[Letters From the Labyrinth] Official Brian Keene Newsletter 125

It's me again. Brian Keene. And this is the 125th installment of Letters From the Labyrinth -- a weekly newsletter for fans of my work. Previous issues are archived here.
I'm home from last week's writer summit in New York City. Can't really talk about much of it, other than a few small things leaked on Twitter. For example:
*Aaron Stewart-Ahn -- one of the screenwriters of MANDY and a very sweet and cool guy -- is also on the project, because I Tweeted that we were at dinner.
*Yoon Ha Lee, the king of science fiction spaceship explosions, is also on the project, because I re-Tweeted a sketch he made of me during a lull in the conference room.
So...there's a few snippets. But that's all you get. There are two big companies involved in this, each with their own marketing and promotional departments, and they will decide when I can tell you more. But I suspect it will be sooner than you think.
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My 10-year old missed me while I was gone. He had three days off school due to snow, and is anxious to get out and go somewhere. And his mother could use a weekend to herself. So I decided yesterday that he and I are taking an impromptu road trip today. We're going to Philadelphia to visit the Museum of the American Revolution, the Mutter Museum, and visit with one of my old Navy buddies and his daughter (who is the same age as my son). We'll stay on a hotel room and order room service and lie in our beds and watch Cartoon Network. A good father & son adventure, and it gives his mother some much needed time to herself.
Pics I took while in New York.




I got some very cool news this week. The press release regarding it follows:
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In celebration of National Library Lover’s Day, the Horror Writers Association (HWA), in partnership with United for Libraries, Book Riot, and Library Journal/School Library Journal, is delighted to announce the 1st annual Summer Scares Reading List, which includes titles selected by a panel of authors and librarians and is designed to promote horror as a great reading option for all ages, during any time of the year.
Each year, three titles will be chosen in the Adult, Young Adult, and Middle Grade categories, and for 2019 they are:
ADULT
Mongrels by Stephen Graham Jones (William Morrow Paperbacks, 2017)
My Soul to Keep by Tananarive Due (Harper Voyager, 1998)
Earthworm Gods by Brian Keene (Deadite Press, 2012)
YOUNG ADULT
Rotters by Daniel Kraus (Ember, 2012)
Slasher Girls and Monster Boys, edited by April Genevieve Tucholke (Speak, 2016)
Devil and Winnie Flynn by Micol Ostow (Penguin Random House Publisher Services, 2015)
MIDDLE GRADE
Doll Bones Holly Black (Margaret K. McElderry Books, 2015)
Through the Woods by Emily Carroll (Margaret K. McElderry Books, 2014)
The Jumbies by Tracey Baptiste (Algonquin Young Readers, 2016)
The goal of the Summer Scares program is to introduce horror titles to school and public library workers in order to help them start conversations with readers that will extend beyond the books from each list and promote reading for years to come. Along with the annual list of recommended titles for readers of all ages, the Summer Scares committee will also release themed lists of even more “read-alike” titles for libraries to use when suggesting books to readers this summer and all year long. And, in order to help libraries forge stronger connections between books and readers, the Summer Scares committee will be working with both the recommended list authors and horror authors from all over the country, to provide free programming to libraries. From author visits (both in person and virtual) to book discussions to horror themed events, Summer Scares is focused on connecting horror creators with libraries and readers all year long.
The Horror Writers Association (HWA) will also be hosting special Library Day programming at its annual StokerCon event, which will be held May 9-12 in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Several of the authors from the Summer Scares reading list, as well as the committee members, will be in attendance. Authors and committee members will also be available throughout the year for on-site and/or remote appearances to libraries and schools to promote the Summer Scares program and discuss the use of horror fiction as a tool to increase readership and nurture a love of reading.
The Summer Scares program committee consists of award-winning author Grady Hendrix (We Sold Our Souls, Paperbacks from Hell), Becky Spratford (library consultant, author of The Readers Advisory Guide to Horror, 2nd Ed.), Carolyn Ciesla (library director, academic dean, book reviewer), Kiera Parrott (reviews director for Library Journaland School Library Journal), Kelly Jensen (editor, Book Riot, author of [Don’t] Call Me Crazy: 33 Voices Start the Conversation about Mental Health), and JG Faherty (HWA Library Program director, author of The Cure and Carnival of Fear).
The HWA is a non-profit organization of writers and publishing professionals, and the oldest organization dedicated to the horror/dark fiction genre. One of the HWA’s missions is to foster an appreciation of reading through extensive programming and partnerships with libraries, schools, and literacy-based organizations.
For more information about the Summer Scares reading program, including how to obtain promotional materials and schedule events with the authors/committee members, visit the HWA’s Libraries web page (www.horror.org/libraries), Becky Spratford’s Reader’s Advisory Horror Blog RA for All: Horror (http://raforallhorror.blogspot.com/p/summer-scares.html), or the Book Riot, School Library Journal, Library Journal, or United for Libraries websites and social media sites.
You can also contact JG Faherty, HWA Library Program Director (libraries [at] horror [dot] org) or Becky Spratford, HWA Secretary (bspratford [at] hotmail [dot] com).
HOLE IN THE WORLD will be in stores February 26th! — Preorder now in Paperback and Ebook!
Apex Book Company is proud to present HOLE IN THE WORLD – a weird fantasy prequel to Brian Keene’s popular THE LOST LEVEL series.
An hour ago, they were nineteen strangers on an airport shuttle, braving travel delays and a freak blizzard. Then they fell through a hole in the world. Now, they are nineteen strangers trapped in a dangerous dimension filled with prehistoric monsters, futuristic technology, and otherworldly mysteries. They’ll have to learn to work together if they want to survive and return home … but will any of them be left alive by then?
Brian Keene’s HOLE IN THE WORLD. Preorder now in Paperback and Ebook! On sale February 26th.

The above image is something I'm plugging for Mary. She'll be doing a live reading and Q&A to support The Pixel project. Join her if you can. I'll be there.
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I've known Christopher Golden's son, Nick, since he was a teenager, He's now 25 and -- after getting his start interning for Senator John Kerry and working as a legislative aide for Representative Lori Ehrlich of Massachusetts 8th Essex District -- he is now running for Haverhill City Council. If you are so inclined, you can support that effort by clicking here.
This Week's Podcasts:
JOHN URBANCIK IN EXILE - The Horror Show with Brian Keene - Ep 207
John Urbancik returns to the show to discuss his new Bizarro novel, the fate of the Inkstains podcast, and his forthcoming tie-in to Richard Laymon’s THE TRAVELING VAMPIRE SHOW. Then, disgraced agent and alleged con artist Timothy A. Beal of Universal talent Bookings faces new felony counts for harassment and stalking.
Listen for free on YouTube - iTunes – Spotify – Project Entertainment – iHeartRadio – Stitcher
DEFENDERS DIALOGUE - Episode 56
It’s the final battle between the new Defenders and the new Secret Empire as J.M. DeMatteis’s legendary run on the series comes to an end. Guest-starring Nick Fury and the agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. and featuring the Defenders new headquarters.
Listen for free on iTunes – YouTube – Project Entertainment – iHeartRadio – Stitcher
That's it for this week. Little man and I are off to Philly.
As always:
PATREON - Where I post new short stories, writing advice essays, two serialized ongoing novels, and behind-the-scenes stuff.
TWITTER - The only social media outlet I still use regularly.
YOUTUBE - Where I'm posting free stuff each and every day.
I'll see you back here next week!