tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-75780048178502049502024-03-13T14:53:49.658-07:00Tales of a Nightcrafternight · craft · er [ˈnaɪtˌ-kraf-ter]<i>, noun;</i>
<br>1. One who creates within darkness.
<br>2. One who commands nightmare creatures [See DREG].
<br>3. One who manipulates the fears and emotions of others to their advantage.Joanie Richhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09923353641823849082noreply@blogger.comBlogger84125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7578004817850204950.post-46281593033935778822021-01-12T17:32:00.003-08:002021-01-12T17:32:38.145-08:00Finished a new indie game!I just finished creating a tiny indie game with Bitsy! My Dream Job: How I Survived Job Hunting in Animationhttps://bubblyoasis.itch.io/my-dream-job What's Bitsy?Bitsy is a "little editor for little worlds" made by Adam Le Doux. Bitsy has a huge community of creators who enjoy making tiny stories and adventures. You can make your own Bitsy games here inside your Joanie Richhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09923353641823849082noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7578004817850204950.post-26042442692183508162020-12-12T00:08:00.001-08:002020-12-12T00:08:26.726-08:00Nightmare in Bonbonburg - A Tabletop-RPG Adventure for the Holidays!My friend Ben Chaplin and I have been working furiously like Santa's elves to complete our holiday-themed tabletop adventure just in time for Christmas! I co-wrote and illustrated this adventure."As you fall asleep one winter’s night, you find yourself in a strange place. A small town inhabited by toys is having trouble with a nearby colony of rats stealing their chocolate harvest year after yearJoanie Richhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09923353641823849082noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7578004817850204950.post-85939033422159606382020-09-30T20:31:00.002-07:002020-09-30T20:31:09.907-07:00Sample Chapter from: Rad Savage Wins Against the Universe (Sometimes) Chapter 5
Rad had forgotten
all about the annoying kid after his piece of French silk pie, which was more
delicious than the lukewarm potato soup had been by far. He knew he shouldn’t have
splurged on dessert, but he was feeling a little low – and at times like that he
was known to eat a little more. It’s okay, he thought, I’m in good shape.
Although he didn’t know how long that would lastJoanie Richhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09923353641823849082noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7578004817850204950.post-85046898903951475052020-09-30T20:04:00.004-07:002020-09-30T20:06:58.653-07:00Medina Harper - Monster M.D. - Sample Chapter Chapter One:
The King of Coins
The night sky was
bright and clear, a slice of the Hunter’s Moon shining down through the sea of
stars above. The moon illuminated the path of a stranger who ran down the
mountain towering behind the town of Midvale. But dawn was quickly approaching, and he did
not stop to rest, though he had been running the entire night.
He prayed he would
make it in timeJoanie Richhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09923353641823849082noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7578004817850204950.post-29025336907133902162017-02-24T16:45:00.004-08:002017-02-24T16:45:43.485-08:00Checking OutI glared at the book on my floor. This is all your fault, I said, wanting to kick it, but remembering that would probably cost me even more money than simply returning it overdue. I had been avoiding returning the book for about three weeks now. Three weeks, and yet, I still hadn't even cracked it open. All it was now was a constant reminder. A reminder of a promise I had failed to keep."Read it,Joanie Richhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09923353641823849082noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7578004817850204950.post-1786904475270557082017-02-12T17:05:00.003-08:002017-02-12T17:10:15.012-08:00The Bringer of Blue Dawn
The planet is the light of my life. I wake to it every
morning as I open my eyes, staring up at the expanse of space through the wide
skylight over my bed. I wake as it crests over the foot of my bed, it’s
brilliance stunning, only amplified by the twinkling stars that seem to caress
it on its journey. I never rise from my bed until it passes completely over my
head and disappears beyond the Joanie Richhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09923353641823849082noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7578004817850204950.post-66598863806979695592011-01-18T13:19:00.000-08:002011-01-18T13:24:10.896-08:00"Reborn" - Last One Standing TallA fantasy-western serial
Episode 15: “Reborn”
Reed wandered through a forest with trees so tall that he couldn't see the sky. But he could feel the sun. He held up his hands. Sunlight penetrated the canopy, yellow rays illuminating the new seeds of life blowing on the wind. Regeneration had begun. He could feel it deep within himself.
"Plant the seed!"
Reed spun around, but there Joanie Richhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09923353641823849082noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7578004817850204950.post-84008646218932621232011-01-11T13:51:00.000-08:002011-01-11T14:04:10.998-08:00"The Fog Descends" - 11 & CountingAn urban fantasy serial.
Part 15 – The Fog Descends
A thick fog surrounded the farmhouse early the next morning.
Aunt Jenna watched it from the safety of her kitchen, standing close to the stove. Her fingers rested just above her old kettle, feeling the steam just starting to rise from the spout. It wasn't abnormal, but she sensed something strange about it.
Easing the window open Joanie Richhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09923353641823849082noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7578004817850204950.post-15589696551928197532011-01-04T06:25:00.000-08:002011-01-18T13:21:05.175-08:00"Breakthrough" - Last One Standing TallA fantasy-western serial
Episode 14: "Breakthrough"
Reed observed the guards posted at each of the exits out of the crystal mine, noting their rounds. Unlike the others around them that were forced to mine the crystals, Reed, Anna and her aging father, Sam, were responsible for pushing along the heavy mine carts across the open expanse of the bottom of the cavern. The wheels almost made it Joanie Richhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09923353641823849082noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7578004817850204950.post-18055651626874694382011-01-02T22:47:00.000-08:002011-01-02T22:59:28.320-08:00Writing Goals from 2010 & for 2011
It's January once again, so it's time to think about what I'd like to do better this year. Most people call them resolutions, but I'm going to call mine goals since "resolutions" tend to be abandoned as soon as February rolls around.
But first, an update on where I was last year at this time:
2010 Writing Goals:
- Experience "a year of creativity and growth"
- Finish "Home Run Sonic" Joanie Richhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09923353641823849082noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7578004817850204950.post-26984900564955502222010-12-13T23:39:00.000-08:002011-01-11T13:53:34.715-08:00"The Girl who Loved Dragon Ball" - 11 & CountingAn urban fantasy serial.
Part 14: "The Girl Who Loved Dragon Ball"
Andrew slowed down as he neared the other children wading into the water near the shore, unsure of what to say or how to join in a game he definitely didn't understand. He watched the sparkling ball about the size of a kickball, which resembled a shiny pearl being butted back and forth between the gularisses and the humans. EvenJoanie Richhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09923353641823849082noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7578004817850204950.post-74493330449244978052010-12-06T22:14:00.000-08:002011-01-04T06:52:37.572-08:00"Mines of Misery" - Last One Standing TallA fantasy-western serial
Episode 13: "Mines of Misery"
"You see, that's what happens to heroes around here, Mr. Reed," Reinheart said, almost apologetically, "They get shot."
Reinheart's next shot missed him as Reed leapt from the chair. He barely dodged it, snapping his torso into an arc so the bullet passed under. He swung down his fist as Reinheart came at him.Joanie Richhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09923353641823849082noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7578004817850204950.post-21096847193493758832010-11-01T12:00:00.000-07:002010-11-01T12:16:18.476-07:00NaNoWriMo: How to Conquer the 1st Page of your Novel in 6 Steps!Or... How to get started when the going is already tough!
Read more of Doug's Sticky Note comics here.
Ah, the blank page!
It holds so much possibility for creative freedom and expression. Yet, as soon as we load that "Untitled1" document or put a pen to the paper or stick it in our typewriter, why do we find ourselves staring at it with an equally blank stare? We're Joanie Richhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09923353641823849082noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7578004817850204950.post-39972791284190524062010-10-21T11:26:00.000-07:002010-10-21T11:28:04.480-07:00NaNoWriMo & Serial Updates!Hey Readers!
Halloween is in the air, and you know what that means for writers? The National Novel Writing month is only days away from beginning! For those of you not familiar with NaNoWriMo - check out their website here: http://www.nanowrimo.org/ I encourage everyone who has never tried writing a novel and has always wanted to write one to give it a shot. This will be my 2nd year doing Joanie Richhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09923353641823849082noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7578004817850204950.post-76558816132687188202010-10-12T07:26:00.000-07:002010-12-13T23:39:48.331-08:00"The Great Gulariss Barbeque" - 11 & CountingAn urban fantasy serial.
Part 13: "The Great Gulariss Barbeque"
Afterwards the clan gathered at the lakeside, the humans drying off with towels. Aunt Jenna stopped Andrew from taking one.
"Hold on, you still have one more thing left to do." She called Duke over and the large red gulariss leaned down to him. He sniffed his dark woolen robe and closed his eyes for a moment. He opened them, Joanie Richhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09923353641823849082noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7578004817850204950.post-57943078255316963792010-10-05T23:21:00.000-07:002010-12-06T22:17:26.300-08:00"Tornado Tower" - Last One Standing Tall A Fantasy-Western serial
Episode 12: "Tornado Tower"
Four men fell to Reed's first round of shots, but he was only one surrounded by many. He did not know if he had killed any of them. At the moment he wasn't even thinking consciously, only Troy's fifty rules were on his mind, playing one after another as their need arose. He scrambled up from behind the catapaultJoanie Richhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09923353641823849082noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7578004817850204950.post-63725533919605267832010-09-29T22:25:00.000-07:002010-10-12T10:56:40.281-07:00"The Counting Ceremony" - 11 & CountingAn urban fantasy serial.
Part 12: The Counting Ceremony
What was first a feeling of being watched escalated into pure fear. Andrew could sense something following him. A branch snapped behind him. He took off, sneakers slipping as he struggled to keep a lead. Something was chasing him now and gaining with every step. He didn't dare turn around, afraid that whatever it was would tackle Joanie Richhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09923353641823849082noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7578004817850204950.post-83199575801469825942010-09-22T09:24:00.000-07:002010-09-27T07:01:06.960-07:00Fudoki: Why Do We Write?Why do we write?
This is a question that has been on mind my since reading the novel Fudoki by Kij Johnson.
Fudoki is about an elderly Japanese princess named Harueme who is dying slowly from a lung disease. In her final days she writes about her life, but also, though she has never done so before, she also writes her own monogatari tale (Joanie Richhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09923353641823849082noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7578004817850204950.post-56096606118833434442010-09-20T23:19:00.000-07:002010-10-05T23:38:49.863-07:00"The Iron Windmills" - Last One Standing Tall #11A Fantasy-Western serial
Episode 11 - The Iron Windmills
Night had already fallen by the time Reed approached the mesa. The mesa towered over the landscape a black shadow framed by the stars in the desert sky. No clouds meant no tornadoes, and he was very glad for that. He needed all the advantages he could gather. There was no moon this night either. Good for Joanie Richhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09923353641823849082noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7578004817850204950.post-61796480263486521442010-09-14T06:55:00.000-07:002010-10-05T23:45:57.412-07:00"Secret Friends" - 11 & CountingAn urban fantasy serial.
Part 11: Secret Friends
The two boys traveled just beyond the low stone wall bordering Aunt Jenna's farm, Andrew barely keeping up with TJ's lanky strides. He must live around here, Andrew thought, he seems to know exactly where he's going without having to look around for landmarks. He couldn't see the grin on the TJ's face.
When they arrived at Peddler's Joanie Richhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09923353641823849082noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7578004817850204950.post-9218227404805922992010-09-07T23:18:00.000-07:002010-10-05T23:40:05.126-07:00"Gunslinging 201" - Last One Standing TallA Fantasy-Western serial
#10 - Gunslinging 201
Troy kept his word. Reed had not truly known a hard day's work until that morning. Before the sun had risen, he had repaired a number of structures in the town. His muscles burned, but he pushed on, not questioning the Sheriff since that usually just brought another load or another whack on the head. He had barely finished nailing another supportJoanie Richhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09923353641823849082noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7578004817850204950.post-58096687038833811082010-08-31T07:04:00.000-07:002010-08-31T11:29:43.037-07:00"Boundaries" - 11 & CountingAn urban fantasy serial.
Part 10: Boundaries
Aunt Jenna called the Sheriff's Office the next day, but the call was short and no one came by the house. Andrew tried to ask her who Mr. Pender was, but every time she changed the subject. Eventually he stopped asking. Soon Andrew had enough on his hands with the upcoming Counting Ceremony to worry about some mysterious man. By Saturday, he was Joanie Richhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09923353641823849082noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7578004817850204950.post-90660538515868596732010-08-24T06:52:00.000-07:002010-09-07T23:20:34.910-07:00Last One Standing Tall #9A Fantasy-Western serial
#9 - Gunslinging 101
Sunlight blinded Reed. He winced and rolled over, trying to catch the tail end of his dream as it scampered into the back of his mind. A boot nudged his shoulder, spinning him on the dusty floorboards. "Rise and shine, Cauliflower-Boy."
He opened an eye and gazed up at Troy who was glaring down at him. Did he have any other facial expressionJoanie Richhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09923353641823849082noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7578004817850204950.post-90404811709247373472010-08-16T21:31:00.000-07:002010-08-31T11:31:14.495-07:00Eleven & Counting - Part 9An urban fantasy serial.
Part 9 - "The Promise & The Stranger"
The rest of the evening passed in a blur to Andrew. He had nearly worn out his voice from talking so much with his new family. Even so, he hadn't enough time to really get to know any of the Gulariss before Aunt Jenna announced they had to head back to the farmhouse. The fish-like dragons had even spoken Joanie Richhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09923353641823849082noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7578004817850204950.post-46541896393111088992010-08-09T22:42:00.000-07:002010-08-24T06:56:39.752-07:00Last One Standing Tall #8A Fantasy-Western Serial
#8 - THE HANDSHAKE
Sheriff Troy could barely stand, his wounds bleeding deep red through his trousers. Reed rolled over a barrel for him to sit down on. He nearly kicked it away, but sighed heavily and set himself down as gently as possible.
"Damn that Reinheart! If I was ten years younger I could have slaughtered him!"
"Let me help you."
The oldJoanie Richhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09923353641823849082noreply@blogger.com2