Gamebook Friday: Review of the Year - 2024

I have been doing a review of my writing year since 2009. That year I had two books published, but wrote five. This year I have worked on seven different projects (not all of which are finished) and had five things published in the UK.

Two of those 'things' were Fighting Fantasy-related - YOU ARE THE HERO: An Interactive History of Fighting Fantasy Gamebooks and MAGIC REALMS: The Art of Fighting Fantasy - and this year also saw Fighting Fantasy Fest 5 take place in September, featuring Guests of Honour Sir Ian Livingstone and Iain McCaig.

As well as FFF5, I also attended the Cannes Festival International des Jeux in February, the UK Games Expo at the end of May, and Dragonmeet at the end of November.

However, this year will go down as the Year of Arkham Horror, because two of my published projects were Arkham Horror gamebooks - The Darkness Over Arkham and The Magpie and the Bat - I wrote another one - The Tides of Innsmouth - and I've been plotting yet another to (hopefully) be published before the end of 2025.

One of the things I've been working on recently hasn't been announced yet while the final two were both ACE Gamebooks-related - Shakespeare Vs. Cthulhu: What Dreams May Come (which is still accepting Late Pledges) and the very recently released The Box of Delights - The Roleplaying Game.

I also published 5th anniversary collector's hardbacks of Beowulf Beastslayer and 'TWAS: The Krampus Night Before Christmas (which are both still available).

Foreign editions of my books have continued to come out this year, including Dracula: Curse of the Vampire, NEVERLAND: Here Be Monsters! and Secrets of Salamonis in Brazil, The Darkness Over Arkham in Spain, Howl of the Werewolf in Denmark, and, finally, RONIN 47 and Dracula: Curse of the Vampire in the Czech Republic.

Next year I have four gamebooks to write already, but I'm sure I will end up squeezing in some other projects as well. I will also be attending an event I've not been to before - Airecon at the Harrogate Convention Centre, from Friday 14th to Sunday 16th March 2025.

Conker the Cavapoo has continued to keep me company in my office this year, as well as forcing me to stretch my legs several times a day taking him for walks, so I'll end with the now obligatory dog photo.

Here's wishing you and yours a very Happy New Year! See you in 2025!

YOU ARE THE HERO: An Interactive History of Fighting Fantasy Gamebooks

YOU ARE THE HERO: An Interactive History of Fighting Fantasy Gamebooks is published today by Snowbooks, featuring brand new cover art by none other than Iain McCaig.

Fighting Fantasy gamebooks – the publishing phenomenon of the 1980s – has sold over 20 million books worldwide, in over 30 languages. But when Steve Jackson and Ian Livingstone sat down to write the original Fighting Fantasy gamebook, The Warlock of Firetop Mountain, they could not have predicted that this one, simple adventure would go on to spawn over 100 titles, let alone begin to guess at the impact it would have on a generation of children growing up in the 80s.

Part history, part celebration, YOU ARE THE HERO chronicles four decades of the Fighting Fantasy phenomenon. Written by Jonathan Green (author of eight Fighting Fantasy gamebooks), this mighty tome will appeal to anyone who ever whiled away a washed-out summer holiday with only two dice, a pencil, and an eraser for company.

As well as updating and revising the text from the original two volumes of YOU ARE THE HERO, there is a significant amount of new content, particularly concerning the 40th anniversary of Fighting Fantasy in 2022.

Not only that, but you can either read the book from cover to cover, or you can read it as a gamebook. Those blue boxes you can see in the sample spread above give you the option of turning to different sections (there are 400 in total) that are in some way related to the paragraphs you have just read.

If you have read the book already, please consider posting a review here.

Steampunk Thursday: Jules Verne Lives!

It's been a while since I've written a Steampunk Thursday blog post but I am doing so today because Jules Verne Lives!: Essays of His Works and Legacy, edited by Gary Westfahl, is out now.

Gary approached me in 2021 about being a contributor, providing my thoughts on writing Steampunk stories. And being published alongside James P. Blaylock, one of the Godfathers of Steampunk, is pretty darn cool.

Gamebook Friday: YOU ARE THE HERO - An Interactive History of Fighting Fantasy Gamebooks...

... launches on Kickstarter on Saturday 8th October 2022, at 11:00am BST!

Check out the rewards and pledge your support on Kickstarter tomorrow.

Tie-in Tuesday: Deadpool Does Shakespeare

The final part of the All Killer No Filler Deadpool Collection is now out and it is the last to feature additional content by Yours Truly.

I am something of a Shakespeare fan, so, when I was asked to contribute to this issue, I couldn't resist putting in as many of the Bard's own words as possible. Fortunately my editor went with the idea.

As it says in an editorial note on the last page, "In case you were wondering, there's 46 Shakespeare quotes in the feature. Did you spot them all?"

Talking of Deadpool, out soon from Aconyte Books is You Are (Not) Deadpool, and She-Hulk Goes to Murderworld, by Tim Dedopulos. These are the first Marvel Multiverse Missions gamebooks and you will notice I have a credit on the copyright page of each for providing 'techincal assistance'.

You Are (Not) Deadpool and She-Hulk Goes to Murderworld are released in the UK on 29th September 2022.

Happy Burns Night!

Yes, it's time for my annual blog post reminding you that I have written a book about Scotland called Scottish Miscellany: Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Scotland the Brave, that still sells very well in America. So well, in fact, that a new edition is due to be released on 17th February.

Revel in the fun and fascinating explanations behind Scottish traditions and folklore - from William Wallace, Rob Roy, and MacBeth to golf, kilts, and haggis.

Here are the answers to questions you’ve always had - or never knew you had - and more as he covers all aspects of Scotland. From Scottish culture to the ancient history of the country to modern pastimes, this book has all that and more. Learn…

Why the thistle is the floral emblem of Scotland,

How Scotch whisky is made,

Why the Scots celebrate Hogmanay,

How to play the bagpipes,

If there is really a monster living in Loch Ness,

What is Gaelic,

What is the Stone of Destiny,

And much more.

This delightful book is the perfect gift for anyone planning a visit to Scotland, with an interest in Scottish history, or a drop of Scottish blood.

"Well organized, easy to read, high interest but low enough vocabulary for a 10 or 12 yr old to read independently. Full of unexpected facts, good photos. All 'round 100%." ~ Amazon.com

Happy Thanksgiving!

If you are reading this and you celebrate Thanksgiving, I hope you have a great day with your family and friends.

Interestingly, for a UK author, my blog receives far more visits from North America than is it does from the British Isles. Of course, many of my books are available in the US but there is only one that has been directly commissioned by an American publisher.

The title in question is Scottish Miscellany: Everything You Always Wanted to Know about Scotland the Brave, which is being re-released by Skyhorse Publishing with a new cover next January, a week before Burns' Night.

Skyhorse Publishing also released a new edition of Christmas Miscellany a few years ago, so if you're looking for a convenient, informative and fun Christmas stocking filler or Secret Santa, you can pick up a copy here.

Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Scotland the Brave

Seeing as tonight is Burns' Night, it's time for my annual blog post reminding you that I wrote a book about Scotland once, called Scottish Miscellany: Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Scotland the Brave, that still sells very well in America, I'm pleased to say, eleven years after it was first published. It's even available in eBook format!

With Scottish Miscellany, author Jonathan Green lets you revel in the fun and fascinating explanations behind Scottish traditions and folklore, giving you the answers to questions you’ve always had — or never knew you had — and more as he covers all aspects of Scotland.

From Scottish culture to the ancient history of the country to modern pastimes, this book has all that and more. Learn why the thistle is the floral emblem of Scotland, how Scotch whisky is made, why the Scots celebrate Hogmanay, how to play the bagpipes, and much more. This delightful book is the perfect gift for anyone planning a visit to Scotland, with an interest in Scottish history, or a drop of Scottish blood. With 50 color illustrations.

"Well organized, easy to read, high interest but low enough vocabulary for a 10 or 12 yr old to read independently. Full of unexpected facts, good photos. All 'round 100%." ~ Amazon.com

The 12 Days of Christmas - Day 1: Xmas Xplained

Over the years I have written all sorts of books, short stories, and games that have a connection to Christmas. This year, very other day, starting today and running until Christmas, I am going to post about one of them here, starting with...

Christmas Explained: Robins, Kings and Brussel Sprouts

What could make a better gift, this Christmas, than my fact-filled, fun-filled, Christmas cornucopia of curious customs and tremendous traditions?

The Good Book Guide described my book on the history and origins of Christmas as being, "As welcome as a warm glass of mulled wine on a wintry night, Green's guide to Christmas enhances the pleasures of the festive season, offering a witty cornucopia of Christmas facts and folklore."

It would make the ideal gift for a trivia fan, an elderly relative, or for your works Secret Santa. The book comes in a hardback format and with a gold ribbon bookmark too.

In the UK, Christmas Explained: Robins, Kings and Brussel Sprouts is published by Snowbooks*. But if you live on the other side of the pond, the book is available there from Skyhorse Publishing, under the title..

Christmas Miscellany: Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Christmas.

* Who else?

Gamebook Friday: The Burns Night Before Christmas

'TWAS - The Krampus Night Before Christmas has less than one week left to run on Kickstarter and is currently 105% funded. If you've been considering pledging your support, but haven't yet, you have until 1:00pm on Thursday 31st January.

Of course, tonight is also Burns Night, so it's time for the obligatory plug for my non-fiction book Scottish Miscellany: Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Scotland the Brave.

Today I find myself wondering if there's enough material in Robert Burns' poems to create an ACE Gamebook inspired by them. I mean, if Gordon Rennie and Emma Beeby can write a graphic novel based on the source material, why not?

Burns Night Book Plug

"A wealth of information guaranteed to keep you in whiskey at any pub. A wealth of information for both Scots and those who wish they were."

That's what one reviewer had to say about Scottish Miscellany: Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Scotland the Brave, my book about all things Scots published by Skyhorse Publishing back in 2010.

And seeing as how it's Burns' Night tonight, today seemed like the perfect time for another shameless plug!

Gamebook Friday: Onward Adventurer

The latest episode of Starburst Magazine's podcast Brave New Words - #2.27 Onward Adventurer - is available to download for free from iTunes. The reason I mention this today is because not one, not two, but four of my books get a mention. I say a mention, but they are actually discussed for a good 40 minutes or more, which is nice.

The books in question are YOU ARE THE HERO Parts 1 and 2, Alice's Nightmare in Wonderland and The Wicked Wizard of Oz. Fighting Fantasy Fest 1 and Fighting Fantasy Fest 2 also get a mention. (And when I say a mention...)

There is an interesting discussion concerning how well, or not, the artwork of the Fighting Fantasy books has dated, although I completely disagree with one of the panel who thinks that there were some poor artistic decisions made in the YATH books and who argues that if you are writing a history of something you should consider reworking iconic images associated with it. (And we all know how well that's gone down with some FF fans with regards to Scholastic re-imagining classic images from the FF gamebooks.)

I'm pleased to say that the panel are suitably wowed by the look of the special edition of The Wicked Wizard of Oz, and are especially impressed by Kev Crossley's designs for the playable characters, although the same panellist misunderstands that the Scarecrow isn't The Grim Reaper but A Grim Reaper, and it would have been nice if somebody had actually read/played through the book before reviewing it.

You can listen to the podcast for yourself here.

         

Happy St Andrew's Day!

Seeing as how it is the date in the calendar which is dedicated to the patron saint of Scotland, here's a quick plug for my non-fiction book Scottish Miscellany: Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Scotland the Brave, which is published by Skyhorse Publishing.

Also available now from Skyhorse Publishing is a brand-new edition of my perennially popular Christmas Miscellany.