15k, plugging along, and there are plots!  And possible plots!  And people who have plots against people who have plots!  That's something!

Always behind.  But I'm sitting for jury duty on Tuesday so I'm hoping to do some catch-up then.     This is one of the first times I've ever sat down and been able to write when I've had time though.  It probably helps that I don't really have a story thought up so whatever comes to mind is going down as opposed to before when I've had a story that I wanted put into perfect words that I agonized over.

I tried to add someone earlier today and couldn't figure it out either, so don't feel dumb!  Hopefully we can write better than we can add writing friends!

1. We have been told that Nicodemus has a very specific target in mind, ostensibly kept in the Labyrinth of Daedalus.  What is Nic trying to get his hands on and why?

My first thought was something that would grant him a more protective form of immortality/invincibility than the noose since Harry seems to have figured out the trick to Judas' noose which we get a very clear reminder of in Nic's now raspier voice.

2. Nicodemus apparently called in a marker from Mab to get Harry on the team.  Does he have a specific plan for using Harry or did Mab twist his request?  Which of Harry's capabilities will he admit to needing, and (given that this is Nicodemus after all), which abilities is he scheming for Harry to use?

He didn't seem surprised to see Harry there so I suspect that he knew Harry was coming.  My hunch is that Harry himself will be needed to access something that Nicodemus and the Nickleheads can't touch given their evil or corruption or what have you.  Harry will of course be useful for his resourcefulness and adaptability under pressure but they will need him to reach something they themselves can't touch.

3. Jim has mentioned that the book will be "Ocean's Eleven".  Who else did Nicodemus recruit?  How will they interact with Harry?

Per my previous thoughts, my original expectation is for all 11, or at least all except for Harry, the Churchmouse and his +1 to be Denarians.  Deirdre is a guarantee and I expect that Rosanna and her sad eyes will return - they just beg for resolution and whether she will finally make a choice for or against the Nickleheads once and for all.  If she's there, Tessa's crew stands a good chance of making at least a partial appearance as well.  And if they're all Denarians, then Harry's reaction is easy - instant wariness with the exception of perhaps Rosanna who is good at playing up on Harry's protective side.

4. Harry's general method of operation is to call on his friends for help.  In this book, Harry is (initially) allowed one extra backup member on the crew.  Who will it be?  Which of Harry's other allies will "interfere" before the plot is over?

I want it to be Ramirez.     I suspect it will be Thomas, although Sanya also seems like a logical option except that he is also the only Knight left and thus it would be Bad if he were to die, which is a major strike against bringing him along.  As for everyone else jumping in on things...that seems like a foregone conclusion.  I predict roles for at least Toot and Lacuna and hopefully Molly as well.

5. This is a Denarian book, so (unlike the last "end of the world" showdown), the Swords will almost certainly be present.  In fact, there have been various hints...  Which Sword wielders will appear in the next book and how will their interference/help affect the plot

Sanya has to be there somewhere, yes?  We've been told Michael will come off the bench and I won't be surprised to see Shiro make an appearance, perhaps to convince our new swordbearer to take up Fidelacchius, since we are going down to Hades' realm.  Murphy seems like the obvious wielder of the sword, though maybe she is too obvious...

6. Mab is apparently against Nicodemus succeeding in this heist.  In the Cold Days, we found that Mab had complex reasons for wanting Harry to kill Maeve.  What are Mab's reasons in this book?  Is it simple thwarting or is there something deeper?

If it's an immortality object, such an object in the hands of a person infected by Nemesis would be devastating.  If Maeve were unkillable, for instance?  It would be a disaster.

7. At the end of Cold Days, Harry needs to stay on the island to keep his growing headaches at bay.  The start of Skin Games implies that those headaches will need to be resolved by the end of the book.  Who or what is causing those headaches, and how will the whole thing get resolved by the end of the book?

Harry was told that Molly was needed to remove the parasite so that seems the most straightforward route.  It could hardly be straightforward though, right?  So most likely, the parasite won't be removed until the climax of the story and it will be in the most unlikely way possible.  Maybe we'll go really out there...a Denarian helps him do it, maybe even sacrifices herself (I'm thinking of Rosanna here) in order to help him do it.

8.  One of the key components of the "Ocean's Eleven" movie is that there is a final twist/reveal.  Given that we've got Nicodemus, Harry, Mab, and potentially Hades (and who knows who else) all trying to get the better of each other, if there's one thing you can count on it's some sort of last minute quintuple-cross.  What will be the nature of the twist and how will it all fall out?

I think it will fall to the parasite again and Harry falling to it.  The twist will come in someone unexpected helping him to overcome it and pull out of whatever trap Nicodemus has planned for him at the last instant, and I think that person will be a Denarian.


9.  (Extra Credit) There are many WAG ("Wild A$$ Guess") theories on the boards, some crazier than others.  Write up to three WAG theories (or make up your own) you believe are correct that will be confirmed (or at least have evidence in favor of) in Skin Games.

Hmm...Thinking!

10. (Extra Credit) This is that "free form" question where you can come up with anything else you think will be in this book.  Specific quotes Harry might say (will he actually quote Ocean's Eleven?  The movie will have come out already in Harry's timeline)? Tidbits about the White Council? The fate of Molly? Write down anything you want.  Note that whatever you write must be specifically mentioned or hinted at in Skin Games in order to be worth credit. 

We should get an update on Harry and his status with the White Council.  I'm hoping with a cameo from Ramirez.  And if Ramirez and Mexican Coke make it in, I might die of happiness.   

I expect to hear about Cat Sith and his progress in dealing with Nemesis.

This one runs counter to my other predictions but was something I noticed while reading last night.  In SmF, Tessa and Rosanna pick up 11 coins while losing most of their former ones and Nicodemus identifies their crew as probably being the ones associated with Nemesis.  So I'm going just gonna throw out a WAG that they're running a second "Oceans 11" team that is going to try and infiltrate Hades' vault at the same time as Nicodemus' team in an attempt to beat them to whatever it is they're after.

Had a great time at the signing today and apparently got JB a fabulously timed (if unfortunately warm) Mexican Coke right as his current drink ran dry.  Met lots of fun people in line too, although apparently my friends and I were the only ones dressed Dresdenverse (as Molly and random Splattercon!!! goers).  Place was packed and crazy, but glad I got to go!

In case anyone is going and hasn't seen the schedule yet, just posted - http://www.jim-butcher.com/posts/2013/space-city-con-schedule . I realize it's kind of redundant cause it's on this site and all, but you never know.

I found him! 

http://www.imdb.com/media/rm2625809664/nm1301857

Watch out, you might get shot in the knee for that one...    By Ramirez...not by me....