I thought I could get by without an agent.  I was reassured that I had an excellent publisher who'd advertise my book well and were a "medium sized publisher."

I sold 66 books.

....

Half by myself.

I think its important to note that the Vampire market has mostly been expanding by leaps and bounds to become it's own sub-genre because several authors have managed to create a market for it where it didn't exist before.  This actually means that people are going to be less burned out than people expected.  I'll go down with a list of things that have occurred in the past 10-20 years that have had a major impact on the market.

1. Anne Rice's Interview with a Vampire series.
2. White Wolf's Vampire the Masquerade and it's LARP
3. Joss Wheldon's Buffy the Vampire Slayer.
4. The Blade Trilogy
5. The Anita Blake series that is more a literary benefit.

Urban Fantasy has been slowly expanding as a market because the trail has been slowly but surely pathed by people adding daily to it.  The Hellblazer series I tend to actually think started the Urban Fantasy genre some thirty years ago.  Chris Carter's The X-files is the biggest gift of it to the world today (though aliens are now utterly passe again as a part of urban mythology).  Neil Gaiman and others have also added to it.

Hell, even Harry Potter.

In general, I think that vampires will always have a place in fantasy because they fulfill the role of an easily usable mythological monster.  They're also very flexible creatures for their usage.  You've got the Byronic "I'm cursed" hero types and romantic leads that everyone since Frank Langella has been harping on (though I'd love to see some more sexy female vampires honestly).  You've got the mindless monster style vampires that are always good for cannon fodder.  You've also got the intelligent ancient evils at work as well.

Vampires I don't think will ever become passe since there's so many ways to do them.  Does no one remember how people said that Hammer Horror had completely tapped out the genre (probably not but my father believed that).  In my books, I tend to use them as a combination of ravenous monsters and intelligent manipulative scum.  It's no coincidence that I also make one of the heroes' lovers into a vampire but I keep her villainous.  Why? Because I think they work better as femme fatales than genuine people to be interested in.

I also think that even movies of questionable content like Keanu Reeve's Constantine will help keep the urban fantasy world alive.  More work equals the fans expanding.  I honestly don't believe that Christian mythology would be taken seriously as a genuine work for fantasy were not there some genuinely fun pieces incorporating it.  I'm referring, of course, to works like The Omen and The Prophecy where they work wonderfully.

Sadly, it's been a while since the Howling and werewolves need a shot in the arm.

An interesting question and especially appropriate one to fiction where the protagonist might be a vampire, wizard, world's greatest fighter, or so on.

:-)

Hey, my name is Charles Phipps.

Alas, with a company that has sold sixty copies of my best selling book in Windstorm Creative.  :le sigh:  That's why I've submitted my next book to the Donald Maas literary agency (don't let ANYONE say otherwise-you need an agent).  It's called Hard Broiled Magician.   I'm very proud of the work and think its my best yet.  My previous books in the Machines Unbound series sadly cost an incredible period of two years in my life to write.  I even got friends involved in the writing.  Seeing it bomb so spectacularly (I can't even join the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers Association of America) really sent me into a deep depression for awhile.  I actually worry it's hurting my chances to become professional.

I wish I'd had a community like this to guide me through the bad steps along the way.  I also used to be head of a RPG company called Seraphim Guard.  Sadly, my time there was sort of marked by a lot of infighting in the ranks and all of our projects failed to materialize much in the way of RPGs.  I was actually quite proud of some of my projects that fell through.

Nevertheless, the best advice from my trials and tribulations is to keep trying and never give up your dream.  As soon as I succeed, I'll be able to say how it was worth it :-)

I also wrote some silly children's books called the "Wooing of Ozma" and the "Engagement of Ozma"."

I like Spirit of the Century a great deal.  It's an amazing game.

OnNnnnnn the other hand, I already have Adventure and I'm worried about buying another Pulp game that won't have supplements for it.

I'll probably pick it up though.

(*sighs* I miss Indiana Jones WEG)

Oooo!

I'd definitely tune in for one that featured someone from the Donald Maass Literary Agency... Mr. Maass has some *damn* fine books on writing technique out there (I own two, and have made a point to have them in my store where I recommend and sell them regularly).  To say nothing of the other wonderful subjects they could discuss, I'd simply love to hear a discussion of "Writing The Breakout Novel" in terms of Jim Butcher's works in specific...

I believe Jim wrote Storm Front *before* having an agent, but despite that, I've always thought the Dresden Files are textbook examples of the advice Donald Maass gives to new authors in his book and workbook.  I'd also LOVE to hear Jim weigh in on how Maassively his writing has been influenced by his experiences with the agency.   

Huh, I just sent my first 5 pages along with an author query towards the Maas agency.  I hope they're willing to represent me.
 
Okay, well here's what I'd like to see on the next episode of the Butcher Block.

* A Butcher Block Review of Proven Guilty and thoughts regarding the book.

* Character Spotlight: Harry Dresden. A discussion of the characteristics of Harry and why we love him.

* RPG Preview: A moment explaining some fact about the RPG like how magic is handled or something similiar.

* Some talk about Jim's fantasy novels

But yes, I'd love to see a show on Proven Guilty.

Can you give us a hint what the next episode might contain?

Pity, I'd really love to see expansion books.

But that'd probably require Jim's approval and review before it could be done.

From what we've seen thus far it'll contain rules for magic, the monsters, and how to create city based campaigns with a Dresden "feel" from what I can tell.

What else will we see in the future? A possible history of magic or information beyond the books or is that exceeding the grasp of Jim Butcher's work?