Brian Keene's Blog, page 126

Why I Still Love Comics

First comics I ever read we’re Gerber’s Defenders (Headmen saga) and Kirby’s Captain America (Madbomb saga). I was six years old (continued)

— BrianKeene (@BrianKeene) November 14, 2013

Gerber introduced me to the idea that you could write as a job when you grew up, but it was Kirby who made me love comics. (continued)

— BrianKeene (@BrianKeene) November 14, 2013

Tonight, my 5-yr old and I read Kirby’s 2001: A Space Odyssey before bed. He said, “Daddy look at the pictures! Those are COOL!” (continued)

— BrianKeene (@BrianKeene) November 14, 2013

And for the 1st time in his life, he asked “Who drew that? Do we have more?” And that’s why, despite all the bullshit, I still love comics.

— BrianKeene (@BrianKeene) November 14, 2013

Just like any other part of the writing or entertainment industry, comics has plenty of assholes. But it also had Kirby. So fuck yeah comics

— BrianKeene (@BrianKeene) November 14, 2013

 

So, there’s that. I’m off to Portland, OR, where — among other things — I’ll be doing a Q&A with John Skipp in an over-sized hot tub. Don’t break the internet while I’m gone.

Happy Veteran’s Day

That’s 19-year old RMSA Brian Keene above the USS Austin somewhere in the North Atlantic. As you can see, even then I was writing.

Expect a slow week, as I’ll be busy doing Dad stuff, finishing up manuscript reviews and the mailings of the rest of the Lifetime Subscriber packages (half of which were delayed because we ran out of graphic novels), and then traveling to BizarroCon at the end of the week. Hope to see some of you there.

MAELSTROM IV: 90% SOLD OUT – SHIPS IN 10 DAYS

Limited to 333 signed, numbered hardcovers – $125 – 90% Sold Out – Shipping 11/18

THREE COLLECTIBLE EDITIONS, ONE LOW PRICE! CLICK HERE TO ORDER

THE END: Zombies, epics, final novels, and the last issue of The Last Zombie

THE LAST ZOMBIE: THE END #5 is on sale in comic shops today. If your local store doesn’t carry it, buy it here!

Last issue! The final chapter reaches its horrific conclusion as the surviving team members at long last reach their destination, only to face threats from within and without their ranks. The fate of Ian’s fiancée and the bunker staff is finally revealed, but will Ian live long enough to find them?

Two of the questions I am asked most often are “When are you going to write about zombies again?” and “When are you going to write a really long epic-length novel?” Well, I just did. Several years and twenty-five issues later, THE LAST ZOMBIE is definitely the longest thing I’ve ever written. It is also my final word on zombies — the one remaining new thing I could think to do with them after nearly twenty years of making a living thinking of new things to do with them.

While we never exactly set the sales charts on fire (occasionally placing low in Diamond’s Top 300) critics loved the series, and it certainly garnered an enthusiastic readership. My sincere thanks to both of those groups for your support. Thanks, as well, to everyone at Antarctic Press and the artists who’ve worked on the book.

I’ll be taking a break from comics for a bit. As reported elsewhere, I was supposed to take part in several projects for DC Comics next year, but when it became clear to me that I would not be a good fit with DC’s current editorial team, I walked away before any of the series were announced. (Since I was paid a kill fee, professional decorum requires that I say no more, so please don’t ask). That, and the fact that time seems to be speeding up in my mid-40s, have convinced me that I should focus instead on finishing up this last group of novels — The Lost Level, Hole In The World, With Teeth, Suburban Gothic, Invisible Monsters, Bad Ground, and the Labyrinth series (tentatively titled The Seven, Submerged, Scattered, Ob Rules, and Dying of the Light). Once those are finished, or nearing completion, and I have time to focus my energies elsewhere again, I’ll stick my head back in comics and see how things look. That’s the plan right now, at any rate.

Again, thanks to all of you who’ve supported The Last Zombie. And while the series may be over, the story hasn’t ended. We saw Frankie (from The Rising and City of the Dead) crossover into The Last Zombie, so it’s reasonable to expect that you’ll see some of The Last Zombie’s characters appear elsewhere.

In fact, I can guarantee you that Planters has a pretty big part to play in at least one of the novels mentioned above…

Regarding those pseudonyms

There used to be a persistent-but-ludicrous rumor that I was a pseudonym for Dean Koontz. Publisher Cemetery Dance fielded several inquiries from people regarding this in the past. There was also an equally-ludicrous rumor that Bryan Smith was a pseudonym for Stephen King. Despite the fact that we’ve both built careers for ourselves, and have done a number of public appearances, these rumors still arise from time-to-time.

So Bryan addressed that via Twitter this afternoon…

@CemeteryDance In truth @BrianKeene & I are Hunter Thompson & his attorney returned from hell to wrong rights & drink all the world’s liquor

— Bryan Smith (@Bryan_D_Smith) November 5, 2013

 

@BrianKeene @CemeteryDance Savage times demand fearsome resurrections. We were somewhere on the edge of hell when reality began to take hold

— Bryan Smith (@Bryan_D_Smith) November 5, 2013

Last Signing of 2013 (UPDATED)

A reminder for you West Coasters, from November 14 to 17 I’ll be at BizarroCon located at Edgefield Manor 2126 S.W. Halsey St. Troutdale, OR 97060. Here is my schedule:

FRIDAY:

1:00-1:30pm: READING — Brian Keene and Stephen Graham Jones

SATURDAY:

11:30-12:15pm: DISSECTING STORY STRUCTURE (Jeff Burk, Kris Saknussemm, John Skipp, Robert Devereaux, Brian Keene) — How to become a better writer through reading comic books, watching movies, studying literature, and acting in plays.

2:30-3:15pm: BUILDING AN AUDIENCE (Shane McKenzie, Carlton Mellick III, Brian Keene, Jeff Burk, Jeremy Robert Johnson) — How to attract readers and keep them interested.

5:30-6:30 pm: WONDERLAND BOOK AWARDS DINNER

7:00-10:00 pm: THE ULTIMATE BIZARRO SHOWDOWN — Bizarro authors compete to see who is indeed the weirdest of the weird. Each author must give the most unique and entertaining three minute reading performance of their lives or risk being yanked off stage by the drunk and annoyed audience members. Hosted by Mykle Hansen. Judges: Robert Devereaux, Brian Keene, John Skipp, Stephen Graham Jones

SUNDAY:

5:00-6:00pm: HOW TO SUCCEED HALF NAKED (Rose O’Keefe, Brian Keene, John Skipp) — A live AMA (Ask Me Anything) with Brian Keene and John Skipp in the heated soaking pool.

This is a small, intimate con that has quickly become one of my absolute favorites. It is also my last public appearance for the year. I’m debating how many signings to do next year. My five-year old tells me I should stay home, and I’m inclined to agree with him. But there are a few scheduled for 2014, so far. Details here.

Last Signing of 2013

A reminder for you West Coasters, from November 14 to 17 I’ll be at BizarroCon located at Edgefield Manor 2126 S.W. Halsey St. Troutdale, OR 97060. This is a small, intimate con that has quickly become one of my absolute favorites. It is also my last public appearance for the year. I’m debating how many signings to do next year. My five-year old tells me I should stay home, and I’m inclined to agree with him. But there are a few scheduled for 2014, so far. Details here.

SIXTY-FIVE STIRRUP IRON ROAD Update

SIXTY-FIVE STIRRUP IRON ROAD is a new novel written by myself, Edward Lee, Jack Ketchum, Bryan Smith, J.F. Gonzalez, Wrath James White, Nate Southard, Shane McKenzie, and Ryan Harding. 100% of the profits from each edition go to help with our friend and fellow author Tom Piccirilli’s post-surgery medical bills. There will be English-language paperback, Kindle, Nook, and limited edition hardcover versions, as well as a German-language translation.

Currently, the limited edition hardcover, which is signed by all the authors and includes an introduction by Tom, is up for pre-order (click Add To Cart). Pre-orders will last until the end of the month. The print run will be limited to however many were ordered. If you want to support Tom but can’t afford $55, there is also a Donate option.

Friday Plugs: Ronald Kelly and Shane McKenzie

Shane McKenzie’s short film, M IS FOR MATADOR, is one of the entries in the ABCs of Death filmmaker contest. To win, he needs your votes. Go here to watch the film (for free) and then click ‘Like’ just above the movie.

Ronald Kelly has a massive new Southern horror collection on Kindle. LONG CHILLS collects 13 of his best novellas and long stories, including Midnight Grinding, The Spawn of Arget Bethir, Tanglewood, Flesh-Welder, Tyrophex-14, The Seedling, The Winds Within, Potter’s Field, Evolution Ridge, and many more.

CLICK HERE to download to your Kindle for just $3.99!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN

“Genius, billionaire, playboy, philanthropist…” IRON KEENE.