Pensacon 2020: Jim Butcher Spotlight

[@LAGUEp666]

It is immensely gratifying to here that he likes James Marsters for Marcone. I've been thinking that for about five years.

[@richardkersey4960]

Yep, Marcone and of course the voice of Bob.

[@LAGUEp666]

@@richardkersey4960 I mean potientially but he'd have to do his british accent for bob I think otherwise bob would sound like a sleezy... wait. Nevermind.

[@reginaldforthright805]

I think Cary grant might be good. Sorry I haven’t seen any movies made in the past 50 years

[@shifttheshaman]

You gotta love this particular man. I have seen him tell these stories between ten and forty times. And yet he has the grace and in-the-moment-ness to tell them again as if this is only the tenth time _he_ has told them. And every time my inner voice is shouting "Yeah, but are you looking after yourself, Jim?".

[@PatchesMagee16]

Do you know who his teacher was that he constantly refers to?

[@shifttheshaman]

@@PatchesMagee16 Hard to say, but I googled "Jim Butcher Mentor" and the fifth answer seemed to be reliable.

[@cierendavis8606]

Ok goodman grey with his own series actually sounds amazeballs

[@Juanpa_SC]

Such an awesome guy. Great artist, great person.

[@dirtywashedupsparkle]

Mostly stable camera where it counted, did not puke so thank you! Jim Butcher's fun to listen to and he writes Dresden so well, the way Dresden talks is really accessible and his world is so full of conflict and wonder that keeps getting bigger and more turbulent. And those fight scenes, boy can he write them well. And I like his attitude to different backgrounds of beliefs too, he shows it can definitely be done respectfully and that happens when you know those viewpoints well and give them a fair voice.

[@vesicaful]

He's right about the TV show, That's how I discovered the series. I mean I was already interested in supernatural genre but am glad I found it, it's now my favourite.

[@randyward2766]

Thanks Jim and Priscilla for coming to Pensacon and for signing my make of the spires! So glad to finally meet y'all.

[@lauradolly3882]

Thanks for posting this Priscilla. i had the pleasure of meeting Jim and Kitty the last time they were at Pensacon. I'm really bummed that I couldn't be there this year to see him again.

[@Perfectcrime87]

Can I thumbs this up more than once? Thank you Pricsilla!!!!

[@lesliesauceman8093]

If he wrote a couple stories from Mouse and Mister's perspective I would totally read it.

[@Priscellie]

He's written a short story from Mouse's POV and a microfiction from Mister's! Read "Zoo Day" from Brief Cases and "Everything The Light Touches" on Jim's website.

[@TheKrazyLobster]

That beard looks so AWESOME!

[@Mysicalgreenunicorn03]

Doing the lords work

[@justiniansnow8919]

I'm one of those people that discovered The Dresden Files through the TV show. I liked it, and was disappointed when it didn't get past one season. It was only afterwards that I found out it was based off a book series. So I started reading the books. I admit, I was annoyed at first. The books were not at all like the series. At first I hated Bob. I actually liked Tv show Bob. The Red Court was different. Harry didn't use a hockey stick as a staff. So many things were "not right". I was not happy. But then I just kept on reading. Then I listened to the audiobooks. When James Marsters finally found his grove*...yeah...well...I've been reading/listening to the Files ever since. If I can't sleep, I pull out one of the audiobooks and just get pulled into the world Butcher created. Jim, I am waiting for the next book. I can't stand it, let me have more Harry. *regarding James Marsters : The first few audiobooks were not perfect, he didn't commit to the various characters as he did later on. I'm looking at you, Toot-Toot. I think it was book 3 or 4 when Marsters truly went all in. AND ALSO: Up until then I only knew Marsters from Buffy. I loved Spike, if someone said James Marsters I would automatically say "SPIKE!". Now I say "HARRY BLACKSTONE COPPERFIELD DRESDEN!". FUEGO!

[@beejcarson]

Justinian Snow the TV interpretation of Bob wasn’t bad. It was different but I liked it. Also I liked Morgan on the show. He’s how I picture him in the books now.

[@justiniansnow8919]

@@beejcarson The guy that played Morgan was awesome! He captured his character really well. Another reason I'm sad the show didn't get picked up for another season. One of the other things that confused me from tv show to book was ancient Mai. In the show she was portrayed as as a Dragon, in the books she is "just" a really REALLY old wizard. They for some reason decided to merge her with Ferrovax, who showed up once and was never mentioned again.

[@sodapopinski8064]

On Marsters: it was less of an "all in" thing and more of a "got good" thing. He found his groove a few books in, but mostly because he got good at the process, diction, etc. From his mouth, btw. He's got some funny stories of "day one"

[@sodapopinski8064]

People kept telling me how amazing he was and when I first started the audiobooks I was underwhelmed. He found his freaking stride though man!

[@chrisdale1214]

Thank you Priscilla!

[@haakin2262]

His voice is RADIO GOLD

[@libradragon]

"We named him Bowie because he's got two different colored eyes." 23:21 Priceless backstory.

[@greatevil-one-too]

As always thank you so much for all you do P!

[@jessicap4998]

I think we need a video of just the pets of the Butcher household.

[@logresmentotum7065]

"If it's not like that I'll write it in the next book!"

[@DerekScottBland]

When I asked him about returning to Alera back in 2019, he said "only if I get heavy gambling debts."

[@wickeddragongoddess]

Thanks for uploading 😁

[@bobbybuckley9287]

Ever since the conversation between Malcom and Harry round the camp fire I’ve been itching to find out who/what has kept him( Malcolm ) from speaking with his son till then.

[@theo-jamesmoulton2000]

Lea’s guardians most like

[@davidgentry8982]

Can someone please put together a supercut of Jim just going: uh--uh--uh

James Marsters really makes Dresden come to life. The few audiobooks that he doesn't do are just not up to par

[@Grimscribe732]

Wasn't the only one he didn't read Ghost Story, which also got re-done sometime ago?

[@Riverpeth]

@@Grimscribe732 yup, he's done them all

[@fredrikgranstrom6743]

SO AWESOME GOTTA READ HIS BOOKS NOW

[@bobbenson6825]

thanks for this, it may be one of the last cons for a while.

[@austentrue7807]

Bob Benson With Coronavirus going around...yeah, sadly. You’re right about that.

[@colinkoch546]

Thank you for posting this.

[@bobashwen1238]

That human vrs zerg made me laugh.

[@Enigmanaut]

Regarding the Divisiveness of Religion: I'm an Atheist, and I love the Dresden Files. I never felt I was being preached to in books. I never felt that Jim was laying down a "It's my way or the higway, I'm right and you're wrong" kind of mentality. He has balanced everything very well so far.

[@davidwooden3878]

From the way he writes Dresden I assumed Jim was a bit of a reddit atheist. But from what I've heard from him on these panels and so on I think he's a good flavour of Christian. He's not using it to platform hate, and that's the part of religion I perhaps like least. That and the abuses of any organizations' power

[@Bearrden]

That was awesome!!!

[@Mysicalgreenunicorn03]

Also, Jim doesn’t age. He looks younger now than a few years back. You can’t tell me he hasn’t made a deal with the fae

[@alexisgrunden1556]

Considering that he's spreading word of the Fae and dramatically increasing belief of and in them? It wouldn't surprise me.

[@TheMarshmellowLife]

He is the fae..........

[@johansten7976]

Except the beard - it's *much* grayer than just a few months ago! (Unless he's dyed it)

[@Brian0033]

I was thinking the exact opposite, that he looked much older then the last time i saw him.

[@Grimscribe732]

@@johansten7976 White hair clearly is a signifier for alignment with the Winter Court.

[@RFazor]

That is one kool hair style!

[@davidwooden3878]

Hell yeah it is!

[@985JACKS]

does anyone else want to watch Jim work as GM?

[@a_diamond]

YES!

[@davidwooden3878]

I would watch that show

[@bgt2848]

......the one $&@%ING YEAR!!!! I didn’t go to pensacon!!!!! The man who made my best friends is there!!! I’m so mad at myself!

[@theo-jamesmoulton2000]

Nothing would top ‘boot to the head’ I actually got tune playing in my head’

[@melodie-allynbenezra8956]

For some reason, I don't think the animals in his house are ever leaving.

[@Bluemudphoenix]

Is this about the tv show that aired a long time ago or a new one?!

[@davidwooden3878]

He's talking about a prospective new series

[@Bluemudphoenix]

@@davidwooden3878 that would be incredible!

[@davidwooden3878]

@@Bluemudphoenix we're very hopeful! It would be amazing to have another shot at the silver screen for this series. But we haven't had an update in a long time, so the status is uncertain

[@robertstewart9989]

If you don't cast James Marsters as Marcone then at least cast him as Bob please.

[@motorcop505]

Jim Butcher and Nathan Lowell, two terrific authors, are both in Colorado. I wonder if they know each other.

[@aeilahpi1207]

MORE MOUSE PLEASE!!!!

[@jbrnewman]

I would love to sit down with Jim and discuss magic in Islam and a Muslim perspective of the Dresden Files cosmology. Or even just point him to great research sources (I can hardly wait for Rashid to have a bigger role).

[@davidwooden3878]

Rashid is one of my absolute favorites. May I share a thought from Cold Days? Spoilers At the Gates when he jumps on his carpet I like to imagine the safety straps he puts his feet in? I like to picture his boots with curly toes. Thanks to Terry Pratchett, I can hardly picture a wizard without curly toes. Anyway in my mind they hook into the straps the way lappish boots used to hold onto skiis. While I'm at it Harry needs curly toed shoes. I get mine at Native Earth! They do amazing period and historical shoes

[@TheMarshmellowLife]

Does anyone know if you can audit/take the same classes Jim did?

[@terryazamber1021]

Deborah Chester teaches at the University of Oklahoma in the Liberal Studies department. She was his teacher. She was also my thesis advisor when I was getting my M.A. at OU. She insisted that I complete an entire mystery novel. I learned so much from her. If you look on Amazon, you will find that she has also written three books on writing as well as a slew of novels. A very nice lady.

[@TheMarshmellowLife]

@@terryazamber1021 Hey thanks for getting back to me! I'll have to check out the books, but there's nothing like having the real deal pushing and teaching and getting to ask questions. Do you know if you can audit the class? Like take the class but not get a grade or credits.

[@haakin2262]

Terry Azamber thank you! Will check out!

[@dbillau]

Does anyone know the question at 41:54.

[@Ogloka80]

Sounds like "Will we learn more about his daughters as the books come out?"

[@joshwilhoyte4453]

What is that stuffed animal?

[@avataranimefan01]

Butcher is dealing with a loup-garou again.

[@joshwilhoyte4453]

Hunh, two years later

[@davidwooden3878]

Did someone make jim a Mouse plushy?

[@ToniGlick]

Hollywood is not run by nerds. I agree and it's a problem. I think the reason the Dresden files didn't last for more than season lies in their inability to understand the audience. They needed to cast actors who we could identify with. In the books Dresden routinely tells us he is not an athlete but Hollywood gives us a chiseled six pack guy. Then they leave out the core of all the books: Harry's regret about the chaos and death his powers are capable of. So people who love the books can't identify and people who are just looking for a show see another shallow magic show. The audio books, however, are beautifully read by James Marsden, so they got that right.

[@AldrickExGladius]

Im fine with Harry drinking Coke, but knowing that Jim drinks Dasani is so disappointing

[@samuelleask1132]

I think the whole panel got supplied with bottles of it, like at many other conventions and panels

[@chrisbonnett6783]

Sharing control as a writer is next to impossible if you have passion for your story. Even the slightest word change is unacceptable. One word changed in a conversation, could change a relationship dynamic, change a scene and alter the entire book. It's that important to the writer, who spent hours/days rewriting the scene to get it perfect. NOW, somebody who doesn't get the characters, or the situation, or even the book's premise is going to demand that you to throw out an entire chapter? All you can do is sell the rights and walk away with a check, separating yourself from the work and start your next project. Let them screw it up. They bought it, they own it.

[@NotoriusMaximus]

First off Priscilla Spence, thank you for these recordings. second I don`t get how fallen angels ended up in coins made thousands years later after their fall. No logic in this. Its like there weren't evil shenanigan's prior to Judas tip off. third Priscilla you can play Molly Carpenter in the show. Somehow you look spot on IMO :)

[@joshwilhoyte4453]

The Fallen are trapped in the Coins. It’s either a punishment for their transgression, part of the price they paid, or a sanctuary they require due to their status.

[@sodapopinski8064]

Slightly disappointed no one had the cajones to ask, "what's with the blue hair?" or set it up with, "As you get older you start seeing things from a different perspective. With that in mind, how do you find the courage to wake up one day and decide 'I'm done with this gray hair BS'"

[@davidwooden3878]

He dyed it for his fairytale themed wedding and enjoyed it so he's kept the blue

[@PrincessMeggala0913]

I love you Jim, I do, but there are those that you’ve hurt because you didn’t want to work with “people” and I’m still upset about it........ But like I said I still love Dresden and am very glad that you created him and Molly and their stories.

[@davidwooden3878]

?

[@PrincessMeggala0913]

@@davidwooden3878 some friend of mine used to be very close to him and did lots of their own like-fan film type stuff and were looking to make a deal with Jim to let them do more officially with his blessing and he said no. Basically he said my friend who was playing Harry was too “Winnie the Pooh” shaped if you get my drift. And the woman playing Mab wasn’t pretty enough….it was a whole thing. I don’t want to get too into it because I have friends on both sides of what happens but yeah. It was a whole thing.

[@davidwooden3878]

@megwillsher7580 I hope your friends are still making fan content and enjoying themselves! Sorry to hear about the failed attempt to make things official

[@pavelowjohn9167]

So....did Jim lose a bet or something?

[@pavelowjohn9167]

@ Fair enough, let me re-phrase - "I've been a little worried about Jim the last few years. Not about him finishing the next Dresden book, I'm patient about stuff like that, but about how things are going with his life. He and I are the same age and when guys like us suddenly do something like dye our hair an unusual color, it's either because we lost a humorous bet with our buddies (good) or because we're going through a massive personal crisis (not so good). I've really enjoyed everything Jim has written and hope he's okay and wish him nothing but massive success with his multiple projects, including the re-optioning of the Dresden File TV show"

[@pavelowjohn9167]

@ Believe it or not, I'm completely on-board with doing bizarre things like this, I once got dolled up in a man-dress and make-up for a wedding on Bali. The eye-shadow almost drove me crazy. I was 30 at the time, so I wasn't a kid, I took my share of kidding from the guys in my squadron (yep, I was active duty at the time, go figure). But after checking on google with a quick search, I realized Jim's looked like this since at least DragonCon 2019. Again, since Jim and I are the same age, I knew that a longer-than-a-week thing like that could mean a couple of things. I sincerely hope that this is a just a fun thing he's doing for kicks and not a sign of something worrisome. I would be asking the exact same question if, say, Brandon Sanderson or Larry Correia showed up with bright pink or aqua blue hair. Either way, I sincerely hope the best for Jim, he's one of my favorite authors and I hope everything goes great for him this year and every year after.....

[@nicolasbrunet8243]

I'd see harry played by Chris D'Elia

[@jacenskylo]

Nicolas Brunet yeah that doesn’t look like that’s gonna happen.

[@davidwooden3878]

Oh my word he looks like Jim butcher

[@bhoqeem1975]

How he actually drinks coca cola is worrying. That thing is literally POISON! I mean I love Jim and his works. I want him to be healthy and live a long, productive life.

[@johngaltjr7309]

I suspect a great deal. Injun Joe is Cowl. I know why. Also time travel. Harry fixes his table.

[@davidwooden3878]

What makes you think Injun Joe is Cowl? I'm fascinated, I love hearing the different ideas of who he may be

[@sterlingdupre9565]

First?

[@CaffeinatedDebate]

Dude is getting old. Blue hair? Ok Jim, just finish the fucking books.

[@davidwooden3878]

Glad you like the books, shame you don't like people having fun with their own hair. I think someone in the books has a cool dye job, but I just can't put my finger on who it may be

[@dawall3732]

Oh no look at that hair hes turned SJW! (R.I.P. Dresden!)

[@davidwooden3878]

Have you... read the books? Harry may not be the Big Red lady from the memes, but he's on the streets fighting for justice and he talks about social problems a lot. He even jokes about being an anarchist at times. Sorry gang, Dresden is already woke (That's not a bad thing)

[@dawall3732]

@David Wooden Woke? Not exactly. He is more of a caricature of nineteenth century male chivalry with magic. That's the reason in the books that he gets blind side by many of the female characters so easily. Including Murphy, who refers to him as both a shovinistic pig and a chivalrous pig multiple times throughout the books.

[@davidwooden3878]

@dawall3732 yeah he definitely is built from pulp noir tropes, and that includes the womanizing aspects. But being woke just means being aware of social or racial prejudices and discrimination. Which he is, he talks to Sanya about how it must have been difficult to grow up as a black man in Russia, he talks about social economic problems when he's looking at the construction development in Small Favor and lots of little things. Just because he gets googly eyed when a waif walks in doesn't prohibit him from being woke. But in all seriousness, Jim dyed his hair for his fairytale themed wedding and liked it. It looks good on him and I'm glad he's having a good time. And hey, I'm not trying to be a nitpicky grammar nazi, but I think you mean Harry's a chauvinist. Which he is, but you could argue he's getting better

[@dawall3732]

@David Wooden You and I seem to have different definitions of woke. For most normal people, the definition of being aware of social, sexist, or racist issues in society is just being aware of societal issues. Where as being over aware of these issues to the point of over compensation with policies that are themselves sexist, racist or socially discriminating is by most normal people considered being woke. A common phrase I've been hearing more often is. (Be socially aware. Don't be woke.) As for the missed spelled word, that seems to not make much sense. I tried to spell it correctly using the keyboard in my phone as well as the speech to text software. Every single time, it changed it to something else. So I just accepted the one it changed to that, at least in some way, resembling what I was trying to get.

[@davidwooden3878]

@dawall3732 yeah spell check is awful As for my definition I literally just looked it up and used the top definition, which has a long history before becoming the biggest boogeyman word that certain political persuasions can throw around

[@Demonreached]

Thank you Priscilla!