Brian Keene's Blog, page 119
March 24, 2014
Dave Brockie R.I.P.
Multiple sources, including Style Weekly, are reporting that Dave Brockie passed away last night at the age of 50. While perhaps best known to the world as the alter ego of Oderus Urungus, the frontman for the Grammy-nominated Gwar, as well as the DBX side-project, he also contributed to the horror genre with the well-received novel WARGHOUL and the SLAVE PIT FUNNIES comic book series. Despite sharing a publisher, I only had the opportunity to meet him once, but we spent the evening talking Splatterpunk, Edward Lee novels, and ploitics, and I found him to be incredibly funny and nice.
March 23, 2014
How Paul Campion became the Frank Darabont to my Stephen King
Fearnet has an extensive interview with Paul Campion about the success of THE DEVIL’S ROCK, its sequel, how he and I became friends, and the latest on his adaptations of my works DARK HOLLOW, KILL WHITEY, and THE SIQQUSIM WHO STOLE CHRISTMAS. You can read the interview in its entirety here.
Film-making is an even stranger and more cutthroat business than writing and publishing, and I learned long ago not to trust 90% of the people involved in it. My advice to authors about to sign their first option is usually “get paid a lot up front” because all-too-often that’s the only money you will see. Even if the film is made, and even if it’s successful, and even if you managed to negotiate a contract that says you’ll continue to get paid, Hollywood has all sorts of creative accounting tricks to show how 
a profitable film actually isn’t, and therefore they don’t owe you money. Then there are the yahoos who option your work and tie it up for years with no intention of making the movie, but simply to have it in their portfolio because you’re considered “hot” or “edgy”. There are all sorts of other pitfalls and soul-sucks, too. I’ve written about much of this at length in SUNDANCING, which is out of print, but usually available on the secondary market. Long ago, I decided my rule when dealing with anyone involved with film-making was to get as many steak dinners and first class flights and up-front money as I could, because things often never progress beyond that, and not get close to anyone other than business-friendly.
Paul is one of the few exceptions to my rule (along with a handful of others such as William 
Miller, Damien Maffei, Mike Lombardo, etc). I’ve known Paul for a decade. He’s become a dear friend, and I trust him implicitly. Further, I trust his vision for my books. It took Frank Darabont over a decade to make THE MIST. As Paul says in the interview above, it took twenty years for DALLAS BUYERS CLUB to get made. I don’t care how long it takes — Paul Campion is the only person I trust to make DARK HOLLOW and KILL WHITEY. You’ll see them when he’s done.
March 20, 2014
Scares That Care Weekend – Author Programming Open
As previously noted, I’m handling the Author Programming for this summer’s Scares That Care Weekend charity horror convention, the full details of which can be found HERE. I am now accepting a limited number of candidates who wish to participate in programming for the weekend. If you are a local author or a writer who plans on attending the convention, and would like to participate with a spotlighted one hour reading and signing, please email me at briankeene@live.com. As I get approximately 200 emails a day, put ‘Scares That Care’ in the subject line. PLEASE NOTE that this does not include admission to the convention, lodging, meals, or inclusion as a celebrity guest. This is merely for authors who were already planning on attending, and would like the opportunity to participate in programming, expose themselves to new readers, and possibly sell a few books in that hour, as well. Think of it as the second stage at Lollapalooza.
Lucius Shepard R.I.P.
Multiple sources are reporting the passing of science-fiction, fantasy, horror, and magic realism author Lucius Shepard, at age 66. After attending Clarion at the age of thirty-three, Shepard quickly became a favorite among both readers and his peers. A winner of the Shirley Jackson Award, Hugo Award, Nebula Award, and John Campbell Award, his novels, novellas, and collections included GREEN EYES, VACANCY, LIFE DURING WARTIME, AZTECHS, THE ENDS OF THE EARTH, R&R, THE JAGUAR HUNTER, THE SKULL, and many more. Michael Swanwick has a good remembrance of him here, as does Cory Doctorow here.
March 19, 2014
David Schow and Shane McKenzie
Earlier today, I mentioned on Twitter that there’s a major announcement due. I can’t say anything until I see that the press release is out in the wild. Before that happens, however, I promised two friends I’d plug their latest efforts.
1. DAVID SCHOW recently completed a new book titled THE OUTER LIMITS AT 50. It features a treasure-trove of recently-unearthed photos, and new original artworks by Bernie Wrightson, Steve Bissette and Tim Bradstreet. Click here to buy it. And if you’re on Facebook, why not Like the page, as well?
2. SHANE MCKENZIE’S novel MUERTE CON CARNE is getting turned into a movie called EL GIGANTE — that is if you folks will back it on Kickstarter. Click here to show your support.
March 16, 2014
OB IS YOUR CO-PILOT
In celebration of all three books in THE RISING TRILOGY now being available in both print and digital, we are offering OB IS MY CO-PILOT shirts, mugs, shot glasses, and whiskey flasks for a limited time.
THE BLACK BIBLE – First Teaser
Among the books I’m currently working on is a new collaboration with J.F. Gonzalez entitled THE BLACK BIBLE, coming later this year from Miskatonic Books.
THE BLACK BIBLE is being produced strictly for collectors*. It will be a profusely illustrated, over-sized, limited edition hardcover. Our intent is not to simply write another book, but to produce a true work of art for our most hardcore fans that examines our collective mythos and digs deep into the back story. There will be no other editions produced. Consider this your early warning to begin saving money. (Please note — we do not have a price or release date. Suffice to say, it will be several hundred dollars**).
As your first, early warning system teaser, here is the current table of contents. It should be noted that J.F. and I are still working on this, and these contents will most likely fluctuate with title changes, additional content, etc. as we near the pre-reader stage.
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
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
14. The Further Testimony of Shaleem Achmed al-Jazir.
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 Testimony of the San People Regarding Meeble (fragment)
7. The Song of the Siqqusim
8. Concerning the Creation of the Void (fragment)
9. The Gospel of Lazarus
10. The Fourth Book of Chalco (fragment)
11. On Crafting a Daemonolateria (fragment)
12. First Yee-wa
13. Second Yee-wa
14. The Summoning of the Seven
* We are both releasing plenty of more-affordable paperbacks, e-books, and comic books this year. As stated above, this is being produced as a very limited collectible.
** IT’S A COLLECTIBLE! STOP COMPLAINING! I’VE GOT E-BOOKS ON SALE FOR AS LOW AS NINETY-NINE CENTS!
March 15, 2014
How to Write Bizarro
My publisher and long-time friend, Rose O’Keefe, is teaching an online bizarro fiction writing workshop. Details below.
March 12, 2014
Road Trip of the Dead
My friends Tom Savini and Matt Blazi are involved with this production. Matt asked me to tell you about it. Click below for details.
March 11, 2014
THE RISING 3 Now On Kindle
THE RISING: SELECTED SCENES FROM THE END OF THE WORLD, the third book in The Rising trilogy, is now available on Kindle, as well as in paperback. Nook edition forthcoming.
CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE FOR KINDLE
CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE IN PAPERBACK
Click here for more info on The Rising trilogy.
