Brian Keene's Blog, page 95

KICKSTARTER AFTERMATH (with details on THE RISING 5)

So, THE NAUGHTY LIST Kickstarter was successful. We needed approximately $9,000 USD and raised approximately $21,000 USD. That means Paul, Michelle, myself, and the rest of the team must be jumping for joy, right?

Well, no. Cautious joy is more like it. It was joy, but then ten percent of the pledges failed, totaling over 8,000 British pounds. For whatever reason, the credit/debit cards used to make those pledges failed to go through. In most cases, we are finding that the individual financial institutions flagged the transactions for possible fraud, because of the conversion from US dollars to British pounds. In all of these cases, the cardholder needs to contact their bank and verify that the charge is legit. Then it will go through. Hopefully, most people will do this. But we have to factor in that some will not. And thus, even though the Kickstarter was successful, we don’t yet know what the final amount raised will be.

That means we can’t start mailing incentives — signed comics, DVDs, shirts — or start arranging travel schedules for folks who won things like the date with me or the walking tour of locations from my novels, until we are absolutely sure those pledges successfully went through.

That also means we don’t yet know if the threshold for the fifth novel set in the world of THE RISING was met yet or not. I promised to write the book if pledges hit $20,000. And pledges hit $21,000. But until all of these declined payments are sorted, we won’t know if that number remained true.

That’s why, if you pledged to this Kickstarter campaign, it’s important that you make sure your pledge went through. We’d like to make THE NAUGHTY LIST in 18 days. And I would like to write THE RISING 5. And there are some publishers who would like me to write it, too.

In truth, I’m 90% sure both these things will happen. But I also know that as of yesterday, there were still people who were unaware that THE NAUGHTY LIST Kickstarter was even a thing, despite the fact that I’ve been talking about it EVERY SINGLE DAY FOR THE LAST THIRTY DAYS. That tells me people have busy lives and are forgetful. So am I. That’s why I’m reminding you now — the filmmakers will do their part and make THE NAUGHTY LIST, and I’ll do my part and write THE RISING 5, if you do your part and make sure your pledge was approved.

And then everyone will be happy.

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So, what about THE RISING 5? Like I said, I’ve had the idea in my head for a number of years. Continuity-wise, it takes place after the events of CITY OF THE DEAD and during the events of the second half of THE RISING: SELECTED SCENES FROM THE END OF THE WORLD and before the events of CLICKERS VS. ZOMBIES. It involves what happens after the Siqqusim have left the planet. The survivors — what’s left of them — think they’ve caught a break, but then the real shit begins, and it makes Ob and his brethren seem nice by comparison. I have not started writing it yet (we just announced it as a Kickstarter stretch goal yesterday). And although publishers are already decided upon, we will hold off on announcing who they are or what formats it will be published in until the manuscript is completed. Suffice to say, expect it in the usual formats — limited edition hardcover, paperback, eBook, and maybe a trade hardcover and audiobook.

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A friend asked me last night if I learned anything else upon the completion of this Kickstarter. Yes, I did. I learned that I’m very glad Paul and Michelle ran this one, because I do not have the temperament to do so. I learned that there are only so many ways you can promote it, and after about the tenth day of talking about it on Twitter, Facebook, and elsewhere, you run out of creative ways to get folks engaged. I learned that even if you talk about it for 29 days straight, there will still be a number of people who don’t seem to know about it until after the thing has ended. I learned that it’s nerve-wracking and the cause of many sleepless nights, and again — I wasn’t even the one running the campaign. But yes, I would do it again, as long as it’s like this, where I lend my name to it and somebody else is actually running the operation.

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Finally, my sincere thanks to the following people for their generosity and support: Christine Siler, Nathan Filizzi, Andrea Vick, Graham Vick, Malcolm Tween, David Wigton, Kyle Lybeck, Dan Spain, Jeremy Stomberg, Ari Abraham, Mike Walters, Kel Barrass, Ross Peacock & Tod Clark, Robert Hall, Joshua Brown, John Bruni, Granny Mary, Nick Roberts, Michael Fowler, Adam Rowland, Steven, Pate Clemens,Tom Wilkinson, Justin Holley, Nils Go, Lou, Josh Viola, Joseph Pugh, Barry Skelhorn, Julie Garie, Charles Buda,Gabriel Zero, David Ruchty, Dave Rodeheaver, Doug Bolden, Fredrik Back, Richard Thomas, Jeremy Hey, Joshua Penrod, James Withers, Rich Husband, Stephen, Laird Barron,

Eddie Coulter, Laura J. Hickman, Dustin James, Robert Swartwood, Mary Fan, Paul Tremblay, Craig Dolling, Alicia Stamps, Ken Jensen, Darren Wright, Adam Love, William Jones, Stewie, Paul Legerski, Meghan Arcuri-Moran, Kevin Foster, Ali Maggs, John McGuiggan, H Micheal Casper, Kevin, Sofronis Efstathiou, Amber Fallon, Brian Kirk, Adam Cesare, Martin Roberts, Zachi Panigel, Chuck Hickson, Jonathan Echevarria, Russell Dickerson, Eric Valerio, Cj Waite, Christopher Schaefer, Efren Rodriguez, Joe, Desmond Reddick, Gina Mitchell, David G. Barnett, Doug Dobbs, Ben Sparkman, Hannah, Tim Clague, Chris Lunney, Vicki Wigton, David Wigon, Regina Tuzzolino, James Latopolski, Jonathan Echevarria, Tammy Hagon, Kimberly Mitchell, Joseph Hackney, Chris Kosarich, One Mad Guerrilla, Michael Bailey and David Low, Ashley Martin, Shannon Sporleder, Thomas Werner, Jess Roberts, Dinelle Fuller, Kenneth Kieffer, Max Dennison, William Bush, Matt Hayward, Matt Serafini, Jonathan Janz/Craig Shaeffer, Jake Lee, Christopher Schaefer, Asher Ellis, John Capel, Rachel Paterson, Robyn Luckham, Lexy Shaw Delorme, Ian R. Faulkner, William Simmonds, Richard Chasemore, John Urbancik, Michelle Martin-Richards, Paul Cullen, Jacqueline Edrupt, Lee Tibbets, Stephen Kozeniewski, Amber Fallon, Michelle Rother Lindsay, Roche Lynch, Alicia Stamps, Chris Kalley, Mike Roseingrave, Tim Love, Natalia, Lynn Coleman, Torsten Ketelsen, Rainer, Rene-the Austrian!, Ben Moody, John Rolling, John Cardy, Jeremy Thompson, Valarie Botchlet, Aaron Burdette, Scott Pohlenz and Chris, Kevin Sheehan, Weston Ochse, Paula Beauchamp, Abi Collins, Kevin Interdonato, Eric Martin, Jude Terror, Robert Dandusevski, Keith Meyers, Sabas Moreno, Tracey Ricketts, Matthew

Vaughn, Michael Withers, Jonathan Lees, Dominic Stabile, Tim Branan, Dick Grunert, Tim Wiegels, Jerome Radosh, Carl Moore, Charles Carfagno, Leo Davitt, Steve Kincheloe, Travis Lake, Matt Tutino, Don MacNaughton, Alice Deich, Tim Shoenenberger, Sherman Crow, Dan Myers, Gian Spadone, Jeremy Wagner, Lauren Neill, Aki, Dave Holdredge, Daniel Robichaud, Phil Shepherd, T.W. Piperbrook, Adam Roberts, Marie Summers, Melanie Candra, Stephan Blahut, Robert Caple, Martyn Smith, Adam Love, Manor House, Ken Jensen, Shane Raatz, Dave Thomas, Eric Martin, Jude Terror, Robert Dandusevski, Keith Meyers, Sabas Moreno, Tracey Ricketts, Matthew Vaugh, Michael Withers, Jonathan Lees, Dominic Stabile, Tim Branan, Dick Grunert, Tim Wiegels, Jerome Radosh, Carl Moore, Charles Carfagno, Leo Davitt, Steve Kincheloe, Travis Lake, Matt Tutino, Don MacNaughton, Alice Deich, Tim Shoenenberger, Sherman Crow, Dan Meyers, Gian Spadone, Jeremy Wagner, Lauren Niel, Aki, Dave Holdredge, Daniel Robichaud and Phil Shepherd.

THE RISING 5

The Rising series is composed of the novels THE RISING and CITY OF THE DEAD, the short story collection THE RISING: SELECTED SCENES FROM THE END OF THE WORLD, and the prequel novella THE RISING: DELIVERANCE.

For the last decade, I’ve had an idea in my head for a final, full-length novel, which would take place after CITY OF THE DEAD.

If the Kickstarter for THE NAUGHTY LIST reaches $20,000 (US) I will write the novel. Click here to make your pledge.

There are nine hours left…

Weekend Quick Notes

THE NAUGHTY LIST Kickstarter ends tonight at 6:55pm. This really is your last chance to become a backer, get a DVD, exclusive t-shirt, etc. Click here to make your pledge.

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My dear friend, author Nick Kaufmann, has started a petition at White Hours dot gov to add a “None Of The Above” option to all primary and general election ballots. His reasoning is sound, and something I very much agree with. You can see his argument in the petition’s description. If it’s something you agree with as well, please consider signing.

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We’re doing an AMA (Ask Me Anything) with Bryan Smith tonight on the forum, starting at 9pm.

Meet Tony Genova and Vince Napoli – THE NAUGHTY LIST

Tony Genova and Vince Napoli — stars of THE SEVEN, CLICKERS II, CLICKERS III, CLICKERS VS ZOMBIES, “Crazy For You”, “The Siqqusim Who Stole Christmas”, and “Marriage Causes Cancer In Rats” — are certainly fan favorite characters among my readers. Now they’re heading for their movie debut with THE NAUGHTY LIST. Today, I’m very happy to reveal the actors who will be bringing these two beloved characters to life.

Vincenzo Nicoli (THE DARK KNIGHT, ALIEN 3) is Tony Genova and Sebastian Knapp (28 DAYS LATER) is Vince Napoli.

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There are less than two days left for you to back THE NAUGHTY LIST Kickstarter. You don’t need to pledge a lot. For example:

Just £1/$1.50 makes you part of the filmmaking team and gets you news

first and exclusive updates that won’t be out on social media.

£15/$21 Gets your name in the credits that will be seen all round the

world, and as a backer who’s helped be part of making a film, plus access

to script, storyboards etc to download.

£25/$35 Gets you exclusive behind the scenes footage on the DVD on the

making of the film, etc.

But there are only 57 hours left (as of this posting). CLICK HERE TO BE A PART OF IT.

Mark Justice R.I.P.

Woke this morning to reports that Mark Justice passed away. He was admitted to the hospital yesterday after going to the doctor for what he thought was his gall bladder. It turned out he’d suffered a heart attack. He was due for more testing this morning, but apparently passed overnight.

Mark’s books included LOOKING AT THE WORLD WITH BROKEN GLASS IN MY EYE and (with David Wilbanks) the DEAD EARTH series. He also ran one of the first — and best — horror fiction-centric podcasts, POD of Horror. He was also a long-time morning show disc jockey in Ashland, Kentucky. He occasionally used that morning show to promote horror fiction, featuring friends and peers like Richard Laymon, Jack Ketchum, F. Paul Wilson, Joe R. Lansdale, J.F. Gonzalez, and myself. I’ve signed in Ashland numerous times throughout the last twenty years, and Mark was always happy to have me on the show anytime I was in town. I’d been planning on seeing him again later this year as my signing tour for THE COMPLEX and PRESSURE brought me close to him once again.

He was generous and genuine, and very, very funny. He knew this genre’s history like few others. He will be missed.

A Little Warmth Against the Winter

)L to R) Dave, Brian, Adam Cesare

It’s been suggested by many throughout the centuries that entertainers and artists have four stages to their career. It is not lost on me that I’m now entering the third stage of mine (a realization some of my peers are coming too regarding their own careers, as well).

During the third stage of his career — when he was living more off his reputation and the past than any new written works, and the ravages of an adventurous life were beginning to take their toll on his physical body — Hunter S. Thompson would often invite younger writers to his house. He reportedly did this because their enthusiasm for a craft and a business which had not yet broken their hearts, and their gratitude toward him, often re-energized him and his muse, no matter how temporary.

(L to R): Brian, John Goodrich, Dave

Last Saturday, I was lucky enough to have authors John Goodrich and Adam Cesare join us here in my home recording studio so that Dave and I could interview them for upcoming episodes of my podcast, The Horror Show with Brian Keene. But the day turned into a mini-convention, with authors Scott Cole, Stephen Kozeniewski, and Mary SanGiovanni, filmmaker Mike Lombardo, super-fans Kevin and Kristen Foster, and Dave’s girlfriend “Phoebe” joining us, as well.

I won’t lie. After a few years of soul-searching, second-guessing, burning out, burning down, and wondering if anything I did actually fucking mattered, it was nice to have a home full of younger or newer writers and artists who seemed genuinely appreciative and grateful and full of good spirits and hope.

I found their presence — along with that of a few old friends — provided a little warmth against the snow that continues to fall outside. It’s nice to know that maybe some of it mattered, and maybe a few folks will remember you when you’re gone.

After recording, we all took a field trip to The York Emporium. While browsing, I found three signed copies of John Skipp and Craig Spector’s THE LIGHT AT THE END. I made sure Adam, Scott, and Mike each went home with one, and I felt a real sense of history as I handed those books to them — three generations of horror writers, one generation after the other, helping each other and all hoping for the same thing.

On Sunday, Mike Lombardo and I finished a year-long task of moving all of J.F. Gonzalez’s papers, books, and private effects. While going through boxes, J.F.’s wife, Cathy, found a bunch of hand-written letters from Robert Bloch to J.F., Mike Baker, and Mark Williams. None of those four are with us now, and my time is probably limited, but it pleased me that Mike understood the importance of those letters, and why they mattered, and the generational sense of history imbued in them.

Outside, it’s snowing again. I’m sitting here writing, and thinking — supposedly alone, and yet surrounded by others. Surrounded by a history I’ve somehow become a part of.

THE NAUGHTY LIST – Final Days

The Kickstarter for THE NAUGHTY LIST — a short dark comedy crime noir film based on my short story “The Siqqusim Who Stole Christmas” — only has five days left. We’re already successfully funded and all of the stretch goals have come and gone, so why am I bringing it up?

Because it’s going to be an awesome movie, and you’re going to want it on DVD, and the only way to do that is to pledge. Click here to help support the project.

THE RISING and EARTHWORM GODS T-Shirt Sale!

To celebrate their new website design, Skurvy Ink are offering 20% off all products, including their exclusive t-shirts for THE RISING and EARTHWORM GODS. Just enter the code PROGRESS when you check out. Click below to order.

Win A Date With Brian Keene – THE NAUGHTY LIST

Yes, it’s true. I’ll do anything to insure the success of THE NAUGHTY LIST Kickstarter. With only seven days to go, we’ve just announced our final stretch goal — a date with me. Details on the Kickstarter page.

And while the Kickstarter campaign marches into the final week, our costume designer Alina Morar is working away on designs and fabric selections for actor Mac Elsey’s Santa costume.

RETREAT – eBook On Sale Now

RETREAT, the last full-length novel written by J.F. Gonzalez, is on sale now for Kindle, Nook, and Kobo. A paperback edition will follow in two weeks.

Rick Nicholson loves his new job at Bent Creek Country Club and Resorts. The exclusive five-star hotel, located on forty square miles of rolling forests and picturesque prairies, is a perfect getaway for the affluent, and a monument to prestige. Bent Creek offers it all — at a price.

But Rick soon learns that the price may be steeper than he ever imagined. Because after dark, unthinkable things happen on the grounds at Bent Creek. Unspeakable atrocities that hint of something more powerful than wealth or the elite. Something evil. And when he finally uncovers the real secrets of Bent Creek, there may be no time to stop them. No time to scream.

No time to…RETREAT.

RETREAT was the last full length novel J.F. completed before his death (he had also completed a novella-length prequel to his novel SURVIVOR, and — in collaboration with myself — LIBRA NIGRUM SCIENTIA SECRETA).

He had partially completed a second novella-length prequel to SURVIVOR (which has since been completed by Wrath James White, and which will be on sale later this year, along with the other prequel), and had partially completed a sequel to RETREAT, which I will be finishing later this year, based on an extensive outline he left behind. There are also a number of partially finished short stories that will be completed by his friends and peers, and a few other older unfinished novels that may see publication once completed.

But RETREAT is the last full-length novel he completed on his own. It is our honor to present it to you, his fans. We hope you enjoy it!