Questions Specifically for Jim, Part 3

[Mickey Finn]

Part One:
http://www.jimbutcheronline.com/bb/index.php/topic,631.0.html

Part Two:
http://www.jimbutcheronline.com/bb/index.php/topic,10529.0.html

Since Jim is not monitoring the boards due to writing crunch times, I thought I'd create a thread specifically aimed at him to check when he can, in order for some questions to avoid being buried in time.

However, we have to be careful and not flood this thread with random questions. So, rules of this thread:

1) No questions obviously aimed at plot points that will be revealed later, such as "Who is the girl Marcone's protecting?" or "What really happened at Arctis Tor before Harry arrived?" or "Who is Cowl under the hood?" This can be a fine line, depending on the question. For instance, "Does Murphy know how to use those katanas, or are they just decorative?" does not violate this rule and will be allowed. Jim may not answer it, of course. Jim may not answer any of these questions.

2) Nothing personal, in this thread. This is for Dresden Files questions, only. If he deviates, well, he's allowed.

3) Don't discuss or derail the thread. If you want to discuss something he's said, make your own thread and quote him.  He can come in that thread and discuss it with you...the point of this thread isn't a one-stop shop for all things Jim, but simply a place where he can see  questions and answer them. If we get into discussions, this thread will wander all over the place (something I normally don't mind, but this thread is an exception).

4) Please do your homework before asking a question...see if you can find the answers elsewhere, first. Unlike some, I do not mind when someone new to the boards asks a question that's been discussed to death, but if an answer is readily answerable elsewhere, then it's a waste of breath in this particular thread. Please also note that there's a FAQ forum near the top of this board. At the time of this writing, it's a tad threadbare, but it is growing.

Two things to remember from the above quote:

1) This is a thread started by the mods to give Jim a place to see questions. He may not answer anything here. The man's busy! This thread is an attempt for him to easily find things. Please do not be offended if he doesn't answer a question you posed.

2) Remember not to discuss things here (answering someone's question because you KNOW the answer...not just your opinion of the answer...is allowed. But discussion in this thread only kills the purpose of this thread, which is to allow board members a place to ask Jim a question about this series without him having to wade through tons of discussion. This does not mean things can't be discussed! We welcome discussion....on other threads. (Exception...if Jim tries to have a discussion with you on here, go ahead. His decisions trump everything else, with the possible exception of Iago's administrative tasks.)

This whole thing started as my own attempt to make it easier on Jim. This was not his design.

[Sigma77]

Was Harry's Grandmother (and Eb's Wife/Lover, whichever the case may be) a Wizard? Or rather, did she have any magical talent at all?

[paulWTAMU]

Minor clarification request: changes spoiler follows In Oslo, in Odin's Hall, he sees people he saw fighting at the deeps. Did this people die and get chosen to serve Odin during/after that, or were they working for Odin *already* at that point?
Also, although I think he is, is Merlin part of the Grey Council? Or does that count as a plot point for later? I was under the impression he was but I'm not sure
is rudolph huddled in an institution whimpering from PTSD? Please?? I want to see Rudolph soiling himself every time it gets dark, and spending the rest of his life in fear of EVERYTHING


Is lea's dismissal of things as "mere semantics" significant? It's so out of character. Were the giant centipedes a shout out to Inyuasha? Was that ass phat?

What the hell *is* Mouse? And mister...he's getting up in age for a regular cat.  IIRC Dresden'd had him for a while as of Storm Front which would be like 10 or 11 years ago...cats live like 15-20 years.
What effect does the removal of the Red Court have on latin america? Or does that come up later?

[Ororo]

Love the books, even though Changes was a little traumatic. What can you tell us about what happens next without giving too much away?

[jimdastud]

Can you give us a rough schedule for the next book?  I'm assuming next April, but that may not be the case since your other series is finished up.

[svb1972]

Can you give us a rough schedule for the next book?  I'm assuming next April, but that may not be the case since your other series is finished up.

Priscelle has posted that the Estimated Publishing Date for Book 13 (As yet not-officially named) was April 5th 2011

[Shecky P. Waldorf]

Priscelle has posted that the Estimated Publishing Date for Book 13 (As yet not-officially named) was April 5th 2011

Jim has proposed a name and Anne Sowards (his editor) tells me the name is publisher-approved. Awaiting official announcement. If it does turn out that his original title is what gets used, it is TEH AWSUM.

[Ink Slinger]

Jim...why do you have to be so horribly wonderful?

All at the same time I love, hate, fear and respect you.  I think you made my brain explode.

But my question is this, will we find out where Maggie ends up?  And I ask, because I cried for twenty minutes dude. 

[Led Guardian]

Jim has proposed a name and Anne Sowards (his editor) tells me the name is publisher-approved. Awaiting official announcement. If it does turn out that his original title is what gets used, it is TEH AWSUM.

I bet you know secrets about the next book that you are not telling us, you horrible person. You know of what I speak.

[vultur]

Since it's unlikely to be a plot point in the future due to events in Changes, I suppose it's an appropriate question for this thread: what is the true origin of the Red Court? Are they actually originally native to the Nevernever (and were a Nevernever "species" before they encountered humans) or did they begin as "altered" humans? If the former, were they different than the Rampires we know before they first encountered humans (and since then have copied human traits)?

And when did they originate/first encounter humanity? PG suggests the Red King is 4000 years old, but Changes says that Arianna is older than human written language (which would make her at least 5000+; Sumerian cuneiform writing originated sometime before 3000 BC) and that she was turned by the Red King - so is younger than him.

[vultur]

What the hell *is* Mouse? And mister...he's getting up in age for a regular cat.  IIRC Dresden'd had him for a while as of Storm Front which would be like 10 or 11 years ago...cats live like 15-20 years.

Mister was a kitten when Harry found him, 3 years before Storm Front. According to the timeline, Changes is 11-plus-a-little years after SF. So Mister is either 14 or 15 depending on when his birthday is.

[paulWTAMU]

swear to god, if he kills the pets I'm going to cry like a baby. Even if it's old age

[Landing]

swear to god, if he kills the pets I'm going to cry like a baby. Even if it's old age

especially if its old age! that can be the sadist way of all!

[Neogenesis]

Jim your sadistic. I salute you. I will be waiting for the preview chapter of the next book. The characters played out better than a psychologist could compose them. How do you sculpt them like that? Next up spoiler question: What in the world did Margret pay to get Lea to protect Harry like that?

[nthnclls]

Do you need to have the anguished screams of your readers for nourishment, like plants need sunlight, or do you just enjoy them?