Thought for the Day

"Children's books are important. Important economically (Harry Potter is worth more than most industries). Important culturally (name a better expression of our best side than the Paddington movies). But most of all they are important to our children."

~ Frank Cottrell-Boyce

Gamebook Friday: Dracula - Curse of the Vampire

Dracula - Curse of the Vampire​ launches on Kickstarter in eight days' time, at 1:00pm (GMT) on Sunday 1st March 2020.

The initial funding goal is £10,000, which is clearly a lot of money.

However, that initial funding goal will only cover the cost of six full-page illustrations. So to encourage backers to spread the word and encourage other people to back the Kickstarter, there are a number of Stretch Goals, specifically to pay for more artwork.

If we hit Stretch Goal #2, as well as the book having 12 full-page illustrations, everyone who backs at the £10 Wolf level (to receive the eBook edition of Dracula - Curse of the Vampire) and above will also receive a bonus short story called The Un-Dead.

And if we hit Stretch Goal #4, as well as the book having 20 full-page illustrations, everyone who backs at the £10 Wolf level and above will also receive an entire bonus adventure called Dracula 2021.

So set an alarm for 1:00pm (GMT) on Sunday 1st March 2020, ready to back Dracula - Curse of the Vampire​ on Kickstarter, and don't forget to tell all your friends.

And remember, everyone who backs the Kickstarter within the first 24 hours, and selects a reward level that includes a physical copy of the gamebook, will also receive a copy of The Grim and Gothic Art of Martin McKenna artbook, absolutely free!

The Grim and Gothic Art of Martin McKenna. [Cover art not final.]

100 days until the UK Games Expo 2020

Unbelievably, there are just 100 days to go until the UK Games Expo 2020. The UK Games Expo is one of only two fixed events in my con-going calendar, along with Dragonmeet, and this year it is taking place from Friday 29th - Sunday 31st May 2020.

ACE Gamebooks will be there, with two titles new to the UK Games Expo - Beowulf Beastslayer and 'TWAS - The Krampus Night Before Christmas.

     

I am writing something for the event programme again this year, and I am hoping I might be able to persuade the Vikings of Ardenweard to stop by my stand for a photo op with Beowulf Beastslayer but I'm also planning on bringing Christmas to summer half term with 'TWAS - The Krampus Night Before Christmas.

One of the things I love about the event is the fact that in the evenings I can socialise with friends in the industry. As well as going for meals and cocktails/beers, this year I am also attending James Wallis's The Extraordinary Adventures of Baron Munchausen and Olly McNeil's Ian Livingstone’s Deathtrap Dungeon LIVE. If you are attending the UK Games Expo this year, I would recommend that you do the same.

Thought for the Day

"But words are things, and a small drop of ink,
Falling, like dew, upon a thought produces
That which makes thousands, perhaps millions think."

~ Lord Byron

Gamebook Friday: Dracula - Curse of the Vampire

There are now just 16 days left until Dracula - Curse of the Vampire​ goes live on Kickstarter on Sunday 1st March 2020.

Many people don't like to commit to a Kickstarter project such as this one until they have been able to sample the adventure itself. And so, with that in mind, here is a link to read the opening of Jonathan Harker's adventure.

Like some of my other ACE Gamebooks, you can play Dracula - Curse of the Vampire​ as one several different characters - Jonathan Harker, Mina Murray, Dr John Seward, and even as Count Dracula himself!

However, the way it varies from my other books is in the way that, if you play as one of the vampire-hunters, you can switch backwards and forwards between the three characters throughout the adventure. You could choose to just play through the book as Jonathan Harker, but equally you could experience it as Harker, Mina, and Dr Seward, all in the one play-through.

Remember, everyone who backs the Dracula - Curse of the Vampire​ Kickstarter within the first 24 hours, and selects a reward level that includes a physical copy of the gamebook, will also receive a copy of The Grim and Gothic Art of Martin McKenna artbook for free!

The Grim and Gothic Art of Martin McKenna. [Cover art not final.]

So set an alarm now, for 1:00pm on Sunday 1st March 2020.

Thought for the Day

"It still rankles that the short story I wrote for my mock O Levels was downgraded from an A to a C because, 'it is too original, which means you have copied it from somewhere'."

~ Neil Gaiman

Short Story Saturday: Scrooge and Marley (Deceased)

Yesterday was Charles Dickens' 208th birthday, which is a good enough excuse for me to remind you that I have written two stories inspired by Ebenezer Scrooge and his late business partner Jacob Marley, from A Christmas Carol.

You might want to check them out, seeing as how you can read them for free via Kindle Unlimited.

Scrooge and Marley (Deceased): The Haunted Man
A year on from the events of A Christmas Carol, Ebenezer Scrooge finds himself visited once again by the ghost of his late business partner, Jacob Marley, who brings with him a new proposition. Just as Marley helped Scrooge to avoid the cruel fate that the last of the Three Spirits foretold, Marley wants Scrooge to help him reduce his time in Purgatory.

And so begins an epic adventure that will see the former friends face off against all manner of phantasms, freaks and fiends, with just one thing at stake… Everything!

      

Scrooge and Marley (Deceased): Murder in the Cathedral

Ebenezer Scrooge and his ghost-hunting partner Jacob Marley (already a ghost himself) visit the cathedral city of Cloisterham in order to investigate the disappearance of a young man... A certain Mr Edwin Drood.