The Final Countdown!

ONE WEEK remains until the conclusion of this summer’s Dresden Duology, and we have a slew of tantalizing treats to get you suitably psyched! Check out the reveal of the Worldbuilders bookplate, visual transcripts and behind-the-scenes images from the Battle Ground trailer, and the announcement of a new illustrated version of Storm Front!

Still need to snag a copy of Battle Ground? Support your favorite local independent bookstore, preorder a regular copy through the Jim-Butcher.com Store, or order from one of our virtual signing partners in the section below. Or if you’d rather immerse yourself in the dulcet decadence of James Marsters’ performance, snag the audiobook from our store or through Jim’s publisher.


Worldbuilders Bookplate Reveal

Harry and Butters ride Sue the Zombie T-Rex into battle! Both are drenched with rain, but Harry holds his staff high as he yells a rallying cry. Butters clings to Harry's midsection in terror.

The team at Worldbuilders is proud to reveal Adam Mathison-Sward‘s exhilarating bookplate art, featuring Harry and Butters’ climactic polka-powered ride from Dead Beat! Preorder a copy of Battle Ground with a signed bookplate and enjoy Adam’s fabulous artwork while supporting worthy charities. You can also shop the rest of Worldbuilders’ Dresden collection.


Announcing An Illustrated Storm Front

In his lab, Harry holds Bob's skull in a parody of Hamlet's Yorick speech

Shawn Speakman of Grim Oak Press has unveiled a full-color deluxe edition of Storm Front, lavishly illustrated by Chris McGrath!

Preorders now through the end of September are open ONLY to fans who own the limited or lettered editions of Shadowed Souls. Orders will open to the general public starting October 1st at 11am PT. And international fans rejoice: this is available worldwide!


Virtual Events & Preorderpalooza

Starting Monday the 28th, we have a week of fabulous virtual Q&A events, including opportunities to order signed copies of Battle Ground! (These are actual signed copies, not copies with signed bookplates.)

Mysterious Galaxy Fan Event 9/28 at 7pm PT

MYSTERIOUS GALAXY: 9/2810:00pm ET / 7:00pm PT

Virtual Q&A via Zoom, moderated by Mysterious Galaxy Events Director Constance Summar. Ticketed event: Buy 1 signed copy of Battle Ground OR a $5 ticket.

BARBARA’S BOOKSTORE CHICAGO: 9/29, 8:00pm ET / 7:00pm CT

FREE Virtual Q&A via Crowdcast, moderated by Dresden Files creative consultant and Peace Talks/Battle Ground trailer director Priscilla Spencer. Signed copies available for purchase.

BARNES & NOBLE: 9/30, 7:00pm ET / 4:00pm PT

FREE Virtual Q&A via B&N’s Facebook, moderated by Jim’s editor Anne Sowards. Signed copies available for purchase.

Note: Jim had a power outage that prevented him from participating in this past weekend’s Muskogee MiniCon event. We’re working on rescheduling that now and will announce the new date and time as soon as it’s available.


Trailer Transcripts

Both trailers already have captions for our deaf and heard-of-hearing fans, but we now have visually descriptive transcripts for our fans in the blind community! They may also be of interest to folks who don’t want to undermine their mental images of the characters with live action performers and anyone who wants one more source to mine as they hone their last-minute theories. Remember, two very significant scenes from the Peace Talks trailer haven’t been seen yet…

Read: Peace Talks Trailer Transcript and Battle Ground Trailer Transcript

Haven’t seen the trailers yet, or want to watch them again with the new transcript info in mind? Here are Peace Talks and Battle Ground!


Behind the Scenes Photos

While we’re at it, enjoy a sneak peek at the making of the Battle Ground trailer! Photos by Yrene Ramirez and Priscilla Mastrodomenico.


And that’s it for this week’s entry! Visit Jim-Butcher.com every Tuesday this year for weekly Drops of never-before-seen artwork, microfiction, interviews, contests, sample chapters for Peace Talks and Battle Ground, or other tasty tidbits in our celebration of the 20th Anniversary of the Dresden Files. Join our new mailing list and follow @jimbutchernews on twitter to ensure you don’t miss a moment, and check the announcement post to catch up on prior Drops.

Chapter Three, DragonCon Videos, New MiniCon, and More!

Just TWO WEEKS to go until the publication of Battle Ground, the second novel in this summer’s Dresden Duology! We have all kinds of goodies for you this week to crank your frenzied anticipation up to Eleven, including the third chapter of Battle Ground, three more videos from DragonCon, and the announcement of a new virtual con appearance this weekend!

Have you preordered Battle Ground yet? You can order a signed copy from Mysterious Galaxy, Barbara’s Bookstore, or Barnes & Noble, or a copy with a signed bookplate from Worldbuilders.  Alternately, you can also support your favorite local independent bookstore or preorder a regular copy through the Jim-Butcher.com Store! Or if audiobooks are your jam, snag James Marsters’ reading from our store or through Jim’s publisher. There’s no wrong answer!


Trailer Milestone

Last week, we shared the live-action book trailer for Battle Ground, and tomorrow, we anticipate hitting 50k views! As per tradition, we’ll be counting down to that milestone. Join @jimbutchernews on twitter as we rewatch the trailer together and share awesome behind-the-scenes tidbits.


Battle Ground, Chapter Three

The third and final sample chapter for Battle Ground is here! If you missed chapters one and two, be sure to read those first.


Jim Joins Muskogee MiniCon

Muskogee Public Library will be hosting a free virtual event this Saturday! Come chat on Discord with Jim and fellow authors Lev Grossman, Terry Brooks, Shawn Speakman, Tracey West, and Patrick Carman!

Jim will be speaking at 3pm Central on September 19th, and the session will be recorded for the benefit of those celebrating Rosh Hashana that day. New to Discord? Learn more here.


DragonCon Uploads Complete

DragonCon has uploaded ALL their 2020 programming to their streaming service! Two are available for free, and three require a Streaming Membership, a one-time $10 purchase that grants access to their complete programming catalog from this and all past DragonCons for a full year.

The following are free:

Favors, Bargains, and Glamours: The Fae in Urban Fantasy
Fae of many forms and intentions appear in Urban Fantasy. Our panelists will discuss the characteristics of the types they use in their work.
Panelists: Patricia Briggs, Jim Butcher, Cecilia Dominic, Lisa Manifold, Bishop O’Connell, and Carol Malcolm (M)

The Dresden Files: Peace Talks Trailer Cast and Crew Panel
Join Jim Butcher, director Priscilla Spencer, and the cast and crew of the Peace Talks Trailer as they recount their experiences on this epic-level undertaking! Suzanne Solomon moderates a hilarious discussion that explores the challenges of filming a book trailer for a fanatically devoted fanbase, which actors are most like their characters, what Easter eggs are hidden in the production design, and more! We’ll also be sharing previously unseen material you won’t want to miss.
Panelists: Jason Bernardo, Jim Butcher, June Dietrich, Liz Fenning, Sarah Flannery, Stephen Gibler, Kitty Krell, Birgit Lüdemann, Wade Morrison, Tonya Nelson, Stephanie Piotrowski, Jeremy Royce, Christopher Showerman, Shelby Smith, Priscilla Spencer, Kris Stone, and Suzanne Solomon (M).

The following require a Streaming Membership:

Jim Butcher: 20 Years of Harry Dresden
Come spend an hour with the mind behind your favorite magical detective as he discusses the pending release of the new Dresden book, Battle Ground, to the things that inspired Jim along the way.
Panelists: Jim Butcher, Chris “Crispy” Lloyd (M)

Necessary Evil: Villains in Urban Fantasy
Villains in Urban Fantasy range from annoying to truly dangerous, and our panel of authors will discuss how the different types affect their characters and the plots of their stories.
Panelists: Carol Malcolm, Eric R. Asher, Jim Butcher, Faith Hunter, Jeanne C. Stein, R.R. Virdi.

Mighty Men of SF and Fantasy
Kevin J. Anderson, Jim Butcher, and Jonathan Maberry talk about their careers–sometimes funny, sometimes poignant, but always interesting.
Panelists: Kevin Anderson, Jim Butcher, Jonathan Maberry, Nancy Knight.


Badali Giveaway

Badali Jewelry is holding a giveaway of some of their most coveted Dresden pieces, and TOMORROW is your last day to enter! One lucky winner will score a collector’s set of Dresden Files Jewelry, consisting of an Officially Licensed sterling silver Shield Bracelet, an 8mm Ice Opal Earring (your choice of pierced or magnet), and a Limited Edition Winter Lady Pentacle.

How to Enter:
1. FOLLOW @BadaliJewelry on Instagram.
2. LIKE the original Giveaway post.
3. COMMENT your favorite Dresden Files character on the instagram post.

Bonus entry:
TAG up to two (2) friends who you think would be interested in joining in!

Shop Badali’s full Dresden Files collection on their website. This giveaway runs through September 16th.


And that’s this week’s entry! Visit Jim-Butcher.com every Tuesday this year for weekly Drops of never-before-seen artwork, microfiction, interviews, contests, sample chapters for Peace Talks and Battle Ground, or other tasty tidbits in our celebration of the 20th Anniversary of the Dresden Files. Join our new mailing list and follow @jimbutchernews on twitter to ensure you don’t miss a moment, and check the announcement post to catch up on prior Drops.

DragonCon Roundup: Battle Ground Trailer Revealed!

HECK YES! This week’s Drop is the explosive new book trailer for Battle Ground, which debuted yesterday at Virtual DragonCon. We also have a roundup of Jim’s other panels from the con, for all your fannish needs. Let’s dive in, starting with the splashiest of this weekend’s surprises!

This book trailer was filmed back in December, concurrently with the trailer for Peace Talks. It was directed by Priscilla Spencer and stars Jason Bernardo as Harry, Sarah Flannery as Murphy, June Dietrich as Ethniu, Liz Fenning as Mab, and Chris Showerman as Marcone.

And after you’ve watched that, check out DragonCon’s Virtual Cast and Crew Panel for both trailers!

The Dresden Files: Peace Talks Trailer Cast and Crew Panel
Join Jim Butcher, director Priscilla Spencer, and the cast and crew of the Peace Talks Trailer as they recount their experiences on this epic-level undertaking! Suzanne Solomon moderates a hilarious discussion that explores the challenges of filming a book trailer for a fanatically devoted fanbase, which actors are most like their characters, what Easter eggs are hidden in the production design, and more! We’ll also be sharing previously unseen material you won’t want to miss.
Panelists: Jason Bernardo, Jim Butcher, June Dietrich, Liz Fenning, Sarah Flannery, Stephen Gibler, Kitty Krell, Birgit Lüdemann, Wade Morrison, Tonya Nelson, Stephanie Piotrowski, Jeremy Royce, Christopher Showerman, Shelby Smith, Priscilla Spencer, Kris Stone, and Suzanne Solomon (M).

The other free panel from DragonCon is this multi-author discussion of the Fae in Urban Fantasy.

Favors, Bargains, and Glamours: The Fae in Urban Fantasy
Fae of many forms and intentions appear in Urban Fantasy. Our panelists will discuss the characteristics of the types they use in their work.
Panelists: Patricia Briggs, Jim Butcher, Cecilia Dominic, Lisa Manifold, Bishop O’Connell, and Carol Malcolm (M)

Jim’s other three panels will be posted in about a week, so we’ll link to those in a future Drop. They will require a DragonCon Streaming Membership, a one-time purchase of $10 that grants access to DragonCon’s vast archive of exclusive content for one year.


Dresden Jewelry Giveaway

In honor of DragonCon, Badali Jewelry is holding a giveaway of some of their most coveted Dresden pieces! One lucky winner will score a collector’s set of Dresden Files Jewelry, consisting of an Officially Licensed sterling silver Shield Bracelet, an 8mm Ice Opal Earring (your choice of pierced or magnet), and a Limited Edition Winter Lady Pentacle.

How to Enter:
1. FOLLOW @BadaliJewelry on Instagram.
2. LIKE the original Giveaway post.
3. COMMENT your favorite Dresden Files character on the instagram post.

Bonus entry:
TAG up to two (2) friends who you think would be interested in joining in!

Shop Badali’s full Dresden Files collection on their website! This giveaway runs through September 16th.


Countdown to Battle Ground

Three weeks to go until the apocalyptic conclusion of this summer’s epic Dresden Duology. If you missed it last week, you can check out the first two chapters at Tor.com!

Have you preordered Battle Ground yet? Support your favorite local independent bookstore, preorder it in hardcover, audio, or ebook through the Jim-Butcher.com Store, or order a signed copy from one of the Signing Tour hosts below:

MYSTERIOUS GALAXY: 9/289:00pm* ET

Virtual Q&A via Zoom, moderated by Mysterious Galaxy Events Director Constance Summar. Ticketed event: Buy 1 signed copy of Battle Ground OR a $5 ticket.

*Note: We’re double-checking this information, as 9PM Eastern is obviously not the same time at 7PM Pacific. We’ll update this post with a clarification and re-confirm the correct time in a future Drop!

BARBARA’S BOOKSTORE CHICAGO: 9/297:00pm CT

FREE Virtual Q&A via Crowdcast, moderated by Dresden Files creative consultant and Peace Talks trailer director Priscilla Spencer. Signed copies available for purchase.

BARNES & NOBLE: 9/30, 7:00pm ET

FREE Virtual Q&A Zoom & Facebook, moderated by Jim’s editor Anne Sowards. Signed copies available for purchase.

WORLDBUILDERS

We haven’t been given dates or times for any potential Q&As, but you can preorder a copy of Battle Ground with a signed bookplate!


And that’s this week’s entry! Visit Jim-Butcher.com every Tuesday this year for weekly Drops of never-before-seen artwork, microfiction, interviews, contests, sample chapters for Peace Talks and Battle Ground, or other tasty tidbits in our celebration of the 20th Anniversary of the Dresden Files. Join our new mailing list and follow @jimbutchernews on twitter to ensure you don’t miss a moment, and check the announcement post to catch up on prior Drops.

Virtual DragonCon Schedule and Sample Chapters!

There’s SO MUCH TO BE EXCITED ABOUT this week! Not only do we have the beginnings of Jim’s schedule for this weekend’s Virtual DragonCon, but we have TWO sample chapters from Battle Ground. Read on for all the details.

Four weeks to go until the apocalyptic conclusion this summer’s epic Dresden Duology! Have you preordered your copy yet? You can order a signed copy from one of the vendors below, or you can also support your favorite local independent bookstore or preorder a regular copy through the Jim-Butcher.com Store! Or if audiobooks are your jam, snag James Marsters’ reading from our store or through Jim’s publisher.

Virtual DragonCon

We have Jim’s schedule for DragonCon! Join us all weekend for a series of panels on a fabulous array of topics.

Jim’s panels are broken up into two categories: (LIVE) and YouTube. Pay close attention each panel’s designation! Panels marked (LIVE) stream for free on DragonCon’s website only once at the appointed time, and you’ll definitely want to catch them as they air. If you miss the livestream, you will need to purchase a DragonCon Streaming Membership for $10 to access those archives. Get the full details on page 4-5 of DragonCon’s Quick Start handbook.

Panels NOT marked as (LIVE) will be uploaded to DragonCon’s YouTube channels for free viewing at folks’ convenience. The timestamp on this schedule indicates the time the video will be made public.

Necessary Evil: Villains in Urban Fantasy (LIVE)
Friday, September 4th, 2pm ET, UF Fan TracksLivestream
Villains in Urban Fantasy range from annoying to truly dangerous, and our panel of authors will discuss how the different types affect their characters and the plots of their stories.
Panelists: Carol Malcolm, Eric R. Asher, Jim Butcher, Faith Hunter, Jeanne C. Stein, R.R. Virdi.

Mighty Men of SF and Fantasy (LIVE)
Friday, September 4th, 4pm ET, Writing Fan Track Livestream
Kevin J. Anderson, Jim Butcher, and Jonathan Maberry talk about their careers–sometimes funny, sometimes poignant, but always interesting.
Panelists: Kevin Anderson, Jim Butcher, Jonathan Maberry, Nancy Knight.

Favors, Bargains, and Glamours: The Fae in Urban Fantasy
Saturday, September 5th, 10am ET, Urban Fantasy Track YouTube
Fae of many forms and intentions appear in Urban Fantasy. Our panelists will discuss the characteristics of the types they use in their work.
Panelists: Patricia Briggs, Jim Butcher, Cecilia Dominic, Lisa Manifold, Bishop O’Connell, and Carol Malcolm (M)

Jim Butcher: 20 Years of Harry Dresden (LIVE)
Monday, September 7th, 10am ET, Main Programming Livestream
Come spend an hour with the mind behind your favorite magical detective as he discusses the pending release of the new Dresden book, Battle Ground, to the things that inspired Jim along the way.
Panelists: Jim Butcher, Chris “Crispy” Lloyd (M)

The Dresden Files: Peace Talks Trailer Cast and Crew Panel
Monday, September 7th, 11:30am ET, Urban Fantasy Track YouTube
Join Jim Butcher, director Priscilla Spencer, and the cast and crew of the Peace Talks Trailer as they recount their experiences on this epic-level undertaking! Suzanne Solomon moderates a hilarious discussion that explores the challenges of filming a book trailer for a fanatically devoted fanbase, which actors are most like their characters, what Easter eggs are hidden in the production design, and more! We’ll also be sharing previously unseen material you won’t want to miss.
Panelists: Jason Bernardo, Jim Butcher, June Dietrich, Liz Fenning, Sarah Flannery, Stephen Gibler, Kitty Krell, Birgit Lüdemann, Wade Morrison, Tonya Nelson, Stephanie Piotrowski, Jeremy Royce, Christopher Showerman, Shelby Smith, Priscilla Spencer, Kris Stone, and Suzanne Solomon (M).

Sample Chapters

Read Chapters 1 and 2 exclusively at Tor! You won’t want to miss these. They’re all the fandom is going to be able to talk about until the book comes out. Or until we post Chapter 3 in a future Drop.

Is “deranged cackling” an appropriate sentiment for a news post? Asking for a friend who is an author.

Signed Books and Battle Ground Tour

Later this month, join Jim for a trio of live Q&As, two of which are free for everyone to enjoy. You can also preorder signed copies of Battle Ground. Act quickly, as many vendors’ signed copies of Peace Talks went FAST!

Copies ordered through Mysterious Galaxy, Barbara’s Bookstore, and B&N will be signed books. Copies ordered through Worldbuilders will be a standard hardcover with a signed bookplate.

MYSTERIOUS GALAXY: 9/289:00pm* ET

Virtual Q&A via Zoom, moderated by Mysterious Galaxy Events Director Constance Summar. Ticketed event: Buy 1 signed copy of Battle Ground OR a $5 ticket.

*Note: We’re double-checking this information, as 9PM Eastern is obviously not the same time at 7PM Pacific. We’ll update this post with a clarification and re-confirm the correct time in a future Drop!

BARBARA’S BOOKSTORE CHICAGO: 9/297:00pm CT

FREE Virtual Q&A via Crowdcast, moderated by Dresden Files creative consultant and Peace Talks trailer director Priscilla Spencer. Signed copies available for purchase.

BARNES & NOBLE: 9/30, 7:00pm ET

FREE Virtual Q&A Zoom & Facebook, moderated by Jim’s editor Anne Sowards. Signed copies available for purchase.

WORLDBUILDERS

We haven’t been given dates or times for any potential Q&As, but you can preorder a copy of Battle Ground with a signed bookplate!


And that’s this week’s entry! Visit Jim-Butcher.com every Tuesday this year for weekly Drops of never-before-seen artwork, microfiction, interviews, contests, sample chapters for Peace Talks and Battle Ground, or other tasty tidbits in our celebration of the 20th Anniversary of the Dresden Files. Join our new mailing list and follow @jimbutchernews on twitter to ensure you don’t miss a moment, and check the announcement post to catch up on prior Drops.

AMA Recap & Virtual Tour Schedule

Peace Talks is here, and Battle Ground is only a month away! Have you preordered your copy yet? Today, in addition to a recap of the weekend’s Reddit AMA, we announce Jim’s Virtual Book Tour for Battle Ground, with a whole slew of opportunities to order signed copies!

As of 8/25, there are 35 days to Battle Ground!

You can also support your favorite local independent bookstore or preorder a regular copy through the Jim-Butcher.com Store! Or if you enjoy having James Marsters murmuring in your ear, snag the audiobook from our store or through Jim’s publisher.


AMA Recap

This past weekend’s AMA had a LOT of fun reveals! You’ll want to do a ctrl-F on username jimbutcherauthor to read them all in full, but here’s a taste of the kinds of questions he responded to:

  • Who or what are Bob’s parents?
  • Will there be a sequel to The Aeronaut’s Windlass?
  • Are there any well known historical Summer Knights?
  • How old are the Unseelie Accords?
  • Are soulgazes strictly the purview of wizards, or do other supernatural entities get them as well?
  • Would you rather fight ten Mister-sized Mouses or one Mouse-sized Mister?

Battle Ground Virtual Book Tour

Next month, join Jim for a trio of live Q&As, two of which are free for everyone to enjoy. You can also preorder signed copies of Battle Ground. Act quickly, as many vendors’ signed copies of Peace Talks went FAST!

Mysterious Galaxy Fan Event 9/28 at 7pm EST

MYSTERIOUS GALAXY: 9/28, 9:00pm* ET

Virtual Q&A via Zoom, moderated by Mysterious Galaxy Events Director Constance Summar. Ticketed event: Buy 1 signed copy of Battle Ground OR a $5 ticket.

*Note: We’re double-checking this information, as 9PM Eastern is obviously not the same time at 7PM Pacific. We’ll update this post with a clarification and re-confirm the correct time in a future Drop!

BARBARA’S BOOKSTORE CHICAGO: 9/29, 7:00pm CT

FREE Virtual Q&A via Crowdcast, moderated by Dresden Files creative consultant and Peace Talks trailer director Priscilla Spencer. Signed copies available for purchase.

BARNES & NOBLE: 9/30, 7:00pm ET

FREE Virtual Q&A Zoom & Facebook, moderated by Jim’s editor Anne Sowards. Signed copies available for purchase.

WORLDBUILDERS

We haven’t been given dates or times for any potential Q&As, but you can preorder a copy of Battle Ground with a signed bookplate!


Hey, Shouldn’t We Be Seeing Sample Chapters By Now?

Those start next week! You’ll get your fix soon.


And that’s it for this week’s entry! Visit Jim-Butcher.com every Tuesday this year for weekly Drops of never-before-seen artwork, microfiction, interviews, contests, sample chapters for Peace Talks and Battle Ground, or other tasty tidbits in our celebration of the 20th Anniversary of the Dresden Files. Join our new mailing list and follow @jimbutchernews on twitter to ensure you don’t miss a moment, and check the announcement post to catch up on prior Drops.