Vincent H. O'Neil

My blog's been getting a lot of traffic lately, so I thought I'd take this opportunity to introduce the new faces to the very big stack of books I've written. Whether you're a fan of mystery, science fiction, horror, or self-improvement, I've got something for you.

More to the point, the genre isn't half as important as the characters and the action and the human experience in every one of my works. I've done a little bit of everything in this life, from Army paratrooper to risk manager, and all my books show that depth of experience.

So if you want brains-over brawn detective stories, try out my Exile mystery series (Murder in Exile, Reduced Circumstances, Exile Trust, and Contest of Wills) and if you want military action with high-level strategy, try my Sim War series (Glory Main, Orphan Brigade, Dire Steps, CHOP Line, and Live Echoes) for starters.

My futuristic fiction novel A Pause in the Perpetual Rotation depicts a world where robots do all the work, AIs make most of the decisions, and everyone's got everything they need--except a purpose. The companion book to that is the non-fiction self-help maual The Unused Path, which appears in the novel as an underground philosophy opposed by the government. It's a real self-help book, loaded with easy-to-follow lessons about managing time, getting good information, and living more authentically. 

I'm especially proud of my Providence, Rhode Island-based Interlands horror series and its main character, the historian Angelaaa "Ree" Morse. Think Halloween horror in New England, and you're on your way. Those books are Interlands and Denizens, with more in the works. 

Finally, although I've written 16 books I'm pretty much unknown as an author. Maybe you can help me change that.

Check out my books at my website, www.vincenthoneil.com. 

I'm pleased to announce that my dimension-shifting sci-fi short story "Me and Mine" was just released as part of the "Professor Feiff's Trans-Dimensional Travelogue" anthology from JayHenge Publications. 

"Me and Mine" features an unwilling traveler sent to a world that's almost identical to ours--except there are no people. Expected to return as soon as he can, the reluctant visitor decides instead that he likes the world where he's the only occupant. Remembering the mad scienitst "friend" who sent him there, the main character becomes worried that he might not be alone much longer. 

This is a big anthology, with writing from both newcomers and award-winning sc-fi authors. It's only available on Amazon, but you can get it in hardcover, paperback, or ebook. 

It makes a great gift, so pick one up.

My short story, Door Number Two, was just published in the magical realism/mystery anthology "Lucky Penny" from The Writers Cache. 

It's about a hit man who's become such an adrenaline junkey that he doesn't want any details about what he might be facing other than the identity of the target. One night, his enthusiasm gets him into a situation where he faces an adversary that may not even be human. 

Available in ebook and paprback from Amazon. Click the image for more.

My short story about betrayal, friendship, and long-delayed justice, Prodigals' Night, was just published in the most recent edition of Dirty Magick Magazine.

This one's special to me, because while I was recovering from an emergency appendectomy a few years ago I read a history of the Borgia family. The description of Renaissance festivals, the ever-present threat of sudden violence, and the rules of society that were followed only by a few, inspired this tale.

Check it out.

My sci-fi horror story "Point of Contact" is in the latest issue of the acclaimed UK science fiction magazine PARSEC. It's the story of an offie worker who has a strange encounter in the middle of a crowded sidewalk and begins to suspect an entity has somehow accessed his memories. 

Amazing Stories Magazine recently asked me several Unexpected Questions, including which sci-fi character I'd like to have dinner with. I said, "Zaphod Beeblebrox from The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy" and he's pictured here.

Well, Sam Rockwell is pictured here in the role of Zaphod. And if that's not enough to make you want to know why I picked Zaphod and to read the other Q&A, I can't imagine what will. Here's the link:

https://amazingstories.com/2024/07/unexpected-questions-with-vincent-h-oneil

Read my short story "Marjorie's Last Run" in The Saturday Evening Post. It's 1500 words long, and tells the tale of an art restoration expert who turns her talents to our nation's currency.

Click on the image, or put this URL in your address line:

https://www.saturdayeveningpost.com/.../marjories-last-run/

I'm thrilled and honored to announce my sci-fi horror story "They Don't Need the Light" is in the latest issue of the fantastic Andromeda Spaceways Magazine. I've submitted one or two other stories to ASM before, so it's a special occasion for me to have this accepted. 

To quote the story description, "Find out what volcanoes, meteorites, and cyberbullying have to do with the end of the world." Check it out at:

https://andromedaspaceways.com/product/asm-93

The suggestion, "Be the change you want to see in the world", urges us to act to improve our surroundings. In another sense, though, it tells us to represent our values and what we consider progress. In this excerpt from my self-improvement book The Unused Path: Skills for Living an Authentic Life, I talk about the importance of being mindful of the example we set in the world.

Respect the power of example

  

While we shouldn't do things so that others will see them, we should still remember that people watch what we do.

 

We never know when our actions are being observed by someone who may be influenced by our behavior. Has anyone ever told you that you inspired them at some point in the past and you didn't know it at the time? Ever hear someone remark that a chance encounter with a stranger who demonstrated selflessness or kindness changed their attitude for the better? That's the power of good example.

 

One of the reasons good example is so effective is that it leaves no room for hypocrisy. You're not telling anyone how they should behave—your actions are inspiring them. Deeds not words.

 

It's important to remember the power of bad example too. We sometimes don't know who looks up to us, or who believes we have better answers than they do. If we do something wrong, or demonstrate selfishness or a lack of caring, we may be suggesting to that individual that our bad behavior is acceptable. 

 

Setting the example

  

Have you ever been impressed by someone else's actions to the extent that you decided to imitate them?

 

Ever watched a stranger pick up some stray litter that was blowing around and toss it in a waste receptacle?

 

Been impressed by a coworker's meticulous attention to detail?

 

Heard a manager who was being praised for a great job say it was someone else's work, and that the author of that work should receive the accolades?

 

If you did, this was the power of good example in action. The people you observed all demonstrated a commitment to positive standards of behavior without saying a word about it. Setting the example might not have been their motivation, but they accomplished it just the same.

 

When we act in accordance with our values and standards, we can inspire others. There's a fine line between setting the example and doing something to attract attention, but if we do the same thing whether someone else is watching or not, it will be genuine.

The Unused Path is currently FREE as an ebook from Barnes & Noble and on sale for 99 cents on Amazon. It's also available in both spots in paperback for six dollars. I hope you like it. 

 

To help celebrate the Halloween season, both of the books in my Interlands horror series are FREE in ebook format from Barnes and Noble. They're 99 cents on Amazon, and also available in print from either venue.

The first book, Interlands, features the grad student Angela "Ree" Morse who is searching the Rhode Island woods for a lost stone obelisk once worshiped by a colonial-era cult that perished at its feet. The sequel, Denizens, picks up right where Interlands left off. 

Pick them up for free, and happy Halloween!