[Letters From the Labyrinth] Official Brian Keene Newsletter

This is Letters From the Labyrinth, a weekly newsletter for fans of my work. If you're a new subscriber, previous issues are archived here.

The signed, limited edition hardcover of RETURN TO THE LOST LEVEL is now available for pre-order from Thunderstorm Books. Click here to reserve your copy!

War has come in this sequel to the best-selling novel THE LOST LEVEL. The snake-like Anunnaki have always been a blight for the people living in the hidden dimension known as the Lost Level, but now, the denizens are fighting back. After their community is decimated and their loved ones are enslaved in the aftermath of a devastating Anunnaki attack, Aaron Pace leads a diverse group of warriors — including the bowwoman Tolia, the mighty Karenk, a baby Triceratops, and a time-displaced Ambrose Bierce — on a trek through primordial jungles, dark forests, and a sun-blasted desert while battling pterodactyls, man-eating worms, and other dangers. Can their small band lay siege to the Anunnaki city and rescue their friends, or will they suffer the same cruel fate so many others have before them? Find out in Brian Keene’s RETURN TO THE LOST LEVEL. (Includes a bonus short story!)

Note to book collectors: In order to match numbers from book 1, your order must be completed by 4/16/17.

RETURN TO THE LOST LEVEL is scheduled to start shipping in May 2017. Click here to reserve your copy!

Also, if you missed out on the Thunderstorm Books limited edition of the first novel and would like to get on-board with this series, the publisher has a very small handful of numbered editions left over. Email him at thunderstormbooks@gmail.com if interested.

And if that's not enough forgotten world awesomeness for you, Apex Magazine is having their annual fundraiser. To help them out, I've contributed the original manuscripts for both THE LOST LEVEL and RETURN TO THE LOST LEVEL. Both are signed by me, and come with a letter of authenticity (also signed). To check those out - and to see all the other neat stuff they're offering -- click here.

Just wrapped another busy work week. Focused on final draft of HOLE IN THE WORLD during the day, and in the evening, when it was nice out, worked on the new office and podcast studio. The evenings in which the weather was shit, I spent working on CLICKERS FOREVER: A TRIBUTE TO J.F. GONZALEZ.

Mary asked...nay, commanded...that I take the weekend off, so I did, and I'm glad I listened to her. On Saturday, we took a trip to the ghost town of Centralia. I've written at length about Centralia and our trips there, and the fascination we have with the place. You can read all about that in my book UNSAFE SPACES (the hardcover is long sold out. A digital and paperback version will be released later this spring). Suffice to say, we've gone there every year for the last six years. It's amazing to see how nature has reclaimed the place over that time.

After a day spent exploring Centralia (and don't let the online travelogues fool you -- there is a lot more there to see than just the graffiti highway, but you have to actually get out in the woods and fucking discover it) we met up with Chet Williamson and his wife for a lovely dinner. Chet told me how much fun he's been having narrating the Levi Stoltzfus audiobooks. He previously narrated THE COMPLEX and DARK HOLLOW, both of which you can buy here. His version of GHOST WALK should be on sale any time now -- just waiting on Audible. And he's currently recording A GATHERING OF CROWS. Chet said he liked voicing the revenants from Crows, but they hurt his throat after a while. So, when that audiobook comes out, make sure you thank him.

Today, we met up with Weston Ochse, who was in town on business. Had a few drinks and some wonderful coal fired pizza, and hung out and talked for a long time. Here's a pic of us below. No, we are not grumpy. We are full of pizza and in need of a nap.

Sometimes, it is good to take a break. But now I am antsy and anxious to start working again, so that's what I'm going to do as soon as this is finished.

That's it for this week. A few reminders:

PATREON - Where I post new short stories, a serialized ongoing novel, and behind-the-scenes stuff.

TWITTER - The only social media outlet I still use regularly.

Take care.