R.S. (Rod) Belcher is an award-winning newspaper and magazine editor and reporter. He has been a freelance writer for over a decade. He has written for local, state and international publications.
Rod has been a private investigator, a DJ, a comic book and game store owner and has degrees in criminal law, psychology and justice and risk administration, from Virginia Commonwealth University. He has done Masters work on a degree in Forensic Science at The George Washington University, as well as worked with the Occult Crime Taskforce for the Virginia General Assembly’s State Crime Commission.
He was the Grand Prize winner of the Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Anthology contest. His short story “Orphans” was published in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds 9 published by Simon and Schuster in 2006.
His story, ”Hollow Moments” is featured in the horror anthology Deep Cuts published by Evil Jester Press in 2013
Rod’s first novel, The Six-Gun Tarot, was published by Tor Books in 2013.
He is working on a urban fantasy noir novel and a sequel to the Six-Gun Tarot in 2013. Final titles have not yet been assigned to these works. Both novels are under contract to Tor Books.
He lives in Roanoke Virginia with his children: Jonathan, Emily and Stephanie, Three cats and two dogs.
Heya Rod,
Just picked up the book. Super congratulations, by the way. Almost done reading it already. It reminds me so much of being in your games: the way so many different characters’ stories end up meshing together. Can’t wait to finish it and find out what happens!
I had to drop you a quick line and tell you how thrilled Lynn and I are for you. We wish you all the success your creativity and drive deserve. I’ll just end by saying that I can’t wait to read the next book, which is about the highest praise I can give to any author. Take care. I hope you get so famous I can tell people “I knew him when…”
Much Love,
Greg (and Lynn)
Hi Greg! Thank you so much- I know yo and that is high praise indeed! I wanted to thank you and Lynn for the kind words about the book and I’m really glad you both enjoyed it. I’ll be up to Richmond a few times soon and I hope we can all catch up. Love y’all!
I just finished your book. Almost got in trouble since I couldn’t stop reading after lunch and that makes it a bit challenging to work. I had to look you up and see if I could tell you what a fun and satisfying experience I had reading your book.
Thanks so much for the highly entertaining reading experience.
I can only hope there is a second one.
Thanks
Betsy
Thank you so much Betsy! I’m really glad you liked it. Please don’t get busted at work! Yes, there is a sequel coming, and I’m working on it now. The great folks at Tor have purchased it. Thanks again. you made my day!
Rod
Hello Mr. Belcher,
Just finished “Six-Gun Tarot” and really enjoyed it, my first foray into what I guess is a genre unto itself, the “Weird Western”?
I’m a songwriter, and teach songwriting at Berklee College of Music. I got some ideas for songs out of reading your book and would be interested in letting you have a look at them if you are interested. Feel free to email me at your convenience.
Congratulations on some fine work. Ch’eng’s speech about gods and men on p. 311 is some surprising profound theology buried late in a surreal Western! It reminded me of John Mayer’s song “Belief” though it takes a far more optimistic view.
Mark
Hi Mr. Belcher! Six-Gun Tarot was so fresh! I work at a library in Colorado and the art work caught my eye so props to Mr. Swanland too. I just wanted to thank you for writing such a fun novel and, please, keep them coming.
-Joe
Thank you so much Joe! I hope you enjoy what’s coming next.
Take care,
Rod
I just finished “Six-Gun Tarot” Great job!!! I am a digital Mgr. For B&N in Asheville, N.C. and read your book on my nook reader. I have been recommending it to my co-workers and customers. I hope you will write more about Jim,Mutt and the folks of Golgotha. I also want to say Great job to the cover art. Mr. Swannland’s artwork is what made me want to preview S-G T .
Hi Jonathan,
Thanks so much! Yeah, Raymond Swanland’s cover is amazing and I really hope he can do the cover for the sequel. I was lucky to have him as the artist. he’s got me more than one sale , I’m pretty sure! If you guys ever want to do a book signing, please let me know, I’d be happy to do that for y’all.
Thanks again and take care,
Rod
Hi,
Just finished The Six Gun Tarot. Loved it. I’ll be looking for more of your work soon. Anyone who can mix it all up like that deserves to be read again and again.
Thanks Patrick! I’m really glad you liked the mash-up. More is coming.
Take care,
Rod
I just finished reading “The Six-Gun Tarot”. I was COMPLETELY in love with this story! I cannot wait for another story from your brain! Keep them coming and keep them just as strong. Thank you for sharing the insight into your brain.
Keith,
Thank you so much for the kind words. I’m really glad you enjoyed the book. I have two books in the pipe and one is a Six-Gun sequel. I hope you enjoy them as well.
I’m am so honored for the support and the compliments. Thanks!
Take care,
Rod
Wow-yr book knocked my socks off!! Great depth & character development. As a Native American woman —really appreciated the balanced viewpoint; that is a fine line to walk in many ways. Only prob, the entire family is asking why I’m coming out of the bathroom crying. Guess we’ll need to get a few more copies. Awesome, thanks!
Mikka,
Thank you so much! I’m really happy you enjoyed the book. I’m sorry I made you cry! Ha ha ha!
Thank you for supporting the book and I hope you enjoy the sequel that I’m working on now.
Take care,
Rod