Return to Sleepaway Camp II and III With Expanded Behind-The-Scenes Paperback and Soundtrack EP

New York, NY — On November 19, 2024, 1984 Publishing will release an expanded paperback edition of Sleepaway Camp: Making the Movie and Reigniting the Campfire by Jeff Hayes. The second edition contains over 100 new pages of content and behind-the-scenes photos, all primarily focusing on the cult classic sequels Sleepaway Camp II and III.

A 5-track Sleepaway Camp II / III soundtrack EP will accompany the book’s release on vinyl and CD. Various vinyl color variants will be available, as well as special editions that include signed cast member photos, lyric sheets, and exclusive playable Sleepaway Camp III flexi postcards.

Author Jeff Hayes: “After the release of the hardbound edition, fans worldwide contacted me who loved the info about the original film but were asking additional questions about the sequels. So, 1984 Publishing and I thought fans would appreciate a deep dive into the sequels as bonus content for the second edition. I started with screenwriter Michael Hitchcock (of Christopher Guest, Glee, and Bridesmaids fame), who created Angela's path forward in parts 2 and 3. Michael and I completed a series of extensive interviews that included character motivations, deleted scenes, creative kills, budgetary adjustments, inside jokes, and more! I also interviewed (and included personal behind-the-scenes photos) from fan favorite Brian Patrick Clarke (‘T.C.’), Mark Oliver (‘Tony’), Daryl Wilcher (‘Riff’), Carol Chambers and Amy Fields (‘The Shit Sisters’), Kim Wall ("Cindy"), Kendall Bean ("Demi"), FX creator Bill ‘Splat’ Johnson, and more. It’s the most extensive look at the sequels to date.”

The second edition concludes with a new interview with designer and actor Loris Diran, who played Billy in the original Sleepaway Camp. Diran, a member of the LGBT community, offers readers a unique take on the original iconic film, its aftermath, and its personal impact on him.

The paperback edition includes all the original content from the hardbound release. Longtime official Sleepaway Camp webmaster, writer, and filmmaker Hayes wrote the additional pages between Fall, 2023 and Spring, 2024.

When the original Sleepaway Camp debuted in 1983, it was quickly disregarded by film reviewers. Variety called it a “tired version of teen oriented horror film formulas,” The Philadelphia Enquirer “had more thrills untangling paper clips,” and The Cincinnati Post branded it “more horrible than horrifying."

But fans saw something different. Very different. More than 40 years since its release, the film’s unique blend of horror, tongue-in-cheek comedy, sexuality, and gender roles—along with an ending to end all endings, was seemingly ahead of its time. Sleepaway Camp is now discussed and debated more than when it was initially released, and continues to resonate with ’80s film buffs, global horror fans, and the LGBT community. Director Michael A. Simpson and writer Michael Hitchcock then took Angela into a horror-comedy direction (an early example of genre- mixing) with the two sequels.



Accompanying the book’s release is a soundtrack EP by musician John Altyn, which includes fan-favorite “Outta Control” from Sleepaway Camp II (originally intended for A Nightmare on Elm Street 3), three mixes of the song “Sleepaway” (from Sleepaway Camp III), and the classic “Happy Camper Song” that was featured in both sequels. All editions additionally contain a bonus flexi postcard with an audio trailer for Sleepaway Camp III.

The 12-inch gatefold vinyl edition will be available in the following variants:

• “Blood Red” (limited to 300)
• “Camp Rolling Hills” split-colored vinyl (dark blue & light blue – limited to 150)
• “Shit Sisters’” pot haze-colored vinyl (includes a print autographed by Carol Chambers & Amy Fields – limited to 100)
• “Riff’s Switchblade” silver-colored vinyl (includes a print autographed by Daryl Wilcher – limited to 100)
• “Coke” white-colored vinyl (includes autographed “Sleepaway” sheet music by John Altyn – limited to 100)

The soundtrack artwork was created by acclaimed artist Robert Sammelin, and the book cover was designed by Hagcult (based on the original hand-drawn one-sheet artwork by David Schleinkofer).

Pre-orders for the book, vinyl, and CD are now live at 1984 Publishing.com.