[Letters From the Labyrinth] Official Brian Keene Newsletter 138

Hello again. I'm Brian Keene, and this is the 138th issue of Letters From the Labyrinth -- a weekly newsletter for fans of my work.
Previous issues are archived here.

If this email newsletter is working correctly in your browser, then you should see an image of something very kind that Josh Malerman Tweeted yesterday. I like Josh a lot. I like his writing but more importantly, I like him as a person. In fact, I recently opined that he and Jonathan janz sort of reminded me of Joe Hill and myself about a decade ago.
It's one thing when an older author whom you admire says something kind about your work. But it's also very cool when a younger writer whose work you admire does the same.
So, thanks, Josh. You didn't know it, but I needed to hear something like that yesterday. It's been a really shitty week.
The public knows Mary Lescher as a renowned animator whose credits include Beauty and the Beast, The Lion King, Mulan, and the forthcoming Klaus (for Netflix).
I know her as my friend, and as the longtime partner of one of my best friends, John Urbancik. Indeed, I’ve known John and Mary…I guess 20 years now, and in all that time, I’ve seen them always support each other in their creative endeavors and in life itself.
Mary has been diagnosed with Stage 4 cancer of the gallbladder, which has progressed into her liver and lymphatic system. Like most of us in the creative arts, she has no medical insurance. She and John need financial help getting through this last stage of her life. Please, please, please consider helping them out by donating via this GoFundMe. Donations will help with medications, pain management and living expenses, which are simply too high to handle without assistance.
If my books have ever brought you joy, well…Mary and John bring me joy, so please help if you can.
John told us this about a month ago (by us, I mean myself, Mary SanGiovanni, Geoff Cooper, Michael Oliveri and Michael T. Huyck). He and Mary wanted to wait until they could tell her family before making it public. So, if I've seemed off or distracted the last month, it's because my heart is breaking for my friends, and there's not shit I can do to help them.
Tom Piccirilli (Pic to me).
J.F. Gonzalez (Jesus to me).
Jack Ketchum (Dallas to me).
Gak (Gak to me).
And now Mary (Mery-et to me).
Fuck cancer...
A little bit better news. Here is the Author Programming Schedule for the 2019 Scares That Care Weekend Charity Event taking place in Williamsburg, VA August 2nd through the 4th.
FRIDAY
5:15pm to 6:00pm – Matt Serafini and Adam Cesare: Reading and Q&A
6:15pm to 7:00pm – Matt Hayward and Patrick Lacey: Reading and Q&A
7:15pm to 8:00pm – Mary SanGiovanni and Kelli Owen: Reading and Q&A
8:15pm to 9:00pm – PUBLISHING 101: Do you want to start your own publishing company? Our panelists discuss the perils, pitfalls and how-tos. With Armand Rosamilia (moderator), CV Hunt (Grindhouse Press), David Niall Wilson (Crossroads Press), Jacob Haddon (Apokrupha), Lisa Vasquez (Stitched Smile Publications), and Anna Hayward (Poltergeist Press),
9:15pm to 10:00pm – John Quick and Lucas Milliron: Reading and Q&A
10:15pm to 11:00pm – The Horror Writers Association Virginia Chapter: Reading and Q&A
11:15pm to Midnight – Aaron Dries and Wile E. Young: Reading and Q&A
SATURDAY
10:00am to 10:45am – Steven L. Shrewsbury and Jay Wilburn: Reading and Q&A
11:00am to 11:45am – Elizabeth Massie and David Niall Wilson: Reading and Q&A
Noon to 12:45pm – Josh Malerman and Damien Angelica Walters: Reading and Q&A
1:00pm to 1:45pm – Jonathan Maberry: Q&A moderated by Stephen Kozeniewski
2:00pm to 2:45pm – Maurice Broaddus and Nick Mamatas: Reading and Q&A
3:00pm to 3:45pm – Paul Tremblay and Nicholas Kaufmann: Reading and Q&A
4:00pm to 4:45pm – THE BUSINESS OF WRITING: So, you’ve sold your first novel or story. What happens next? How do you turn this into a career? Find out with John Boden (moderator) Jonathan Maberry, Josh Malerman, Elizabeth Massie, Nick Mamatas, Nicholas Kaufmann, and Wrath James White.
5:00pm to 5:45pm – Wrath James White and C.V. Hunt: Reading and Q&A
6:00pm to 6:45pm – Somer Canon and and Kenzie Jennings: Reading and Q&A
7:00pm to 7:45pm – DEEPER THAN R’LYEH: THE NEW COSMIC HORROR: Silvia Moreno-Garcia’s She Walks In Shadows. Victor LaValle’s The Ballad of Black Tom. Matt Ruff’s Lovecraft Country. Nick Mamatas’s Move Under Ground. How would H.P. Lovecraft react to these (and other) permutations of his mythos, and how do they strengthen cosmic horror moving forward? With Gabino Iglesias (moderator), Paul Tremblay, Damien Angelica Walters, Maurice Broaddus, Nick Mamatas, and Mary SanGiovanni.
8:00pm to 8:45pm – Stitched Smile Publications: Reading and Q&A
9:00pm to 9:45pm – Dan Padavona and Wesley Southard: Reading and Q&A
10:00pm to 10:45pm – Gabino Iglesias and Robert Ford: Reading and Q&A
11:00pm to Midnightish – BIZARRO POWER HOUR-ISH: Join us for this annual STC tradition of the weirdest, funniest, most profane stories you’ll ever hear. Adults Only! Hosted by Brian Keene and featuring David Barbee, Eric Hendrixson, Scott Cole, John Wayne Comunale, Anderson Prunty, and Christian Jensen.
SUNDAY
11:00am to 11:45pm – Jacob Haddon and John Boden: Reading and Q&A
12:00pm to 12:45pm – SPIRITUALITY AND HORROR: How do you stay true to your religious beliefs when writing about the profane? With Somer Canon (moderator), Jay Wilburn, Maurice Broaddus, Steven L. Shrewsbury, and Wile E. Young.
1:00pm to 1:45pm – Stephen Kozeniewski and Jeff Strand: Reading and Q&A
2:00pm to 2:45pm – ASK AN ARTIST: Our panel of illustrators, sculptors and artists discuss their creative processes, how to break into the business, and more. With Armand Rosamilia (moderator), Cortney Skinner, Lynne Hansen, Robert Ford, and Chris Enterline.
3:00pm to 3:45pm – NEW BLOOD: The new generation of horror discuss the authors and books that inspired them. With Kenzie Jennings (moderator), Dan Padavona, Matt Hayward, Aaron Dries, Patrick Lacey, Wesley Southard, John Boden and Somer Canon.

Rapper MJ Withers (one of my faves of these young guns) offering a solid list of picks. He once recorded a song inspired by THE RISING and CITY OF THE DEAD.
His latest album, THE RIDE, is a concept album (something not done very often in hip-hop). Buy the CD or listen to it on Spotify or this Soundcloud link.
Join us at the Alamo Draft House in Austin, August 18th 2019 1-4 PM, for the premiere screening of the new documentary All Hail the Popcorn King on the life and work of Joe R Lansdale followed by a celebration with special guests Joe R , Karen, Kasey & Keith Lansdale and Brian Keene.
From Bubba Ho-Tep to Hap and Leonard and for all of the fans that have followed along throughout Joe R Lansdale’s storied career, All Hail The Popcorn King the documentary is something of a monument.
This is a film that we can all get excited about! CLICK HERE TO RESERVE YOUR TICKET
This Week's Podcasts:
JONATHAN JANZ - The Horror Show with Brian Keene - Ep 220
Jonathan Janz sits down with Brian Keene for an intimate, revealing discussion on fame, self-doubt, impostor syndrome, balancing family and writing, his influences, and much more…but who is interviewing who? Plus Ice-T versus Amazon, Nate Southard’s new movie, and new life for the 1970’s Atlas comic book properties.
Listen for free on YouTube – iTunes – Spotify – Project Entertainment – iHeartRadio – Stitcher
DEFENDERS DIALOGUE - Ep 66
It’s the Return of Johnny Blaze as Frog Boys at heart, Brian Keene & Christopher Golden, dig into New Defenders 145 & 146. All this while Brian awaits a special delivery and Christopher shows off a certain set of… singing skills?
Listen for free on iTunes – YouTube – Project Entertainment – iHeartRadio – Stitcher
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!