[Letters From the Labyrinth] Brian Keene Newsletter 133
Hello. I'm Brian Keene, and this is the 133rd issue of Letters From the Labyrinth -- a weekly newsletter for fans of my work. Previous issues are archived here.
By last Tuesday, I'd finished my revisions on episode 3 of THOR: BLACK HOLE METAL. Don't know how much of it will change. That's the nature of the beast with a project like this.
I enjoy writing for Serial Box. I've yet to meet an unpleasant employee. Everyone there is nice, enthusiastic, and kind. They pay very well and always on time. And I'm fascinated by their format, as I am convinced it is the way most of us will be reading in another two decades or so.
I don't, as a rule, enjoy writing for big corporations anymore. Serial Box is the exception to that rule, and it's the people there who make that possible.
The people in comics, by contrast, suck out loud. I'm not talking about the rank and file creators and freelancers (although there are indeed a number of comic creators who are also overwhelmingly shitty human beings). I'm talking about the people at the home office. Writing this THOR series has been a way to write comics without -- for the most part -- having to deal with all the nitwittery and dunderheadedness that comes with writing for comic companies.
Over 20 years ago, I started out in this business as an outlaw. My career trajectory was similar to the outlaw movement in country music. And I'm okay with that, since that mode of country music was always my favorite. (Waylon, Willie, Cash, and Kristofferson were the Skipp, Spector, Schow and Lansdale of country music).
These days, I'm lucky enough to be able to do my own thing. A small press release here. A mass market release there. A self-published release in between.
About a year ago, I told you that we would soon begin to see mass market horror novels in bookstores again. This week, TOR announced a mass market horror imprint. I know of three other big publishing houses who intend to do the same (I suspect one of them will announce next week). A lot of folks have asked me if I'll be submitting to them. I guess they see a thematic career-arc similar to Richard Laymon's. where after a long absence from bookstores, he signed with Leisure and all of his stuff was back on the shelves at Barnes & Noble.
My answer is no. I can't see myself submitting for three reasons.
One, that brief return to mass market that I did with Macmillan (for PRESSURE) a few years back confirmed what I already new -- I'm far happier being an outlaw, and I'm a far better writer when I'm writing for myself, rather than a collective of editors and marketing people.
Two, it's 2019. I don't know that my voice is one they are looking for or need. And I'm okay with that, too. Part of being an outlaw is making sure the have-nots get to have. I've got, and what I've got ain't going anywhere. I'd rather see an up-and-coming writer get theirs, as well.
Three, the mass market doesn't offer me anything I can't achieve on my own. Bookstore visibility? Discerning bookstore managers already have my books in stock because they make money off them. If a fan of mine can't find my book at their local bookstore, they order it online. And that's the nut of it . That's where the prepper in me takes over. Ordering online. Analysts predict that over 75,000 retail stores will close over the next decade, because our society is moving toward shopping online. Why should I give away half my rights to a big publisher, make less money in royalties, and be beholden to write to the whims of editorial and marketing people if Barnes & Noble and BAM are going to be gone in a decade anyway?
Now, read what I wrote above very carefully. I'm saying "No, I wouldn't submit on my own." But if I was in a situation where I needed an emergency influx of cash, and they asked? Sure, I'd give them a one-off. That's what I did with PRESSURE. But as far as a career path?
No. My corporate days are behind me. I'm very happy out here on the fringe.
Sorry. I sort of went off on a tangent there. The first part of this newsletter is usually spent telling you about what I worked on the previous week. And I didn't get a chance to finish.
This past week, in addition to episode 3 of THOR, I worked on a top-secret project for Joe R. Lansdale. Only five people know what it is -- Joe. His daughter and my friend Kasey. Mary (because she happened to be reading over my shoulder while Kasey and I were discussing it). And Monica S. Kuebler and Gabino Iglesias (because I enlisted them to help me with part of the project). Since I can't tell you any more about it yet, let's give the project a placeholder title. For the purposes of this newsletter, we'll call it OPERATION: HISOWNSELF.
I also worked on taxes this week, but you'll have about as much fun hearing about that as I did working on them.
And finally, I cleaned up the clutter that my office and podcast studio accumulated over the winter. Which then turned into me reorganizing the work-space. Remember that office tour video I posted to YouTube last year? I think I'll have to film a new one when I'm finished.
During this Spring cleaning frenzy, I found this.
This was my first professional sale -- a floppy disk anthology published in 1999. (Ask your parents about floppy disks). In addition to my first pro-rate story, it also contained early work by my friends Tim Lebbon, Tom Piccirilli, Simon Clark, and Paul Finch. I wish I still had the emails between Tim, Pic and myself. We were so excited.
The big news this week was that hardcover, paperback and ebook editions of Темная Лощина (the Russian edition of DARK HOLLOW) are now available in the United States. You collectors will delight in knowing that the Russian mass-market paperback is the same size as my old Leisure Books paperbacks, and is priced (in the United States) at an affordable $12.99. The trade hardcovers, which are beautiful, are only $18.99. And the Kindle editions are just $4.99. All three feature gorgeous cover art by Chris Enterline, and all three are available to pre-order within the United States, via Amazon. They will release worldwide on April 22. CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE YOUR COPY
Within a few short hours of being available, we hit number one on Amazon. Thanks to everyone who made that happen.
That sweet Chris Enterline cover!
Number one (and judging by the battery icon at the top, my publisher needs to recharge her phone).
I’ll be attending Stokercon from Thursday May 9th to Sunday May 12th at Amway Grand Plaza Hotel, Monroe Avenue Northwest, Grand Rapids, MI. Here is my schedule:
Thursday, May 9:
5:00pm Panel: Rise of the Podcast People
Friday, May 10:
11:30am Librarians Day Presentation
2:15pm Panel: Podcasting 101
4:00pm Panel: When The Mission Goes FUBAR: Horror In The Military
5:00pm Book Signing
Saturday, May 11:
3:00pm Panel: When Your Life Becomes The Horror Story: Writing Through Personal Tragedy
4:00pm Reading
8:00pm Presenting Bram Stoker Award for Superior Achievement In A Graphic Novel
This Week's Podcasts:
JEFF BURK UNCHAINED - The Horror Show with Brian Keene - Ep 215
Jeff Burk sits down with Brian Keene for an honest, revealing discussion of the BizarroCon fallout, his departure from Deadite Press, the launch of Section 31 Productions, his Splatterpunk Award nomination, and GWAR’s David Brockie. Plus good news for fans of Ruby Jean Jensen and Halloween 5, and James Hudnall in remembrance.
Listen for free on YouTube – iTunes – Spotify – Project Entertainment – iHeartRadio – Stitcher
DEFENDERS DIALOGUE - Episode 61
The Defenders must battle one of their own as the Gargoyle falls victim to dark forces. And as Cloud’s story expands, Peter B. Gillis writes what would be modern comics first examination of gender fluidity.
Listen for free on iTunes – YouTube – Project Entertainment – iHeartRadio – Stitcher
I posted an old essay about Writing and Self-Doubt on my website this week. It also appears in TRIGGER WARNINGS. You can buy that collection for your Kindle for just $2.99 right here. However, since it’s not available in paperback — a young lady on Twitter was looking for this particular essay, so I thought I’d make it available to all for free. Click here to read it.
A few weeks ago, I did a Q&A for Professor Shane Borrowman’s students at University of Montana Western. This week, they sent me a link to this wonderful CLICKERS fan trailer that they made!
Click here to watch. (Get it? Click...)
J.F. Gonzalez would have absolutely loved this.
Only a few days left to back Gavin Dillinger's LAUGHTER -- a comic book about post-demonic possession PTSD. Every single backer -- regardless of whether you give one dollar or one hundred dollars -- gets a free short story by Stephen Kozeniewski. Click here to pledge.
Currently Reading: BIG MEAT by Carlton Mellick III
Currently Listening: NEVER MIND THE BOLLOCKS by The Sex Pistols
Currently Watching: THE SILENCE
THE SILENCE is an adaptation of what I think is one of Tim Lebbon's best novels in years (which is saying a lot since I've enjoyed the vast majority of what Tim has written).
As Tim is one of my best friends, I can't review this movie with any kind of impartiality. But I can review it as a writer who has had stuff turned into movies, and as his friend -- and the criteria for both of those is "Did they fuck up the adaptation?" The worst thing that can happen to a writer when Hollywood adapts one of your works is for it to end up entirely unlike anything you wrote.
I'm happy to report that this is an excellent adaptation. Yes, there are some changes, and yes, it's not as...ruthless as the book (little things like the dog), but it captures the heart and spirit well, I think. Mary and I both really enjoyed it. THE SILENCE is streaming now on Netflix. Give it a watch.
Happy birthday to heavy metal drummer, scientist, and Splatterpunk Awards judge Jason Cavallaro, whose wife made him 40 cupcakes decorated with the covers to his favorite books.
He says the cake flavor was "White Wedding". Apparently the bakers are also big Billy Idol fans.
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!