Monica Valentinelli's Blog: booksofm.com, page 72

Words, Reloaded. Noise, Fading To Black.

Edited a little over seventy-five pages yesterday, and wrote about five brainstorming-related pages for Teh New Shiny. It was a long day, in between e-mail, planning something for Dork Storm Press, and a few food-related chores, but very productive. It was the kind of productivity where you look back and go: “Wow, that was a lot of fun. More, more, MORE!”

I slept amazingly well and feel totally, utterly at peace. My office is finally situated, save for the reorganization of beads, my filing, and a pile of “I have no idea what this is” in the corner. But? It’ll get done. I know it will, because with the shift in my priorities, so required a necessary change in habits and work environment. In a way, it’s like managing noise. And where that used to be watching television at night (which I don’t do anymore), now it’s Twitter this, Facebook that, e-mail this, and all the other publicity ephemera necessary to put oneself out there.

I was trying to allude to that when I wrote a post earlier titled “Words, Words, Too Many Words,” but I don’t think I quite got there. That, sometimes, when I’m focused on writing or editing words, I have to consume less of them to focus.

Now that isn’t always the case. On occasion, it’s helpful to have wholly unrelated narratives on in the background so I can tune out whatever it is to focus. I don’t have “one way” of diving into the page; this particular moment, I’m honing in on what makes a good daily work habit. It’s different, too, depending upon where I am. If I don’t have an office, and I’m in a fishbowl, then I like having other noises that I can control to create a sort of buffer against everything else that’s going on around me.

Even then, what I’m relearning is that I always have worked best when I mini-task. I break the day up into smaller chunks and, if yesterday was any indication, hour-long increments. So, at the half hour or hour mark, I work consistently through to the next one where I can take a break.

To help me focus on my current priority list, I removed my second monitor (which isn’t necessary at the moment) and re-positioned my desk so not only is it facing the wall, I also have my back to the door. Straight in front of me, is the oldest poster I have since I first started having offices — a Millenium Falcon procured back in the days when I was one of the first people to sign up for the Star Wars fan club. Below that, is an artist rendering of Thor from the comics. (OF COURSE IT WOULD BE.) An official soot sprite from Spirited Away and My Neighbor Totoro. . . Shut up, I like anime. . .) looks at me with those googily eyes of his. And, of course, various other paraphernalia and essentials, like the Mega-Chibithulhu. . . So cute, so cuddly, so sanity-blasting. . . and a lot of Hellboy. I should post some pictures of my favorites. Hrmm. . .

Doing this, setting up my office to fit my priorities, was really important because it basically created an environment where I had no excuse but to work or create. This isn’t coffee shop-style writing or meeting where it’s casual or I’m out for the day to listen and observe. This is where the bulk of my career rests on a space that I’m comfortable with long-term for hours at a time. It also means, however, that certain things had to be re-jiggled and adjusted. What I’m doing now is very different than what it’s been like for over a year. I’m still in the same space, though, so that means I had to get a fresh physical perspective to move forward.

But it’s also an auditory one, too. I’ve fallen in love with the Discworld and I’m hoping to do a read-through of the entire series beginning with the first volume. (Yay, libraries!) In the meantime, however, I have a few books on audiotape. When I’m cleaning or doing something where I need a break from plotting, hatching plans for world domination, or what have you — then I play an audiobook on iTunes and listen to the stories. When I’m working and feeling anxious, overwhelmed, frustrated, or just plain scared? I am finding that the best and fastest way to calm nerves is to clear my auditory palette with instrumental music set up into different playlist.

Here’s an example of that. My Cyber Sci-Fi playlist includes these albums:

Tron: Legacy (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
Avatar (Music from the Motion Picture)
Final Fantasy XIII (Original Soundtrack)
Dredd (Original Film Soundtrack)
Battlestar Galactica (Series Soundtrack)
The Matrix Reloaded [Disc 2]

Ninety percent of these songs don’t have any words in them and they all convey a similar tone and feel. That emotion, as expressed through song, is what I am hoping to capture in [redacted]. It allows me to “hear” the beats of these scenes and get a sense of characterization. (With the exception of Avatar. I just liked the soundtrack.) If the sound doesn’t fit the movie (many people have heard me complain when it doesn’t, like in The Transporter) then I’m totally thrown out of the experience. Sounds are so, so, so important to me both externally and, as I’m finding out more and more? Internally, too.

Before I leave you, I do have to laugh for a second and release some Inner Critic tension. I remember the last time I was explaining work habits and whatnot to someone who wasn’t creative or who didn’t understand the writer brain. “You think too much!” was the complaint. Well, duh!

Fortunately, the more writers and artists and beaders and creative people I meet? The more I realize we all do — because we’re always “working.”

It feels great to be in such good company.

Mood: Waking up. Sort of.

Caffeinated Beverages Consumed: I REFUSE TO TALK ABOUT IT ON THE GROUNDS I’LL INCRIMINATE SELF.

Work-Out Minutes Logged Yesterday: Stairs, stairs, up and down.

In My Ears: Darkness Immortal from Darklore Manor by Nox Arcana

Game Last Played: Tetris

Movie Last Viewed: Harry Potter collection

Latest Artistic Project: In progress!

Latest Release: “Fangs and Formaldehyde” from the New Hero anthology through Stone Skin Press

Banned Books Week, Incidentally, and the Evidence

I am the terror that reads in the night… I am the crusader that fights banned books…

It’s Banned Books Week, now through October 6th. It goes without saying that I am not a fan of banning or burning any tome. Any. I don’t care if the story is the worst piece of crap ever written, it has been written — and only through reading, discussing, and learning will we evolve as a species. Yes, I am fiercely on the side of pro-literacy. If ever there was an issue that I feel very strongly about, it’s this one. Books are printed recordings of our humanity and I cannot think of anything, save other artistic disciplines and interpretations, that’s more valuable.

Incidentally, there’s a comic about banned books that’s been tossed around a bit via e-mail and whatnot. It’s not getting proper accreditation, so I’d like to give a shout-out to Incidental Comics. (Sure, no one has used that joke before.) Why hasn’t this comic artist gotten a book deal or an invite to pen a comic for The New Yorker? There are some really insightful pieces in Snider’s collection that you can also purchase as a poster. Highly recommended.

The other day, I hinted I might share another horrendous draft with you. Still posturing that, if only because I would like to share more finished prose with you before I dive into the awful. After all, you want good stories from me, don’t you? I also embarrassed myself mightily by mentioning the mess of gigantic size in my office. Well, I have no shame. Here it is:

There are the remnants of miscellany and flotsam. Once I’m through that, I can finish reorganizing my art supplies, plant my terrarium, and dive into paperwork. Thankfully, I have a better space to work now.

Now that the room is better constructed, I have a place to do yoga and, if need be, set up a small table for additional art projects like painting and whatnot. I really needed the ability to shut my door and have my own space to be more productive. I talked about adding back in some discipline and, in a way, this hearkens back to when I used to practice piano for hours at a time. While I am hoping to shoot for a word count goal, to start with I am swimming back into blocking out chunks of time at a set period every day.

To help track my progress for my original fiction, I came up with this beauty.

Basically, it’s a weekly organizer in the form of a write on/wipe off sticker that I’ve decorated and stuck to my desk. Goals can change, but here this reminds me that whenever I’m penning “original fiction,” I have a goal. This is above and beyond what I normally write, edit, or blog. Right now, I need to separate that out because “on spec” isn’t pay-the-bills work and my freelancer brain sometimes has a hard time reconciling that. It’s a solution to my problem which is, if I don’t set time to work for myself, regardless of everything else I’m doing, then it’ll never get done.

I’ll post another picture in a month or so with the word count filled out. Hrmm… maybe even a graph, too!

Mood: Suck gas, Evildoer.

Caffeinated Beverages Consumed: The jig is up, you jaded, jug-headed, jack-in-the-box.

Work-Out Minutes Logged Yesterday: Sheesh. They ought to lock me up just for wearing this ridiculous outfit.

In My Ears: Let’s get considerate.

Game Last Played: Who, what, where, and sometimes why?

Movie Last Viewed: When there’s trouble, you call D. W.!

Latest Artistic Project: Clever of me to use my spine to break my fall like that.

Quote Attribution: Memorable Darkwing Duck Quotes courtesy of IMDB.com.

On Publishing (Again)

Wanted to throw out my views on the subject again today. Yes, I will be meandering quite a bit in a semi-caffeinated haze of dooooooooom, but bear with me. If you have questions? Ask.

I do not believe there is one way to “get published.” However, I do not write to “get published.” If that was all I cared about, then I would stick to self-publishing and forget about everything else. That is not my path though that may be yours. Neither track is better or worse than the other — provided you’re getting what you want and need out of it and? Vice versa. If we are? Then it doesn’t matter what anyone else thinks, really. Though, it goes without saying I tend to lean conservatively and don’t adhere to business practices that many would consider dodgy or downright illegal. I think there is something to be said for common sense.

Publishing, as an industry, is in upheaval. Everyone knows this, but from veterans I’ve heard that, to some extent, it always has been. I think it’s ridiculous that people are saying “all self-published are bad” or “all big publishers are evil.” Logic girl says that’s not logical. The reality? These are different business models. Get past the freak-out, and that’s really what people are worried about. Big companies cannot, by their nature, turn on a dime. Smaller publishers can be more nimble but they don’t always have the resources that the larger publishers do. It’s just the nature of the proverbial literary beast. A company by itself isn’t inherently bad — there’s good and “bad” folks all over the spectrum.

Yes, there are pros and cons to every publishing method and format just like there are benefits and drawbacks to how you interact with other people online. You are smart and you know this to be true. But what you may not know is how deep the hype/myths (from piracy to e-books to Amazon to writing best-sellers to whatever) really are. There are a lot of frustrated, nervous, scared people out there. There are also quite a few excited, bubbly, happy folks jumping around, too. Change is hard. Change is torment for anyone who’s worked the same way and earned the same amount of money off that effort for years. This is not an industry that is “secure.” (Really, what industry is?) But one can’t build a business or a life around insecurity, you need confidence to proceed or you won’t write the next thing or take the next chance or act on the next idea. This is not a field for the weak of heart, to be sure.

Somewhere, in the middle of all that, there are people (authors, editors, etc.) who are doing their best to make a living. Key word: people. People who still need to eat, pay their rent/mortgage, take their kids to day care, buy a cup of coffee, etc. Desperation often leads to bizarre statements and misconceptions — some of which are based on publishing myths in the days before the internet. Those ideas like, for example, how the publishing industry is out to screw writers or how gatekeepers are evil will always subsist in some form or another. This is what happens when you combine Art with Money. Remember, writers get paid. If you’re getting money for your words? WRITER. It’s Yog’s Law. Money flows to the writer.

A lot of authors are learning how to be entrepreneurs on top of focusing on the form they’re working in. Everyone has to learn somewhere and this is the reality of the contemporary writer. You have to understand the business you’re in if you want to adapt to changes and take advantage of opportunities. That doesn’t mean people are perfect. Mistakes happen. The trick is how flexible you are to roll with the punches. Bend to avoid breaking.

The reason why I wanted to dive into this again today, is because I wanted to reiterate that, in spite of all of this, your path is yours. OWN IT. The roads I’m taking, the paths others you admire journey on, may not be for you and that’s okay! If what you’re doing works? Then AWESOME. I have no answers for you, neither will anyone else, because you need to trust yourself and figure it out. What will you be happy with? What kind of money will you be okay with? You have to ask the questions that matter, then answer them, and steer yourself toward those goals. That, truly, is the “secret” of publishing. The answer to your success lies within you.

NOW GO FORTH AND BE EVEN MORE AWESOME.

Mood: Happy, happy. Joy, joy.

Caffeinated Beverages Consumed: Ermm… Trying to do the tea thing…

Work-Out Minutes Logged Yesterday: A walk.

In My Ears: A snoring cat. Heh, heh.

Game Last Played: Tetris

Movie Last Viewed: IQ

Latest Artistic Project: In progress

Latest Release: “Fangs and Formaldehyde” from the New Hero anthology through Stone Skin Press

Pine-Fresh Start

Ever since I started feeling better, I’ve been attacking dust bunnies vigorously. I’ve got a ton of writing, editing, and game design to do and more than a few creative projects and trips planned. Not to mention, we’re getting ready to celebrate the fifteen-year anniversary of Dork Stork Press. But, to reduce my stress level and increase my mental productivity, I feel I have to start with a clean house and office. I’ve removed *coughs* several bags of miscellany and I’m almost to the point where, once that’s done, I can dive into that joy of joys — filing.

That doesn’t mean that I’m not working when I’m fending off another Dust Bunny of Enormous Size. While I’m scrubbing and swiping away my messes, I’m posturing mental revisions, so I can put the finishing touches on another Lovecraft tale. (Edit: I’m also forcing myself to write a page a day. Forgot about that!) I was hoping to deliver it sooner rather than later, but I screwed up and then I got sick on top of that. It feels awful because this is a rare occurrence for me, but the way forward is? Forward.

After I get the office sorted, which will likely be either today or early tomorrow, I’ll have a few major projects left to do and a day of running errands. The dreaded basement has… Well, they’re no longer dust bunnies. They’ve morphed and multiplied like tribbles on acid. Thankfully, that’s a joint project. Heh, heh.

I’m about two to three weeks behind schedule, but thankfully, catching up on housework has opened the door to a lot of possibilities story-wise. My fiction, the original sort that’s not based on another property, tends to be more atmospheric. But good ambiance does not a story make. While I have caught myself on a number of occasions, it’s still important to identify a few milestones. I don’t really like outlines persay because in the service of a story something may change. That doesn’t mean I won’t work with them. They can be an immense help. Here, I’m merely talking those occasions where I’ve been besieged by a story and I have to write it down. A couple of guideposts, Conflict with a Capital C, are crucial to reducing revision-time for me. Without a clear antagonist or mystery to chew on, then my rough draft prose makes me yawn. Hey, if you’ve downloaded The Queen of Crows, you’ve “seen” my rough draft!

Hrmmm…maybe I should post another rough draft sample for you. Interested?

Mood: Tired with a side of exhausted.

Caffeinated Beverages Consumed: More bubbles than I care to admit.

Work-Out Minutes Logged Yesterday: House, house, baby.

In My Ears: Evisceration by Carfax Abbey

Game Last Played: Tetris

Movie Last Viewed: Harry Potter collection

Latest Artistic Project: In progress!

Latest Release: “Fangs and Formaldehyde” from the New Hero anthology through Stone Skin Press

Putting the W back in Word Count

When I talked about taking a break from social media, I identified one of the triggers that has affected my productivity in the past, but I didn’t mention what puts the words back on the page. Discipline. That’s what gets the words on screen. But what brings that high-level concept back into reality? Ah, that’s the trick. You see, discipline is different for everybody much like the triggers that erode it, otherwise known as “writer’s avoidance behaviors.”

Getting back to what’s important, productivity, means that I have to build the backbone so the words flow. My schedule shifted when I stepped down from my marketing position and then it altered again when I got sick. So the spine eroded because the normal behaviors I did to get the words out weren’t being done; much like what happens when you stop working out and can’t get back on the wagon again.

How I put the “D” back in discipline, to add the “W” back into word count, is to focus very intently on what matters to me. Then, once I’m comfortable with my routine, then I can add back in other distractions.

Still, it doesn’t mean that I can’t have any fun or not have a life. But, in some ways, I feel like being online and plugged is like having a wholly separate existence, an obligation that’s necessary for anyone who wants to have a career that even marginally touches people online. This is simply one of many methods to juggle that alternate identity.

Mood: Calm with side of zen

Caffeinated Beverages Consumed: A “few”

Work-Out Minutes Logged Yesterday: Half hour of yoga

In My Ears: Classical playlist

Game Last Played: Tetris

Movie Last Viewed: IQ

Latest Artistic Project: … Been too long … Far too long… but I have a few planned!

Latest Release: “Fangs and Formaldehyde” from the New Hero anthology through Stone Skin Press

Words, Words, Too Many Words?

I’m editing [redacted] and am amazed by how honest and personal this work is. It also made me realize how much I don’t disclose online. Years ago, I made a conscious decision to not go down that path, and I strayed from that when I talked about Madison politics. Sure, I could talk about those sorts of things (religion, my childhood, politics, etc.) but for me, this is what I’m comfortable with so I can focus on the Work itself.

But there’s another reason and (thankfully) Gene Wolfe (Yes, that Gene Wolfe.) pointed it out. And that is “too many words.” We were talking about dealing with revisions and working through drafts at WorldCon on a panel, and he mentioned the benefit of turning off songs with sounds in them once you were done.

And something clicked. It sounds incredibly simple, doesn’t it? That putting in music without words will help refill the well. But it works!

Mood: Bewildered, just a bit.

Caffeinated Beverages Consumed: One cup. Seriously. JUST one!

Work-Out Minutes Logged Yesterday: Does intent count?

In My Ears: Being Human (UK)

Game Last Played: Tetris

Movie Last Viewed: Dredd

Latest Artistic Project: … Been too long … Far too long…

Latest Release: “Fangs and Formaldehyde” from the New Hero anthology through Stone Skin Press

Characterization out of Love Letters

One of the characters I’m developing further is Atlas, who first appears in “Fangs and Formaldehyde” included in New Hero, Volume One. To deal with his inability to express his emotions, he writes love letters. Or, rather, his version of what a love letter should be. These words, conflicted and dark, are his way of of dealing with his guilt.

Here’s an example:

Every time I try to forget about you, something screams at me, pulling me back into your pale memory. This time, it was the scent of your oils. The pungent smell of carnations forced me to remember the time we snuck out into your private gardens. You were so regal then, so accustomed to ordering your servants around. Not like now. What has happened to you? Are you still alive?

Back then, you were young and paranoid. I laughed at you when you ordered your handmaidens to stand watch while I rubbed oil on your neck. You told me that even simple things, like a casual touch, would cause our ruin. And you were right.

Our hearts still beat that night in the gardens. It was beautiful, sad. We both knew what the day would bring. Responsibility. Honor. Fidelity. I didn’t care for any of it, but you? You were greedier than I was. Hungier.

Still, there was no blood, no pain, no curse. Only us. This memory I shall keep.

His method of diving into his heart, is my way of exploring his depths through words, and bring that layer into his story.

Mood: Focused

Caffeinated Beverages Consumed: One or two

Work-Out Minutes Logged Yesterday: I stretched, but it’s not enough.

In My Ears: Being Human (UK)

Game Last Played: Tetris

Movie Last Viewed: Dredd

Latest Artistic Project: … Been too long … Far too long…

Latest Release: “Fangs and Formaldehyde” from the New Hero anthology through Stone Skin Press

A Chatty Sabbatical Borne Out of Weakness

On October 1st, I’m taking off of Twitter and Facebook for the month of October. I’m doing this because I am a weak person, because I have had it with politics, and I need a break from the negativity and the chatter about the negativity.

Instead of explaining at endless intervals what this ridiculous behavior (Why do I care what pajamas a President would wear, for example?) is doing to me, let me show you as illustrated by my cat, Zakar. (Otherwise known as Zak Zak.)

THIS.

Which has led to?

THIS.

Which has led to?

THIS.

Which means that in order to return to this:

I’m taking a chatty break from Facebook and Twitter. I’ll still be blogging and those posts will feed through to both mediums; just need some political relief.

Mood: Have I worshipped my feline overlords enough today?

Caffeinated Beverages Consumed: A few. A pittance. A paltry, measly small range to keep me awake.

Work-Out Minutes Logged Yesterday: More tissue lifting.

In My Ears: Cyber SciFi playlist on iTunes

Game Last Played: Tetris

Movie Last Viewed: Dredd

Latest Artistic Project: … Been too long … Far too long…

Latest Release: “Fangs and Formaldehyde” from the New Hero anthology through Stone Skin Press

Dark Fairytales, Zombie Con Crud, and an Important Question

It’s Week Two of the “crud that will seemingly never end,” though I think it’s finally starting to subside. I didn’t get sick for all of con season, so I knew that — sooner or later — it had to happen. Of course, the timing was perfect, just when I needed to dive back into the world of story…

…about that. Stories helped get me through this period. All dark fantasies and fairytales. Read four or five novels, some of which I’ll review for FlamesRising.com, and watched Once Upon a Time. This show is superb. Continuous story arc, well-crafted and amazingly written — not to mention the acting is flawless. I love, love, love this show. Love it. Of course, it’s likely obvious my favorite character is the Hatter.

In my haze of caffeine and cold medicine, I managed to have a life and get some work done for Dork Tower. (Shocking, I know.) Went to a Thai festival, saw Dredd which was a-w-e-s-o-m-e, have been cooking from my Irish Pub cabal of recipes; I’m behind on cleaning, my to-do lists, and my In Box, but they’ll be there when I fully recover. They’ll always be there. Also: I have pictures. Which, sadly, I’m too lazy at the moment to upload and share — but I will. There. I blogged about it, so it must be done. Did I mention I was behind on e-mail? Yes, that must be done, too.

On to a nugget of advice. Or not-so-really advice, moreso… Well, there’s this thing people have been talking about once again. “How to Be a Writer.” And, to some degree, I feel a lot of people out there really want to know how to be a writer. The craft is important to that and I’ve often lamented how that gets obscured by the popularization of writing, by the need to be validated for one’s storytelling in some, way, shape or form. That there are those of import; that publishing, even as a small press, is more valuable than sales. That one person’s preference matters more than the reader. Or that, more ominously so, readers don’t matter. Or readers are crucial. Or writers and editors do (and don’t) matter.

While all these myriad things may be true in the kaleidoscope of the publishing industry, and must be true, and have to be true, because the business is made up of people, not beans or bytes, I feel like one of questions is either wrong or isn’t being asked enough. The question shouldn’t be: “How can I be a writer?” The question we should be asking one another is: “How can I make a career out of writing?” But it isn’t. Because, circling back to that validation thing, some within the community has built up this lovely dream, that even if we don’t make money, that if we write one book or one story that everyone loves, that that’s enough. Because there are guideposts and milestones that a majority of the people out there have agreed upon that make one a writer.

But is it? Is that dream — and those fractured pieces of validation — enough? To feed oneself? To satisfy that deep longing?

The dream is important and part of being a writer, yes. Without it, why write? Why type any stories at all? Especially if you know there are no guarantees, there’s no happy endings or sad endings or in between endings. There is you, the blank page, and that’s it. And the only way to muddle through, to figure out what’s important, is to determine what you want to put on the page, when, why, and how much you’re willing to sacrifice to share what’s on there. To share. Some require money; others, platitudes. One kind word is enough to make someone stop writing; others? A lot of money. Still others, no money… but friendship… or cruel words… or bad reviews… or life… or whatever. That can kill the dream. But the dream must live. It must. Because without that dream, the stories will die.

The thing these past few weeks have forced me to realize is that we all can’t be the same type of storyteller, that we all don’t want the same things, don’t need the same payment for our work. For example, I don’t need or want to give free advice to people; conversations in bars and coffee shops help me get to know others and friendships are important to me. Reality matters to me. Others do need to hand out free advice like Halloween candy and like I’ve said before? Good for them.

However, it’s not just the storytelling or advice or careers that we differ on. It’s what we want to get out of writing. And I’ve come to this conclusion because I needed to. Because I had to understand the commerce of storytelling and what I want to get out of it, to put back that little piece I so desperately needed, erased by the nay-sayers and the nigh-lookers, that bit of magic wound up in a dream that’ll force me to answer the questions I know are being asked.

Is she really that nice?

And.

Can she write?

I guess you’ll just have to wait and find out.

Mood: Fairy dust

Caffeinated Beverages Consumed: Well, if I remembered that I’d be in good shape.

Work-Out Minutes Logged Yesterday: Lifting tissues, hand-to-mouth.

In My Ears: “Apocalyptic Wasteland” from the Dredd soundtrack

Game Last Played: Tetris

Movie Last Viewed: Dredd

Latest Artistic Project: … Been too long …

Latest Release: “Fangs and Formaldehyde” from the New Hero anthology through Stone Skin Press

A Change Is In The Dungeon

I regret to announce that Thursday, September 13th was my last day for Steve Jackson Games. The more I got settled into the position, the more it became clearer to everyone that they needed someone down in Austin. Steve Jackson Games manufactures both toys and games and, as a result, everything that they do is very visual and requires on-site interaction and knowledge. Telecommuting can work to a point, but it’s not the same as being down there. The company is growing rapidly and my position as Marketing Director is crucial to their continued success.

While I was offered the position in Austin, I felt that relocating was not a good option for me. When I initially signed on, the flexibility helped take the pressure off of me so I could write, edit, and design games in my off-hours. I still want to do this crazy writing thing as a career and relocating for a full-time gig just didn’t jive with that goal.

I will still be connected to them through my work with John Kovalic and, of course, whenever I play their games. It’s an amicable, bittersweet parting but also a very emotional one. The staff is absolutely tremendous, highly-talented, and many of them are now my friends. Hard to leave such a great group and a demanding (but rewarding) job. There’s no doubt in my mind that everyone there will continue to fare well and make amazing games and toys.

If you’re interested in working with the company, be sure to bookmark the job opportunities page. I’ll likely write a few other posts about what I’m up to later this week or next.