Drop DEAD
Around these parts, I consider it a wild and crazy month if I have a new issue of LOCKE & KEY out. So it’s a little hard to get my head around the thought that I have a new short story, new comic, and new novel all out this coming week.
I’ll probably spend most of February blabbing about HORNS, but this is also out on the 16th:
I’ve got a story in here called “Twittering from the Circus of the Dead,” about a teenage girl with a bad internet habit and a crunchy-granola mother who doesn’t approve. Over the course of a weekend long road trip, they hash out their differences, opening up to one another, venting their frustrations, dealing with their feelings, and working slowly, painfully, towards emotional catharsis and mutual understanding. It’s just like one of those traveling pants stories.
Then they get to the circus of the dead and zombies start eating people.
I’m awfully grateful to Christopher Golden for inviting me into his party – the book looks great and boasts a terrific lineup of writers, from John Connolly to Joe Lansdale to Brian Keene, and everyone in between.
I’ll be reading from HORNS at River Run in Portsmouth on Tuesday night, but if you can’t make it there, and you’re in the mood to hear some scary stuff live, check out Christopher Golden’s Website. They’re launching the book on the 16th with a host of readings across the country; Chris has the full list of appearances on his blog. And of course I’m glad to sign your copy of NEW DEAD at River Run, or anywhere else while I’m on tour.
February 13th, 2010 at 1:12 pm
Bad internet habits and zombies? Sounds cool, and it looks like a lot of other people I really admire are in this one, too. I’ll have to pick it up. And I can’t wait for the new LOCKE & KEY. Congratulations on all the new releases.
–MDS
February 13th, 2010 at 1:46 pm
Awesome.
February 13th, 2010 at 4:10 pm
Brian Keene! No way.
You know him too? Not fair (whine, whimper)
I have a book by him called ‘Darkness on the Edge of Town.’ I turned down buying the other one, b/c the person who promotes it said ‘Brian Keene is the next Stephen King.’
Sorry but I would think, as an aspiring writer I admit, that you’d want to be recognized for your OWN work. Not the work of someone else, even if the someone else is arguably horror’s greatest modern-day writer. No one can touch Edgar Allan Poe, and I’ve always been more scared of Anne Rice’s writings than any modern-day writer alive.
At the risk of sounding highly offensive, I hate having my work compared with that of someone else. But to say I AM that person, well…that just bothers naive little old me.
My actor friend says it’s the highest compliment to appear in a Stephen King movie-and a wise career move if ever there was one.
I said “Why?! He hasn’t MADE any films since I can’t even remember.”
“Well I’m talking about when he DID, of course.”
“Well then Bronson Pinchot must be REALLY proud of himself. He was the antagonist in one.”
I don’t think that’s why he took the part. Then again, you can’t really blame a person for wanting to make money when that’s the only job at which he makes his living. Besides, I thought the casting agent got actors their parts.
Al, my friend, makes it sound as if the actor has a choice of parts. I told him so.
“Well *I* don’t,” he snapped. “I’ve been trying for 10 years and STILL can’t get choice parts. I wanted to be Paul in ‘The Green Mile’ but they gave the part to Tom Hanks.”
I cracked up laughing at his scowl. Not knowing who Paul is in the story, I had nothing further to add.
I’m not sure I’ll be able to read that story about zombies. I have a memory of looking at the real brains of a young girl (age 16) who ran herself into a tree driving drunk, and that image is so intense I still can’t imagine anyone eating brains.
For people who don’t know, I’m a paramedic. I don’t stand around at accident scenes observing the gore. I try to save lives; I say try b/c I lost that girl.
February 13th, 2010 at 8:40 pm
Sooo, I wonder if River Run will have this and I can order a signed copy to add to my Horns order? Thoughts? Joe? Shane? anyone?
February 14th, 2010 at 2:56 am
I wouldn’t be revisiting this thread so soon, but SOME body insisted I make it crystal clear just how much he LOVES, REALLY LOVES, Stephen King.
Al, my actor friend, was afraid people would misunderstand what I wrote-though, how that’s possible, is beyond me.
I’m obliging him, b/c you have to show give and take in a relationship, even if said relation is a friend. As opposed to other relationships, but I’m not even going there w/ Al. He’s too young.
I didn’t show compromise in a former relationship, and he tossed me over for a fire-breathing dragon woman, whom he married 5 months after meeting her.
Good thing I’m not bitter about it. (Sigh)
To Melissa: I think Joe said you can get the book in question signed, although I’m not positive about it so I wouldn’t quote me. Especially at this hour: 3 am.
February 14th, 2010 at 8:27 am
My heart-felt congratulations go out to you Joe, for your success. How exciting this must be! Of course, my sympathies for your signing hand. You might want to bring a bucket of ice!
February 14th, 2010 at 12:12 pm
When I was working on my 2nd degree, my female friends used to ask me constantly if my brother was seeing anyone because he’d just finished med school. It kinda got on my nerves that they were using me. That was before my brother married another doctor. He’s been published too… in a medical journal. It sucks when you have to live in someone else’s shadow.
February 14th, 2010 at 5:45 pm
My friend Al brought something to my attention that really is kind of amusing. When you read the first post before the second, it looks like this:
Pleased to Meet You,
Drop Dead.
Simple things crack Al up. OTOH it IS kind of funny.
February 15th, 2010 at 8:55 am
Looking really forward to this one.
February 16th, 2010 at 12:39 am
Wow joe I forgot about the New dead! that’s two books for tomorrow so excited