Brian Keene's Blog, page 28
August 9, 2020
2020 Splatterpunk Award Winners
For Immediate Release
The 2020 Splatterpunk Awards — honoring superior achievement in the literary sub-genres of Splatterpunk and Extreme Horror for works published in 2019 — were held online last night, and award founders Wrath james White and Brian Keene announced the year’s winners. They are as follows:
BEST NOVEL: Lakehouse Infernal by Christine Morgan (Deadite Press)
BEST NOVELLA: One For the Road by Wesley Southard (Deadite Press)
BEST SHORT STORY: “Angelbait” by Ryan Harding (from The Big Book of Blasphemy, Necro Publications)
BEST COLLECTION: Dirty Rotten Hippies and Other Stories by Bryan Smith (Grindhouse Press)
BEST ANTHOLOGY: And Hell Followed edited by by Jarod Barbee and Patrick C. Harrison III (Death’s Head Press)
In addition, author Edward Lee recieved this year’s J.F. Gonzalez Lifetime Achievement Award, which honors individuals who have contributed significantly to the sub-genres of Splatterpunk and Extreme Horror. Previous recipients are David J. Schow and David G. Barnett.
White and Keene announced that 2021’s J.F. Gonzalez Lifetime Achievement Award recipient will be author John Skipp.
August 7, 2020
End of the Road - Now On Nook, Kobo and Apple
My horror fiction memoir, END OF THE ROAD, is now also available for Kobo and Nook readers, and via Apple.
Daniel Kraus - The Horror Show Ep 257
New York Times bestselling writer Daniel Kraus sits down with Brian Keene for an intimate conversation about his posthumous collaboration with George Romero. Plus Discipline Theory's Jose Castillo and Wilford Brimley in remembrance, and Brian, Mary, Matt, Dave and Phoebe recaps the Scares That Care Virtual charity event..
Listen for free on iTunes – Spotify – Libsyn – iHeartRadio – Stitcher - YouTube
August 4, 2020
My Killercon Online Schedule
Killercon Online takes place this weekend, via Zoom. Click here to register and attend (it’s free).
Here is my schedule (all times are CENTRAL):
FRIDAY, August 7, 12:15pm - Not Fade Away: Grady Hendrix, Bryan Smith, Wrath James White, Edward Lee, Lisa Lee Tone, and Brian Keene discuss overlooked Splatterpunk and Extreme Horror writers from yesterday and today that should not be forgotten.
FRIDAY, August 7, 5:15pm - Writing In Trump’s America: Horror, Bizarro, and Science Fiction As A Political Statement. Brian Keene, Linda Addison, Maurice Broaddus, Jeff Burk, Nate Southard, Wrath James White moderator: Tammy White. What fresh horrors can the current political climate inspire in our imagination? What responsibility do you feel as an artist to speak out against ignorance, injustice, racism, misogyny, homophobia, xenophobia, and tyranny in your art?
SATURDAY, August 8, 12:15pm - Q&A with Edward Lee, Our 2020 J.F. Gonzalez Lifetime Achievement Award Winner! Moderator: Brian Keene
SATURDAY, August 8, 8:30 pm - The 2020 Splatterpunk Awards! Celebrating the best of Extreme and Hardcore Horror fiction. Find out who the winners are in the categories of Best Novel, Best Long Fiction, Best Short Story, Best Collection, and Best Anthology.
I hope you’ll tune in. Again, it is free to watch via Zoom, but you’ll need to register here.
August 2, 2020
Thank You
Yesterday’s Scares That Care Virtual Charity Event raised $18,357 for our three 2020 recipient families. They are:
*Ashley Adams and her daughter Natalya, who has Marfan Syndrome.
*Laura, our breast cancer warrior for this year.
*Patricia, who suffered 2nd and 3rd degree burns to her entire right side.
As you saw during the 13-hour stream, we were able to present Ashley with a check last night. Because of your generosity, we are very close to presenting another check.
This was a team effort, and I would like to take a moment to recognize a few folks.
Thanks to Joe Ripple, Brian Smith, Alfred Guy, O’Malley Brandt, David Heck and the rest of the Scares That Care team.
Thanks to (in order of appearance) Jeff Strand, Stephen Kozeniewski, Jonathan Janz, Victor LaValle, Hillary Monahan, Matt Serafini, Adam Cesare, Glenn Rolfe, Paul Tremblay, Rachel Autumn Deering, Jamal Igle, Cullen Bunn, Maurice Broaddus, Matt Wildasin, John Wayne Comunale, Lamar Giles, Stephanie Cooke, Gretchen McNeil, Bitter Karella, Will Bozarth, Becky Spratford, Mark Patton, Nick Benson, Mick Strawn, Bryan Smith, Gabino Iglesias, Cina Pelayo, Stephen Graham Jones, Hunter Shea, Scott Baker, Dee Southerland, Chuck Buda, Roy Wooley, Josh Mikel, Steve Coulter, Cooper Andrews, Lew Temple, Jayson Warner Smith, Christian Jensen, Mary SanGiovanni, Stephanie Wytovich, Bracken MacLeod, Pruitt Taylor Vince, Dakota Lawrence, Eugene Clark, CV Hunt, Wrath James White, Kristopher Triana, Autumn Christian, Wesley Southard, Aaron Dries,,Armand Rosamilia, Lar Park Lincoln, Gemma Files, Wile E. Young, Keith Lansdale, Christine Morgan, Kenzie Jennings, Thomas Clark, Josh Malerman, John Edward Lawson, Andersen Prunty, Rose O’Keefe, Michael Allen Rose, Scott Cole, Amelia Kinkade, Amanda Bearse, John Anderson, Lynne Hansen, Matt Blazi, Count Gore deVol, Rio Youers and Ronald Malfi for donating their time and talents.
Thanks to Somer Canon, Tim Seeley, Jay Wilburn, the Sisters of Slaughter, Jonathan Maberry, John Dugan and Jack Sholder — all of whom tried to be with us but experienced technical difficulties.
Thanks to all of you who donated and supported the cause.
July 28, 2020
Defenders Dialogue 110
The Man-Thing faces off against construction tycoon F. A. Schist and the cosmic weirdness called Wundarr, then teams up with The Thing to stop the Molecule Man, as Christopher Golden and Brian Keene discuss Marvel's Adventure Into Fear issues 16 and 17 and the first issue of Marvel Two-In-One.
Listen for free on iTunes – YouTube – Libsyn – iHeartRadio – Stitcher
July 24, 2020
The Horror Show - Ep 274
Brian presents a long-lost 2001 interview with himself, Geoff Cooper, Mike Oliveri, Michael T. Huyck Jr. and special surprise appearances, recorded during the 4X4 Road Tour. Plus, Dungeonmaster 77.1 finally gets the one thing he's been asking for since his first appearance on the show.
Listen for free on iTunes – Spotify – Libsyn – iHeartRadio – Stitcher - YouTube
July 23, 2020
Scares That Care Virtual Charity Event - Complete FAQ
The Scares That Care Virtual Charity Event takes place Saturday, August 1st.
100% of the money raised during this one-day event will go to our 2020 recipients. They are:
*Ashley Adams and her daughter Natalya, who has Marfan Syndrome.
*Laura, a breast cancer warrior known for her work in Arkansas’s LGBTQ+ community.
*Patricia, who suffered second and third degree burns to the entire right side of her body.
The Scares That Care Virtual Convention will be livestreamed via the Brian Keene YouTube Page and the Scares That Care website, and is accessible to the general public.
Below is the tentative schedule. All times are Eastern. Please note that celebrity appearances (including actors, authors, directors, and other panelists) are subject to availability and may change without notice.
9:00am – 9:15am: Opening Ceremonies with Joe Ripple and Brian Keene
9:15am to 9:50am: LIVE READING – Jeff Strand and Stephen Kozeniewski
9:50am to 10:00am: Fundraising update with Brian Keene, Alfred Guy and O’Malley Brandt
10:00am to 10:50am: JAWS AT 45 – Jonathan Janz, Victor LaValle, Hillary Monahan, Matt Serafini, Adam Cesare, and Glenn Rolfe (moderator) discuss why, after 45 years, we’re still afraid to go in the water.
10:50am – 11:00am: Fundraising update with Brian Keene and Paul Tremblay
11:00am – 11:50am: MY FAVORITE HORROR COMICS – Tim Seeley, Rachel Autumn Deering, Jamal Igle, Cullen Bunn, Maurice Broaddus, and Matt Wildasin (moderator) discuss their favorite horror comic books of all time.
11:50am – Noon: Fundraising update with Brian Keene and John Wayne Comunale
Noon – 12:50pm: HORROR FOR KIDS – Lamar Giles, Stephanie Cooke, Jonathan Maberry, Gretchen McNeil, Bitter Karella, Will Bozarth, and Becky Spratford (moderator) discuss horror for a younger audience.
12:50pm to 1:00pm: Fundraising update with Brian Keene and John Dugan
1:00pm to 1:25pm: RETURN TO ELM STREET – Jack Sholder, Mark Patton, Nick Benson, and Mick Strawn reminisce with moderator David Heck about their work on the Nightmare on Elm Street franchise.
1:25pm – 1:30pm: Fundraising update with Brian Keene, Brian Smith and Bryan Smith
1:30pm – 2:00pm: LIVE READING – Gabino Iglesias and Cina Pelayo
2:00pm to 2:50pm: MY FAVORITE MONSTER – Stephen Graham Jones, Hunter Shea, Scott Baker, the Sisters of Slaughter, Dee Southerland and Chuck Buda (moderator) discuss their favorite monsters of all time.
2:50pm to 3:00pm: Fundraising update with Brian Keene and Roy Wooley
3:00pm to 3:50pm: THE WALKING DEAD – David Heck moderates this Q&A with The Walking Dead’s Josh Mikel, Steve Coulter, Cooper Andrews, Lew Temple and Jayson Warner Smith.
3:50pm to 4:00pm: Fundraising update with Brian Keene and Felissa Rose
4:00pm to 4:50pm: THE AMBIDEXTROUS PATH - Mary SanGiovanni, Stephanie Wytovich, Bracken MacLeod, Somer Canon, and Jay Wilburn (moderator) discuss faith and magic in horror and creativity.
4:50pm to 5:00pm: Fundraising update with Brian Keene and Joshua Leonard
5:00pm to 5:50pm: Q&A – Emmy-award winner Pruitt Taylor Vince discusses his career with moderator David Heck.
5:50pm to 6:00pm: Fundraising update with Brian Keene and Eugene Clark
6:00pm to 6:50pm: CAN HORROR GO TOO FAR? – CV Hunt, Wrath James White, Kristopher Triana, Autumn Christian, Wesley Southard, Aaron Dries, and Armand Rosamilia (moderator) discuss how far is too far.
6:50pm to 7:00pm: Fundraising update with Brian Keene and Lar Park Lincoln
7:00pm to 7:55pm: COWBOYS AND ZOMBIES – Gemma Files, Wile E. Young, Keith Lansdale, Christine Morgan, Kenzie Jennings, and Thomas Clark (moderator) discuss the resurgence of Weird Westerns in film and literature.
7:55pm to 8:00pm: Fundraising update with Brian Keene and Josh Malerman
8:00pm to 8:30pm: BIZARRO HORROR – John Edward Lawson, Andersen Prunty, Rose O’Keefe, Michael Allen Rose, and Scott Cole (moderator) discuss surrealism and the supernatural in horror fiction and film.
8:30pm to 8:55pm: Q&A – Night of the Demons’ Amelia Kinkade discusses her career with moderator David Heck.
8:55pm to 9:00pm: Fundraising update with Brian Keene and Joe Ripple
9:00pm to 9:15pm: A SPECIAL PRESENTATION with Joe Ripple and Brian Keene
9:15pm to 9:30pm: COSTUME CONTEST – Celebrity judges Amanda Bearse, John Anderson, Amelia Kinkade, Lynne Hansen, Vernon Wells, and Matt Blazi discuss this year’s costume contest entries.
9:30pm to 9:40pm: COUNT GORE – Scares That Care Weekend’s beloved Count Gore deVol announces the winners of this year’s costume contest.
9:40pm to 9:50pm: SCARYOKE – Rio Youers and Ronald Malfi present an at home version of this Scares That Care Weekend staple.
9:50pm to 10:00pm: Closing Ceremonies
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Q: What is Scares That Care?
A: Founded in 2007 by Joe Ripple, we are a 501C3 charity. Our Board of Directors and our volunteers are composed of horror fans and professionals. Each year we raise money for three recipient families (a sick child, a breast cancer fighter, and a burn victim).
Q: How can I donate during the virtual event?
A: We will be sharing information on how to donate via text or phone hourly during the event. Yu can also donate anytime by visiting this link.
Q: Can I donate before or after the event, as well?
A: Yes. You can donate year round.
Q: Money is tight. I can’t afford to donate but I’d still love to help. How can I do that?
A: We appreciate you and we understand. You can still by tuning in to the livestream, and encouraging your friends and family to do the same.
Q: I’m involved in programming. What do I need to do next?
A: Brian Keene will email you a link before the event. You’ll simply need to click that link about ten minutes before your appearance, and allow access to your computer’s webcam and mic. It’s that easy. (Costume contest judges will be contacted earlier with additional instructions).
Q: I’m a celebrity who works in the horror genre. Why wasn’t I included in programming?
A: We tried to accommodate as many horror professionals as we could, but unlike our physical Scares That Care Weekend charity events, we are limited by the technological restrictions and time constraints of this virtual event. However, you can still help the cause by sharing the event with your fans and encouraging them to donate.
July 21, 2020
Defenders Dialogue 109
What is the secret of the Man-Thing's swamp? Who is Dakimh, and is he friend or foe? And why has Thog returned? To find the answers, the Man-Thing and Jennifer must travel across time and space. Christopher Golden and Brian Keene discuss Marvel's Adventure Into Fear issues 13 through 15.
Listen for free on iTunes – YouTube – Libsyn – iHeartRadio – Stitcher
Update on Russian Translations and Poltergeist Press
Several weeks ago, a number of authors, including myself, severed ties with Poltergeist Press’s English-language publishing division, as well as their Russian-language division. You can read me and Mary SanGiovanni’s statement regarding that here and here.
Since that time, several of us have spoke with Anna Mulbach, wife of Matt Hayward. She wishes to continue publishing Russian language translations. The financial stability of that line impacts the livelihood of many Russian citizens, including translators and investors. The success the line has had so far is a testimony to Anna. I wish to encourage that. Further, the fact that this successful foreign-language publisher is run and operated by a woman is something else I wish to encourage, because it’s something our industry desperately needs more of.
Anna has assured me that Matt will not be involved in any aspect of the Russian-language operation, including production or design.
With all that in mind, I have decided to continue working with Anna for Russian-language translations. I can’t speak for any other authors — just myself, Mary SanGiovanni, and Jeff Strand (both of whom who gave me permission to include them in this statement).
We have supported and will continue to support the many women who came forward, but we also support Anna. We would remind the public that she was not involved in the conduct that spurred these allegations, or the conduct that followed. It has impacted her as much as everyone else. She is trying to move forward, same as the other women, and we would like to help her do that, same as we have the other women.
Thank you for your understanding.
