Published Works
The Queen of Crows
Centered around a short story entitled “The Queen Of Crows,” I designed a unique product that I hope you’ll really enjoy. At a retail price of $4.99, you will receive a magazine-style layout of THE QUEEN OF CROWS, a professional illustration of a character named Mahochepi and more!
This product is the first digital release set in the world of the Violet War and is also the first fiction product published through Flames Rising Press. The short story, which is entitled “The Queen of Crows,” takes place during the 1860s and focuses on the tough decisions that a Navajo elder named “Tse” must make to save his people. Will he summon Mahochepi, the Queen of Crows, without knowing who–or what–she is? Read the story and find out!
Download THE QUEEN OF CROWS e-book at DriveThruHorror.com.
Buried Tales of Pinebox, TX
Welcome to Pinebox, a sleepy little East Texas town with more than its share of trouble. Whether it’s the snake cultists running the local bar or vengeful spirits haunting the high school boys locker room, there always seems to be some sort of trouble brewing just below the surface. Join us for a dozen tales of horror from these haunting voices in fiction.
I was asked to write a short story for a new horror collection from a small press publisher called “12 to Midnight.” My tale is about one of the many creatures you’ll find in the town of Pinebox, Texas, where things are not always what they seem. This book includes stories from David Wellington, Jess Hartley, Shane Hensley, Derek Gunn and more. This anthology won the award for Best Anthology of 2009 on the Preditors & Editors Reader’s Poll.
Visit BuriedTales.12toMidnight.com for author bios, audio previews, reviews and other information.
Buried Tales of Pinebox, Texas is available in eBook format at DriveThruHorror.com and in print at Amazon.com (Amazon also has a Kindle edition available).
Tales of the Seven Dogs
Written in the first person, TWIN DESIGNS is a tale of two brothers named Ralph and Edgar Whitman. Each of the twins have the ability called “Presque Vu,” which enables the gifted to see whether or not an event is part of the grand design.
Typically, a person who has this sight will also receive an epiphany or “flash,” providing him (or her) with a brief insight afterward. Together they explore crop circles, ghosts, a mysterious piece of paper covered in cryptic writing, and the mansion called Hepta Sophistai under the leadership of Terrance Chastain.
The book is comprised of three novellas written by myself and two other writers. My novella has more of a literary take.
Tales of the Seven Dogs Society is available at Indie Press Revolution and DriveThruFantasy.com.
Cursed Empire Warrior-Priest Class Book by Spartans Unleashed
The Warrior-Priest Class Module provides additional material for players and Masters of Tales alike as well as bonus material beyond the scope of the class itself for other players. A selection of renowned temples has been provided to enrich the game setting including a handful of maps ready to be used to kick a campaign off or run a single scenario. A complete scenario (Congregation of Shadow) is included in the book.
Featuring Cursed Empire Fiction
The story featured in this game is based on a traditional fantasy setting which was developed by a publisher in the UK.
Published Games
The Devil’s Night by White Wolf Publishing
DEVIL’S NIGHT is about a pyrokinetic named Gabriella St. Bruno who has lost control over her abilities. When I was developing her character, I wanted to give her a lot of flexibility. Storytellers can either depict her as a victim or as a villain; gamers can either eliminate her, try to save her or investigate why she lost her powers.
One of the things that Eddy and I had discussed was to ensure that Gabriella wasn’t the typical “I light things on fire” trope that has been done, done and re-done. To get around that, I thought about what might motivate Gabriella’s character and what she might have lost. To me, pyrokinesis would be a dangerous ability that would also have an effect (or a cost) on a character. In this case, Gabriella finds solace in religion as a way of dealing with her pain. To her, she’s not sure if her ability is a gift or a curse. Her insecurity makes her a very dangerous character on Devil’s Night, because her fires might also inspire other deadly acts of mischief around the city. The question is: What will you do to put out the fires?
Available for free at FlamesRising.com. Read my design notes for THE DEVIL’S NIGHT: Storytelling Adventure System (SAS) One Scene.
Exquisite Replicas by Abstract Nova Entertainment
Exquisite Replicas is a horror tabletop RPG. My contribution was the setting chapter entitled “Initiation,” where I described the game from the point-of-view of an extremely paranoid woman, a member of a team of unsung heroes saving the world from aliens bent on replicating–everything. I described the setting by utilizing a holistic design, blending multi-media techniques like podcast interviews with providing artistic descriptions (post-it notes, hand-drawn maps, etc.) Of all the horror games I’ve contributed to, this is the darkest game I’ve ever written for. A similarly-themed movie that may give you a good feel for this game is Imposter, starring Gary Sinise.
Available at Indie Press Revolution. Read a review of Exquisite Replicas.
Aletheia by Abstract Nova Entertainment
Alien abductions. Crop circles. Spontaneous Human Combustion. Such things defy modern science and spark human curiosity. But what if these things are not really unexplainable? What if humanity is only viewing these phenomena from a limited and flawed perspective? Perhaps a simple, yet invisible, explanation underlies all such phenomena.
Aletheia is a role-playing game about the strange and mysterious corners of reality. Players investigate the anomalous phenomena and impossible occurrences that defy logic and commonsense. Through exploration of these mysteries, they will discover the true nature of reality.
Available at Key20.com
Noumenon by Abstract Nova Entertainment
Noumenon is a role-playing game of mystery and abstraction. Players assume the roles of the Sarcophagi, strange insect-like creatures trapped within the Silhouette Rouge. During their adventures, players will encounter bizarre entities and explore strange locations. The Silhouette Rouge, Noumenon’s setting, is detailed enough to spark the imagination yet open enough to allow customization. In Noumenon, player cooperation is key. Noumenon uses a domino-based task resolution system that enables players to build upon each other’s successes.
Transcendence or damnation? The Silhouette Rouge beckons.
Available at Key20.com
Ninja Burger: 2nd Edition by aethereal FORGE
Ninja Burger, the world’s only fast-food chain run by ninja, is looking for new recruits. Do you have what it takes to work for them? Pirates need not apply! The second edition of the award-winning Ninja Burger RPG has been completely revamped and rewritten, with an all-new game engine and all new ninja content.
Available at RPGNow.com
Worlds of the Dead by Eden Studios
Worlds of the Dead is the first Deadworlds collection for the All Flesh Must Be Eaten roleplaying game of survival horror. Inside this rancid tome, Zombie Masters will uncover everything needed to push their players to the edge of survival-on a weekly basis!
Worlds of the Dead is filled from cover to tainted cover with Deadworlds from a variety of authors. We’ve drawn from industry professionals, up-and-coming talents, and never-before devoured acts. Then we sent them to run amuck with the dead!
Available at RPGNow.com
Cursed Empire Warrior-Priest Class Book by Spartans Unleashed
The Warrior-Priest Class Module provides additional material for players and Masters of Tales alike as well as bonus material beyond the scope of the class itself for other players. A selection of renowned temples has been provided to enrich the game setting including a handful of maps ready to be used to kick a campaign off or run a single scenario. A complete scenario (Congregation of Shadow) is included in the book.
Available at RPGNow.com
Obsidian: the Age of Judgment LARP Quickstart by Twilight Games
You are about to step into the shoes of one of the citizens of the Zone, a monolithic city that houses the last survivors of the human race. Kultists menace the conduits, stalking souls to fuel their malefic Convokations. Mystics struggle to keep the Daemonic threat in check. Machines fall away from the imperfect humans around them. Corporates profit from the chaos and the rest of the populace just tries not to get caught in the crossfire.A quickstart is just that: a quick way to start a game. The Obsidian Live Action Roleplaying Quickstart contains everything you need to know to play in or run a game.
Available at DriveThruRPG.com as a free download.
Nonfiction
Family Games: the 100 Best
Family Games: the 100 Best now available! Edited by acclaimed author and editor James Lowder, this book is published by Green Ronin.
In Family Games: The 100 Best, top designers and publishers write about the most enjoyable, most cleverly designed titles of the last one hundred years. Their essays cover the spectrum from board games to card games, wargames to miniatures games to role-playing games, including old favorites and little known gems. These are the games that the designers themselves play, the ones that have inspired their most popular inventions.
Available through Amazon.com and a number of other places.