Archive for the ‘comic books’ Category

Welcome to 2010!

Happy New Year!

I’m guest blogging over at Temple Library Reviews about some of the differences between writing comics and novels. Thanks very much to Harry for inviting me to come play at his review site!

As reminded by several persons, THE PRETENDER’S CROWN has been nominated for the 2009 David Gemmell LEGEND Award for Fantasy. It’s on the long list, which is incredibly flattering, and it would be even more flattering to make it to the short list. My understanding is that voting between now and March will winnow the list down, so if you’ve any inclination, here’s the voting page.

And here’s this year’s publication schedule:

February: THE PHANTOM QUEEN AWAKES (anthology with a story of the Morrigan)


May: DRAGON LURE (anthology with a post-Negotiator-trilogy Janx story)


May 29: RUNNING WITH THE PACK (anthology with a Regency werewolf story)


June 1: DEMON HUNTS (book 5 of the Walker Papers. Birthday release date!)


August 31: TRUTHSEEKER (book 1 of the Worldwalker Duology)

Take A Chance pre-order

The Take A Chance graphic novel is up at Amazon for pre-order. The GN will include the original 5 issue story arc, plus the Free Comic Book Day issue, and audition art from various artists I’ve talked with over the past few years, as well as at least one essay about the road to publication. I’m interested to hear what other people might like to see as extras, so consider this your sound-off board!

For those interested in the individual issues, the Dabel Brothers Store has issues 1-3 available.

Free Comic Book Day

Tomorrow, the first Saturday of May, is Free Comic Book Day!

The Dabel Brothers bring you three original, never-before-seen tales for FCBD09, including the Dresden Files “Restoration of Faith”; “The Calm Before,” the prelude story to adaptation of the classic film, The Warriors; and “Previously, on Take A Chance,” which steps back in time to the day a gene-altering virus was released into the world. All this, plus a sneak preview of Del Rey’s forthcoming novel, Star Wars: Fate of the Jedi – Outcast by Aaron Allston, a bold new adventure for Luke, Han, and your favorite Star Wars characters!

Take A Chance #4 hits the shelves!

A few teaser pages for you:

No teaser icons, I’m afraid, as I’m working at break-neck speed on DEMON HUNTS, book five of the Walker Papers, and have done more or less nothing else with my life for the past three weeks….

Take A Chance available for pre-order!

TAKE A CHANCE #1: CITY OF HEROES

What makes a hero?
Driven to save lives after her son’s murder, Frankie Kemp has spent years as a non-powered vigilante. But when a virus releases super-powered potential in much of the population, “Chance” is left to face her child’s shadow-sliding killer with nothing more than her wits and experience. Bestselling author C.E. Murphy, author of URBAN SHAMAN and THE QUEEN’S BASTARD, brings an all-new superhero adventure to life in TAKE A CHANCE. An ordinary woman dons a vigilante’s mask–and the world she knows will never be the same!

Dabel Brothers Publishing, in collaboration with artist Ardian Syaf (”The Dresden Files”), colorist Jason Embury (”Hero By Night”, “Shadowhawk”), letterer Melissa S. Kaercher (”Dr. Blink, Superhero Shrink”), cover artist Scott Clark (”X-Men”, “Stormwatch”), and writer C.E. Murphy (”The Walker Papers”, “The Negotiator Trilogy”) bring you “Take A Chance”, a creator-owned series available for pre-order now!

Those of you who’ve been reading for a while know that “Take A Chance” is a pet project that I’ve been working on for over five years. Back when I started down this road, I said that if I ever got Chance published, that I’d turn first issue into a fundraiser for the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund. Now I’m putting my money where my mouth is.

50% of any proceeds I make from the first issue of Chance will go to the CBLDF. The remaining money will be turned back over into producing further issues of the comic book. When the first five are collected into trade format, 10% of my proceeds on that will also go to the CBLDF, so I hope you’ll spread the word. In the event you don’t already have a pull box at your local comic shop, an order form for “Take A Chance” #1 is available here for your convenience, or the Diamond order code is OCT08 4065F

San Diego Comic Con 2008!

Breaking radio silence to announce I’ll be in San Diego Wednesday July 23-Sunday July 27 for Comic Con! Below are places I’ll be at specific times for certain, so if you’re attending the convention, please drop by and say hello!

THURSDAY, JULY 24:
4:00-5:00
The World of Dabel Brothers Publishing — Find out everything Dabel Brothers Publishing has in store for the rest of 2008 and beyond. From The Dresden Files to The Wheel of Time, to their unannounced licenses and much much more, be there as Dabel Brothers Publishing announces the upcoming creative talent on Wheel of Time and brand new licenses that are sure to make a lot of people shocked and happy, all at the same time. Featuring some of the NY Times bestselling authors working with Dabel Brothers Publishing. Room 7AB

6:00-7:00
Random House Publishing—Staff from the Random House Publishing Group discuss upcoming titles from Del Rey, Del Rey Manga, Ballantine, and Villard Graphic Novels. Room 10

FRIDAY, JULY 25
1:00-2:00
Looking at our World: Eye on the Present–Authors discuss how they use the supernatural in stories of contemporary society: Kelley Armstrong (Women of the Otherworld), LA Banks (The Vampire Huntress Legend Series), Kate Brallier (The Boundless Deep), Marjorie M. Liu (The Iron Hunt), C.E. Murphy (The Negotiator Trilogy), Justine Musk (Lord of Bones), Lilith Saintcrow (The Dante Valentine Series), and moderator Samantha Sommersby (Forbidden: The Revolution).

2:00-3:00
Looking at our World: Eye on the Present panelists autographing in the Comic-Con Autograph Area

SATURDAY, JULY 26:
11:00
Gold Eagle booth #1220 I will be here, signing books! HOUSE OF CARDS will be available. Other books should perhaps be purchased ahead of time and brought for signing. :)

Announcements Galore

Happy New Year!

It has been a very, *very* eventful year so far, here at the CEMurphy.net household (and you must keep reading until the end, because I’m saving the best bit for last!).

First, if not precisely foremost, I’ve switched CEMurphy.net over to blogging software, so it’s now actually possible to leave comments there to chat with me. (I’ve also just noticed that the comments are unreadable. Will fix that in a minute here…there. Fixed.)

Second, I’ve posted a teaser for HOUSE OF CARDS, second in the Negotiator Trilogy, which is due out in March 2008. That teaser is available here.

Third, I was interviewed by the League of Reluctant Adults a few weeks ago. The League is discussing HEART OF STONE as their January Book Club book. If you’d like to participate, go hang out there over the next few weeks. :)

Fourth (it never ends!): I’ve received the cover for THE QUEEN’S BASTARD, which is due out in May 2008. I luff it! Check it out!

Fifth, and finally!

I am *utterly* delighted to announce that I have sold my pet project, “TAKE A CHANCE”, the comic book I’ve been working on over the last three years. TAKE A CHANCE is the story of a woman who loses her son to gang violence and turns vigilante to save other children, and will be produced by Ernst Dabel and Les Dabel of the Dabel Brothers (dabelbrothers.com — for those who are also Jim Butcher fans, these are the guys producing the Dresden Files comic!)

The first issue ought to be on the shelves in May, we hope, and I am just *beside* myself with excitement over this whole thing. This is the culmination of years worth of work and hope, and I hope you’ll all find yourselves rushing out to the comic shop to buy copies. *grin*

So again, happy new year to all! I hope 2008 treats you well!