Letters From the Labyrinth 245 - Brian Keene

Welcome back. I'm Brian Keene and this is the 245th issue of Letters From the Labyrinth, a weekly newsletter for fans of my work. Previous issues are archived here.

It has been three weeks since we last met like this, and a lot has happened, so let's get right into it, shall we? I suspect this issue will be on the long side, so get yourself a coffee, tea, water, beer or whatever else you prefer and settle in.

Of course, we skipped an issue because I was busy with prep work for the seventh annual Scares That Care Charity Convention in Williamsburg, VA. To the public, that event only lasts Friday night through Sunday afternoon. But for our founder Joe Ripple, my fellow Board of Directors members, our staff, and our volunteers, as well as the hotel's staff -- it involves a days of set-up beforehand, and then days of deconstruction afterward.

The event itself was very successful, despite the pandemic and the restrictions and reservations that come with it. We were able to give a check to one of this year's recipients before the weekend was over, and we made progress on checks for our other two.

But the post-convention deconstruction and clean-up leaves our crew exhausted -- physically, mentally, and emotionally. We're supposed to take a few days off after that and decompress and re-energize. Instead, I came home and immediately began moving my youngest son and his mother into their new home. You may remember -- they sold their home at the start of the pandemic, but the pandemic itself made buying a new home much harder than anyone expected (at least in this area) so they ended up living with us for a portion of last year, before ultimately finding a townhouse for rent. Well, since then, they found and bought a home, so I had to move the stuff from the townhouse, my house, and storage all into the new home. I did this with my father's pick-up truck, and some help from author John Urbancik, our friend Deb, my oldest son David, and his roomate Paul. And I was very, very grateful for their help, because at age 53, and after the sheer physical and mental exhaustion in the wake of STC -- moving took a lot out of me.

So, I started that on Monday evening, when John and I got home from STC. On Tuesday morning, I went to my doctor and got a COVID test out of a sheer abundance of caution. Then I wrote and then I got back to the moving operations. Now yes, I am fully vaccinated, as is everyone in our immediate family, but you can still carry the Delta variant even if you are vaccinated, and I didn't want to walk around unknowingly infecting other people.

On Wednesday, I wrote and continued with the moving operations. On Wednesday night, the Board of Directors was informed that one of our attendees -- a person who was fully vaccinated -- had tested positive for the virus, post-convention.

If you are my age, you may remember a time back in the 1980s when we didn't yet have a full understanding of the AIDS virus. When it was revealed that anyone could get it, regardless of your sexual preference, there was a panic and a rush to get tested. I remember the absolute dread I felt the week I waited for my test results.

I felt that same dread while waiting for my COVID results. Again...fully vaccinated, but didn't want to give it to other people who are not.

So, I kept writing and kept moving. Emptied the storage unit out. Emptied the belongings stored at my house out. Started to empty the townhouse out.

And waited for my test results.

They finally came in on Saturday, and I was pleased to find that I was negative. And from what we know, there was only that one case at STC. We've received no other reports of positive tests.

So...that's why you didn't get a newsletter for the last two weeks. Because I was busy with STC and then busy helping family move.

This past week, things got a little more back to normal. I wrote during my normal 5AM to 1PM schedule. In the afternoon, I continued with moving operations (which now involve helping unpack, hauling away copious amounts of garbage and cardboard boxes, and setting up electronics). That work will continue this coming week, but I expect it to be finished by next Friday for sure.

Being that it was my first full week back at work, things were a little disjointed. Lots and lots and lots and lots of emails to answer.

I didn't get any work done on PROJECT CASTLE, and only got a chapter written on INVISIBLE MONSTERS, and I'm stressed about both of those things. But I did knock out two chapters of ISLAND OF THE DEAD and got them posted to Kindle Vella. And I helped David J. Schow with some research for a very important thing he is working on. And I got a lot done on Lifetime Subscriber shipments (including signing and mailing replacement copies of WITH TEETH for the half of the subscribers whos shipment got lost, and driving down to the Cemetery Dance warehouse and securing copies of END OF THE ROAD and DISSONANT HARMONIES, which I'll sign and ship this week). And I managed to write and complete a brand-new short story collaboration with Christopher Golden, called "I'm Not Going To Make It", so the week wasn't a total loss.

I also started getting things ready for the 2021 Splatterpunk Awards, which will be streamed live next Saturday night - August 21.

I won't lie, dear reader. I'm stressed as hell about work right now. Mary and I are supposed to go away on vacation with her family the morning after the Splatterpunk Awards. It's a full day drive there and a full day drive back home, and if I bring my laptop along and work from the vacation site, I know I'll feel guilty as hell -- which will make for bad writing.

And when we get back, we're signing at Creature Feature Weekend, and then I've got a signing down in North Carolina, and...

...the schedule is filling up again. What i really need is a week to myself. A week of no other people, and no cell phone, and no email. A week to just sit my ass down and write. But I don't see a possibility for that anytime in the near future, and so... the stress levels remain high.

So, that's how I've been. How about you?

I mentioned some signings above. Here is my current tour schedule, including stops in Pennsylvania, North Carolina, and Massachusetts.

Of course, these plans could change, depending upon local, state and federal guidelines as the pandemic continues, but for now, I intend to do all of them. I will be fully masked, and taking all the necessary precautions.

I'll have books for sale. you can also bring books from home and get them signed. If you live near one of those locations, and you're comfortable attending a convention or signing again, I hope to see you there.

The long-awaited SUBURBAN GOTHIC finally came out in paperback and for Kindle.

My favorite review (so far) comes from reader Pete, via Twitter, who says: "Brian Keene and Bryan Smith deserve a standing ovation for Suburban Gothic! Not just a sequel to Urban Gothic and The Freakshow, but also a loving nod to the wider works of both authors alongside homages to Edward Lee and the late and much missed JF Gonzalez. Mixing modern extreme with cosmic weird, Suburban Gothic introduces us to a twisted pulp Wonderland where everything from Covid to streaming, modern politics and Insta girls are all equally brutalised alongside the carnage inflicted on our protagonists. Absolutely corking stuff!"

Thanks so much for that, Pete!

Click here to purchase your copy.

Got a release date this week for CURSE OF THE BASTARDS -- the final novel in the Rogan trilogy by Steven L. Shrewsbury and myself. The hardcover came out last year, of course. The paperback, ebook, and audiobook versions should be available in early-2022.

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Currently Listening: Various albums by Neil Young, ZZ Top, 38 Special, Molly Hatchet, and Lynyrd Skynyrd. Been in that kind of mood.

Currently Reading: Recently finished The Kitchen Readings by Michael Cleverly and Bob Braudis, Malignant Summer by Tim Meyer (who continues to impress me with each new release), Honkey Tonk Samurai by Joe R. Lansdale, The Great Shark Hunt by Hunter S. Thompson, and The Crucifixion Experiments by Gord Rollo.

(I've recently taken to reading in the morning, when I first wake up, and enjoying a book with that first cup of coffee, in addition to my regular reading time).

I also recently finished an advance copy of Manhunt by Gretchen Felker-Martin, and wow! Every ten years or so, a horror novel comes along that pushes the genre to terrifying new heights. Manhunt is such a novel. An emotional buzzsaw of a book that left me shaken.

Currently Watching: We've been working our way through a revisit of South Park, and my god, it is amazing how well these old episodes still hold up. Still my favorite adult animated series, and still one of my favorite television comedies of all time.

Splatterpunk Award winning author Kristopher Triana’s constant companion is his dog, Bear. I have met Bear and she is not simply a good girl. She is one of the absolute best dogs I’ve ever known. Sweet and loving and smart. She is a joy to be around.

Bear has cancer, and chemotherapy to treat her is expensive. Rather than do a GoFundMe, Kris has a different kind of fundraiser for her. Yes, you can simply donate a few bucks if you so desire. But if you prefer, you can purchase signed books from Bryan Smith, Christine Morgan, Ryan Harding, and many others. Or — for $500 — you can purchase a brand new short story set in the world of THE RISING. The story will star you (or someone you love if you purchase it for them). You will receive the original manuscript, signed by me. And one hundred percent of the purchase will go directly to Bear’s chemotherapy.

Click here for full details, or to peruse the other offerings, or to simply donate, or to learn more about Bear

My garden continues to grow like triffids. The green beans and peas are finally all harvested, and we have enough to last until the year 3000. I canned and froze a bunch of them, and also canned about a dozen jars of pickles. Now I'm fighting with the tomatoes, which I can't eat or give away to friends and neighbors fast enough. I've taken to freezing them (and thanks to author Somer Canon for the tips on how to successfully do that). Round Two of the green peppers will be ready today or tomorrow. Those we eat right away, because canned or frozen green peppers just don't have that same taste.

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And that's it for this week. It's good to be back with you again. I missed you guys, and hopefully, you missed my missives, as well.

I'll see you back here next Sunday!