The Magus at 45

20 Replies

Leaving tomorrow morning for Las Vegas and Killercon. Hope to see some of you there. I’ll turn 45 during the convention — on Saturday, in fact. I intend to celebrate by having a few drinks with Jack Ketchum, Edward Lee, F. Paul Wilson, Carlton Mellick, Wrath James White, Maurice Broaddus, and some other friends, followed by breakfast the next morning with Gene O’Neill. There are worse ways to spend the official transition into middle age.

I had a rough time with 30, a rougher time with 35, and an absolute soul-wrenching time with 40, but I’m okay with 45. I think once you pass the 40 mark, you learn to make your peace with it and accept things. I was reading Fear Net’s excellent review of Alone yesterday, and one line that really struck me was this: “Keene is entering the middle age of his career, and he no longer needs to shout to be heard. He’s discovered the power of restraint, and demonstrates it with his understanding of the way a silent, empty house can be just as terrifying as a horde of gut-munching zombies.” That pretty much sums things up. That is what it feels like to turn 45. (And thanks to Blu Gilliand for saying in a review of my book what I’m trying – and failing – to properly articulate here).

I’ve led a hard life, but I’ve also had a damn good run. I’ve got two happy and healthy sons, and I make a lot of people happy with the words I write. Every day I live past this point is just gravy. I’m looking forward to enjoying the time that’s left.

Anyway, things won’t be updated here until middle of next week. While I’m gone, keep in mind that Earthworm Gods II: Deluge and Sundancing are still available in hardcover (less than 30 copies left). Entombed and An Occurrence in Crazy Bear Valley are available in paperback. Alone and Scratch are available now for Kindle, Nook, and Kobo. And issue #1 of The Last Zombie: Before the After – featuring two different covers – is on sale in comic shops.

Okay. I’m off to spend some time with my youngest son and Mary, and work on The Lost Level and Hole In The World before flying out tomorrow. If you need me, hit me up on Twitter or my message board. And if you’re going to be in Vegas this weekend, please do say “Hi”. Deadite Press will have plenty of my books there for purchase, and you are also welcome to bring along things to be signed.

As always, if you keep reading them, I’ll keep writing them. F.U.K.U.

20 thoughts on “The Magus at 45”

  1. Livia Llewellyn

    I’ve always held the belief that for some people, their best and easiest years are in the first half of their life, and for others, their best and easiest years are in the second half. I’m also of the belief that those of us who have better second halves than first are much, much happier and better off for it.

    Reply ↓
  4. Liquidnoose

    Brian,
    I’m not that far behind you in age and feel that all the shit we learned in our 20′s and 30′s will resonate with us forever and it just gets “simpler” into middle age. Looking forward to seeing you in Vegas and celebrating your 45th!

    Reply ↓
  9. maxfulder

    Have fun and have a nice party. I hope you’ll come to Germany to sign some of our stuff over here at some point as well ;)

    Reply ↓
  11. Livia Llewellyn

    Tell the cat that it looks like Miss Bolivia is going to have to hold off till spring – day job is being all day-ey and demanding as shit!

    Reply ↓
  12. Arkiel

    So, who are you when you aren’t being Adam Warlock’s alter-ego? Also, I hear you’re going to be in the Guardians of the Galaxy movie. Props, man.

    Reply ↓
  15. Chris K.

    Have fun at KC, Brian. My copies of Entombed and Occurrence should be in my mailbox any day now…and bought the Nook versions of Alone and Scratch…got a lot of Keene to read! ;)

    Reply ↓

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

You may use these HTML tags and attributes: <a href="" title=""> <abbr title=""> <acronym title=""> <b> <blockquote cite=""> <cite> <code> <del datetime=""> <em> <i> <q cite=""> <strike> <strong>