Brian Keene's Blog, page 8

Defenders Dialogue 147

Marvel Spotlight takes the spotlight as Christopher Golden and Brian Keene discuss the origins and history of Ghost Rider, as well as 1970s motorcycle culture and Evel Knievel. Plus, Chris reveals the story behind his never published Daredevil novel! Available for free wherever you listen to podcasts, and also via this link.

Der Komplex

DER KOMPLEX — the German language edition of THE COMPLEX — is on sale now in paperback and for Kindle.

Paperback
(Amazon Germany)

Kindle Ebook
(Amazon Germany)

Kindle Ebook
(Amazon US)

Borderlands Boot Camp 2022

If you are attending Borderlands Press’s annual Writers Boot Camp, taking place next weekend in Baltimore, Mary SanGiovanni and I have been added as guest Q&A panelists (joining previously announced panelists Tom Monteleone and F. Paul Wilson) for Friday and Saturday night, filling in for some of the other instructors who, sadly, won’t be able to make it.

2022 Splatterpunk Award Nominees

For Immediate Release

January 18, 2022

Splatterpunk Award founders Wrath James White and Brian Keene are pleased to announce the nominees for the 2022 Splatterpunk Awards (honoring superior achievement in the literary subgenres of Splatterpunk and Extreme Horror fiction published in 2021), the recipient of the fifth annual J. F. Gonzalez Lifetime Achievement Award (honoring individuals who, like Gonzalez, have made a significant impact on the Splatterpunk and Extreme Horror field), and the inaugural inductees to the Splatterpunk Hall of Legends.

The nominees are as follows:

BEST NOVEL 

-- Don’t Go To Wheelchair Camp by David Irons (Severed Press)

-- Trench Mouth by Christine Morgan (Madness Heart Press)

-- The Maddening by Carver Pike (Independently Published)

-- The Devoured And The Dead by Kristopher Rufty (Death’s Head Press)

-- The Night Stockers by Kristopher Triana and Ryan Harding (The Evil Cookie Publishing)

-- Left To You by Daniel J. Volpe (D&T Publishing)

BEST NOVELLA

-- Midnight In The City Of The Carrion Kid by James G. Carlson (Gloom House Publishing) 

-- Only The Stains Remain by Ross Jeffery (Cemetery Gates Media)

-- Things Have Gotten Worse Since We Last Spoke by Eric LaRocca (Weirdpunk Books)

-- A Roll Of the Dice by Matt Shaw (Independently Published)

-- Sacrament by Steve Stred (Black Void Publishing)

-- Talia by Daniel J. Volpe (Independently Published)

 

BEST SHORT STORY

-- “The Martini Club” by Aron Beauregard (from Beyond Reform, Aron Beauregard Horror)

-- “Fireflies and Apple Pies” by Thomas R. Clark (from The God Provides, St. Rooster Books)

-- “Sun Poison” by Stephen Kozeniewski (from Battered, Broken Bodies, Independently Published)

-- “Start Today” by Justin Lutz (from Teenage Grave, Filthy Loot)

-- “Abigail” by Daemon Manx (Terror Tract Publishing)

-- “Next Best Baker” by Jeff Strand (from Baker’s Dozen, Uncomfortably Dark)

 

BEST COLLECTION

-- Beyond Reform by Jon Athan, Aron Beauregard, and Jasper Bark (Aron Beauregard Horror)

-- Black Tongue And Other Anomalies by Richard Beauchamp (D&T Publishing)

-- Sinister Mix by Brian Bowyer (Independently Published)

-- Shattered Skies by Chris Miller (Death’s Head Press)

-- Twisted Tainted Tales by Janine Pipe (Pipe Screams Press)

-- May Cause Ocular Bleeding by Nikolas P. Robinson (Independently Published)

 

BEST ANTHOLOGY

-- Body Shocks edited by Ellen Datlow (Tachyon Publications)

-- Between A Spider’s Eyes edited by River Dixon (Potter’s Grove Press)

-- Bludgeon Tools edited by K. Trap Jones (The Evil Cookie Publishing)

-- Gorefest edited by K. Trap Jones (The Evil Cookie Publishing)

-- Baker’s Dozen edited by Candace Nola (Uncomfortably Dark)

-- Battered, Broken Bodies edited by Matt Shaw (Independently Published)

 

J. F. GONZALEZ LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD* 

-- Clive Barker 

 

SPLATTERPUNK HALL OF LEGENDS INDUCTEES** 

-- Richard Laymon

-- Jack Ketchum

-- J. F. Gonzalez

-- Charlee Jacob

-- John Pelan

-- Gak

-- David G. Barnett

 

*The previous J. F. Gonzalez Award recipients are: David J. Schow, David G. Barnett, Edward Lee, and John Skipp

**In 2017, authors Wrath James White and Brian Keene founded the Splatterpunk Awards to honor superior achievement in the literary subgenres of Splatterpunk and Extreme Horror fiction for novel, novella, short story, collection, and anthology categories. In addition, they also created the J. F. Gonzalez Lifetime Achievement Award, to honor individuals who, like Gonzalez, have made a significant impact on the Splatterpunk and Extreme Horror field.

Now, with the advent of the fifth annual Splatterpunk Awards, White and Keene are pleased to announce the Splatterpunk Hall of Legends -- honoring and spotlighting Splatterpunk and Extreme Horror writers, artists, editors, and publishers who have passed away.

The Splatterpunk Hall of Legends will be a physical memorial at every KillerCon event, featuring artifacts and ephemera related to the honorees, as well as a chronicle of their individual achievements, and an eternal flame burning for each. It is to serve as a place where genre fans both young and old can pay their respects and learn more about the creators who have shaped the field.

The initial honorees will be Richard Laymon, Jack Ketchum, J.F. Gonzalez, Charlee Jacob, John Pelan, Gak, and David G. Barnett (winner of the 2019 J. F. Gonzalez Lifetime Achievement Award). Their induction will occur at the fifth annual Splatterpunk Awards, taking place August 13th at KillerCon 2022 in Austin, Texas. The Splatterpunk Hall of Legends will be open to attendees August 12th through the 14th.

For further questions or comments, please contact the Splatterpunk Awards committee at splatterpunkawards@gmail.com

 

Defenders Dialogue 146

DEATHLOK VS. DEVIL-SLAYER

Join Christopher Golden and Brian Keene as they discuss Astonishing Tales issue 25 and Marvel Spotlight issue 33, featuring the first appearances of the cyborg assassin Deathlok and the occult assassin Devil-Slayer!

Listen for free wherever you listen to podcasts, or via this link!

Terminal: Author’s Preferred Edition

For over two decades, fans of Brian Keene’s cult-classic novel Terminal have heard rumors of an uncut version that was never published. Now, for the first time anywhere, here is that version, as the author originally intended.

Paperback

Kindle

(Audiobook forthcoming)

Tommy O’Brien once hoped to leave his run-down industrial hometown. But marriage and fatherhood have kept him running in place, working a job that doesn’t even pay the bills. And now he seems fated to stay for the rest of his life. Tommy has just learned he’s going to die young — and soon. But he refuses to leave his family with less than nothing–especially now that he has nothing to lose. Over a couple of beers with his best friends, John and Sherm, Tommy launches a bold scheme to provide for his family’s future. And though his plan will spin shockingly out of control, it will throw him together with a child whose touch can heal — and whose ultimate lesson is that there are far worse things than dying. Now, one man’s war with God may impact us all.

“A powerful, unique novel with a fascinating plot and characters, and echoes of Stephen King’s working-class voice.” — Ed Gorman

““If Brian Keene’s books were music, they would occupy a working class, hard-earned space between Bruce Springsteen, Eminem, and Johnny Cash.” — John Skipp

The Seven _ Now In Audiobook

THE SEVEN: THE LABYRINTH Book 1 is now available in audiobook, and also still available in paperback and for Kindle. Find out why critics call this one “a masterpiece” and “Keene’s magnum opus”. Click here to start listening.

Brian Keene Revisited

Much like Kit Power’s ongoing Exploring the Labyrinth column, author and critic Jay Wilburn has launched Brian Keene Revisited, which as the title indicates, is a reread of all my works, in order. The introductory essay, “A Gathering of Books”, can be read for free here.

2022 Splatterpunk Awards Deadline

For Immediate Release to all press outlets, from Brian Keene and Wrath James White

Time is running out to nominate works for the fifth-annual Splatterpunk Awards, which honor superior achievement in the sub-genres of Splatterpunk and Extreme Horror fiction.

The categories are:

BEST NOVEL (for works of more than 50,000 words)
BEST NOVELLA (for works from 15,000 to 50,000 words)
BEST SHORT STORY (for works from 500 to 14,000 words)
BEST COLLECTION (for single-author works over 50,000 words)
BEST ANTHOLOGY (for multiple-author collections over 50,000 words)

To cast your recommendation, email it to splatterpunkawards@gmail.com. Please include the category, title of the work, and the author or editor of the work.

Please Note: THE WORK MUST HAVE BEEN PUBLISHED IN 2021 TO BE ELIGIBLE. Reprints and works published in other years will be disqualified, unless there are special circumstances

The deadline for recommendations is midnight (Eastern Standard Time) January 16, 2021.

After all recommendations are tallied, a final ballot will be announced.

Defenders Dialogue 145

Christopher Golden reminisces about working with Gene Colan on Marvel's Blade, and Dracula steps out of the tomb and into the spotlight with Giant-Size Chillers issue one, featuring the debut of Lilith! Available for free wherever you listen to podcasts and via this link.