As an instructor atColby-Sawyer Collegein New London, NH, I teach academic writing to the first year students every fall semester. One of the most valuable lessons I wish to impart on them is the importance of giving due credit when borrowing from the work of others.With this in mind, I present to you the first of many posts in which I will do the same, sharing my sources of inspiration when it comes to my own fiction.Leading off…Brian Keene!It is only fitting that we begin with Brian as he has been not only a dependable source of enjoyable reads throughout the years, but has also played such a big role in helping me achieve my dream of becoming a published author. But before I go into why Mr. Keene has played such a significant part in my own writing journey, allow me to brief you on his very significant contribution to the horror genre.From his website,briankeene.com:  "His 2003 novel, The Rising, is often credited (along with Robert Kirkman’s The Walking Dead comic and Danny Boyle’s 28 Days Later film) with inspiring pop culture’s current interest in zombies. Keene’s work has been praised in such diverse places as The New York Times, The History Channel, The Howard Stern Show, CNN.com, Publisher’s Weekly, Media Bistro, Fangoria Magazine, and Rue Morgue Magazine. He has won numerous awards and honors, including the World Horror Grand Master award, two Bram Stoker awards, and a recognition from Whiteman A.F.B. (home of the B-2 Stealth Bomber) for his outreach to U.S. troops serving both overseas and abroad."I first came upon the fiction of Brian Keene many years ago while browsing a BORDERS bookstore. It did not take me long to discover that Leisure Fiction, an imprint of Dorchester Publishing, was taking up the majority of the horror shelf space that wasn’t occupied by King, Koontz, and Rice. And while Leisure offered many great horror authors to choose from, one in particular caught my eye. Though some would argue that “you can’t judge a book by its cover,” often times it’s the cover that makes you pick the damn thing up in the first place.Such was the case with “The Conqueror Worms,” Leisure’s re-titled Keene novel, “Earthworm Gods.”Now, I have read and heard many folks dissing the cover of this novel, and even Brian himself has gone on record to call this cover "cheesy." But as cheesy and obviously photoshopped as this cover may be, it absolutely captivated me.Why you ask?Because it looked like giant worms were coming out of the street in Rutland, VT, a town only twenty-five minutes from my house. Who knows how long I must have stared at this cover, examining the details to see if I was mistaken. But even now, comparing a photo of downtown Rutland with the Worms cover, the resemblance is uncanny. (Note the line of block shaped buildings, the red church, and the mountain backdrop.)And so, I bought the book, intrigued by the Poe referencing title, the eerily similar landscape of the cover, and the interesting synopsis on the back. The book proved to be an extremely entertaining read, and before I knew it, I had burned through the entire Keene library offered by Leisure.Flash forward to the summer of 2011. I was just about to graduate from my MFA program and decided to give myself a little graduation present: a trip to Austin, TX to attend my very first writing convention,World Horror. As well as being a guest of honor, Brian was also leading a workshop for aspiring writers, where he would cover everything from how to find ideas to what to do once your novel was complete. The workshop ended up being a fantastic experience, and hands down my favorite part of the convention. Our group was small, allowing for an intimate environment that gave each of us wannabees plenty to walk away with. Though I learned tons of valuable tips during our time together, the photo below captures perhaps the best piece of advice Brian had to offer:That’s from the notebook I brought to the workshop that I have still kept to this day. And while it may not be the best fitness advice, it served as the best launching pad possible for an aspiring writer:If you want to be a writer, you have to write. It still amazes me how many people I encounter both in-person and online that seem to have missed this memo.I got to spend even more time with Brian atNECONlater that same year, hanging out at the many cookouts and campfires the convention is known for.We met again the following November at the first everANTHOCONin Portsmouth, NH. Though it had been several months since we had seen each other, Brian spotted me before I even exited my car. Sitting in the driver’s seat with the door open, perusing the convention’s schedule, Brian approached me to say hi, shake my hand, and ask me how I’d been. Wasn’t I, the fan, supposed to do that to him, the established writer?But that single moment encapsulated who Brian Keene really is—a down-to-earth, friendly, humble guy who appreciates his fans and respects his fellow writers, whether they have found success or not. In fact, Brian goes out of his way to help up-and-coming writers find success. He’s spoken of this during many panel appearances and speeches, how he feels it’s the responsibility of the current generation of writers to lend a hand to the next wave.Speaking from personal experience, I can say these are not just words. Brian read the original manuscript ofTHE REMEDY, offered me invaluable notes, and provided a blurb as an unexpected bonus. He suggested places to submit to, and when I finally found a publisher, he looked over my contract and told me things to look for that I would’ve never thought of myself. To this day he replies to my emails whenever I bug him, despite how swamped he may be with deadlines and other business.It probably sounds like I’m kissing ass here, and yeah, maybe I am. But if there’s anything you can walk away with from this lengthy post, it’s this: Even Brian Keene, who has helped not only me but several up-and-coming writers, once received help from those who came before him. He’s written and spoken many times of how Dallas Mayr, akaJack Ketchum, helped him negotiate his first contract in a hotel bar. And if you listened to Brian’s podcast a few weeks ago, you would’ve heard about the significant role horror legend Richard Laymon played in promoting Brian’s writing long before Brian came a WHC Grandmaster.So in the end, all Brian is really doing is tying to accomplish that one task that we should all strive to do once were in the position to do so:Pay it forward.Oh, and of course, the other takeaway from these anecdotes above is yet another reaffirmation that the horror genre contains some of the kindest, most generous people you’ll ever meet. After the umpteenth time you’ve read an author’s absolutely gruesome fiction to discover he/she is a total sweetheart in person, you can’t help but wonder if there really is something toStephen King’s theory:“All you need is love…as long as you keep the gators fed.”You can find Brian Keene’s fictionhereand be sure to check out his new podcast,The Horror Show with Brian Keene.