Kim Harrison

Dawn Cook
Pen name	Kim Harrison
Occupation	novelist
Nationality	U.S.
Period	2004 to present
Genre	Fantasy
Website
http://www.kimharrison.net

Kim Harrison is a nom de plume of American author, Dawn Cook. Under the name of Harrison, she is best known for her Rachel Morgan urban fantasy series set in an alternate history where a worldwide pandemic caused by genetically modified tomatoes led to the death of a large portion of the world's human population. At that point, the hidden "Inderlanders," creatures such as witches, werewolves, vampires, and more, came forward and revealed their existence to the world. Under the name of Dawn Cook, she is best known for her Decoy Princess and Truth series, published in the first few years of the 21st century. The first two Truth books were originally one book, which was split into two separate books for publishing. That the two are the same was disclosed in a May 2009 Locus magazine article.

In 2008, Harrison was described by Harper Collins Voyager Publishing Director Jane Johnson as the best example of the urban fantasy sub-genre which she described as, "the supernatural erupting into the everyday—sexy, tongue-in-cheek, post-modern."

Biography

A self-proclaimed "former tomboy," Kim Harrison (born and raised in the Midwest) grew up the only girl in a family of boys. She discovered her talent for writing at the age of 15, when she began writing down the stories that filled her head to the point of near addiction. Despite her love for the page, she took an unorthodox approach to writing, and claims to have avoided English courses beyond the basic requirements in high school and college.

At first, Harrison tried her hand at writing traditional science fiction, but began writing contemporary fantasy after deciding to focus more on character development. She spent the better part of a decade struggling as an aspiring author before meeting her current agent at a writing convention. He then introduced her to Diana Gill, who became Harrison's editor. Together, they produced Dead Witch Walking, and her first book was published in paperback by HarperTorch in 2004. Since then, she has written six more books in the Rachel Morgan, or The Hollows series (most with titles punning off Clint Eastwood movies) and contributed to multiple anthologies, with prequels to the Hollows books, and one with a young adult story.

After the success of her first novel, Harrison was able to resign from her day job, devoting herself to writing full time. Her favorite author is Ray Bradbury. She references music as one of her strongest writing influences, providing song lists for several of her characters. In her spare time, she communicates with fans via her self-maintained website. She currently lives in South Carolina.

Harrison is a member of the Romance Writers of America and Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America. In the May 2009 issue of Locus magazine, it was revealed that she is also known as Dawn Cook, author of the "truth" series.

"I'm glad it's out in the open, because it is hard to maintain these two separate identities, and remind your friends or family when you go out, 'I'm Kim today, so don't call me Dawn.' The division has served its purpose. I'm still going to be Kim, but now if somebody calls me Dawn I won't have to say 'Shut your mouth!'"

Bibliography as Kim Harrison

Rachel Morgan / The Hollows series

Novels

• Dead Witch Walking (April 2004, ISBN 0-06-057296-5)

Focuses on Rachel's move from a corporate agent to independent operative. Introduces primary antagonist Trent Kalamack and other characters that will appear throughout the series.

• The Good, the Bad, and the Undead (January 2005, ISBN 0-06-057297-3)

Focuses on Rachel's dealings with her relationships and partners. Develops the characters of the demons and the nature of the ever-after as Rachel attempts to save Ivy from Piscary.

• Every Which Way But Dead (June 28, 2005, ISBN 0-06-057299-X)

Deals with the fallout of Rachel's dealing with the demon Algaliarept.

• A Fistful of Charms (June 27, 2006, ISBN 0-06-078819-4)

Rachel sets out to save Nick and Jax, encountering hostile groups of Weres and a rival vampire camarilla when attempting to retrieve a deadly item of power.

• For a Few Demons More (March 20, 2007, ISBN 0-06-078838-0)

Resolves plot threads revolving around the Cincinnati vampire camarilla, relationships among the three members of Vampiric Charms and their primary antagonist, Trenton Kalamack, and introduces new threads and threats.

• The Outlaw Demon Wails (February 26, 2008, ISBN 978-0060788704, retitled Where Demons Dare in the UK and Blutnacht in Germany)

Rachel finds herself at odds with Algaliarept once again, and learns a shocking family secret.

• White Witch, Black Curse (February 24, 2009, ISBN 978-0061138010)

Rachel tracks down a killer connected to her and Ivy's past and helps the authorities against a new threat.

• Black Magic Sanction (February 23, 2010, ISBN 0061138037)

Rachel is in deadly peril, and she must rely on past enemies to survive.

Book title allusions

Apart from the first book of the series, all of the titles allude to Clint Eastwood films, including several of his most famous westerns.

• Dead Witch Walking: "Dead man walking" is the traditional phrase called as a condemned prisoner is led onto Death Row. The title may also allude to the 1995 film of that name, or the book upon which that film was based.
• The Good, the Bad, and the Undead: alludes to 1966's The Good, the Bad and the Ugly, the third film in the Dollars trilogy.
• Every Which Way But Dead: alludes to 1978's Every Which Way But Loose.
• A Fistful of Charms: alludes to 1964's A Fistful of Dollars, the first installment in the Dollars trilogy.
• For a Few Demons More: alludes to the second installment in the Dollars trilogy, 1965's For a Few Dollars More.
• The Outlaw Demon Wails: alludes to the 1976 film The Outlaw Josey Wales.
• White Witch, Black Curse: alludes to the 1990 film White Hunter Black Heart.
• Black Magic Sanction: alludes to the 1975 film The Eiger Sanction.

Audio Books

• Dead Witch Walking (July 2007, ISBN 9781400104710)—Tantor Media, Read By Marguerite Gavin
• The Good, the Bad, and the Undead (November 2007, ISBN 9781400104727)—Tantor Media, Read By Marguerite Gavin
• Every Which Way But Dead (January 2008, ISBN 9781400104734)—Tantor Media, Read By Marguerite Gavin
• A Fistful of Charms (Coming January 2008, ISBN 9781400104741)—Tantor Media, Read By Marguerite Gavin
• For a Few Demons More (May 2007, ISBN 9781400104536)—Tantor Media, Read By Marguerite Gavin
• The Outlaw Demon Wails (February 2008, ISBN 9780061452987)—HarperAudio, Read By Gigi Bermingham
• White Witch, Black Curse (February 2009, ISBN 9780061714696)—HarperAudio, Read By Marguerite Gavin
• Black Magic Sanction (February 2010, ISBN 9780061977473)—HarperAudio, Read By Marguerite Gavin

Omnibus editions

• This Witch For Hire (February 2006, ISBN 0-7394-6380-2)—Science Fiction Book Club Omnibus Edition, includes Dead Witch Walking and The Good, the Bad, and the Undead
• Dead Witches Tell No Tales (July 2006, ISBN 0739470833)—Science Fiction Book Club Omnibus Edition, includes Every Which Way But Dead and A Fistful of Charms

Novellas and short stories

• Undead in the Garden of Good and Evil
  

A novella prequel centered on the character Ivy Tamwood, in Dates from Hell (April 1, 2006, ISBN 0-06-085409-X)—anthology with Kelley Armstrong, Lynsay Sands, and Lori Handeland.

• Two Ghosts for Sister Rachel
  

A novella prequel centered on the character Rachel Morgan in Holidays Are Hell (October 30, 2007, ISBN 978-0-06-123909-0)—anthology with Lynsay Sands, Marjorie M. Liu, and Vicki Pettersson.

• "Dirty Magic"
  

A short story centered around the banshee Mia in the anthology Hotter Than Hell. (June 24, 2008, ISBN 978-0061161292)—anthology with Lilith Saintcrow, Tanya Huff and others

• "The Bridges of Eden Park"
  

A short story included in the paperback edition of For a Few Demons More.

• "The Bespelled"
  

A short story about Ceri and Algaliarept, included in the paperback edition of The Outlaw Demon Wails.

• "Ley Line Drifter"
  

A short story focused on Hallows characters Jenks and Bis working together to solve a case in Unbound (August 25, 2009, ISBN 0061699934)—anthology with Melissa Marr, Jeaniene Frost, Vicki Pettersson, and Jocelynn Drake.

Madison Avery series

Novels

• Once Dead, Twice Shy (May 26, 2009, ISBN 978-0061718168)
• Early to Death, Early to Rise (May 25, 2010, ISBN 978-0061718175)

Novellas and short stories

• Madison Avery and the Dim Reaper featuring Madison Avery in Prom Nights From Hell. (April 1, 2007, ISBN 0-06-125309-X, ISBN 978-0061253096) a young adult anthology

Bibliography as Dawn Cook

Truth series

• First Truth, May 28, 2002, Ace Books, ISBN 044100945X
• Hidden Truth, November 26, 2002, Ace Books, ISBN 0441010032
• Forgotten Truth, November 25, 2003, Ace Books, ISBN 0441011179
• Lost Truth, November 30, 2004, Ace Books, ISBN 0441012280

Decoy Princess series

• The Decoy Princess, November 29, 2005, Ace Books, ISBN 0441013554
• Princess at Sea, July 25, 2006, Ace Books, ISBN 0441014240

See also

• List of horror fiction authors
• List of fantasy authors
• Agaliarept

External links

• Kim Harrison official page
• Dawn Cook official page
• Template:MySpace
• Kim Harrison at Harper Collins
• Kim Harrison at the Internet Speculative Fiction Database