Quiet times here at Land’s Edge (the nickname I’ve bestowed upon my fortified cabin here in a remote corner of Central Pennsylvania on the banks of the Susquehanna River). If you read this, this, and this, then you know that I’ve recently been struggling with some major life decisions and changes, so the quiet times are needed. Thanksgiving was nice. My parents, grandmother, sister, brother-in-law, and both of my sons were here — the first time we’ve had the entire family together for Thanksgiving in over 17 years. I reckon my grandfather was here in spirit. My ex-wife stopped by, as well, after dinner. Everyone had a good time, and there was none of the drama or angst that seems to come with so many of these family gatherings, for which my heart condition was glad.
Other than that, I’ve pretty much just been writing. The revised first draft of The Lost Level is nearly completed (I say revised because the publisher decided they’d like it to go from novella length to short novel length). And the first drafts of issues one, two, and three of The Last Zombie: Neverland are finished, as well. I also pitched some stuff by request to DC Comics and Dynamite Entertainment, none of which seems to have stuck to the wall. Which is probably for the best, since I don’t know when I’d have time to write it.
Once The Lost Level is finished and off to the pre-readers, I’ll be turning my attention back to With Teeth and Hole In The World — two novels which are in various stages of completion. After they are finished, I’ll turn to Suburban Gothic and The Seven: The Labyrinth, Book One. Plans are in place for next year’s Maelstrom release, as well. I can’t say much about it yet, but the novel for Set #3 will indeed be the hardcover edition of Deluge.
I’ve also been editing Apocrypha — the special book which will be sent free of charge to all subscribers of the former Of Keene Interest newsletter. Click here for more on that. I’d hoped to have it ready to ship by Christmas, but that’s not going to happen. I think it will be worth the wait. There’s a lot of cool things in it — stuff I’d forgotten all about until I began going through the archives: articles I wrote during my brief tenure as the Associate Editor of a flying saucer zine, some never-before-published Fear of Gravity-era short stories, the Phantasm-Evil Dead crossover I wrote early in my career for a fan-fiction anthology, etc.
Was going to mail the next batch of Lifetimer packages last week, but then I got a shipping notice for The Last Zombie: Inferno #5, so I’m waiting for them to arrive first. No sense paying double the postage.
Over on the reprint front, Deadite should be releasing Ghoul any time now, complete with the new movie cover (as noted, the movie’s release date was pushed back to early next year). Ghoul will be followed by The Cage and Dark Hollow. Ghost Walk will be re-released early next year, followed by An Occurrence in Crazy Bear Valley, Earthworm Gods, Earthworm Gods: Selected Scenes From the End of the World, The Rising, City of the Dead, The Rising: Selected Scenes From the End of the World, Scratch, and Entombed. The paperback and digital editions of Entombed will not include the artwork or bonus novella that was included in the hardcover edition.
So, that’s what’s been going on here. How are things with you?
Glad you had a drama free Thanksgiving at least. Not so much with my crazy family
Busy much?
Good to hear that you’re getting some equillibrium back in your life. Keep doing what you have to do to keep yourself in good health and know that your fanbase will do what it has to do to keep you writing.
Good shit. If anyone I know deserved a bullshit-free holiday this year, it’s you. My mother-in-law broke my coffeepot and I was sick as hell 50% of my offtime, so I’m pretty sure I picked up someone else’s share of BS too, but it could have certainly been worse.
Pretty stoked about the new material you have coming. By next March I should have room for new stuff on my TBR pile…I have new material coming out at least once per quarter in 2012, but it’s grind, grind, grind for the next few months to make it happen. I’m excited and blessed to have the opportunities I’m working with right now.
Take care, man. That secluded waterside cabin sounds like a dream come true right about now. Try not to get TOO distracted by the view, huh?
Catching up with everything on your website and wish you nothing but the best and know if your writing will be better, even though I think it’s awsome now, then we will all be in for some amazing stories. I had to let you know that I finally read The Rising, I had read City of the Dead years ago and at the time did not know that The Rising was the first book. So I had to find City of the Dead on line (amazon). I had the Rising for years on my bookshelf and finally pulled it down because I needed a “Keene” fix!! So read them back to back. Just amazing and wonderful. So thank you. I just bought Kill Whitey from amazon and will begin reading that as soon as I finish “Rouge Wave” which is a good disaster book so far. I’ve been reading you for years and look forward to anything you put out. I actually don’t like to read books more than once but I realized reading City of the Dead, it’s just like a movie you see more than once, you get more out of it!! So I’m thinking of reading more of your older books like The Hollow and others. I’ll continue to keep up with you and wish you good health and happy writing. Michael, Atlanta GA
Thanks for the update. Happy to hear Thanksgiving was good. You sound a little down — wishing you some good things to help balance the stuff that might be weighing on you. Holidays can be extra tough.
J
Well, I won Dezm’s copy of No Rest At All, the rarest of the rare Keene books, so I am a happy Keene Collector. My Aunt, who was diagnosed stage 4 cancer seems to be doing better, and her cancer has receded to the point where surgery is actually an option, something she’ll be doing before the end of the year. Good news here in Omaha.
good to see you are taking things relatively easy and getting back into the groove slowly but surely. i am so looking forward to seeing new stuff from you especially “with teeth”. it’s good that you haven’t put out too much stuff lately…i am reading the game of thrones series and it is taking me forever.
Glad to know that your Thanksgiving was a relaxed one. You definitely deserve it after all that has happened to you.
Keep your chin up and know that all of us fans are rooting for you. <3
Tonya, Birmingham Alabama
I’m glad you had such an agreeable Thanksgiving. Ours was great as well. I took my father in law to see A Christmas Story on the big screen on Friday. It was hosted by Ian Patrella (Randy Parker) and was my father in law’s first fanboy experience.
Hang in there and as soon as more Kindle Editions are released, you will have more of my money. Thanks for doing what you do!
Glad to see you’re well. Your work is a huge inspiration to us.
SO glad you had a good Thanksgiving. Mine was a bit rushed. Stupid Black Friday and it’s midnight openings. I had to open my store at midnight, this whole weekend kicked my ass. But all is good. Being a domestic goddess today while working on making my Sackies, ZomBuddies and Cthulhus. I have a Chibi Cthulhu to send to you.
I picked up a couple of your books at Goodwill…. just so I can pass them along to a friend who doesn’t have them
I gotta share the awesomeness of Keene books…… and I can’t wait to get the next Lifetimer package.
Could you link me to a description of “Lost Level” please? Also very glad you had a good Thanksgiving with your family.
PAT: Easiest way to find more is to click The Lost Level tag. All the tags can be found at the bottom of the sidebar to the right.
Brian,
Will Ghoul be sold on DVD once it releases on Chiller?
Yes
That’s cool. You should sign a few and sell them. I’d purchase a copy. Looking forward to seeing it!
Found the tag, with thanks, Brian!
I have been doing well Brian, thanks for asking. I enjoy your writing, and I am glad you had a restful Thanksgiving holiday. You have much to be thankful. You are by far my favorite. I read WWZ, then picked up a copy of City of the Dead. I was turned off by Ob and never finished. One day I was looking for something to read, picked up Ghoul and noticed some of the similarities of my childhood. I enjoyed Ghoul and then bought Urban Gothic. One thing led to another and I finally reached The Rising. I now enjoy your Labyrinth Mythos and now look for Ob or the 13 in your other books. I am glad I gave your writing another try. Keep up the good work and Merry Christmas.
Eric
OB RULZ!
I have a coworker with initials O.B. I refer to her as Ob.