Pack Podcast Ep. 14 is here! Patricia Briggs finally brings her legendary assistant "Sparky" (aka Anne) out from behind the curtain — the woman who's been running the show behind the scenes for years, from bookkeeping to manuscripts to keeping Patty out of (occasional) trouble.

Plus: Steel Rain is officially finished 🎉, Dan Dos Santos has already delivered a cover Patty calls his best yet (reveal coming at DragonCon 👀), and Patty's already deep into the next Mercy book. We also swap convention stories from Bubonicon — George R.R. Martin, Martha Wells, and T. Kingfisher all made appearances.

Grab your tea (or coffee, Hasna ☕), settle in, and come hang out with the Pack.

#PackPodcast #PatriciaBriggs #MercyThompson #SteelRain #DragonCon #Mercyverse #UrbanFantasy #BookTok

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and episode overview
04:10 Patricia Briggs and Anne introduce themselves and discuss their recent travels
16:17 Highlights from recent book signings and conventions
20:06 Details about the upcoming Steel Rain book and its length
30:10 Cover reveal and promotional plans for Steel Rain
32:45 The unique experience of visiting the Olympic rainforest
33:21 Closing remarks and appreciation for fans and Patreon supporters

In this episode, we chat with renowned book cover artist Dan DeSantos about his work on the Mercy series, the art of cover design, and the creative process behind iconic book covers. Discover how his art influences genre marketing and the stories behind his most famous pieces.

key topics

Dan DeSantos' background in illustration and cover art

The process of designing book covers for the Mercy series

The importance of genre markers and visual storytelling in covers

Evolution of cover art over 20 years and maintaining consistency

Behind-the-scenes of creating Marvel and Magic: The Gathering artwork

The significance of tattoos and symbolism in cover design

Fan interactions and cosplay inspired by cover art

Upcoming projects and appearances at DragonCon

LINKS:

https://www.dandossantos.com/

https://muddycolors.com/

https://patreon.com/DandosSantos/

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/cloverpressart/the-marvel-art-of-dan-dos-santos-a-deluxe-art-book-and-more/

https://www.patriciabriggs.com/

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and guest introduction

02:11 Dan DeSantos' background and early work

07:57 Designing covers for the Mercy series

15:06 The role of tattoos and symbolism in covers

21:59 Creating iconic and marketable genre covers

28:01 Fan interactions and cosplay

32:04 Upcoming projects and conventions

34:00 Closing remarks and thank you

This lively panel discussion explores vampire lore, character dynamics, and the intricate hierarchy within the Mercyverse, offering fans deep insights into their favorite characters and storylines.

Key Topics

• Vampire hierarchy and politics
• Character development and relationships
• Impact of past events on current storylines

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Technical Difficulties
01:49 July Updates and Patreon
02:44 Vampire History and Character Discussion
10:09 Exploring Vampire Hierarchies
15:12 Stefan's Character and Relationships
20:06 Humanity in Vampires
27:04 Future of Vampire Dynamics
30:06 Conclusion and Upcoming Events

Resources

Patty Briggs' Official Website - https://www.patriciabriggs.com/
Mercyverse Book Series - https://www.patriciabriggs.com/mercyverse
Patty Briggs' Social Media - https://twitter.com/PattyBriggs
Patty Briggs' Patreon - https://www.patreon.com/patriciabriggs