To celebrate the release of Penguin Book’s Wolf Creek prequel novels, Notions Unlimited Bookshop is hosting an official launch party. Come and meet writers Aaron Sterns and Brett McBean, get your copies of Origins and Desolation Game signed, down some libations and mingle with other Mick Taylor fans. Date: February 1st 2014, starting at 4pm. For more information about the event, click here. Hope to see you there!
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Wolf Creek Novels Launch
Competition Time!
*UPDATE: The five winners have been decided, so the competition has ended. Thanks to all who played and congratulations to the five winners! For the record, my all-time favourite Aussie horror movie is: LONG WEEKEND (1978).
To help celebrate the release of the Wolf Creek novels, I’m giving away five signed copies of the second installment, Desolation Game.
As Wolf Creek is one of Australia’s greatest horror movies, I thought I’d make the competition Oz Horror related. All you have to do is guess my all-time favourite Australian horror movie (note: Wolf Creek is out of the running as an answer, for obvious reasons). The first five correct guesses each win a signed copy of Desolation Game: Wolf Creek Book 2.
Send your guesses to either my email address (brettmcbean@hotmail.com) or a PM on Facebook. Happy guessing!
The Game Is On!
Happy New Year to all my wonderful readers! Exciting news to begin 2014: the Wolf Creek prequel novels are now available! The thoughtful folks at Penguin Books Australia know you’ll be looking for summer reading fare, and what better way to relax under the Aussie sun than by reading about that lovable cad from the outback, Mick Taylor. Be sure to pick up both the first book in the series, Origin, and of course the second book, Desolation Game. The books are available online in both paperback and eBook editions, and I presume in bookstores all around Australia soon. For more information about my book, click here.
Top 5 Reads 2013
It’s almost the end of the year, and so I thought I’d post my five favourite reads of 2013.
1/ We Have Always Lived in the Castle – Shirley Jackson
I’ve long been a fan of Jackson, but this novel put her in the upper ranks of favourite writers. A stunning book, darkly comic and filled with memorable characters. A look at small-town America through Jackson’s truly unique eyes.
2/ Ham on Rye – Charles Bukowski
This has now replaced Post Office as my favourite Bukowski novel. Funny as hell, yet with a bittersweet honesty.
3/ Women – Charles Bukowski
I went on a Buk kick early in the year, reading (and in some cases re-reading) almost all of Buk’s novels. While not quite as concise and punchy as Ham on Rye or Post Office, I found Women to be one of Buk’s funniest and in some ways, his most quintessential. Full of hard-drinking and even harder women.
4/ Basal Ganglia – Matthew Revert
A stunning leap forward for the talented writer/publisher/designer. For me, it’s Revert’s most mature and fascinating work. A unique tale about a pillow fort, a wool baby and identity. Marvelous.
5/ Rebecca – Daphne Du Maurier
The Hitchcock film has been a long-time favourite of mine. I’ve been meaning to read the novel for many years. This year, I finally got around to it. Excellent gothic romance, as good as I had imagined it would be.
Wolf Creek: The Novels!
Well folks, I can finally announce a project I’ve been eager to share for a while now. Coming soon from Penguin Books Australia – Desolation Game: Wolf Creek Book 2, by Brett McBean and co-written with writer/director Greg McLean. Penguin Books plan on releasing six prequel novels, all original stories that chart the bloody rise of Australia’s favourite fictional psychopath – Mick Taylor. The first two prequel novels (Origin, co-written by Aaron Sterns and McLean and Desolation Game) are scheduled for release January 2nd 2014, in the lead-up to the release of the second Wolf Creek film in February. I couldn’t be more honoured to be a part of this iconic Oz Horror film series, and I hope readers will embrace these original novels.
SYNOPSIS:
When sharpshooter and killer Mick Taylor searches for a place to keep a low profile, he finds somewhere where his peculiar talents are appreciated: a war. And in Vietnam, an out-of-control sergeant takes the amateur murderer and turns him into a pro.
Back home, Mick makes use of the sick lessons the army taught him, when hapless tour operators bring a Kombi-load of sightseers out his way into the Western Australian desert. Two suspicious flat tyres deliver an engaged Japanese couple, a father and son, a US army vet and his girlfriend, and a couple of cute girls to Mick’s lair. Middle of nowhere, population one. The group finds themselves in hell, as Mick makes sure their once-in-a-lifetime tour stays that way. And though one of the drivers escapes and goes for help, Mick sees no reason to stop the killing spree.
In the second Wolf Creek prequel novel, the cult film’s writer/director Greg Mclean and horror writer Brett McBean get to the heart of Australian horror’s most terrifying psycho killer. Is Mick Taylor possessed by some dark power in the landscape itself? Something ancient? Does the Red Centre demand blood?
Keep Notions Unlimited Open!
Notions Unlimited Bookshop has reported that, sadly, unless it sees a substantial growth in its customer-base, the Chelsea-based spec-fic bookshop will be forced to close its doors. The owner/manager, Chuck McKenzie, is a long-time friend and a big supporter of my work. He also works hard to help promote Australian authors and publishers, and his bookshop is one of the few specialist shops in Australia dedicated to all things horror, fantasy and science-fiction. It would be utterly sad to see such a wonderful place close. We need bookshops like Notions Unlimited and we need people like Chuck. So please, help spread the word. Buy all your spec-fic books at Notions Unlimited and tell all your friends and family to do the same.
The Awakening Has Been Reborn
I’m thrilled to announce that my coming–of-age novel, The Awakening, has been re-released in both paperback and digital editions, published by the fine folk at LegumeMan Books. The novel, which garnered some excellent reviews when released last year in limited edition hardcover, combines my love of small town/coming-of-age stories and the fascinating world of Haitian Vodou and zombies. If you missed out on the hardcover edition, I hope you’ll give the novel a chance now it’s available in more affordable editions. For more information, including links to order, go here.
Melbourne Zombie Convention
Just a quick heads up: I’ll be at the Melbourne Zombie Convention next Sunday (October 6th). You’ll find me at the Notions Unlimited Bookshop stall, which will be stocking plenty of copies of the paperback edition of my zombie novel, The Awakening. So feel free to stop by and say hello.
The Awakening Will Soon be Reborn
Here’s the first look at the cover to the new edition of my novel, The Awakening. Coming very soon from LegumeMan Books, this new edition will be released in both paperback and digital editions.
Suburban Jungle Released
The third and final instalment in my ‘Jungle’ novella trilogy, Suburban Jungle, has just been released. I’m excited, yet also a little saddened, to say goodbye to this world. But, the series has been given a wonderful send-off with bonus ‘jungle’ stories from John R. Little, Kirstyn McDermott & Daniel I Russell; an introduction by the wonderful Brian Hodge; cover art by Steve Crisp; and internal illustrations by Keith Minnion.
All three books are still available to order from Tasmaniac Publications.
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