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Jim Hardison

Goodreads Author

Born

in The United States

Website

http://www.fishwielder.com

Twitter

TheHelm

Genre

Graphic Novels, Fantasy, Horror

Influences

The Lord of the Rings Trilogy, The Chronicles of Narnia, The Chronicle ...more

Member Since

June 2010

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I'm proud to announce that my epically silly epic fantasy novel, Fish Wielder, was just named one of the Best 5 Indie Science Fiction and Fantasy Novels of 2017 by Kirkus Reviews! And it won the TCK Readers' Choice Award for Best Fantasy Novel of 2017!

In addition, my new ridiculously horrific ridiculous horror novel, Demon Freaks, is in bookstores now!

I'm a writer and the creative director for Character LLC, a Portland-Oregon-based company that does story-analysis for brands and entertainment properties. I've worked as a writer, animator and director in commercials and entertainment since graduating from Columbia College of Chicago in 1988. I started my professional career by producing a low-budget direct-to-video feature, "The Creature F I'm proud to announce that my epically silly epic fantasy novel, Fish Wielder, was just named one of the Best 5 Indie Science Fiction and Fantasy Novels of 2017 by Kirkus Reviews! And it won the TCK Readers' Choice Award for Best Fantasy Novel of 2017!

In addition, my new ridiculously horrific ridiculous horror novel, Demon Freaks, is in bookstores now!

I'm a writer and the creative director for Character LLC, a Portland-Oregon-based company that does story-analysis for brands and entertainment properties. I've worked as a writer, animator and director in commercials and entertainment since graduating from Columbia College of Chicago in 1988. I started my professional career by producing a low-budget direct-to-video feature, "The Creature From Lake Michigan". Making a bad film can be a crash course in the essential elements of good character and story, and "The Creature From Lake Michigan" was a tremendously bad film. I learned from that debacle, and after a brief stint recuperating as a freelance writer and film editor, I founded my own production company. During its seven-year run, I wrote, directed and edited live-action and animation productions, including educational films, television commercials and television pilots. Shifting my focus entirely to animation, I joined Will Vinton Studios in 1997. There I directed animated commercial and entertainment projects, including spots for M&M's, AT&T, Cingular Wireless and Kellogg's as well as episodic television. While working at Vinton, I also co-wrote the television special "Popeye's Voyage: The Quest for Pappy" with actor Paul Reiser.

I co-founded Character LLC in 2000. While working at Character I've given story advice to many of the world's largest brands including Amazon, Discovery Networks, Target, Microsoft, Verizon, Samsung, McDonalds and Walmart. I've even appeared on NBC's "The Apprentice" as an expert advisor on brand characters. I did character development work and have written for the PBS children's television series "SeeMore's Playhouse" and I authored the "The Helm," a graphic novel for Dark Horse comics that was named one of 2010's top ten Great Graphic Novels for Teens by YALSA, a branch of the American Library Association.

So...that's me. ...more

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Jim Hardison’s books

Average rating: 3.98 · 315 ratings · 107 reviews · 26 distinct works • Similar authors

	Fish Wielder 4.19 avg rating — 121 ratings — published 2016 — 6 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Helm, Volume 1 by Jim Hardison (Goodreads Author), Dan Jackson (Illustrator) 3.53 avg rating — 109 ratings — published 2009 — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Helm #2 by Jim Hardison (Goodreads Author), Randy Elliott (Inker), Bart Sears (Penciller) it was amazing 5.00 avg rating — 2 ratings	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Helm #1 by Jim Hardison (Goodreads Author), Randy Elliott (Illustrator), Bart Sears (Illustrator) it was amazing 5.00 avg rating — 2 ratings — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Helm #3 by Jim Hardison (Goodreads Author), Randy Elliott (Inker), Bart Sears (Penciller) it was amazing 5.00 avg rating — 2 ratings — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Helm #4 by Jim Hardison (Goodreads Author), Randy Elliott (Inker), Bart Sears (Penciller) it was amazing 5.00 avg rating — 2 ratings	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Let's Touch liked it 3.00 avg rating — 2 ratings — published 2011	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	FREEBIES CAT LOVER by Jim Hardison (Goodreads Author), Allan Zullo, Marie Dieckman (Designer) it was amazing 5.00 avg rating — 1 rating — published 1986	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	GOVERNING AMER P it was amazing 5.00 avg rating — 1 rating — published 1982	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	GDBK WINNING ADV it was amazing 5.00 avg rating — 1 rating — published 1985	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

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5 posts
Jim Hardison's Blog

The Quest for the Perfect Tagline

So, I'm trying to figure out the perfect tagline for Fish Wielder, and I could use your help. I've had a little experience writing taglines before for movies, TV shows and even comic books, but I hadn't realized I needed one for my book until the awesome folks at Fiery Seas Publishing sent me their production package which asked for my tagline.

Since I hadn't already picked one out, and trying to r Read more of this blog post »

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Published on July 23, 2015 20:46 • Tags: comedy, epic-fantasy, fantasy, fiery-seas-publishing, fish-wielder, lord-of-the-rings, monty-python, narnia, tagline, they-might-be-giants

View all 5 posts »

Series by Jim Hardison

The Helm (4 books)
by

Jim Hardison (Goodreads Author),

Randy Elliott (Inker),

Bart Sears (Penciller)

3.63 avg rating — 117 ratings

Jim is Currently Reading

Jim Hardison is currently reading

Gravity: The invisible force behind the companies that thrive.

by Karlheinz Toni (Goodreads Author)

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Sep 23, 2025 02:31AM

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The Eagle Tree

by Ned Hayes (Goodreads Author)

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May 04, 2025 10:37PM

Jim Hardison is currently reading

Somniscope: A Dreampunk Convergence

by Cliff Jones Jr. (Goodreads Author)

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Oct 16, 2024 11:02PM

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Jim Hardison rated a book it was amazing I'm Starting to Worry About This Black Box of Doom by Jason Pargin (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Ludicrously Entertaining Another great book from Pargin. Not just ludicrously entertaining, but an insightful peek at what’s wrong and right with humans. But don’t worry, even the deep stuff is fun.
Dec 28, 2025 10:01PM · like · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of I'm Starting to Worry About This Black Box of Doom by Jason Pargin. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — I'm Starting to Worry About This Black Box of Doom by Jason Pargin <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Jim Hardison rated a book really liked it Remember Mar-a-Guano! by David Belisle (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Fun and Biting Political Satire Jim Bowie and Davy Crockett find themselves transported through time from the final storming of the Alamo into a different kind of political battle. Ex-President and corrupt felon Craven Crumb is making a desperate bid ...more
Nov 28, 2025 10:35PM · like · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Remember Mar-a-Guano! by David Belisle. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Remember Mar-a-Guano! by David Belisle <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Jim Hardison rated a book really liked it The Malevolent Asteroid (The Dyrt Chronicles Book 1) by George Dynnik	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Fun and Funny SciFi A fast-paced and amusing read. A crew of misfits and mess-ups is sent on a likely suicide-mission to investigate the titular Malevolent Asteroid and bumble their way into history. The opening felt a little cliche and there were a f ...more
Nov 10, 2025 10:47AM · like · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of The Malevolent Asteroid by George Dynnik. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — The Malevolent Asteroid by George Dynnik <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Jim Hardison is currently reading Gravity: The invisible force behind the companies that thrive. by Karlheinz Toni (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Sep 23, 2025 02:31AM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Gravity by Karlheinz Toni. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Gravity by Karlheinz Toni <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Jim Hardison rated a book really liked it Ricky, Ray & Rusty Sail the Northern Lights (Rocky Ridge Adventure Series Book 7) by Rusty I Bertrand	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Fun, but not for everyone I wish it was possible to give fractional stars. I would have given this book 3.5. Since it’s not possible, I went with 4. On the plus side, this offers some fun adventures in the arctic, experienced by cheerful and upbeat ch ...more
Aug 21, 2025 06:10PM · 1 like · like · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Ricky, Ray & Rusty Sail the Northern Lights by Rusty I Bertrand. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Ricky, Ray & Rusty Sail the Northern Lights by Rusty I Bertrand <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Jim Hardison rated a book really liked it Another First by R Cody Carver (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Fast and Furious Dark Satire This is a page turner. It would be funnier if it didn’t seem queasily possible. A fast, engaging read about a dictatorial president driving the USA off the rails due to a mixture of temper, incompetence, and ambition. If y ...more
Aug 03, 2025 11:24PM · like · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Another First by R Cody Carver. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Another First by R Cody Carver <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Jim Hardison is currently reading I'm Starting to Worry About This Black Box of Doom by Jason Pargin (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Jul 31, 2025 07:13PM · 1 like · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of I'm Starting to Worry About This Black Box of Doom by Jason Pargin. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — I'm Starting to Worry About This Black Box of Doom by Jason Pargin <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Jim Hardison is currently reading The Eagle Tree by Ned Hayes (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
May 04, 2025 10:37PM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of The Eagle Tree by Ned Hayes. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — The Eagle Tree by Ned Hayes <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Jim Hardison rated a book liked it The Library of Endless Doors by Ephraim Vale	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
An Ambitious Idea This book was a little frustrating. The underlying idea is really intriguing and horrifying–how much power does a story hold over reality–but the execution fell a bit short for me. There are some really effective moments but they are ...more
Mar 04, 2025 05:20PM · like · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of The Library of Endless Doors by Ephraim Vale. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — The Library of Endless Doors by Ephraim Vale <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Jim Hardison rated a book it was amazing The Staglings: Beyond Words and Flames by Finlay Lamont	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Lyrical, Original, and Enchanting The Staglings is an odd but affecting adventure full of magic, monsters, and brave deeds. It does a great job of establishing an alternate reality reminiscent of ancient sagas and epics that felt to me like it offered ...more
Feb 25, 2025 05:50PM · like · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of The Staglings by Finlay Lamont. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — The Staglings by Finlay Lamont <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">

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Jim’s Quotes

“1. Don't think you can't write just because you can't write. No one is born knowing how to write. They learn how by trying.

2. Don't be discouraged just because you are discouraged. Everybody feels discouraged at some point when they're writing or trying to get published. You just have to keep going despite feeling like you can't.

3. Don't give up just because you gave up. You can always start again until you're dead. And even then...who really knows?”
― J.R.R.R. (Jim) Hardison

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