Sundancing

by Brian Keene

A broken, beaten, and burned-out horror novelist struggles to emerge from the aftermath of two years of personal and professional upheaval. Corrupt publishers, a global economic collapse, an industry in flux, a divorce, and a heart attack have left him unsure of everything, including — for the first time — himself. Courting a death wish and desperate for renewal and reinvention, the writer looks to Hollywood for safe harbor. But when this possible salvation turns into potential damnation, the author and his friends may have to go to war against an enemy unlike any they’ve ever encountered. In this metafictional memoir, hailed by critics as "simultaneously heartbreaking and heartwarming" and "a book of unvarnished beauty" Brian Keene reveals what it’s really like to write for a living, and how easy it is for an author to lose their soul…

Genres: Nonfiction

75 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2012

About the author

BRIAN KEENE writes novels, comic books, short fiction, and occasional journalism for money. He is the author of over forty books, mostly in the horror, crime, and dark fantasy genres. 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 novels have been translated into German, Spanish, Polish, Italian, French, Taiwanese, and many more. In addition to his own original work, Keene has written for media properties such as Doctor Who, Hellboy, Masters of the Universe, and Superman.

Several of Keene’s novels have been developed for film, including Ghoul, The Ties That Bind, and Fast Zombies Suck. Several more are in-development or under option. Keene also serves as Executive Producer for the independent film studio Drunken Tentacle Productions.

Keene also oversees Maelstrom, his own small press publishing imprint specializing in collectible limited editions, via Thunderstorm Books.

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 2014 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. A prolific public speaker, Keene has delivered talks at conventions, college campuses, theaters, and inside Central Intelligence Agency headquarters in Langley, VA.

The father of two sons, Keene lives in rural Pennsylvania.

Reviews

[Brian Bowyer · Rating 5 out of 5]

99% True, 100% Awesome!

I missed this book the first time around, so was pleased to see this edition. A great read from a world-class storyteller. Highly recommended!

[Craig · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a short (novella-length) piece of autobiographical metafiction that he claims is 99% true, with only a few names changed and such to protect the innocent or perhaps the litigiously inclined guilty. It's about Keene's trip to the Sundance film festival in 2012 with his friends to attend the premiere of the first full-length professional adaptation of one of his novels. His recounting is very amusing and entertaining and offers some fascinating insight into his character. I believe I read it once before somewhere (perhaps it's included in one of his collections?), but I enjoyed it very much this time as well. Keene is capable of many things, but being boring is never one of them.

[Karl · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brian's adventures at the Sundance film festival as only he can write it.

This is copy 108 of 300 signed numbered copies.

This is book 2 of 3 of Brian Keene’s Maelstrom Series 3.

[Jonathan Echevarria · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the best things about Brian Keene's Sundancing is that it acts like a tribute to his most long term readers. Essentially this is a story about a author who catches a lucky break. Brian Keene details how he was stuck in a bad situation financially, however when he is able to get one of his most popular books made into a movie his world takes a positive turn! Sundancing acts like a attempt to take his fans with him on his first adventure into Hollywood as he watched the premier of his novel turned movie called Ghoul. Despite everything Brian Keene has been through, he goes to great lengths to mention over and over again that his close friends and loyal readers helped him get this far. I think Sundancing his way of thanking them for that, since those friends and fans are actual main characters in this book.



I really think this short novella is aimed toward the long time Brian Keene fans. There book is a treasure trove of inside jokes and references that only the most hardcore Brian Keene fan would enjoy. Classics like the "F.U.K.U", "4x4", and lots of past convention shenanigans are referenced briefly in this book. However I enjoyed seeing how honest Brian Keene is with himself, even when he isn't portraying himself in the best of lights. I can see why he has attracted so many readers over the years. I can honestly say I wish the best of luck for this man.



I never had the opportunity to visit Brian Keene early in his career so I missed out on his early adventures which was collected in the Hail Saten volumes like Sympathy For The Devil: The Best Of Hail Saten: Vol. 1. That being said I'm sure the less experienced fans like myself can still enjoy it without feeling lost. While some references I didn't understand or know enough to appreciate, I was glad to see Brian's close friends like Mike Oliveri make a appearance. The majority of the time I was able to follow along though, especially since I do have a decent amount of Brian Keene books under my belt.



For me Sundancing acts like a happy epilogue to The Girl on the Glider. While I didn't enjoy this book nearly as much as Girl on the Glider, I still was happy to know that things got better for Brian Keene after those events. The closing of Girl on the Glider ended on such a sad note, it was a relief to see Brian Keene in one of his more happier moments. While you won't find any new clues for the Labyrinth or Thirteen mythology, this is a great insight to the fears and passions of Brian Keene. Anyone who is interested in the man himself should definitely check this out, this is a great autobiography that isn't pretentious or arrogant. If you want to "spiritually" accompany Brian on his first trip to the big leagues then read this book!

"Four out of Five stars from this fan!"

[David Wilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This may, or may not appeal to a wide variety of readers, but it should. Anyone who believes the lives of writers, screenwriters, actors, or any creatives are simple, easy, or a big party needs to get hold of some of Brian Keene's non-fiction and (mostly) non-fiction and pay attention. This book is a glimpse inside his trip to the Sundance Film Festival when his movie GHOUL premiered there.

Full Transparency, I already know most of the people who are characters, and there is an added level of fun hearing about their esapades among the rich and famous. The insights on Hollywood, though, and on those who are non-stop yakking movie-speak, going on about themselves, drinking too much coffee and not really creating things - just attached - are precious. The genuine emotion behind the telling of the story, the reactions a variety of brand new experiences, both good and bad, and the underlying hard life that brought them all to that place and time is gold.

I didn't get to read this firs time around, but I'm glad that I have now. Highly recommended.

[Josh Warfel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Insightful and inspiring.

[Richard Wright · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brian Keene has never been a man at peace. As an author, he entered the genre full of piss and vinegar, determined to rage against the machine. With success as a novelist, the machine swallowed him whole and kicked him in the teeth (notably during the collapse of his publisher Dorchester). His past is littered with dysfunction, and while he has projected a public image that's sometimes appeared impervious to all, the truth has been very different. In Sundancing, a short autobiographical novella detailing his trip to the Sundance Festival for the premiere of Ghoul (the movie based on his novel), he seems finally to have found some genuine contentment.

In essence, this book is a quirky 'what I did on my holidays', during which Brian and his close friends flirt with and embrace the studio machine (just as liable to chew up its victims). Brian writes with the same honesty and invitation that makes much of his non-fiction addictive. For those who know him even distantly - and his fans can count himself among that number, as he's the kind of author who pays back support with genuine connection - the real pleasure of this book is understanding that, finally, he seems to have found ways to unify the things that make him happy. For that reason, this is a book that makes you feel good, and for long term fans of the author it comes highly recommended.

[Geoff · Rating 4 out of 5]

Brian Keene has written non-fiction before but I have never read any of the books, so this was my first foray into having Keene pour out his own personal information in a story. The story is an autobiography (he calls it meta-fiction) of his trip to the Sundance Festival where his book was adapted into a film (Ghoul), and he explains all his experiences that occurred during this weekend. It was very personal and he talks about everything; his current highs at having this film being premiered at Sundance, and all his lows of the last few years of a divorce, a heart attack, and his New York publisher going bankrupt. I was shocked that he exposed himself so fully. But I'm glad he did, as it gave me a much better appreciation of the man which shows that he is human, he suffers, he has happiness, and he loves his fans and the genre he write in (horror). It was all good and I was glad to read such an open story about the author. If you are a Keene fan this is highly recommended!

[William M. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brian Keene's Sundancing is the author's journey to Utah's Sundance film festival for the premiere of his first feature length adaptation of his bestselling novel, Ghoul. While fans of Keene will surely enjoy this more than the average person, readers of all genres should be entertained by the clever and outlandish adventures of the author and his friends.

Not used to the Hollywood machine, Keene shares some great insight on the shallow characters he meets along the way. Funny, touching, and always honest, Keene writes with such precision and authenticity you feel as if you are right there beside him at the event.

[Robert Krone · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a short and thoroughly enjoyable read. The way Keene wrote this is great, as usual, and made me feel like I was with him on his trip the Sundance Film Festival.