Exclusive Interview with Jim Butcher: Unveiling the Magic Behind the Dresden Files

Join us as we dive into the mystical world of Jim Butcher, the mastermind behind the best-selling Dresden Files, Codex Alera and The Cinder Spires series. In this rare sit-down, we unravel the secrets of his narrative craft, explore the depths of his characters, and get a sneak peek into what's next.
📚 What’s Inside:
A deep dive into the creation of the beloved Dresden Files.
Jim’s unique approach to building fantastical worlds.
Behind-the-scenes insights into his writing process.
🌟 Don’t Miss Out:
Exclusive anecdotes from Jim’s personal journey as a writer.
A candid discussion on the evolution of fantasy literature.
Jim’s perspective on storytelling in the modern era.
✨ Subscribe and Tune In: Be sure to hit that subscribe button and ring the bell for notifications! Prepare to be enchanted by the wit and wisdom of one of the greats in fantasy literature. Your portal to adventure opens here!
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[@J.R.Carrel]

Thank you all for watching, and thank you Jim for taking time to come on the channel. Come join the discord! discord.com/invite/YfdkAZv9

[@HourGlassLife]

Ask him if they can use the people that made the trailers. If the show was as done like the trailers for the books it would of been amazing. The trailers are awesome.

[@lcsantos777]

"There ain't going to be a show unless I am in the charge of the writers room" - Word. Of. Jim.

[@DD8842]

Fans of the Witcher and warhammer 40k respect butcher.

[@chris-zn7pq]

Jim, Thank you so much for what you do. So many of us, myself included, appreciate you so much!

[@J.R.Carrel]

Thank you for watching and hope to have you back for my next video

[@Juanpa_SC]

I can watch Jim answering the same questions over and over, BUT WHEN NEW QUESTIONS ARE ASKED AND NEW INFO IS DROPPED MY EXCITEMENT LEVEL GOES OFF THE CHARTS. Great interview, so happy it appeared on my feed.

[@J.R.Carrel]

Thank you so much I'm glad you enjoyed it. I'm going to try and do more of these if you're into Sandman Slim I also interviewed Richard Kadrey.

[@couragew6260]

The next question we should ask Jim is “Can you tell when you’re looking at a Jade Court Vampire like the Black Court, or can they disguise themselves?”

[@readbykyle3082]

Love that it always looks like Jim is doing the interview in a sauna somewhere

[@J.R.Carrel]

Right!

[@TheJellicle1]

This was fantastic, thank you for hosting this and thanks so much to Jim Butcher for being so generous with his time and words.

[@J.R.Carrel]

Thank you for the support and watching

[@LordJakobofHouseBabrick]

This was an excellent interview! He seems so down to earth.

[@J.R.Carrel]

Thank you for watching yeah Jim is a super cool guy we would love to have you over on the Discord

[@cheifhughw9349]

He’s the GOAT and I love Dragonlance!

[@BeastyBlerd]

This was a good interview, didn't spend the majority of it asking the same questions everyone else has like most other interviewers have done in the past, thank you. I've never watched Lodoss War, but looking at it makes SO much sense. I can definitely see why he would have that style in his head when he's writing, especially for the Sidhe. Marsters HAS to voice Harry, and if not, then the only caveat would be him voicing Marcone. Me, personally, I would like the animation to be the same art style for Castlevania or Vox Machina (Arcane is an honorable mention).

[@J.R.Carrel]

I know a lot of people say that the style of Castlevania would be perfect. Thank you for watching I'm glad you enjoyed it.

[@philgagnon275]

Record of Lodos War was my first Anime and got me interested in RPG, Lord of the Rings... And now story telling is an integral part of who I am. Used to write for fun, but never had the courage to pursue it seriously.

[@theexperience4961]

Thank you Jim for everything you do. Easily my favorite author ever!

[@J.R.Carrel]

I'm right there with you thanks for watching Hope to bring you more fun interviews

[@Kaminegg]

Your answer about planting seeds is the best. And yes, I rarely write urban fantasy but it is So much easier to write in the real world.

[@andreamiller3578]

Love Babylon 5 shout-out. It's such a great show and remains my favorite.

[@andreamiller3578]

Ooooh. Black Company-esque novel??? I just wrapped up that series. I would love to read Jim's take on military fantasy. His alien/Men in Black story sounds fun too

[@jon_little]

Joe, thank you for making this happen and the great questions. Jim, thank you for your time and for answering those questions. I really enjoyed my time here.

[@J.R.Carrel]

Thank you so much for watching hope to see you back soon

[@copster_]

Jim mentioned loving the early Anita Blake books, and I agree the early books in that series were fantastic!

[@J.R.Carrel]

I'm definitely going to have to check those out thanks for watching

[@WhatAMagician]

Oh darn I didn’t know this was happening I’d love to be there live. Excited to watch

[@Aoshi312]

Thanks for the interview.

[@J.R.Carrel]

Thank you for the support and I'm glad you enjoyed it!

[@spidzcats]

Thanks for the interview! I really can’t wait for the next Dresden files book! I hope the 7-8 year timeline is close to reality! I don’t want Dresden files to end but I need to know how it does. I wonder who the primary villain is in the apocalyptic trilogy.

[@J.R.Carrel]

Would love to have you on the discord! discord.com/invite/XW4W2yKv

[@spidzcats]

@@J.R.Carrel joined! I’ll introduce myself when I’m on computer. My phone typing is close to illiterate.

[@moondaiandtrashpandadeluxe]

Love Jim! Such a great interview with him

[@J.R.Carrel]

Thank you so much for the support

[@copster_]

Awesome interview, thank you!

[@J.R.Carrel]

Thanks for the support,

[@chriszorander9333]

Great interview. I really appreciate hearing new stuff and not just the same stuff.

[@J.R.Carrel]

Thanks!. discord.com/invite/8XwtcHdq

[@dreadknot69]

Thank you for this!

[@J.R.Carrel]

Thank you for the support and I'll keep bring you great interviews

[@amanjudge3607]

That's the best thing I heard the whole day. Manager: "Do you have some special training." Jim: "Well, I am a writer."

[@colonelmayhem8397]

If you want to use James Marsters in the a Dresden Files live action show I'd say he'd be a great Kincaid. My opinion.

[@J.R.Carrel]

Don't know why but I've always thought of him as Vanderung

[@alyssamiles2909]

You kidding??? He's Mac, all the way.

[@couragew6260]

Damn! Missed the livestream

[@brianbrinegar6086]

Just purchased Cinder Spires audio book 1

[@philgagnon275]

I wasn't a fan of steam punk genre... Jim sold me on it. Hope you enjoy it

[@brianbrinegar6086]

@@philgagnon275 I bought the Cinder Spires audio book - slow start, my attention isn’t captured yet. I’ll keep at it!

[@ryancraig8258]

I'd love to know If future books will address the random prisoner whom says he's where he deserves. I'd be curious the background of the character. Also how they use rehabilitation of the prisoners if that is a thing.

[@J.R.Carrel]

Can't wait to see who it is. Maybe Merlin?

[@ryancraig8258]

@J.R.Carrel a self imprisonment. That's an interesting thought. You think it's because he feels guilty about the thing he created or something else?

[@tomfinn739]

So has anybody keyed off of "friendly neighborhood writer-man"? With great straight lines come great response.

[@J.R.Carrel]

Great lines! Would love to have you on the discord. discord.com/invite/TqQzFcDk

[@spidzcats]

You mentioned a writer along with him and side characters. (Sukovski? How do I spell it?)

[@J.R.Carrel]

Thank you for watching the other author is andrzej sapkowski

[@Noskavian]

maybe Jim would make a good Mike Atagi.

[@alyssamiles2909]

He's right! Go read Lois Bujould! Right now! It's amazing!

[@J.R.Carrel]

Yes! Would love to have you on the discord

[@alyssamiles2909]

@@J.R.Carrel I don't know what that is.

[@amanjudge3607]

You know what, I feel like Travis from critical role would make a great Michael Carpenter in the adaptation jim talked about. Lol, if there's a way you can put this in jim's head that'd be great 😂

[@J.R.Carrel]

Lol, subliminal messaging would love to have you join the discord! discord.com/invite/TBveypqG

[@amanjudge3607]

​@@J.R.Carrel Thanks, I've joined. 🙂

[@mikeg6361]

Dresden files is the goat

[@J.R.Carrel]

Thank you for the support!

[@seidmadr2024]

Jim should be reminded that there is plenty of romance with monsters as well, and the fandom is very... Dedicated.

[@J.R.Carrel]

This is true

[@Demonreached]

22:57 A romance with a dragon?? *gestures frantically at Michael and Charity* Here's hoping someone asks him to contribute to a Knights in Shining Armor romance anthology

[@j.harris83]

When will Jim tell us his Bigfoot experience?

[@J.R.Carrel]

I know right

[@macrosense]

You need some kind of publishing house to collect the money and enforce the copyrights

[@natev8986]

damn Jim is handsome AF lol

[@cheifhughw9349]

Dresden Files done in 7-8 years??? And please don't do a live action Dresden. It is so easy to get messed up. Animation is the way to go.

[@J.R.Carrel]

Jim also said that another patient won't happen unless he's the head of the writer's room. If that is the case I think the live-action will work out

[@zackmara8796]

I'll be happy with him in charge of the writing room either way. Personally I think animated would be really cool if they did something similar style wise as Castlevania. Feel like they could do a lot more that way.

[@nazimelmardi]

It’s time to understand the following: a LOT of people don’t like animation. It doesn’t matter what you think personally. One Piece just proved it again. It’s one of the 3 of highest sold manga and best known anime ever. Yet… Netflix just made the LA and based on the numerous reviews on KZbin and everywhere, (comments) still people won’t start it (definitely created a new fan base for anime, but way less than it could. Only a few are successful if there is no big name behind them like MCU, Star Wars in the mass population.

[@cody7855]

@@J.R.Carrelas a writer yourself, and let me preface this by saying I am by no means a writer, do you think the novelist skillset directly applies to on screen writing? I kind of cringed a little when Jim said “if you could write a series like this you would have” because in my head I would think writing for tv is different, even when adapting a book. Granted we all want the adaptation to be as true to the books we love, isn’t it a different animal? In a book Harry burning down a building has $0 production cost. Doing it on screen takes budget. So I think part of those writers job is to recognize those and work with the showrunners to see what is within budget and not. At risk of this being entirely too long of a comment, we all know the Dresden files show was low budget. And there was also bad writing. Neither helped the show. But some things don’t translate well, for instance in the Reacher adaptation he has much more companionship. This relieves the issue of a lot of the story is told as an internal dialogue in the books, something that doesn’t translate to tv well. By having people to talk to, it takes place of that. Is that something you think most novelists, or even specifically successful ones such as Jim, could easily do?

[@J.R.Carrel]

@@cody7855 I believe that the skill of being a novelist what absolutely Translate two writing for television. Especially if you are like Jim and you've also wrote a lot of short stories. Because it's all about formatting for TV and if you are adapting Dresden Files you know as a producer what you're getting into with the budget.

[@joshwilhoyte4453]

So many ads

[@J.R.Carrel]

That's youtube for you lol

[@joshwilhoyte4453]

Rated A10 otherwise.

[@workstudy8118]

Bro you’re interviewing the GOAT and you don’t have a microphone or audio cleaned up 😮Jim’s got better audio than you 😅

[@J.R.Carrel]

My mic disconnected just as we were about to go live. It must have been the magic

[@kelseamess6630]

Maybe when you interview Jim , you can make sure you have a mic 😊

[@drago6576]

Did you hear Jim say "Hexus"?

[@Pollitosh_]

Good interview, bad interviewer. Interrupts Jim way too much but i suppose its due to him being a fan and not have done many interviews before.

[@J.R.Carrel]

Thanks for watching

[@ronniemaclaine5234]

​@@J.R.CarrelWell done. Not only with the interview, but with the response.

[@J.R.Carrel]

@@ronniemaclaine5234 thank you for the support!

[@amanjudge3607]

Its funny he says that, I have also always seen Michael as a true paladin. Infact, my PC's father from my all time favourite d&d campaign was modelled after Michael.🫡

[@J.R.Carrel]

Michael Carpenter is a national treasure