Despite any rumors to the contrary, New York Times bestselling novelist Kim Harrison—the pseudonym of Dawn Cook—is not finished writing “The Hollows,” her bestselling urban fantasy series starring Rachel Morgan.
“I am not done with ‘The Hollows,’ and my next book in the series is already at the publishers, scheduled for release about this time next year,” said Cook, of Washtenaw County. “I’m grateful that my editor is allowing me to do something that might not have the same reach as ‘The Hollows.’”
And that something she is referring to is “The Shadow Age,” a new urban fantasy series Cook launched last year with “Three Kinds of Lucky.” Her second book in the series, “Secondhand Luck” (Ace Book $30) will debut Tuesday, Feb. 10, and have its premiere party with a Q&A and signing at Schuler Books in Ann Arbor. This is her only Michigan signing.
“We usually have a lot of fun,” said Cook. “Schuler Books is my home store, and they have graciously agreed that between now and Feb. 10, I can personalize and ship any newly purchased, available Kim Harrison title, new or backlist. Being able to get these signed-to-you books out to people unable to attend a real event is harder than it looks, and I am forever grateful for Schuler in taking on this difficult task.”
“The Shadow Age” protagonist is Petra Grady, who debuted in “Three Kinds of Lucky.” In “Secondhand Luck,” months have passed since the events of the first book where Petra bonded with the shadow Pluck. With the help of researcher Benedict Strom, she has made a place for herself at St. Unoc University in Arizona as the first weaver to use shadow magic in 1,000 years. But some are not happy to acknowledge the new shadow/weaver pair, so Petra and Pluck aren’t surprised when they’re blamed recent troubles.
“Unlike ‘The Hollows,’ which was/is fueled mainly by social issues, ‘The Shadow Age’ got its beginning in my concern over how we handle our day-to-day waste. Pluck, one of the main characters, was created by magical waste tuned sentient. It’s this same magical waste that threatens the magical society’s way of life, and Petra works to find a way to bring back a healthy balance between magic (modern convenience) and the price we pay for that (waste),” explained Cook. “’Three Kinds of Lucky’ left a lot of plot threads that needed to be addressed, mostly handling the fallout from being the reason one’s hidden, magical society was turned on its ear. There is hope, though, that true change can happen despite the old guard doing everything it can to stop it.”
She continued: “I chose to set ‘The Shadow Age’ in a different universe than ‘The Hollows’ so as to play with a few ideas that don’t dovetail easily into that universe. Petra and Pluck live in a fictional college town in Arizona. I have had occasion to winter in Tucson, and it has had a lot of influence on my work. I adore the desert in winter. The silence is profound, and life is hidden.”
Cook wrote much of “Secondhand Luck” from her RV in the Arizona, which she called “inspiring.”
It was also challenging.
“It’s hard to concentrate when everyone else is on vacation,” she said.
It took Cook nearly three times as long to plot out a book in a new series as opposed to one in an established series like “The Hollows.”
“I like coming up with new magic systems, so it all works out,” she explained. “Having to shift from one world to the other for rewrites, copy edits, etc. can be a challenge as well.”
Cook made it clear that Petra and Rachel will never meet.
“I’ve been working with Rachel for almost 20 years and know her better than most of my friends. She began her journey with no resources, no solid friends, and a mother who was a little off balance. Her history was hidden, even from her, and watching her grow and find out not only who she is, but what she is capable of, has been a delight,” explained Cook. “Petra Grady is a lot like Rachel in that regard. She, too, has hidden potential. Petra, though, has far more resources. When the story begins, her job is secure and she is at the top of her magical game—until she begins to uncover the truth behind her magical society and how it has enforced a great imbalance to give a select few all the power. So, yes, there might be a softly whispered political message here as well. I write about what worries me, and it’s hard to escape reality, even when it’s your job.”
While the two will never meet, Cook stated that astute readers will notice that both worlds have the same song “Black Coin,” but it’s sung by different singers. In Rachel’s world, it speaks of the dangers of dark magic. In Petra’s world, it refers to magical waste. In our world, it’s our dependence on oil, according to Cook.
“I don’t do a lot of poetry, but when I do, it usually ties my real-life worries to something in my work,” she said.
Cook earned a bachelor’s degree in biology from Saginaw Valley State University. By both nature and education, she sees the world through a scientific lens.
“Having (an undergraduate degree in the sciences) makes it harder for me to compete with my peers who have 4-plus years of literary studies. It takes me longer to push anything across my desk than it should, and I still feel foolish when confronted by an enthusiastic copy editor,” she said. “However, it has given me what might be a unique way to look at things. That I devoured both (science-fiction) and fantasy while growing up, combined with my focus in the sciences has helped me, I think, in bringing a degree of real-world logic to the multitude of fantasy species that populated ‘The Hollows,’ in turn, helping to define many of the species populating urban fantasy today.”
Cook had no idea that 20 years ago, her adherence to real-world, biological systems would have such an impact.
“I just wanted pixies, vampires, and the magic employed by witches to make sense to me,” she said. “‘The Shadow Age’ books are just getting started, so it’s harder to see. Again, I have tried to balance the various magics, shaping them much like a real-world system where there’s no force that can’t be overpowered by the smallest thing.”
Kim Harrison at Schuler Books in Ann Arbor on Feb. 10
Kim Harrison will speak about and sign copies of her latest novel called “Secondhand Luck” at Schuler Books, located in the Westgate Shopping Center at 2513 Jackson Ave. in Ann Arbor, on Tuesday, Feb. 10, at 6:30 p.m.
Please RSVP. There are two RSVP options.
- The bundled option lets them know that you are planning to attend and includes a purchase of “Secondhand Luck” for $34.89 (fees included), which will be available for pickup at the event.
- The free option simply lets them know that you are planning to attend this event. There will have plenty of books available to purchase and get signed on the day of the event.
For questions or more information, contact Schuler Books at (734) 662-0600 or info@schulerbooks.com.
