Hugo Negron's Blog - Posts Tagged "d-d"
An Ernest Gary Gygax trek to Lake Geneva
I was introduced to Dungeons and Dragons/Advanced Dungeons and Dragons, a fantasy role-playing game created by Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson, by my 7th grade teacher, who brought her collection of gaming manuals and miniature lead figures used for the game into her classroom to teach leadership, creativity, and how to work in a team. I became hooked, collected my own manual copies as well as various miniatures, and played both on the dungeon master side and on the player character side. Atari, comics, Star Wars, and AD&D - talk about a golden era of imagination back then!
I decided to take a day to visit Lake Geneva, the birthplace of D&D/AD&D, and see if I could find some of the hidden gaming landmarks amongst the boutiques, resorts, wineries, and bistros (including the many mansions owned by such families as the Wrigleys, Schwinns, and others that a lake cruise tour can bring to one's attention). Would the quest be fruitful?
Here we have Gary Gygax's home at 925 Dodge Street in Lake Geneva. When he was just a kid, Gary and his family moved from Chicago to this stately home - the home of his mother's parents - back in 1946. Not sure who owns this now, of course, but they have obviously done a great job maintaining this residence.
In 1976, Tactical Studies Rules (TSR), the company Gary founded to produce the D&D game that both he and Dave Arneson created, takes up a house on 723 Williams Street in Lake Geneva to be their new office/hobby store location. It was known as "The Gray House." Again, its obviously currently inhabited, but hey, it's still there!
Directly before the Riviera, there are various plaque dedications surrounding a small fountain. There is a particularly interesting one with a dragon perched atop the image of a 20-sided dice...
And here it is - a plaque honoring Gary Gygax. A hidden gem indeed!
Horticultural Hall - where Gen Con started back in August of 1968. Nearly 100 gamers and fans attended that initial gaming convention. Compare this to Gen Con's attendance in 2017 of nearly 208,000 fans who came from around the world to attend the event now located in downtown Indianapolis, IN. I wonder if any present at that inaugural day would ever have believed the growth that was going to take place?
This is it. In the early 60's, Gary got married and moved back to Chicago. Just a few years later he would return to Lake Geneva to rent this house at 330 Center Street. Here he builds an infamous gaming table in his basement to host various miniature wargames - and eventually this is the birthplace where the D&D game was created.
I decided to take a day to visit Lake Geneva, the birthplace of D&D/AD&D, and see if I could find some of the hidden gaming landmarks amongst the boutiques, resorts, wineries, and bistros (including the many mansions owned by such families as the Wrigleys, Schwinns, and others that a lake cruise tour can bring to one's attention). Would the quest be fruitful?
Here we have Gary Gygax's home at 925 Dodge Street in Lake Geneva. When he was just a kid, Gary and his family moved from Chicago to this stately home - the home of his mother's parents - back in 1946. Not sure who owns this now, of course, but they have obviously done a great job maintaining this residence.
In 1976, Tactical Studies Rules (TSR), the company Gary founded to produce the D&D game that both he and Dave Arneson created, takes up a house on 723 Williams Street in Lake Geneva to be their new office/hobby store location. It was known as "The Gray House." Again, its obviously currently inhabited, but hey, it's still there!
Directly before the Riviera, there are various plaque dedications surrounding a small fountain. There is a particularly interesting one with a dragon perched atop the image of a 20-sided dice...
And here it is - a plaque honoring Gary Gygax. A hidden gem indeed!
Horticultural Hall - where Gen Con started back in August of 1968. Nearly 100 gamers and fans attended that initial gaming convention. Compare this to Gen Con's attendance in 2017 of nearly 208,000 fans who came from around the world to attend the event now located in downtown Indianapolis, IN. I wonder if any present at that inaugural day would ever have believed the growth that was going to take place?
This is it. In the early 60's, Gary got married and moved back to Chicago. Just a few years later he would return to Lake Geneva to rent this house at 330 Center Street. Here he builds an infamous gaming table in his basement to host various miniature wargames - and eventually this is the birthplace where the D&D game was created.
It all leads to this...
Book Seven, Against the Alliance - last in the current Forging of a Knight series.
Draft is finally done and soon to be in the expert hands of Erin Potter, editor beyond editors! That also means an awesome cover from Lora Lee to follow...!
The storyline has been building to this end...
Book One - Qualtan travels to become a knight.
Book Two - Qualtan fulfills his dream, joining the Order of the Bearded Lion, the knights of Turinthia, and encounters Darksiege for the first time.
Book Three - Qualtan transcends his role, from knight to hero, alongside the Arch-Mages and the heroes of the School against the forces of Shaz, leader of Those That Stand in Shadow, within a prison planet forged by angels.
Book Four - The cracks begin to tell - Qualtan grows more at odds with his King, and when his closest friend Glaive goes missing and his request to search for him is refused, the knight goes anyway, against his King's wishes. In doing so, he encounters the technology-using elves known as the Dokahlfar and their dwarf minions the Vartahlfar, as well as befriending and allying with a rag-tag group of orcnes, the hated foes of the Alliance.
Book Five - Qualtan becomes a traitor, leaving his Order and King, on the run in forbidden love with a Kubare', to find the cure for her evil before it overwhelms them both.
Book Six - An epic battle against Darksiege and a betraying wizard from the School coincides with Qualtan's decision to create his own Order bereft of any King or Queen, and to bring the orcnes he had forged a friendship with to the School, his new home, much to his former King's dismay.
And now we are here - Book Seven - Despite warnings from the Kings of the Alliance and the elves of Hermstingle, Qualtan moves forward with his Order, prompting war against his former allies. Only one thing can save them all: for Qualtan to reproduce the quest his uncle and father had undertaken to defeat Those That Stand in Shadow many years ago - to find the gemstone-eyed Master of the Great Beasts, the Dragon King, and bring him back in time to stop the war.
All the threads are tied, the sub-plots resolved. Whatever happened to Elizabetha, Arkonis, and Horga, the giant? What became of Romulax the evil druid? What of Darksiege's servants, Bakal and Karash? How did Qualtan's uncle and father uncover the Dragon King? What will happen to the School, the Alliance, and the Order Qualtan wishes to lead?
All the supporting cast are here - the knights, the Kings, the Arch-Mages, Prince Termenon, the Kubare' Queen, Snowflake, faces from the past (some surprisingly forgotten about), Death himself, and very possibly...the Dragon King.
The war is coming...
Draft is finally done and soon to be in the expert hands of Erin Potter, editor beyond editors! That also means an awesome cover from Lora Lee to follow...!
The storyline has been building to this end...
Book One - Qualtan travels to become a knight.
Book Two - Qualtan fulfills his dream, joining the Order of the Bearded Lion, the knights of Turinthia, and encounters Darksiege for the first time.
Book Three - Qualtan transcends his role, from knight to hero, alongside the Arch-Mages and the heroes of the School against the forces of Shaz, leader of Those That Stand in Shadow, within a prison planet forged by angels.
Book Four - The cracks begin to tell - Qualtan grows more at odds with his King, and when his closest friend Glaive goes missing and his request to search for him is refused, the knight goes anyway, against his King's wishes. In doing so, he encounters the technology-using elves known as the Dokahlfar and their dwarf minions the Vartahlfar, as well as befriending and allying with a rag-tag group of orcnes, the hated foes of the Alliance.
Book Five - Qualtan becomes a traitor, leaving his Order and King, on the run in forbidden love with a Kubare', to find the cure for her evil before it overwhelms them both.
Book Six - An epic battle against Darksiege and a betraying wizard from the School coincides with Qualtan's decision to create his own Order bereft of any King or Queen, and to bring the orcnes he had forged a friendship with to the School, his new home, much to his former King's dismay.
And now we are here - Book Seven - Despite warnings from the Kings of the Alliance and the elves of Hermstingle, Qualtan moves forward with his Order, prompting war against his former allies. Only one thing can save them all: for Qualtan to reproduce the quest his uncle and father had undertaken to defeat Those That Stand in Shadow many years ago - to find the gemstone-eyed Master of the Great Beasts, the Dragon King, and bring him back in time to stop the war.
All the threads are tied, the sub-plots resolved. Whatever happened to Elizabetha, Arkonis, and Horga, the giant? What became of Romulax the evil druid? What of Darksiege's servants, Bakal and Karash? How did Qualtan's uncle and father uncover the Dragon King? What will happen to the School, the Alliance, and the Order Qualtan wishes to lead?
All the supporting cast are here - the knights, the Kings, the Arch-Mages, Prince Termenon, the Kubare' Queen, Snowflake, faces from the past (some surprisingly forgotten about), Death himself, and very possibly...the Dragon King.
The war is coming...
Upcoming events...
October is the month!!
Saturday October 12th 11am-1pm Indie Author Day at the Schaumburg Public Library!
130 South Roselle Road
Schaumburg, IL 60193
and the big one - Saturday October 26th, starting at 2pm - Barnes & Noble book signing in West Dundee!
1468 Springhill Mall Blvd
West Dundee, IL 60118
If you can't make one, try for the second! Always fun to talk fantasy, see friends, and have fun!!
Saturday October 12th 11am-1pm Indie Author Day at the Schaumburg Public Library!
130 South Roselle Road
Schaumburg, IL 60193
and the big one - Saturday October 26th, starting at 2pm - Barnes & Noble book signing in West Dundee!
1468 Springhill Mall Blvd
West Dundee, IL 60118
If you can't make one, try for the second! Always fun to talk fantasy, see friends, and have fun!!
Saying thanks...!
Thanks to everyone for the Forging of a Knight likes and love! It's a wonderful thing to share the weary march through the Darklight Forest where glowing trees watch and wait, take in the airy domed roofs and flowered ports of Tringolm, capital of Turinthia, and stalk carefully through that boisterous den of thievery and debauchery known as the Woodworm Ports with friends new and old. Hail and well met to all!
Brief Excerpt from Forging of a Knight, Against the Alliance
With the last book of the current series, Forging of a Knight, Book Seven, Against the Alliance, getting the editorial polish, I wanted to share a rough draft snippet preview from the upcoming epic to end the epic...
Qualtan did as the dragon asked. Unable to see, he followed the hulking form, using it as a shield to counter the portal’s bright effect. Passing its wide entry, the luster subsided, and the knight found himself in a familiar form: a triangular passageway of glossy mineral stone. The dragon’s claws clacked loudly on the red and pink streaked floor, the apex of the ceiling too high and too dark to see. Clearly, it was a passage for a dragon to use, and Qualtan’s wonder grew again at the dragon he would next see. After reaching an arch of gold, the Ward paused, and directed the knight to move forward.
“Here we part, human visitor. I have brought you in, and must soon return to my post.”
Qualtan stared up at the dragon’s stony face. “Does he know…?”
“Yes. He has seen you since you entered the tower. He can see much when he wishes. He surely watches your School even now and can tell you of what happens.”
“Ward…” Qualtan bowed. “Thank you again for your courtesy.”
The dragon was pleased with the action, bobbing its own head quickly in response. “Respectful. Very respectful.” He said, retreating from the passage back to the outside.
“Will I see you again?” The knight asked, as the Ward readied to fly.
The dragon half-cocked its head at the knight. “Should you return to the tower someday, you might, but I do not think you would wish to travel there again, for that would mean further demand from us, and to ask thus would require more of a sacrifice than you will already be forced to give.”
The dragon fell from view, and then with its wings spreads wide, arced back into the curls and vapors of the sky.
“Sacrifice?” Qualtan said, confused over the dragon’s cryptic words. So, there would be a price, he thought, just as Amali had said. He spun around and faced the golden portico, a deep, dark passage beyond it, leading to that which had taken him from the School to now to reveal. His father and uncle had stood before the Dragon King, and now his turn had come. Days ago Death warned the armies of their former allies had begun their attack. The war had started. So much time had passed, all of the School was in peril, yet he had succeeded; with one step forward, and then the next, he would meet the one being that could help them, the grandest creature of them all. He was alone, in a land devoid of human settlement, of any habitat, except that of the dragons. He had become used to such journeys, standing before the Mah-Lahkt, the Mah-Zakim, and Those That Stand in Shadow. His soul had grown ancient from such secret knowledge, his mind stung by images horrific and joyous that would never leave, yet he was not diminished, despite all that he had seen. This final marvel stood to meet next, and he would do so for those that he was responsible for, for those that now battled, and for those that gave him love, for the love that he gave back.
“My uncle, my father, I am with you now. Guide my path and let me do as you did.” The knight took his step forward, and then the next, and then the one that followed. He felt Aurelus and Eucradus with him, or perhaps he only hoped. Either way, their presence strengthened his resolve, and he began to move faster, quicker, into the murky, cloying depths. His sword’s light gave his steps a place to follow, and soon a pulsing wave of faerie color twinkled in the distance. It waxed and waned, timed as if in breath, and Qualtan knew it came from the inhalations and exhalations of the Master of the Great Beasts somewhere ahead.
Step after step. So many corridors, so many passages, where such wonder had sat in wait. Rourst appeared before him, as did Mosh, and the rest of the orcnes as they fled together in the under-earth realm of the Dokahlfar and the Vartahlfar. They left, and Darksiege appeared, the knight’s forced companion within the evil one’s own citadel, both stalking as one towards their mutual foe. The scratching and biting sounds of undead ghuls took over, and Qualtan saw Glaive and Trunkhoel at his sides, daring their way through graveyard tunnels. The past, leading him now to his future. Step after step. The colors gestured to him. No matter the words of Death, or King Prelance, or the elves of Hermstingle; he had transcended the role he had yearned for, and would transform it further still.
Qualtan now heard the Dragon King’s respiration. It reverberated through the passage, a deep and heavy susurrus, and he knew the dragon was waiting. Step after step. The corridor twisted, and the dragon would soon be there. He had read of dragons as a child, been told tales of dragons by his uncle, and now had seen them for himself. The greatest dragon of all was just a few more steps away and he would stand in duplication of his father’s greatest effort.
Step by step. The colors grew, filling space all around. The knight entered its embrace, hearing the dragon’s labored effort, a pounding hammer that drove him down with physical force, yet he did not falter. The passage turned, and the knight walked into that which awaited him.
Qualtan did as the dragon asked. Unable to see, he followed the hulking form, using it as a shield to counter the portal’s bright effect. Passing its wide entry, the luster subsided, and the knight found himself in a familiar form: a triangular passageway of glossy mineral stone. The dragon’s claws clacked loudly on the red and pink streaked floor, the apex of the ceiling too high and too dark to see. Clearly, it was a passage for a dragon to use, and Qualtan’s wonder grew again at the dragon he would next see. After reaching an arch of gold, the Ward paused, and directed the knight to move forward.
“Here we part, human visitor. I have brought you in, and must soon return to my post.”
Qualtan stared up at the dragon’s stony face. “Does he know…?”
“Yes. He has seen you since you entered the tower. He can see much when he wishes. He surely watches your School even now and can tell you of what happens.”
“Ward…” Qualtan bowed. “Thank you again for your courtesy.”
The dragon was pleased with the action, bobbing its own head quickly in response. “Respectful. Very respectful.” He said, retreating from the passage back to the outside.
“Will I see you again?” The knight asked, as the Ward readied to fly.
The dragon half-cocked its head at the knight. “Should you return to the tower someday, you might, but I do not think you would wish to travel there again, for that would mean further demand from us, and to ask thus would require more of a sacrifice than you will already be forced to give.”
The dragon fell from view, and then with its wings spreads wide, arced back into the curls and vapors of the sky.
“Sacrifice?” Qualtan said, confused over the dragon’s cryptic words. So, there would be a price, he thought, just as Amali had said. He spun around and faced the golden portico, a deep, dark passage beyond it, leading to that which had taken him from the School to now to reveal. His father and uncle had stood before the Dragon King, and now his turn had come. Days ago Death warned the armies of their former allies had begun their attack. The war had started. So much time had passed, all of the School was in peril, yet he had succeeded; with one step forward, and then the next, he would meet the one being that could help them, the grandest creature of them all. He was alone, in a land devoid of human settlement, of any habitat, except that of the dragons. He had become used to such journeys, standing before the Mah-Lahkt, the Mah-Zakim, and Those That Stand in Shadow. His soul had grown ancient from such secret knowledge, his mind stung by images horrific and joyous that would never leave, yet he was not diminished, despite all that he had seen. This final marvel stood to meet next, and he would do so for those that he was responsible for, for those that now battled, and for those that gave him love, for the love that he gave back.
“My uncle, my father, I am with you now. Guide my path and let me do as you did.” The knight took his step forward, and then the next, and then the one that followed. He felt Aurelus and Eucradus with him, or perhaps he only hoped. Either way, their presence strengthened his resolve, and he began to move faster, quicker, into the murky, cloying depths. His sword’s light gave his steps a place to follow, and soon a pulsing wave of faerie color twinkled in the distance. It waxed and waned, timed as if in breath, and Qualtan knew it came from the inhalations and exhalations of the Master of the Great Beasts somewhere ahead.
Step after step. So many corridors, so many passages, where such wonder had sat in wait. Rourst appeared before him, as did Mosh, and the rest of the orcnes as they fled together in the under-earth realm of the Dokahlfar and the Vartahlfar. They left, and Darksiege appeared, the knight’s forced companion within the evil one’s own citadel, both stalking as one towards their mutual foe. The scratching and biting sounds of undead ghuls took over, and Qualtan saw Glaive and Trunkhoel at his sides, daring their way through graveyard tunnels. The past, leading him now to his future. Step after step. The colors gestured to him. No matter the words of Death, or King Prelance, or the elves of Hermstingle; he had transcended the role he had yearned for, and would transform it further still.
Qualtan now heard the Dragon King’s respiration. It reverberated through the passage, a deep and heavy susurrus, and he knew the dragon was waiting. Step after step. The corridor twisted, and the dragon would soon be there. He had read of dragons as a child, been told tales of dragons by his uncle, and now had seen them for himself. The greatest dragon of all was just a few more steps away and he would stand in duplication of his father’s greatest effort.
Step by step. The colors grew, filling space all around. The knight entered its embrace, hearing the dragon’s labored effort, a pounding hammer that drove him down with physical force, yet he did not falter. The passage turned, and the knight walked into that which awaited him.
of Deeds and Heraldy
Funny the recollections that bring you back in contact with the past.
Back in the 1980’s as a kidling, I purchased a beautifully rendered “Deed” from a company known as Historic Estates, Ltd. ran by a Tom Collins, which, in turn, was offered through another company called The Worldwide Treasure Bureau, which sold coins, artifacts, and other collector-type items via mail.
The "Deed" (which I’m sure is worthless for some supposed area named Batham Gate Estate) would be emblazoned with my name, surrounded by a score of amazing Heraldic imager. From what the accompanying literature with the "Deed" provided, it was near a town called Tideswell following the modern Batham Gate road leading to Bradswell in merry ol' England. A novelty item, I was interested more in the Heraldic art than from any freehold ownership which the supposed Deed promised.
Anyway - I kept that artwork all of these years, and since these two entities - Historic Estates Ltd. and Worldwide - are gone/defunct from what I can gather online, I thought to find if the artist who was mentioned as "owner of the Unicorn Studio" in the back of the “Deed’s” enclosed literature (who created the art for the Deed) was still around and active.
I soon found what I believed to be the artist's website and figured it was worth a shot to reach out!
Well, guess what, it WAS the same artist after all of these years - Andrew Stewart Jamieson! He remembered that project and was as polite and friendly as can be to someone referencing such an old work. In fact, he had never been sure if his idea for the work had ever been used, so here I was, able to confirm that from 30+ years ago by sending him an image of that selfsame "Deed" representing his work and the bio they had included of him at the same time - man, 30+ years - has it really been THAT long?!
Check out his awesome art at his website - and thanks, Andrew, for your responses and reciprocation!
http://www.jamiesongallery.com/
Back in the 1980’s as a kidling, I purchased a beautifully rendered “Deed” from a company known as Historic Estates, Ltd. ran by a Tom Collins, which, in turn, was offered through another company called The Worldwide Treasure Bureau, which sold coins, artifacts, and other collector-type items via mail.
The "Deed" (which I’m sure is worthless for some supposed area named Batham Gate Estate) would be emblazoned with my name, surrounded by a score of amazing Heraldic imager. From what the accompanying literature with the "Deed" provided, it was near a town called Tideswell following the modern Batham Gate road leading to Bradswell in merry ol' England. A novelty item, I was interested more in the Heraldic art than from any freehold ownership which the supposed Deed promised.
Anyway - I kept that artwork all of these years, and since these two entities - Historic Estates Ltd. and Worldwide - are gone/defunct from what I can gather online, I thought to find if the artist who was mentioned as "owner of the Unicorn Studio" in the back of the “Deed’s” enclosed literature (who created the art for the Deed) was still around and active.
I soon found what I believed to be the artist's website and figured it was worth a shot to reach out!
Well, guess what, it WAS the same artist after all of these years - Andrew Stewart Jamieson! He remembered that project and was as polite and friendly as can be to someone referencing such an old work. In fact, he had never been sure if his idea for the work had ever been used, so here I was, able to confirm that from 30+ years ago by sending him an image of that selfsame "Deed" representing his work and the bio they had included of him at the same time - man, 30+ years - has it really been THAT long?!
Check out his awesome art at his website - and thanks, Andrew, for your responses and reciprocation!
http://www.jamiesongallery.com/
Forging of a Knight, Book Five, wins an award!
Literary Titan, a book reviewer recognized by these organizations...
San Diego Writers and Editors Guild
East County Magazine
TaleBlade Press
Loiacono Literary Agency
Pulp Literature.com
...recently reviewed Book Five, Knighthood's End, and did a nice editorial review which you will find posted on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Goodreads, and others. As such, they give out awards to books they wish to especially acknowledge on a monthly basis, and mine qualified in the Silver Category as per below. Woo hooo!
Qualtan, Vanessa, Glaive, take a bow...not you, Prince Termenon…!
https://literarytitan.com/2020/04/08/...
San Diego Writers and Editors Guild
East County Magazine
TaleBlade Press
Loiacono Literary Agency
Pulp Literature.com
...recently reviewed Book Five, Knighthood's End, and did a nice editorial review which you will find posted on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Goodreads, and others. As such, they give out awards to books they wish to especially acknowledge on a monthly basis, and mine qualified in the Silver Category as per below. Woo hooo!
Qualtan, Vanessa, Glaive, take a bow...not you, Prince Termenon…!
https://literarytitan.com/2020/04/08/...
Goblin's Hollow
Goblin Trolls. Elven Trolls. Gorgolites, Dark Shifters, and more! These are the rather unique takes on various fantasy spawned creatures found in Goblin's Hollow - stories "based on a land of mystery and magic located in one of the other thirteen realms of existence; a community of crossbred magical beings."
Written by Jessica Minor, she has developed quite the menagerie in her Goblin tales - found (currently) only on Wattpad. Wattpad, for those who haven't yet experienced it, is a site for people of all ages to share written tales and poetry in a community of both amateur and established writers. I'm a member, and I had the opportunity to read some of Jessica's works, and meet her at a Peoria Con where she stopped by my booth to sample my own books and talk fantasy.
Her stories were so interesting to me I just had to reach out and get her to talk a little on her series.
When did you know that you wanted to be a writer?
JM: Wanted to be a writer when I was 4. My mother read Stephen King to me and that was it.
How did you develop the ideas for your stories?
JM: My ideas come in the middle of the night... Meditation helps.
Which projects were the most fun to develop?
JM: The goblins hollow series.
What are your plans long-term for your writing?
JM: Different work may be a goblins hollow prequel.
This question will start off sounding like an old joke – a person walks into a bar (or convention or bookstore) and bumps into Jessica Minor – what would be your elevator pitch to showcase your work?
JM: Magical youth friendly universe of cross bred creatures.
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 completed works?
JM: Time to write is hard I tend to devote a few late nights to it.
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?
JM: I listen to Irish rock when I write.
When did you know that you wanted to be a writer?
JM: Wanted to be a writer when I was 4. My mother read Stephen King to me and that was it.
How did you develop the ideas for your stories?
JM: My ideas come in the middle of the night... Meditation helps
Which projects were the most fun to develop?
JM: The goblins hollow series.
What are your plans long-term for your writing?
JM: Different work may be a goblins hollow prequel
This question will start off sounding like an old joke – a person walks into a bar (or convention or bookstore) and bumps into Jessica Minor – what would be your elevator pitch to showcase your work?
JM: Magical youth friendly universe of cross bred creatures.
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 completed works?
JM: Time to write is hard I tend to devote a few late nights to it.
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?
JM: I listen to Irish rock when I write.
What are you reading right now?
JM: I'm reading the gunslinger by Stephen King.
Where can people go to find out more about Jessica Minor?
JM: To find me I'm on Wattpad and Facebook.
Thanks again, Jessica - if you are on Wattpad, look for Goblin's Hollow!
Written by Jessica Minor, she has developed quite the menagerie in her Goblin tales - found (currently) only on Wattpad. Wattpad, for those who haven't yet experienced it, is a site for people of all ages to share written tales and poetry in a community of both amateur and established writers. I'm a member, and I had the opportunity to read some of Jessica's works, and meet her at a Peoria Con where she stopped by my booth to sample my own books and talk fantasy.
Her stories were so interesting to me I just had to reach out and get her to talk a little on her series.
When did you know that you wanted to be a writer?
JM: Wanted to be a writer when I was 4. My mother read Stephen King to me and that was it.
How did you develop the ideas for your stories?
JM: My ideas come in the middle of the night... Meditation helps.
Which projects were the most fun to develop?
JM: The goblins hollow series.
What are your plans long-term for your writing?
JM: Different work may be a goblins hollow prequel.
This question will start off sounding like an old joke – a person walks into a bar (or convention or bookstore) and bumps into Jessica Minor – what would be your elevator pitch to showcase your work?
JM: Magical youth friendly universe of cross bred creatures.
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 completed works?
JM: Time to write is hard I tend to devote a few late nights to it.
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?
JM: I listen to Irish rock when I write.
When did you know that you wanted to be a writer?
JM: Wanted to be a writer when I was 4. My mother read Stephen King to me and that was it.
How did you develop the ideas for your stories?
JM: My ideas come in the middle of the night... Meditation helps
Which projects were the most fun to develop?
JM: The goblins hollow series.
What are your plans long-term for your writing?
JM: Different work may be a goblins hollow prequel
This question will start off sounding like an old joke – a person walks into a bar (or convention or bookstore) and bumps into Jessica Minor – what would be your elevator pitch to showcase your work?
JM: Magical youth friendly universe of cross bred creatures.
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 completed works?
JM: Time to write is hard I tend to devote a few late nights to it.
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?
JM: I listen to Irish rock when I write.
What are you reading right now?
JM: I'm reading the gunslinger by Stephen King.
Where can people go to find out more about Jessica Minor?
JM: To find me I'm on Wattpad and Facebook.
Thanks again, Jessica - if you are on Wattpad, look for Goblin's Hollow!
An interview with Aaron Fogleman, Content Manager/creative guru behind the awesome As-Tech Multimedia website!
As I've mentioned before, there are a lot of amazing creative people out there, and getting to know them, and their work, has been as much fun as creating Forging of a Knight. I've been lucky to have had the opportunity to showcase a few on this page - folks I've met through conventions, book signings, and literally from just bumping into them on a grocery trip! I'm humbled by their passion, ideas, and willingness to be interviewed here, and Aaron is no exception! A fellow Gen-Con attendee and friend, I'm pleased to share his brainchild - As-Tech! Read up on it below, and then go check it out!!
HN: Hi Aaron - thanks again for taking the time to be interviewed! Let’s begin with telling us a little bit more about who Aaron Fogleman is and what fueled the concept behind As-Tech!
AF: Ya know…I really hate the ask, “Tell us more about yourself,” hahahaha. But basically, I’m a dreamer. I have big ideas, big visions, and I have finally decided to try to see As-Tech Multimedia through to the end, whatever end that might be.
As-Tech Multimedia, put simply, is a platform for showcasing independent creators and content.
HN: When did you know that you wanted to be a writer?
AF: I don’t know that I ever decided I wanted to be a writer, it just sort of happened. It morphed as an extension of being a storyteller. I have been a GM for table top RPG games for a while, and I started to run a fantasy (D&D) game in a world I created, and as the adventures grew and gained more scope, starting to write about the world to tell the ongoing story, that isn’t part of the players main adventure path, just started. Like I said, it just kind of happened.
HN: How did you develop the concept/idea for As-Tech?
AF: Long story shortened; Years ago, I tried to start a little business, not much more than a side hustle, really. I would go and do things related to computers for people. I had just gotten out of the Air Force, and was taking some classes at the local university, started talking with another student and we get on the subject of computers since his wasn’t really powerful enough to help with his projects in his graphing design class. I told him; I could build him one that might last the rest of his program. I asked him what his budget was, and that was that. I started doing little computer service jobs around campus and in the community, Assembling of Technology (As-Tech) was born, and As-Tech, the name as brand, has pretty much stuck with me ever since. Years later, after I started writing and got serious about possibly publishing my stuff, I was going to self-publish, and found a couple of other people who were thinking about the same thing, I decided I wanted to build a space to help first time authors, no matter the genre or medium the write in, get their work out as well, now it has muted in to an idea for a multimedia platform for independent creators who want to expand their audience and not get caught up in the clutter of YouTube or Apple, Google, Stitcher, I-Heart Radio or whatever service and for people who may want to write…to start a blog very easily without having to build their own site or slug through other blogging platforms such as Tumblr.
HN: Which aspects were the most fun to develop? Which were the most challenging?
AF: Content! Creating content and figuring out what type of content we want on the site, at launch, is by far the most fun. Developing the concept. The most challenging, getting it to look the way we want it to. I’m not the person actually building the As-Tech Multimedia site, the person doing it is a programmer, working with the code in the back end, so he has to write the code, we see how it looks, I give him the go/no-go and we try move on from there. The site has actually been in development for almost a year, now and we will continue to make changes not only in appearance, but presentation throughout the site.
HN: What are your plans long-term for the website? Do you have additional/different works in mind?
AF: The first thing we are going to introduce to the site is a membership to As-Tech Multimedia. We want to put our own social media community tab to allow visitors to the site to keep in touch with either a specific piece of content, i.e. Our Own Little Corner of the Geekdom since there is not only the podcast but a companion blog, if one were to “follow” that, they would receive updates whenever new content was posted, or a specific creator, Sildark, for instance, is one of the hosts of the Geekdom podcast, and hopes to be writing posts for the blog, as well as starting his own unique blog (and videos, when that page is fully up and running.)
We aren’t stopping there, either. We are going to start an actual internet radio station, with regular programing and everything…as soon as we learn how all that is done. We have started a pseudo-radio show with As-Tech Multimedia Live! on Spreaker, but it’s not exactly what the endgame is for us. We are also going to be introducing an actual journalistic news outlet as part of the overall multimedia experience, and of course begin publishing books or comic/graphic novels or periodicals completing what began the transition of the idea of As-Tech from it’s roots to where it is now. I’m looking at building a mobile app (which is very different from building a website) and eventually, we want to do our own hosting for some of the content, even.
HN: As an author, I share the challenge of getting the word out on my books. What have you had to do to win broader exposure and branding for As-Tech?
AF: Right now, just word of mouth, and social media, really. As we generate revenue from the website and expand our operations over there, we will bring in other advertising stream, increasing our online presence and appeal, hopefully. As-Tech Multimedia will always be looking to increase the number of creators we support as well as including our own social media community to the site which will help increase our ability to get our creators out there. It’s a process, that is really just getting started. We are excited to see where things go in the future.
HN: This question will start off sounding like an old joke – a person walks into a bar (or convention or bookstore) and bumps into Aaron Fogleman – what would be your elevator pitch to showcase your work?
AF: Elevator pitch:
“Hey, how are ya? I’m Aaron, the Creator and Content Manager for As-Tech Multimedia. We are interested in promoting smaller or new creators and their content. Head over to http://astechmultimedia.com/ see what we’re all about. We have a lot of great content and always looking for new creators to join the team.”
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 in your completed works? Where there ideas you had in mind for the website and then decided NOT to include?
AF: Oh, definitely! I have been working on a script for a graphic novel for years. I’ve finished it scrapped it, in it’s entirety, re-written it, scrapped that, and started on it again and changed the format, so much stuff, for me It’s never right. It happens less with podcasts and short form blog posts, though, but those feelings linger.
Sometimes, I’ll go back and listen to an old episode of a show and think, “…yeah, maybe I should have cut that,” or “Oh, dang it, they never finished that point,” or event the occasional, “Whoops, there used to be something there, I wonder if I should have cut that…” but it’s trial and error sometime. Ultimately, you make the decision and you do it.
As far as the website goes, I had plenty of plans, that got taken out. They weren’t completely dismissed though, and we are planning to put all of those into the site moving forward. They just were feasible in these early iterations. As I’ve said, As-Tech Multimedia has some growing left to do.
HN: I have an 8 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 carve out your ideas?
AF: Luckily, my ideas are my work, right now. I’m dedicated full time to running the site and creating content for the site.
Provided life doesn’t get in the way.
HN: 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?
AF: No, and I probably should develop one, haha. It would probably help me be more productive. I write when the inspiration hits me. I might see or hear something, and it spurs a idea for a scene, and that’s when I get to work writing my fiction, when it come to my articles, it’s all about reaction to outside stimuli.
HN: What are you reading right now?
AF: Right now, I’m doing a re-read of Aqua from Tracy Korn before I start on the rest of her Elements Series books. I just finished Hal Elrod’s, The Miracle Morning. Then I plan on moving to the rest of your series, Forging of a Knight.
AN: Where can people go to find out more about Aaron/As-Tech?
Go to the website, http://astechmultimedia.com/ to see the latest post available are. If you have an idea or something you’d like to share with us and become part of the Team, send us an email to astechmultimedia@gmail.com
You can also check us our on social media:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/As-Tech-Mult...
Twitter: https://twitter.com/AsTechMultiNet
You can find me on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/afogleman/) Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/geekynerdbo...) and Twitter (https://twitter.com/A_M_Fogleman)
HN: Hi Aaron - thanks again for taking the time to be interviewed! Let’s begin with telling us a little bit more about who Aaron Fogleman is and what fueled the concept behind As-Tech!
AF: Ya know…I really hate the ask, “Tell us more about yourself,” hahahaha. But basically, I’m a dreamer. I have big ideas, big visions, and I have finally decided to try to see As-Tech Multimedia through to the end, whatever end that might be.
As-Tech Multimedia, put simply, is a platform for showcasing independent creators and content.
HN: When did you know that you wanted to be a writer?
AF: I don’t know that I ever decided I wanted to be a writer, it just sort of happened. It morphed as an extension of being a storyteller. I have been a GM for table top RPG games for a while, and I started to run a fantasy (D&D) game in a world I created, and as the adventures grew and gained more scope, starting to write about the world to tell the ongoing story, that isn’t part of the players main adventure path, just started. Like I said, it just kind of happened.
HN: How did you develop the concept/idea for As-Tech?
AF: Long story shortened; Years ago, I tried to start a little business, not much more than a side hustle, really. I would go and do things related to computers for people. I had just gotten out of the Air Force, and was taking some classes at the local university, started talking with another student and we get on the subject of computers since his wasn’t really powerful enough to help with his projects in his graphing design class. I told him; I could build him one that might last the rest of his program. I asked him what his budget was, and that was that. I started doing little computer service jobs around campus and in the community, Assembling of Technology (As-Tech) was born, and As-Tech, the name as brand, has pretty much stuck with me ever since. Years later, after I started writing and got serious about possibly publishing my stuff, I was going to self-publish, and found a couple of other people who were thinking about the same thing, I decided I wanted to build a space to help first time authors, no matter the genre or medium the write in, get their work out as well, now it has muted in to an idea for a multimedia platform for independent creators who want to expand their audience and not get caught up in the clutter of YouTube or Apple, Google, Stitcher, I-Heart Radio or whatever service and for people who may want to write…to start a blog very easily without having to build their own site or slug through other blogging platforms such as Tumblr.
HN: Which aspects were the most fun to develop? Which were the most challenging?
AF: Content! Creating content and figuring out what type of content we want on the site, at launch, is by far the most fun. Developing the concept. The most challenging, getting it to look the way we want it to. I’m not the person actually building the As-Tech Multimedia site, the person doing it is a programmer, working with the code in the back end, so he has to write the code, we see how it looks, I give him the go/no-go and we try move on from there. The site has actually been in development for almost a year, now and we will continue to make changes not only in appearance, but presentation throughout the site.
HN: What are your plans long-term for the website? Do you have additional/different works in mind?
AF: The first thing we are going to introduce to the site is a membership to As-Tech Multimedia. We want to put our own social media community tab to allow visitors to the site to keep in touch with either a specific piece of content, i.e. Our Own Little Corner of the Geekdom since there is not only the podcast but a companion blog, if one were to “follow” that, they would receive updates whenever new content was posted, or a specific creator, Sildark, for instance, is one of the hosts of the Geekdom podcast, and hopes to be writing posts for the blog, as well as starting his own unique blog (and videos, when that page is fully up and running.)
We aren’t stopping there, either. We are going to start an actual internet radio station, with regular programing and everything…as soon as we learn how all that is done. We have started a pseudo-radio show with As-Tech Multimedia Live! on Spreaker, but it’s not exactly what the endgame is for us. We are also going to be introducing an actual journalistic news outlet as part of the overall multimedia experience, and of course begin publishing books or comic/graphic novels or periodicals completing what began the transition of the idea of As-Tech from it’s roots to where it is now. I’m looking at building a mobile app (which is very different from building a website) and eventually, we want to do our own hosting for some of the content, even.
HN: As an author, I share the challenge of getting the word out on my books. What have you had to do to win broader exposure and branding for As-Tech?
AF: Right now, just word of mouth, and social media, really. As we generate revenue from the website and expand our operations over there, we will bring in other advertising stream, increasing our online presence and appeal, hopefully. As-Tech Multimedia will always be looking to increase the number of creators we support as well as including our own social media community to the site which will help increase our ability to get our creators out there. It’s a process, that is really just getting started. We are excited to see where things go in the future.
HN: This question will start off sounding like an old joke – a person walks into a bar (or convention or bookstore) and bumps into Aaron Fogleman – what would be your elevator pitch to showcase your work?
AF: Elevator pitch:
“Hey, how are ya? I’m Aaron, the Creator and Content Manager for As-Tech Multimedia. We are interested in promoting smaller or new creators and their content. Head over to http://astechmultimedia.com/ see what we’re all about. We have a lot of great content and always looking for new creators to join the team.”
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 in your completed works? Where there ideas you had in mind for the website and then decided NOT to include?
AF: Oh, definitely! I have been working on a script for a graphic novel for years. I’ve finished it scrapped it, in it’s entirety, re-written it, scrapped that, and started on it again and changed the format, so much stuff, for me It’s never right. It happens less with podcasts and short form blog posts, though, but those feelings linger.
Sometimes, I’ll go back and listen to an old episode of a show and think, “…yeah, maybe I should have cut that,” or “Oh, dang it, they never finished that point,” or event the occasional, “Whoops, there used to be something there, I wonder if I should have cut that…” but it’s trial and error sometime. Ultimately, you make the decision and you do it.
As far as the website goes, I had plenty of plans, that got taken out. They weren’t completely dismissed though, and we are planning to put all of those into the site moving forward. They just were feasible in these early iterations. As I’ve said, As-Tech Multimedia has some growing left to do.
HN: I have an 8 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 carve out your ideas?
AF: Luckily, my ideas are my work, right now. I’m dedicated full time to running the site and creating content for the site.
Provided life doesn’t get in the way.
HN: 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?
AF: No, and I probably should develop one, haha. It would probably help me be more productive. I write when the inspiration hits me. I might see or hear something, and it spurs a idea for a scene, and that’s when I get to work writing my fiction, when it come to my articles, it’s all about reaction to outside stimuli.
HN: What are you reading right now?
AF: Right now, I’m doing a re-read of Aqua from Tracy Korn before I start on the rest of her Elements Series books. I just finished Hal Elrod’s, The Miracle Morning. Then I plan on moving to the rest of your series, Forging of a Knight.
AN: Where can people go to find out more about Aaron/As-Tech?
Go to the website, http://astechmultimedia.com/ to see the latest post available are. If you have an idea or something you’d like to share with us and become part of the Team, send us an email to astechmultimedia@gmail.com
You can also check us our on social media:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/As-Tech-Mult...
Twitter: https://twitter.com/AsTechMultiNet
You can find me on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/afogleman/) Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/geekynerdbo...) and Twitter (https://twitter.com/A_M_Fogleman)
