For anyone looking for my blog, go to http://www.brianjhatcher.news

New Blog

For those who do not know, my new blog is hosted by Tumblr. You can find it here: http://brianjhatcher.tumblr.com/

Getting Started in 2011

2011 is in full swing, but I've yet to post a single blog this year. Although I wouldn't necessarily call it a New Year's resolution, I have decided to become more proactive when it comes to posting blogs and updating my other social networking. Part of that means determining how I can add more value to my posts. I will be putting extra work into my social networking sites, and also reevaluating the quality and frequency of my postings. I have some preliminary ideas and I hope to implement some of the changes in the next few weeks. I'm also working on putting out a new "Brian with an Eye", so keep an eye out.

Next week, I will be releasing writer's guidelines for two new anthologies I will be editing for Woodland Press. I'm also putting the final touches on my convention itinerary for this year. I will let everyone know where I will be as the dates are finalized.

Finally, I have doubled my efforts on the writing front, and am submitting stories left and right. 2010 was a very productive year, but I intend to top it in 2011. But to do that, I will need to increase my output and be more productive. I've already made steps to that end and plan to do much more.

I'll be announcing some new projects I am involved with what I am allowed to say more. They mean taking my career in new directions, and I can't wait to tell you all about them. I hope to do so soon.

2011 is rolling along. Now it's time to get rocking.

See you again in 2011...

But here's a little something for the end of the year to start you thinking into the new year:

Two More Pre-orders Available Now

Legends of the Mountain State 4 is available for pre-order from the Woodland Press website.












Blood Lite 2: Overbite is available for pre-order from Amazon.com.

Specters In Coal Dust

Here is the list, from editor Michael Knost, of the authors in Specters In Coal Dust, in order of apperance:

Gary A. Braunbeck

Christopher Golden

Tom Piccirilli

Steve Rasnic Tem

Elizabeth Massie

Lee Thomas

Ronald Kelly

Bev Vincent

William Meikle

Nate Southard

Joshua Reynolds

Barbara Jo Fleming

Michael Bracken

Brian J. Hatcher

More information, including release date, coming soon.

Midnight Diner vol. 3 Available for Pre-order

Volume 3 of The Midnight Diner, featuring my short story "The Clockworks of Hell", is now available for pre-order. Get yours first, and save a little money while you're at it, by clicking on this link: http://www.reliefjournal.com

Hypericon 6 & More Book Signings

I'm poking my head out of my writing and editing cave to let everyone know a couple of news items:

1) I will be appearing as an author guest at Hypericon 6 in Nashville Tennessee. Fortunately, the terrible flooding that hit Nashville this year managed to miss the con hotel, so the convention is still a go.

I'm proud to be a part of this year's Hypericon, and excited that Ramsey Campbell is going to be the Author Guest of Honor. You can find out more about Hypericon 6 and get your tickets at the Hypericon 6 website.

2) New dates have been added to my book signing tour. The added dates can be found on my News page.

I will have publication news, more cons and book signings, and details on Mountain Magic soon. And, if everything goes according to plan, the return of Brian With An "Eye".

Now, back to the cave...

The Terror at Miskatonic Falls

The new poetry anthology coming soon from Shroud Publishing:



Find me...

I’m Still Around, I Swear…

But I’m afraid that I’ve been busy and haven’t had time to look up, much less post blogs. I have a deadline coming up very soon, but I’ll post when I have more time. And I have plenty of good news to tell, including some sales, so stay tuned, folks!

The Year is Coming to a Close...

... and 2009 has been wonderful, for the most part. The third of the Legends of the Mountain State series has been well-received, and the first one is about to go into an unprecedented fifth printing. The success of the series has brought it back from the dead, so to speak, and there will be a fourth volume next year; I am currently working on a story for it now.

Appalachian Holiday Hauntings has also done quite well. I was honored when the organizers of the "One Night Without a Home" sleep out asked me to read "A Soul's Wage" during their program on Magic Island.

Leonard Cohen, You're Our Man has received great reviews and debuted on the Calgary Fiction bestsellers list at #5. It is an honor to be in that collection.

2009 brought rejections to submissions as well. My personal best was two rejections in one day. It's part of the job. There is nothing to do but send the work elsewhere and keep writing.

The lowest point of this year was of course the death of my grandmother. She was the only one of my grandparents to live long enough to see my writing take off, and she encouraged me and my work. I miss here.

2010, what a year it's going to be. I'm excited about the projects I am already involved in, and the opportunities that will present themselves over the coming year. One of them, which I can't talk about just yet, will be a milestone for my career. For this project, I will wearing the editor's hat for the first time. All I can say for now is that it will involve one of my passions:

Yeah, 2010 is gonna be amazing. I can't wait to see what happens next.

Off To Southbury CT To Find… Magick

Oh, yes, it is that time of year again, and I head out tomorrow to the The Inner Circle of Bizarre Magick's 18th Annual Gathering of the Magi. As many of you who've followed my blog know, this is a yearly tradition I look forward to every November. I enjoy the theatrical aspect to performance magic that bizarre magick teaches, and I learn new things every time I go. I plan to shoot some video and put together a long-overdue addition of Brian With An "Eye".

Part of my insidious plan has always been to incorporate all of my interests and to create pathways for people of similar interests to grow from lessons learned from each other's art. I am beginning to see my labors taking shape and bearing fruit, and I couldn't be happier.

As this is a time of fellowship and learning, I'm not going to be online much while I'm gone. I will try to give occasional updates on my Twitter account, so check there to see what I'm up to.

Brian Keene Must Die

On March 7th, 2008, several authors converged to fulfill one great purpose: to kill Jack Haringa. In story, at least, on their blogs. The best of these efforts were collected in Jack Haringa Must Die! Twenty-Eight Original Tales of Madness, Terror and Strictly Grammatical Murder, the proceeds going to benefit the Shirley Jackson Awards.

I thought about joining in, but Jack was my Necon buddy at my very first Necon, and a good friend, and I couldn't bring myself to kill him, even in jest.

Now, the literary knife has fallen once again, claiming another victim: Brian Keene.

Him, I can do.

So, I hope you enjoy my little tale of vengeance. Check out Brian Keene's website at http://www.briankeene.com/ for other great stories, and please consider contributing by purchasing a copy of Jack Haringa Must Die! or by making a donation.

And now:
Brian.
Keene.
Must.
Die.

...

Special Agent Wallace didn’t need to be a novelist to know exactly how this story would end.

He studied the perp for months, planned the operation, and the deployment went smooth as glass. The ATF agents surrounded the house while Keene was distracted updating his Twitter account. Before he suspected anything, they were in place, and each door and window of the house had no less than three agents with automatic weapons, aimed and ready for the first sign of movement.

If Wallace had his druthers, he’d have kicked in the door and emptied the clip of his .45 into Keene’s face. But trying to justify that to the press would have been a nightmare, even with pictures of Keene’s backyard shooting range to help spin it. Also, Wallace couldn’t be sure who else might be in the house and he didn’t want any innocents caught in the crossfire. The only one he wanted was Keene. So, damn it, he had to play this one by the book.

“Give yourself up,” said Wallace into the bullhorn. Several agents knelt behind vehicles for cover, but he stood out in the open, daring Keene to try something. If only Keene would stick his head out the front door. Just enough for a clear shot.

“Get stuffed, Nazis!” shouted Keene, hidden on the other side of the closed door.

“What are you doing in there, Keene? Building another rocket?”

“For Christ sake, I shut that blog down months ago!”

“Come outside with your hands up.”

“The hell I will. I take two steps out the door and you’ll open fire.”

“No one’s going to open fire,” Wallace said. “We just want to talk.”

“Yeah? Care to explain the seven bullet holes in my front door?”

“Accident.”

“You did sorta jump the gun there,” Agent Starcher said from behind one of the cars. “No pun intended.”

Wallace switched off the bullhorn. “I’m handling this, if you don’t mind.”

Starcher shrugged. “Just saying.”

“Your concerns have been duly noted.” Wallace raised the bullhorn to his mouth. “Keene? Are you coming out or are we coming in?”

“I didn’t do anything!”

“Don’t play dumb. We know all about your private militia.”

“The hell?” asked Keene. “Are you talking about the F.U.K.U. Army? That’s my fanbase, you jackass!”

“What about your little armory? Why do you need so many firearms?”

“Protection.”

“From what?” Wallace asked.

“Guess you’ve never met my fans.”

Behind the barricade of vehicles, a car skidded to a stop. Inside the car sat a woman with a baby strapped in a car seat. Bags of groceries filled the back seat. She got out of the car without shutting off the motor and stared at the ATF agents in stunned silence.

Wallace slipped behind the blockade. “Excuse me,” he said to the woman. “Are you Mrs.--.”

“I’ve never heard the name Brian Keene in my life,” the woman said. She climbed back into her car and drove away.

“Should we stop her?” asked Starcher.

“No,” Wallace said. “The poor woman’s suffered enough.”

Wallace switched the bullhorn back on. “Keene? I’m losing patience with you. You either get out here right now or I'll bring you out. I have a LAW rocket out here. You think I’m kidding you? I am not kidding you.”

“What the hell is your problem?” Keene asked. “I snub you at a con or something?”

“I’m going to start counting.”

“You think I’m keeping you from getting published in Cemetery Dance. ‘Cause I’m pretty sure that’s Nick Mamatas’s fault.”

“You do not want me to start counting.”

“You got something against zombies?”

Wallace gritted his teeth. “You’re the one with something against zombies.”

“You just checked into La-La Land, pal.”

“A zombie whale, you son of a bitch! A God-damned ZOMBIE WHALE!”

“That raping goat monster thing was kinda cool,” said Starcher.

Wallace glared at him. “Shut. The hell. Up.”

At that point, Keene must have figured that if he was going to die, it might as well be a cool, rock star kind of death. He flung open the front door and charged out, whooping and hollering, the pistols in both hands blazing. Wallace tossed the bullhorn and dropped to one knee. The agents behind the vehicles were so taken aback, they had just enough time to draw a bead on him before Wallace scooped the large metal tube onto his shoulder and fired. His aim was true, and the result was spectacular.

“Stupid bastard,” Wallace said under his breath, hoping no one noticed him smiling. “Bringing guns to a LAW rocket fight.”

Leonard Cohen: You’re Our Man Hits Calgary Bestseller List At #5

Book Score at the West Virginia Book Festival

I had a great time last weekend at the WV Book Festival. Did a signing Saturday for Borders and introduced Michael Knost for his discussion of using West Virginia as a backdrop for fiction. Sunday, I signed books at the West Virginia Book Company table.

One of the events I always look forward to is the Used Book Sale. On Saturday, paperbacks are 50¢, softcovers are $1, and hardbacks are $2. On Sunday, it is everything you want to take for $3. For less than the cost of a single hardback, I took home all of the following:

PAPERBACKS
The Maltese Falcon by Dashiell Hammett
The Brotherhood of the Rose by David Morrell
Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad
'Night, Mother by Marsha Norman

SOFTBACKS
The Norton Anthology of American Literature, 3rd Ed., Vols. 1 & 2
The Outlaw Bible of American Poetry, edited by Alan Kaufman
The Other by Thomas Tryon
Albion's Fatal Tree: Crime and Society in Eighteenth-Century England
The Name of the Rose by Umberto Eco
Fiction 100: An Anthology of Short Fiction
Stages of Drama: Classical to Contemporary Theater
Readings in Ancient History

HARDCOVERS
The Phantom of the Opera by Gaston Leroux
The Treasury of American Poetry
In the Night Room by Peter Straub
The Years 25 Finest Crime and Mystery Stories, 1st, 2nd and 5th Editions
Alone Against Tomorrow by Harlan Ellison
The Mote in Andrea's Eye by David Niall Wilson
Speaks the Nightbird by Robert McCammon

I also scored the five-volume set of National Geographic Society's leather-bound edition of the Story of Man for $15, and Science Fiction: The Illustrated Encyclopedia for $10. All in all, a productive year for picking up books. I've been wanting to read The Other, and now I have a copy that just got pushed to the top of my TBR pile. Everything else should keep me busy at least until the end of the year.

West Virginia Book Festival This Saturday and Sunday

I will be at the West Virginia Book Festival this weekend. Saturday, I will be introducing editor Michael Knost, who will be discussing "Legends of the Mountain State", using West Virginia as a backdrop for stories, and giving tips to writers and editors. Sunday, I will be at West Virginia Book Company booth from 1 to 4 p.m. on Sunday, signing copies of all three "Legends of the Mountain State" books and the "Writers Workshop of Horror". Stop by and check out all there great programming and great deals this weekend at the Charleston Civic Center.

I'm Still Around

I know I haven't put up a blog lately, and a new Brian With An "Eye" is long overdue. Both projects and personal issues have kept me busy. But my plan is to have a new video blog this month, so look out for it. I have a lot of good news to report, with more on the way.

Come see Writer's Workshop of Horror... Live!

This Saturday, September 5, 2009, The Huntington Mall Borders (Huntington, WV) will host a major book signing and writers panel for Writers Workshop of Horror. From 2:00 to 4:00 p.m.

Among those scheduled to appear will be Gary A. Braunbeck, Lucy Snyder, Elizabeth Massie, Jason Sizemore (Apex Publications), C. Cameron Fuller, Brian J. Hatcher, and Michael Knost.

All the participants will be signing special copies of Writers Workshop of Horror as well as other titles they each have penned, during this gathering.

They will also be available to answer questions from the public during an informal panel forum.

The book signing event is open to the public, and patrons are encouraged to come early to speak with their favorite authors. For additional information, contact Huntington Mall Borders, at Barboursville, at 304-736-6233.

Rose Marie Hatcher

Rose Marie Hatcher, age 89, of Beckley, passed away at the Bowers Hospice House in Beckley on Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2009, following a long illness.

Born Sept. 2, 1919, at Pineville, W.Va., she was the daughter of the late Rev. Sam Bell and Cora Sizemore Bell.

Mrs. Hatcher was a homemaker who loved to cook, quilt and do gardening. She attended the Cranberry Baptist Church at Cranberry, W.Va.

Other than her parents, she was preceded in death by a son, Jerry Hatcher, in 1983; by her husband, George Hatcher, in 1994; by three sisters, Hazel Lester, Laura Lester and Ellie Blevins; by three brothers, Sam, Ray and Charley Bell; and two infant brothers also preceded her in death, Robert and Jessie Bell.

Survivors include a son, Gene Hatcher of Charleston, W.Va.; a daughter, Lois Peelish and husband, Steve, of Beckley, W.Va.; a son, Dean Hatcher of Oak Island, N.C.; a daughter, Linda Gibbins and husband, Tom, of LaGrange, Ky.; 13 grandchildren and 21 great-grandchildren; several nieces and nephews also survive; three sisters, Gracie Bolen of Rhodell, W.Va., Ruby Garrison of Chicago, Ill., Nellie Thompson and husband, Bruce, of Corinne, W.Va.; one brother, Lawrence Bell and wife, Mary, of Doyles Town, Ohio; special friends, Troy and Charlotte Martin of Beckley, W.Va., Diana Mullins of McGraw, W.Va., the Rev. and Mrs. Roger Pauley of the Cranberry Baptist Church; and also the youth director from the church, Greg Dowdy.

Graveside rites will be conducted at the Blue Ridge Memorial Gardens Mausoleum in Beckley 11 a.m. Friday, Aug. 21, 2009, with Pastor Roger Pauley officiating. Burial will follow at Blue Ridge Memorial Gardens. Grandsons will serve as pallbearers.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Bowers Hospice House, 454 Cranberry Drive, Beckley, WV 25801.

Online condolences may be sent to our guestbook at www.roseandquesenberry.net

Friends may call 9:30 until 10:30 a.m. Friday at the Rose and Quesenberry Funeral Home in Beckley.

Arrangements by Rose and Quesenberry Funeral Home in Beckley.

Order NOW! Leonard Cohen: You’re Our Man

Book will be available September 1st. From the Public Poetry weblog:

The man has arrived, the book is coming!

75 of the world’s best poets reflect on the poetry of Leonard Cohen.

To receive an order form, send an email to “publicpoetry@gmail.com”

Include “Order” in the subject line.

To receive a bookstore order form, please include “Bookstore Orders” in the subject line.

Include your COMPLETE name, address, postal or zip code and telephone number.

All proceeds go to the Foundation for Public Poetry’s Leonard Cohen Poet-In-Residence program.

Send cheques and order forms to:

Box 23044
5038 Sherbrooke St. West, Montreal, QC.
Canada. H4A 1S7