Jonathan Green's Blog, page 62
May 20, 2019
Thought for the Day
"Hearts will never be practical until they can be made unbreakable."~ L. Frank Baum
May 17, 2019
Gamebook Friday: ACE Gamebooks at the UK Games Expo 2019
Two weeks today, I will be at the
UK Games Expo
, which is being held at the NEC just outside Birmingham. The event runs from Friday 31st May - Sunday 2nd June, and Saturday 1st June sees the official launch of
NEVERLAND - Here Be Monsters!
(although it will also be available on the Friday).You will find me at Stand 2-640, in Hall 2, on CMON Avenue and close to Keyforge Street. You won't be able to miss it, because there will be a huge NEVERLAND - Here Be Monsters! map covering the table and a banner with a dinosaur battling a sabretooth tiger behind it.
Click to enlargeI will have all three of my ACE Gamebooks so far in print for sale, and some exciting news about a new project as well. And I may even have a few hardbacks of YOU ARE THE HERO Parts 1 and 2 with me.
So if you're coming along to the UK Games Expo , do stop by Stand 2-640 and say hello. Maybe I'll see you there...
May 15, 2019
Happy Birthday, L. Frank Baum!
L. Frank Baum, the author of
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz
, was born 163 years ago today. In fact, he died 100 years ago, on 6th May.
His classic of American children's literature has inspired all kinds of re-imaginings, from movies to TV series and musicals, and my own dieselpunk-styled gamebook The Wicked Wizard of Oz , which is even an exhibit at the All Things Oz Museum in Chittenango, New York, where Baum was born.
If you've not read The Wicked Wizard of Oz yourself yet, you can pick up a copy here . You will also find a list of errata and some bonus material here .
His classic of American children's literature has inspired all kinds of re-imaginings, from movies to TV series and musicals, and my own dieselpunk-styled gamebook The Wicked Wizard of Oz , which is even an exhibit at the All Things Oz Museum in Chittenango, New York, where Baum was born.
If you've not read The Wicked Wizard of Oz yourself yet, you can pick up a copy here . You will also find a list of errata and some bonus material here .
May 13, 2019
Thought for the Day
"How To Be a Writer:Awaken to sound of birdsong
Emerge from scented boudoir
Don silken writing pyjamas and special writing hat
Call for parchment quill pen fresh squid ink gold leaf
Small nap till tea time
Have butler bring crumpets, jam, baskets of kittens
Write lies all day long"
~ Joanne Harris
May 9, 2019
Happy Birthday, J. M. Barrie!
J. M. Barrie, the author of
Peter Pan and Wendy
, was born 159 years ago today. More recently, of course, I was inspired to re-imagine his characters and their story as an adventure gamebook, in which the island of Neverland is populated by more monstrous reptiles other than just one giant crocodile.
NEVERLAND - Here Be Monsters! goes on general release on Saturday 1st June and you can pre-order your copy here.
NEVERLAND - Here Be Monsters! goes on general release on Saturday 1st June and you can pre-order your copy here.
May 6, 2019
Thought for the Day
"How To Be a Writer:Look into the abyss
See the abyss looking back
Tell the abyss to take a running jump
Tea"
~ Joanne Harris
May 3, 2019
Gamebook Friday: 'TWAS the Kickstarter Update before the UK Games Expo
Which is a convoluted way of saying that I have news about
'TWAS - The Krampus Night Before Christmas
, Kickstarter, and the
UK Games Expo
.
To begin at the end, just four weeks from today I will be at the
UK Games Expo
. I'll actually be there for the whole weekend, so if you're around do stop by Stand 2-640 and say hello. You won't be able to miss me, because my table will have a huge map of Neverland on it.
And now to jump back to the beginning, this week I sent the play-test version of 'TWAS - The Krampus Night Before Christmas to those Kickstarter backers who pledged at the Stuffed Stocking and Secret Santa reward levels, which means I'm on track to get the finished book to the publisher by the end of the month, so that it can be out in time for Christmas.
And talking of Kickstrater projects, the crowdfunding platform was 10 years old this week. I didn't launch in the UK until October 2012, and I crowdfunded my first project in December 2012. Since then I have launched a total of 10 Kickstarter projects and 8 of them have funded.
But I find myself in a strange situation at the moment. With all the physical rewards for
NEVERLAND - Here Be Monsters!
sent to backers*, and the eBook due to go out soon, and with Beowulf Beastslayer and
'TWAS - The Krampus Night Before Christmas
in the hands of others, at the moment, for the first time in a long time, I don't actually know what my next Kickstarter project is going to be, or when I'm going to launch it.
I have plenty of ideas for potential projects, it's just a case of making a decision with what to go with next. I could go with one of two different ACE Gamebooks , or a new non-fiction project, any of which I would probably launch in October. However, there is also a potential role-playing game, which I could even see myself launching in time for the UK Games Expo.
So, if you were me, which one would you go with next?
* If you've had a chance to read it, please do post a brief review here.
To begin at the end, just four weeks from today I will be at the
UK Games Expo
. I'll actually be there for the whole weekend, so if you're around do stop by Stand 2-640 and say hello. You won't be able to miss me, because my table will have a huge map of Neverland on it.And now to jump back to the beginning, this week I sent the play-test version of 'TWAS - The Krampus Night Before Christmas to those Kickstarter backers who pledged at the Stuffed Stocking and Secret Santa reward levels, which means I'm on track to get the finished book to the publisher by the end of the month, so that it can be out in time for Christmas.
And talking of Kickstrater projects, the crowdfunding platform was 10 years old this week. I didn't launch in the UK until October 2012, and I crowdfunded my first project in December 2012. Since then I have launched a total of 10 Kickstarter projects and 8 of them have funded.
But I find myself in a strange situation at the moment. With all the physical rewards for
NEVERLAND - Here Be Monsters!
sent to backers*, and the eBook due to go out soon, and with Beowulf Beastslayer and
'TWAS - The Krampus Night Before Christmas
in the hands of others, at the moment, for the first time in a long time, I don't actually know what my next Kickstarter project is going to be, or when I'm going to launch it.I have plenty of ideas for potential projects, it's just a case of making a decision with what to go with next. I could go with one of two different ACE Gamebooks , or a new non-fiction project, any of which I would probably launch in October. However, there is also a potential role-playing game, which I could even see myself launching in time for the UK Games Expo.
So, if you were me, which one would you go with next?
* If you've had a chance to read it, please do post a brief review here.
April 29, 2019
April 26, 2019
Gamebook Friday: 'TWAS - The Krampus Night Before Christmas
We've had some glorious weather over the last week or more, here in the UK, so what else would I have been doing, other than editing a gamebook set in an arctic wilderness at Christmas time?
Anyway, I am feeling rather pleased with myself this morning, as I have reached another milestone in getting
'TWAS - The Krampus Night Before Christmas
ready for publication. Today I finished the first pass edit, which means that I am now ready to print out and proofread the gamebook right the way through, from beginning to end. What was only supposed to be a fun 300 section festive frolic, has turned into another 500 section monster. But it could be worse - at least it isn't 900 sections long!
Once I've completed my own proofread and play-test, and made any necessary changes to the master document, I will muddle up the sections, re-structure the book, and then it will be ready to send out to the other proofreaders and play-testers.
If you missed the original Kickstarter campaign, it's not too late to place a late pledge. Simply follow the instructions here.
And if you think a gamebook about rescuing Father Christmas, featuring elves and fairies, sounds a little childish, rest assured, it is as dark and mature as any of my other adventure gamebooks, as this reader in America recently discovered when they received their backer copy of
NEVERLAND - Here Be Monsters!
"Neverland: Here Be Monsters! is an amazing journey as one of four different characters. Will you be Wendy Darling? Maybe the classic Peter Pan? The amazing Tiger Lily? Or even Captain Hook. The characters aren't exactly like the book and movies that we've enjoyed and loved before. Rather, they are a twist on the classics. The story is enjoyable, with many options, twists, and turns. You might encounter Giant Serpents and Sabre-Tooth Tigers, or Saurian Lizards and a Colossal Crocodile. Either way, it is sure to be an adventure that you won't soon forget. If you are wanting to give modern gamebooks or choose-you-own adventure style books a chance, this is a great one to get started with."
Anyway, I am feeling rather pleased with myself this morning, as I have reached another milestone in getting
'TWAS - The Krampus Night Before Christmas
ready for publication. Today I finished the first pass edit, which means that I am now ready to print out and proofread the gamebook right the way through, from beginning to end. What was only supposed to be a fun 300 section festive frolic, has turned into another 500 section monster. But it could be worse - at least it isn't 900 sections long!Once I've completed my own proofread and play-test, and made any necessary changes to the master document, I will muddle up the sections, re-structure the book, and then it will be ready to send out to the other proofreaders and play-testers.
If you missed the original Kickstarter campaign, it's not too late to place a late pledge. Simply follow the instructions here.
And if you think a gamebook about rescuing Father Christmas, featuring elves and fairies, sounds a little childish, rest assured, it is as dark and mature as any of my other adventure gamebooks, as this reader in America recently discovered when they received their backer copy of
NEVERLAND - Here Be Monsters!
"Neverland: Here Be Monsters! is an amazing journey as one of four different characters. Will you be Wendy Darling? Maybe the classic Peter Pan? The amazing Tiger Lily? Or even Captain Hook. The characters aren't exactly like the book and movies that we've enjoyed and loved before. Rather, they are a twist on the classics. The story is enjoyable, with many options, twists, and turns. You might encounter Giant Serpents and Sabre-Tooth Tigers, or Saurian Lizards and a Colossal Crocodile. Either way, it is sure to be an adventure that you won't soon forget. If you are wanting to give modern gamebooks or choose-you-own adventure style books a chance, this is a great one to get started with."
April 23, 2019
Happy St George's Day!
Today is a day for remembering when a Turkish knight killed a Libyan dragon, thereby ensuring he would be venerated as the patron saint of England*.
When people first stumbled across dinosaur bones, they mistook them for the ossified remains of dragons. And many of those 'dragons' have made it into my latest
ACE Gamebook
,
NEVERLAND - Here Be Monsters!
Here's what one reader had to say about it:
"A worthy addition to the series. This book will be an awfully big adventure for those looking to dive into this twist on a familiar tale." - 5 stars
And while I'm in book-plugging mode, today it also Shakespeare's deathday (and probably his birthday). To mark the occasion, why not pick up a copy of Shakespeare Vs Cthulhu , a collection of fifteen stories of eldritch horror that blend the Bard's most famous plays with Lovecraft's most terrifying creations?
* I wonder how many of the Brexit rabble will be hanging English flags out of their windows today, unaware that they are celebrating the achievements of someone from Turkey?
When people first stumbled across dinosaur bones, they mistook them for the ossified remains of dragons. And many of those 'dragons' have made it into my latest
ACE Gamebook
,
NEVERLAND - Here Be Monsters!
Here's what one reader had to say about it:"A worthy addition to the series. This book will be an awfully big adventure for those looking to dive into this twist on a familiar tale." - 5 stars
And while I'm in book-plugging mode, today it also Shakespeare's deathday (and probably his birthday). To mark the occasion, why not pick up a copy of Shakespeare Vs Cthulhu , a collection of fifteen stories of eldritch horror that blend the Bard's most famous plays with Lovecraft's most terrifying creations?
* I wonder how many of the Brexit rabble will be hanging English flags out of their windows today, unaware that they are celebrating the achievements of someone from Turkey?
