Brian Keene's Blog, page 207
March 4, 2011
The Week in Review
Am posting this tonight, rather than tomorrow, because Turtle and I have a long weekend of Thomas the Tank Engine and Matchbox cars ahead of us. There was no Deluge this week because faithful pre-reader Mark 'Dezm' Sylva is on vacation with his family. Both Mark and Deluge will return next week. As an alternative, here are two free stories: one from my beautiful partner Mary SanGiovanni and one from my also beautiful collaborator Nick Mamatas.
Speaking of Nick, here's the cover and synopsis for our forthcoming novel The Damned Highway. The cover has a few more production tweaks, but we like it. Another collaboration of mine, To Fight With Monsters (with Mike Oliveri) ran into some distribution trouble, so we're asking folks to pre-order it directly from the publisher. If you do, you could win valuable prizes.
Two books were released this week. Portents began shipping, and is selling briskly. 
It contains the best story of my career, so if you want one, act soon. Meanwhile, over in Italy, I Vermi Conquistatori (The Conqueror Worms) went on sale in bookstores. Comix Connection celebrated their 23rd anniversary, and I posted some pics from the event. I also wrote a new rant/essay explaining the industry practice of "stripping" and "remainders". Finally, here's a run-down of what's happening over at The Keenedom.
SUMMER 2011
JANUARY, 1972. Resenting his unexpected fame and suffering from severe writer's block, America's premiere "gonzo" journalist decides to reinvent himself. He creates a new persona—Uncle Lono—and hatches a scheme to return to his roots, reinvigorating his patriotism and his writing in the process. Traveling by bus across the country, discovering strange new cults, heavy metal bands, and odd fellow travelers that might not even be human, Lono gets a good look at the spooky happenings going on in America.
The Damned Highway combines two great flavors of weird: the cracked but perceptive aspect of Hunter S. Thompson and the uncanny terrors of H.P. Lovecraft! Horror legend Brian Keene and cult storytelling master Nick Matamas dredge up a tale of drug-fueled eldritch madness from the blackest depths of the American Nightmare. On a freaked-out journey to Arkham, Massachusetts and the 1972 Presidential primary, evidence mounts that sinister forces are on the rise, led by the Cult of Cthulhu and its most prominent member— Richard M. Nixon! Will the truth set Lono free, or simply drive him insane?
This Week at The Keenedom
The Keenedom is the horror genre's crossroads — a forum where fans, authors, artists, publishers, and filmmakers meet in fellowship. Access to the community is free but you must register to view or participate in the discussions. Here are some current discussions of interest.
1. Casting begins for the film version of Ghoul.
2. Edward Lee signs with Bloodletting Press for seven books.
3. The educational background of writers.
4. Readers respond to Jack's Magic Beans.
5. Thunderstorm Books production update.
6. Tom Piccirilli's new Kindle exclusive.
7. Readers respond to Bryan Smith's Darkened.
8. Will George R.R. Martin's latest be released on time?
9. Paul Tremblay and the NBA.
10. Carlton Mellick goes to Crab Town.
March 3, 2011
PORTENTS SHIPPING
Portents, the new horror anthology edited by Al Sarrantonio, which contains "Johnstown" (the best story I've ever written in my opinion) is shipping. This beautiful hardcover is limited to only 1,000 copies and only costs $30 (plus $5 S&H). It also contains stories by Joyce Carol Oates, Ramsey Campbell, Joe R. Lansdale, Kit Reed, Tia V. Travis, Melanie Tem, Steve Rasnic Tem, Kealan Patrick Burke, Christopher Fowler, Elizabeth Massie, Kim Newman, Michael Laimo, Tom Piccirilli and many more.
It is not available in stores. To purchase your copy via PayPal, check or money order, email Al at Flyingfoxpub @ aol dot com. Copies are going very quickly, so don't delay!
February 28, 2011
NEW CONTEST
To Fight With Monsters is a new comic written by myself and Mike Oliveri with art by Ben Dunn. It only costs $6. It is based on our short story of the same name from the long out of print 4X4. And now, in conjunction with Antarctic Press, we have a new contest to promote it.
Pre-order To Fight With Monsters from the publisher between now and March 8th, and you are automatically entered to win one of over a dozen prizes, each of which will be signed by either Mike or myself. Only one entry per household. CLICK HERE TO PRE-ORDER.
PRIZE LIST:
1 person will win Call of the Wild #1 – 4
1 person will win The Pack: Winter Kill
2 people will win Urban Gothic
2 people will win Castaways
2 people will win Darkness on the Edge of Town
2 people will win Blood Splattered & Politically Incorrect
5 people will win The Last Zombie #1
Remember – all of these prizes are signed by either Mike or myself. Click here to pre-order your copy and be automatically registered to win.
On Sale in Italy
I Vermi Conquistatori (The Conqueror Worms) is available now in Italy wherever books are sold. Click the cover to purchase (or to see a larger version).
February 27, 2011
The Complete Idiot's Guide to Stripped Books
There's quite a stir on various message boards right now about stripped and remaindered books, and a lot of folks aren't sure what those terms mean, or why Wal-Mart is selling Leisure titles for $2 or why Jeff Strand is threatening to kill people who buy books without covers. So that everyone will calm down, I've just written this handy guide. (Free to read).
Happy Anniversary Comix Connection
It's hard to believe that 23 years ago, my friends Bill Wahl and Ned Senft opened a little comic shop in York, Pennsylvania. That first store was the size of a broom closet. (Indeed, prior to that, they were selling comics in a corner of the York Emporium). One of their very first signing events was Joe Lansdale and Tim Truman, which for twenty-year old Brian Keene was a big fucking deal, because bad-ass writers like Joe Lansdale seldom passed through town (or if they did, they were sequestered at Skipp & Spector's compound in the city).
Since then, Bill and Ned have hosted many signing events. They've expanded with new locations in York and Harrisburg. They've added new members to the team like Jared and Jim. They've built the chain into Central Pennsylvania's cultural mecca of all things Geekdom. And they've taken a significant amount of my life's savings in the process. Congrats to them. Below are some pics from the York store's celebration yesterday (all courtesy of myself or Comix Connection.
Me and Mike Hawthorne
Mike draws Conan
My oldest son and Mary
Mike betrays the staff to Vader's Imperial Guard
Me and Mary
Bob Ford, J.F. Gonzalez and Meteornotes ready for dinner
February 25, 2011
The Week in Review
Before we review, two things of note: 1. Author Gina Ranalli now has her own section at The Keenedom. Stop by and say "hi". 2. If you like, vote for The Last Zombie as Best Zombie Comic Book in the 2010 Mail Order Zombie Dead Letter Awards (but only if you really do think it's the best).
Tomorrow, I'll be at Comix Connection's 23rd Anniversary Celebration to show my support for the store, and for my buddy Mike Hawthorne, who will be signing things and showing off his latest work from Conan: The Road of Kings. [image error]If you live in Central PA, stop by. Most of the area's creative community (writers, artists, etc.) will be on hand.
The big news this week was, of course, the release of Urban Gothic, Jack's Magic Beans, and Clickers II in trade paperback. Digital editions will follow soon. Deluge continued. A campaign was launched to save the Doom Patrol from cancellation. Borders bounced paychecks to their employees, which set me off on a rant, and then set Bryan Smith off on a rant, as well. We paused to remember the great Dwayne McDuffie who passed away on [image error]Monday. And we took a look at some of this week's better news stories from across the internet.
Updates might be sporadic next week, as I have a full plate of deadlines and am speaking to a High School on Wednesday. And Dezm is on vacation next week, so there will be no chapter of Deluge on Friday (since he won't be around to pre-read it).
DELUGE (Part 68)
Henry put his ear to the door and listened.
"Anything?" Sarah asked.
The boy shook his head.
"Okay," she whispered. "Get back."
Henry removed the barricade and Sarah rushed out into the rain. She clutched a hefty axe that she'd retrieved from the utility shed before Kevin's death. Henry hurried out behind her, carrying a large pickaxe. They hovered on the top landing, peering down into the gloom below, where seven shadowy figures were laboriously making their way up the wet and slippery metal stairs. Five of the figures were roughly-human shaped, each possessing two arms, two legs and a head. Another of the creatures had once been either a dog or a coyote—or possibly a wolf, though Sarah wasn't sure if West Virginia had wolves or not. The seventh's original form was unrecognizable. Whatever it had once been, it was now nothing more than a shambling mound of pallid fungus. As they watched from above, the thing burst apart on the second landing, turning to liquid and spilling back down the stairs. Its companions, including the thing that had once been Earl Harper, ignored its demise.
"There's a gasoline can in the far corner, over next to the radio," Sarah said. "Grab it, and that box of wooden matches. I've got an idea."
Henry frowned. "You're not thinking of going down there, are you?"
Far below, the creatures moaned and gurgled, attracted by their voices.
"Just do it, Henry. Please? And hurry."
Nodding, he ducked back inside.
"Soft…" Earl cried, his voice phlegmatic and inhuman.
"Yeah," Sarah called, "we've been through that already, Earl. You sound like a broken record!"
"Soft… SOFT!"
Beginning at the fourth landing, Sarah and Henry had erected a series of crude but so-far effective barricades and booby-traps, using materials they'd recovered from the utility shed and the ranger station. When the monsters reached that level, they were confronted with a maze of lumber, fencing rolls, and other debris. Sarah and Henry had been mindful to avoid using anything that Kevin might have touched while inside the shed, but that didn't seem to matter now. Most of the blockade had white fuzz growing on it. Much of the fungus had appeared in only the last few days. Already, Sarah noticed, several lengths of two-by-four were missing. She assumed that they'd already liquefied. How long before the same thing happened to the rest of the barricade? How long before it happened to the ranger station, as well?
Henry returned with the gasoline can. Sarah took it from him and unscrewed the cap. The liquid sloshed inside and the pungent fumes made her wince. She walked to the railing and lifted the can over the side.
"Hey, Earl!"
Below, six mold-covered faces peered up at her, toothless mouths agape.
"Heads up." Sarah laughed as she poured the gasoline. The liquid seemed to fall faster than the rain, splashing on the creatures. Immediately, they recoiled, shrieking in either pain or fright. Sarah couldn't be sure of which, nor did she care. "Quick, Henry. Give me the matches."
He handed them over and Sarah fumbled one from the box and tried to light it. When she had no luck, she ducked into the open doorway and tried with a second one. A third and fourth also refused to light.
"Shit! Shit, shit, shit…"
"It don't matter none," Henry called, looking over the rail. "They're running away. And parts of them are coming off. Look!"
Sarah moved to the railing and watched the attackers retreat. Sure enough, their hides had turned black where the gasoline had splashed on them. A few were now missing appendages, and the stumps were black, as well.
"Maybe gasoline kills it?" she mused.
"At the very least, they don't like it," Henry agreed.
Sarah grinned. "Henry, I've got an idea…"
