Just a quick note to say my contribution to my “Essential October Reads” series has been posted today — check it out!
Also, I put up a new blog post, for the philosophical.
Category Archives: Writing
WHERE’S WALDO? – A Guest Post by Jack Ketchum
Today I have a special treat for me, and for readers out there — a guest blog post from friend and mentor, Jack Ketchum as stop #2 on his I’m Not Sam Blog Tour! Enjoy!
So what’s disturbing? What’s troubling, emotionally or mentally?
Loss is, for one thing.
The novelist Michael Chabon wrote, “if you can still see how you could once have loved a person, you are still in love; an extinct love is always wholly incredible.”
I agree.
I’ve been going through some old files lately, actual paper files, excavated from the deep recesses of the bottom drawer of my four-door filing cabinet in my dark walk-in closet, trying to impose some order on what’s inside, separating unfinished fragments of manuscript from notes to myself, story ideas, letters, lists and throwing out the by-now undecipherable stoned maunderings of my youth — there’s a flake of something in my soup, I wish I had a dock to sit on.
It’s an interesting thing to do, this kind of housekeeping. Like looking at snapshots of your brain.
This is your brain at twenty-five. This is your brain at forty.
I’ve been separating the letters into two piles. Letters to and from other writers and more personal letters, from people you‘ve never heard of, although if you’ve read me and then went through the latter pile, you might just recognize a few of them as thinly-disguised characters in my stories.
But in this latter pile are love letters.
Letters that still have the power to make me smile, or bring tears to my eyes. Or both.
Because while I think that Chabon’s statement is true, that love never goes extinct, it’s also true that in most cases and to many varying degrees, the object of that love has gone out of reach. Has married or moved away or even died. Cannot be touched.
And to be unable to touch a loved one and yet still remain in love — that’s a very great loss indeed.
In I’M NOT SAM, Lucky and I wrote the following…
“I think of Sam and me at the amusement park in Kansas City years ago, before we were married, the way she kissed me from a bobbing horse when I managed to grab that brass ring.”
Sometimes, in a letter, in a memory, you can almost feel that ring, and taste that long-lost kiss.
…TO BE CONTINUED…
I’M NOT SAM by Jack Ketchum & Lucky McKee can be purchased from CemeteryDance.com and SinisterGrinPress.com. For more info about the author, please visit http://www.JackKetchum.net. or follow him on Twitter at http://www.Twitter.com/JackKetchum
Check out our contest giveaway at http://www.jackketchum.net/im-not-sam-contest/
And here’s our I’M NOT SAM 2012 Blog Tour Schedule. Have fun!
Tour Stop 1: 9/10 at http://www.Litreactor.com
Tour Stop 2: 9/11 at http://www.marysangiovanni.com/
Tour Stop 3: 9/12 at http://www.BrianKeene.com
Tour Stop 4: 9/13 at http://www.Bookgasm.com
Tour Stop 5: 9/14 at http://www.tompiccirilli.com/
HOLLOWER Books Almost Sold Out!
Thunderstorm Books reports that there are only two remaining copies of the Hard Rain ($35) version of The Triumvirate left, so if you were waiting on picking up a copy, now would be the time to move on it. Also, there are only two complete matching sets of The Hollower Trilogy (this includes The Hollower, Found You, and The Triumvirate). You can contact Paul Goblirsch and make him an offer on these if you want to get them before they’re gone. He also has a couple of “broken” sets or individual books available — this may be your last chance to match up your books.
Upcoming Coolness
A few announcements on upcoming things:
Fans of Jack Ketchum will want to check this space out come September 11th — I’m the 2nd stop on his blog tour promoting I’m Not Sam and I’ll be featuring a special guest blog post by him! I’m delighted that he will be stopping by. 🙂
I understand the Thrall audiobook is on sale through Dark Realms for only $5.95 until September 2nd — now’s your time to pick one up at its low sales price!
Also, as my first foray into Kindle self-publishing, I have finished the ms for a new short story collection called A Darkling Plain. The collection will feature 10 short stories spanning over a decade of my short fiction writing, including many hard-to-find and out-of-print stories and story notes at the end. Once it’s up and running, I’ll post ordering details.
A short story of mine called “The Anathema Cell” should be appearing in chapbook form soon — details to follow.
Finally, for those interested in this sort of thing, I am a quarter of the way through a new novel. I hope to be able to announce more about this soon.
Creator Cookout Today — Come Join Us!
This afternoon, I’ll be at the 5th Annual Creator Cookout, which takes place at Comix Connection in Mechanicsburg, PA. This awesome event is held to raise canned goods and money for the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank. Bring a canned goods donation and you can get stuff signed, eat for free, and hang out with a lot of great folks. Guests include Brian Keene, Mike Hawthorne, Duane Swierczynski, Dirk Shearer, Kelli Owen, and me.
Comix Connection
Artworks Building, Carlisle Pike
6200 Carlisle Pike, Suite C
Mechanicsburg, PA 17050
Phone: 717-591-2727
THRALL Audiobook Available Now!
I just received confirmation that Thrall is now available as a CD audiobook through AudioRealms’ horror imprint, Dark Realms. It’s also available through Amazon for about $17 (free with Audible.com Free Trial Membership) and through iTunes. It’s complete with a brand new shiny cover and everything!
Check out a sample of Chapter 1 to hear Chris Roman’s excellent narration and consider picking up a copy, if you’re so inclined.
Updates and Appearances
It’s been a while since I updated the site and I apologize for that; I’ve been in the process of moving from NJ to PA and reconnecting all the wires that a move like that requires. However, I do have some news on the writing front:
* T-shirts will be mailed without fail this weekend. They are packed, addressed, and in my car, awaiting postage.
* On August 18th, I’ll be at the 5th Annual Creator Cookout, which takes place at Comix Connection in Mechanicsburg, PA. This awesome event is held to raise canned goods and money for the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank. Bring a canned goods donation and you can get stuff signed, eat for free, and hang out with a lot of great folks. Guests include Brian Keene, Mike Hawthorne, Duane Swierczynski, Dirk Shearer, Kelli Owen, and me.
* I understand that Thrall is now available as a CD audiobook through AudioRealms’ horror imprint, Dark Realms. Negotiations are in the works for audiobook adaptations of other works of mine. News to follow.
* Upcoming publications include a chapbook of my story “The Anathema Chamber,” which has never appeared anywhere, nor is likely to for a while. Possible upcoming publications include a paperback version of Thrall and Kindle versions of at least one short story collection. I am also 1/3 of the way through a brand-new novel.
Looking forward to this last quarter of 2013 — I think it’s going to be an exciting beginning to a great new life down here in PA. I appreciate all the support and help I’ve gotten from fans and friends alike during the transition. (hug) You folks are great.
New Giveaway!
UPDATE: A quick thank you to all who purchased copies of The Triumvirate — I really appreciate it. Contest is, of course, now closed. I apologize for the delay in announcing the winners — I’ll have a separate announcement on 6/13 proper with the list of names. Good luck and thanks again to all!!!
To celebrate the release of the final installment of the Hollower Trilogy, I’m doing a giveaway! From 5 p.m. today, June 1st, until 5 p.m. Friday, June 8th, everyone who buys a copy of THE TRIUMVIRATE Hard Rain edition and then leaves a comment on this post letting me know will be entered into a drawing to win one of 5 t-shirts, shown below. All shirts are sized XL, and feature a portion of Thrall‘s beautiful cover art by Vincent Chong, as well as lettering on both the front and back.
Fine print is as follows: One prize per household. Void where prohibited. Contest open to all individuals who purchase a copy of THE TRIUMVIRATE Hard Rain edition for the period of time between 5 p.m. Friday, June 1, 2012 until 5 p.m. Friday, June 8, 2012. Orders of entrants will be verified by Thunderstorm Books and winners will be chosen the evening of Friday, June 8, 2012. No postage necessary — I’ll mail the winners their prizes.
Good luck!!!
THE TRIUMVIRATE Hard Rain Edition Now Available!
For those of you holding out for a more economically friendly version of The Triumvirate, the third book in the Hollower Trilogy, the Hard Rain version is now shipping. Affordably priced at $35 (+$5 for media mail shipment), the text is identical to the Supercell edition, but the packaging is slightly different.
This book resolves the the Hollower story arc, as well as connecting my other books in a larger mythos. If you liked the first two books, I would recommend picking this one up. It is easily my favorite of the three Hollower books, and I hope you’ll agree. Plus the beautiful artwork by David Ho is collectible in and of itself.
This edition of The Triumvirate is limited to 165 signed, limited copies.
Available and Upcoming Work 2012
*Updated
For those in need of a handy reference or curious about trying my work out, books of mine currently available (in varying quantities) are as follows:
I think filming for the short movie of “Goth & Crow” based on my short story of the same name should be starting toward the end of this year. Details to follow. Also, the short film of “Letting Go” is being worked on as well.
Thrall is currently available for Kindle for only $4.99. In about two months, the audio book will be available as well for $19.77 (pre-orders available now). Although there are no solid plans at present for a paperback version of this book, I’m looking into options.
For Emmy is currently available for Kindle. Hard cover versions are sold out, but I’ll have paperback copies on hand to sign and sell at upcoming conventions and appearances (please see Appearances page for details). Copies are limited.
My first two books, The Hollower and Found You, are available in limited edition, signed hard covers. There are very few of these left, but I understand a few copies do still remain. These are part of a set which will include The Triumvirate. There should be news sometime later this year regarding an audio book version of The Hollower.
The Triumvirate Supercell edition has shipped, completing the Hollower Trilogy. For those who already have the first two books and just want to read this new one, The Triumvirate will also be available as part of Thunderstorm Books’ Hard Rain Series, due to ship in the next two weeks or so.
I am currently working on a long story titled “Anathema,” which will be available as a chapbook later this year. Details to follow. I am also working on a new novel which I think you’ll enjoy, and a rare non-supernatural short story as well. Keeping busy. It’s horror writer hands that are the devil’s playground…. 😉
Mary SanGiovanni 
