Letters From the Labyrinth 196 - Brian Keene

Hi. I'm Brian Keene and and this is the 196th issue of Letters From the Labyrinth, a weekly newsletter for fans of my work. Previous issues are archived here.
My youngest son and my ex-wife moved in with us temporarily this past week. She's in the process of selling their home, and we couldn't see them renting an apartment or town-home in the interim. I suppose that must seem odd to some divorcees reading this, but we've never been your typical divorcees or co-parents. Regardless, it was a good week. She and Mary had fun staying up late and talking and teasing me together and looking at dollhouse furniture online. My 12-year old had fun because he had all of us under one roof. And I had fun because they brought their dog, Parker, with them, and he and I are as thick as thieves, and took lots of walks in the woods together. Also, I love to cook, and it was nice being able to cook for more than just Mary and I. So everybody won.
My ex-wife is using the recording studio as her office temporarily, so the upstairs of our home truly felt like a commercial office this week. I was in mine, she was in the studio, and Mary was in her office. When one of us would head downstairs for coffee or tea, we'd poke our heads in each others rooms and check and see if anybody needed anything. It was a fun, productive vibe.
Comic book artist Mike Hawthorne also stopped by. He lives in York City, and like myself, he's been taking the pandemic seriously. (In fact, that's something I've noticed. Is it just my observation, or do the rest of you creative folks get the impression that we're the only group of people left in America who are still treating this seriously?) Anyway, Mike and his family have been self-quarantined for the long haul, and desperately needed to go do something different. So, he brought the kids over and my 12-year old and I took them on a short hike to the creek, and did some quick wading. We didn't get a chance to take them to the deeper swimming holes, because a thunderstorm rolled in. But they're coming back next week, so we'll do that then.
All in all, an excellent week, or at least as excellent as a week in 2020 can possibly be,
Edits on the final draft of SUBURBAN GOTHIC are about 70% finished. I would have had both that and this new Levi and Bloom novella finished, but much of my week was spent finalizing things for the Scares That Care Virtual event.
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The Scares That Care Virtual Charity Event takes place next Saturday, August 1st.
100% of the money raised during this one-day event will go to our 2020 recipients. They are:
*Ashley Adams and her daughter Natalya, who has Marfan Syndrome.
*Laura, a breast cancer warrior known for her work in Arkansas’s LGBTQ+ community.
*Patricia, who suffered second and third degree burns to the entire right side of her body.
The Scares That Care Virtual Convention will be livestreamed via the Brian Keene YouTube Page and the Scares That Care website, and is accessible to the general public.
Below is the tentative schedule. All times are Eastern. Please note that celebrity appearances (including actors, authors, directors, and other panelists) are subject to availability and may change without notice.
9:00am – 9:15am: Opening Ceremonies with Joe Ripple and Brian Keene
9:15am to 9:50am: LIVE READING – Jeff Strand and Stephen Kozeniewski
9:50am to 10:00am: Fundraising update with Brian Keene, Alfred Guy and O’Malley Brandt
10:00am to 10:50am: JAWS AT 45 – Jonathan Janz, Victor LaValle, Hillary Monahan, Matt Serafini, Adam Cesare, and Glenn Rolfe (moderator) discuss why, after 45 years, we’re still afraid to go in the water.
10:50am – 11:00am: Fundraising update with Brian Keene and Paul Tremblay
11:00am – 11:50am: MY FAVORITE HORROR COMICS – Tim Seeley, Rachel Autumn Deering, Jamal Igle, Cullen Bunn, Maurice Broaddus, and Matt Wildasin (moderator) discuss their favorite horror comic books of all time.
11:50am – Noon: Fundraising update with Brian Keene and John Wayne Comunale
Noon – 12:50pm: HORROR FOR KIDS – Lamar Giles, Stephanie Cooke, Jonathan Maberry, Gretchen McNeil, Bitter Karella, Will Bozarth, and Becky Spratford (moderator) discuss horror for a younger audience.
12:50pm to 1:00pm: Fundraising update with Brian Keene and John Dugan
1:00pm to 1:25pm: RETURN TO ELM STREET – Jack Shoulder, Mark Patton, Nick Benson, and Mick Strawn reminisce with moderator David Heck about their work on the Nightmare on Elm Street franchise.
1:25pm – 1:30pm: Fundraising update with Brian Keene, Brian Smith and Bryan Smith
1:30pm – 2:00pm: LIVE READING – Gabino Iglesias and Cina Pelayo
2:00pm to 2:50pm: MY FAVORITE MONSTER – Stephen Graham Jones, Hunter Shea, Scott Baker, the Sisters of Slaughter, Dee Southerland and Chuck Buda (moderator) discuss their favorite monsters of all time.
2:50pm to 3:00pm: Fundraising update with Brian Keene and Roy Wooley
3:00pm to 3:50pm: THE WALKING DEAD – David Heck moderates this Q&A with The Walking Dead’s Josh Mikel, Steve Coulter, Cooper Andrews, Lew Temple and Jayson Warner Smith.
3:50pm to 4:00pm: Fundraising update with Brian Keene and Felissa Rose
4:00pm to 4:50pm: THE AMBIDEXTROUS PATH - Mary SanGiovanni, Stephanie Wytovich, Bracken MacLeod, Somer Canon, and Jay Wilburn (moderator) discuss faith and magic in horror and creativity.
4:50pm to 5:00pm: Fundraising update with Brian Keene and Joshua Leonard
5:00pm to 5:50pm: Q&A – Emmy-award winner Pruitt Taylor Vince discusses his career with moderator David Heck.
5:50pm to 6:00pm: Fundraising update with Brian Keene and Eugene Clark
6:00pm to 6:50pm: CAN HORROR GO TOO FAR? – CV Hunt, Wrath James White, Kristopher Triana, Autumn Christian, Wesley Southard, Aaron Dries, and Armand Rosamilia (moderator) discuss how far is too far.
6:50pm to 7:00pm: Fundraising update with Brian Keene and Lar Park Lincoln
7:00pm to 7:55pm: COWBOYS AND ZOMBIES – Gemma Files, Wile E. Young, Keith Lansdale, Christine Morgan, Kenzie Jennings, and Thomas Clark (moderator) discuss the resurgence of Weird Westerns in film and literature.
7:55pm to 8:00pm: Fundraising update with Brian Keene and Josh Malerman
8:00pm to 8:30pm: BIZARRO HORROR – John Edward Lawson, Andersen Prunty, Rose O’Keefe, Michael Allen Rose, and Scott Cole (moderator) discuss surrealism and the supernatural in horror fiction and film.
8:30pm to 8:55pm: Q&A – Night of the Demons’ Amelia Kinkade discusses her career with moderator David Heck.
8:55pm to 9:00pm: Fundraising update with Brian Keene and Joe Ripple
9:00pm to 9:15pm: A SPECIAL PRESENTATION with Joe Ripple and Brian Keene
9:15pm to 9:30pm: COSTUME CONTEST – Celebrity judges Amanda Bearse, John Anderson, Amelia Kinkade, Lynne Hansen, and Matt Blazi discuss this year’s costume contest entries.
9:30pm to 9:40pm: COUNT GORE – Scares That Care Weekend’s beloved Count Gore deVol announces the winners of this year’s costume contest.
9:40pm to 9:50pm: SCARYOKE – Rio Youers and Ronald Malfi present an at home version of this Scares That Care Weekend staple.
9:50pm to 10:00pm: Closing Ceremonies
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Q: What is Scares That Care?
A: Founded in 2007 by Joe Ripple, we are a 501C3 charity. Our Board of Directors and our volunteers are composed of horror fans and professionals. Each year we raise money for three recipient families (a sick child, a breast cancer fighter, and a burn victim).
Q: How can I donate during the virtual event?
A: We will be sharing information on how to donate via text or phone hourly during the event. Yu can also donate anytime by visiting this link.
Q: Can I donate before or after the event, as well?
A: Yes. You can donate year round.
Q: Money is tight. I can’t afford to donate but I’d still love to help. How can I do that?
A: We appreciate you and we understand. You can still by tuning in to the livestream, and encouraging your friends and family to do the same.
Q: I’m involved in programming. What do I need to do next?
A: Brian Keene will email you a link before the event. You’ll simply need to click that link about ten minutes before your appearance, and allow access to your computer’s webcam and mic. It’s that easy. (Costume contest judges will be contacted earlier with additional instructions).
Q: I’m a celebrity who works in the horror genre. Why wasn’t I included in programming?
A: We tried to accommodate as many horror professionals as we could, but unlike our physical Scares That Care Weekend charity events, we are limited by the technological restrictions and time constraints of this virtual event. However, you can still help the cause by sharing the event with your fans and encouraging them to donate.
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Several weeks ago, a number of authors, including myself, severed ties with Poltergeist Press’s English-language publishing division, as well as their Russian-language division. You can read me and Mary SanGiovanni’s statement regarding that here and here.
Since that time, several of us have spoke with Anna Muhlbach, wife of Matt Hayward. She wishes to continue publishing Russian language translations. The financial stability of that line impacts the livelihood of many Russian citizens, including translators and investors. The success the line has had so far is a testimony to Anna. I wish to encourage that. Further, the fact that this successful foreign-language publisher is run and operated by a woman is something else I wish to encourage, because it’s something our industry desperately needs more of.
Anna has assured me that Matt will not be involved in any aspect of the Russian-language operation, including production or design.
With all that in mind, I have decided to continue working with Anna for Russian-language translations. I can’t speak for any other authors — just myself, Mary SanGiovanni, and Jeff Strand (both of whom who gave me permission to include them in this statement).
We have supported and will continue to support the many women who came forward, but we also support Anna. We would remind the public that she was not involved in the conduct that spurred these allegations, or the conduct that followed. It has impacted her as much as everyone else. She is trying to move forward, same as the other women, and we would like to help her do that, same as we have the other women.
Thank you for your understanding.
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If you’ve been waiting to read my modern horror memoir — END OF THE ROAD — but couldn’t afford the expensive hardcover, Cemetery Dance has just released the Kindle edition for just $4.99. Click here to purchase, and see for yourself what the critics have been unanimously raving about!
And thanks to everyone who purchased it last week and kept the book at number 1 on Amazn's charts for most of the week. That was pretty awesome, and I really appreciate it.
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This past week on The Horror Show with Brian Keene, I presented a long-lost 2001 interview with myself, Geoff Cooper, Mike Oliveri, Michael T. Huyck Jr. and special surprise appearances, recorded during the 4X4 Road Tour. You can listen to it wherever you listen to podcasts. There is also an accompanying video (converted from VHS tape) here.
And last week on Defenders Dialogue, Chris Golden and I continued our deep dive into Marvel's The Man-Thing, with coverage of Adventure Into Fear issues 13 through 15. Again, you can listen to it wherever you listen to podcasts.
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My youngest son and his mother were kind enough to give Mary and I a date night on Friday, and we had a triple feature while curled up on the couch. I can recommend all three films.
GAME OF DEATH (streaming on multiple platforms) is insane and fun and insanely fun. It's very reminiscent of a Bryan Smith or Richard Laymon novel, particularly Smith's The Killing Kind series or Murder Squad. It has more exploding Millennials than any other horror film you will see this year. I really enjoyed it.
THE BEACH HOUSE (also streaming on multiple platforms) is one I didn't enjoy quite as much, but Mary loved it. It's an excellent cosmic horror movie, but a very slow burn (and I think that's why I struggled with it at first -- because we went from GAME OF DEATH, which is amped up to eleven, and then to THE BEACH HOUSE, which coasts along at 2 for the first half of the film). But once it gets going, it is a fantastic film.
Our third film for date night was YUMMY (streaming exclusively on Shudder). An utterly fantastic zombie movie. Funny and gory and splattacular and utterly nihilistic. Best zombie film I've seen since TRAIN TO BUSAN.
We've also been revisiting my all-time favorite horror franchise -- the PHANTASM series. Still love them after all these years.
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That's it for this week. As always, a few reminders:
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 week.
I'll see you back here next week!