Just in time for Halloween, Firefly Games publishes the first full roleplaying game product I’ve written in a long time: The Haunted Castle. This is the first adventure expansion for Faery’s Tale, the new RPG for the young and young at heart. Best of all, the PDF is only $2.95, so if you’re interested in what I think faery heroes should be doing for Halloween, be sure to pick it up!

Yesterday, two prominent gaming professionals had rough days.

First, Julia Martin (former editor for GDW and TSR and editor and webmistress for Wizards of the Coast) had a stroke. It appears to have been a minor one, and she’s already on the mend. I can barely imagine how terrifying it must have been for her and her husband. After all, she works with words, and it smacked her in her speech center.

Second, some thugs assaulted and robbed Steve Jackson in his own neighborhood. Apparently he’s fine, although his injuries merited a trip to the ER and some kind of serious pain meds.

Here’s to brighter, better days for both Steve and Julia!

I’ve succumbed to the socially transmitted internet virus known as MySpace. I’m not exactly sure what I’ll end up doing with the page I have there, as I plan to spend most of my efforts on Forbeck.com, as usual, but the site is up and running. If you’d like to add me as your friend, please do. Thanks!

I had a great time at the Roscoe branch of the North Suburban Library yesterday. About 10 kids showed up, of many different ages. They, some of their parents, and Nicole Johnson, the librarian who set the event up, made for a great, fun audience, and we all had a fun time.

We’re going to do it all over again tomorrow at the Loves Park branch. Once again, I’ll have some free games on hand from my friends at <a href=“http://www.tomorrowisyesterday.com/”>Tomorrow Is Yesterday</a>/<a href=“http://www.blackhawkhobby.com/”>Blackhawk Hobby Distributors</a>, courtesy of their buyer, my pal Gilbert Milner. I drove by this library on my way to pick up the games yesterday, and they had my name up on the marquee out front, which I found oddly flattering. It’s not often a game designer or writer gets to see his name up in lights. Anyhow, if you’re in the area, I hope to see you there.

Next Monday and Wednesday, I’ll give talks at two of the branches of the North Suburban Library District for their Teens Read Week. I’ll be at the Roscoe, IL, branch (at 5562 Clayton Circle) on Monday, October 16, from 6:30—7:30 PM, and at the same time at the Loves Park, IL, branch (at 6340 North 2nd Street) on Wednesday, October 18.

The great guys at Tomorrow Is Yesterday/Blackhawk Hobby Distributors have offered up some free games from their slightly dinged pile, for me to hand out at the talks. If you’re in the neighborhood, please stop in and join us. We’ll have some fun, and you might walk home with a free game too.

I’ve had to drop out of the Wisconsin Book Festival next weekend for personal reasons. A chance has come up to visit my grandparents instead. At 92 years old, my grandfather’s recently been put into a nursing home. I haven’t seen him or my grandmother for far too long, and I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to do so again.

My apologies if you hoped to see me there. Either way, I encourage you to go. The festival has a great lineup of authors attending, and I’m sure you’ll find much to enjoy.