Introducing: Harmony Black

So, remember that top-secret project I've been hinting about off and on? Now that we're safely past April Fool's Day, the truth can be told. I'm pleased to announce that this winter, courtesy of the awesome  folks at 47North Publishing, I'll be bringing you Harmony Black: the Series. That's right, the Daniel Faust series is getting an official spin-off. Here's the pitch:

VIGILANT LOCK is an illegal covert operation concealed within the United States government. In a world where criminal syndicates shield their operations under the cloak of black magic, corporate oligarchs rise to power with blood sacrifices and demonic patronage, and terrorist cells are upgrading from bombs to occult bioweapons, Vigilant's mandate is clear: investigate, exterminate, and keep the truth out of the headlines at all costs.

Harmony Black, FBI agent and Vigilant asset, has a new team and a new mission. Together they'll shine a light across the shadows of modern America, unraveling secret histories and unspeakable crimes. They aren't the only conspiracy in town, though, and the powers of hell may have already wormed their way into the marble halls of Washington D.C...

Nobody can be trusted. No place is safe. And your closest ally may have a bullet with your name on it. From Las Vegas to Miami Beach, from sultry Louisiana bayous to the frozen peaks of the Catskills, getting the job done means navigating a web of danger and deception. And Harmony and her team will get the job done. After all, they're the good guys.

You may have questions about all this. Here are some answers!

Q: So, is the Faust series ending?

No, absolutely not.  The Faust and Black books will not only alternate, but interweave. I've been given free reign by 47North to bring Faust characters and events into the Black line, and vice-versa. What we're doing here is pretty ambitious and, I think, super-exciting: opening up an entire supernatural world of which, so far, Daniel Faust has only explored one small corner.

The core difference is tone. While the Faust novels are crime stories, drawing inspiration from the greats like Elmore Leonard and Richard Stark/Donald E. Westlake, the Black series is taking on a more conspiracy/mystery/espionage angle.

Also, Daniel commits occult crimes, while Harmony solves them. Big difference there.

Q: Harmony Black? Really? Isn't she kind of, uh...uptight?

Bear in mind that you've only seen her through Daniel Faust's eyes -- and ever since they met, she's been making his life miserable. There's a lot more to Harmony than he realizes. Read the first book and I think you'll agree.

(And that's not even mentioning her supporting cast. If you dig Daniel's crew of rogues, just wait until you meet Harmony's new team...)

Q: What if I only read one series but not the other? Will I miss out on anything big?

I don't think so. I'm structuring the plotlines and crossovers so that they won't be jarring if you're only reading one -- but if you're reading both, they'll add insight and depth to the overall story.

For example, Dr. Khoury (from A Plain-Dealing Villain) has a small role in the first Harmony Black novel. If you've never read APDV, the scene stands completely on its own. If you have, there's a bit of eyebrow-raising dialogue that'll shed new perspective on Khoury's talk with Daniel at the Field Museum.

Rest assured that this won't be a situation where you're reading a great storyline across five issues of Batman, only to find out the whole thing got wrapped up in a side issue of Aquaman. And then you have to go to the store and ask for Aquaman and everybody laughs at you, and you've got like, one issue of Aquaman now and it's screwing up your whole filing system and now you hate comics forever. I wouldn't do that to you.

(In this analogy, to be clear, both Daniel and Harmony are Batman.)

Q: Will this series have vampires?

Vampires aren't real.

Q: Sexy vampires?

Get out.

Q: Is this just like the Dresden Files? Because I--

I WILL CUT YOU.

Q: Is this a kissing book?

It's more of a storming-the-castle book.

That's all I can tell you for now, but I'll keep you posted as we get closer to the big day. For now, I'd better get back to work.