Probably our most frequent question here at Jim-Butcher.Com is when the next Harry Dresden book is going to come out. The answer is actually very easy — they come out once a year, in August.
Jim is usually writing many months in advance of the release schedule. There’s a lot that goes on between the initial writing getting done on a book, and the book making it to print. Several rounds of editing and revisions can factor in, and since publishing is a business with paper-thin margins of profit — pun intended! — there are some very real concerns that have to go into determining how often the publisher can financially support putting another book of a series out. Not to mention, sticking to one book per series per year helps insulate the publisher against author burnout or delays — not too much of a problem in Jim’s specific case, mind, but we’re talking about the industry in general here.
So, if Jim’s going to get more than one book out a year, it will be by way of multiple different series at once. With the Codex Alera series gearing up for its first release in October — in hardcover, no less, which is a great financial step for Jim and Jim’s publisher — Jim is on the cusp of crossing over to making a “real” living as a writer — or at least as real as the writing living gets.
As fans of Jim’s work, the best thing you can do is help to demonstrate that there’s strong and plentiful demand for all of Jim’s stuff. The more selling power Jim’s series have, the more other publishers will be interested in what Jim can do for them.
So that’s the story. If you’ve finished Blood Rites, take a gander at the Restoration of Faith short story, and make sure to put Furies of Calderon on preorder at your favorite bookstore. And then look forward to August 2005, when Dresden Files #7, Dead Beat comes out!
5 thoughts on “A Comment on the Dresden Files Release Schedule”
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Have there been anymore rumblings about a series/pilot on Sci-Fi?
I’ve only just started the second Dresden book, so I guess I’ve a ways to go but reading the comment about a series/pilot on Sci-fi was strange. I didn’t know anything like that was in the making but the same thing crossed my mind yesterday when a couple of chapters into ‘Fool Moon’ I just couldn’t help thinking Vincent Ventresca (who has done a couple of great sci-fi shows) would make a great Harry Dresden. He’s got sufficient height and that kind of attitude to pull it off – the ‘just-trying-to-do-my-job’ and ‘get along’ philosophy that never quite works. It was the opening line to Chapter 4 when Harry exclaims ‘Jail!’ that just made me laugh and put the picture in my head as someone who could be convincing with that type of ‘disbelief’. I don’t know what other choices could pull it off but you’d need someone you can believe would put himself on the line – a kind of reluctant hero – that could all too easily find himself knocked out!
I’m looking forward to Codex Alera and by the time Dead Beat comes out I will have happily caught up with the rest of the Harry novels (actually probably long before) – which is the time I’ll start having withdrawal symptoms like the rest of the readers!
I’ve truly enjoyed the Dresden series; each book has gotten more engrossing, with better plot elements. One things bothers me: Why did Blood Rites have a different cover design? Yes, I’m obsessive compulsive and can’t stand that it doesn’t match the first five! Ahhh–why, oh why!
I really enjoy the Dresden series–and very much liked the developing relationship between Thomas and Harry. Can’t wait to see what happens next.
I have to say that I believe that Vincent is the best choice for Harry. I know some like Marstens of others. But the character would not work if he did not have sufficient height. Also, the actor must be able to show that happy go lucky lifestyle and I have not seen another actor who could do it as well