{"id":9603,"date":"2017-02-24T08:00:27","date_gmt":"2017-02-24T13:00:27","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.cemeterydance.com\/extras\/?p=9603"},"modified":"2017-02-22T14:11:50","modified_gmt":"2017-02-22T19:11:50","slug":"epilogue-part-one","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.cemeterydance.com\/extras\/epilogue-part-one\/","title":{"rendered":"Epilogue, Part One"},"content":{"rendered":"
<\/p>\n
November 16, 2016<\/strong><\/p>\n
Brian and his oldest son have spent a week in Seattle. His oldest son, now twenty-five, is a social worker by day, and a budding rock guitarist by night. He is a fan of Alice In Chains, Nirvana, Foo Fighters, Mother Love Bone, and the rest of the grunge-era music (which is now considered classic rock—something that makes Brian feel that full weight of fifty that he knows will be drawing down on him next year). Given this, Seattle makes sense for what will be their first father and son vacation since the now-young-man was ten years old.<\/span><\/p>\n
This is the first time Brian\u2019s oldest son has ever been to Seattle. It is Brian\u2019s fifth. The streets are haunted here, but in a good way. Every corner and alley and landmark summons the ghosts of memories for Brian—book signings past and conventions of yore. He remembers road-tripping here with Ann Laymon (wife of the departed Richard Laymon) and the artist Gak—because even twenty years ago, there was always someone else along on the journey. The first book Brian ever wrote, a long out-of-print (and deservedly so) collection called No Rest for the Wicked<\/em>, made its debut right here in the city. Geoff Cooper used to live here, in a house with Edward Lee and John Pelan. When he and his son walk past Coop\u2019s old home, Brian grins, remembering a night when he and John Urbancik had to fake snoring on Coop\u2019s enormous sectional couch while two other horror writers made love on the floor behind it—just inches away from where Brian and John were supposedly sleeping.<\/span><\/p>\n
During their time in the city, Brian and his oldest son have seen the Space Needle and the iconic Pike\u2019s Place Fish Market and the condominium complex where Layne Staley died. They have visited the EMP Museum and marveled over its collection of horror and rock memorabilia—Kurt Cobain\u2019s guitars, Dave Grohl\u2019s drum kit, a sentinel from the first <\/span>Phantasm<\/span><\/i> movie, the Greedo mask from the original <\/span>Star Wars<\/span><\/i> film. They make a pilgrimage to Jimi Hendrix\u2019s grave, and spend a day hiking deep into the forests of Mount Rainier.<\/span><\/p>\n
The one thing they don\u2019t do, is sign books.<\/span><\/p>\n
Brian had considered doing a pop-up signing while in town. His oldest son has assured him it will be okay if he wants to. But Brian refrains. He has spent the entire year traveling around the country for other people. He wants to enjoy this moment for himself. The road will still be there waiting when he\u2019s done.<\/span><\/p>\n
* \u00a0\u00a0* \u00a0\u00a0*<\/span><\/p>\n
December 31, 2016 \u2013 January 1, 2017 <\/strong><\/p>\n
The clock is ticking and the countdown to the New Year looms, but the small group in Brian and Mary\u2019s hotel suite barely notice. The convention is being held at a Holiday Inn Conference Center in Allentown, Pennsylvania. The Farewell (But Not Really) Tour may have started with a roar, but this—the last official appearance—has been decidedly anticlimactic. The convention attendees consist of approximately fifty cosplay fans, and perhaps another dozen gamers. Brian and Mary are still unsure why they are Guest of Honor, but the convention organizers have been wonderful, and the attendees—while not buying books—are pleasant to interact with.<\/span><\/p>\n
Still, it\u2019s not a total write-off. Brian and Mary ring in the New Year with dear friends like Sixth Wave authors Stephen Kozeniewski and Mary Fan (who have also been signing at the convention) and the handful of non-cosplayer, non-gamer, actual Brian Keene or Mary SanGiovanni fans who attended for the weekend. One of these fans is Augie, a guy Brian has been signing books for since the publication of <\/span>The Rising<\/span><\/i> back in 2003. The four writers and the half-dozen readers sit in Brian and Mary\u2019s hotel suite, listening to music and talking and partying until the calendar switches over to 2017. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n
The next day—January 1<\/span>st—<\/span>the convention attendees have dwindled down to a dozen. Brian finds Mary SanGiovanni sitting in a deserted conference room, dispensing Fifth Wave wisdom and advice to Sixth Wave Stephen Kozeniewski and Mary Fan. Joining them is loyal reader Steve (whose last name Brian can\u2019t remember as he writes this—my apologies, Steve). <\/span><\/p>\n
Soon, both Marys will head back to New Jersey. Kozeniewski and Brian will head towards the central part of Pennsylvania. Brian\u2019s not sure where Steve the fan will go. He assumes Steve is local. As they are all driving separately, Brian doesn\u2019t have to wait for his girlfriend or his prot\u00e9g\u00e9. He peeks into the conference room, pauses a moment to listen to Mary, and smiles with pride. Then he clears his throat.<\/span><\/p>\n
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