50 Canon, the production company of filmmaker Mike Newell (Four Weddings and a Funeral, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire), has optioned Patricia Briggs’ Mercy Thompson series of  fantasy thrillers about a shape-shifter who can turn into a coyote and who lives in an alternate world where vampires, werewolves and fae coexist with humans--and she just happens to be pretty a good VW mechanic on the side.  Briggs began the series in 2006 with Moon Called followed by Blood Bound in 2007.   The series, which has now sold over 250,000 copies, has become increasingly popular with each volume.  The third volume, Iron Kissed, was a New York Times bestseller and a highly anticipated fourth volume, Bone Crossed is due in 2009.

Series author Patricia Briggs is also writing the Dabel Bros.’ Mercy Thompson four-issue comic book series, Mercy Thompson: Homecoming, which is a prequel to the novels.  The first Mercy Thompson: Homecoming comic, which features art by Francis Tsai (Marvel Adventures, Impaler), ships to retailers this month.