It's gone public, so I can finally announce it: I am officially a Creative, a member of the TEGG Sessorium.
What is the TEGG Sessorium? Well, TEGG is The Ed Greenwood Group, and the Sessorium is a list of everybody working within it. I am now one of those people.
And in case you don't know who Ed Greenwood is, he is the author and creator of the Forgotten Realms, which became a world for Dungeons and Dragons. He has written countless novels, articles, and gaming supplement books.
And now, he's created his own publishing group, TEGG. He has created several new worlds, and is hiring Creatives to write and work within them.
He hired me.
What will I be doing for him, for TEGG? Well, I can't say yet. So mark your calendars for October 19th, when the majority of TEGG's super-secrets go live. You'll want to check out Onder Librum for all the details, and then keep your eyes open for an special blog post from me, detailing what I'll be producing over the next few years.
Just as a side-note, this is a HUGE deal; TEGG is massive, including over a dozen brand new worlds created by Ed Greenwood. This is going to be the biggest deal avid readers, gamers, etc., have seen in a long time. And I'm going to be one of many making it happen.
Check out WALLS and consider donating for your copy!
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In this article on Rolling Out, Mo Barnes discusses the academic benefits of playing RPGs. He specifically reaches out to the black community, encouraging them to give Dungeons and Dragons a look; he points out the need for skills in math, science, and strategy, not to mention imagination, all of which have lifelong benefits for our youth.
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There's a new book on the fantasy shelves, entitled "The Fifth Season."
The first of a series following a group of sorcerers with the power to control volcanoes and seismic activity in a world of natural disasters. Inspired in part by the #BlackLivesMatter campaign, and more specifically, the necessity of taking a hard look at police brutality in general, author N.K. Jemison processes the "systemic racism she lives with, sees, and is trying to come to terms with."
Whatever your views on the politics beneath the prose, The Fifth Season is bound to be an epic fantasy tale that will enthrall.
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As if Stephen King wasn't enough of a rock star, he's now joining a list of speculative fiction peeps, including Stan Lee, James Earl Jones, and George Lucas, who have been awarded the National Medal of Arts. He will receive the award on September 10, 2015.
Way to go, King!
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Couldn't make it to Gen Con this year? No worries. The A.V. Club has the scoop on a number of new games presented at the convention, including Pocket Imperium, London Dread, Hoax, and more.
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So for those of you involved in fandoms (I count myself a member of several), have you looked to see if your fandom does anything with charity? A number of fandoms use their passion to get together and raise money for good causes. Check out this article on Geek and Sundry to see what some of the latest projects have got going on.
Also, I'll be marking my calendar for May 2016. Whedonopolis, anybody? Who's with me?
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This last one might be just for me, but then again, I was a spelling bee nerd back in the day. Might have to hunt down episodes of the Great Australian Spelling Bee and join the throng of people excited about "feel-good TV" and realize how cool being a nerd can be.
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That's it for this week. What cool things in the world of nerdom have I missed? See you all later!
I think we all at some point in our lives dream about being rich and famous, some more than others. Me? I've imagined myself as a well-known and respected author since I was a small kid scribbling in journals. But it's only recently that I've truly begun to pursue the goal in reality.
And sure, I want to be rich and famous. I mean, what author doesn't dream of writing multiple best-sellers, making enough money that they never have to worry about how they're going to support their kids, showing up at a book signing and having fans lined up out the door? I'd be lying if I said I didn't have that dream. (And it looks like I may be on my way, but more on that next month.)
But what's more important to me now than achieving that dream, is to tell good stories. Write real characters. Stay true to myself as an author. Continually develop my craft. Never fall into the trap of thinking I have nothing left to learn.
After all, being rich and famous is awesome, and Smaug eventually made it. But...one must also consider where it got him. Am I right?
(Wow...this post took a turn right into touchy-feeling, philosophical, hoity-toityism, didn't it? Shit...)
**Disclaimer: This post is very video and image heavy. Please enjoy.**
Mark your calendars! November 21st, 2015, following the Montclair Film Festival, director JJ Abrams and LOTR expert Stephen Colbert will come together for an interview, where it is almost a guarantee they will engage in some nerdy debating. Want a front row seat? Tickets go on sale on September 11, 2015. For more details, check out comicbook.com.
For all you Zelda lovers out there (and while I'm not a huge nerd, I do know Zelda is the princess, Link is the hero--just wanted to let you all know, since I'm aware that's a huge point of contention), check out the work of Michael Eurek, who has used Unreal 4 to recreate Zora's Domain, one of the most famous levels of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, first released for Nintendo in 1998.
In case you've been following the origin stories of the Guardians of the Galaxy characters by Disney XD, in anticipation of animated series release, Gamora's origin story is now live.
Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy - Gamora Origins Part 1
Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy - Gamora Origins Part 2
Terry Brooks' "The Elfstones of Shannara" is heading to television. The Shannara Chronicles airs January 2016 on MTV. Looks like I've got some books to add to my reading list before the end of the year.
Here's one for not just the nerds, but the authors as well. Filmmaker and D&D devotee Matthew Robinson lays out his 4 Lessons in Storytelling. An excellent read for any storyteller. Give it a look!
Looking to shed some pounds? Find some inspiration at the Nerdstrong Gym, where they come up with "workouts for hobbits and Thors alike." I just might be giving the "Eye of Sauron" workout a try very soon.
And yes, I might get nailed for this last one, but hey, I can't lie and say I didn't love Power Rangers when I was a kid. I watched it fairly regularly and every now and again still have the urge to watch Mighty Morphin Power Rangers the Movie, starring characters Ivan Ooze and Dulcea. Whether I give in to that urge or not is better left unsaid.
Anyway, February 2016 will bring with it the release of the Legacy Thunder Megazord Die-Cast Action Figure, compatible with already released White Tigerzord.
Nerd toys for adults!!
That's it for this week. Check back next Wednesday for what's In the News in the world of nerdom.
1. Don't argue with, question, or antagonize the Game Master. This will end badly for you or your character. Probably both.
2. If the Game Master asks you if you brought something, the answer is always YES. Chances are, you're going to need it in about five seconds. If you're not sure you brought it, lie.
3. If the words "Are you sure?" come out of the Game Master's mouth, the answer is always NO. "Are you sure" is code for "That's a reeeaaallly bad idea." Your current course of action will inevitably end badly.
4. Don't split the party. Somebody will die...or come as close to death as the rules of the gaming system allow.
5. If you must split the party, see #4.
6. Science may support the idea that all dice are created equal. This is a lie. There is such a thing as cursed dice. And they will screw you over. All. Night. Long. Just pick a different set.
7. Making stuff up at the drop of a hat is hard. Plan ahead.
8. Don't bother planning ahead. Someone will inevitably fuck things up.
9. Rolling a 20 tends to happen when you're rolling initiative. Rolling a 1 will always happen when you're trying to use stealth to sneak past whatever large and deadly monster happens to be sleeping five feet away. Because shit happens.
10. Relax. Go with it. Have fun. Going into the dark cave, fighting 18 trillion zombies, 16 ogres, and a troll means LOTS of XP.
Dr. Who fans, sit up and take note! Warlord Games just announced they've been granted license to produce a miniatures game based on the beloved British show. Want to know more? Get all the details HERE.
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The Hugo Awards took place this past Saturday. Best novel was taken by "Three-Body Problem," written by Liu Cixin, and is the first Chinese novel to win the award.
In 1942, Isaac Asimov introduced the concept of robots killing humans. Since then, the science fiction genre (books and films alike) has exploded with dirty-working robots. But how concerned should we be about killer robots becoming a reality? Take a look at this article by Tim Maverick to find out.
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Why the random picture of the Big Bang Theory cast with a random fraction below it? You'll have to click HERE to find out.
There's been a lot of controversy lately regarding censorship in fiction; should it be done? When? How? What should be censored and what is considered "acceptable?" I won't share my own thoughts on the subject in this post, but I will share with you an article by Tom Hawking, entitled
I am one of the Harry Potter generation. I am a fan who grew up with Harry, and have not stopped missing Harry since he's been gone. I am one of many, and some day I will make it to GeekyCon. But for now, I take great pleasure in knowing that the others in my fandom are succeeding, just as I am. Read more about how Harry Potter fans are "turning their magical passions into real-world success."
The Goblin Emperor is on my 2015 reading list, and according to G.R.R. Martin, it's in the running for Best Novel at the Hugo Awards (although, he believes Three-Body Problem will win), which honestly, makes me a little apprehensive.
Why? Because I'm not a critic. I'm a normal person, who likes normal things. And if you've ever watched any sort of awards show? You know the normal things never win. But whatever, I'm still going to give it a read. For the rest of Martin's predictions, check out The Digital Times.
Here's some more of what's going on in the world of nerdom this week:
For all you Spec-fic authors out there, check this out! This is huge! Click the link. Seriously. Click it. CLICK IT!!! The winner gets their novel published! I would be doing so myself, but I don't have my manuscript finished yet.
I myself am looking forward to Pawn Sacrifice and Creed. What can I say, I will never get enough of Rocky Balboa. The Visit? Yeah, not so much. There's a reason M. Night Shyamalan plays an iconic role in Cards Against Humanity.
It's one of (if not the) first rules of becoming an author. If you don't know what it is you're writing, you can't know your audience, and if you don't know your audience, how ever are you going to effectively market your work?
That was a rhetorical question, by the way.
Jumping into this writing business, I thought it was simple. All I had to do was write, right? Yeah...not so much. Writing doesn't even begin to cover it. Especially when, like me, you're not sure what exactly it is you're putting into words.
For example, I know that things happen and/or exist in my writing that don't in the real world. Things like magic. Beasts like dragons. Mythical beings like gods and demons. But what is the difference between a dragon and a drake, or a wyrm and a wyvern? What makes a dwarf a dwarf? Are there rules to magic? What are the typical characteristics of deities? Can vampires exist strictly within the world of paranormality? Or can they exist within the realm of fantasy as well?
That's what I'm on my way to finding out.
I never considered myself a nerd before. But six years ago I married one, and since then I've been slowing sinking into this world of nerdom--of tabletop gaming and fandoms and character creation. I must admit, I'm loving about 96.3% of it. (I just haven't been able to jump on the Doctor Who train yet--I'm working on it.)
And as I explore these worlds of fantasy, science fiction, paranormality, and all the overlaps among them, I'm exploring myself, too. The words I want to say. The characters I want to create. The stories I want to tell. The genres I want to dwell in and the audience I want to speak to.
I'm an up-and-coming nerd. I'm an up-and-coming author. And these are my words.
