Sports and Games in a Fantasy Setting

This week, I'm a guest once again on the wonderful Dungeon Master's Block where I talk with hosts DM Ian and DM Neil about using fictitious sports and boardgames in your fantasy worlds. The focus is, of course, on enhancing Dungeons & Dragons play, but we cover a wide range of games in narrative and what we say is applicable to both role playing games and fiction writing. It's a fun episode. Check it out on iTunes or follow the link.

The 3D Printing Professor and Son

Today, I was interviewed by the 3D Printing Professor and his son.

It came about like this. The 3D Printing Professor, who has a channel on YouTube where he dispenses wisdom about, what else, 3D Printing, has a son. And the son is a big fan of my Thrones & Bones series, each book of which has a playable board game (designed by me) in the appendices. So the son makes a 3D printed version of my game Thrones & Bones. And it is awesome.

I see said game online, we chat. It comes out I'm a very enthusiastic newbie to the 3D Printing world, and we decide to do an interview.

So...

We chat about my books, my games, gaming in general (board games and RPGs), we argue about dice verses coin tosses, we talk about 3D printing, we talk about Doctor Who, and then I play a game, across the interwebs, of Thrones & Bones with his son!

It was a blast, and you should check it out!

Reflections from the Road: Mountain Brook Writers’ Festival

This week was the Mountain Brook Writers' Festival. This was a three day event, from February 28th to March 2nd. Along with myself, it featured Susan Carothers, Henry Cole, Margaret Peterson Haddix, and Lori Nichols.

We each visited one school a day, in my case in conjunction with picture book author Susan Carothers ('Twas the Night Before Game Day SEC). First up was Mountain Brook Elementary, where I spoke in the afternoon to the 4th to 6th grade to an audience that included several long time fans as well as the children of a couple friends!

That evening, there was a reception at someone's home for the authors, librarians, and festival chairpersons. This was wonderful because were kept the same author pairing all week, so Susan and I had a chance to meet the other guests. I got to spend some time getting to know Margaret Peterson Haddix, who is as wonderful as she is talented, and I overindulged on Baby Bites.

Wednesday, I went to Cherokee Bend Elementary, again for an afternoon presentation to their 4th to 6th grades. I also got to meet first grader Wyatt, who was "acting principal" for the day, and he and I had a fun discussion of the Lego Batman Movie (and overindulged in brownies).

Thursday was a full day from 8:30 am to 3:15pm at Brookwood Forest Elementary,  where I gave two presentations, first to the 4th grade and then to the 5th and 6th, with two separate signings. I met several existing fans, re-met some others, and had a great day. (And, in case you haven't yet spotted the running theme, I overindulged on Magic Muffins.)

The entire 3 day festival was fantastic, a great time connecting with old fans and making new ones, and I got to meet so many wonderful students, dedicated librarians, and fabulous authors. Sincere thanks to Librarians, Margaret Hudson, Beth Shea, and Cleo Lackey, to Little Professor Book Center for facilitating booksales, to the Mitchell's for opening their home, and to everyone else who helped make this a great event.