Brian Keene's Blog, page 215

Goodbye 2010

This is the last weekend update for 2010. Why am I running it now? Because I'll be busy this weekend.

Before we get to that, I want to take a moment to say thanks. This has been an incredibly tough year, both personally and professionally. There have been times this year — more times than you know — when I've come very close to cashing in my chips. Times when the business end of a Kimber .45 or quitting this job and going back to work in a factory both seemed like better options. Were it not for your constant support, I certainly would have. So thanks to all of you, my readers, the F.U.K.U., for your patience, understanding and support in these hard times.

Thanks as well to Tod, Dezm, Val, Brandon, Mark, Noige, and of course, Doctor Big Joe Maynard, for their tireless efforts in keeping this train running smoothly this year, despite the fact that their boss had jumped the rails. Their efforts were largely thankless this year, and that's my fault, and I intend to make it up to them in 2011.

I'd also like to thank the following people, all of whom aided, abetted, or held me together in some way this past year: my parents, my sons, J.F. Gonzalez, Geoff Cooper, Mike Oliveri, Mikey Huyck, John Urbancik, Bob Ford, Kelli Owen, Nick Mamatas, Nick Kaufmann, Lee Thomas, Nate Southard, Paul Tremblay, Bev Vincent, Jack Haringa, Tom Piccirilli, Linda Addison, Norman Partridge, Mark Sieber, Edward Lee, James Moore, Christopher Golden, Tim Lebbon, Drew Williams, M. Stephen Lukac, Maurice and Sally Broaddus, Wrath and Christy White, Chesya Burke, Bryan Smith, Richard Christy, Jeremy Wagner, Cullen Bunn, Keith Giffen, Liz Gehrlein, Bill Wahl, Ned Senft, Mike Hawthorne, Bel Wilson, Sarah Langan, Monica J. O'Rourke, Sephera Giron, Rain Graves, Gak, Joe R. Lansdale, Ann Laymon, Dean Koontz, Joe Hill, Heather Graham, Jack Ketchum, Thomas Montelone, F. Paul Wilson, David J. Schow, John Skipp, Cody Goodfellow, Tony and Kim at Camelot, Paula Guran, Bill Schafer, Larry Roberts, Richard Chizmar, Brian Freeman, Paul Goblirsch, Antarctic Press, Dark Realms Audio, Carlton Mellick, The Rusty Nail, Susan Scofield, Nikki Graybeal, Ron Dickie, Dave Thomas, Alethea Kontis, Joe Branson, Jeff Heimbuch, Martina Gona, Matt and Pam Blazi, Mike Antonio, and Mike Lombardo.

Each of those people helped me in a time of need this year, whether they knew it or not (and I suspect most of them did indeed know it) by offering a hug, money, advice, a kick in the ass, a kind word, a consoling ear, a "You're Brian Keene god damn it" speech, or simply sharing a bottle of whiskey with me. I also suspect that I may have forgotten one or two people above. If I did, please don't feel slighted. My brain is still rewiring itself, but it will be back up to speed very soon. That is good news for most people, but bad news for a few. And oh, how I remember those few. Like Santa Claus, I've been making a list and checking it twice. In 2010 some fuckers weren't nice. Brian Keene is coming to town…

Finally and most important of all, thanks to Mary SanGiovanni. Believe me when I tell you that if not for her and my sons, I wouldn't be standing right now. I love you darlin'.

And I love all the rest of you, as well. Even the guy who still bitches about the ending to The Rising…

Here's what happened during the final week of 2010:

Brian Keene dot com was named Horror Website of the Year.

A list of the confirmed books, comics, and audio-books I have coming out in 2011.

Time is running out to order To Fight With Monsters, the new one-shot comic by myself, Mike Oliveri, and Ben Dunn.

A Maelstrom shipping update.

And a Deluge update.

Crunch Time Update

As previously stated back on the 16th, things will be slow here for another week or so as Nick Mamatas and I finish up The Damned Highway, and as I finish up Hollow and The Witching Tree. Deluge will return in two weeks. Next week, if all goes as planned, we'll have a special seven-part thing called Repossessed.

WEBSITE OF THE YEAR

I am very pleased and honored to learn that Bookgasm has named Brian Keene dot com as 'Horror Website of the Year'. In the write-up, Josh Jabcuga says (in part):

"Whether or not you agree with everything Keene says… the man never ceases to entertain… his website is a portal to bigger things. It's not just about him… His website is a community… it's evolved into a much bigger universe… As one industry vet told me, when it comes to promoting, "Keene is a machine." …The part that gets overlooked, because critics or message-board trolls are too quick to point their fingers at him when things go wrong in the horror industry… is a passion and a respect for this business that I dare anyone to match. Keene does more to promote the great things about the genre than almost anyone associated with it. He's got a soapbox and he's not afraid to step up and put his ass on the line. He'll go out on a limb and shine a light on up-and-coming writers that deserve props, when others don't want to take a chance, forgetting what it was like trying to break in… If you're smart, you'll tune in, shut up, listen and learn. He is a machine, but he's also a tireless, selfless ambassador… The horror community is a better place because of him… And with each passing day, the horror community and the Keenedom are becoming synonymous with one another…"

Congratulations are also due to other Keenedom regulars Nate Southard (Best Book, Red Sky), Tom Piccirilli (Best Collection, Futile Efforts), Nick Mamatas (Best Anthology, Haunted Legends, with Ellen Datlow), John Skipp (Best Reprint, The Bridge, with Craig Spector), Wrath James White (Author To Watch In 2011) and Thunderstorm Books (Publisher To Watch In 2011). Click here to read about all of the winners.

Things to Come

A quick run-down of my confirmed releases for 2011:

ENTOMBED: Follow-up to Dead Sea. Was originally slated to be my next novel for Leisure. Instead, it will now be released as a signed, limited edition hardcover. Publisher TBA (because they want to surprise you).

THE WITCHING TREE: Levi Stoltzfus must perform the strangest exorcism of his career in this new novella. Publisher TBA (because they want to surprise you).

THE DAMNED HIGHWAY: FEAR AND LOATHING IN ARKHAM: Co-written with Nick Mamatas. What if Hunter S. Thompson followed up his infamous Vegas sojourn with a trip to H.P. Lovecraft's Innsmouth, Dunwich, and Arkham? Will be released in trade paperback and digital by Dark Horse.

HOLLOW: In this follow-up to Dark Hollow and Ghost Walk, Adam Senft's legacy still hangs like a dark cloud over Central Pennsylvania. How will it impact a beginning writer who wishes to follow in his favorite author's footsteps? To be published in trade paperback and digital by Apex Book Company.

LAKE FOSSIL (working title): My first Bizarro novella. When Franklin's mother moves them to the strange town of Lake Fossil, Illinois, he runs afoul of a group of horrifying children's television mascots, including Binky the Dinosaur, The Waggles, and the terrifying Cthulhu's World. To be published in paperback by Skullvines Press.

A CONSPIRACY OF ONE: My next short story collection, and also my thickest book yet (coming in well over 100,000 words. To be released as part of next year's Maelstrom set from Thunderstorm Books. Digital and trade paperback editions will follow in 2012.

ALONE: Brand new novella. To be released as part of next year's Maelstrom set from Thunderstorm Books. Will not be reprinted in any other format for five years.

SELECTED SCENES FROM THE ENDS OF THE EARTH: New digital and trade paperback omnibus collecting ALL of the stories from The Rising: Selected Scenes From the End of the World and Earthworm Gods: Selected Scenes From the End of the World. Will also include other stories set in the world's of The Rising and The Conqueror Worms. Publisher TBA.

DARKNESS ON THE EDGE OF TOWN: Audio-book version of the novel. To be released by Dark Realms.

CLICKERS VS. ZOMBIES: Co-written with J.F. Gonzalez and just as fucked up and cheesy as the title would lead you to believe. To be published as a signed, limited edition hardcover with digital and trade paperback to follow in 2012. Publisher TBA (because they want to surprise you).

THE LAST ZOMBIE: DEAD NEW WORLD: Trade paperback collecting issues one through five of The Last Zombie. To be published by Antarctic Press.

THE LAST ZOMBIE: INFERNO: New five issue series that picks up where the first series left off. To be published by Antarctic Press.

DOOM PATROL: FIRE AWAY: Trade paperback that will include issue #16 of Doom Patrol (which I wrote). To be published by DC Comics.

TO FIGHT WITH MONSTERS: One-shot, single issue comic book, co-written with Mike Oliveri (and based on our story from 4X4). Illustrated by Ben Dunn. To be published by Antarctic Press.

Also, there will be new digital and paperback editions of THE RISING, CITY OF THE DEAD, THE CONQUEROR WORMS, GHOUL, DEAD SEA, DARK HOLLOW, GHOST WALK, CASTAWAYS, URBAN GOTHIC, DARKNESS ON THE EDGE OF TOWN, A GATHERING OF CROWS, FEAR OF GRAVITY, and UNHAPPY ENDINGS, as well as a digital edition of KILL WHITEY.

2011 – It's what happens once a man is done licking his wounds and emerges back into the world, wading into the fray and ready for battle once more…

Pre-Order Reminder

There's still time to pre-order my new comic co-written with Mike Oliveri and illustrated by Benn Dunn. To Fight With Monsters is a one-shot, single issue, so there's no need to wait for the trade. Only 4 bucks and available in February wherever comics are sold – but you need to ask your local comic shop to order one for you. Don't have a comic store nearby? You can pre-order online by clicking here.

Maelstrom Shipping Update

Paul at Thunderstorm posted this at The Keenedom: "Although I am happy to report that the bindery has completely finished all three books… unfortunately there was some screw up with the freight company picking up the books in time. So the books are sitting inside the binder's shipping department which is closed down for an extended holiday break.  They are expected to ship to me Tues 12/28.  Which means I'll probably get them Monday 1/3.   Of course I will begin packing and shipping immediately."

Holiday Weekend Update

Happy Holidays to all! Thanks for your support this past year. 2011 will see the publication of Entombed (a follow-up to Dead Sea), The Damned Highway, Hole In the World, a new short story collection, the reprinting of my entire back catalog, and several other exciting things. Meanwhile, here's what happened this week:

The Last Zombie #3 arrived in stores.

A Gathering of Crows won several categories in the First Annual Occult Detective Awards.

The Rusty Nail got a new home.

A peek at how boring my private Facebook account is.

The Last Zombie #3 On Sale

The Last Zombie #3 is on sale today in comic shops everywhere! In the aftermath of a firefight in the leper colony, Walker finds out just what life is like post-zombies, and Ian recuperates from his fall in the pit. But even as the team takes a much needed break, a new danger lurks on the horizon… a danger that is very much alive.

Don't have a comic book store near you? Click here to order one directly from the publisher.

A Glimpse Behind the Curtain

So, I have this Facebook Fan Page, and I'm active on it every day, answering folks questions and interacting with everyone. Despite that, at least a dozen times a day, acquaintances and complete strangers send friend requests for my private Facebook page, despite the GIANT FUCKING DISCLAIMER that says "Private Page For Family And Close Friends. All Others Please Use Fan Page". I don't understand why this is. I guess folks think the private page is where all the good stuff happens. Well, not really. And to prove it, here's a collage of some of 2010's wall posts from the private page.

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Levi For The Win

The First Annual Occult Detective Awards have been announced. I was very happy to see that A Gathering of Crows took Best Occult Detective Novel, Levi Stoltzfus took Best Occult Detective Character, and I took Best Occult Detective Author. I am honored. And you'll see Levi again soon, in a novella called "The Witching Tree" (to be published by Camelot Books next year).