Brian Keene's Blog, page 173
February 12, 2012
NOOK: Four New Books
Darkness On the Edge of Town, Dead Sea, Castaways, and Clickers III: Dagon Rising are now all available for the Nook. CLICK HERE to order them (or to order the paperback, Kindle, audio book, or German versions).
February 10, 2012
The Ghoul Next Door
Courtesy of Tod Clark, here's a snippet from the Ghoul Premiere Q&A, in which I talk about Jack Ketchum's The Girl Next Door and Greg Wilson's adaptation of both it and Ghoul (which debuts on ChillerTV Friday, April 13th).
February 9, 2012
KILL WHITEY Audio-Book Pre-Orders
The audio-book edition of Kill Whitey is up for pre-order. Click here to reserve your copy on compact disc. (Downloadable edition forthcoming from Audible.com).
Kill Whitey is also available in paperback (here), Kindle (here), and Nook (here).
German-language editions are available in hardcover (here), Kindle (here), and Nook (here).
February 7, 2012
CASTAWAYS now on Kindle
John Christopher R.I.P.
Samuel Youd, better known to horror, science-fiction, and fantasy readers as John Christopher, passed away Friday at the age of 89. The author of over fifty novels — including The Death of Grass, The Little People, The Guardians, and The Year of the Comet — he was perhaps best known for the Tripods series (The White Mountains, The City of Gold and Lead, The Pool of Fire, and When the Tripods Came), and was renowned for his contributions to post-apocalyptic fiction. He also wrote numerous short stories for magazines such as Weird Tales, Orbit, Nebula, Galaxy, and others. Here's a nice tribute to him at Survival Weekly.
February 6, 2012
New Ink & Old Video
Paul "Noigel" Synuria, who moderates my message board at The Slaughter House, got a new tattoo last week — Noigel from my novel Urban Gothic. I think the tattoo artist did a great job in replicating Alan Clark's cover art. And Urban Gothic isn't the only one of my books to decorate Paul's skin. He also has Saten from Running With The Devil inked on his arm.
By now, you've probably seen the video of me reading "Fast Zombies Suck". While browsing YouTube, I came across this 2004 news report from a Virginia-based cable station. I remember this signing well. The Rising had been out in paperback for about six months. If you want to see what Mary or myself looked like nearly a decade ago, fast forward to around the 1:28 mark.
February 4, 2012
THE NEW FREE, or "What Replaces Deluge?"
A few years ago, when the economy began to go south, I began posting a free, serialized novel called Deluge here on this site. Last year, when Deluge was completed, I removed it from the site so that I could re-write and edit it for book publication (which will be later this year). For a while, I considered doing a second serial called Dead Air. However, I ultimately decided against it, due to online piracy of Deluge, the realization that Dead Air might be better suited at novella length, and concerns about avoiding some of the delays that Deluge suffered periodically. But I told you I'd come up with a new freebie. And I also told you to subscribe to my YouTube Channel, because I was going to be utilizing it a lot more in 2012.
And here is why. It occurs to me that many of you might never be able to attend a signing or convention, and thus, never get to attend a reading. Therefore, all throughout 2012, I'll be posting readings of my work (and other assorted videos) on YouTube. For you. For free. We begin with "Fast Zombies Suck". I hope you enjoy it, and thank you all for your continued support.
February 3, 2012
THE LAST ZOMBIE: NEVERLAND – First Look
Available next Wednesday in all good comic book shops is The Last Zombie: Neverland issue #1. When completed, The Last Zombie will not only be the longest thing I've ever written, but it will also be the last zombie story I ever write. Everything I had left to say on the subject is being said here.
For those of you who have not yet read The Last Zombie series, the first two volumes – The Last Zombie: Dead New World and The Last Zombie: Inferno – are available in trade paperback, and collect the entire story so far.
For those of you who are reading the series, let me tell you what to expect from Neverland, without spoilers: Federman confronting Ian about his illness, swarms of man-eating rats, romance, Planters and Fulton battling the Mexican Cartel army first referenced in Inferno, and Santa Claus with a machine gun.
The Last Zombie: Dead New World, The Last Zombie: Inferno, and The Last Zombie: Neverland should be available at your local comic store. If not, you can order them online by clicking here.
February 2, 2012
SFWA Disqualifies Dorchester (Wither HWA?)
For a complete timeline of the Dorchester saga, click here. Issued today by SFWA:
As many of you are aware, on December 10, 2010, the board of SFWA voted unanimously to place Dorchester Publishing Co, inc, on probation following an inquiry after we became aware of several instances in which Dorchester acted against the contractual and legal interest of authors, specifically by not paying royalties when contractually specified, or distributing books in a medium for which it had not legally secured rights.
Dorchester did not dispute these events. With cooperation from Dorchester, SFWA placed the publisher on a period of probation for one year. During the period of probation, SFWA asked the following from Dorchester in order for it to remain on the qualifying list after its probation period:
* That it fulfilled its contractual and financial obligations to the authors it has already published, including full and accurate accounting of royalties per contract, with scheduled payment of any royalties outstanding;
* That it examined its catalog to ensure it was no longer offering fiction in formats for which it has not contracted rights, and make whole those authors whose rights it has violated;
* That there were no instances of contractual violations on the part of Dorchester against authors signed to publishing deals after the start of the probationary period;
* That Dorchester assisted those authors wishing to revert rights, consistent with the company's existing policies regarding rights reversion.
After SFWA performing a formal review of Dorchester's progress on tasks above, based on the information currently available the board believes that while Dorchester made efforts on each of those points, they have not fulfilled their contractual obligations to our members.
Thus Dorchester Publishing has been removed from the list of qualifying Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America markets, effective from the start of the probation period December 10, 2010. No fiction contracted and paid for (by initial advance payment) before the term of probation began, December 10, 2010, will be affected by Dorchester's status.
Sincerely yours,
Mary Robinette Kowal
Vice President, SFWA
Brian's Note: So far, HWA has not commented or acted on the most recent Dorchester revelations. Let us hope that they follow the SFWA's lead soon.
January 31, 2012
DORCHESTER: Keeslar Out, Trade Paperback Line In Doubt
For a complete timeline of the Dorchester saga, click here.
Following December's ouster of Dorchester Publishing's Senior VP Tim DeYoung, Chris Keeslar assumed most of DeYoung's duties. Today, word comes from multiple sources that Keeslar himself has abruptly departed the troubled company. At press time, it is unclear if he quit or was terminated. Indeed, as a matter of record and on a personal note, I just spoke with him via phone and email yesterday regarding an ongoing rights issue, and he'd given no indication that it was his last day. Several sources close to the situation tell me it was not his choice to leave, but that has not been confirmed. What has been confirmed is this email Keeslar sent to colleagues earlier today, which states:
Dear Publishing Colleague:
As of January 31st, 2012, I am no longer employed by Dorchester Publishing or collecting mail from this address. I have left a list of outstanding issues and will be available to management if questions arise, and I know that my colleagues are aware of each issue's importance. My email is being forwarded to the appropriate parties and will be answered as soon as possible. You should also feel free to contact Hannah Wolfson (hwolfson@dorchesterpub.com) regarding general questions, Sam Hazell (shazell@dorchesterpub.com) regarding rights questions, Loretta Falk (lfalk@dorchesterpub.com) regarding accounting questions, Brian Chinn (bchinn@dorchesterpub.com) regarding royalties, and Kelley Allen (kallen@dorchesterpub.com) regarding the order of any trade paperbacks.
My gratitude and very best wishes to all those with whom I worked, and also to those who allowed me do what I love for over 16 years. May our paths cross again—and may 2012 be a good year for everyone.
Keeslar's departure leaves Dorchester without an editor. His voice mail directs inquiries to Wolfson and Hazell, both of whom hold positions outside of editorial.
But Keeslar's departure isn't the only bombshell to come out of the company today. Another source tells me that the company's trade-paperback line is in trouble and that "it is doubtful it will continue." Other sources close to the situation tell me it is their opinion that the owners "are looking to liquidate as much as they can, getting as much cash as they can" before filing bankruptcy, including, presumably, rights to books which they do not legally own and have still not reverted back to the individual authors and rightful copyright holders. Indeed, a quick check of Amazon tonight shows Dorchester is still selling Kindle editions of books they no longer own the rights to, due to contract violations and non-payment. In most cases, these rights have clearly been disputed by the lawful copyright holders, but no reversion letters or suppression orders have been forthcoming. (As a matter of course, I will not link to those editions, lest I contribute to aiding Dorchester's deliberate malfeasance).
With staff now reduced to five people (plus CEO Robert Anthony), it is unclear how the company intends to expedite such requests, and Dorchester could not be reached for comment this afternoon. But one thing is clear. As one source put it, "this is a company in its final death throes", and in my personal opinion, given their past behavior, I fear a lot of people (authors, booksellers, printers, landlords, paper companies, and other creditors) are going to get screwed in the process.
Selah…
