Eberron Novel Complete

Last Thursday night, I finished the first draft of the first volume of my trilogy of novels set in Eberron, the new fantasy world from Wizards of the Coast. I had a great time writing it, and I’m looking forward to getting my editor’s comments so I can start in on the second draft.

I’m doing more and more fiction writing these days. While it’s different from designing games, it’s a lot of fun. As I wrote this book, the plot and the characters seemed to morph beneath my feet. I kept surprising myself as I motored along, which I suppose is a good sign. With luck, you’ll all be surprised too when you finally read it, sometime in early 2005.

The Slow Boat From China

Dracula’s Revenge, a board game I designed for Human Head Studios is off the presses and about to be loaded on a slow boat from China. It should reach America in early July. This means it will miss Origins, but we should have about 40 preview copies to sell at that show. Tim Gerritsen and I will be running demos all weekend, so be sure to stop by and check it out—and pick up a copy, as they’ll go fast!

Eberron Novel Rolling Along

I’m pounding away at the first in my trilogy of novels for the spanking-new Eberron setting for Dungeons & Dragons, from Wizards of the Coast. It won’t see stores until early 2005, but it’s due Any Day Now. I’m trying to finish it before I head out for the BookExpo America show on June 5.

While there, I’ll be in the Wizards of the Coast booth, signing advance reading copy of Secret of the Spiritkeeper, the first in the Knights of the Silver Dragon series. It turns out that Wizards only has enough early copies of the book for a single signing. If you want a copy (and can get into the show—it’s for the trade only), stop by the booth from 1–3 PM on Friday, June 4. I’m going home for my babies’ second birthday on June 5, but I’ll be back on the floor June 6, wandering around and looking at all the new books, if nothing else.

I need to concentrate on this project hard to complete it on time. Because of that, I’m going to skip the update next week. I hope to have all sorts of great things to report from the BEA after that.

Upcoming Appearances

The summer convention season is almost upon us. I’m planning to be at a number of the big shows this summer, so I just created an Upcoming Appearances page to chart where I’ll be and when. If you’ll be around for any of these, be sure to stop by wherever I am and say hi.

I also updated my Current Projects pages. Feel free to poke around there and see if there’s anything that interests you.

Games Quarterly In Stores Now!

While wandering through my local comic store yesterday (AK Comics, here in Beloit, Wisconsin), I noticed that Games Quarterly Magazine has hit the stands. If you’re interested in games, you owe it to yourself to pick up a copy. My article in there is probably the least of the many good reasons.

BEA Bound

I’ll be in the fine city of Chicago over the weekend of June 4–6 for BookExpo America, the largest trade show for English-reading bibliophiles on the planet. I’ll be in the Wizards of the Coast booth, signing advanced reading copies of Secret of the Spiritkeeper, the first in the new Knights of the Silver Dragon series of young adult fantasy novels. I created the series and wrote the first book (Secret of the Spiritkeeper), although others will take the reigns from there.

Those who are interested in having me scribble in a book can stop by the Wizards booth between 1 and 3 PM on Friday, June 4 and 1 and 3 PM on Sunday, June 6. (Saturday, June 5, is the two-year anniversary of the most amazing event in my life: the birth of four of my children with in two minutes of each other, so I’ll be rolling home for that.) Bring any book you like. It doesn’t have to be one of mine. I’m not particular.

Games Quarterly Magazine on the Horizon

On Friday, I got another surprise in the mail: the first issue of Games Quarterly Magazine. This is a brand-new general games magazine from Matthews-Simmons Marketing, the same people who bring you the game-industry bible Games Quarterly Catalog. I wrote an article about Fluxx (a real game designer’s card game) in it, which is why the printer drop-shipped me a few advance copies. The issue should be in stores by the end of the month or so.

This is 84 pages of gaming goodness. Peter Adkison (formerly of Wizards and now of Gen Con) writes about historical trends in gaming. James Ernest (of Cheapass Games) “discovers” a “Strategy Article by an Idiot.” Ken Hite expounds on the joys of terror in Call of Cthulhu. Mike Selinker (formerly of Wizards and Avalon Hill ponders “tinker-proof” games. Marcelo Figueroa (formerly of AEG and now with ACD) discusses Hollywood and games. Will Niebling (of Mayfair Games) exposes the Settlers phenomenon. John Kovalic contributes a new Dork Tower cartoon. And that’s only about the half of it. At only $3.95, this is a steal.