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.
The Anita Blake series is the only graphic novel I read regularly.
Diana Gabaldon has released one for her Outlander series which I will autobuy as well as they come out.
I have a problem with GNs based on novels because the characters never look like I had them imagined.
My favorite series is definitely “Fables”, but I would have a hard time picking one favorite character. I really love how the various standard storybook characters are reimagined.
Haven’t read as many graphic novels based off of books, but I did enjoy those based on Patricia Brigg’s work to tide over the wait between her books.
I have a feeling that Kim Harrison’s would help with that as well, would love to win a copy 🙂
Teresa, I had forgotten about Fables. I loved those as well. My son turned me on to them. He said there is also a regular novel out based on the GNs which is a switch.
Absolutely love the Sin City Novels.
I’ve read others, including 300, and found them to be enjoyable but for some reason Sin City just stands above the rest for me.
I’m quite fond of Gaiman’s Sandman graphic novels. My favorite character of which is Delirium. 🙂
Oh, I’ve got plenty that I love- Watchmen, League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, Wormword: Gentleman Corpse, 300, Runaways, 30 Days of Night, Transmetropolitan, Fell, Lock & Key… I’ll stop now before I list every one I have in my comics collection.
Favorite artist/writer is Ben Templesmith. I absolutely love his style.
I love Sin City, Firefly (the Preacher’s tale made me cry) Buffy the Vampire Slayer (Spike and Xander are my heroes), and the few Harry Dresden files out there.
. . . .but right now my kids and I are really into Owly. My four-year old is so proud that she can read it all by herself!
Seriously? Woww….I’m a really big fan of the Hollows series, so it’ll be a kick and a half to see how it translates into the graphic novel world.
Best graphic novels out there, though?
Old school Iron Man FTW.
Probably Death or Delirium from Neil Gaiman’s Sandman – Death was the character who got me hooked on the series, but I loved Delirium so much that Brief Lives was the volume I chose to buy and have Gaiman sign. If you ever have a chance to attend a reading of his, by the way, do it, because he is excellent.
I’ll also mention Rayek, from Wendy and Richard Pini’s Elfquest. Elfquest and Sandman were the two series that got me hooked on graphic novels, because they showed me that not all of it was superheroes. Thank goodness my local library got all the volumes, because there’s no way my young self would have been able to buy them.
Definitely Jesse (The Preacher) from The Preacher series by Garth Ennis. Nothing even comes close.
Here’s a link.
It blew me away.
[SB Sarah says: I fixed the link! No worries!]
Well, I was trying to make a link, but clearly hit the wrong buttons. Sorry about that.
Graphic novels are something that I gaze at, wanting to read them, but don’t know where to start. So I started with my 7 year old – we like the Bones graphic novels.
Oh my god, my best friend has been recommending Kim Harrison to me forever, and I keep wanting to pick her up, but haven’t had a chance yet, and in light of that, here is the perfect, perfect contest!
I adore Neil Gaiman’s Sandman, Art Spiegelman’s Maus (a work I think everyone should read), and Marjane Satrapi’s Persepolis (just as important as Maus, as far as I’m concerned), but in terms of the graphic novel series (and character) that I love the best of all, it has to be Roman Dirge’s Lenore. *G* Adorable, odd, at times rather surreal and just a little bit disturbing, the cute little dead girl gets me every time. <3
I’m another Sandman fan. I can’t pick a favorite character.
My sweety is the big authority on comic books and graphic novels, that’s pretty much all he reads. That and when he’s treated to me reading the most ridiculous portions of my books out loud lol.
I like Melissa’s picks very much. I have to say that Elfquest and then later Sandman were among the first comics and graphic novels I ever started collecting, and I still love them dearly.
I tend to read more manga these days, and my favorite character at the moment is Watanuki from xxxHolic by Clamp. I think it is because I have seen his character develop through the series as he learns that other people value him, and learns how to value himself; that really speaks strongly to me.
Hours72 – I would gladly spend 72 hours reading graphic novels, but it won’t take me that long to read Blood Work!
It’s been a while for graphic novels for me, although I have to throw my love out for Strangers in Paradise with Francine and Katchoo.
I can’t say I’ve read many graphic novels, but I did glom all the Elfquest the library had…
I love all of Kim Harrison’s Hollows novels. I’ve never really read a graphic novel so this sounds like a good place to start. I loved reading comic books when I was a kid so this is sort of like comic books for adults huh?
Can’t wait for it to come out!
I read the Anita Blake comics whenever I can. What can I say? I love seeing Jean-Claud’s frequently bare chest.
I really enjoyed the Cal McDonald Mysteries. It is a UF with a lot of horror. He is like a really screwed up Buffy
. It is hilarious and the artwork is wonderful too.
Archie’s epic struggle between Betty and Veronica.
🙂
No, really, I like The Dresden Files GC that have been done so far.
Anita Blake is fabulous. And if she and Neil Gaiman’s Sandman are the ‘whole package’, then Kim Harrison’s Hollow’s series featuring Rachel, Ivy and Jenks, is the bow on top. Funny, sexy and riveting. What more could a girl want? And while Ivy is the best written paragon of inner conflict to come along in ages, there’s a little Rachel in all of us. Being dragged on our asses down a suburban street by a demon, kicking, screaming, and cursing all the way…who hasn’t been there?
If Anita Blake and Sandman bring the ‘whole package’, then Rachel, Ivy and Jenks are the big, pretty bow on top. Ivy is the best written paragon of inner conflict to come along in ages. But there’s a little Rachel in all of us. Wearing the wrong thing to the party, being dragged on her ass down a suburban street by a demon, cursing all the way. Who hasn’t been there?
Interesting the way you drew Ivy’s inner spirit spilling out of her, reaching out to her boss, creating the atmosphere of a girl who doesn’t believe in to far to get her way. It gave the bloodlust a inhuman glow that is not unlike charming your way to getting what you want in this life.
The first “graphic novel” I ever bought was the X-Men’s Dark Phoenix Saga omnibus, and it still rules. Jean Grey is my all-time favorite comic heroine, and her story is still powerful, umpteen years and countless rereads later. No school like the oldskool, and all that:) Thanks for the contest, SB’s!
I’m saving my favorite for you Kim. I love everything you write. So I’ll be there to buy your 1ST graphic novel. Brenda Kahn
Love the Hollows series. Can’t wait to see the GN.
I don’t generally read graphic novels but I would love to read Kim’s!
Graphic Novels are new to me. I bought the one from Diana Gabaldon’s Outlander series and although the characters differ from what I envisioned, it was fun to get the storyline that wasn’t included in the series. The Hollows series is fabulous and the GN should be fun with the parts we haven’t read about yet!
My graphic novel collection thus far consists mainly of Laurell K. Hamilton’s Anita Blake series, but I also have Patricia Brigg’s prequel to her Mercy Thompson series. Totally love it. I just wish that Patricia would continue to make the graphic novels for the rest of the books.
As far as some of the comments about the characters not looking like what the readers imagined, I just write it off to differences in artistic interpretation, just like with movie adaptations. I’m able to enjoy it for what it is, not what I think it should be.
When I found out yesterday that Kim Harrison was releasing this graphic novel, I was sooooo excited. Not only is it a story that I always wondered about, but I don’t have to wait 9 months for it to actually come out. My only question for her would be, is this a one-time only deal, or are you planning on creating graphic novels for the rest of the series as well?
I love Cutter from the Elfquest graphic novels along with several others out there, but I am really liking Patricia Briggs’ Mercy Thompson as well.
I am looking forward to reading this. I own several paranormal series and this will be a great addition to my Hollows books. 😀
My faves would have to be Sandman and Buffy. I love the Hollow series and can’t wait to see how it translates to graphic novel.
I’ve been on a DC kick lately – Wonder Woman, Batman & Superman … Though Spawn and CYBER Force were my favorites when I was younger.
Current favorites are two manga titles I’ve been collecting—Bride of the Water God and Ooku: The Inner Chambers.
If I have to pick a favorite GN, it would be Blood Work. I don’t read GN’s much. The last one I read was Watchmen because I liked the movie.
Kim is my all time favorite author. I’ve been >stalking< ...umm reading her books and commenting in her Drama Box on a regular basis for quite a while. Not only has she signed all my books, she even signed my Kindle!
Jenks is my favorite character in the books. It looks like Blood Work happens before he meets Ivy and Rachel. I haven’t seen any pages with him in them yet.
V^^^^V
don’t have any graphic novels yet but i’m looking forward to reading one in the near future.
Oh goodness … graphic novels … I’m not sure if Wolverine: Prodigal Son counts as a graphic novel or as a manga, but I loved it! I was also a HUGE Elfquest fan … and still own them and re-read them regularly
I’d have to go with Jack from Jack of Fables by Bill Willingham. Hilarious and fun series. 🙂
dragonzgoil at gmail dot com
My favorite graphic novel series are Neil Gaiman’s Sandman and Alan Moore’s Promethea. I also love Buffy Season 8, V for Vendetta, Fray, Lost Girls, and Castle Waiting. My favorite character is probably Death of the Endless, with Delirium a close second.
Hands down DC’s Kingdom Come by Alex Ross & Mark Waid. I own it in the original mini series, the graphic novel compilations and the novelization. If they published it on cereal boxes, I’d buy them. Compelling story telling and breathtaking art, can’t ask for more.