[Letters From the Labyrinth] Brian Keene Newsletter 130
Hi. I'm Brian Keene, and this is the 130th issue of Letters From the Labyrinth -- a weekly newsletter for fans of my work. Previous issues are archived here.
I used this format last week, and people seemed to like it, so I'm using it again. If you don't like it, let me know on Twitter (or just respond to the email). I'm not married to it yet. Just experimenting. Trying to find what suits the majority best.
This past week was spent working on Lifetime Subscriber stuff, as well as the manuscripts for THE TRIANGLE OF BELIEF, an untitled collaboration with Bev Vincent, and THE FALL (the final book in THE RISING series). I also jotted down some notes for a story involving Levi Stoltzfus and Don Bloom taking on Kandara and a bunch of bikers in the backwoods of West Virginia, but that's not due until end of April, so I haven't started it yet.
I'll lose a lot of work time this coming week to phone calls. I'm doing a Skype session with a college class on Monday. Their professor was kind enough to assign them DEAD SEA, and they have questions for me. Tuesday will be spent in conference calls about the Thor series, which is called THOR: BLACK HOLE METAL (I don't know if I'm allowed to tell you that or not, but fuck it, I just did). Wednesday will be spent in conference calls about movie stuff (like I said before, there's suddenly movement on a bunch of options). At some point this week I'll need to record new episodes of The Horror Show and Defenders Dialogue. And thus...not much time to write.
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I was a guest on the 200th episode of THE NECROCASTICON, which is a very good podcast that examines the crux between heavy metal and horror. Blue Oyster Cult’s Albert Bouchard was also a guest. I talked about the legacy of THE RISING, Witch Mountain, Yob, Anthrax, and more. You can listen here.
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On this week's THE HORROR SHOW WITH BRIAN KEENE, J.M. DeMatteis talked to me and Christopher Golden about a lifetime writing for comic books and animation, including his seminal work on Spider-Man, Justice League, Scooby-Doo, Moonshadow, Doctor Fate, the Defenders, Captain America and more. Plus, Tim Lebbon’s new movie, Gavin Dillinger’s new comic book, and John Carl Buechler in remembrance.
Listen for free on YouTube – iTunes – Spotify – Project Entertainment – iHeartRadio – Stitcher
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This week's DEFENDERS DIALOGUE was an ode to Eighties slashers as the New Defenders face-off against Manslaughter. Christopher Golden and I examined the precursor to the Nineties superhero pouch craze. Plus, your first look at what happens after The Defenders ends!
Listen for free on iTunes – YouTube – Project Entertainment – iHeartRadio – Stitcher
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This weekend was spent signing at the White Rose Comic Con. It was a not-so surprisingly sparsely attended show (given the lack of street-facing banners and signs, the fact that there are other regional conventions this same weekend, and the seemingly non-existent local advertising save for a local color segment on the local news and some apocryphal radio ads in Baltimore). Despite this, my fellow horror writers and I made money. Why? Because you people frigging rock.
Below are some pics from the show. All are copyright me.

Me and my friend of 30 years, Bill Wahl, owner of Comix Connection, whom I made a character in both DARK HOLLOW and DEAD OF NIGHT: DEVIL SLAYER. That's Justin in the background. We'll get to him in a moment.

Bill summing up the weekend.

Okay, back to Justin. He works for Bill at Comix Connection's York store. I've known Justin about a decade. He was the model for the good drug dealer in THE COMPLEX. Please note that in real life Justin is not a drug dealer. Just a comic book dealer and Kane Hodder fan boy.

Mary SanGiovanni, Lucas Mangum, and myself.

Kelli Owen and Robert Ford.

Artist Chris Enterline and author Wesley Southard.

Mike Lombardo and Lucas Mangum.

Stephen Kozeniewski and Mary SanGiovanni.
And that's it for this week. 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!