This week is a bit scattered, but it’s SCATTERED AWESOME, so who are we to complain? We’ve got some great book deals, delightful new art, and some behind-the-scenes photos for the making of the trailer!
April Fool’s Redux
Last week’s prank of a re-release of the Peace Talks trailer with “improved” visual effects was ridiculously silly (you all watched the real trailer first, yes?), but the fun didn’t stop there! Before the day was done, illustrator and tattoo artist Adam Mathison-Sward was already hard at work on a tribute to a previous April Fool’s prank: our 2011 “announcement” of the Li’l Harry Adventures children’s book series. We thought they were too perfect not to share! Check out his (fake) covers for the (fake) spinoff.
You can check out all our previous April Fool’s pranks here:
- 2019 — Jim Talks Peace Talks (which was apparently subtle enough to be quoted straight by at least one online news source)
- 2018 — The Dresden Files is Legal! (not really a prank per se, but very silly!)
- 2016 — Dresden Files Special Edition
- 2015 — Dresden Novels on Hiatus (turned out to be weirdly prescient?)
- 2014 — Dresden Files coming to Broadway (the infamous prank that inspired a lamentably unobservant fan to BOOK A TRIP TO NEW YORK to see it opening weekend)
- 2012 — Bigfoot Paranormal Romance
- 2011 — Fool Moon comic reboot and Li’l Harry Adventures
Book Deals
TODAY ONLY: the Parallel Worlds anthology, which contains the Goodman Grey-POV short story “Monsters,” is on sale for 99 cents! Find out what happens when our favorite amoral shapeshifter pulls a job for John Marcone.
Note: Co-editor LJ Hachmeister is currently working on the front lines as a registered nurse at an ER in Denver, helping stem the tide of Covid-19. All her books are also now on sale for 99 cents, so if you dig fantasy, military sci-fi, and space opera, it’s the perfect time to grab a copy of her work! And if you’re looking for another awesome urban fantasy to tide you off until Peace Talks, pick up the “Grave Report” series or “Dangerous Ways” by her co-editor R.R. Virdi.
You can also still snag the first three books at a reduced rate, and this week we’re adding Skin Game for $2.99! If you have friends who are stuck at home because of social distancing and on the lookout for a new series, now is the perfect time to catch up!
Storm Front at $2.99:
Grave Peril at $5.99:
Fool Moon at $3.99:
Skin Game at $2.99:
Upcoming Books Update
Library Journal has given Peace Talks a starred review! Their verdict: “With many familiar faces returning and lots of magical action, this latest from Butcher will have fans rejoicing at the return of Chicago’s only professional wizard.” –Kristi Chadwick, Massachusetts Library System, Northampton
Also, Battle Ground is now preorderable in audiobook! Note: If you’re an Audible subscriber and want to preorder using credits, please make sure you’ve logged into Audible beforehand. It’ll only give you the “buy with Audible credit” option if you’re already logged in.
Support this website by preordering both books from our store!
Trailer: Behind the Scenes
Each moment in the trailer went by so quickly, it was hard to appreciate all the work that went into each setup! Here’s a glimpse behind the scenes, thanks to photographer Yrene Ramirez. Click to embiggen.
Production Design team Wade Morrison and Kris Stone unload a set wall 
Shelby Smith transforms Katalina Otter into the Winter Lady 
Jessica Vergon applies her own femme fatale aesthetic to Birgit Ludemann (Lara) 
Shelby Smith sets Mab’s pale foundation on Liz Fenning 
Shelby Smith makes a Svartalf of Katie Baker 
Jason Bernardo (Harry) dons his Winter finery 
Art Director Kris Stone fastens Ramirez’s warden sword on Sergio Lopez 
Adam Gregor (Ebenezar) waits for his call 
Queens of Winter staying warm: Katalina Otter (Molly) and Liz Fenning (Mab) 
Katalina Otter (Molly) in a mysterious setting… 
Birgit Ludemann (Lara) and Jason Bernardo (Harry) rehearse blocking 
Birgit Ludemann (Lara) works her wiles on Jason Bernardo (Harry) 
Director Priscilla Spencer addresses the cast 
Production Designer Wade Morrison surveys his handiwork 
Katie Baker (Evanna), Katalina Otter (Molly), and Adam Gregor (Ebenezar) relax between takes 
Liz Fenning (Mab) gets into character with Katalina Otter (Molly) and Christopher Showerman (Marcone) 
Liz Fenning (Mab), Katalina Otter (Molly), and Christopher Showerman rehearse their blocking 
The camera crew check light levels around Liz Fenning (Mab) 
Sergio Lopez (Ramirez), Adam Gregor (Ebenezar), and Wade Morrison (Chandler) represent the White Council 
Sergio Lopez (Ramirez) stands in for light levels 
DP Jeremy Royce discusses a shot with 1st AC RJ Siu 
Producer Stephen Gibler admires the Peace Summit tableau 
Priscilla Spencer directs the actors 
Molly, stay at least 5 feet from Thomas at all times! Katalina Otter and Kamy Bruder 
Jason Bernardo (Harry) rests between takes of the dumbwaiter shaft shot 
Kamy Bruder (Thomas) and Jason Bernardo (Harry) rehearse blocking 
DP Jeremy Royce sets up the Blade Runner eye effect 
Director Priscilla Spencer watches the camera team’s work alongside Suzanne Solomon and Amy Gruss 
Costume Designer Tonya Nelson paints on more blood 
A goofy moment between takes for Kamy Bruder (Thomas) and Jason Bernardo (Harry) 
Jason Bernardo (Harry) and Kamy Bruder (Thomas) chat on set 
Kamy Bruder (Thomas) in a storyboarded shot that was cut for time 
Director Priscilla Spencer talks through the intimate scene between Jason Bernardo (Harry) and Birgit Ludemann (Lara) 
Jason Bernardo (Harry) and Christopher Showerman (Marcone) receive instruction between takes 
Jason Bernardo (Harry) and Christopher Showerman (Marcone) 
Jason Bernardo (Harry) films the spinaround shot
Haven’t seen the official book trailer for Peace Talks yet? See it now, or see it again!
And that’s it for this week!
Visit Jim-Butcher.com every Tuesday this year for weekly Drops of never-before-seen artwork, microfiction, interviews, contests, sample chapters for Peace Talks, 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. See you next week!
