A Winter Solstice Selection

Having been a published author since 1993, over the years I have written numerous short stories, books and games that have a strong connection to Christmas. Just check out these if you're interested...

Scrooge & Marley (Deceased): The Haunted Man

A sequel to Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol.

'TWAS - The Krampus Night Before Christmas

A festive ACE Gamebook inspired by the legends and folklore of Yuletide.

'TWAS - The Roleplaying Game Before Christmas

A rules-lite festive RPG that's fun for all the family.

Christmas Past

A Ulysses Quicksilver Pax Britannia short story set at Christmas time.

(Published as part of Pax Britannia: Human Nature)

Christmas Explained

Everything you ever wanted to know about Christmas but were afraid to ask.

Christmas Miscellany

The US edition of What is Myrrh Anyway? which was the precursor to Christmas Explained.

Journey of the Magi

A Warhammer 40,000K short story in which three wise men follow a star.

Happy Yule!

'TWAS - The Krampus Night Before Christmas LIVE - Part 3!

Today is the Winter Solstice, and so it seems particularly appropriate that this evening, from 7:00pm GMT on Facebook, Ken Boyter of The Bottled Imp Fellowship will be undertaking his live readthrough of my festive ACE Gamebook, 'TWAS - The Krampus Night Before Christmas.

Will he make it to the end? You'll just have to tune in tonight to find out.

If you haven't managed to pick up a copy of 'TWAS - The Krampus Night Before Christmas yet - you can do so here.

In other Krampus-related news, the fourth part of Talking About Games' review of 'TWAS the RPG is now live on YouTube.

Gamebook Friday: 'TWAS the RPG on DMs After Dark

For their last game of 2021, as a special holiday one-shot, the DMs After Dark will be running 'TWAS - The Roleplaying Game Before Christmas.

You can join them tonight, live on Twitch from 6:30pm EST/11:30pm GMT.

There's still time to pick up a PDF copy of 'TWAS - The Roleplaying Game Before Christmas, if you want to run your own session over the festive period.

What's even better is that everything on the ACE Gamebooks Roleplay DriveThruRPG page is currently for sale at 33% off!

RIP Chris Achilleos

I was sad to learn yesterday that the legendary fantasy artist Chris Achilleos passed away suddenly, after a short illness, on Monday afternoon. My thoughts are with his wife Tasha, as well as the rest of his family and his friends at this difficult time.

I first became aware of Chris's work in the 1980s, through his contributions to the Fighting Fantasy series and artbooks such as Sirens.

Many years later, I met Chris when he attended Fighting Fantasy Fest 1 in 2014. I had spoken to him prior to the event and he kindly offered to paint a cover for YOU ARE THE HERO, but I had already commissioned Martin McKenna to do just that. However, when YOU ARE THE HERO Part 2 was scheduled, I took him up on his offer.

This involved two trips to his loft-space studio at his home - which was an experience in itself, seeing where the master worked - and I was made to feel very welcome by Chris and Tasha. On the first trip, we discussed the commission but also ended up talking about his previous work, with Chris getting out pieces of original art from his map chests, including some stuff he had painted for Games Workshop. On my second visit I collected the finished painting, which I have since had framed.

Although Chris couldn't make Fighting Fantasy Fest 2, I am pleased that he was able to attend FFF3, and on that occasion he was interviewed by Martin Noutch about his work.

Chris will be greatly missed, for he was a true master of his art, but the body of work he has left behind is a legacy that will live on for years to come.

Chris Achilleos and his wife Tasha at Fighting Fantasy Fest 3, in 2019.

'TWAS - The Krampus Night Before Christmas LIVE - Part 2!

This evening, from 7:00pm GMT on Facebook, Ken Boyter of The Bottled Imp Fellowship will be continuing his live readthrough of my festive ACE Gamebook, 'TWAS - The Krampus Night Before Christmas.

If you haven't managed to pick up a copy of 'TWAS - The Krampus Night Before Christmas yet - you can do so here.

Gamebook Friday: Dragonmeet 2021

This Saturday, 4th December 2021, I will be attending Dragonmeet at the Novotel in Hammersmith. You will find ACE Gamebooks and ACE Gamebooks Roleplay at Stand 31 on the Upper Trade Hall.

Ian Livingstone will also be there, so make sure you bring your favourite Fighting Fantasy gamebooks along to have them signed. You may even be able to pick up something special for your collection.

I will have a few signed copies of 'TWAS - The Roleplaying Game Before Christmas for sale, as well as my most recent ACE Gamebooks, including Dracula - Curse of the Vampire.

So if you are going to Dragonmeet at, do stop by Stand 31 and say hello.

Warhammer Wednesday: Inferno! Warhammer 40,000 Collection

The tech-adepts at Black Library have released a new eBundle of Warhammer 40,000 short stories, that first appeared in the pages of Inferno! 

Included in the collection is my not-at-all-festive-honest Journey of the Magi.

Three sorcerers converge on an ancient necron structure in the hopes of retrieving something of great value to all three of them. But they will find that though dormant, the necrons do not give up their treasures easily…

On an artificial world far from the light of any son, three sorcerers of the Thousand Sons emerge from a portal, Together, this trio will face ancient horrors – but the prize that awaits them is worth any danger, Long have these three sought the Godstar, piecing together its location from scattered scraps of knowledge. The immortal guardians of the place sleep, but it is not undefended, and the children of Prospero will pay a heavy price for that which they seek as they delve deep into the ancient mysteries of the necrons.

If you haven't read it already, why not download Inferno! A Warhammer 40,000 Collection today?