2013 Convention Appearances, part 2

Jim has added a number of events to his schedule! With the exception of one more con event we can’t announce yet, here’s what the rest of his 2013 looks like:

MisCon 2013
Missoula, MT
May 24-27, 2013
“MisCon is a four-day celebration of literacy and the arts within the science fiction, fantasy, and horror genres. Held each Memorial Day weekend (Friday through Monday), MisCon has something to fascinate, educate, and entertain you at all times.”

San Diego Comic Con 2013
San Diego, CA
July 17-21, 2013

Space City Con
Houston, TX
August 2-4, 2013
“Space City Con is an all-ages festival of comics, sci-fi, fantasy, gaming, literature, and art, in the spirit of Houston, Texas! Envisioned as a “geek festival with free parking,” our goal is to put on the best convention possible for current generations of fans, and instill a love of comics, Sci-fi and fantasy in the next generation. It was founded in 2012, and with only 5 months to prepare, the event drew nearly 2000 unique individuals, most of whom attended all weekend.”

Dragon*Con
Atlanta, GA
August 30 – September 2, 2013

WyrdCon
Costa Mesa, CA
September 12-15, 2013

Encounters 2013
Wichita, KS
October 11-13, 2013
Encounters’ FB Page

FaerieCon East
Baltimore, MD
November 8th-10th

We also have the following announcement from WyrdCon:

The Wyrd Con Kickstarter is in it’s final countdown and they’ve recently expanded their offerings, even bringing out an option to earn every aspect of the Kickstarter including a lunch with Jim himself!

Check out the Kickstarter, each contribution helps improve the world of Storytelling, a portion of the proceeds will even benefit Jim’s favorite charity, the Missouri Pit Bull fund!

There is even still an opportunity to play a game live with Jim with a Steward badge. Give Wyrd Con a shot a try the live version of storytelling for yourself!

Join us at Wyrd Con IV in Southern California on September 12th – 15th!

Ad Astra Schedule and Furies of Calderon Limited Edition

Subterranean Press has announced limited and lettered editions of Furies of Calderon. The lettered edition has already sold out. If you’re interested, act quickly!

Also, Jim is headed to Toronto for Ad Astra this weekend! Jim is slated for the following panels:

I Love to Hate You
Friday @ 10pm, Franklin
Ed Greenwood (m), Jim Butcher, Fiona Patton, Gregory A. Wilson, Catherine Fitzsimmons
In this panel, examine what is involved in creating a truly great villain. By discussing some examples of favourite well-written villains and what makes them memorable, you will gain a better understanding of how to make your antagonist someone that everyone loves to hate.

Is the Stand-Alone Novel an Endangered Format?
Saturday @ 10am, Berczy A
Julie Czerneda (m), Robert J. Sawyer, Catherine Fitzsimmons, Jim Butcher
More and more books are coming out in series format. While this may be publisher driven, it is just as likely consumer driven. In the face of this trend, it may become impossible to successfully pitch a stand-alone work, and the temptation to force a series may become irresistible. Is there still a place in publishing for a stand-alone book? This panel seeks an answer.

Magic in the Big City
Saturday @ 12pm, Ellsemere West
Lesley Livingston (m), Kelley Armstrong, Jim Butcher
With its banality and cynicism, what does it take to make magic become a reality in a modern city? The challenges to writing about the supernatural in a metropolis are many, but they are not insurmountable. In fact, there are many reasons a city is the ideal setting for magical happenings. Join our panelists and learn how they take magic to the streets.

Demons, Werewolves, and Necromancers
Saturday @ 3pm, Ellsemere East
Douglas Smith (m), Jim Butcher, Timothy Carter, Andrew Pyper, Timothy Liebe
There are new trends forming in the paranormal genre. Traditionally ‘evil’ characters are turned into heroes. Paranormal fiction is expanding and so is the demographic of people who read it. How do you keep these new ideas from becoming cliché? What works and what doesn’t? Attend this panel to plumb the depths – and shallows – of the unknowable.

The Force is With Mickey!
Sunday @ 11am, Ellsemere East
Sebastian Mineau (m), Jim Butcher, Max Turner, Cris Macht, Amy De Ruyte
As a result of the sale of LucasArts to Disney, the future of the Star Wars universe lies in the hands of a mouse. Surely such an infusion of fresh creative juices bodes well for this beloved franchise. In this panel, we’ll discuss what kinds of stories we might expect, and whether the fact that the new movies won’t be controlled by George Lucas is a good thing…or a great thing!

Ghoul Goblin #3 in Stores!

GHOUL, GOBLIN is an original comic series set in the official Dresden Files continuity, and issue 3 is now in stores!

Harry’s traveled from his home turf of Chicago to investigate a series of inexplicable murders in a small Missouri town. He’s already managed to turn half the burg against him, with the other half’s motives even murkier. And that’s not even taking the Ghoul and Goblin who’ve both separately nearly killed him. Unfortunately, they may have succeeded in murdering the eldest of the cursed family he’s trying to protect—a man who harbors his own dark secrets. It’s time for Harry to seek the help of a higher authority…

DOWNLOAD GHOUL, GOBLIN #3 NOW AT COMIXOLOGY, OR GO TO YOUR LOCAL COMICS SHOP TODAY!

Check out a five-page preview:

Jim sells rights to Steampunk series

Congrats to Jim for selling the first three books in a new steampunk series, The Cinder Spires!

From Publishers Weekly:

Penguin Group is continuing its relationship with bestselling fantasy writer Jim Butcher. The author of the Dresden Files and Codex Alera closed a seven-figure, three-book deal with his current publisher for a new series. Anne Sowards, at Roc, took world English rights to The Cinder Spires: The Aeronaut’s Windlass, and two sequels, from agent Jennifer Jackson at Donald Maass Literary. Butcher recently published the 14th book in the Dresden Files, a series that has been adapted to TV (on SyFy channel) and turned into a comic book (published by Dynamite Entertainment). The Cinder Spires, Jackson said, is set in a world “of black spires that tower for miles over a mist-shrouded surface” and follows a war between two of the Spires: Spire Albion and Spire Aurora.

At the Reddit AMA a few months ago, Jim said, “It’s kinda League of Extraordinary Gentlemen meets Sherlock meets Hornblower. There are goggles and airships and steam power and bizarre crystal technology and talking cats, who are horrid little bullies.”

Jim is still writing the first book, The Aeronaut’s Windlass, so we don’t have a release date yet. We’ll let you know as soon as there’s something to announce!