Letters From the Labyrinth 441
Raw Thoughts and Words
Good morning. I’m Brian Keene and this is Letters From the Labyrinth — a long-running newsletter for friends, fans, and family.
This past Wednesday afternoon, five police officers were shot less than a mile from my childhood home, on the property of a family acquaintance. This was a one-mile spot of geography that has inspired GHOUL and pretty much everything else I've ever written, in one form or another.
Three of the law enforcement officers died, as did the shooter, and the family dog. My parents driveway and the cemetery from GHOUL both served as location shots for the television media at one point Wednesday evening. Another family friend (who is married to someone I have known since kindergarten), was interviewed at length, as he witnessed the entire mass shooting and firefight. You can read the details of the chain of events here and here.
Normally, something like that would form the basis for the weekly essay that makes up the first part of this newsletter. But instead of writing about it, I made this video, which is free to watch. I think that better captures the immediacy and rawness of my thoughts than anything I would have written.
But let’s talk of happier things, like good books to read. A true first in literature, because there’s never been a book quite life it before, URBANCIK: A MEMOIR is ostensibly the autobiography of writer, photographer, poet, and adventurer John Urbancik, except that it has chapters written by me, Mary SanGiovanni, Linda Addison, Mike Oliveri, Regina Garza-Mitchell, Michael T. Huyck Jr, and many more.
Available in paperback and for Kindle here.
My chapter is called “Three Easy Questions” and it’s a mostly true story about something that happened to John and I that involved backwoods road rage and religion.
An update on the LOST LEVEL stories that readers/fans commissioned can be found here.
A reminder that I will be doing a reading and Q&A at Scares That Care’s Killer Pride event, which takes place Friday September 26 to Sunday September 28 at Doubletree By Hilton 50 Kingsmill Road, Williamsburg VA. I will also be available to sign your books throughout the weekend. Tickets and hotel rooms are still available. Complete details, including the guests and event schedule, can be found here.
Currently Watching: Nothing.
Currently Reading: Hatchet Girls by Joe R. Lansdale
Currently Listening: The Other Life by Shooter Jennings, “Ghost Town” by WD Miller, Some Girls by The Rolling Stones, Greatest Hitz by Limp Bizkit, Around the World In A Day by Prince, and In Our Lifetime by Marvin Gaye.
The reason I watched nothing is because this was a busy work week. I was knee-deep in the manuscripts for FALLING ANGELS: THE LABYRINTH Book 4, ONE-EYED MONSTER, and two different short stories throughout the week, as well as some stuff for me and Chris Golden’s next project together. And this past weekend I was on the set of DEAD FORMAT. This was days 11 and 12 of filming, and things are going wonderfully. You can learn more about the film here.
I had hoped that FALLING ANGELS would be out by December, but I don’t think that’s going to happen. Instead, I’d say Spring of 2026 is more likely. But you do have THE BEST OF BRIAN KEENE and 4 PAST MEATNIGHT dropping from Pandi Press in November, as part of their Pandi Pack, and they make nice holiday presents for the Brian Keene fan in your life.
And that does it for this week. Short and simple. Thanks, as always, for reading. See you back here next Sunday.
That video was very much worth the watch, Brian. I'm sad for the loss of life that occurred so close to a place that is sacred to you. I'd like to think that your good memories of it, and the places your imagination has taken it (and will continue to take it), outshine the bad.
I have John's memoir and can confirm it's an excellent read.
Thanks for another engaging newsletter. Took the video tour with you and, from one Centrist to another, your thoughts are well received. Purchased Urbancik because he too is a fascinating person. All-in-all, a great edition of this always satisfying reading experience.