Gamebook Friday: Sir John Tenniel's 200th Birthday

As Google informed me this morning, today would have been Sir John Tenniel's 200th birthday, if he were still alive*.

Sir John Tenniel was, of course, the original illustrator of Lewis Carroll's Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and its sequel, Through the Looking-Glass, And What Alice Found There.

Artist Kev Crossley created his own homage to Tenniel when he drew Alice's encounter with the Cheshire Cat for Alice's Nightmare in Wonderland, and which ended up being used on the cover of the first ACE Gamebook.

Well now you can also have Kev's awesome artwork adorning your wardrobe. Simply click the image below and shop 'til you drop.

* Which, let's face it, would be pretty impressive.

Gamebook Friday: Dracula - Curse of the Vampire

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

As well as backing early, to ensure you receive a copy of The Grim and Gothic Art of Martin McKenna artbook, there are a number of limited rewards which are sure to go quickly.

These include the VAMPIRE HUNTER level reward, which is limited to 20 backers, and which comes with a pre-release play-test copy of Dracula - Curse of the Vampire, and an official play-tester credit.

Then there's the VAMPIRE COUNT level reward, limited to only 10 backers. Back at this level and you will have your likeness (or that of another person of your choosing) included in one of Martin McKenna's illustrations. You will also receive a special print of that illustration.

And then there's the NOSFERATU level reward. This is only open to one person but, in addition to all their other rewards, that person will have Dracula - Curse of the Vampire dedicated to them, or another person of their choosing.

So set an alarm now, for 1:00pm (GMT) on Sunday 1st March 2020, to make sure you snap up your preferred reward from the Dracula - Curse of the Vampire​ Kickstarter.

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.

      

Gamebook Friday: Dracula - Curse of the Vampire

There are now just 22 days to go until Dracula - Curse of the Vampire goes live on Kickstarter.

For those gamebook fans and vampire aficionados who want something a bit special, we have the following rewards.

Back at the WEREWOLF level and, as well as a signed, limited edition hardback of Dracula - Curse of the Vampire, a set of collectable bookmarks, and an eBook edition of the adventure, you will also receive a set of 4 art prints, a pack of Dracula - Curse of the Vampire playing cards, and a pair of themed dice.

Back at the VAMPIRE HUNTER level, and you will also receive a pre-release play-test copy of Dracula - Curse of the Vampire, and be credited in the front of the book as an official play-tester.

Back at the VAMPIRE COUNT level, and you will have your likeness included in one of the illustrations in the book by artist Martin McKenna. You will also receive a special print of that illustration.

And if you back at the NOSFERATU level, you will have Dracula - Curse of the Vampire dedicated to you, or another person of your choice.

Not only that, but back at the VAMPIRE COUNT reward level, or above, and your book will come inside its own coffin, with its own wooden stake pencil.

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.

Alice's Nightmare in Wonderland 5th Anniversary Hardback

There are just two weeks to go for the Alice's Nightmare in Wonderland 5th Anniversary Hardback on Kickstarter and, as of writing, there are only 30 of the 100 rewards left.

We are also just £200 away from hitting the £3,000 Stretch Goal, which, if achieved, will mean that the new edition of Alice's Nightmare in Wonderland will include a brand new map of Wonderland, drawn by the book's original artist, Kev Crossley.

So, whether you are an avid collector of ACE Gamebooks, or someone who has never played through Alice's Nightmare in Wonderland before but always wanted to, this Kickstarter is for you.

Thought for the Day

"In a world in which so many people seem to be in a race to destroy as much as they can, any act of creation is precious. Whatever you're creating, on whatever scale - whether you're writing, painting, knitting, dancing, gardening, or making films - know that it matters. You matter."

~ Joanne Harris

Choose Cthulhu 2

The Choose Your Own Insanity Gamebooks are back, and crowdfunding on Kickstarter for an English audience!

I will be helping the team polish the English translations of the original Spanish adventures, but before that can happen, they need your support.