019December 29, 2019Leave a comment

The details have been worked out and we are a go!

Last spring, my first-ever audiobook happened. It was a perfect-storm project where the ideal narrator submitted a random audition for a novella she deep-down wanted to land much more than she cared to admit at the time, whose reading blew away the anxious author who fretted that his vision be dramatized by a kindred spirit who “got it” (and knew that boy-howdy did she!). And they were backed by a supportive publisher making their first ventures into audiobook and who knew they had something special.

Steady sales and excellent reviews of Haunting Obsession the Audiobook followed, (also, these promo videos, did you see these awesome videos?) so we’ve decided to finish the trilogy together!

…we’ve decided to finish the trilogy together!

New R.J. Webstore Now Live!

by R.J. SullivanNovember 30, 2019November 30, 2019Leave a comment

Well, that turned into a working weekend, but I think the effort will prove well worth it. Drum roll please.

Announcing the new, improved, highly streamlined R.J. Sullivan Fiction Webstore , now up and live! Effective immediately, for anyone who orders books directly from me, the Webstore replaces the less efficient method that used to be seen here.

What this is: The new Webstore allows you to pick selections from my personal stock of books for personalized signatures and gift giving. Credit card transactions are handled through GooglePay and go directly to me. I personally will handle fulfilling orders.

What this is not: This is not the place to order ebooks, Amazon, Kindle, Kobo, Audible, or any non-paper format. For that, go to my book catalog and click on the cover of the book that interests you.

Improvements over the previous method

Look, ma, an electronic shopping cart!
Coupon deal options (check the product description to see what fits yours).
Author exclusive product such as my Christmas Book and the Haunting Obsession Elegant Paper Dolls book
A field for personalized signatures.
Payment, postage, and label printing are all automated.

I’m looking forward to trying this new method just in time for the holidays. Hopefully, this new, streamlined Webstore will make personalized book mailings easier than ever!

Now click here to check it out!!

R.J. Introduces John F. Allen’s The Best is Yet to Come

by R.J. SullivanNovember 26, 2019Leave a comment

It was my pleasure to write the introduction to the first short story collection of the talented author and my good friend John F. Allen, released last month. I could tell you why, but I explain it in detail in the introduction. So without any further delay, here is the foreword in full.
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I’m pleased and honored to write the foreword in this collection, though also a bit intimidated. For many of you readers, this may be your introduction to the imaginative world of John F. Allen, and introducing you to that is quite a task to take on in a few hundred words. John and I have been through a lot together in the last half decade or so, both as storytellers trading and refining ideas, and as independent authors trying to launch our respective careers and take over the world one book at a time. We have bonded like brothers and have frequently feuded in the same manner. But ultimately it is our love and admiration for each other that keep us together on the journey. I think there’s a 70s song by Captain and Tennille that fits here (Google it, kids).

Old songs frequently come up when hanging out with John. Love songs. Dance songs. Great songs of passion. Because if there’s one word that I would use to describe John, it’s passion. John is passionate about writing, and, as these stories show, he is passionate about life.

…if there’s one word that I would use to describe John, it’s passion.

New Videos To Support Haunting Obsession Audiobook

by R.J. SullivanNovember 10, 2019November 10, 20192 Comments

If you missed the Haunting Obsession Halloween Party on Facebook on October 21, you missed out on a lot of fun. We gave away a lot of FREE download codes for the new Haunting Obsession Audible Audiobook and other prizes, and premiered my new Haunting Obsession Elegant Paperdolls book, available at an event near you in 2020.

But we also premiered two new YouTube videos in support of… all of the above, but which mainly showcase the talents of my fabulous audiobook narrator and her hitherto hidden paperdoll performance talents. Danielle Muething not only created these videos and props herself, but she did so within hours of the event.

So here you go! First, enjoy Danielle performing as Paperdoll Maxine Marie singing “I Wanna Be Loved By You.”

Next, Danielle took both paperdolls, built some sets, and created something new. It’s… well, you’ll see.

If you love this, you’ll love how Danielle narrates my sexy ghost story Haunting Obsession and you should click this link to get all the details about ordering the Audible.

If you’re not an Audible type person but still want to order the paperback or ebook, click here!

NEW Haunting Obsession Halloween Party and Paperdolls

by R.J. SullivanOctober 21, 2019November 10, 20191 Comment

Or, What’s in the Box?

First of all, to celebrate the audiobook release of Haunting Obsession, we’re throwing a big party on Facebook all day on Monday, October 21. I’ve been teasing “What’s in the Box?” on my facebook feed all week, which leads to this post. During the party (going on today if you are seeing this the day it goes live) we’ll also reveal some amazing new videos, promotions, share some favorite classic Maxine Marie blogs, and so much more. And a lot of people are going to leave with a FREE DOWNLOAD CODE to listen to the incredible Haunting Obsession audiobook read by Danielle Muething! To join the party room event page, click this link!

Secondly, Monday will mark the first day a brand new Haunting Obsession product will be available, strictly through me, at my table during appearances OR when you order books from me through this link. Which brings me back to the box. So…

Introducing the Haunting Obsession Elegant Paper Dolls featuring the sexy ghost Hollywood icon Maxine Marie and the novdlla’s co-protagonist Loretta Stevens, withthree pages of awesome outfits. The book is eye-popping full color with a cardstock front and back cover and glossy color page insides. All layouts and designs are created by my amazing CGI artist Nell Willams. So that’s:

Both paperdolls on the cardstock back cover
A cardstock front cover displaying most outfits, which can be signed, separated and framed if you use the book for its intended purpose (essentially, destroying it in the process).
Two pages of Maxine Marie outfits
One page of Loretta Stevens outfits

Haunting Obsession the Audiobook

by R.J. SullivanAugust 24, 2019August 6, 20206 Comments

NEW for 2019 (Marking the “Seven Year Itch” of the 2012 novella)
Haunting Obsession, the Elegant Audiobook!
She wants to be loved by you… alone!
The entire sexy ghost story, complete and unabridged.

By R.J. Sullivan, Published by DarkWhimsy Books
Read for maximum dramatic impact by Danielle Meuthing.
Click to order: Audible Amazon Apple
Not interested in audio books? Click here to go to the paperback page.

Chapter Four (Partial) FREE Listen (NSFW)

Daryl Beasley collects all things Maxine Marie, whose famous curves and fast lifestyle made her a Hollywood icon for decades after her tragic death. Daryl’s girlfriend, Loretta Stevens, knew about his geeky lifestyle when they started dating, but she loves him, quirks and all.

RJ Sullivan’s Favorite Spaceship SF Novels

by R.J. SullivanJuly 23, 2019July 23, 2019Leave a comment

First of all, I want to thank SA McClure for asking me to be a part of the Rogue Skies Party Room today. My name is R.J. Sullivan. I write ghost stories, fantasy, and, most notably for this blog, I’m promoting my SF spaceship stories. But as you read this, you might want to call me Old Man RJ, as I will prove not only that I likely skew a bit older than many authors and readers participating here, but that my tastes run “older school” still.

I was a teenager in *mumble*-80-*mumble*. I’d seen Star Wars on the big screen as a kid and lived for Star Trek TOS TV reruns. My parents didn’t understand, but neither did they hold back my interests. I think they were just glad I liked to read.

Once a year when we traveled out of state, we’d pay a visit to my dad’s sister and her nerd husband, my beloved “Uncle Mick”, the only relative in the extended family who “got” me. He ran a used bookstore on the weekends, and had a huge collection of SF paperbacks in his basement.