Forbeck.com

The signing at Turtle Creek, the Beloit College Bookstore was a huge success. Thanks to everyone who stopped by to offer their support. It was truly touching.

The store sold nearly 60 copies of Secret of the Spiritkeeper, as well as a few copies of The Fellowship of the Ring Sourcebook and The Stronghold Builder’s Guidebook that they had on hand. Trudy, the wonderful store manager, told me it was the best day they’d ever had for a local author. She’d never had to worry about selling out of books before. As it was, there were about a dozen left at the end of the day, which I happily signed for their shelves.

My wife Ann showed up with all the kids to surprise me, just as the signing wound down. The kids all went crazy racing around the store, but fortunately many members of our extended family (including my sister Jody and new husband Nanni, who stopped off just before returning to their home in Italy) were around to corral them. The whole crew ended up at Bagels & More, a local coffee shop, for lunch, which was a great way to cap the event.

Later that day, I ended up at the grand opening of Beloit’s brand-new games store: Ray’s Games & Hobbies. It’s located right downtown on State Street, between Grand and Broad Avenues. It’s a neat store, well stocked with all sorts of games, models, and such. They were playing the newest edition of Warhammer 40,000 when I showed up, and Ray’s wife Lydia asked me to sign her copy of Secret of the Spiritkeeper, which she’d picked up at the bookstore after I’d finished my two-hour stint.

Thanks again to everyone for your support. I’m considering asking about signings at other bookstores around the area, but I’m sure that none of them would ever measure up to this!

Masterful Mark MacKinnon of Guardians of Order passed me a note about the new page they have for The Authority Role-Playing Game. They already have two bits up there, including a preview of team leader Jenny Sparks and an interview with series creator Warren Ellis. If you like The Authority at all, you’ll eat this up.

The cover for my first Eberron novel for Wizards of the Coast is up right here. It features three of the main characters in a battle, and the text below states that the book should be ready for a March release. I’m working on the second draft right now and hope to have it completed by the end of the month.

Remember, if you’re anywhere near Beloit, Wisconsin, this Saturday, stop by the Turtle Creek (Beloit College) bookstore around 9:30 AM. I’ll be there signing anything you put in front of me.

I’m heading off to Italy next week to help celebrate my sister Jody’s wedding. I don’t think I’ll have internet access there, so there won’t be an update next week.

I recently learned that Dave Sutherland, a longtime TSR employee and the artist behind much of the early D&D and Tekumel products, is terminally ill. To pay his medical bills and hopefully leave something for his wife and daughters, he and his sister are auctioning off much of his gaming stuff on eBay, including some real rare gems. You can find the link here.

Dave created the cover for the “blue book” edition of Dungeons & Dragons, which was the first roleplaying game I ever saw. In a sense, he drew me into the business.

If you have any interest at all, take a look at the auctions. They represent a real trove of gaming history, and the money would be going to help out a family in dire need. Please pass this on to whoever you like and post it wherever you can.

The summer convention season is over, which means I mostly stay hunkered down in my office and type for the next six months or so. However, I do have a book signing for Secret of the Spiritkeeper at Turtle Creek, the Beloit College bookstore, on September 18, starting at 9:30 AM. That’s right in Beloit, Wisconsin, my hometown. Please stop on by if you have a chance.

The Diana Jones Award committee gave out its award during Gen Con, a few weeks back. The site has just been updated with news on the results and pictures of the ceremony.

Before I had the honor of announcing the DJA winner for this year, Andy Kitkowski gave out the Indie RPG Awards. It flattered me to no end to be nominated for “Human of the Year” for my role in keeping the Diana Jones Award alive. I didn’t win, of course, but I appreciated being on such a cool list.

Dracula’s Revenge just got its first full-fledged review at the d20 Magazine Rack. You can read the entire glowing article right here.

As part of my work with the Origins Awards Task Force, I was asked to develop at least three different proposals for the GAMA board to consider and put before the GAMA voters for consideration. I just sent off the first last night. Here it is:
(more…)

I haven’t completed much this week (other than sending a proposal for the Origins Awards to the GAMA board). Instead, I’ve been busy invoicing for services rendered. As with most freelance gigs, it’s one thing to get the job and something else entirely to get paid for it.
(more…)