My first novel, Superego, is out! This is a big deal; I wanted to be novelist well before I even started blogging. And this should be the first novel of many more.
Anyway, it’s published by Liberty Island and is available in ebook, of course, but also paperback if you’re a Luddite. There’s and even a very well done audio version by Audible Studios, so “I’m illiterate!” is not an excuse not to experience the great story I wrote.
Anyway, I figured you all would have some questions, so I wrote an FAQ on my novel.
SUPEREGO FAQ
Q. What is Superego about?
A. It’s a heartwarming story about a genetically engineered, psychotic hitman, Rico, who is completely incapable of feeling guilt or remorse for his actions — killing someone means nothing more to him than tying his shoe. On a new job, he accidentally ends up a hero while pretending to be a police officer and then finds himself falling for a female detective. And as things don’t go as planned with the job, Rico begins to reexamine his life. And he has lots of wacky misadventures, as a psychotic hitman is wont to do.
Q. Is it a comedy?
A. It’s not a comedy. Though people say there’s a lot of humor in it. Rico is a fun guy, despite his anti-social nature.
Q. How did you write it?
A. With a keyboard. You hit a letter on it, and then the corresponding letter appears on the computer screen. The internals of it all is a bit more complicated than that. If you’re curious to learn more, look up ASCII characters.
Q. What inspired you to write this?
A. People keep saying science fiction needs to be more inclusive, and I guess I got tired of all the portrayals of the psychotic hitman as a villain.
Q. So what are the themes in this book?
A. Probably the main one is morality. I take a look at morality by constructing a character who has no practical use for it. He feels no guilt for his actions, and because he works for a criminal syndicate larger than most governments, he also usually faces no legal retribution. Some other themes that are explored is there is a little bit on religion, government, the concept of civility, redemption, and what makes someone a human being.
Q. This sounds heavy.
A. It’s not. There’s just a bit of philosophical backdrop to glue together action scenes and all the twists and turns. I have a very short attention span; I’d put myself to sleep if I tried to be preachy. What I want is a book where stuff is constantly happening and the reader is unsure what’s going to happen next.
Q. Does this book pass the Bechdel Test?
A. It’s first person perspective from a male character, but there are a number of named female characters and they do converse with each other. And I think at least part of those conversations aren’t about Rico or another male character, so it might pass. So, yes, it’s a very feminist book.
Q. I want to know what cool stuff is in this book. Are there explosions?
A. Yes.
Q. Gun fights?
A. Yes.
Q. Ninjas?
A. No.
Q. Dual .45s?
A. Yes.
Q. Katanas?
A. No.
Q. What happens if I don’t enjoy this book?
A. Seek a mental health care professional. There is something wrong with you.
Q. Are there plans for a sequel?
A. Yes. I already have a bunch of ideas for a sequel or two, including plenty of new twists.
Q. Are you ever going to blog more?
A. Hey, if you want me to write more, you need to support my paid writing.
Q. I really enjoyed Superego. What should I do now?
A. Tell all your friends about it. And write a review on Amazon and similar sites. If you do that, I will be your best friend.
Q. Will we hang out all the time?
A. I didn’t say I’d be the friend you’d hang out with the most. I said I’d be your best friend. That means if you were to rank your friends by quality, I would be number one. How could I not be?
Q. One last time, why should I buy your novel?
A. It’s a fun, fast-paced action adventure, and it’s written by me. Aren’t you even curious what a whole novel written by me would be like. How could that not be mind-blowing?
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If you have any questions not covered here, put them in the comments and I will answer them. Unless there are spoilers. Spoiler are bad. Except on cars. They make cars look like they’re fast.
And buy Superego now!
Im considering buying your book in the paper format so i don’t have to keep recharging it.
My question is, since the main character on the cover seems to have a heart that’s two sizes too small, will there be a Whoville tie-in?
Q: Cats?
No spoilers, huh? Darn.
I finished it last night after starting / putting it down weeks ago.
Reaction #1: Writing in the first-person is the most difficult. The story starts a little slow in this regard and my first thought was, “Why is this guy explaining himself so much?” (Obvious answer: because it’s Frank!) But by the middle of the story, you reigned-in his musings and did a better job integrating them with the action. When I resumed reading yesterday, I found I couldn’t put it down!
Reaction #2: The story has more twists and turns than a New York pretzel. Some were predictable, a couple were not (no spoilers!)
Reaction #3: I was left imagining a humorous-but-serious TV series with your casual, first-person narrative creatively weaved into each episode.
Reaction #4: You definitely left room for a sequel. (Hint: It has to do with the story being told in the first-person and the way it ended! This is not a spoiler!)
Rihar,
It’s basically a prequel to the Grinch.
DamnCat,
There are no cats in it.
Jimmy,
There’s one twist I hope really catches people off guard.
Will “Id” and “Ego” be contemporaneous “prequels” to “Superego”? The characters in those books getting together with Rico in the sequel: “Personality”.
I will read your sequel, Frank. The evolution of Rico’s character has some serious potential. Also, having finished reading it and then going to bed, I found it affected my dreams. For me, that’s usually a sign of a good story.
More!
nnevets,
That’s what I was planning, but now that you predicted it, I will have to come up with something else.
Feel like I should note something: Rachel Lucas is helping me edit my next novel, which will have ninjas in it and at least mention katanas.
It’s a heartwarming story about a genetically engineered, psychotic hitman, Rico, who is completely incapable of feeling guilt or remorse for his actions — killing someone means nothing more to him than tying his shoe.
Apparently, you’ve met my oldest brother.
Also, one other thing. I noticed you borrowed a phrase from ussjimmycarter in SuperEgo. I wonder if your IMAO readers will notice it. 🙂
Are there eyeball-eating poo-flinging monkeys? I really miss them.
Q: If a Luddite buys the paperback version, is it possible to add a spoiler to the book so they look like they are reading faster?
I dunno … should I wait for the katana one?
So how closesly does this story follow the Superego you posted here bit by bit all those years ago? I don’t remember if I finished reading that whole thing or not.
John W. Young,
Well, monkeys are in it. Briefly.
Dodsfall,
Yes. That would make sense.
FredKey,
No. Read this first.
Ernie Loco,
It follows a little bit of that, but it’s pretty much rewritten from scratch and a number of the characters are quite different.
Could we see a future crossover with Hal Spacejock?
No katana? How can you write “a fun, fast-paced action adventure . . .” without a katana? Sheesh.
Just finish reading and listening to it. So Frank, where is the next Rico Vargas novel?
BTW, you should at least fix the fusion/fission error later in the novel in Kindle edition.