From Chicago signing<\/span>: Will we see Ferro again?<\/strong> How can Harry continually go to Burger King without blowing the equipment?<\/strong> Why Chicago?<\/strong> Will we see Lash or Lasciel again?<\/strong> How\/when did Harry find out Lea is his godmother?\u00a0 Is Lea Thomas\u2019s godmother, too?<\/strong> The\u00a0titles for the trilogy<\/strong>\u00a0are:\u00a0 Hell\u2019s Bells, Stars and Stones, and Empty Night.<\/p>\n Why did you shoot Michael?<\/strong> From Lexington signing:<\/span><\/p>\n What book would make the best movie?<\/strong> Will we get any more stories from other points of view?<\/strong> Why does Butters always say \u201cI\u2019m not a doctor\u201d \u2013 he actually is!<\/strong> What are the upper levels of magic?<\/strong> What\u2019s the title to the next book?<\/strong> Where did the martial arts info and fight scene info come from?<\/strong> Is Mister a familiar or anything magical?<\/strong> Was the job offer to Murphy a one-time offer?<\/strong> Are the Carpenters based on someone specific?<\/strong> Will we ever find out what people see when they Soulgaze Harry?<\/strong> Will we ever find out more about the Black Cats, or about Eb\u2019s early years?<\/strong> Is there an actor or character reference for Binder?<\/strong> Will Molly be the one who fixes Carlos\u2019s \u2018problem?\u2019<\/strong> Does Thomas have a godmother?<\/strong> When will Jim get back the film rights?<\/strong> Does he like writing the short stories?<\/strong> Will there be any more new material for the graphic novels?<\/strong> Hat on the covers?<\/strong> How does Harry know so much about movies and TV?<\/strong> How big will Toot get?<\/strong> What protections are there against the White Court?<\/strong>\u00a0 [Editorial note, my friend\u2019s daughter and I put her up to this question, but she hasn\u2019t even finished Blood Rites yet, so she left out half the question, not knowing how important it was] When will we learn more about Maggie?<\/strong> What was Malcolm\u2019s reference to the Jabberwock about?<\/strong> Are there any characters that started out as minor characters but grew into something different?<\/strong> Will the problem with wizards and technology be resolved, since most kids growing up now are so surrounded by technology?<\/strong> What is the Gatekeeper guarding?\u00a0 What\u2019s behind the gates?<\/strong> Will Harry ever get a Warden\u2019s sword?<\/strong> Will Thomas get one of the Swords of the Cross?<\/strong> Why don\u2019t we see Harry making potions any more?<\/strong> Will you ever show Butters\u2019 polka suit again?<\/strong> Jim\u2019s favorite recurring villain?<\/strong> Why did the Denarians in Small Favor seem less powerful than in Death Masks?<\/strong> Difference between the Fallen and other creatures from Hell?<\/strong> When will we learn more about the Black Council?<\/strong> Jim\u2019s favorite supporting character?<\/strong> Will Chauncy return and use Harry\u2019s Name?<\/strong> Are Molly’s actions of peeking into Harry’s head in SmF\u00a0 and into Luccio in TC?\u00a0violations of the 3rd Law?\u00a0 What about Harry and Elaine’s communication spell in WN, or (Merlin’s actions at Morgan’s trial?<\/strong><\/p>\n Molly’s actions are a violation of the 3rd Law.\u00a0 She is entering someone’s head without their consent.\u00a0 Harry and Elaine’s communication is consensual sharing of thoughts.\u00a0 (He didn’t really answer the last part of the question)<\/p>\n Will Demonreach turn out to be good or evil?<\/strong> Sword on the cover of Turn Coat.<\/strong> <\/p>\n Here is a new set of Q & A from the signing in Independence.\u00a0 We hung around for a bit and chatted with Jim and Shannon, and then Jim joined our group for dinner, thanks to Frogge!<\/p>\n Others who were in Independence, chime in if I’ve missed something or if my notes aren’t accurate!<\/p>\n How\/when did Thomas find out Harry is his brother?\u00a0<\/strong> Is the athame a channel for some kind of power that was hurting Lea, therefore when Mab took it away, she was injured fighting off whatever that power is?\u00a0<\/strong> Can the skinwalker access the NeverNever and use the Ways?\u00a0 If so, why didn\u2019t it?\u00a0<\/strong> Some people think Susan is smart, strong-willed, and confident.\u00a0 Some people think she is arrogant, stupid, and suicidal.\u00a0 How were thinking of her when you were writing her?<\/strong> What about her actions at Bianca\u2019s party?<\/strong> Harry\u2019s met all the other ladies-queens-mothers – will we ever actually meet Titania?\u00a0<\/strong> What happened to the other Alphas?\u00a0<\/strong> Will we see Ferro again?\u00a0<\/strong> How old is Eb?\u00a0<\/strong> Clarification on what\u2019s behind the titles for the final trilogy.\u00a0<\/strong> Other things Jim would like to write?\u00a0<\/strong> Also, he\u2019d like to write a short story about Bigfoot.\u00a0 People in a campground sight him and go screaming in terror, and there sits Harry at the campfire. Where did Morgan get the apron?\u00a0<\/strong> Some conversation about Mab and Harry –\u00a0<\/strong> The first gruffs seem to be different from the later sets in terms of looks, smell, and fighting approach.\u00a0 Were they sent by someone different?\u00a0<\/strong> Will we run into whoever hired the skinwalker?\u00a0<\/strong> Was the voice in Harry\u2019s head at the end of White Night (when he was playing guitar) a sign that Lash is still there?\u00a0<\/strong> When Thomas called Harry from the storage facility and said he couldn\u2019t handle \u201cthem\u201d by himself, was he referring to Binder\u2019s minions or someone else?\u00a0<\/strong> Will you tell us more about Harry\u2019s headaches?\u00a0<\/strong> How and why did the skinwalker take Thomas?\u00a0<\/strong> Can you tell us more about the runes on the cottage and the lighthouse?\u00a0<\/strong> Also, people have a few things wrong about the Gatekeeper and the island.\u00a0 The Gatekeeper did not hurt Demonreach.\u00a0 Gatekeeper has been on the island a couple of times, and it\u2019s never gone well, but he didn\u2019t cause Demonreach\u2019s limp.\u00a0 That\u2019s the work of the glacier that carved out Lake Michigan.<\/p>\n How is Eb protected from black magic?\u00a0<\/strong> Given that so many creatures of the NeverNever know stuff about Harry \u2013 his mother, that Thomas is his brother, etc. \u2013 how can it be that the Senior Council doesn\u2019t know?\u00a0<\/strong> If the White Council is so oblivious to things going on in the mortal world, how is it that Morgan knew exactly when the nuclear test was going to be (for when he nuked the skinwalker)?\u00a0<\/strong> Senior wizards are actually fairly aware of big things going on with mortals.\u00a0 They knew all about what was happening in the US and Russia during the Cold War.\u00a0 In fact, they were the ones who realized that Russia really wasn\u2019t a major power, and that everything they were doing was in fear of the US and in preparation for defending themselves.\u00a0 Wizards planted the idea for the US to bug Russia.\u00a0 When the US found out that Russia really was just scared of them, that\u2019s when the peace discussions began.<\/p>\n The first line of Changes\u2026 is the baby Harry\u2019s?\u00a0<\/strong> How are you going to wrap up everything there is to wrap up in First Lord\u2019s Fury?\u00a0<\/strong> It would be really neat to write a story thousands of years in the future, to see how their world has settled and changed after all that\u2019s happened.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Took some notes from the signing.\u00a0 Sorry if they are incomplete.\u00a0 I didn’t write down some that even I’ve heard answered more than once.\u00a0 Bookie and I volunteer to screen Q&As for Lee’s Summit.\u00a0\u00a0 All the previous books have had two word titles with the same number of letters, why the style change for Changes?<\/strong><\/p>\n Presumably, because there is gonna be some changes.<\/p>\n What will you be starting on next?\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n *edited*\u00a0 A post-apocalyptic fantasy in the style of \u2018a bunch of people go attack the lord of darkness and lose\u2026meanwhile\u2026\u2019<\/p>\n Are you rushing to get the books out, is it hard to do two books a year?<\/strong><\/p>\n It\u2019s not hard when I act like a grown up.\u00a0 Two books a year is about right, graphic novels are a lot more time than expected.<\/p>\n What is the worst movie you\u2019ve ever seen?<\/strong><\/p>\n Pumpkinhead was horrible, but fun.\u00a0 Anyone that MST3K took time to spoof. What did Jim think about the TV show?<\/strong><\/p>\n It could have been worse.\u00a0 Wasn\u2019t completely unrecognizable, but they didn\u2019t have enough money to do the special effects well.\u00a0 The actress playing Murphy was the only person who read the books.<\/p>\n What is your theory why they cancelled it?<\/strong><\/p>\n Bonnie Hammer gave SciFi shows like Ghost Hunters and wrestling, whereas David Howe gave the channel Dresden and Battlestar Galactica.\u00a0 Hammer didn\u2019t want Howe to have another series that did well.<\/p>\n When will there be a movie?<\/strong><\/p>\n Rights are still with Lionsgate.\u00a0 Revert back to Jim in 2013.\u00a0 (Three years and 13 days from Houston\u2026not that he\u2019s counting.) No, I have trouble with two books a year.\u00a0 It would be great for it to exist, but Jim doesn\u2019t want to know about it.<\/p>\n Have you played\/are you going to play the RPG?\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n Too much like work.\u00a0 He\u2019s every GM\u2019s nightmare.\u00a0 How are you gonna argue with Jim?\u00a0 If it wasn\u2019t right, he\u2019d write it in the next book so that it would be right.<\/p>\n DC\/Marvel\/Independent?<\/strong><\/p>\n Marvel.\u00a0 Big fan of Spiderman.\u00a0 Though he\u2019s been asked by DC to write a Batman\/Superman story but he doesn\u2019t know the characters well enough to satisfy the dedicated fans.<\/p>\n Mister or Mouse based on real animals?<\/strong><\/p>\n Used to be in a chat where they discussed deep philosophical issues like “if you were trapped on a desert island, what would be the one kind of sandwich you would eat” and every now and then one of the members would type *spledunkadork* or some typo and then say the cat just strolled across the computer.\u00a0 When that member would make a typo, everyone would say \u201cHi Mister!\u201d Mister is based on that cat.<\/p>\n Are you open to other authors doing DF?\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n Not really.<\/p>\n Do you have any plans for the Jade Court to show up?<\/strong><\/p>\n The Jade Court is adamantly not involved.\u00a0 They are very busy being not involved.<\/p>\n Is DF all planned out or outlined?\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n A general outline\/events have been planned since 1995.\u00a0 Two extra books are planned as DF is two books behind.\u00a0 (Adding: we think this means a total of 22 + 3)<\/p>\n Who is gonna get the swords?<\/strong><\/p>\n Really?\u00a0 You think I\u2019m gonna answer that?\u00a0 (insert massive sarcasm)<\/p>\n If you could go back and change any one thing in the series, what would you change?<\/strong><\/p>\n I\u2019m just trying not to rock the boat.\u00a0 \u201cStupidity has really helped me a lot.\u201d<\/p>\n Are we gonna get a short story from Mouse\u2019s POV?<\/strong><\/p>\n No, \u2018cause then you would know too much.<\/p>\n Did Jim and Shannon ever want to collaborate\/write something together?<\/strong><\/p>\n Thought about it but he would rather stay married.<\/p>\n Was Michael based on anyone?<\/strong><\/p>\n Michael was a Paladin that Jim wanted to do right, a man who lives his life according to the bible.\u00a0 Nicodemus is Michael\u2019s opposite, trying to live his life exactly opposite of what the bible says to do.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Here is the Q&A from Lee’s Summit. \u00a0I didn’t get all the questions, but between this and the video Aine’s gonna post, it’s covered.<\/p>\n Before starting the Q&A, Jim asked that no one ask him not to die. \u00a0He certainly doesn\u2019t plan to die anytime soon. \u00a0He said he\u2019s been getting that a lot lately, and he doesn\u2019t want to tempt fate.<\/p>\n Q: \u00a0When you finished the book, did you do an evil cackle and rub your hands together? Q: \u00a0For most cliffhangers, when you read the second book, you realize that there were a lot of clues in the first book. \u00a0Is that the case here? Q: \u00a0What\u2019s the first line of the next book ? Q: \u00a0What is the timing of the next book? \u00a0Is it the usual span, or will it take place right after\u00a0Aftermath<\/em>? Q: \u00a0Will Thomas\u2019s memories of Maggie ever come into play? Q: \u00a0Did you decide to write\u00a0Dead Beat<\/em>\u00a0because you wanted to fit in a zombie dinosaur, or did you think of the zombie dinosaur while writing the book? Q: \u00a0When Harry read Eb\u2019s journal in\u00a0Turn Coat<\/em>, there was an implied prophesy about him (Harry) of sorts. Will that come into play later in the series. Q: \u00a0Where did you get the idea for the 3 nails in the swords? Q: \u00a0Will we learn more about Harry\u2019s headaches? Q: \u00a0Since there haven\u2019t really been cases in the past couple of books, and with Harry\u2019s office gone\u00a0is this the end of Harry\u2019s role as a private investigator? Q: \u00a0Is the original Merlin still alive? Q: \u00a0Are you going to make any Dresden movies? Seriously, there are 3 years and 2 days until the rights revert to me.<\/p>\n And actually, I\u2019d be interested in doing some other stuff, like an MMORPG. \u00a0But then I\u2019d never write again.<\/p>\n Q: Will Harry ever charge anything besides money for his cases? Q: \u00a0Can you tell us a little more about the black staff? Q: \u00a0Will we see more of Michael? Q: \u00a0Why hasn\u2019t Harry created things to replace modern conveniences? Also, Harry chooses not to spend his time on that kind of thing. \u00a0The maintenance for something like that would take a lot of time.<\/p>\n Q: \u00a0Harry says several times that Molly isn\u2019t going to be a good combat wizard, but she seems to hold her own. Q: \u00a0Should Harry\u2019s first deal with Lea been covered by Maggie\u2019s deal? And, Maggie could have done a little better job on her deal with Lea, but she was kind of in a rush, so she wasn\u2019t as detailed as she should have been.<\/p>\n Q: \u00a0Harry seemed to be gathering every powerful ally he could \u2013 why not Elaine, or the Alphas? Q: \u00a0What is the first line of\u00a0Aftermath<\/em>? Q: \u00a0What is the second line of\u00a0Aftermath<\/em>? Q: \u00a0What were you thinking, making Butters drop like that? Q: \u00a0Is Cowl still out of Harry\u2019s league, now that Harry has this additional power? Q: \u00a0You spend a lot of time with your characters. \u00a0Have they become like friends, or do you stay distanced from them so you can just say \u2018I\u2019ll drop them over here\u2019? Q: \u00a0Any news on the comic? Q: \u00a0Do you have to have sex in order to have protection from the White Court? Q: \u00a0Can homosexuals be protected from the White Court? Q: \u00a0Are the White Court affected by thresholds? Q: \u00a0Why would Harry do something as drastic as take on the mantle of Winter Knight? \u00a0He\u2019s never had to do that kind of thing before. Q: \u00a0Is Elaine another candidate to wield power over Outsiders (the way Harry supposedly is)? \u2026I asked him the question\u00a0 <\/p>\n Here’s what I got from the Q&A in KC…<\/p>\n Q.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Will there be another Dresden TV series?<\/strong> Q.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0In\u00a0Even Hand<\/em>, we learn that John Marcone is not his real name; does that have significance?<\/strong> Q.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Will there be a 7th book in Alera?<\/strong> Q.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Would you like to see either series in an animated movie or anime?<\/strong> Q.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Is there a real or historical person or place that you would like Harry to \u2018interact\u2019 with but you haven\u2019t been able to yet.<\/strong> Q.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Are there any big clues that no one has picked up on yet?<\/strong> Q.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0What did you base Harry\u2019s character on?<\/strong> Q.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Will we learn the history of Jack Murphy and why he killed himself?<\/strong> Q.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0What\u2019s the biggest clich\u00e9 you\u2019ve used?<\/strong> Q.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Will Harry ever jump through time?<\/strong> Q.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0In the RPG, there is the option of creating different Harrys based on Harry having made different choices.\u00a0 Is that just for the RPG?<\/strong> Q.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0When did you know Maggie existed?<\/strong> Q.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0If you could go back and do things differently, what would you change in books 1 and 2?<\/strong> Q.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0What actors would you choose for Harry and Thomas?<\/strong> Q.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Why did\u00a0
\n
\nWill we find out more about Mac?<\/strong>
\nYes, but probably not until the final trilogy.<\/p>\n
\nYes.\u00a0 Here is where Jim commented that he is a lazy writer, so if something gets a reasonable amount of screen time in the books, chances are it will show up again later.\u00a0 He wouldn\u2019t put that much effort into something that\u2019s not so important.<\/p>\n
\nUnless there\u2019s constant exposure, technology usually fouls up if magic is being actively used or a wizard\u2019s emotions are running high.\u00a0 He generally remains calm when going to BK.<\/p>\n
\nOriginally, TDF was set in Jim\u2019s hometown of Kansas City.\u00a0 His teacher at the time told him he shouldn\u2019t use KC because he was already treading close to LKH\u2019s territory, and he should pick somewhere else.\u00a0 He looked at a globe in the room, and there were 4 US cities showing.\u00a0 Washington DC \u2013 nope, don\u2019t want to write about politics.\u00a0 New York \u2013 covered by the Fantastic Four.\u00a0 Los Angeles \u2013 covered by Hollywood.\u00a0 Chicago it is!<\/p>\n
\nLasciel\u2019s story is not over.\u00a0 And keep in mind what\u2019s said about \u2018a woman scorned.\u2019\u00a0 Also keep in mind that Lasciel is NOT Lash; Lasciel did not reabsorb the entity that Harry actually changed. (Yes, he use those words \u201cthat Harry actually changed.\u201d)<\/p>\n
\nLea was around when Harry was in middle school, although he didn\u2019t know who she was.\u00a0 She was just a lady who sometimes did nice things for him.\u00a0 He found out who she is after he became Justin\u2019s apprentice.\u00a0 Lea is not Thomas\u2019s godmother<\/p>\n
\nRead\u00a0The Warrior<\/em>. Getting shot is Michael’s happy ending.<\/p>\n
\nZombie T-rex (did you need to ask?)<\/p>\n
\nThere will be one from Marcone (in Dark and Stormy Night) and one from Murphy (entitled Hawaii).<\/p>\n
\nIt\u2019s about the way Butters defines a doctor, as someone who works on live people; it has nothing to do with Butters\u2019 education or qualifications.<\/p>\n
\nThere are none, if the person has enough juice.\u00a0 If someone was strong enough, they could completely rewrite reality.<\/p>\n
\nChanges.\u00a0 Yes, it\u2019s a one word title.\u00a0 He\u2019s changing his pattern because\u2026 well, there just might be some changes coming up.<\/p>\n
\nSome from Jim\u2019s own experiences in martial arts, some from others\u2019 experience, some from watching movies.\u00a0 Jim also relayed that he started martial arts because he was always getting picked on by bullies, for being short and smart, and not knowing when to keep his mouth shut.\u00a0 He also talked about a time when he was about 13 that a bully actually came at him with a knife\u2026 and Jim beat him up with a bicycle.<\/p>\n
\nNo, he\u2019s just a freakin\u2019 big cat.<\/p>\n
\n[sing-sing voice] I\u2019m not gonna tell you! [\/sing-song voice]<\/p>\n
\nNo.\u00a0 In this genre, religious characters are almost always hypocritical or judgmental.\u00a0 Wanted a good role model.\u00a0 And of course that role model needed a family to be in danger to make things interesting.\u00a0 The size of the family is based on his sister\u2019s (?) family (6 kids).<\/p>\n
\nKind of.\u00a0 In Changes, someone who has \u2018Gazed Harry will tell him about the experience.<\/p>\n
\nHe\u2019s considered writing a story in the Dresdenverse about the American-Indian war, when Eb and the Merlin were both young punks.<\/p>\n
\nActor from Unleashed.\u00a0 He said Ed Asner, but we think he meant Bob Hoskins.<\/p>\n
\nMaybe, if they both live long enough.\u00a0 Plus, she \u2018technically\u2019 has the same \u2018problem\u2019 so it could be interesting.<\/p>\n
\nNo.\u00a0 Maggie figured he was a baby shark, and would be able to protect himself.<\/p>\n
\n3 years from the Lexington signing.\u00a0 (April 14, 2012).\u00a0 But the rights were only for the content to the first 5 books.\u00a0 Theoretically, if someone did ask him to do a zombie T-rex movie, he probably could.<\/p>\n
\nYes.\u00a0 He doesn\u2019t want to clutter up the books with stuff that isn\u2019t central to the plot, wants to keep the novels on track (\u201cI don\u2019t need to describe every detail of Frodo crossing the shire.\u201d).\u00a0 He doesn\u2019t want to dump extraneous information on the reader.\u00a0 But some things are too good for just a \u2018drive-by\u2019 mention in the novels.<\/p>\n
\nEventually, yes.\u00a0 There will probably be a short story based on a comment Harry makes in Fool Moon about going on a call because someone \u2018saw something in a lake.\u2019<\/p>\n
\n\u201cThat damn hat!\u201d\u00a0 It\u2019s just on the covers.\u00a0 They tried to put Harry in a hat in the graphic novels, and Jim screamed.<\/p>\n
\nHe goes to the drive-in.\u00a0 Also, there\u2019s a TV store near Wicker Park, and he sits on a bench across the street from it and watches shows with closed captioning.\u00a0 Yes, Harry is often like a sad Dickens character, standing outside the window looking in.\u00a0 (Jim makes sad big puppy dog eyes)<\/p>\n
\nDepends on how much influence he has in the world.\u00a0 That\u2019s how the sidhe gain their size and power.\u00a0 Mab wasn\u2019t always as big as she is now.<\/p>\n
\nTrue love \u2013 real true love, not just romantic love \u2013 protects only against WC vamps feeding through lust\/intimacy.\u00a0 (He didn\u2019t name the protections against the other WC vamps, though.\u00a0 A thought \u2013 we should have realized love doesn\u2019t protect against the other forms of feeding, since Harry is taken by Vitto\u2019s attack just before Lara gets burned trying to feed on him)<\/p>\n
\nIt will be little bits at a time, like we\u2019re learning now.\u00a0 But eventually we will find out that what we\u2019ve been told so far is only accurate from a certain point of view.\u00a0 It will all have a different meaning once we\u2019ve learned the whole story.<\/p>\n
\nYou could argue that it was a forewarning about Lasciel.\u00a0 You could also argue that it was about He Who Walks Behind.\u00a0 Or it could be some other huge predator coming after Harry.\u00a0 Or you could get Jungian about it, but then you\u2019d have to get Freudian about it, and that just gets messy.
\n
\nWhat is Kincaid?<\/strong>
\nWe\u2019ll find out in the future.<\/p>\n
\nButters was originally a one-scene character, but he\u2019s fun to write.\u00a0 Same with Vince Garver.\u00a0 Jim found out they could both be really useful.<\/p>\n
\nNope, it will always be an issue.<\/p>\n
\n[sing-song voice] I\u2019m not gonna tell you! [\/sing-song voice]\u00a0 Seriously, he can\u2019t tell because it would break the Laws of Magic just to talk about it.<\/p>\n
\nHe can\u2019t, because Luccio can\u2019t make them anymore.<\/p>\n
\n[sing-song voice] I\u2019m not gonna tell you! [\/sing-song voice]\u00a0 (Jim’s enjoying this way too much!\u00a0![\":D\"](\"http:\/\/www.jimbutcheronline.com\/bb\/Smileys\/default\/cheesy.gif\" "\\"Cheesy\\"")
)<\/p>\n
\nThe potions were more like a security blanket for Harry.\u00a0 He wanted to be doing\u00a0something<\/em>, but he didn\u2019t really know what he should be doing.\u00a0 So he was making potions in case they might be useful.\u00a0 Now he actually has a clue about what he should be doing most of the time.\u00a0 But Harry is teaching Molly about potions.\u00a0 That\u2019s how she keeps changing her hair color \u2013 that was the first potion she learned to make.<\/p>\n
\nI kind of have to, because how can I not show something that awesome again?<\/p>\n
\nMarcone, when he\u2019s being a villain.\u00a0 And Nicodemus, because he is pure evil.<\/p>\n
\nIf a Fallen has essentially overpowered their human host, then they have limited free will (they can\u2019t use the free will of the human); a Denarian is much more powerful if they use the human as a partner.<\/p>\n
\nFallen are like corporate \u2013 they\u2019ve got the backing of an organization.<\/p>\n
\nThere will be a little more in the next book, but really we\u2019re not going to know it all until the very end.<\/p>\n
\nMarcone is really fun to write.\u00a0 So is Nicodemus.<\/p>\n
\nChauncy probably won\u2019t come back.\u00a0 He\u2019s small potatoes in Hell \u2013 kind of like a file clerk.\u00a0 But information flows up, so what he learned from Harry is very useful.<\/p>\n
\nDepends on your definition of those terms.\u00a0 But Harry will regret every having set foot on that island.\u00a0 Of course, Harry regrets just about anything he\u2019s ever done.<\/p>\n
\nSame thing as the hat.\u00a0 Although maybe he was going to write a scene where Harry had Morgan\u2019s sword.\u00a0 Sometimes he has a scene in mind at one point and then it just makes sense to write it differently.<\/p>\n2009 Independence signing notes by\u00a0BookLover\u2665<\/a><\/h2>\n
\nThomas was old enough to remember his mother, and obviously he wanted to find out everything that had happened to her.\u00a0 He knew there was another child, and it was only a matter of time before he found out it was Harry.\u00a0 There is a reason Thomas showed up when he did \u2013 he was there to help Harry from the start.<\/p>\n
\nDo you really think I\u2019m going to answer that?\u00a0 The one thing I will tell you is that Mab truly did what she thought was the best thing for Lea by encasing her in ice.<\/p>\n
\nYes.\u00a0 All I’ll say now is that it’s important to know that \u2018wardens\u2019 wasn\u2019t always plural.\u00a0 (He did add later that there are certain places it can\u2019t cross over, like the island).<\/p>\n
\nThat\u2019s one of those things that in real life, you really can\u2019t draw that line until after the fact, until you know the whole story.\u00a0 But once Susan was in the story, it would have been too easy for her to become Lois Lane, always to be the victim that needs rescuing; that\u2019s why her story went the way it did.<\/p>\n
\nSusan totally got what she deserved.\u00a0 Having said that, you have to understand that she really didn\u2019t know how dangerous the situation was \u2013 she knew it was dangerous, but she had no idea the scale of it.<\/p>\n
\nThe thing is, Titania\u2019s only interest is messing with Harry.<\/p>\n
\nLike happens with a lot of kids after college, they graduated and went their separate ways.\u00a0 Some of them wrote off the whole experience as the result of taking drugs in college.\u00a0 One ended up super religious.\u00a0 One ended up institutionalized.\u00a0 Given Kirby\u2019s death, Billy is going to try to track down some of the group.<\/p>\n
\nYes, he\u2019ll be back for the apocalyptic trilogy.<\/p>\n
\nEb is over 300 years old.\u00a0 He and Merlin have known each other for a very long time.\u00a0 They fought on opposite sides in the French & Indian war.<\/p>\n
\nHell\u2019s Bells and Stars & Stones are Harry and Eb terms; Empty Night is used by Thomas.\u00a0 They are curses for a reason.<\/p>\n
\nHe\u2019d really like to write Halo 4.<\/p>\n
\nB: You got any smokes?
\nH: [eating] No.\u00a0 How\u2019s your family?
\nB: My kid got that scholarship to UCLA.\u00a0 He\u2019s having laser hair removal, which I really hate; he\u2019s getting away from his roots.\u00a0 The wife is happy because she\u2019s got a double-wide now.<\/p>\n
\nHe just grabbed from the kitchen in Edinburgh when he was escaping.<\/p>\n
\nThe thing is that Mab never really figures Dresden quite right.\u00a0 She never gets it right when she tries to predict what he will do.\u00a0 But Small Favor turned out really well for her.<\/p>\n
\nNo, they\u2019re part of the same family.\u00a0 The first are just the newer gruffs, those most recent from being Changelings.\u00a0 They attacked Harry simply because Mab declared that she had chosen him as her emissary.<\/p>\n
\nThey have been mentioned, but they\u2019ve not yet been onscreen.<\/p>\n
\nNot really.\u00a0 But Lash\u2019s story isn\u2019t done.<\/p>\n
\nHe was talking about Binder\u2019s minions.<\/p>\n
\nYes.<\/p>\n
\nThomas was distracted by Binder\u2019s minions and the skinwalker saw the opportunity.\u00a0 It knew that Thomas is important to Harry, but not necessarily that Thomas is Harry\u2019s brother.\u00a0 The skinwalker exists in more than one dimension at a time and it has its own kind of intellectus when it comes to evil \u2013 it knows what will hurt you and scare you, even though it may not really know why.\u00a0 It took Thomas because he knew it would hurt and scare Harry.\u00a0 How it tortured Thomas wasn\u2019t part of any direction it was given to turn Thomas back into a monster, it was done because the skinwalker knew what would hurt Thomas and torment him, more than just physically.<\/p>\n
\nThey were not put there by Demonreach; they have been there a very long time.\u00a0 They are pre-Council.\u00a0 They\u2019re a prehistoric script, actually.\u00a0 Harry could have figured out the script if he\u2019d had the comic book.\u00a0NOTE:<\/strong>\u00a0I have no idea what comic book Jim was referring to, so if someone else does, please post it.<\/p>\n
\nThe Blackstaff is a literal black staff.\u00a0 He hasn\u2019t had it when we\u2019ve seen him, but he has it and it protects him.<\/p>\n
\nThey know.\u00a0 No one person on the SC knows everything about Harry, but between them all they could put it together.\u00a0 That is a group where having information is a means of power; they each have a lot of information but they don\u2019t necessarily know who knows what.<\/p>\n
\nA couple of tests had happened, and those things are disruptive.\u00a0 They send out a giant electromagnetic pulse.\u00a0 So naturally, the wizards noticed it.\u00a0 They did some research to figure out what it was, and once they understood, they made sure to know each time it was going to happen so nobody would get freaked out.\u00a0 So Morgan just had to plan it, to lure the skinwalker onto the range at the right time.\u00a0 Then he opened up a portal to the NeverNever, and barred the door behind himself.\u00a0 Boom.<\/p>\n
\nHarry is certainly meant to believe it is.\u00a0 Susan doesn\u2019t correct herself and say, \u201cNo, I mean\u00a0ours<\/em>, as in mine and Captain Bland.\u201d\u00a0 She is telling Harry that it\u2019s his child.<\/p>\n
\nIt won\u2019t wrap up everything, only the most critical stuff \u2013 how will Alerans live with each other when they\u2019ve got an unbalanced society?\u00a0 How will the Alerans live with their neighbors, when their only concern previously was whether to bury the bodies of leave them to the crows?\u00a0 And the Beta readers are really conflicted about Aquataine right now.<\/p>\nNotes from Houston Signing, April 6th, 2010 by Aine:<\/strong><\/h2>\n
![\";)\"](\"http:\/\/www.jimbutcheronline.com\/bb\/Smileys\/default\/wink.gif\" "\\"Wink\\"")
\u00a0<\/p>\n
\nHe, his wife, and son used to sit around and watch terrible movies on Sci-Fi as a family on Saturday nights.\u00a0 Shannon and Jay are much better at making off the cuff remarks about movies (and Jim) than he is.<\/p>\n
\n
\nWould you like to see a mmorpg?\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n2010 Lee’s Summit Signing notes by\u00a0BookLover\u2665<\/a>:<\/h2>\n
\nA: \u00a0No. \u00a0It was an evil cackle and finger twiddling (fingers \u2018steepled\u2019 and tapping against each other). \u00a0Anticipating the readers\u2019 reaction makes me all warm and fuzzy inside.<\/p>\n
\nA: \u00a0First of all, I don\u2019t think it really qualifies as a cliffhanger \u2013 it\u2019s only a cliffhanger if you don\u2019t know what happens. I described in detail what happened. \u00a0But yes, there are all kinds of clues in\u00a0Changes<\/em>.<\/p>\n
\nA: \u00a0Living is hard, dying is easy.<\/p>\n
\nA: \u00a0More like the usual timing \u2013 about a year after\u00a0Changes<\/em>.<\/p>\n
\nA: \u00a0Yes, but it won\u2019t be until much later in the series.<\/p>\n
\nA: \u00a0Sort of. \u00a0I knew I would be doing a book about necromancers, and then one day I was watching a show about dinosaur bones, and they were talking about Sue. \u00a0That\u2019s when I knew it would go into that book.<\/p>\n
\nA: \u00a0Well, I\u2019m sure Eb didn\u2019t leave that journal sitting out on purpose thinking that someone might wander in and read it \u00a0 \/sarcasm
\nAnd yes, it will come into play. \u00a0Remember, I\u2019m a lazy writer \u2013 I don\u2019t write many things that aren\u2019t important. \u00a0Why would I spend the time on something unimportant?<\/p>\n
\nA: \u00a0I knew I needed something to oppose the coins, but didn\u2019t want to do something that\u2019s been used a lot, like the Ark of the Covenant. \u00a0And, the nails would have Jesus\u2019s blood on them \u2013 we all know how powerful blood is in the Dresdenverse.<\/p>\n
\nA: \u00a0Yes<\/p>\n
\nA: \u00a0No, he has to work on something besides being a wizard.<\/p>\n
\nA: \u00a0Kind of\u2026 life\u2026 death\u2026 it\u2019s kind of a squishy line in the Dresdenverse.<\/p>\n
\nA: \u00a0I think someone else did \u2013 have you seen the pictures from\u00a0Sorcerer\u2019s Apprentice<\/em>? \u00a0I mean, it\u2019s done by Nicholas Cage, who was the executive producer of the Dresden Files TV show. \u00a0Look at the pictures \u2013 it\u2019s book Harry and TV Harry.<\/p>\n
\nA: \u00a0It\u2019s not in the plan. \u00a0On the other hand, there are some people whose money Harry would never accept.<\/p>\n
\nA: \u00a0 The staff keeps Eb from going crazy, mostly. \u00a0Also, the White Council stole it from someone. \u00a0And they really want it back.<\/p>\n
\nA: \u00a0Yes, but his story is pretty much covered.<\/p>\n
\nA: \u00a0First, it\u2019s subtle magic and it\u2019s really really hard. \u00a0Enchanting something to be a water heater would be like trying to put together an old Swiss watch. \u00a0Way too delicate for Harry.<\/p>\n
\nA: \u00a0Harry still sees her as a little kid AND she\u2019s a girl. \u00a0Those are two things that Harry has a hard time looking past. \u00a0She really could be very dangerous, but not in the same way Harry is \u2013 and that\u2019s how Harry measures combat talent: sudden and intense violence.<\/p>\n
\nA: \u00a0Not really. \u00a0One problem is that Harry dealt with Lea the way that one would deal with another human, so he really didn\u2019t get much out of the bargain besides some confidence. \u00a0Lea gave him the \u201cmagic feather\u201d so to speak.<\/p>\n
\nA: \u00a0There are only so many characters I can keep straight.<\/p>\n
\nA: \u00a0I can\u2019t believe he\u2019s really dead.<\/p>\n
\nA: \u00a0You can find out in a few months.<\/p>\n
\nA: \u00a0I wanted to make someone twitch. \u00a0[evil grin]<\/p>\n
\nA: \u00a0I don\u2019t know. \u00a0Remember that Harry was outrunning the ____ ?? a bat thing ?? \u00a0I\u2019ll re-read and edit.<\/p>\n
\nA: \u00a0Have you read my books? \u00a0If this is the way I treat my friends, would you want to be my friend?<\/p>\n
\nA: \u00a0Issues 5 and 6 should be out in the next couple of months. \u00a0I\u2019ve approved the art on 7 and the script on 8, so we should be back on track.<\/p>\n
\nA: \u00a0No, you don\u2019t\u00a0have to<\/em>. \u00a0It is helpful, though.<\/p>\n
\nA: \u00a0Of course. \u00a0Any time it is Real Love between equals, there\u2019s the possibility of protection. \u00a0A parent and child couldn\u2019t be protected because they are not equals.<\/p>\n
\nA: \u00a0Not really, they\u2019re too mortal. \u00a0But they might be affected if they were mostly vamped out when trying to cross a threshold.<\/p>\n
\nA: There was much more on the line this time. \u00a0He was desperate.<\/p>\n
\nA: \u00a0Yes. \u00a0There\u2019s a reason Justin picked the two of them.<\/p>\n![\":)\"](\"http:\/\/www.jimbutcheronline.com\/bb\/Smileys\/default\/smiley.gif\" "\\"Smiley\\"")
\nThe full question was if he had stated in the past, during an interview, that Elaine also was a candidate to have the potential to wield power over Outsiders.\u00a0 His longer answer was yes, he had said that before, that Harry and Elaine are just a few months apart age wise so for all intensive purposes the same age.\u00a0 He then told me that was one of the reasons that Justin had picked both of them to adopt, it wasn’t just random kids with power.\u00a0 The key word in my question and his answer was potential.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n2011 Ghost Story KC release party Q&A notes by\u00a0BookLover\u2665:<\/a><\/h2>\n
\nA.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u201cI\u2019m willing to forgive Hollywood.\u201d<\/p>\n
\nA.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0It would certainly have significance if someone were trying to use his Name for spellcasting.<\/p>\n
\nA.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0If Jim were to go back to Alera, it would be years from now.\u00a0 The book would be a couple of generations in the future to see how things turned out.<\/p>\n
\nA.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0This is actually how Jim sees things as he\u2019s writing them.\u00a0 Also, it would be very cool because as an animated movie, it\u2019s a lot less expensive to blow things up.<\/p>\n
\nA.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Yes, but he is\u00a0going<\/em>\u00a0to use them, so he won\u2019t tell what they are.<\/p>\n
\nA.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0At least one person has picked up on every clue, but no single person has put it all together.<\/p>\n
\nA.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Jim put together a list of classical popular wizards (e.g. Merlin) and classical private eyes (e.g. Sherlock Holmes), then listed common traits of each.\u00a0 For example, great wizards are great because they seek knowledge; most great private eyes mouth off to exactly the wrong person at exactly the wrong time. Using that list of characteristics, he created Harry\u2019s personality.<\/p>\n
\nA. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0No.\u00a0 That would require that he actually killed himself.<\/p>\n
\nA.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0A wizard throwing a fireball.<\/p>\n
\nA.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0That would require breaking a law of magic.\u00a0 And it\u2019s not like there are 7 books planned, one for each law of magic.<\/p>\n
\nA.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0No, and it will actually come into play in a future plot line.\u00a0 Considering a book called \u201cMirror Mirror.\u201d<\/p>\n
\nA.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Was seeing a lot of complaints about LKH\u2019s books, and one in particular said, \u201cIt\u2019s just BDSM sex, it could never be relevant to the plot.\u201d\u00a0 And Jim thought, \u201cHmmmm\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
\nA.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Would probably throw them out and completely rewrite them.\u00a0 But that would probably end up in disaster.\u00a0 There are a lot of things that have come out of mistakes.\u00a0 For example, a physical therapist told Jim that based on all the injuries Harry had suffered at a certain point in the novel, he would have needed surgeries, physical therapy, etc.\u00a0 That issue led to defining how wizards\u2019 bodies heal better\/faster, and it also linked in nicely with the fact that wizards live so much longer than normal people.<\/p>\n
\nA.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Favorite choice for Harry would be a 1970s Harrison Ford.\u00a0 Of current actors, would choose Captain Tight Pants (Nathan Fillion) for Harry, and Bryce from\u00a0Chuck<\/em>\u00a0for Thomas (Matt Bomer).<\/p>\n