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

DragonCon has begun to roll out their schedule for this weekend’s virtual festivities! The Urban Fantasy Track has unveiled their panel schedule, but that’s just the tip of the iceberg. Keep an eye on this post. It’ll be periodically updated as we add new information.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Pay close attention to which panels are marked LIVE! You’ll want to catch those as possible as they air. Panels marked (LIVE) air for free the first time, but if you miss the livestream, you will need to purchase a DragonCon Streaming Membership to access those archives. Panels NOT marked as (LIVE) will be uploaded to DragonCon’s YouTube channels for free viewing at folks’ convenience for perpetuity. The timestamp on this schedule indicates the time the video will be made public.

TBA: Multi-Author Urban Fantasy Panel (LIVE)
Friday, September 4th, Time TBA, Fan Tracks Livestream
Topic and panelists TBA

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 Spotlight Panel (LIVE)
Monday, September 7th, Time TBA, Main Programming Livestream
Moderated by the magnificent Carol Malcolm, Director of DragonCon’s Urban Fantasy Track.

The Dresden Files: Peace Talks Trailer Cast and Crew Panel
Monday, September 7th, 11am 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).

At Least One More Panel, Date and Time TBA

Again, keep an eye on this page for updates!

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: 9/28, 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!

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.