Brian Keene's Blog, page 114
August 19, 2014
PRESSURE (with anticipated F.A.Q.)
First, the official announcement (which appeared in Publisher’s Marketplace and elsewhere today):
PRESSURE by Brian Keene
Fiction: Thriller
Brian Keene’s PRESSURE, pitched as JAWS meets ALIEN, the story of a world-class free diver who is called in to investigate a seismological event in the Indian Ocean, when events quickly take a deadly turn and she and her crew must fight the monsters in the depths and those ashore, to Nicole Sohl at Thomas Dunne Books, St. Martin’s Press, Macmillan.
And now, your anticipated frequently asked questions:
Q: You’re going back to a Big 6 mass-market publisher? What gives?
A: I’m writing a new novel for a Big 6 mass-market publisher, yes.
Q: But, after everything that happened with Dorchester…WHY?
A: Here are my Top Five Reasons
1. Because they offered me a big payday and I need the money.
2. Because I’d estimate that 20% of my audience is still unaware of what happened with Dorchester, and are also unaware that there’s a place called Amazon.com where you can buy books from home — books that aren’t carried by bookstores, and every week, those readers wander the aisles of their local BAM or B&N, wondering where all my books went to. Now they will be able to find one there.
3. Because they offered me a big payday and I need the money.
4. Because it pleases me to confuse and confound industry watchers.
5. And mostly because they offered me a big payday and I need the money.
Q: What does this mean for you and other publishing partners like Deadite Press, Thunderstorm, etc.?
A: It means I’ll continue to write for Deadite Press, Thunderstorm, etc, because I am very happy with them. But this Big 6 publisher offered me a big payday to write a novel for them and I need the money.
Q: Since this will be available in bookstores, will you do one of those legendary book-signing tours like you used to do?
A: Count on it.
Q: When can I buy it?
A: Slow down. I haven’t even written the damn thing yet. But I’ll let you see it when it’s done.
Q: Can you tell us more about the book?
A: It’s called PRESSURE, and it’s JAWS meets ALIEN, and you’ll want one.
Q: Does Jeff Strand know you stole his title?
A: I didn’t come up with the title. The publisher did. And Strand owes me money for the last time he went on a bender at a convention, and turned a llama loose in my hotel room, so I reckon this makes us even.
August 15, 2014
Announcing LIBRA NIGRUM SCIENTIA SECRETA
For the last year, you’ve seen J.F. Gonzalez and I mention a new collaboration we’ve been working on, code-named “The Bible”. As we are nearly finished and expect to turn it over to pre-readers next week, I figured the time has come to give you more details.
The Bible’s official title is LIBRA NIGRUM SCIENTIA SECRETA (The Black Book of Secret Knowledge). It is being written and produced exclusively for the collectible market, and will most likely appeal to hardcore collectors, rather than the casual reader. LIBRA NIGRUM SCIENTIA SECRETA is part-Necronomicon, part-Scofield Reference Bible, and part-Tolkien’s Silmarillion, and examines the ancient history of my literary mythos, J.F.’s literary mythos, and the places where those individual stories come together. The idea is that scrolls and other ancient writings pertaining to the Thirteen, the Siqqusim, the Clickers, and others have been dug up and translated into this book. It will be extensively and profusely illustrated, and have all the bells and whistles that make collector’s drool. We’ve set out to produce a museum quality piece, and I think we’ve succeeded.
LIBRA NIGRUM SCIENTIA SECRETA will be published by Miskatonic Books. It is not yet available for pre-order (as I said, it needs to be proofread, and the art needs to be finished before production can begin). In the meantime, here’s an exclusive look at the table of contents:
I. INTRODUCTION, INCLUDING A NOTE ON THE TRANSLATIONS
II. THE TESTAMENT OF J.F. GONZALEZ
1. The Testimony of Shaleem Achmed al-Jazir
2. The Book of the Reptilians (Fragment)
3. The Book of Aku-Ynath-Li
4. The Tale of Thurg
5. Concerning Hanpa (Fragment)
6. The Legend of Hanbi and Lilu
7. The Fall of the Watchers
8. The Book of Picts
9. Concerning Nyarlathotep (Fragment)
10. Of the Mazzikim (Fragment)
11. The Book of Thomas (Fragment)
12. The Gospel of Judas (Fragment)
13. The Lost Gospel of Simon (Fragment)
14. The Further Testimony of Shaleem Achmed al-Jazir (Fragment)
III. THE TESTAMENT OF BRIAN KEENE
1. The Telos of the Thirteen
2. The Book of Names
3. The Book of Doors
4. The Book of Faces (Fragment)
5. The Sealing of Eden
6. The Prophecy of the Siqqusim
7. On the Creation of the Void (Fragment)
8. The Testimony of the San People Concerning Meeble
9. The Book of Obadiah (Alternate Translation)
10. The Fourth Book of Chalco (Fragment)
11. Concerning the Daemonolateria (Fragment)
12. First Yee-wa
13. Second Yee-wa
14. On the Summoning of the Seven
We’ll let you see it when it’s finished.
August 11, 2014
Bullet Pointed Updates of Varying Importance
Have been on the road the last five weeks, traveling and doing signings and appearances, and also some family stuff. Home this week but ignoring all email (in truth, pretty much ignoring everything but Twitter) so that I can work on manuscript reviews, Lifetimer shipments, and an introduction for a very patient Bryan Killian. Also finishing up my X-FILES contribution and a new collaboration with J.F. Gonzalez code-named THE BIBLE (should be done this week or next). A few things of note:
*Readers interested in this year’s Maelstrom set should start setting money aside.
*Look for a major book-related announcement on or around August 18th. Will probably first appear in Publisher’s Lunch.
*Talking to some folks I met in Atlanta about a podcast. More on that in the months to come.
*Jonathan Janz, one of my favorites among this new crop of younger horror writers, wrote this nice essay about me and Jack Ketchum.
*My partner and fellow horror author Mary SanGiovanni recently appeared on Armand Rosmilia’s podcast, and in addition to talking about her new novel CHAOS, she revealed (for what I believe is the first time in public) that we recently completed our first collaboration. Details later on where that story will be appearing.
*Recently finished and turned in to various publishers: new novel THE LOST LEVEL, new Levi novel THE LAST OF THE ALBATWITCHES (which comprises the novellas THE WITCHING TREE and THE LAST OF THE ALBATWITCHES), two new short stories (one of which is a vampire tale and the other of which is the collaboration with Mary mentioned above), and a lengthy essay on the impact of Jack Ketchum’s THE GIRL NEXT DOOR.
And that’s it. Back to work I go. If you miss me, I’ve been Blogging daily here.
July 31, 2014
TWO NEW KEENE NOVELS
The last full-length solo novel I released was 2011′s ENTOMBED (unless you want to count collaborative novels CLICKERS VS. ZOMBIES and THE DAMNED HIGHWAY). I’m happy to report that two new novel-length works are in production at their respective publishers right now.
THE LAST OF THE ALBATWITCHES is a new Levi Stoltzfus novel. It comprises the novellas “The Witching Tree” and “The Last of the Albatwitches”, previously only available as limited edition hardcovers. It will be available in paperback and digital from Deadite Press in another month or two.
The other brand new novel is called THE LOST LEVEL. It has unexpectedly taken me several years to finish it, but my pre-readers all say it was well-worth the wait, and is a “return to form”. It will be available in paperback and digital from Apex Publications later this year.
I am currently working on two more novels: INVISIBLE MONSTERS (which is the second to last Levi novel) and HOLE IN THE WORLD (which acts as a prequel to THE LOST LEVEL), as well as a book-length collaborative work (with J.F. Gonzalez) code-named THE BIBLE. More on those later. In the meantime, watch this space for release info on THE LAST OF THE ALBATWITCHES and THE LOST LEVEL.
July 28, 2014
Next stop ATLANTA!
I’m a guest this weekend (August 1 to 3) at Monsterama Holiday Inn Perimeter 4386 Chamblee Dunwoody Rd. Atlanta, GA 30341. I’ll have PLENTY of books for sale. You can also bring books from home to be signed. When not sitting behind the table signing your books, here’s my schedule for the rest of the convention.
FRIDAY
6 PM – 8pm TONIGHT WE WRITE IN HELL!
Guests: Brian Keene, Dan Jolley, Sean Linkenback, Gordon Shriver, James R. Tuck, Anya Martin, Tonia Brown
Moderator: Carol Malcolm
Description: What happens when you get all the writers on one panel? Chaos and Mayhem! Join the Literary Track for a rollicking welcome with a double-sized panel. It’s two times the panel for ten times the fun! Stories will be told! Questions will be answered! Blood will be spilled!
SATURDAY
12 PM THE RUNNING DEAD
Guests: Brian Keene, Tonia Brown
Description: We’re talking zombies! Not the sad shufflers seen on tv but a different take. Our author guests have done new spins on the old mojo of zombies. It’s a dead man’s party, leave your shambler at the door.
2 PM BLOOD IN FOUR COLORS
Guests: Brian Keene, Dan Jolley, Neil Vokes, Kez Wilson
Moderator: James R. Tuck
Description: Comic books are one place where horror is staying vibrant and exciting. These four men are directly responsible for some of the best and most exciting work out there today!
7 PM AN HOUR(ISH) WITH BRIAN KEENE
Guests: Brian Keene
Moderator: James R. Tuck
Description: Brian Keene is without a doubt one of the most prolific writers in horror today. His work is in books, short stories, comic books, and film. He has scared people for decades. Tonight we trap him in a room with an audience and let them ask as many questions as they can. This one will run over an hour! No holds barred! It’s a horror literature cage match!
July 27, 2014
SOMETHING TERRIBLE
SOMETHING TERRIBLE is a new book by Wrath James White and his son, Sultan White. I wrote the introduction for it.
The book is signed by all three of us and on sale now. Limited to only 90 hardcover copies and sure to go fast.
Click here to purchase.
July 21, 2014
OPERATION ICE BAT – On Sale Now
OPERATION ICE BAT is a new benefit anthology edited by me. It’s available for $2.99 on Kindle, Nook, and Kobo.
It contains a new story by me called “The Guardian of Tsalal”. It also contains stories by Christopher Golden, J.F. Gonzalez, Kelli Owen, Robert Swartwood, James A. Moore, Mary SanGiovanni, Geoff Cooper, Robert Ford, Mandy DeGeit, Nate Southard, and many, many more.
100% of the proceeds go to our friend Dave Thomas, who is going through hard times right now. (You readers might best know Dave from the introduction he wrote for BLOOD ON THE PAGE).
Here is the full Table of Contents:
Introduction – Brian Keene
Breathe My Name – Christopher Golden
The Tin Box – Kelli Owen
For Whom We Mourn – Geoff Cooper
Inviolable – Mandy DeGeit
Mouth – Nate Southard
Little King – Nikki McKenzie
Home – J.F. Gonzalez
The Taste of Our Indiscretions – Robert Ford
In the Details – Michele Mixell
The Guardian of Tsalal – Brian Keene
A Family Birthday – Jacob Haddon
Emily’s Kiss – James A. Moore
Pretty, Pretty Shiny – Alyn Day
I’m Dreaming of a White Doomsday – Mike Lombardo
The Mime – Mary SanGiovanni
The Wretched Spawn – Michael H. Antonio
Arrearages – Wesley Southard
Noogle Knock – Robert Swartwood
Biographies
DOWNLOAD TO KINDLE – DOWNLOAD TO NOOK – DOWNLOAD TO KOBO
And on behalf of Dave and myself and all of the contributors, thank you in advance.
July 12, 2014
Upcoming Signings – Rhode Island, Virginia, and Georgia
July 17 to 20
NECON
Bristol, Rhode Island
July 27
The Edgar Allan Poe Museum
1914 E Main St
Richmond, VA 23223
2pm to 5pm
August 1 to 3
Monsterama
Holiday Inn Perimeter
4386 Chamblee Dunwoody Rd.
Atlanta, GA 30341
July 9, 2014
COMING SOON…
OPERATION: ICE BAT – a benefit anthology
Edited by Brian Keene
Featuring stories by (in order of appearance) Christopher Golden, Kelli Owen, Geoff Cooper, Mandy DeGeit, Nate Southard, Nikki McKenzie, J.F. Gonzalez, Robert Ford, Michele Mixell, Brian Keene, Jacob Haddon, James A. Moore, Mike Lombardo, Mary SanGiovanni, Michael Antonio, Wesley Southard, and Robert Swartwood. Cover by Susan Scofield.
Digital only – Kindle, Nook & Kobo – August 2014
