[Letters From the Labyrinth] Official Brian Keene Newsletter 9/10/17
This is Letters From the Labyrinth, a weekly newsletter for fans of my work. If you're a new subscriber, previous issues are archived here.
My nine-year-old and I finally got to see SPIDER-MAN: HOMECOMING yesterday. We'd missed it this summer because he had some health stuff going on at the time (nothing serious, don't worry), but I noticed yesterday that it was still playing in our local first-run theater.
We went to the 10 a.m. matinee, and we were the only two people in the theater, so that was cool. And the movie was delightful. Easily my favorite adaptation of Spider-Man, and definitely (in my opinion) the film that has come closest to capturing the spirit, essence and heart of who Peter Parker is (well, classic Peter Parker, at least -- not this unrecognizable character Marvel Comics's print division has turned him into these last few years).
Loved it. Just loved it!
When we got back home, my nine-year-old made me check the sales status of SCHOOL'S OUT -- the middle-grade post-apocalyptic book we wrote together. He's been all about the sales for the week it's been on sale.
Thanks for making it sell so well these last seven days, and making him excited. If you missed last week's newsletter, here's the info.
From Grandmaster Award winning author Brian Keene comes a book for children and intermediate readers as well as adults.
Eight-year-old Alan doesn’t like going to school, but when a global pandemic leaves him orphaned, cold, starving, and lonely, he has no choice but to set out on a dangerous quest to return to his third-grade classroom.
SCHOOL’S OUT, an all-new post-apocalyptic novella by bestselling author Brian Keene, was suggested to him by his son (known to listeners of Keene’s podcast as Dungeonmaster 77.1), and marks their first official collaboration. It is suitable for all ages.
Available now on Kindle, Nook, and Kobo for just $2.99! Paperback forthcoming in October.
We got the proofs for the paperback edition of SCHOOL'S OUT this week, but I wasn't satisfied with them, so there might be a week-or-two more delay in releasing the paperback.
USA TODAY #1 bestselling author Robert Swartwood stopped by yesterday and I showed it to him and he agreed with me. And then my nine-year-old showed him the comic book he's working on and pitched him a sequel to SCHOOL'S OUT. It was a creative afternoon here at Casa Keene.
Rob was here to sign signature sheets for CLICKERS FOREVER: A TRIBUTE TO J.F. GONZALEZ, which is now in production. If -- and I stress again, IF -- all of the signature sheets are signed by October and safely back to Thunderstorm Books, then the book will go up for pre-order next month. I know some folks like to wait for paperback or ebook, and I am sympathetic to that, but in the case of this anthology, I really think you're going to want a copy of the hardcover, as well. You'll see why soon.
Speaking of J.F., there has been a change of plans regarding the publication of MONSTERS AND ANIMALS -- the two-novella prequel to his seminal novel SURVIVOR.
J.F. finished MONSTERS before his death, and was halfway through ANIMALS at the time of his death. His frequent collaborator, Wrath James White, was brought in to finish the second novella, based on J.F.'s notes. The two novellas were to be published together in one volume. Previously, it was announced that Sinister Grin would be publishing the book. That has now changed to Thunderstorm Books. Too early to say when the book will go up for pre-order.
A reminder that time is running out to reserve your copy of DC HOUSE OF HORROR #1. If you don't have a comic shop near you, then you can buy it online.
And also a reminder that THRONE OF THE BASTARDS, the new sword and sorcery novel by myself and Steven L. Shrewsbury, is available now in paperback and ebook.
A few reminders:
PATREON - Where I post new short stories, a serialized ongoing novel, and behind-the-scenes stuff. (In fact, a new short story went live there just this week).
TWITTER - The only social media outlet I still use regularly.
That's it for this week. I hear my nine-year-old stirring, so it's time for Dad to get breakfast started. Thanks for reading, and good thoughts to all of you in this season of floods and fires.
Stay safe.