I don’t often host blog tours (hardly ever, actually) but this seemed so neat I wanted to share it with y’all. Youse guys. Yinz!
Anyway. Kim Harrison’s Hollows series is pretty familiar to readers of paranormal and urban fantasy romance, but now those same characters are making the jump to graphic novel format. Since I know many of you love graphic novels, especially those featuring strong women, I thought you might enjoy this sneak peak.
I have two pages of the novel below, and there’s more at other sites, as well, with links to come. Here’s pages 8 and 9 on “Blood Work,” coming 12 July (Amazon | BN).
Here’s what Kim Harrison has to say about the two pages we’re sneak-peaking here:
Blood Lust. Yeah, I Gots It.
I am a novelist at heart, but I jumped at the chance to script out a graphic novel based on my Hollows characters, wanting to stretch my writing skills and possibly reach a new audience. One of the difficulties I had anticipated very early on was how to visually show the emotion of blood lust. Most emotions translate easily to the visual page. We all know what anger or joy looks like. But blood lust? I was stumped. How could I show a rising, almost uncontrollable sexual desire mixed with the need to dominate? I couldn’t rely on my usual adjectives, and had to come up with something else.
Being able to visualize this was key to telling the reader what was going on in the mind of Ivy, my vampire being driven to distraction by thoughts of desire and betrayal. Without the visual clue of her state of mind, nothing would make sense. It was then I asked potential artists to show me how they would draw the emotion of blood lust as an extension of a person’s aura, able to touch, caress, or bite, the crux being that the stronger the emotion, the more definition the “hunger shadow” would have. You can see here what Pedro came up, his imagery pretty much cinching his involvement in the project. His rendition of blood lust was as complex and dangerous as the emotion itself, having all the facets of anger, lust, domination, and desire that I was looking for. It’s a peek into the character’s soul, and it’s beautiful.
You can read why I broke from traditional novels to script a graphic novel at Graphic Novel Reporter, why I chose to tell the story of how Rachel and Ivy met at Fantasy Book Critic, and how a card-carrying soloist becomes part of a team at Comics Beat.
There is also a kickin’ contest at Suvudu to win a pair of boots, if you’re so inclined to try to win things like really, really sharp boots.
I have here two signed copies of the Blood Work graphic novel, for your winning pleasure. Want one? Leave a comment with the graphic novel character you love most (or series, if there’s more than one character, which there usually is!) and I’ll pick two winners in 24 hours.
Standard disclaimers apply: I’m not being compensated for this giveaway. Your mileage may vary. Void where prohibited. Any resemblance to art projects near or far is strictly coincidental. No animals or magic markers were harmed in the making of this giveaway.
I used to read lots of comics, then got away from “collecting”. As far as true graphic novels, I’ve read very few. I think I read some Dragonlance adaptations that were very good several years ago.
I’d love to win this!!!!
Sandman is an interesting series, but picking a favorite is hard. I think I’m going to have to lean towards a manga for it.
Petshop of Horrors make the top of my favorites, after some consideration. I wish it wasn’t so hard to find, but it was discontinued years ago. It goes into some fairly in-depth stories and explanations of different mythical beings, some of the faults of humanity, and what happens when the two combine.
I do have to say, I’m sad that Al won’t be in Blood Work. I’m hoping he’ll be in another GN if there winds up being more than one.
I love Diana Gabalondon’s Outlander series, but wasn’t totally sold on the graphic novel. I didn’t dislike it and it was a nice refresher of the storyline, but it missed so many of the smaller details that really made the story special to me.
I’ve enjoyed Sherrilyn Kenyon’s Dark Hunter GNs. By splitting the books in half and taking it into two volumes it felt like a lot less was lost. I bought some Anita Blake comic books recently but haven’t had a good chance to read them yet.
This book is one I have been looking forward to!
Well – I don’t have any graphic novels that I am reading or have read. I do love comic books, and those are like graphic soap operas. 🙂
I love the Amazing Spiderman, Buffy, & X-men.
heatwave96(at)hotmail.com
I think my favorite of the limited graphic novels I’ve read is Cohen The Barbarian from Terry Pratchett’s collaboration with Paul Kidby titled The Last Hero. Who wouldn’t love a 90 year old hero in an ancient loincloth and bad dentures?? 🙂
I read Pictures of You by Gibson Twist on line, never miss an update. I also have a number of books, Preacher, some of Gaiman’s stuff, and an absolutely excellent graphic biography of Louis Riel by Chester Brown. But I think Michelle from Pictures of You might be my favorite character, working her way through college.
I’ve never been much of a GN fan, but my favorite character is Rogue from X-Men. I love strong female characters and I can’t wait to read the Hollow’s GN (especially because I think Kisten is supposed to be in it).
I really like Lisa Simpson from The Simpson’s comic books. I am a big fan of everything having to do with the Simpsons, but Lisa is my favorite. Even though I love all of the characters from The Simpsons, I truly identify with Lisa Simpson the most. Lisa Simpson is intelligent, sweet, misunderstood, always stands up for what she believes in, and strives to always do the right thing. Lisa is not the most popular girl in school, which does bother her at times, but in the end she cares more about finding ways to solve more important issues. She cares about such issues as saving the animals and the earth rather than being the most popular. Lisa is also the middle child of the family and so am I. I won’t even get started on the whole “being a middle child” deal. Finally, Lisa may not have any super powers, but putting up with a father like Homer Simpson and a big brother like Bart Simpson makes her super duper.
The Anita Black and the new graphic novel from Patricia Brigg’s series is at the top of my list. The art is interesting and I love seeing interpretations of these characters I love reading about.
For a graphic novel , I actually don’t read them o_0 I did pick up the adaptation from the Mercy Thompson series and loved the wolves.
I love the Hallows series and I am stoked to see Ivy get her own. Those boots would be sweet! Totally checking that giveaway out thanx!
Count me in for this awesomesauce!
I’ve lost track of track of the latest additions to this series (I tend to lose interest when I can’t remember one book from another, as I think I might as well re-read the old ones if I’m interested, rather than buy the new one). A graphic novel might rekindle that interest. Or might not – I’ve not tried one before.
Another ElfQuest fan, here. I loved the whole cast but was especially fond of Skywise. :0) Great artwork, too.
I would have to say EMP (aka Elisa Megan Powers), the hard suffering, often dieting, exceedingly self conscious super-heroine from Adam Warren’s Empowered.
It’s an exceedingly funny series, but laced with tragedy that, maybe because of the usual hilarity, strikes even harder – especially on the “3 Seconds Too Late” storyline.
Emp is not only the laughing stock of superpowered community (due to her tendency to being taken out, tied up and often disrobed by even the weakest supervillains), but her lack of luck has made her a YouToob star, thus spreading her reputation to the public at large. Still, she refuses to give in and take the easy road, and just drop from heroing—because she’s a superhero, damnit, and she’ll do the right thing, no matter what the cost to herself.
Katchoo, from Strangers in Paradise, is my all time favorite. Strangers in Paradise is the ONLY graphic novel series I have bought multiple volumes of,
It’s been awhile, but I also liked the main character in Y: The Ring of Truth.
And of course, always Buffy.
I love Mike Carey’s Lucifer. The series, the character…it’s all good.
I love Fables, but my all time favourite would have to be Gaiman’s Sandman. The intricacy of the stories, the way every incident, no matter how small builds towards the climax of the series, takes my breath away. I love Death (how can you not?) and Dream. Even the minor characters are compelling – Cain and Able, Lucifer, the Corinthian, Lucien, Barbie… and the other Endless, of course.
I’ve never been interested in graphic novels before, but I love the Kim Harrison Hollows books and this gn captures exactly how I pictured the characters. I can’t wait to get my hands on it!
I started on comics, and have whole collections of those old-timers. But of the graphic novels, I think Art Spiegelman’s Maus set are the ones I, too, would urge everyone to read. Powerful.
When I was a kid I worked in a comic/used book store when I was 14. 🙂 The owner said I was in there so often I might as well work there and paid me to shelve books on the weekends.
Back then is when I first discovered graphic novels. I had never heard of them before that. My very first GN read was Interview with a Vampire and then Heavy Metal. :0) Now I’m hooks on the Last Man series and I’ve bought both the Dresden Files and the Mercy Thompson graphic novels. Even Sherrilyn Kenyons Dark Hunter novels are now in Magna format. Those take some getting used to as you have to read them backwards. :0)
Kim Harrison is a must buy for me of any and all books she comes out with. Rachel, Jinx, and Ivy are wonderful and I can poor over the books over and over again.
I love Death from Neil Gaiman’s Sandman graphic novels.
I have only just started looking at graphic novels. My son loves the James Patterson Angel series. I have read the first Sherrilyn Kenyon Dark Hunter Manga. I preferred the novels. Thanks for the giveaway!
Not sure if it’s still going, but lately my favorite character is Scott Pilgrim. The novels are light and fun and the movie was fantastic. I just can’t help but root for the guy you kind of love to hate a little bit.
I’ve always been a fan of fairy tales. So when I saw the Grimm Fairy Tales in GN form I had to have them. The art is beautifully done, the girls are not hard on the eyes, and tales are cool with just a bit of an adult twist. Sela and Belinda are my fav’s. Sela is a great good do-er, while Belinda could wreck your world.
I love Kim’s work and look forward to Blood Work! Her characters Rach, Ivy, Jenks, Big Al and Trent are all very near and dear to my heart. LOVE the HOLLOW’S series. 🙂
Thanks for the opportunity!
~Lynn from Haverhill
Kim Harrison is my favorite writer and I can’t wait to read her graphic novel. Some of the other series I like are Patricia Briggs Mercy Thompson Series and all of Kelley Armstrong’s series.
I see that I am in good company in saying that my favority graphic novel is the Sandman series, favorite character being Dream. If Manga counts, I also love One Piece. My favorite character there is probably Zorro, Luffy or Nami.
Dear Bitches:
i have to admit that I am new to graphic novels, but there is NO WAY that I’m letting Blood Work slip past me. I will grab this GN as soon as it hits the shelves. Ms. Harrison is in a class all her own as far as I’m concerned. I love Ivy – who doesn’t? She’s confindent in her own skin – even if she doesn’t quite know who she is yet – or rather, can’t accept who she is yet. We accept you, Ivy. Rock on, Kim Harrison! Another notch in your belt! xo
Judi in NJ
The only graphic novel I’ve really read is Anita Blake
My fav would have to be the Phoenix Saga or Firefly.
Never read a graphic novel but will definitely read this one…and the next one…!
Loved the Fray series but hated that future lingo way of talking.
I must say that I love the cast of the Watchmen, the old Jonah Hex comics, and some pre-Neil Gaiman Xmen. But more importantly I am looking forward to seeing things from Ivy’s point of view in Kim Harrison’s first graphic novel!
I am new to graphic novels. I have read Patricia Briggs’ Mercy Thompson one and Kelley Armstrong’s Elena/Clay novel. I am eagerly looking forward to this one!
I don’t read a lot of graphic novels (I forget to look at the pictures) but I loved the Harry Dresden graphic novels, I think that those story lines lend themselves really well to visual interpretation. Kim Harrison’s work is the same way and I can’t wait to see it. I especially want to see Jenks!