Hugo Negron's Blog, page 8
April 19, 2018
Author Jak Lore!
So as a follow-up to the amazing time at CODCON, I interviewed Jak Lore, a fellow author at the 'Con. His book is called The Last Demon Hunter, so ready your holy symbols and Angelic lore...!
Hi Jak - thanks again for taking the time to be interviewed! Let’s begin with telling us a little bit more about who Jak Lore is.
When did you know that you wanted to be a writer?
A. High school. I always wrote just as an escape from my boredom. When I was done with my homework, or test, or whatever the task was, I broke out my notebook and started to write. I had a separate notebook to write in. I never really thought anything about it as I had always done that, but when I entered into, probably the 8th grade, a few people were interested in what I was always doing. I let them read it, thinking they’d get bored after a few pages, but they didn’t. They kept reading, even after I wanted the book back. They wanted to be kept up with what was happening with the story. After a while, I thought about writing something a bit more serious. Maybe try to actually publish something. I wrote something completely separate from my original work and there was interest in it. I decided to keep pushing it.
How did you develop the idea for The Last Demon Hunter?
A. After deciding to write something seriously, I wanted to write something different. I wrote sci-fi at the time and wanted to try something a little more serious and maybe darker. I was a fan of the Jason and Freddy movies so decided to write a horror story. It was meant to be a simple slasher story with nothing supernatural in it, but I found some boredom in that. While I wanted to keep it mostly “realistic” I started adding a little supernatural stuff. It started with the killer being a Satanist instead of the generic nut job. He had some supernatural abilities, which I realized would be hard for the police to counter. He needed opposition, hence Angel was born. He had no powers per se, but knew how to deal with the situation. It just grew from there as I developed those two characters.
Which characters were the most fun to develop? Which were the most challenging?
A. That’s a little harder to answer. I’m not sure there was a character I had the most fun developing, but there was a relationship I enjoyed a lot. I enjoyed writing the interaction between Rebecca and Úna. The most challenging was probably Michael. He had a different personality before the story even started, which I had to understand so his actions and thoughts made sense. Getting that across is also a big challenge.
What are your plans long-term for your writing? Do you have additional/different works in mind?
A. Continue writing as long as I can. I would like to devote more time to it, but right now that’s just not feasible. I have so many other ideas I want to put down on paper, and so much research that needs to go into it. I have the next two or three books in the series planned out, just not outlined yet. Beyond that, I have a lot of ideas of where I want to go and for how long. There are some short stories I want to write, as well as different genre’s I want to work on.
As a fellow author, I share the challenge of getting the word out on my works. What have you had to do to win broader exposure and branding for your books?
A. Facebook hasn’t been as great of an avenue as I thought it would be, but that doesn’t mean I’m going to give up on it. Conventions, until recently, have been my biggest exposure. Amazon Ads has helped some and recently I took to Twitter and that seems to be expanding my reach more.
This question will start off sounding like an old joke – a person walks into a bar (or convention or bookstore) and bumps into Jak Lore – what would be your elevator pitch to showcase your work?
A. The Four Horsemen are a neutral entity. They don’t care which side actually wins. Ever wonder what would happen if they were forced to pick a side? In this series, that’s exactly what happens and showcases how all sides deal with this decision.
As an author, it’s sometimes difficult to finally say a product is finished, no matter how many times you review or edit. Is there anything you would go back and change in your stories? Where there ideas you had in mind and then decided NOT to include?
A. I’d honestly be afraid to touch it at this point. If anything I would have changed the POV of the first book. It’s in 3rd person where the preceding ones are a mixture of 1st and 3rd. I think it tells the story much better this way, switching between the two POVs with interludes.
I have a 5 year old son, and structuring time around him can be challenging! I’ve lost count of the times he nearly pressed the delete button on something I was working on…how do you find time to write your stories?
A. That must be nerve wrecking. I have a slightly different problem. I work overnight, so energy becomes my biggest enemy. I want to write but find I have a hard time getting the energy to focus. The key I find is to get adequate sleep. There are mainly two times I get to work, that’s in the evening when I wake up and on my lunch break. If I’m not well rested, there’s nothing getting done on my lunch break. In the evening, coffee is my friend. It helps make me alert enough to sit and focus on writing for an hour or two before I head off to work. That’s how the first book was written and most of the second.
Do you have a certain method you use when you write – i.e., a certain room, music, mood, etc., to help get you in the right writing frame of mind?
A. I’ll write anywhere, but prefer a quiet, clean place. Music helps a lot. I listen to a lot of Within Temptation, Evanescence, and Nightwish. I have a few playlists on Youtube that I listen to depending if I’m writing, plotting, or doing combat.
What are you reading right now?
A. Currently, I’m trying to finish Atlas Shrugged. That thing is huge. I want to read the Art of War after that.
Where can readers go to find out more about Jak Lore?
A. There’s a couple places you can go. I can be found on Facebook/Jak.Lore.Author where you’ll find updates about events I’m attending and uploads of pictures I’ve taken at those events. I’m also on Twitter @authorjaklore and have an author page on Amazon and Goodreads.
Thanks Jak, for sharing some of your time!
Hi Jak - thanks again for taking the time to be interviewed! Let’s begin with telling us a little bit more about who Jak Lore is.
When did you know that you wanted to be a writer?
A. High school. I always wrote just as an escape from my boredom. When I was done with my homework, or test, or whatever the task was, I broke out my notebook and started to write. I had a separate notebook to write in. I never really thought anything about it as I had always done that, but when I entered into, probably the 8th grade, a few people were interested in what I was always doing. I let them read it, thinking they’d get bored after a few pages, but they didn’t. They kept reading, even after I wanted the book back. They wanted to be kept up with what was happening with the story. After a while, I thought about writing something a bit more serious. Maybe try to actually publish something. I wrote something completely separate from my original work and there was interest in it. I decided to keep pushing it.
How did you develop the idea for The Last Demon Hunter?
A. After deciding to write something seriously, I wanted to write something different. I wrote sci-fi at the time and wanted to try something a little more serious and maybe darker. I was a fan of the Jason and Freddy movies so decided to write a horror story. It was meant to be a simple slasher story with nothing supernatural in it, but I found some boredom in that. While I wanted to keep it mostly “realistic” I started adding a little supernatural stuff. It started with the killer being a Satanist instead of the generic nut job. He had some supernatural abilities, which I realized would be hard for the police to counter. He needed opposition, hence Angel was born. He had no powers per se, but knew how to deal with the situation. It just grew from there as I developed those two characters.
Which characters were the most fun to develop? Which were the most challenging?
A. That’s a little harder to answer. I’m not sure there was a character I had the most fun developing, but there was a relationship I enjoyed a lot. I enjoyed writing the interaction between Rebecca and Úna. The most challenging was probably Michael. He had a different personality before the story even started, which I had to understand so his actions and thoughts made sense. Getting that across is also a big challenge.
What are your plans long-term for your writing? Do you have additional/different works in mind?
A. Continue writing as long as I can. I would like to devote more time to it, but right now that’s just not feasible. I have so many other ideas I want to put down on paper, and so much research that needs to go into it. I have the next two or three books in the series planned out, just not outlined yet. Beyond that, I have a lot of ideas of where I want to go and for how long. There are some short stories I want to write, as well as different genre’s I want to work on.
As a fellow author, I share the challenge of getting the word out on my works. What have you had to do to win broader exposure and branding for your books?
A. Facebook hasn’t been as great of an avenue as I thought it would be, but that doesn’t mean I’m going to give up on it. Conventions, until recently, have been my biggest exposure. Amazon Ads has helped some and recently I took to Twitter and that seems to be expanding my reach more.
This question will start off sounding like an old joke – a person walks into a bar (or convention or bookstore) and bumps into Jak Lore – what would be your elevator pitch to showcase your work?
A. The Four Horsemen are a neutral entity. They don’t care which side actually wins. Ever wonder what would happen if they were forced to pick a side? In this series, that’s exactly what happens and showcases how all sides deal with this decision.
As an author, it’s sometimes difficult to finally say a product is finished, no matter how many times you review or edit. Is there anything you would go back and change in your stories? Where there ideas you had in mind and then decided NOT to include?
A. I’d honestly be afraid to touch it at this point. If anything I would have changed the POV of the first book. It’s in 3rd person where the preceding ones are a mixture of 1st and 3rd. I think it tells the story much better this way, switching between the two POVs with interludes.
I have a 5 year old son, and structuring time around him can be challenging! I’ve lost count of the times he nearly pressed the delete button on something I was working on…how do you find time to write your stories?
A. That must be nerve wrecking. I have a slightly different problem. I work overnight, so energy becomes my biggest enemy. I want to write but find I have a hard time getting the energy to focus. The key I find is to get adequate sleep. There are mainly two times I get to work, that’s in the evening when I wake up and on my lunch break. If I’m not well rested, there’s nothing getting done on my lunch break. In the evening, coffee is my friend. It helps make me alert enough to sit and focus on writing for an hour or two before I head off to work. That’s how the first book was written and most of the second.
Do you have a certain method you use when you write – i.e., a certain room, music, mood, etc., to help get you in the right writing frame of mind?
A. I’ll write anywhere, but prefer a quiet, clean place. Music helps a lot. I listen to a lot of Within Temptation, Evanescence, and Nightwish. I have a few playlists on Youtube that I listen to depending if I’m writing, plotting, or doing combat.
What are you reading right now?
A. Currently, I’m trying to finish Atlas Shrugged. That thing is huge. I want to read the Art of War after that.
Where can readers go to find out more about Jak Lore?
A. There’s a couple places you can go. I can be found on Facebook/Jak.Lore.Author where you’ll find updates about events I’m attending and uploads of pictures I’ve taken at those events. I’m also on Twitter @authorjaklore and have an author page on Amazon and Goodreads.
Thanks Jak, for sharing some of your time!
CODCON...!
CODCON was an amazing experience and one I can't wait to return to.
In terms of size, it was small when placed against a Gen Con, but in terms of engagement, quality, and fun, on equal ground! Despite the wind, snow, and rain that has been dumping on IL lately (hey its only April, who would expect anything else around here?), daring visitors still made the trek and like me found it was well worth the effort.
Dan the Bard was there - and that name will ring a bell to many con-goers and medieval fair attendees. Gaming, video gaming, cosplaying, and more, all in the wonderful student resource center atmosphere of the College of DuPage in Glen Ellyn, IL. Tip of the helmet to Dr. James Allen who has been orchestrating this event.
The small things always stand out - the new friends you meet, like readers who have gone to Gen Con and could share similar stories of events/experiences, or the old friends you bump into. One in particular stood out for me - back in the early 90's when I was working on my undergrad, I was employed as an office clerk at a company known as Barton Incorporated (a beer/wine distributor - corona, peroni, anyone?). One of the managers I would occasionally do projects for was a guy by the name of Tim. 20+ years later (I still cant believe I'm saying that), I bump into him again as an adjunct faculty member at where else but at CODCON! Small world or what?! It was great catching up with him, and reliving all of those Barton memories. Who woulda thought...
And a shout out to Mike, a manager from Suparossa, who was dishing out the pizzas and the pastas at his own stand right across from mine. Friendly, gregarious, and as professional as they come. Rigatoni with vodka sauce? I wasn't able to resist that for long...
...the countdown to next year's CODCON begins.
In terms of size, it was small when placed against a Gen Con, but in terms of engagement, quality, and fun, on equal ground! Despite the wind, snow, and rain that has been dumping on IL lately (hey its only April, who would expect anything else around here?), daring visitors still made the trek and like me found it was well worth the effort.
Dan the Bard was there - and that name will ring a bell to many con-goers and medieval fair attendees. Gaming, video gaming, cosplaying, and more, all in the wonderful student resource center atmosphere of the College of DuPage in Glen Ellyn, IL. Tip of the helmet to Dr. James Allen who has been orchestrating this event.
The small things always stand out - the new friends you meet, like readers who have gone to Gen Con and could share similar stories of events/experiences, or the old friends you bump into. One in particular stood out for me - back in the early 90's when I was working on my undergrad, I was employed as an office clerk at a company known as Barton Incorporated (a beer/wine distributor - corona, peroni, anyone?). One of the managers I would occasionally do projects for was a guy by the name of Tim. 20+ years later (I still cant believe I'm saying that), I bump into him again as an adjunct faculty member at where else but at CODCON! Small world or what?! It was great catching up with him, and reliving all of those Barton memories. Who woulda thought...
And a shout out to Mike, a manager from Suparossa, who was dishing out the pizzas and the pastas at his own stand right across from mine. Friendly, gregarious, and as professional as they come. Rigatoni with vodka sauce? I wasn't able to resist that for long...
...the countdown to next year's CODCON begins.
February 27, 2018
CODCON
Sponsored by the College of DuPage Sci-Fi/Fantasy & Gaming Club!
April 13-15th! College of DuPage, 425 Fawell Blvd, Glen Ellyn, IL.
Gaming, costumes, fantastical art, LARP dungeon, video game tourney, and did we say more gaming? AND of course Forging of a Knight will be there too, so you gotta go!
https://www.codcon.com/
April 13-15th! College of DuPage, 425 Fawell Blvd, Glen Ellyn, IL.
Gaming, costumes, fantastical art, LARP dungeon, video game tourney, and did we say more gaming? AND of course Forging of a Knight will be there too, so you gotta go!
https://www.codcon.com/
January 21, 2018
Here it is! The cover image to Book Six!
What can I say about the ever-amazing Lora Lee? How about awe-inspiring, stupendous, astounding? I think this is her best work yet on the cover images...
Book Six in the Forging of a Knight series!
A betrayal from the School leads Darksiege, last of Those That Stand in Shadow, with the means to achieve ultimate power at last. A mighty artifact, divided and cast into different realms, will spell doom if found. Qualtan, Glaive, Cassandra, and Bartholomew will travel to places dark and terrible, including present-day Earth, to prevent Darksiege from gaining the victory he craves, but all is not as it seems.
Are Darksiege and his opponents in a true quest, or have they been deceived into playing a much deeper game? Will Qualtan be forced into an unholy alliance with his mortal enemy to uncover the TRUE foe that menaces them all?
https://www.facebook.com/Forging.of.a...
Book Six in the Forging of a Knight series!
A betrayal from the School leads Darksiege, last of Those That Stand in Shadow, with the means to achieve ultimate power at last. A mighty artifact, divided and cast into different realms, will spell doom if found. Qualtan, Glaive, Cassandra, and Bartholomew will travel to places dark and terrible, including present-day Earth, to prevent Darksiege from gaining the victory he craves, but all is not as it seems.
Are Darksiege and his opponents in a true quest, or have they been deceived into playing a much deeper game? Will Qualtan be forced into an unholy alliance with his mortal enemy to uncover the TRUE foe that menaces them all?
https://www.facebook.com/Forging.of.a...
January 1, 2018
Cover art for Book Six, Darksiege Triumphant
As usual, here is my crude prehistoric rendition for the cover art. The title says it all. I have Darksiege's face in the background, the antlers from the sides of his head extending out and cross/connecting above/around, while his victims Cassandra, Qualtan, and Bartholomew stand in his gauntleted grasp. I'm excited as always to see how Lora Lee, the amazing cover artist for the book series, translates this one!
December 31, 2017
A snippet from Book Six, Darksiege Triumphant!
Here's a small tease to the upcoming Book Six in the Forging of a Knight series, Darksiege Triumphant. Qualtan and Darksiege...ALLIES? Yep...!
Qualtan took stock of his ally. The Evil One had closed his eyes for a moment, mumbling strange words. Hearing the knight, his eyes opened, and his fanged smile returned.
“Yes, doorman. Some of my strength has returned. I am ready.”
Like a rising shadow, the Evil One returned to stand. Walking side-by-side with his foe, Qualtan kept his sword high, ready to call upon its shield in a moment’s notice.
A few moments later, they entered the keeping cells. A vast space of open pens and floating prisons greeted them. There were thick chains, bizarre implements, and manacled tables. Bubbling vats and metal pedestals spoke of what was done.
“So this is where you perform your work of torture.” Qualtan said.
“Torture? What you call torture, I call improvement. Suffering does little to aid in my “work”, as you call it, doorman. Here, it serves as a distraction. There are other places in this citadel for such things, and those places bring delight to my soul.”
“The cages are all open.” Qualtan noted, staring at the hanging enclosures. Stains of blood and other liquids streaked the floor and coated the walls. The knight inwardly shivered, thinking back to the horrid transmutations of the Ruinous Ones, and the altered creations Bartholomew told him he and the female knight Jesepha had encountered when they had found the hidden lair of the Evil One.
“All living things are but playthings for my kin and me to use.” Darksiege said. “To serve us, provide for our entertainment, and to satisfy our needs. All needs, doorman.”
The lust in his voice only brought Qualtan's further disdain. “Your hunger has surely grown, Evil One. Tell me, how weak have you become?”
Darksiege glared, but the tinkling of a dangling chain took their attention.
“There are many creatures Shaz played with here. Some that I have used as well. They are here, smelling us, sensing our presence. I know what our foe will have done to them. He will have done what I would. I will be unable to drain them with my touch.”
A prison door swung loose.
“Let us hope they do not remember what you have done to them.”
“They are mindless. How else to make pawns that serve in the game? Ah, they approach!”
A shadow skirted nearby. A large metal chandelier swayed from a burst of wind.
There was a scratching, and a moan that grew close, and then went faint. The sound of many feet, rushing, coming near, began to grow.
“Quickly, we will need space.” Darksiege said. Both he and Qualtan ran, passing table upon table, and cage upon cage. They paused in an open section, where chains dropped from above, emptied cages dangling at their ends. There were multiple doorways, and the scrabbling of hurry echoed from each.
“Back-to-back, then.” Qualtan said. “Though my trust in you has grown little.”
“Back-to-back.” Darksiege said, placing himself behind the knight. “Do not fear, doorman, as I said, I still need you.”
The madness of the situation made Qualtan smile. Of all the allies he had made, and all the enemies, never did he think he would hold his sword together with Those That Stand in Shadow! His eyes searched every opening, waiting for the eruption that would come.
Groans became loud. Shadows of arms and twisting bodies extended from the doorways.
“For our mutual enemy.” Darksiege said, as the floor began to tremble.
“For our mutual enemy.” Qualtan agreed.
Qualtan took stock of his ally. The Evil One had closed his eyes for a moment, mumbling strange words. Hearing the knight, his eyes opened, and his fanged smile returned.
“Yes, doorman. Some of my strength has returned. I am ready.”
Like a rising shadow, the Evil One returned to stand. Walking side-by-side with his foe, Qualtan kept his sword high, ready to call upon its shield in a moment’s notice.
A few moments later, they entered the keeping cells. A vast space of open pens and floating prisons greeted them. There were thick chains, bizarre implements, and manacled tables. Bubbling vats and metal pedestals spoke of what was done.
“So this is where you perform your work of torture.” Qualtan said.
“Torture? What you call torture, I call improvement. Suffering does little to aid in my “work”, as you call it, doorman. Here, it serves as a distraction. There are other places in this citadel for such things, and those places bring delight to my soul.”
“The cages are all open.” Qualtan noted, staring at the hanging enclosures. Stains of blood and other liquids streaked the floor and coated the walls. The knight inwardly shivered, thinking back to the horrid transmutations of the Ruinous Ones, and the altered creations Bartholomew told him he and the female knight Jesepha had encountered when they had found the hidden lair of the Evil One.
“All living things are but playthings for my kin and me to use.” Darksiege said. “To serve us, provide for our entertainment, and to satisfy our needs. All needs, doorman.”
The lust in his voice only brought Qualtan's further disdain. “Your hunger has surely grown, Evil One. Tell me, how weak have you become?”
Darksiege glared, but the tinkling of a dangling chain took their attention.
“There are many creatures Shaz played with here. Some that I have used as well. They are here, smelling us, sensing our presence. I know what our foe will have done to them. He will have done what I would. I will be unable to drain them with my touch.”
A prison door swung loose.
“Let us hope they do not remember what you have done to them.”
“They are mindless. How else to make pawns that serve in the game? Ah, they approach!”
A shadow skirted nearby. A large metal chandelier swayed from a burst of wind.
There was a scratching, and a moan that grew close, and then went faint. The sound of many feet, rushing, coming near, began to grow.
“Quickly, we will need space.” Darksiege said. Both he and Qualtan ran, passing table upon table, and cage upon cage. They paused in an open section, where chains dropped from above, emptied cages dangling at their ends. There were multiple doorways, and the scrabbling of hurry echoed from each.
“Back-to-back, then.” Qualtan said. “Though my trust in you has grown little.”
“Back-to-back.” Darksiege said, placing himself behind the knight. “Do not fear, doorman, as I said, I still need you.”
The madness of the situation made Qualtan smile. Of all the allies he had made, and all the enemies, never did he think he would hold his sword together with Those That Stand in Shadow! His eyes searched every opening, waiting for the eruption that would come.
Groans became loud. Shadows of arms and twisting bodies extended from the doorways.
“For our mutual enemy.” Darksiege said, as the floor began to tremble.
“For our mutual enemy.” Qualtan agreed.
December 23, 2017
The inspiration behind Turinthia
Turinthia - the most powerful nation of the Alliance/First Kingdoms - ruled by King Prelance, comprised of the capital Tringolm, along with its sister cities Mirtha, Adenouin, the lesser city of Mulberry, and a host of smaller cities, townships, and villages.
On one side of its lands, the nation meets the sea. Upon the other, a standing row of giant watchtowers of stone and steel, muted and silent, protecting its flank.
Many of the stories in the Forging of a Knight series have their start here - from Qualtan's quest to become one of Turinthia's knights, to his ever-growing consternation and conflict with its King. Faithful followers of the series will know King Prelance and his First Knight will eventually come to final words (and nearly swords) with each other, leading to a momentous decision by King Prelance in Book Six, Darksiege Triumphant (currently getting ready to go live soon) and the steps Qualtan will have to take in his father's footsteps when we get to the pulse pounding confrontation with the Alliance in Book Seven.
"White towers, red shingled homes, tiled domes, and homes of pink, yellow, and blue..." A brief descriptive compilation from the books on what Turinthia is supposed to look like. What was the inspiration for this imagined place? A place that exists in reality - a visit to Italy years ago, specifically Florence, near the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, or the Duomo, gave me a snapshot of what Turinthia could be like.
So any who travel to this magical city need only imagine adding an Order of knights and a sarcastic cynical half-orcne thief to the mix and perhaps you'll find yourself transported to a somewhat similar but decidedly different place...
On one side of its lands, the nation meets the sea. Upon the other, a standing row of giant watchtowers of stone and steel, muted and silent, protecting its flank.
Many of the stories in the Forging of a Knight series have their start here - from Qualtan's quest to become one of Turinthia's knights, to his ever-growing consternation and conflict with its King. Faithful followers of the series will know King Prelance and his First Knight will eventually come to final words (and nearly swords) with each other, leading to a momentous decision by King Prelance in Book Six, Darksiege Triumphant (currently getting ready to go live soon) and the steps Qualtan will have to take in his father's footsteps when we get to the pulse pounding confrontation with the Alliance in Book Seven.
"White towers, red shingled homes, tiled domes, and homes of pink, yellow, and blue..." A brief descriptive compilation from the books on what Turinthia is supposed to look like. What was the inspiration for this imagined place? A place that exists in reality - a visit to Italy years ago, specifically Florence, near the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, or the Duomo, gave me a snapshot of what Turinthia could be like.
So any who travel to this magical city need only imagine adding an Order of knights and a sarcastic cynical half-orcne thief to the mix and perhaps you'll find yourself transported to a somewhat similar but decidedly different place...
December 19, 2017
An interview with Terence Gunn!
As readers of these updates know, I'm a big fan of Grenadier Models, Inc., - a company that produced miniature led figures for role playing games from the 70's to the 90's. In 1996 the company officially closed its doors, although many of their molds and sculpts were purchased by other companies and are still in production today.
The Fantastic Worlds of Grenadier is a book that follows the history of the company, written by an even bigger Grenadier fan Terence Gunn. I was lucky enough to find this book, and even luckier to connect with its author!
H.N. I was a big fan of Grenadier Models, Inc., especially their AD&D, Call of Cthulhu, and Masterpiece Editions miniature lines from back in the day. How did you develop the idea for The Fantastic Worlds of Grenadier?
T.G. Well, first off, I should mention that I started playing role-playing games and book case games in 1978, when I was twelve years old. This was the year I started purchasing fantasy gaming miniatures, too – my first being the Grenadier Models Wizzards & Warriors boxed set Monsters. In 1983 I stopped purchasing miniatures, but continued role-playing up to the early 1990s – though less frequently and with less enthusiasm than when I was younger. I should mention also that I did not keep any of the games and miniatures I had as a youth – save for a couple book case games.
In the year 2000 (the year I started to become familiar with computers and the Internet), I had a fairly well paying job, good credit, and enough spare time and money to get into the hobby again. But what I was interested in most, were the games and miniatures from my youth. When I became familiar with eBay, my nostalgia really kicked in!
I went a bit crazy and not only bought every game and miniature I once owned, but bought many of the games and miniatures I always wanted or was curious about, and some I never knew about. For miniatures, Grenadier Models was at the top of the list. I never did get back into gaming, but I did start painting miniatures again, learning different techniques, and honing my painting skills. I soon amassed quite a collection of miniatures, with Grenadier Models being predominant. Aside from the hobby aspect of seeking out, buying, collecting, and painting, I was getting also quite the history lesson of Grenadier Models and its products. I had no idea how long this company was in business, or how extensive its catalogue of miniatures and other products were; nor did I realize the tremendous impact Grenadier Models had on/in the gaming miniatures industry.
At the time, there was only one fairly comprehensive source of compiled information indexing Grenadier Models’ line of products – and that was on Thomas Pope’s website, The Stuff of Legends. Although a useful resource, I began noticing how many gaps there were in the product listings, and that certain lines were not listed at all, nor mentioned. There was also very little information about the company itself, the founders, and other people involved. Grenadier Models – one of the most innovative, prominent, influential, and pioneering gaming miniatures manufacturer in the history of gaming miniatures, and there was very little known about this company and its vast line of products. I was fascinated by this company and its products, and wanted to learn more. When I did, I decided to write a book on the subject.
No one had written a book about a gaming miniatures company before, so there was no template example for me to go by. I did not have much writing experience, had only a little amateur experience in dealing with image and text layout, and knew only a little about the do’s and don’ts of the publishing industry. Despite these shortcomings, I decided to chance my arm and go ahead with the project, which took over a year to finish. The Fantastic Worlds of Grenadier was completed in late 2003 (hence the copyright date), but the book was not available until sometime in 2004. I sought out a publisher, but as the book was considered of interest to a niche market only, I realized soon that this was a dead end, so decided to publish the book myself.
The next step was to find a quality printer with a good reputation and reasonable charges. After some searching and comparing costs, etc., I decided on one. The book had a lot of colour images so I wanted the book to be printed on heavy weight glossy paper. Even the black and white images looked better on such. But such was expensive, and I could not afford all of the upfront printing costs. I contacted Aaron Leeder of Noble Knight Games and he agreed to a pre-order of 20 books, which helped considerably, given the fact that the first print run was only 40 books. Also, I listed on eBay 10 books for pre-order. I announced the book on a miniatures website, had a simple one page website for the book, and, after the book was printed, sent out a number of complimentary copies to certain people. Other than that, there was very little marketing. Most of the marketing was word of mouth, so to say.
The book was 60 pages long and featured an insightful chronological narrative, glossy colour images of products (mainly box cover art and blister packs), interviews with some of Grenadier’s sculptors and employees, and displayed the most comprehensive Grenadier Models product listings available. The book was also a good source of reference to many of the creations and trends in the gaming and gaming miniatures industry in the mid-1970s to the mid-1990s.
For a variety of reasons, the book was not intended to be a photo compendium of Grenadier’s remarkably vast line of miniatures. But, at the same time, I was aware that the book did fall short of displaying a significant enough amount of miniatures to satisfy the reader’s curiosity and desire for visual reference, so I put together and included with each book, a supplemental CD with a PDF containing 43 pages of images from Grenadier’s miniature lines and products. This was an efficient way to keep the printing cost down, as well as was beneficial in that one could zoom in on the images to see greater detail of the miniatures featured. But such wasn’t as enjoyable as having all these images included in the physical book, which one could reference and access more easily.
The first print run of the book had a number of typos and grammatical errors (I know – I should have used a proofreader or two, but I was in total do-it-myself mode), as well as some product date and other informational errors. Before going ahead with a second print run (which was another 40 copies, which I sold on eBay in blocks), I revised certain errors I was aware of, but there were errors still – errors I would become aware of years later when I began working on the new (2016) edition of the book.
After the first two print runs ran out in a number of months, I offered the book for a while as a PDF on disc, which included the supplement. For those who had missed out on the print runs, the eBook was the only option. I sold about 50 copies of the eBook, then dropped off the radar, and focused on other things in my life.
A number of years later, my interest in the book returned, and I began working on a new edition of the book. The new edition would be an extended and revised edition of the first book, and would feature loads of images of miniatures. At least, that was the plan. However, and for a variety of reasons, work on the new edition was short-lived, and was put on the back burner.
Fast forward to November 2015. I injured my left knee at the job I had at the time, and filed for worker’s compensation. A major part of my convalescence was to stay off my feet, and to not stand or walk, unless absolutely necessary; and as my job was physically demanding, I was not able to perform my duties. I was looking at months of sitting round at home, and, potentially, knee surgery, so what would I do to occupy my time in the interim? Work on the new edition of The Fantastic Worlds of Grenadier, of course! And I did. Admittedly, at first there wasn’t a great deal of inspiration; but after a few days of working on the project, inspiration really kicked in!
One of the problems I faced when working on the new edition years prior 2016, was getting images of miniatures I wanted to include in the book – particularly, miniatures from Grenadier’s 1970s lines. But not just any images; I had certain specifications in mind. I had put the word out, but to no avail. In 2016 I put the word out again, and this time, a number of collectors came forward. I am really grateful to these people, and for the time and effort they took to photograph the figures they had and email them to me. The book certainly would not have been as rich without their contributions.
In the spring of 2016, I announced on a couple of miniatures/gaming websites that I was working on a new edition of The Fantastic Worlds of Grenadier. I was still in the process of recovering from my job-related injury, but was now also unemployed – my previous job position had been eliminated at the end of January, due to, so I was informed, budget cuts. I really wanted the book to be in print form, but unless I found an interested publisher or financial backer, an eBook seemed to be the only option. Circumstances were different this time round, and the book was going to be a larger volume of work, which would mean higher printing costs, should I find the financial means to go in that direction. Kickstarter – which I knew nothing about – was mentioned to me, and I looked into it. Kickstarter offered a number of advantages over the do-it-yourself pre-order method, so I decided to give it a try. I am glad I did! Not only was the financial goal met, it was exceeded! But there was a period when pledges slowed down, and it did not look like the financial goal was going to be met. And although a couple of backers (I think it was only two) backed out before the financial goal was met, this did not affect the outcome.
H.N. What was the most challenging aspect of this project? What was the most fun?
T.G. Between the research, obtaining material, scanning material, acquiring images of material I did not have but wanted to include; cutting and pasting; editing text and images; doing the layout; doing the writing; fact checking over and over again, to make sure dates and details were as accurate as possible; etc. – all aspects of this project were equally challenging. There was also the challenge of dealing with the limitations and idiosyncrasies of the software programme I used to put all this together – which was, at times, very frustrating to deal with. And the data size of the book was so large, I had to split it into four sections, in order to add to, edit, and save what I added and edited. When each section was finished, I then had to convert each to a PDF, and then merge the four together.
As for what was the most fun, it was the process of creating something I was passionate about.
H.N. How difficult was it to search out former employees, sculptors, and owners of Grenadier?
T.G. The Internet made the search easier in tracking down certain people, but only those who had their own websites and/or social media sites, were active members of an online forum, or were affiliated with a company, etc. that had a website. Sculptor William Watt did not, and still does not, have a computer, and it was Andrew Chernak who put me in contact with him. Of course, not all of the people I tracked down and contacted wanted to talk to me or do an interview.
H.N. As a self-published author, I share the challenge of getting the word out on my works. What have you had to do to win broader exposure and branding for your work?
T.G. As with the first edition, I knew that the most efficacious way of promoting the work would be to announce the work on miniatures sites, etc., to those who would be potentially most interested. From there word would spread; but I had to remain active, letting people know of my progress on the book, posing questions, answering questions, letting people know what I added, etc. A number of people who had their own blog sites, mentioned on their blog sites the book and the Kickstarter campaign, and I am grateful to them for doing this. Allan Grohe (aka grodog) was particularly helpful in spreading the word.
H.N. This question will start off sounding like an old joke – a person walks into a bar (or convention or bookstore) and bumps into Terence Gunn – what would be your elevator pitch to showcase your work?
T.G. I don’t really have a pitch per se, other than stating the facts of what the book is about and what the book features.
H.N. As an author, it’s sometimes difficult to finally say a product is finished, no matter how many times you review or edit. Is there anything you would go back and change? Were there ideas you had in mind and then decided NOT to include?
T.G. Yes, there are a few things I would go back and change, but such are minor. There were a couple ideas I had in mind to integrate into the book, but did not. And, of course, there were numerous images I wanted to include, but did not. Regarding the latter two, the book has a certain flow to it, and I did not want to disturb the flow too much.
H.N. I have a five year old son and structuring time around him can be challenging! I’ve lost count of the times he nearly pressed the delete button on something I was working on…how do you find time to research and write?
T.G. Being in the state of singleness without children certainly helps!
H.N. Do you have a certain method you use when you write – i.e., a certain room, music, mood, etc., to help get you in the right writing frame of mind?
T.G. It depends on what subject I am writing about. But usually when I write and do research, I prefer a quiet surrounding with no distractions. When my mind gets too busy and noisy, I will turn on some light classical music in the background to pacify it.
As for a room, for the most part, I write in the upstairs lounge of my rental house – where my computer is – using the computer’s keyboard as my writing implement and the internal word processor software as my editorial assistant. And, of course, when doing research, having the Internet at hand is very useful, and is a quick go-to resource; but one has to be discerning when one comes across any information – be such on the Internet, or in any other form or way.
H.N. What are you reading right now?
T.G. Book-wise, I am not reading anything currently. But the last book I read was The Juniper Tree and Other Tales from Grimm (aka the brothers Grimm), translated by Lore Segal with illustrations by Maurice Sendak. I read a number of tales from Grimm in my youth, and wanted to revisit them as an adult. There are a lot metaphors, morals, and alchemy present in these tales, which I find very intriguing.
On a side note, and although they are variations of the stories on which they were based, I really like what Jim Henson and crew did with a number of these tales in the wonderfully brilliant late 1980s TV series The Storyteller.
H.N. Do you have additional works in mind? What’s your next upcoming project?
T.G. The project I am working on currently is a supplement to The Fantastic Worlds of Grenadier. Page-wise, the supplement will be a larger volume than The Fantastic Worlds of Grenadier, and will be more of a photo compendium, featuring images of miniatures and other things that were not included in the new edition of the book. Initially I was planning for the supplement to be a PDF download only, but the more I work on the supplement, the more I am leaning towards the supplement being in print form, as well. This would, of course, require starting up another Kickstarter campaign, and the financial goal would have to be met, in order for a print version to materialise, but I am optimistic. We’ll see! It is too early to start up another KS campaign, as I have no idea how large or what all the contents of the supplement will be. But I am very pleased with what I have put together thus far, as are a number of other people who are interested in seeing this go to print, and willing to back it.
H.N. Where can readers go to find out more about Terence Gunn, The Fantastic Worlds of Grenadier, and the up coming supplement?
T.G. Presently I do not have a website, but for more information, one can go to The Fantastic Worlds of Grenadier Kickstarter project page at:
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/...
One can click the Updates section, scroll down to the beginning, and then proceed upwards, to see sample pages of The Fantastic Worlds of Grenadier.
For those who are interested in purchasing the book, they can go to the Noble Knight Games website. The book is listed as Fantastic Worlds of Grenadier, The (Extended Edition). Here is a link:
https://www.nobleknight.com/ViewProdu...
Regarding the supplement, the sample pages I have posted on the Kickstarter page are viewable currently only by backers of the KS campaign for The Fantastic Worlds of Grenadier. For those who have purchased the new edition but were not backers of the campaign, and who are interested in the supplement, I suggest following me on Kickstarter. When the supplement is finished, I will post on the KS page an update viewable to the public. And, of course, should I start up another KS campaign to raise funds for a print version of the supplement, this will be viewable also to the public.
H.N. Thanks Terence, for sharing some of your time!
T.G. My pleasure, Hugo! Thank you for your interest. And all the best with your next installment in The Forging of a Knight series!
The Fantastic Worlds of Grenadier is a book that follows the history of the company, written by an even bigger Grenadier fan Terence Gunn. I was lucky enough to find this book, and even luckier to connect with its author!
H.N. I was a big fan of Grenadier Models, Inc., especially their AD&D, Call of Cthulhu, and Masterpiece Editions miniature lines from back in the day. How did you develop the idea for The Fantastic Worlds of Grenadier?
T.G. Well, first off, I should mention that I started playing role-playing games and book case games in 1978, when I was twelve years old. This was the year I started purchasing fantasy gaming miniatures, too – my first being the Grenadier Models Wizzards & Warriors boxed set Monsters. In 1983 I stopped purchasing miniatures, but continued role-playing up to the early 1990s – though less frequently and with less enthusiasm than when I was younger. I should mention also that I did not keep any of the games and miniatures I had as a youth – save for a couple book case games.
In the year 2000 (the year I started to become familiar with computers and the Internet), I had a fairly well paying job, good credit, and enough spare time and money to get into the hobby again. But what I was interested in most, were the games and miniatures from my youth. When I became familiar with eBay, my nostalgia really kicked in!
I went a bit crazy and not only bought every game and miniature I once owned, but bought many of the games and miniatures I always wanted or was curious about, and some I never knew about. For miniatures, Grenadier Models was at the top of the list. I never did get back into gaming, but I did start painting miniatures again, learning different techniques, and honing my painting skills. I soon amassed quite a collection of miniatures, with Grenadier Models being predominant. Aside from the hobby aspect of seeking out, buying, collecting, and painting, I was getting also quite the history lesson of Grenadier Models and its products. I had no idea how long this company was in business, or how extensive its catalogue of miniatures and other products were; nor did I realize the tremendous impact Grenadier Models had on/in the gaming miniatures industry.
At the time, there was only one fairly comprehensive source of compiled information indexing Grenadier Models’ line of products – and that was on Thomas Pope’s website, The Stuff of Legends. Although a useful resource, I began noticing how many gaps there were in the product listings, and that certain lines were not listed at all, nor mentioned. There was also very little information about the company itself, the founders, and other people involved. Grenadier Models – one of the most innovative, prominent, influential, and pioneering gaming miniatures manufacturer in the history of gaming miniatures, and there was very little known about this company and its vast line of products. I was fascinated by this company and its products, and wanted to learn more. When I did, I decided to write a book on the subject.
No one had written a book about a gaming miniatures company before, so there was no template example for me to go by. I did not have much writing experience, had only a little amateur experience in dealing with image and text layout, and knew only a little about the do’s and don’ts of the publishing industry. Despite these shortcomings, I decided to chance my arm and go ahead with the project, which took over a year to finish. The Fantastic Worlds of Grenadier was completed in late 2003 (hence the copyright date), but the book was not available until sometime in 2004. I sought out a publisher, but as the book was considered of interest to a niche market only, I realized soon that this was a dead end, so decided to publish the book myself.
The next step was to find a quality printer with a good reputation and reasonable charges. After some searching and comparing costs, etc., I decided on one. The book had a lot of colour images so I wanted the book to be printed on heavy weight glossy paper. Even the black and white images looked better on such. But such was expensive, and I could not afford all of the upfront printing costs. I contacted Aaron Leeder of Noble Knight Games and he agreed to a pre-order of 20 books, which helped considerably, given the fact that the first print run was only 40 books. Also, I listed on eBay 10 books for pre-order. I announced the book on a miniatures website, had a simple one page website for the book, and, after the book was printed, sent out a number of complimentary copies to certain people. Other than that, there was very little marketing. Most of the marketing was word of mouth, so to say.
The book was 60 pages long and featured an insightful chronological narrative, glossy colour images of products (mainly box cover art and blister packs), interviews with some of Grenadier’s sculptors and employees, and displayed the most comprehensive Grenadier Models product listings available. The book was also a good source of reference to many of the creations and trends in the gaming and gaming miniatures industry in the mid-1970s to the mid-1990s.
For a variety of reasons, the book was not intended to be a photo compendium of Grenadier’s remarkably vast line of miniatures. But, at the same time, I was aware that the book did fall short of displaying a significant enough amount of miniatures to satisfy the reader’s curiosity and desire for visual reference, so I put together and included with each book, a supplemental CD with a PDF containing 43 pages of images from Grenadier’s miniature lines and products. This was an efficient way to keep the printing cost down, as well as was beneficial in that one could zoom in on the images to see greater detail of the miniatures featured. But such wasn’t as enjoyable as having all these images included in the physical book, which one could reference and access more easily.
The first print run of the book had a number of typos and grammatical errors (I know – I should have used a proofreader or two, but I was in total do-it-myself mode), as well as some product date and other informational errors. Before going ahead with a second print run (which was another 40 copies, which I sold on eBay in blocks), I revised certain errors I was aware of, but there were errors still – errors I would become aware of years later when I began working on the new (2016) edition of the book.
After the first two print runs ran out in a number of months, I offered the book for a while as a PDF on disc, which included the supplement. For those who had missed out on the print runs, the eBook was the only option. I sold about 50 copies of the eBook, then dropped off the radar, and focused on other things in my life.
A number of years later, my interest in the book returned, and I began working on a new edition of the book. The new edition would be an extended and revised edition of the first book, and would feature loads of images of miniatures. At least, that was the plan. However, and for a variety of reasons, work on the new edition was short-lived, and was put on the back burner.
Fast forward to November 2015. I injured my left knee at the job I had at the time, and filed for worker’s compensation. A major part of my convalescence was to stay off my feet, and to not stand or walk, unless absolutely necessary; and as my job was physically demanding, I was not able to perform my duties. I was looking at months of sitting round at home, and, potentially, knee surgery, so what would I do to occupy my time in the interim? Work on the new edition of The Fantastic Worlds of Grenadier, of course! And I did. Admittedly, at first there wasn’t a great deal of inspiration; but after a few days of working on the project, inspiration really kicked in!
One of the problems I faced when working on the new edition years prior 2016, was getting images of miniatures I wanted to include in the book – particularly, miniatures from Grenadier’s 1970s lines. But not just any images; I had certain specifications in mind. I had put the word out, but to no avail. In 2016 I put the word out again, and this time, a number of collectors came forward. I am really grateful to these people, and for the time and effort they took to photograph the figures they had and email them to me. The book certainly would not have been as rich without their contributions.
In the spring of 2016, I announced on a couple of miniatures/gaming websites that I was working on a new edition of The Fantastic Worlds of Grenadier. I was still in the process of recovering from my job-related injury, but was now also unemployed – my previous job position had been eliminated at the end of January, due to, so I was informed, budget cuts. I really wanted the book to be in print form, but unless I found an interested publisher or financial backer, an eBook seemed to be the only option. Circumstances were different this time round, and the book was going to be a larger volume of work, which would mean higher printing costs, should I find the financial means to go in that direction. Kickstarter – which I knew nothing about – was mentioned to me, and I looked into it. Kickstarter offered a number of advantages over the do-it-yourself pre-order method, so I decided to give it a try. I am glad I did! Not only was the financial goal met, it was exceeded! But there was a period when pledges slowed down, and it did not look like the financial goal was going to be met. And although a couple of backers (I think it was only two) backed out before the financial goal was met, this did not affect the outcome.
H.N. What was the most challenging aspect of this project? What was the most fun?
T.G. Between the research, obtaining material, scanning material, acquiring images of material I did not have but wanted to include; cutting and pasting; editing text and images; doing the layout; doing the writing; fact checking over and over again, to make sure dates and details were as accurate as possible; etc. – all aspects of this project were equally challenging. There was also the challenge of dealing with the limitations and idiosyncrasies of the software programme I used to put all this together – which was, at times, very frustrating to deal with. And the data size of the book was so large, I had to split it into four sections, in order to add to, edit, and save what I added and edited. When each section was finished, I then had to convert each to a PDF, and then merge the four together.
As for what was the most fun, it was the process of creating something I was passionate about.
H.N. How difficult was it to search out former employees, sculptors, and owners of Grenadier?
T.G. The Internet made the search easier in tracking down certain people, but only those who had their own websites and/or social media sites, were active members of an online forum, or were affiliated with a company, etc. that had a website. Sculptor William Watt did not, and still does not, have a computer, and it was Andrew Chernak who put me in contact with him. Of course, not all of the people I tracked down and contacted wanted to talk to me or do an interview.
H.N. As a self-published author, I share the challenge of getting the word out on my works. What have you had to do to win broader exposure and branding for your work?
T.G. As with the first edition, I knew that the most efficacious way of promoting the work would be to announce the work on miniatures sites, etc., to those who would be potentially most interested. From there word would spread; but I had to remain active, letting people know of my progress on the book, posing questions, answering questions, letting people know what I added, etc. A number of people who had their own blog sites, mentioned on their blog sites the book and the Kickstarter campaign, and I am grateful to them for doing this. Allan Grohe (aka grodog) was particularly helpful in spreading the word.
H.N. This question will start off sounding like an old joke – a person walks into a bar (or convention or bookstore) and bumps into Terence Gunn – what would be your elevator pitch to showcase your work?
T.G. I don’t really have a pitch per se, other than stating the facts of what the book is about and what the book features.
H.N. As an author, it’s sometimes difficult to finally say a product is finished, no matter how many times you review or edit. Is there anything you would go back and change? Were there ideas you had in mind and then decided NOT to include?
T.G. Yes, there are a few things I would go back and change, but such are minor. There were a couple ideas I had in mind to integrate into the book, but did not. And, of course, there were numerous images I wanted to include, but did not. Regarding the latter two, the book has a certain flow to it, and I did not want to disturb the flow too much.
H.N. I have a five year old son and structuring time around him can be challenging! I’ve lost count of the times he nearly pressed the delete button on something I was working on…how do you find time to research and write?
T.G. Being in the state of singleness without children certainly helps!
H.N. Do you have a certain method you use when you write – i.e., a certain room, music, mood, etc., to help get you in the right writing frame of mind?
T.G. It depends on what subject I am writing about. But usually when I write and do research, I prefer a quiet surrounding with no distractions. When my mind gets too busy and noisy, I will turn on some light classical music in the background to pacify it.
As for a room, for the most part, I write in the upstairs lounge of my rental house – where my computer is – using the computer’s keyboard as my writing implement and the internal word processor software as my editorial assistant. And, of course, when doing research, having the Internet at hand is very useful, and is a quick go-to resource; but one has to be discerning when one comes across any information – be such on the Internet, or in any other form or way.
H.N. What are you reading right now?
T.G. Book-wise, I am not reading anything currently. But the last book I read was The Juniper Tree and Other Tales from Grimm (aka the brothers Grimm), translated by Lore Segal with illustrations by Maurice Sendak. I read a number of tales from Grimm in my youth, and wanted to revisit them as an adult. There are a lot metaphors, morals, and alchemy present in these tales, which I find very intriguing.
On a side note, and although they are variations of the stories on which they were based, I really like what Jim Henson and crew did with a number of these tales in the wonderfully brilliant late 1980s TV series The Storyteller.
H.N. Do you have additional works in mind? What’s your next upcoming project?
T.G. The project I am working on currently is a supplement to The Fantastic Worlds of Grenadier. Page-wise, the supplement will be a larger volume than The Fantastic Worlds of Grenadier, and will be more of a photo compendium, featuring images of miniatures and other things that were not included in the new edition of the book. Initially I was planning for the supplement to be a PDF download only, but the more I work on the supplement, the more I am leaning towards the supplement being in print form, as well. This would, of course, require starting up another Kickstarter campaign, and the financial goal would have to be met, in order for a print version to materialise, but I am optimistic. We’ll see! It is too early to start up another KS campaign, as I have no idea how large or what all the contents of the supplement will be. But I am very pleased with what I have put together thus far, as are a number of other people who are interested in seeing this go to print, and willing to back it.
H.N. Where can readers go to find out more about Terence Gunn, The Fantastic Worlds of Grenadier, and the up coming supplement?
T.G. Presently I do not have a website, but for more information, one can go to The Fantastic Worlds of Grenadier Kickstarter project page at:
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/...
One can click the Updates section, scroll down to the beginning, and then proceed upwards, to see sample pages of The Fantastic Worlds of Grenadier.
For those who are interested in purchasing the book, they can go to the Noble Knight Games website. The book is listed as Fantastic Worlds of Grenadier, The (Extended Edition). Here is a link:
https://www.nobleknight.com/ViewProdu...
Regarding the supplement, the sample pages I have posted on the Kickstarter page are viewable currently only by backers of the KS campaign for The Fantastic Worlds of Grenadier. For those who have purchased the new edition but were not backers of the campaign, and who are interested in the supplement, I suggest following me on Kickstarter. When the supplement is finished, I will post on the KS page an update viewable to the public. And, of course, should I start up another KS campaign to raise funds for a print version of the supplement, this will be viewable also to the public.
H.N. Thanks Terence, for sharing some of your time!
T.G. My pleasure, Hugo! Thank you for your interest. And all the best with your next installment in The Forging of a Knight series!
December 8, 2017
Interview with Edward Russell!
The interview beat continues while Book Six in the Forging of a Knight series gets a final polish from Erin my editor. Updates to that will be coming soon. In the meantime, I've had some great opportunities to speak with some great creative talents...witness Ron Shirtz' interview prior - and here is another!
Hi Edward – thanks again for taking the time to be interviewed! Let’s begin with telling us a little bit more about who Edward Russell is.
When did you know that you wanted to be a writer?
Oh at an early age, grade school. I would see or hear something and think I could change it to make it better. Which really meant more entertaining to me. When I was growing up there was no internet and only 3 channels on the television so there was less distraction and I would write really bad adventures.
You’ve written in some different genres, from horror (The Dead Infested) to fantasy (Dungeon Crawlers), to compiling anthologies (Stone Tails) – I will also add here your specific story in that anthology, Garden War, focusing on a gargoyle statue and some garden gnome sculptures, was my favorite! How did you develop your ideas for these books?
For me it generally starts with a conflict. In the story you referenced I found a massive gargoyle for free on craigslist and the first thing my wife asked me was where I thought I would put it. Well to get it at the front of our house we had to move some garden gnomes and the story just grew from there.
Which of your works is your favorite? What characters were the most fun to develop? Which were the most challenging?
I do not really have a favorite, I love all of my stories. They each have their own strengths and weaknesses but they are all special to me. As far as characters go I have the most fun with the villains. Heroes typically have a set of rules they live by but villains can do anything they want and how they want. I enjoy trying to come up with a reason for why they do what they do. Now without question the choose your own adventure books are the most difficult to write because the narrative has to be very brief and putting everything together to maintain a coherent journey requires more organization than I naturally possess.
What are your plans long-term for your writing? Do you have additional/different works in mind?
I have taken a few years off from writing (fell in love and go married) but I am starting to get back into horror. Now it is darker than my previous books. I am nine chapters into a story that is by far the most violent thing I have ever written.
As a self-published author, I share the challenge of getting the word out on my works. What have you had to do to win broader exposure and branding for your books?
I started with social media but I really hate just shouting “buy my book” so I have moved away from that. I like going to conventions and just meeting people and letting them know what my books are about if they show some interest. The downside to that is that most people really prefer to get their books electronically, and I understand that I’m the same way, but its nearly impossible to make enough kindle sales to cover the cost of a table and hotel at a convention.
This question will start off sounding like an old joke – a person walks into a bar (or convention or bookstore) and bumps into Edward Russell – what would be your elevator pitch to showcase your work?
I wish I had a decent answer to that. When pitching I try to find out what a person likes and see how that matches up with what I have written.
As an author, it’s sometimes difficult to finally say a product is finished, no matter how many times you review or edit. Is there anything you would go back and change in your stories? Where there ideas you had in mind and then decided NOT to include?
Yes I agree in some ways a project never feels fully finished. Every time you go back through it you find places to improve and places where you wonder just what you were thinking before. As for ideas or thoughts I ended up not making the page, yeah that happens. As you know once you really get into a project it takes on its own rhythm, characters move in directions you never expected. Sometimes there is a part of the plot or a scene that you thought would be critical but turns out to be little more than a distraction. Those are the kinds of things I try to leave out.
I have a 5 year old son, and structuring time around him can be challenging! I’ve lost count of the times he nearly pressed the delete button on something I was working on…how do you find time to write your stories?
At my “real job” I get two 15 minute breaks and a 30 minute lunch, that is when I write the bulk of a story. It is a true escape for me to get away from the day for just those few minutes and go into my own world. I get a lot done in that hour. Now I get up at an obscene hour each morning and spend 30 minutes on the treadmill and another 60 weight training. During that time I think about what I am going to write that day and most of the time when I sit down to type it flows pretty well.
Do you have a certain method you use when you write – i.e., a certain room, music, mood, etc., to help get you in the right writing frame of mind?
If I write at home I turn on instrumental music. I cannot do radio because lyrics get stuck in my head. When I write at work I am generally able to tune out the other noise and focus on my project.
What are you reading right now?
Right now I am reading All gain no pain by Bill Hartman. It is a guide to getting fit for people over the age of 40.
Where can readers go to find out more about Edward Russell?
Probably my amazon author page
https://www.amazon.com/Edward-J-Russe...
Thanks Ed, for sharing some of your time!
Thank you for having me! It was a lot of fun
Hi Edward – thanks again for taking the time to be interviewed! Let’s begin with telling us a little bit more about who Edward Russell is.
When did you know that you wanted to be a writer?
Oh at an early age, grade school. I would see or hear something and think I could change it to make it better. Which really meant more entertaining to me. When I was growing up there was no internet and only 3 channels on the television so there was less distraction and I would write really bad adventures.
You’ve written in some different genres, from horror (The Dead Infested) to fantasy (Dungeon Crawlers), to compiling anthologies (Stone Tails) – I will also add here your specific story in that anthology, Garden War, focusing on a gargoyle statue and some garden gnome sculptures, was my favorite! How did you develop your ideas for these books?
For me it generally starts with a conflict. In the story you referenced I found a massive gargoyle for free on craigslist and the first thing my wife asked me was where I thought I would put it. Well to get it at the front of our house we had to move some garden gnomes and the story just grew from there.
Which of your works is your favorite? What characters were the most fun to develop? Which were the most challenging?
I do not really have a favorite, I love all of my stories. They each have their own strengths and weaknesses but they are all special to me. As far as characters go I have the most fun with the villains. Heroes typically have a set of rules they live by but villains can do anything they want and how they want. I enjoy trying to come up with a reason for why they do what they do. Now without question the choose your own adventure books are the most difficult to write because the narrative has to be very brief and putting everything together to maintain a coherent journey requires more organization than I naturally possess.
What are your plans long-term for your writing? Do you have additional/different works in mind?
I have taken a few years off from writing (fell in love and go married) but I am starting to get back into horror. Now it is darker than my previous books. I am nine chapters into a story that is by far the most violent thing I have ever written.
As a self-published author, I share the challenge of getting the word out on my works. What have you had to do to win broader exposure and branding for your books?
I started with social media but I really hate just shouting “buy my book” so I have moved away from that. I like going to conventions and just meeting people and letting them know what my books are about if they show some interest. The downside to that is that most people really prefer to get their books electronically, and I understand that I’m the same way, but its nearly impossible to make enough kindle sales to cover the cost of a table and hotel at a convention.
This question will start off sounding like an old joke – a person walks into a bar (or convention or bookstore) and bumps into Edward Russell – what would be your elevator pitch to showcase your work?
I wish I had a decent answer to that. When pitching I try to find out what a person likes and see how that matches up with what I have written.
As an author, it’s sometimes difficult to finally say a product is finished, no matter how many times you review or edit. Is there anything you would go back and change in your stories? Where there ideas you had in mind and then decided NOT to include?
Yes I agree in some ways a project never feels fully finished. Every time you go back through it you find places to improve and places where you wonder just what you were thinking before. As for ideas or thoughts I ended up not making the page, yeah that happens. As you know once you really get into a project it takes on its own rhythm, characters move in directions you never expected. Sometimes there is a part of the plot or a scene that you thought would be critical but turns out to be little more than a distraction. Those are the kinds of things I try to leave out.
I have a 5 year old son, and structuring time around him can be challenging! I’ve lost count of the times he nearly pressed the delete button on something I was working on…how do you find time to write your stories?
At my “real job” I get two 15 minute breaks and a 30 minute lunch, that is when I write the bulk of a story. It is a true escape for me to get away from the day for just those few minutes and go into my own world. I get a lot done in that hour. Now I get up at an obscene hour each morning and spend 30 minutes on the treadmill and another 60 weight training. During that time I think about what I am going to write that day and most of the time when I sit down to type it flows pretty well.
Do you have a certain method you use when you write – i.e., a certain room, music, mood, etc., to help get you in the right writing frame of mind?
If I write at home I turn on instrumental music. I cannot do radio because lyrics get stuck in my head. When I write at work I am generally able to tune out the other noise and focus on my project.
What are you reading right now?
Right now I am reading All gain no pain by Bill Hartman. It is a guide to getting fit for people over the age of 40.
Where can readers go to find out more about Edward Russell?
Probably my amazon author page
https://www.amazon.com/Edward-J-Russe...
Thanks Ed, for sharing some of your time!
Thank you for having me! It was a lot of fun
November 27, 2017
Interview with Ron Shirtz (Part Two)!
Continuing the conversation with Ron Shirtz from Part One...
HN: How long does it take?
RS: Depending on the complexity of the tile, whether it’s just a dungeon floor or a decorated room, anywhere from 1-5 hours for an 8”x 10” size tile. High-tech tiles take more time as they required lots of nuts, bolts, buttons, etc. Larger (11” x 17”) tiles are ten times longer to make. It took 40 plus hours to create the Space Freighter tile set, “Brandy’s Lament”. I was pretty burned out after making that one. It was several weeks before I would even consider making another tile!
HN: How do you achieve such realistic effects?
RS: Using a combination of design techniques and clip art photos I can achieve a near photo-realistic effect with many of my tiles. Clip art saves me considerable time from having to design sub-components for many tiles. But using clip art effectively is more than just cut and paste---much of the clip art I use has to be resized, cropped, trimmed, flipped, rotated, distorted, and otherwise modified to fit the scale and colors of a tile. I spend a lot of time researching hundreds of clip art files to find one to suit my purpose. But while I make use of stock photo clip art, the majority of my tiles are created ex nihilo in Photoshop. The real key in making realistic tiles is the use of lighting. Highlights and shadows give depth and drama to artwork. Using Photoshop’s layers, blur filters, dodge and burn tools I can create lighting effects to make the tile more dramatic. Adding texture overlays also enhances the finished product. These texture overlays can be imported and blended in at different levels of transparency to really set off a stone floor and other tile elements. Keeping the tiles to 25mm scale can be tricky--I keep a 25mm miniature next to my computer compare against the tile on the monitor to help keep the tiles in reasonably close to scale. Even so, I often fudge with the scale to make items on the tiles bigger than life for dramatic effect--- I used the excuse of artistic license more than once to justify my errors in keeping scale!
HN: Where do you get your ideas for tiles?
RS: Mostly movies & comics. I take a cinematic approach to my work. Among my favorite artists are N.C. Wyeth, M.C. Escher, the Brothers Hildebrandt, and Jack "King" Kirby. A lot of the old adventure movies from the 1960's give me inspiration for themes to make tiles. The idea for the "Crocodile pit" tile was from an old Tarzan movie I saw as a kid. Nowadays when I watch a movie I spend more time watching the scenery and the sets than the actors! Sometimes I get ideas from studying photos of historical buildings and structures from the past. The tricky part is making the idea translate into a top-down perspective on a tile. I often approach the design of a tile as if I am building a stage for the action to take place. I often add obstacles, pathways, different elevations, and other features to make a tile unique, and to give challenges for a party of adventurers to overcome. My goal is always to make a tile evoke mystery or drama. I like to think that my tiles often tell a story by themselves, giving the GM ideas for running an adventure.
A final bit of advice: Don't be too discouraged if your first attempts don't come out very well the first time. (Then again, you may be a natural born artist and whip out masterpieces on the first try--I've seen it happen!) If anyone saw my first tiles I did three years ago, you would have thought they were pretty pathetic. It wasn't till my second year I started to turn out some decent ones, and by the third year I was finally good enough to get Dragon Magazine's attention to publish my work. Even then, it wasn't until my last two tiles in the poster series that I begin to hit my stride. You must decide if you are going for masterpieces, or just some nice, useful tiles for gaming-- It can be a toss up to decide which would you rather do ----gaming or making tiles! Live with your choice and don't compare your work with others unless you are going for masterpieces. I make tiles because I enjoy it, (or getting decent bucks to do it!) The minute making a tile seems like work is when I wrap it up and call it a night. It's gotta be fun to be worth doing.
HN: Which of your works is your favorite? What characters were the most fun to develop? Which were the most challenging?
RS: I would say all have been my favorite. Each one engaged my imagination in a new way. One thing I learned is that there is always another story or picture to be made. So whenever I’m asked, which my best work is, I say “The next one”.
As far as the most challenging, I would say the map boards for Forgotten Heroes, Vietnam. Lots of detail, and I had to make sure all the geomorphic maps would align with one another regardless of their orientation. Every hex had to be given a reference number.
HN: What are your plans long-term? Do you have additional/different works in mind?
RS: None really. I pick up the odd job here and there. I’ve shifted gears and now concentrating on writing my first book, a sci-fi adventure titled: The Last voyage of the Brandy’s Lament.
HN: As an author, it’s sometimes difficult to finally say a product is finished, no matter how many times you review or edit. Is there anything you would go back and change from your creations? Where there ideas you had in mind and then decided NOT to include?
RS: Oh yes. I rarely had a project that I did not wish I could revise after it was published. Can’t tell you the number of times that the day after I submit a project that the muse pays me a tardy visit and THEN tells me what I should have done instead! But when up against a deadline, one seldom has the luxury to mess about multiple versions. It’s often “Gotta get ‘er done!” “Publish or Perish!”
Often I wished I had added some more features here or there, or emphasized some of the elements. Composition is the key. I like to design my layouts asymmetrically to create dynamic angles and poses, while ensuing it is balanced and not ready to fall over.
HN: I have a 5 year old son, and structuring time around him can be challenging! I’ve lost count of the times he nearly pressed the delete button on something I was working on…how do you find time to develop your projects?
RS: Heh. Usually forging sleep, and working in the wee hours. Or getting up early. Makes for being a zombie for the rest of the day, but one must suffer for one’s art.
I’m paranoid about backing up my work. One time I invested 40 hours designing some HeroQuest RPG floor tiles, and blew off backing them up. Of course Murphy ’s Law kicked in, as my computer decided to pick up a virus and I lost everything. Oh, the pain! Never again. I vowed.
HN: Do you have a certain method you use – i.e., a certain room, music, mood, etc., to help get you in the right creative frame of mind?
RS: Not really. Sometime I do listen to music. But usually ideas come to me when I waiting somewhere, or attending a boring, purposeless meeting. My co-workers will see me scribbling furiously, thinking I am dutifully taking notes, when instead I’m doing thumbnail sketches of future projects.
HN: What are you working on right now?
RS: Nothing at the moment. I’m currently working on my first novel, a sci-fi adventure titled: The Last Voyage of the Brandy’s Lament. Boy, do I now have a greater appreciation of authors! The book is currently in its 17 month of gestation, and I have at least another 4-6 weeks to go to finish revising the original draft.
The rest of my time is spent on my favorite hobby, painting miniatures and creating tabletop scenery. I find it very therapeutic, if nothing else. I’m a terrible gamer as far as strategy and tactics go. I seldom ever win. But I do love the visual pageantry of miniatures displayed on a scenic game board.
HN: Where can readers go to find out more about Ron Shirtz?
RS: Well, I do have a Facebook page, but I am very shy to share much about myself. But Google Dwayne Agin’s Hero Quest page, or my name, and examples of my early RPG tiles can be found and available free for downloading.
HN: How long does it take?
RS: Depending on the complexity of the tile, whether it’s just a dungeon floor or a decorated room, anywhere from 1-5 hours for an 8”x 10” size tile. High-tech tiles take more time as they required lots of nuts, bolts, buttons, etc. Larger (11” x 17”) tiles are ten times longer to make. It took 40 plus hours to create the Space Freighter tile set, “Brandy’s Lament”. I was pretty burned out after making that one. It was several weeks before I would even consider making another tile!
HN: How do you achieve such realistic effects?
RS: Using a combination of design techniques and clip art photos I can achieve a near photo-realistic effect with many of my tiles. Clip art saves me considerable time from having to design sub-components for many tiles. But using clip art effectively is more than just cut and paste---much of the clip art I use has to be resized, cropped, trimmed, flipped, rotated, distorted, and otherwise modified to fit the scale and colors of a tile. I spend a lot of time researching hundreds of clip art files to find one to suit my purpose. But while I make use of stock photo clip art, the majority of my tiles are created ex nihilo in Photoshop. The real key in making realistic tiles is the use of lighting. Highlights and shadows give depth and drama to artwork. Using Photoshop’s layers, blur filters, dodge and burn tools I can create lighting effects to make the tile more dramatic. Adding texture overlays also enhances the finished product. These texture overlays can be imported and blended in at different levels of transparency to really set off a stone floor and other tile elements. Keeping the tiles to 25mm scale can be tricky--I keep a 25mm miniature next to my computer compare against the tile on the monitor to help keep the tiles in reasonably close to scale. Even so, I often fudge with the scale to make items on the tiles bigger than life for dramatic effect--- I used the excuse of artistic license more than once to justify my errors in keeping scale!
HN: Where do you get your ideas for tiles?
RS: Mostly movies & comics. I take a cinematic approach to my work. Among my favorite artists are N.C. Wyeth, M.C. Escher, the Brothers Hildebrandt, and Jack "King" Kirby. A lot of the old adventure movies from the 1960's give me inspiration for themes to make tiles. The idea for the "Crocodile pit" tile was from an old Tarzan movie I saw as a kid. Nowadays when I watch a movie I spend more time watching the scenery and the sets than the actors! Sometimes I get ideas from studying photos of historical buildings and structures from the past. The tricky part is making the idea translate into a top-down perspective on a tile. I often approach the design of a tile as if I am building a stage for the action to take place. I often add obstacles, pathways, different elevations, and other features to make a tile unique, and to give challenges for a party of adventurers to overcome. My goal is always to make a tile evoke mystery or drama. I like to think that my tiles often tell a story by themselves, giving the GM ideas for running an adventure.
A final bit of advice: Don't be too discouraged if your first attempts don't come out very well the first time. (Then again, you may be a natural born artist and whip out masterpieces on the first try--I've seen it happen!) If anyone saw my first tiles I did three years ago, you would have thought they were pretty pathetic. It wasn't till my second year I started to turn out some decent ones, and by the third year I was finally good enough to get Dragon Magazine's attention to publish my work. Even then, it wasn't until my last two tiles in the poster series that I begin to hit my stride. You must decide if you are going for masterpieces, or just some nice, useful tiles for gaming-- It can be a toss up to decide which would you rather do ----gaming or making tiles! Live with your choice and don't compare your work with others unless you are going for masterpieces. I make tiles because I enjoy it, (or getting decent bucks to do it!) The minute making a tile seems like work is when I wrap it up and call it a night. It's gotta be fun to be worth doing.
HN: Which of your works is your favorite? What characters were the most fun to develop? Which were the most challenging?
RS: I would say all have been my favorite. Each one engaged my imagination in a new way. One thing I learned is that there is always another story or picture to be made. So whenever I’m asked, which my best work is, I say “The next one”.
As far as the most challenging, I would say the map boards for Forgotten Heroes, Vietnam. Lots of detail, and I had to make sure all the geomorphic maps would align with one another regardless of their orientation. Every hex had to be given a reference number.
HN: What are your plans long-term? Do you have additional/different works in mind?
RS: None really. I pick up the odd job here and there. I’ve shifted gears and now concentrating on writing my first book, a sci-fi adventure titled: The Last voyage of the Brandy’s Lament.
HN: As an author, it’s sometimes difficult to finally say a product is finished, no matter how many times you review or edit. Is there anything you would go back and change from your creations? Where there ideas you had in mind and then decided NOT to include?
RS: Oh yes. I rarely had a project that I did not wish I could revise after it was published. Can’t tell you the number of times that the day after I submit a project that the muse pays me a tardy visit and THEN tells me what I should have done instead! But when up against a deadline, one seldom has the luxury to mess about multiple versions. It’s often “Gotta get ‘er done!” “Publish or Perish!”
Often I wished I had added some more features here or there, or emphasized some of the elements. Composition is the key. I like to design my layouts asymmetrically to create dynamic angles and poses, while ensuing it is balanced and not ready to fall over.
HN: I have a 5 year old son, and structuring time around him can be challenging! I’ve lost count of the times he nearly pressed the delete button on something I was working on…how do you find time to develop your projects?
RS: Heh. Usually forging sleep, and working in the wee hours. Or getting up early. Makes for being a zombie for the rest of the day, but one must suffer for one’s art.
I’m paranoid about backing up my work. One time I invested 40 hours designing some HeroQuest RPG floor tiles, and blew off backing them up. Of course Murphy ’s Law kicked in, as my computer decided to pick up a virus and I lost everything. Oh, the pain! Never again. I vowed.
HN: Do you have a certain method you use – i.e., a certain room, music, mood, etc., to help get you in the right creative frame of mind?
RS: Not really. Sometime I do listen to music. But usually ideas come to me when I waiting somewhere, or attending a boring, purposeless meeting. My co-workers will see me scribbling furiously, thinking I am dutifully taking notes, when instead I’m doing thumbnail sketches of future projects.
HN: What are you working on right now?
RS: Nothing at the moment. I’m currently working on my first novel, a sci-fi adventure titled: The Last Voyage of the Brandy’s Lament. Boy, do I now have a greater appreciation of authors! The book is currently in its 17 month of gestation, and I have at least another 4-6 weeks to go to finish revising the original draft.
The rest of my time is spent on my favorite hobby, painting miniatures and creating tabletop scenery. I find it very therapeutic, if nothing else. I’m a terrible gamer as far as strategy and tactics go. I seldom ever win. But I do love the visual pageantry of miniatures displayed on a scenic game board.
HN: Where can readers go to find out more about Ron Shirtz?
RS: Well, I do have a Facebook page, but I am very shy to share much about myself. But Google Dwayne Agin’s Hero Quest page, or my name, and examples of my early RPG tiles can be found and available free for downloading.
