Year: 2016

Over the years, Jim has often been asked, “If you could go back and change anything about the series, what would it be?” He’s previously shrugged off such queries with a non-committal quip, but he admits the questions always struck a chord with him.  Today, on the 16^th anniversary of Storm Front’s release, Jim answers the fans’ call with The Dresden Files Special Edition.

This definitive collection seeks to bring the series more in line with his original vision, adding characters and worldbuilding details that would’ve been impossible given the constraints of the publishing industry at the time.

Jim credits the influence of his long-beloved Spider-Man franchise in this decision, citing the perennial appeal of Peter Parker’s origin story.  He muses, “I’ve always wondered what Harry Dresden’s early life would’ve been like if he’d faced functionally identical villains, but with a different love interest, and with him being slightly more attractive, in a millennial way.”

The first novel will be rebranded as “Harry Dresden v The Shadowman: Front of Storms.” Jim draws readers’ attention to the “v” as opposed to the more conventional “vs.,” citing this choice as a way of “keep[ing] it from being a straight ‘versus’ book, even in the most subtle way.” This essential installment is due out in bookstores April 31^st.

Jim hopes fans will embrace this new edition, as he looks forward to correcting an oversight in the dream sequence in Dead Beat, where he neglected to mention Harry’s father’s uncanny resemblance to Hayden Christensen.

If successful, Jim plans to reboot the series again in five years with an entirely different publisher.

 

Discuss this news on the forum here.

Dresden Files Cooperative Card Game Exclusive Card Reveal & Kickstarter Date

Last week, the wizards at Evil Hat Productions demoed the Dresden Files Cooperative Card Game (DFCO) for retailers attending the GAMA Trade Show (GTS). We don’t want you to feel left out in the cold with Queen Mab, so take a look at the art from the pyrofuego-hotness that is the Harry Dresden deck. Artist Tyler Walpole is hard at work to finish the game, and it’s got us happier than Toot-toot with a large pepperoni pie.

Just in case you’re not familiar with the game yet, here’s the skinny:

Play Harry Dresden and his friends as they take on the cases from the bestselling Dresden Files novels in the ultimate what-if scenario—what if Harry was on the scene with allies who weren’t there in the original story? The core game includes Harry, Murphy, Susan, Michael, and the Alphas and plays through the first five novels as well as Side Jobs, a random scenario generator based on the short story collection of the same name.

Designs are already well underway for expansions featuring more series characters and more novels. You can get your paws on all of them in the Evil Hat DFCO Kickstarter, coming to a computer near you (keep Harry away or he’ll fry it) in late April-ish. Sign up for the Evil Hat newsletter or simply watch this space to be notified when the Kickstarter goes live, and in the meantime take a look at their interviews from GTS to get a deeper preview of the game and the thought that went into it.

Team up. Strike back. FUEGO!

Wild Card Graphic Novel #1 Preview on Bleeding Cool

There’s a new Dresden Files graphic novel on the way. Join Harry, Thomas, Molly, and Murphy as they face off against a strange new supernatural threat. You can get a multi-page art preview over at Bleeding Cool, and the first issue arrives in late April. Here’s the summary:

Jim Butcher’s worldwide bestselling Dresden Files saga continues in this original limited series! Set in the aftermath of the novel White Night and comic series Down Town, a bizarre double murder draws the interest of Chicago’s only wizard for hire. But as Harry Dresden begins his investigation, the clues lead to troubling conclusions about the possible perpetrator, and set him on a path that will place him in the middle of a conflict between the city’s three most powerful factions—a conflict that could engulf all of Chicago!

Schedule Conflict Cancels Houston Appearance

We had previously reported that Jim would be making an appearance at Houston Comicpalooza in June of this year, but unfortunately a schedule conflict has torpedoed that appearance. Not our favorite thing to report, of course, but we wanted to make sure you were warned well in advance!

A New Dresden Files Short Story – Now Preorderable

Shadowed Souls is a new anthology from Roc that will feature an all new Dresden Files short story about Molly. You can preorder the book now! Here’s the Jim-relevant deal:

In this dark and gritty collection—featuring short stories from Jim Butcher, Seanan McGuire, Kevin J. Anderson, and Rob Thurman—nothing is as simple as black and white, light and dark, good and evil..

Unfortunately, that’s exactly what makes it so easy to cross the line.

In #1 New York Times bestselling author Jim Butcher’s Cold Case, Molly Carpenter—Harry Dresden’s apprentice-turned-Winter Lady—must collect a tribute from a remote Fae colony and discovers that even if you’re a good girl, sometimes you have to be bad…

You can get a better look at that great cover and author list over at this blog post.

When’s the next book coming out?

Looks like everything’s coming up Dresden! That’s it for today. And remember, if you have any questions about what’s up with an upcoming book, you don’t need to email us about it—that information is already available on our website!

CON MAN

Hoping to see Jim in person in 2016?  A number of convention appearances are starting to trickle in. We’ll let you know when additional events are added!

Superstars Writing Academy
February 4th – 6th, 2016
Colorado Springs, CO
http://superstarswriting.com/

Houston Comicpalooza 2016
June 17-19, 2016
Houston, TX
http://www.comicpalooza.com/

Unfortunately, Jim’s Comicpalooza appearance has been canceled due to a scheduling conflict. Sorry!

Myths and Legends Con
August 12-14, 2016
Ramada Plaza Denver North
Denver, CO
http://www.malcondenver.com/

WIZARDS GONE WILD

Also, we have cover art and a release date for the first issue of Wild Card, the next Dresden Files graphic novel!  Look for it at your favorite comics shop on April 20th, 2016!  Click to embiggen.

As always, you can see the full list of Jim’s upcoming events at Calendar Event Discussion section of the forum and a schedule of new releases at his Upcoming Works page.

–Priscilla

WHEN’S THE NEXT…

First things first! Many of you reply to each post we make asking when the next book is coming out. For once, we’re getting ahead of you on this one: we’ve launched a new page on the site that gives you the status on all upcoming works that we know about. Check it out here: https://www.jim-butcher.com/faq/upcoming-works

TWO CONVENTION APPEARANCES EARLY THIS YEAR

Jim will be attending CoSine in Colorado Springs this January 22nd – 24th (http://www.firstfridayfandom.org/cosine/), and the Superstars Writing Academy February 4th – 6th (http://superstarswriting.com/).

EVIL HAT HAS A NEW RPG KICKSTARTER COMING UP

Dresden Files RPG (and, eventually, card game) publisher Evil Hat Productions has given a preview of their upcoming Fate More Kickstarter campaign this week. It launches next week. If you’re a fan of theirs and their games, it’s well worth checking out! https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/evilhat/496379176?token=4fce3954

JIM’S OBI-WAN HAS A NEW BOOK ON WRITING

You may not have heard of Deborah Chester before, but you should. As his novel-writing program professor when he was at the University of Oklahoma, she was the Jedi Master to Jim’s Padawan, teaching him nearly all of the underpinning techniques that make up his writing craft. Our Jim is strong with the Write Side of the Force, of course, but he credits Prof. Chester with much of his success.

Which leads us to The Fantasy Fiction Formula, a new book for authors and aspiring writers in genre fiction, from Manchester University Press. Here’s the description:

There’s more to writing a successful fantasy story than building a unique world or inventing a new type of magic. From the writing of strong, action-packed scenes to the creation of dynamic, multi-dimensional characters, fantasy author Deborah Chester guides novices and intermediate writers through a step-by-step process of story construction. Whether offering tips on how to test a plot premise or survive what she calls the dark dismal middle, Chester shares the techniques she uses in writing her own novels. Examples drawn from both traditional and urban fantasy illustrate her nuts-and-bolts approach to elemental story design.

With a foreword by New York Times best-selling author Jim Butcher, who studied writing in Chester’s classes at the University of Oklahoma, The fantasy fiction formula delivers a practical, proven approach to writing fantasy like a pro.

And Jim had this to say: “Listen carefully to what Debbie has to say about telling stories, aspiring writer. She knows exactly what she’s talking about.”

If you’re looking to learn at the feet of Jim’s master — check out The Fantasy Fiction Formula when it’s released Feb 1st! You can learn more about it at the Manchester University Press site.