Letters From the Labyrinth 203 - Brian Keene

Hi. I'm Brian Keene and this is the 203rd issue of Letters From the Labyrinth, a weekly newsletter for fans of my work. The previous issues are archived here.

In last week's newsletter, I gave you a list of some of the best books about writing. Add Tim Waggoner's Writing In The Dark to that list. I had a chance to read through it this week, and it is excellent! Comprehensive, accessible, no-frills, and packed with the advice that writers like Tim and myself wish we had been given when we started. It is available in paperback and for Kindle. If you want to be a horror writer, I highly recommend it. More information here.

I'll be talking to Tim on a future livestream (right after the next one, which features David J. Schow), so expect the book to come up there.

Speaking of livestreams, we had the After Party for The Horror Show with Brian Keene yesterday. If you missed it, you can watch/listen to the entire thing here.

Here's a pic of the festivities, courtesy of Victoria Timpanaro.

If you would like to snag one of those Horror Show balloon packets featured during the stream, Air Studio Balloons will ship them nationwide. Each pack includes balloons, a collectible Horror Show postcard, and a collectible Horror Show bumper sticker. Visit their website here.

* * *

My pal Christopher Golden and I got back to Defenders Dialogue last week. The latest episode asks, "WWo is the Foolkiller, and why does he want to kill the Man-Thing and his friends?" The answer will shock you! We cover Marvel's The Man-Thing issues 3 and 4.

Listen for free on iTunes – YouTube – Libsyn – iHeartRadio – Stitcher

* * *

SUBURBAN GOTHIC by myself and Bryan Smith is coming soon, and here is what you need to know about it.

The novel is a long-awaited sequel to two books — my own URBAN GOTHIC and Bryan’s THE FREAKSHOW. While it can be read as a stand-alone, knowledge of those previous two novels will increase your enjoyment. So, while you wait for the release of SUBURBAN GOTHIC, you may want to re-read those first two. URBAN GOTHIC is available in paperback and for Kindle here and THE FREAKSHOW is available in paperback and for Kindle here.

The signed, limited edition hardcover will be published by Thunderstorm Books. We hope to have it up for pre-order next month and shipping to customers before the end of this year. The paperback and e-book editions will be published by Deadite Press sometime in 2021. If you absolutely can’t wait that long, then I recommend putting some money aside for when the hardcover goes up for preorder.

Here is the back cover synopsis:

***

Two titans of modern horror -- Brian Keene and Bryan Smith -- team up for a terrifying sequel to both Keene's URBAN GOTHIC and Smith's THE FREAKSHOW.

The Westgate Galleria Mall was once a sprawling, shining temple to American consumerism and suburban growth. Now, it is a crumbling reminder of how both have fallen -- an architectural ghost, haunting the outskirts of society. That makes it the perfect filming location for a YouTube channel devoted to the exploration of abandoned places. But the mall isn't as empty as it seems, and the residents have sinister, obscene plans for them. Now, with daylight still hours away, both the hunters and the hunted will fight to stay alive...and desperately try to make it home.

SUBURBAN GOTHIC by Brian Keene and Bryan Smith -- Home is where the severed heart is...

***

And finally, here is the cover to the Thunderstorm Books edition, illustrated by Alex McVey (who also illustrated the URBAN GOTHIC hardcover, which is referenced in this new painting).



That's it for this week. As always, a few reminders:

PATREON - Where I post new short stories, writing advice essays, three serialized ongoing novels, and behind-the-scenes stuff EVERY SINGLE DAY.

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!