“The tone and building dread reminds me of classic Stephen King. Great velocity and impact, and super creepy. Don’t go in the basement!”
— Stewart O’Nan, New York Times bestselling author of The Night Country and A Prayer for the Dying
Hi Folks!
The big news today is the launch of DownloadTheDarkness.com where you can read or listen to my new novella, The Painted Darkness, for free months before the $19.99 trade hardcover will be published this fall.
(Seriously, the download is completely free and there are no strings attached. Click on DownloadTheDarkness.com and start your download. Don’t worry, I’ll be here when you get back.)
I’ve been lucky enough to land some wonderful early praise for the book from a few of my favorite authors (see below) and early bookstore orders are strong, which is why some people are already asking if we’re crazy to be giving the book away like this.
I address that question and a few others in my afterword to the eBook, which also has some exclusive Bonus Features that won’t be in the hardcover:
* Comments from bestselling authors such as Stephen King, Ray Bradbury, William Peter Blatty, Jodi Picoult, Carolyn Parkhurst, Anne Perry, Jane Green, MJ Rose, Douglas Clegg, JA Konrath, Seth Godin, Michael Marshall Smith, Scott Adams, and many others about eBooks and the future of publishing.
* An exclusive new interview with Ray Bradbury: “We Have Too Many Inventions!”
* Norman Prentiss interviews Brian James Freeman about The Painted Darkness
* Author’s Afterword: “Did I Really Commit ‘Career Suicide’ by Giving The Painted Darkness Away For Free?”
* $5.00 off coupon valid on an order for the trade hardcover edition of The Painted Darkness for a limited time only
So obviously I hope you’ll take a moment to swing over to DownloadTheDarkness.com and give the book a try, especially if you’ve never read my work before or you’re on the fence about placing an order. There’s absolutely no reason not to check out the book right now. You can’t beat free, right?
If you know any other readers who might be interested in what we’re trying here, I hope you’ll pass the link along to them. We’d appreciate any assistance we can get in spreading the word.
For those who prefer print, the hardcover editions include an exclusive introduction by Brian Keene and over a half-dozen interior illustrations by Jill Bauman that you won’t find anywhere else. There are also two different signed editions for the collectors, which you can read more about on the Cemetery Dance website.
About the Book:
The Painted Darkness
by Brian James Freeman
When Henry was a child, something terrible happened in the woods behind his home, something so shocking he could only express his grief by drawing pictures of what he had witnessed. Eventually, Henry’s mind blocked out the bad memories, but he continued to draw, often at night by the light of the moon.
Twenty years later, Henry makes his living by painting his disturbing works of art. He loves his wife and his son, and life couldn’t be better… except there’s something not quite right about the old stone farmhouse his family now calls home. There’s something strange living in the cramped cellar, in the maze of pipes that feed the ancient steam boiler.
A winter storm is brewing, and soon Henry will learn the true nature of the monster waiting for him down in the darkness. He will battle this demon and, in the process, he may discover what really happened when he was a child — and why, in times of trouble, he thinks: I paint against the darkness.
But will Henry learn the truth in time to avoid the terrible fate awaiting him… or will the thing in the cellar get him and his family first?
Written as both a meditation on the art of creation and as an examination of the secret fears we all share, The Painted Darkness is a terrifying look at the true cost we pay when we run from our grief — and what happens when we’re finally forced to confront the monsters we know all too well.
The Book Trailer by Russell Dickerson:
The Painted Darkness on YouTube
Early Praise for the Book:
“The tone and building dread reminds me of classic Stephen King. Great velocity and impact, and super creepy. Don’t go in the basement!”
— Stewart O’Nan, New York Times bestselling author of The Night Country and A Prayer for the Dying
“Brian James Freeman’s evocative tale about the dark corners of an artist’s imagination is elegant and haunting. This beautifully designed book with splendid illustrations by Jill Bauman is a pleasure to read and a joy to hold.”
— David Morrell, New York Times bestselling author of The Shimmer
“Spooky stuff!”
— Richard Matheson, New York Times bestselling author of What Dreams May Come and I Am Legend
“The Painted Darkness is a dark, terrifying, and deeply moving gem of a novella. Brian James Freeman managed to both scare me and move me to tears.”
— Tess Gerritsen, New York Times bestselling author of The Keepsake
“Wonderfully reminiscent of the quiet horror of Charles L. Grant, The Painted Darkness takes readers on a gently chilly walk through the forest of fears both conscious and subconscious. With Straubian lyricism, Brian James Freeman evokes not only the irrational terrors of childhood, but addresses the roots of creativity and the vital importance of art. A very impressive achievement.”
— Bentley Little, author of The House and His Father’s Son
Be sure to visit www.DownloadTheDarkness.com while the book is still available for free!
Or place your order via the Cemetery Dance website!
Or order from one of these booksellers that will be carrying the book:
Or click here to locate your local independent bookseller on IndieBound.org!
If you have a chance, please let me know what you think of this promotion and (hopefully) the book itself. Thanks!
