Author Richard McStay

06/01/2025

I don't do much short fiction, but I just came up with this one:
Good old Orwell
By Richard McStay
It’s October 30, 1938 somewhere in rural Pennsylvania. The Morgenstern Farm is the last on his road, just beyond the English-speaking farmers. Being the Elder of a community, he was permitted to have a radio to keep informed of what may harm the community. His son Eric was 18 and in his wild years, so he listened to more than news broadcasts. Orson Wells sounded like a news person, so he listened to the show that day.
“Oh... Pa Pa... Listen to this... We are being invaded,” Eric said, sounding panicked.
“Don’t believe the English is always a good idea... You should know that by now,” Mr. Morgenstern said dryly in German.
“But listen to people screaming while he gives the news... It is really happening,” Eric said in German. He was busy reading a German Newspaper that came in his mail that week. He was interested in Beef Prices.
A few minutes later, Eric said: “They have machines and are destroying New York.”
Elder Maxwell Morgenstern just rustled his paper to acknowledge he’d heard.
The sound he heard had the Elder on his feet and looking out into his South Field.
“Holey Fu***ng Sh*t,” Maxwell shouted. He’d used an expression he’d heard his English-speaking neighbors yell from time to time.
“What’s the matter, Papa?” Eric said as he rushed to his father.
“The fu***ng cows are flying up into the sky!” he replied in German.
Sure enough, his cows were being beamed up into a large, shiny object.
The moral: Not all news is believable, but when it is...

05/30/2024

I think I invented some new words while writing this:
My new word

I think I made up some new words to use in sarcasm.
Assanation: the act of assonizing those not previously an ass, or were an ass in ass-concealment, or assguise.. Sometimes feeling like an ass for being an ass is being an ass and realizing one’s assness.
He Assanates those who will listen to his lies and agree with what he said. Red hats and golden boots, they march to his tune. Many of those he Assonated attempted to overthrow our government. Asses helped him recruit asses by being asses I think I invented another new word for use in Sarcasm.
Assanate: The use of Assanation is turning or Hypno-Assanation to Assanize individuals for the ass.
Ass Anti-calls out the masses of Asses for being an Ass with hopes of inspiring anti-assess to be asses in recovery. Recovery is a long road of being a better person. He was always an ass, raised by asses to be an ass. And so he is an ass for asses that would follow an ass, no matter the s**t it will have them in. He wants to be King of Asses, leading Asses to be Asses for an Ass.
Honorable roads, intersecting with Ethical roads can be a hard road to be on, but self-worth without conceit or pious attitude is the reward. It just boils down to liking oneself enough to be oneself without the need to be an ass. What will our country be like under full Assathoranism.

05/18/2024

I finally apeased the Kindle AI and got Orphans Revenge for sale. It is a long link, but it worked when I tried it.

A group of orphans run from the dangerous streets of Old New York, but the way out also becomes dangerous. Running the streets of New York City in the 1650s was ended when they were chased by the Red Coats and the Black Hand Gang. Finding a wrecked ship to winter in, would change them. They grew ...

05/18/2024

I was finally able to get Orphans Revenge on Amazon. Longest link I ever saw but it works.

A group of orphans run from the dangerous streets of Old New York, but the way out also becomes dangerous. Running the streets of New York City in the 1650s was ended when they were chased by the Red Coats and the Black Hand Gang. Finding a wrecked ship to winter in, would change them. They grew ...

03/15/2024

After wasting many hours trying to get a paperback cover on Kindle, I got the same paperback cover done on Barns & Nobel. It was approved by a reviewer and I will put on sale after I receive a copy.

01/13/2024

01/10/2024

Working on my current WIP is depressing, though it could generate some conspiricies that would rivel the wildest. Here is one: from 2032: “It looks like him. What do you mean by it isn’t him?”
“This man is dead…He’s been dead for many years. Like many charismatic leaders before him, his associates couldn’t hold a government together without him. They have kept his death secret and even make it appear he had a son that looked just like him. He didn’t…” Smith paused and opened a binder. Artificial Intelligence operated by a few of the Innermost Circle decides what the image will say to push their addenda. Overseas, their inner circle does the same and they coordinate what their leader will say...” He opened a binder to show some graphs and charts. “This chart shows the actual power in the world as they would like you to believe. It’s not…The idea of Atlantica verses Pacifica was created to keep America under a dictatorship. In reality, the world outside of this country is run by a handful of wealthy people. The idea of Atlantica verses Pacifica is how they maintain absolute control.”

10/29/2023

Amazon needs to fix bugs in Kindle, or revert back to Createaspace. Covers are a nightmare with Kindle.

10/27/2023

Looks like I will have to go old school for covers. Buy a paper cutter, wider paper and glue, so I can match the sizes for self publishing.

10/26/2023

I created a new cover for Donna 632, but getting it to work on Kindle, or BARNS AND Nobel seems impossible.

10/20/2023

I checked with Amazon and found out I can re-publish four books originally published by W&B Argus. Unfortunately Mr. Connor is closing due to a terminal illness. It is a sad way to get rites back especially since he was easy to work with. I also canceled a contract with Solstice for Orphans Revenge. I will be up to my ears in re-writes and cover designs for a while.

06/29/2023

I just signed a contract for one of my recent books with Solstice Publishing. Orphan Pirates is a tale of old New York street kids with one thing in common; they were all orphans. When they become Pirates, they name their ship Orphans Revenge. I look forward to seeing the finished book.
I will post a release date when I know it.