SWEEP: The Movie!

In case you haven't already heard, Universal Studios has bought the rights to adapt Sweep to the big screen!  Cate herself is, understandably, excited, especially that they have hired screenwriter Robert Nelson Jacobs, who previously adapted another magic-themed book, Chocolat.

So, I figure now's a good time to remind you that Sweep: Volume I, collecting Book of Shadows, The Coven, and Blood Witch is out on all bookshelves now.  And that Sweep: Volume II (Dark Magick, Awakening, and Spellbound) is already on Wal-Mart shelves and will be hitting all bookstores on November 11th.  Sweep: Volume III is slated for a February 3rd, 2011 release (though it will no doubt hit Wal-Mart earlier) and will collect The Calling, Changeling, and Strife.

Also, let me point you to my rarely-viewed YouTube channel where I have a playlist for all the Sweep Dream Casts and Fan Trailers I've found-- which have new relevance while we wait for more movie news!

Balefire news!

I mentioned in my Balefire review a few weeks ago that the series will be collected in an omnibus edition around Decemberish.  Well, today Cate Tiernan posted the new cover of the bind-up on her blog:

I love it, though I would like the series title to be a bit bigger.  I can't wait for this to come out.  Even though I already have the individual books, I'm a sucker for big fat books, so I'll probably get this too.

(If I had to name who was who, I'd guess that Thais is the one on top and Clio's on the bottom--it's the look of innocence vs. experience.)

Still no Amazon listing or anything on the Penguin website yet.  I'll keep you posted.

Write Books! Win Books!

Exciting news today from two witchy novelists!

First up, Laurie Faria Stolarz, author of the The Blue is for Nightmares Series will be teaching three writing workshops for teens in Massachusetts this spring and summer.  The first one is this Saturday in Salem (appropriately enough) for $75.  I know, it's such late notice, but do not despair!  For she will be in Marblehead in July, offering a 4-day writing workshop on the 13th, 15th, 20th, and 22nd, with an afternoon session for 9-12 year olds from 4-5:45pm, and an evening session for 13+ from 5-7:45pm.  See the Books Make Great Lovers blog for more details.

Secondly, the latest book in the Seer series is coming out in October (the first book, Don't Die, Dragonfly is on deck to be reviewed here soon!) and author Linda Joy Singleton is having a contest!  You can win a full set of the first five Seer books, plus a complete set of her Dead Girl trilogy.  Also, if you're a YA or MG writer, she will critique the first chapter of your book!  Check out her blog for the full details of how to enter.

And finally, for those on the West Coast, you get your own really short notice alert-- Nancy Holder, co-author of the Wicked series, is appearing at the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books this weekend.  Admission is free, and her schedule is on her blog.

(Isn't it reassuring to know that this isn't turning into a full on comic book blog? ^_^)

Comics News out of C2E2

This weekend was the Chicago Comics and Entertainment Experience (aka C2E2), and some witchy stuff came out  of there.

First up, the return of the Scarlet Witch!  She's been an Avenger and an X-Man, and she's the most famous Super-Witch of all time!  But she's been out of the picture for a few years, and many fans have been wondering when she would be coming back.  At C2E2, Marvel writer Allen Heinberg and artist Jim Cheung announced that she will be returning in July in the pages of their miniseries, Children's Crusade.  The mini will be a follow up to their 2005 series Young Avengers, about a team of teen superheroes, whose own Super-Witch, Billy Kaplan (a.k.a. Wiccan) has a mysterious connection to the Scarlet Witch.  I'm planning Super-Witch Profiles for both of them which will be posted before the mini starts.

Secondly, not really news, but writer/artist Terry Moore, who recently finished a stint on Runaways, posted a sketch of Super-Witch Nico Minoru that he did for a fan at the show.

Comics News

In addition to our first Super-Witch Profile, we've got some news in the world of witchy comics.

Zenescope Entertainment has released the solicits for the first Charmed comics they're releasing in June, including an "issue 0" sourcebook, which will serve as a link between the TV show and the comics.  Still no exact release dates, but they should be coming soon.

And DC has released some preview art for the first issue of Zatanna, about their resident witch/stage-magician.  Her Super-Witch Profile will be up before the series launches, so keep checking back!

Over on DC's The Source blog, editor Rachel Gluckstern talks with writer Rex Ogle and artist Ted Naifeh about their upcoming co-feature, The Coven, starring Super-Witches Black Alice and Traci 13 (profiles forthcoming for them as wel!)  Their story begins in Teen Titans #83, out May 26th!

"Charmed" comics on the way...

I'm working on getting a good chunk of reviews done before I start posting them pretty regularly instead of waiting to be done reading each book, but until then, there's no reason not to keep up with the news!

Comic book publisher Zenescope has announced that they have obtained the rights to publish comics based on the witchy TV series that ran 1998-2006.  Zenescope is better known for their "cheesecakey" Grimm's Fairy Tales, but they still have a sizeable female audience, making them a good fit for one of the most successful female-led TV series.

The comics will be co-written by Charmed novelist Paul Ruditis and Zenescope writer Raven Gregory.  Artist Dave Hoover will be drawing the interiors.  Zenescope expects to have a preview #0 issue out in June and to debut the first issue at Comic-Con International in San Diego in late July.

More details can be found at Comic Book Resources.