Awakenings by Edward Lazellari

AWAKENINGS
by Edward Lazellari
Available 08/30/11




Otherworldly magic collides with modern times, and the fate of two worlds hangs in the balance

Cal MacDonnell is a happily married New York City cop with a loving family. Seth Raincrest is a washed-up photographer who has alienated even his closest friends. The two have nothing in common — except that they both suffer from retrograde amnesia. It’s as if they just appeared out of thin air thirteen years ago, and nothing has been able to restore their memories. Now their forgotten past has caught up to them with a vengeance.

Cal's and Seth’s lives are turned upside down as they are stalked by otherworldly beings who know about the men's past lives. But these creatures aren't here to help; they're intent on killing anyone who gets in their way. In the balance hangs the life of a child who might someday restore a broken empire to peace and prosperity. With no clue why they're being hunted, Cal and Seth must accept the aid of a strange and beautiful woman who has promised to unlock their secrets. The two must stay alive long enough to protect their loved ones, recover their true selves — and save two worlds from tyranny and destruction.

Good or bad, when trying a new author half the fun is the anticipation. Only the author can ruin what seems to be one hell of a read by delivering a heaping, steaming, turd. But until then I live in hope that this will be as advertised, awesome.

The Company Man by Robert Jackson Bennett

THE COMPANY MAN
by Robert Jackson Bennett
Available 4/7/11
(my copy arrived today from amazon.com)

A trolley car pulls into the station with eleven dead bodies inside. Four minutes before, the factory workers were seen boarding at the previous station. Now, all are dead. And all of them are union.

The year is 1919. The McNaughton Corporation is the pinnacle of American industry. They built airships that crossed the seas. Guns that won the Great War. And above all, they built Evesden: the city of tomorrow, dominated by the immense McNaughton Tower. But something is rotten at the heart of Evesden and one man must uncover its dark secret before it all goes up in flames.

Caught between the union and the company, between the police and the victims, McNaughton investigator Cyril Hayes must find the truth behind the city of the future. Because if he doesn’t... he’s history.

Author of the awesome book Mr. Shivers, I'm hoping this will be another hit out of the ballpark.

What I'm excited about...

MY LIFE as a WHITE TRASH ZOMBIE
by Diana Rowland
Coming 07/05/11

Angel Crawford is a loser

Living with her alcoholic deadbeat dad in the swamps of southern Louisiana, she's a high school dropout with a pill habit and a criminal record who's been fired from more crap jobs than she can count. Now on probation for a felony, it seems that Angel will never pull herself out of the downward spiral her life has taken.

That is, until the day she wakes up in the ER after overdosing on painkillers. Angel remembers being in an horrible car crash, but she doesn't have a mark on her. To add to the weirdness, she receives an anonymous letter telling her there's a job waiting for her at the parish morgue--and that it's an offer she doesn't dare refuse.

Before she knows it she's dealing with a huge crush on a certain hunky deputy and a brand new addiction: an overpowering craving for brains. Plus, her morgue is filling up with the victims of a serial killer who decapitates his prey--just when she's hungriest!

Angel's going to have to grow up fast if she wants to keep this job and stay in one piece. Because if she doesn't, she's dead meat.

Literally.


In what I'm sure will be the best book cover of  2011, MLWTZ looks to be both awesome and disgusting. Could this be a quasi Scared Straight cautionary tale to teens about addiction and what will surely happen to you if you drop out of school. Maybe they can pass it out at high schools. Punishment for being an asshole and or a loser is being turned into a zombie! 


I'm extremely intrigued that is still a class difference even as you are a reanimated rotting and brains craving corpse. And I am still loving this new breed of zombie, the one that can still hold down a job, solve a mystery, and find it in their putrid little hearts to look for love.

FINALLY! The wait is almost over....

AFTERMATH
Sirantha Jax Book 5
by Ann Aguirre
Coming September 2011

DEAD HEROES GET MONUMENTS. LIVE ONES GET TRIALS.

Sirantha Jax has the right genes—ones that enable her to “jump” faster-than-light ships through grimspace. But it’s also in her genetic makeup to go it alone. It’s a character trait that has gotten her into—and out of—hot water time and time again, but now she’s caused one of the most horrific events in military history…

During the war against murderous, flesh-eating aliens, Sirantha went AWOL and shifted grimspace beacons to keep the enemy from invading humanity’s homeworld. The cost of her actions: the destruction of modern interstellar travel—and the lives of six hundred Conglomerate soldiers.


Accused of dereliction of duty, desertion, mass murder, and high treason, Sirantha is on trial for her life. And only time will tell if she’s one of the Conglomerate’s greatest heroes—or most infamous criminals…

SYMPATHY FOR THE DEVIL
A Morris and Chastain Investigation Book 3
by Justin Gustainis
Coming July 26, 2011

Senator Howard Stark wants to be President of the United States. So does the demon inside him. With the competing candidates dropping out due to scandal, blackmail, and ‘accidental’ death, Stark looks like a good bet to go all the way to the White House. And if he gets there, Hell on Earth will follow.

Occult investigator Quincey Morris and white witch Libby Chastain are determined to stop this evil conspiracy. But between them and Stark stand the dedicated agents of the US Secret Service – as well as the very forces of Hell itself. Quincey and Libby will risk everything to exorcise the demon possessing Stark. If they fail, ‘Hail to the Chief’ will become a funeral march – for all of us.

HARD SPELL
An Occult Crimes Unit Book 1
by Justin Gustainis
Coming July 26, 2011

Stan Markowski is a Detective Sergeant on the Scranton PD's Supernatural Crimes Investigation Unit.

Like the rest of America, Scranton's got an uneasy 'live and let unlive' relationship with the supernatural. But when a vamp puts the bite on an unwilling victim, or some witch casts the wrong kind of spell, that's when they call Markowski. He carries a badge. Also, a crucifix, some wooden stakes, a big vial of holy water, and a 9mm Beretta loaded with silver bullets.

File Under: Urban Fantasy [ Dial V For Vampire | Forbidden Spells | Bite Club | Scranton By Night ]

GHOST STORY
Dresden Files Book 13
by Jim Butcher
Coming July 26, 2011
(new date it really sucks yo)

When we last left the mighty wizard detective Harry Dresden, he wasn’t doing well. In fact, he had been murdered by an unknown assassin.

But being dead doesn’t stop him when his friends are in danger. Except now he has no body, and no magic to help him. And there are also several dark spirits roaming the Chicago shadows who owe Harry some payback of their own.

To save his friends — and his own soul — Harry will have to pull off the ultimate trick without any magic…

Here's to book covers keeping us guessing!

With the reveal of Dresden Files book 13 cover, Ghost Story, we are all still left with no clue as to how Butcher will continue the story. Is Harry protected by his new status as The Summer Knight? Did he simply survive the bullet? Or will he make a Buffy-esq resurrection? Butcher always goes for the unlikely rout, so we can all rest assured that none of the above is in actuality the correct answer. Much respect.

Alright, I'm going to say it: I think that the "urban fantasy" genre has been boring me for a little while now. (I am cringing in shame as I type this out! Lord Almighty Butcher forgive me, I don't mean you. Never you my Nerd King.) But I must explain something first, not ALL urban fantasy is boring. Just most of it, the adult part of it to be little more specific.

I want to also specify that I will never tire of monsters in any form be it; hunky, heroic, demonic, disgusting, or comedic. What I am terribly sick of are the stories they are being put into: CSI/FBI Vampire! PI Succubus! Detective Hard-Ass Werewolf! Gigantic-cliche-cast-iron-bitch-necromancer!

I try new authors, I try established series that you all seem to love and drive me nuts with irritation (anything Caitlin Kittredge the laziest writer I've ever read, or Lilith St. Crow who I kind of hate how she writes.) I despise authors who think they are so damn terribly cool that they sound like assholes on the page, or the ones who are so damn clueless and yet try and write a terribly fashionable character and it just ends up being terrible.

- - - - - -

What is the difference between YA urban fantasy and adult UF? It seems to me that aside from quite a few boarding schools, & high school diplomas, it is predominately: love.

I've always seen it as a terrible weakness on the part of the author not be unable to keep the reader interested, involved, or on the edge of their seat while their protagonists maintain a relationship, or gasp, a marriage.

On the flip side of this coin are the authors who put us out of our wretched misery quickly a la Patti Briggs & her Mercy Thompson series. Now it's about keeping your most precious people safe, together, strong, and prosperous. I feel the danger has been dialed up infinitely more because of the commitment of the characters have made to each other. Then there is Diana Gabaldon's time traveling Holy Grail couple who go through hell to be together. It's fucking priceless.

I know I'm venting into a vacuum, but that's the point of a blog right? It's only my opinion and it only matters to me.

Cha-cha-cha-cha-changes! Jim Butcher you god, you bitch, you dog...

This book is fucking napalm on Harry Dresden and your brain! Sweet sweet oblivion, Jim Butcher you are my Nerd King and I writhe and worship at your fiendish altar. I LOVED IT!!!!

Titty Twisters! A new Nursery Crime Novel announced...

The Last Great Tortoise Race
by Jasper Fforde
Spring 2012

"...Following on from the Nursery Crime Division's brilliant handling of the Goldilocks case, Jack Spratt, Mary Mary and Ashley once more take on the forces of evil within the harrowing and adventure-strewn streets of Reading..."

Published in Spring 2012 in both the UK and the US.
--from Jasper's website.

Soulless by Gail Carriger- beware mild spoilers ahead!

Here is finally the book that has brought me out of the urban fantasy stupor that I’ve been in. My beloved genre (and all it’s varied and colorful sub-genres) had made me slip into an ennui only heretofore seen from a Rake in a romance novel.

Soulless, the first book in the Parasol Protectorate Series by Gail Carriger, has breathed new life in my flagging sails. Not only is this a delectably hilarious read, but the story is supremely presented. I found undercurrents and threads sewn throughout the novel that eventually brought fruit at the end of this book. Several reading must be undertaken to fully appreciate every carefully woven element. Even the smallest of Carrigers characters are never frivolous, everyone has their role to play in this book. I admire the author's vision of our protagonist Alexia Tarabotti she's smart, strong, powerful, flawed, and has a definite appetite. The best part about Alexia, for me anyway, is that she is all of these things, but she is still very much a vulnerable young woman. Her feelings are so natural and well expressed by the author and that all the while Alexia is felling discomfiture, mortification, fear, or has been extraordinarily offended, she always tries. She wants more than what life has dealt her and she truly puts herself out there. I love her for it.

It took me only a few pages to get acclimated to the cadence of the authors voice, and how she balanced the action, Victorian etiquette, and that delightful humor embedded in the fabric of the story. I admit to being overly cynical and making premature assumptions as to what would come next (you see, it's been a VERY long time since I've read a new author that has stepped outside of formula), but Gail Carriger proved me wrong at every turn! At first I worried that I'd run headlong into yet another female battle axe, the only difference being that this one was in Victorian dress instead of leather pants. A couple pages in, and that notion was dispelled completely. Then I thought to myself, (and here I must admit that this leap in illogic was due to the fact that I had just caught up on my Victoria Thompson Gaslight Mysteries where NOTHING happens in the way of advancing the relationship between the two main characters, but seeing as I am emotionally invested in them, I cannot stay away!) given the tantalizing chemistry and verbal sparring between Alexia and the uber delicious Lord Maccon, that we'd have to go many books into the series to get anywhere with them. I was wrong, so absolutely fantastically wrong.

Still, I was stubborn to have not learned my lesson. I was nearing the end of the book, trying to magically make the book longer by conjuring up new pages from thin air, when I bitterly figured the book would end with the climax of the story and maybe a page of wrap up ( you know this happens much too often!). I vow never to assume I know my ass from my elbow ever again when next I read a Gail Carriger novel. There is plenty of meat here people, I strongly advise you to dig in! I have just one last point to make, and one that is a cause very dear to me. Werewolves. I LOVE werewolves, if done properly they can be such powerful and sexy creatures. Unfortunately all too often they are second class to vampires, and I grow weary of this. Rare is the author with the imagination that takes them down the path less traveled.

But here in the world of the Parasol Protectorate, we have a sincerely excellent mythology of supernaturals. I am fervently excited to explore not just Conall Maccon's back story (because it is scintillating intriguing), and Alexia's father is another mysterious figure in the background. Let us not ignore Professor Lyall or Lord Akeldama. And what of the dewan and the potentate, and that silver haired gentleman, we've yet to meet these creatures. There's much in this world to explore!

I look forward to digging into Changeless, Book 2 in the Parasol Protectorate Series due out March 10, 2010, and the yet unpublished short story about Alexia's father Carriger has talked about on her blog.

RATING: A Fan For Life!

My brian is on vacation- yup, still.

I've been taking a break from this blog, there's been a lot of amazing books published since I last posted, but there's been a lot of really disheartening bullshit too. It's kind of taken the wind out of me, and I've been licking my wounds by reading YA which has some really good shit going on and I don't mean that vampire series turned cultural hysteria. I'll be back soon... if the zombies outside my dungeon door don't bust in first!

Succubus Dreams

Succubus Dreams Coming in October 2008

Some days, a girl just can’t catch a break……especially when the girl in question is Georgina Kincaid, a shape-shifting succubus who gets her energy from seducing men. First there’s her relationship with gorgeous bestselling writer Seth Mortensen, which is unsatisfying on a number of levels. It’s not just that they can’t have sex in case Georgina inadvertently kills him (generally a turn-off for most guys). Lately, even spending time together is a challenge. Seth's obsessed with finishing his latest novel, and Georgina's under demonic orders to mentor the new (and surprisingly inept) succubus on the block. Then there are the dreams. Someone, or something, is preying on Georgina at night, draining her energy, and supplying eerie visions of her future. Georgina seeks answers from Dante, a dream interpreter with ties to the underworld, but his flirtatious charm only leaves her more confused—especially as the situation with Seth reaches crisis point. Now Georgina faces a double challenge—rein in her out-of-control love life, and go toe-to-toe with an enemy capable of wreaking serious havoc among mankind. Otherwise, Georgina, and the entire mortal world, may never sleep easy again…

Madhouse by Rob Thurman

My Brother has spent a lifetime- mine, at least- telling me that I was normal, that I wasn't a monster. With his help, I'd finally realized that as long as I could remain who I was, I could survive what I was. It was only bad genes....

Half-human Cal Leandros and his brother, Niko, aren't exactly prospering with their preternatural detective agency. Who could have guessed that business would dry up in New York City, where vampires, trolls, and other creepy crawlies are all over the place?

But now there's a new arrival in the Big Apple. A malevolent evil with ancient powers, dead set on making history with an orgy of blood and murder, is picking off humans like sheep. And for Cal and Niko, this is one paycheck they're going to have to earn... if the live long enough to collect it.

This series is on a breakneck pace to fucking Valhalla. I can only compare it's awesomeness to Jim Butcher's Dresden Files. It's completely it's own little entity and the fullness of the story seems impossibly contained by the cover. When you read these books you are completely immersed into Cal and Niko's world. With this book Rob Thurman has, for me, cemented herself in that Murders Row of authors that do not fail, that leave all the others in the dust. Armstrong, Butcher, Harris's Grave Series, Caine, Briggs, and now Thurman!

READ THE EXCERPT!

The Summoning Book 1 of The Darkest Powers and Living with the Dead

The Darkest Powers Trilogy Book 1: The Summoning by Kelley Armstrong

Meet...

Chloe Saunders, she sees dead people. Yes, like in the films. The problem is, in real life saying you see ghosts gets you a one-way ticket to the psych ward. And at 15, all Chloe wants to do is fit in at school and maybe get a boy to notice her. But when a particularly violent ghost haunts her, she gets noticed for all the wrong reasons. Her seemingly crazed behaviour earns her a trip to Lyle House, a centre for 'disturbed teens'. At first Chloe is determined to keep her head down. But then her room mate disappears after confessing she has a poltergeist, and some of the other patients also seem to be manifesting paranormal behaviour. Could that be a coincidence? Or is Lyle House not quite what it seems...? Chloe realizes that if she doesn't uncover the truth, she could be destined for a lifetime in a psychiatric hospital. Or could her fate be even worse...? Can she trust her fellow students, and does she dare reveal her dark secret? (visit her website and unlock the hidden pages with her darkest power). Due out July 1, 2008.

Otherworld Book 9: Living With the Dead

When Robyn Peltier—a very human PR rep—is framed for murder, the two people most determined to clear her name are half-demon tabloid reporter Hope Adams, and necromancer homicide detective John Findlay. And suddenly Robyn finds herself in the heart of a world she never even know existed—and which she is safer knowing nothing about.... October 28, 2008 according to amazon.com, her website says November so keep an eye out.

As for Personal Demons will be a huge test for the character Hope Adams, like Paige before her, she is very difficult to warm up to. But Paige came through in spades eventually, and I am really betting that Hope will as well. Lucas is like adding a wet blanket onto a struggling fire for me when what I want is a fucking inferno from this book, but Kelley has NEVER disappointed (um... wait, let me clarify, the Otherworld series has never disappointed. It remains a perfect series unmarred by author-brain-malfunction syndrome).

(There will hopefully be liberal servings of Carl Marsden throughout this story, honestly he is the only bite of excitement for me so far. But I am so far beyond biased toward the Werewolves in Armstrong books. I want them all the frigging time. It's a total irrational desire. After the payoff in No Humans Involved, I am in full Necro/Were mode. I'll get over it... kind of.)

Living With the Dead looks exciting in that we will be introduced to a new Male of the Otherworld Universe. We constantly get new Women, after all it is the Women of Otherworld Series, but they wouldn't be half the books they are without the incredible men in their lives. And a Necro homicide detective sounds pretty cool even if he won't have super human strength or a longer lasting youth. But Armstrong has already proven to us (and will continue to do so in The Darkest Powers Series) that Necromancers has the most terrible power of them all.

And here is what I am positively fucking foaming at the mouth over:

October - story "The Ungrateful Dead" in the anthology, Blood Lite. This is a Jaime story. October 21, 2008 (This means Jeremy and I am totally freaking.)

Mercedes Thompson- Homecoming

Reasons why Mercy Thompson's Comic will be FUCKING awesome:



1. The book's success was first due to people picking up Moon Called because of that amazing book cover. Each book since has equalled the level of coolness and has remained true to the story inside. Just imaging the comic being up to par makes my mouth water.



2. The book starts just as a younger Mercy comes to work for Z, "When she takes the job, she finds herself in a mess of trouble. Vampires, werewolves and an ancient fae are all out to get her-".

3.Hopefully we'll see her introduction to Adam! I live in hope...

4.Homecoming will be a four part book and is slated for release late in 08.



Cry Wolf has it's cover and official release date, yay! Sure it's been out for a few weeks, I'm so damned behind! Sure the cover art is pretty ga-ga-gay, but I'm still looking forward to reading it.

If you haven't read Alpha and Omega short story in the On the Prowl anthology, here's an excerpt: http://www.patriciabriggs.com/books/onthepowlChapter.shtml

Finally the cover of Wolfsbane and Mistletoe! Charlaine, Patti, and Keri always deliver great reads. Even if I'm a Harper Connely fan and not a Sookie fan (yet I haven't been able to finish one, I got bored), I've got a sure fire touchdown with Patti Briggs. "I was also invited to write a short story for Charlaine Harris' Christmas anthology Wolfsbane and Mistletoe, which will be released, not too surprisingly, just before Christmas this year. As usual these days, I was late getting my story finished, polished and submitted (arrrggh!). My story, titled Star of David is about David Christiansen, the mercenary introduced briefly in Moon Called. A nice tale about how murder, mayhem and bloodshed can bring a family closer together. "

Black Magic Woman by Justin Gustainis

Black Magic Woman, it totally lives up to the hype.

I had this baby pre-orderd from amazon as of
"Order Date: November 16, 2007" just on the strength of Jim Butcher's blurb on the book, "Black Magic Woman is the best manuscript I've ever been asked to read. Keep an eye on Justin Gustainis. You'll be seeing more of him soon." - Jim Butcher. There was no other description but that.

Butcher does not dissapoint. Ever.

Rarely can authors carry off and capture a reader into 4 different storylines all paralleling and diverging into this multufasceted ending that gave each storyline it's own conclusion, spotlite, and unique and compelling scene. This book will claw it's hooks into you and you'll be thinking about it for days.

Black Magic is full of cover to cover pleasant surprises, one being that Gustainis is a fanstastic character creator. I hope that he's able to spread out and create spinoff series of some of his "gust stars", and even to the cast he alluded to. Barry Love and the "Jack" Morris replaced in the prolgue, are great examples of Gustainis's fine-ass craftmanship.

The entire books is a breath of fresha air, it proves that the genre is not played out. It proves that if an author has enough creative juice, they can still blow you away with a series about witches, vampires, werewolves, and all that jazz. I am officially a fan for life.

So go buy this book, help a new author out and you will hopefully be rewarded with great books through your support! Here's the latest news from his website:

Exciting News!
My publisher, Solaris Books, has offered me a contract for Evil Ways (excerpt of this at the end of BMW), the second Quincey Morris Supernatural Investigation. Publication date: January, 2009.
In addition, Solaris has taken an option on two more books in the "Quincey Morris" series.
When I gave this news to a friend of mine, he congratulated me and then said, "Now all you have to do is write 'em."
Gulp.

Small Favor, small excerpt...

Proving why he is still the Master, and we all should bow down to him and empty our wallets for Dresden Files Book 10, Jim and his minions at jim-butcher.com are parceling out sweet sweet chunks of heroin-like excerpts from the new book. Each Tuesday until it's release April 1st will bring a new installment. Find them at jimbutcher.com

City of Ashes by Cassandra Clare (Spoilers Ahead)

City of Ashes
(The Mortal Instruments Book 2)
Cassandra Clare
March 25, 2008
ISBN-10: 1-4169-1429-3

Clary Fray just wishes that her life would go back to normal. But what's normal when you're a demon-slaying Shadowhunter, your mother is in a magically induced coma, and you can suddenly see Downworlders like werewolves, vampires, and faeries? If Clary left the world of the Shadowhunters behind, it would mean more time with her best friend, Simon, who's becoming more than a friend (BOO!!!! Simon is LAME!). But the Shadowhunting world isn't ready to let her go -- especially her handsome, infuriating, newfound brother, Jace. And Clary's only chance to help her mother is to track down rogue Shadowhunter Valentine, who is probably insane, certainly evil -- and also her father.

To complicate matters, someone in New York City is murdering Downworlder children. Is Valentine behind the killings -- and if he is, what is he trying to do? When the second of the Mortal Instruments, the Soul-Sword, is stolen, the terrifying Inquisitor arrives to investigate and zooms right in on Jace. How can Clary stop Valentine if Jace is willing to betray everything he believes in to help their father?

In this breathtaking sequel to City of Bones, Cassandra Clare lures her readers back into the dark grip of New York City's Downworld, where love is never safe and power becomes the deadliest temptation.

One Foot in the Grave UPDATE!

You can run from the grave, but you can't hide...
Releases April 29, 2008

Half-vampire Cat Crawfield is now Special Agent Cat Crawfield, working for the government to rid the world of the rogue undead. She's still using everything Bones, her sexy and dangerous ex, taught her, but when Cat is targeted for assassination, the only man who can help her is the vampire she left behind.

Being around Bones awakens all her emotions, from the adrenaline rush of slaying vamps side by side to the reckless passion that consumed them. But a price on her head - wanted: dead or half-alive - means her survival depends on teaming up with Bones. And no matter how hard Cat tries to keep things professional between them, she'll find that desire lasts forever ... and Bones won't let her get away again. -from jeanienefrost.com
Read an updated excerpt on my comments or go to her website

www.jeanienefrost.com.

Dresden Files comic artwork from issue #1

Magic. It can get a guy killed...

Get all you Dresden Files Comic info from Dabel Bros. here, and don't forget to pick up the Kalshazzak Poster here!

Outlander Graphic Novel

That's right, OUTLANDER Graphic Novel. Diana Gabaldon posted this yesterday:
"Del Rey, an imprint of Ballantine Books at the Random House Publishing Group, announced today that it will publish an original story set in the world of Diana Gabaldon’s bestselling Outlander series, written by Gabaldon herself and illustrated in full color by award-winning artist Hoang Nguyen... The new story, starring Gabaldon’s beloved characters Claire Randall and Jamie Fraser, opens with Murtagh, Jamie’s godfather, awaiting the return of his godson to Scotland, and the fulfillment of a vow made years before. The graphic novel will be approximately 192 pages and will publish sometime in 2009. Gabaldon’s upcoming new Outlander novel, An Echo in the Bone, is expected to publish that year as well...
...Hoang Nguyen’s previous work includes the Robocop movie adaptation for Dark Horse, Alien Legion graphic novels for Marvel Epic, Punisher: War Zone for Marvel and Warstrike for Malibu Comics. His original project Metal Militia was optioned by Dino De Laurentiis for feature film development. More recently he has worked in the video game industry, having contributed to such well-known titles as the Elder Scrolls series for Bethesda Softworks and Xena for Universal Studios. He was the lead artist and character designer on Dead to Rights for Namco and is currently a consultant for Namco Bandai Games."

I am unbelievably excited about this project. I absolutely love the fact that we will get to know more about the story I have adored and memorized all these years. Gabaldon herself said this on her brand new blog Voyages of the Artemis:

"Well, now, mind--this isn't going to be a staight graphic-novel adaption _of_ OUTLANDER, itself. What the publisher asked for was a "new" Jamie and Claire story, set within the timeline/storyverse of the Outlander series.
So that's what you'll see. Now, if you're a fan of the series, you'll certainly see events that you recognize from OUTLANDER. But you'll see a lot of things that Claire _never_ saw, and had no idea were happening [g]--and even the things she did see may have had more or different meanings than she realized."

I checked out this artist character Hoang Nguyen's website and I was blown away. They are seriously going for it. His artwork is so detailed and luminous. I am literally nervous to see what their collaborative rendering of what Jamie will be. Don't RUIN it for me PLEASE! Here's a sample of his work.