Lawrence Tabak's Blog

In Real Life's Gaming Back Story

The Wisconsin State Journal ran a nice column on the book and the gaming backstory:

http://host.madison.com/news/local/columnists/doug-moe/doug-moe-in-video-gaming-art-and-life-intersect/article_d0126ea0-513d-58a1-bbb3-790192304288.html

IN REAL LIFE as KPOP

From a review on Kultscene.com, http://kultscene.com/ya-e-sports-nove...

"The novel is about personal growth, but also about cultural differences and the shocking life of eSports athletes in South Korea. Seth isn’t exactly a trainee, but is brought on Team Anaconda almost immediately, but his lifestyle is reminiscent of the infamous lifestyle of K-pop trainees. Every moment of his life is practically planned for him, and when he gets caught in a scandal, there is outrage from his handlers.


Yes, handlers.

In Real Life shows the shocking divide between fantasy of going to South Korea to be an entertainer (because that’s really what professional athletes are) and the reality of being a professional there. I don’t want to ruin anything for readers, but Seth’s story is both illuminating and a tale of caution about the life of foreigners in Korea."

Thanks for Shout Out, Mike Mullin

Mike Mullin, the author of the terrific Ashfall trilogy, has a great interview at Boston Tech Mom: Mike Mullin interview

"Q: What book recommendations do you have for the tech savvy teen?

A: There’s a great new book by Lawrence Tabak called In Real Life about an American teen trying to make it in the big leagues of Korean e-gaming. It reminded me of Cory Doctorow’s work, all of which would also be great for tech savvy teens."

Book Launch!

Looking forward to the official kick-off in Madison, Wis. I'll be doing a little song and dance, answering questions, and of course, vandalizing copies with a sharpie.

Barnes & Noble West
Sunday, November 9
2:00 PM

Booklist Issues IRL Review

An online gamer’s talents vault him to pro level in this well-crafted…debut. By dint of focused dedication to his chosen fantasy game, Starfare, teen math prodigy Seth wrangles entry into a national competition with a $30,000 prize. He doesn’t win—but to his amazement, his innovative play earns an invitation to join one of the world’s top professional teams in South Korea, where gaming is a big-bucks sport. IM and Skype notwithstanding, that’s a very long way from home and girlfriend Hannah. Readers will find Seth an unusually vivid protagonist. Instead of just announcing Seth is a whiz at gaming and math, Tabak repeatedly puts him in the “zone,” implementing strategic and tactical maneuvers in hot game action, and at other times eagerly digging into calculus and inventing algorithms. In contrast to his hostile South Korean teammates, Seth is a good guy: humble in his hard-won successes but not a wimp. Ultimately, loneliness, culture shock, and a scholarship draw him back home, where a final pleasant surprise involving Hannah’s college plans awaits. It’s always satisfying to see a smart and likable character “level up.”

NY Times on Korean eSports

Great explanation of why Seth Gordon, my gaming protagonist in IN REAL LIFE, pines to go to South Korea:

NY Times 10/19/14 on Korean eSports

Heartland Book Forum

Had a great time meeting booksellers at the Heartland Forum in Minneapolis Oct. 1 and 2. Gave away a lot of books -- what could be more fun?

TechnologyTell.com Talks with Author

Was pleased to have a conversation with Lucas White at TechnologyTell about eSports and the backdrop to my computer gaming novel, IN REAL LIFE.
TechnologyTell Author Interview

NY Times and Gaming

For a comprehensive review of the pro-gaming world that is the backdrop for my YA novel, IN REAL LIFE, check out this feature from last Sunday's NY Times. This story was front page, above the fold, with a huge picture from The International Dota2 tournament last month in Seattle.



tinyurl.com/m97jlo4

School Library Journal

Since School Library Journal only has the resources and space to review a small percentage of the books published for children and teens, it was a delight to hear that they will be publishing a review of In Real Life in an upcoming issue.

From that preview: “…this book will appeal to gamers [and teens] (especially those interested in learning about the Korean gaming scene)….” – School Library Journal

Speaking of reviews, I was extremely grateful and honored to see the comprehensive and thoughtful reading of IRL by our fellow Goodreader (and Goodreads author) Nenia Campbell posted on this site.