Sat Oct 4, 2008 — by Robert Greenberger

Mike Newell Sinks Teeth into Patricia Brigg's Mercy Thompson

Vampire Novel Series Optioned

Vampires remain popular as noted by the success of HBO’s True Blood series and the enduring appeal of Dracula.  It’s with little surprise to see that Mike Newell’s 50 Canon Entertainment has optioned Patricia Briggs’ Mercy Thompson character for development.

Mercy’s adventures take place in Washington state’s Tri-Cities area.  She’s a VW mechanic living in a world where vampires and werewolves are neighbors and not necessarily nasty threats. There are three Mercy Thompson novels in print, all from Ace Books and include Moon Called (2006), which is the story of a vampire-hunter who has the ability to shape shift into a coyote, Blood Bound (2007), and Iron Kissed (2008). Bone Crossed is due out in February 2009.

Brigg’s also told Publisher’s Weekly that the Dabel Brothers will be adapting her works for a series of graphic novels to be released as part of their deal with Random House. She will write the original story for the initial four-issue miniseries. The Dabels gained attention with their work adapting Laurel K. Hamilton’s Anita Blake vampire novels.

Newell is no stranger to genre entertainment having directed Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, and is currently directing an adaptation of Terry Brooks’ The Elfstones of Shannara.

The 43-year old author has also started a spin-off series set in the same universe starting with 2007’s Alpha and Omega, which was a novella and was followed this year with Cry Wolf.
 

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