Letters From the Labyrinth 81
Hello again. I'm Brian Keene and this is the 81st issue of Letters From the Labyrinth -- a weekly newsletter for fans of my work. Previous issues are archived here.
Congratulations David J. Schow on your release from Facebook jail. I'm glad to hear that you're rehabilitated and ready to rejoin social media society.
You folks will notice, I'm using social media less and less. If you know a fellow Keene reader who isn't subscribed to this newsletter, let them know about it. This is where the real shit happens. Our next item is a fine example.
Many, many years ago, a novella of mine called WHITE FIRE was published in an anthology called AND HELL FOLLOWED WITH THEM. As an earlier novella, it was written while the Judeo-Christian portion of my interlinking mythos was still forming, and as a result, I've never been satisfied with it 100%.
Late last year, I took a week and sat down and heavily revised WHITE FIRE -- expanding the story significantly, and changing some of the plot so that it better fits my mythos.
Thunderstorm Books will offer pre-orders of this new edition of WHITE FIRE as a signed limited edition hardcover on 3/31/18. Pre-orders will only last 48 hours. The print run will be determined by how many copies are ordered during that time-frame.
Here's their website. Sign up to be notified when the book goes up for pre-order.
The hardcovers of CLICKERS FOREVER and HOLE IN THE WORLD have all shipped. The weather has wreaked havoc on some of the deliveries, though. If you haven't received your copies yet, know that you are not alone. Mine haven't shown up yet either. I can't stress enough -- this is not the fault of the publisher. It is the fault of the United States Postal Service...and also whomever is in charge of the weather here on planet Earth.
Meanwhile, Deadite Press have announced a release date for the paperback and ebook editions of CLICKERS FOREVER. It is April 15th.
So... WHITE FIRE hardcover on 3/31.
CLICKERS FOREVER paperback and ebook on 4/15.
And shortly after that... END OF THE ROAD from Cemetery Dance. This gorgeous hardcover collects all of my End of the Road columns, which are part tour diary, part self-reflection, part treatise on death and the afterlife, and part history of the horror genre's last twenty years. It also includes some material that was never included in those columns. And it also features a wonderful Introduction by Gabino Iglesias. There will also be a companion piece -- a chapbook by John Urbancik called ON THE ROAD WITH BRIAN KEENE.
I feel that END OF THE ROAD is one of the best things I've ever written. I hope you will feel the same.
This week I worked on:
* Signing books for Lifetime Subscribers
* A short story called "Running Free" (which last week had a working title of "The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner" -- both are references that fans of Iron Maiden will get). I don’t often go “deep” inside my head for a book or story, but I’m also aware that when I have, the results have invariably been the favorites of my more discriminating readers (TERMINAL, DARK HOLLOW, GHOUL, END OF THE ROAD, THE GIRL ON THE GLIDER, THE COMPLEX, and parts of KILL WHITEY). This short story? Deeeeeeeep inside my head and I forgot to bring a flashlight. Have avoided working on it this weekend because I don’t write when I have my son, but I’m both looking forward to and dreading returning to it tonight.
* INVISIBLE MONSTERS (The next Levi novel)
* THE FALL (The final novel in THE RISING series)
Mary and I also dropped by the Cemetery Dance offices, to celebrate Mary's forthcoming book for their novella line. I dropped off the signature sheets for END OF THE ROAD while I was there. Mary, Richard Chizmar and myself went to lunch and had a good time.
It's nice when work and personal time entwine.
I lost an entire work day Friday, due to an unexpected early dismissal at my son's school. But he and I made Dungeons & Dragons maps and played video games and read books instead (he's reading a Choose Your Own Adventure novel and I'm reading Jack Ketchum's final collection, GORILLA IN MY ROOM).
It's nice when work gets pushed aside for personal time, as well.
MONSTERS AND ANIMALS is the long-awaited two-novella prequel to J. F. Gonzalez’s seminal extreme horror novel SURVIVOR.
MONSTERS was completed before his death ANIMALSwas half-completed, and was finished by his frequent collaborator Wrath James White (following J.F.’s notes).
The novellas, published together in one paperback volume, are now available in paperback and for Kindle. (There is also a limited edition hardcover and Nook edition forthcoming).
MONSTERS – In one family’s home there is a section of the basement locked-up. After their mother doesn’t come home and their drunk dad refuses to contact the authorities, the kids take it upon themselves to uncover their family’s secrets. What they find is more disturbing than they ever could have imagined.
ANIMALS – In New York City, there is an underground S&M scene where any decadent and depraved pleasure can be had for a price. When a young man gets caught up in the scene and disappears, his friends go in search. But their path will lead them to the darkest pits of human desire.
MONSTERS AND ANIMALS — two novella prequels to the cult favorite hardcore horror masterpiece SURVIVOR. This edition also includes an Introduction by Brian Keene and two more bonus stories, “Shooting Schedule” and “Mabel’s Recipes,” that further explore the world of SURVIVOR.
CURRENTLY READING: Gorilla In My Room by Jack Ketchum
CURRENTLY LISTENING: The Road Goes On Forever by The Highwaymen
CURRENTLY WATCHING: Lost
Mary had never seen Lost, which surprised me, since many parts of it are in her cosmic horror wheelhouse, so we're burning through that. Sixth time for me, and I still love it. Season one and seasons 4 through six are perfect, and seasons 2 and 3 hold up much better when binge-watched. I'm not crazy about the much-rumored re-boot that ABC executives are kicking around.
I am, however, very excited for The Sopranos prequel that David Chase is working on. Those late-1960s flashbacks to Johnny Boy and young Junior were some of my favorite parts of the show.
We'd hoped to be able to announce the green-lighting of the next major studio adaptation of one of my works this week, but in the 11th hour, Hollywood execs started behaving like Hollywood execs, and thus, I can't announce anything...
A reminder that RETURN TO THE LOST LEVEL is on sale now in Paperback – Kindle– Nook – Kobo
A reminder about The Horror Show with Brian Keene's 2nd Annual Scares That Care Telethon
WHAT: A live, 24-hour event that will be streamed around the world for free, during which we will raise $20,000 for charity.
WHEN: May 11 and 12, 2018
WHERE: In person at Courtyard Marriott 2799 Concord Road, York PA 17402, or listen for free from the comfort of your home.
TO BE PART OF THE STUDIO AUDIENCE: Click here and buy a ticket.
That's it for this week. A few reminders:
PATREON - Where I post new short stories, a serialized ongoing novel, and behind-the-scenes stuff. As a matter of fact, a new chapter of THE SEVEN: THE LABYRINTH BOOK ONE went up last week.
TWITTER - The only social media outlet I still use regularly.
See you back here next week.